:: Welcome to AAUW South Carolina :: Beaufort Branch Site

Beaufort, SC Branch

Welcome to the AAUW Beaufort, SC, Branch Website!

AAUW Beaufort, comprising college students and graduates of regionally accredited colleges and universities, is part of a national organization promoting equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. The branch has several local projects to improve the quality of South Carolina public education, which you can explore below.

College graduates can download a member application form here. College students can become "student affiliates" for a discount price of $17 and receive all member benefits, to include discounts on Princeton Review test preparatory courses, contact lenses, textbooks, travel, insurance, and more. Member benefits can be found at http://www.aauw.org/About/join/value/discounts.cfm. In addition, student affiliates will join a network of 100,000 like-minded individuals. To become a student affiliate, go to https://svc.aauw.org/join/joinform.cfml.

For more information about AAUW Beaufort's work or membership please email Carol Lucas or call her at 843-524-3604.Click here to download the Membership Application as a WORD or PDF file.

: :MS WORD Application
: :PDF Application

Branch Meetings & Events 2009-2010

Members meet at the First Presbyterian Church education room, located in downtown Beaufort at 1201 North Street, at 6 p.m. on the following dates unless otherwise noted. Meetings usually include a guest speaker. An optional dinner costs $14.50 and must be reserved by the Friday prior to the meeting by contacting Paula Gant email at (843) 441-4050. Visitors are welcome.

: :September 22
50th Birthday Party for the AAUW Beaufort Branch, featuring guest speaker Beverly James, the president of AAUW SC

: :October 27
Nancy Wellard, community income manager from the American Cancer Society discusses three local programs ["Look Good, Feel Better & Reach to Recovery," "The Paula Williams Support Group," and Hope Lodge in Charleston (where patients and their caregivers can stay at no cost as long as they are getting treatment at MUSC)], and some good news about cancer research.

: :November 17
Lynn McGee, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement of USCB, will speak about what's new in the college and possible partnerships with AAUW.

: :December
Beaufort Branch Holiday Party -- Legal Advocacy Fund Gold Basket Raffle.

: :January 26
Habitat for Humanity's Ryan Copeland, Marketing and Resource Development of Low Country Habitat, will speak about the program "Women Build".

: :February 23
Roxanne Cheney - Clutter Management/Spring Cleaning.

: :March Ongoing
Phantom Tea fundraiser to raise money for the national AAUW Education Foundation. See Education Foundation below.

: :March 6
AAUW Beaufort's Annual Attic Sale at the Sea Island Presbyterian Church on Lady's Island, 8 a.m.-noon. All proceeds go to fund a scholarship for a mature woman, age 21 or older, who is pursuing her degree at a college in Beaufort County.

: :March 23
An Introduction to the AAUW College/University Partnership Program: A new way to recruit student affiliates, university involvement, and potential members.

: :April 27
April Fletcher from CAPA (Child Abuse Prevention Association).

: :April 30-May 1
AAUW SC State Spring Convention at the Quality Inn, hosted by AAUW Beaufort, SC. This year's theme is "AAUW and South Carolina Educators- Working Together for Change." A slate of strong presenters will address the issues that confront South Carolina schools and more specifically females as they work through the system at the high school and university levels. The public is welcome to attend and participate in discussion. Registration fees apply: $35 early, $40, or $45 on the event day. To register or gather more information, please contact Carol Lucas at (843) 524-3604.
Speakers and subjects for discussion are:

9:10-10:10 a.m. : : Dr. Valerie Truesdale, Superintendent of Beaufort County Schools
12:45-1:45 p.m. : : Kathy Anthon, National AAUW Representative and Vice President of the Legal Advocacy Fund for the AAUW Texas Board of Directors will speak about Breaking Through Barriers, Spring 2010 National Update
1:45-2:15 p.m. : : Lindsay Hook, who attended the National Conference of College Women Student Leaders
2:30-3:45 p.m. : : A a panel discussion about Women in Politics with 3 panelists who have been or are currently active in politics in South Carolina. The panelists include Harriet Keyserling, former SC State Representative.

: :May 25
Get Acquainted Reception for interested students and college graduates wishing to join.

Starting in September 2010, AAUW Beaufort will expand its Books For Birthdays program to incorporate weekly or monthly excursions to the preschools for story time with the children. The story time will feature one of the books given to the children. This web site will be updated in September or October with a new calendar of events. Stay tuned.

Books for Birthdays and Corridor of Shame

We are now into the fourth year of our Books for Birthdays project. Each student in Jasper County public school pre-kindergarten program receives for his or her birthday a book that is wrapped.

In the Corridor of Shame documentary Jasper Country was named as a rural school district needing extra help, and the Beaufort Branch of AAUW determined this was a worthwhile project because of its strong commitment to public education. Beginning this year, we hope to expand the program to include those pre-K programs in Beaufort County that are seen as having a need similar to that of Jasper County. During the past 3 years, we have given more than 500 new books, some donated directly by the membership and others purchased through fundraisers.

Mature Woman's Scholarship

AAUW Beaufort provides a scholarship each year to a mature woman, age 21 or older, who is enrolled in a degree program at a college in Beaufort County. Funds for the scholarship are raised through the branch's annual attic sale, held in March.

Applications must be received by April 26. Click here to download the application as a WORD or PDF file. For more information, call Dawn Beattie at (843) 525-1599.
: :MS WORD Application
: :PDF Application

Legal Advocacy Fund

AAUW Beaufort's annual Holiday Raffle raises money for the national AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund. LAF works to combat sex discrimination in higher education and the workplace through community and campus outreach programs, a resource library and online advocacy tools, and various research reports. In collaboration with the Public Policy and Government Relations department, LAF seeks amicus curiae opportunities in cases of discrimination that disadvantage women in the workplace. LAF is also transitioning toward supporting landmark sex discrimination cases that have the potential to make a difference for all women. For details, visit http://www.aauw.org/advocacy/laf/.

Education Foundation

Our annual Phantom Tea raises money for the AAUW Education Foundation, which provides funds to advance education, research and self-development for women and to foster equity and positive societal changes. For information, contact Dawn Beattie at (843) 525-1599.