On Saturday, April 13th at Wisp Resort, The American Association of University Women (AAUW) – Garrett Branch hosted 64 women from 11 different counties throughout the state of Maryland, including five women from newly formed AAUW Frostburg State University branch for the AAUW Annual State Convention. The day’s theme was “Making Ends Meet: Financial Security for Women of All Ages.”
The program addressed financial issues for women in all stages of adulthood: college, career, and the planning for and enjoyment of retirement. The convention featured many prominent speakers, including several locally celebrated women such as Dr. Sunshine Brosi, Barbara Miller and Crellin Elementary Principal, Dr. Dana McCauley (pictured left with basket, with Susan Wierman and Kate Campbell Stevens, AAUW-Maryland Co-Presidents, and Judy Carbone, AAUW-Garrett Branch President). AAUW members visiting from around the state also had the opportunity to take a tour of the state-of-the-art STEM facility at Garrett College before the convention convened on Friday, April 12th. The tour was immediately followed by an anniversary dinner at Ace’s Run Restaurant & Pub to celebrate AAUW – Garrett Branch’s 70th(+3) anniversary as one of the longest running women’s organizations in Garrett County. The beautiful event featured 1940’s music, decor, and a signature cocktail.
Ace’s Run provided a lovely meal, and AAUW – Garrett Branch president Judy Carbone gave a presentation about the history of the chapter (pictured right, dressed as 1940s icon “Rosie the Riveter”) . The state of Maryland formed a statewide organization of AAUW in 1942, with Garrett County following in 1946. In 2017, a student chapter of AAUW formed at Garrett College, and in 2018, one was formed at Frostburg State University. As the number of women seeing advanced education grew, so too did membership in AAUW with over 170,000 members and supporters today. AAUW-Garrett Branch is one of over a thousand branches throughout the country, and the student chapters at Garrett College and Frostburg State are among the approximately 800 student chapters.
Over three-quarters of a century, AAUW nationally, including AAUW-Maryland and the Maryland branches, has been instrumental in advancing the status of women, advocating for legislation focusing on women’s equity, working for high standards and continuing improvement of higher education for women, and providing grant and scholarship opportunities for women of all ages to attend college. This remains a priority of the AAUW-Garrett Branch, which currently funds over $4,000 each year for local women to attend college. Other present day priorities include mentoring middle school girls and providing leadership and career development opportunities to women and girls.
Although circumstances and opportunities have changed throughout the last 73 years, the group’s greatest work, especially in education and women’s equity issues, is still to come. To learn more about becoming a member of AAUW-Garrett Branch, please call Judy A. Carbone, Branch President, at 301-616-5036
