Home
Welcome to AAUW-Wisconsin
Organized in 1921
Follow up to yesterday’s (2 Nov 2011) vote:
Madison - Schools that teach sexual education would have to promote marriage and tell students abstinence is the only reliable way to prevent pregnancy, under a bill the Senate passed Wednesday.
The Republican-backed measure passed on a party-line 17-15 vote and now goes to the Republican-run Assembly. It would allow schools to teach abstinence-only courses, which has been banned in Wisconsin since last year under a law Democrats passed when they controlled state government.
The Healthy Youth Act gives teens the tools they need to stay healthy now and in the future by ensuring sex education taught in Wisconsin public schools is medically accurate, age-appropriate and comprehensive.
In a late night move, the Republican senate leadership scheduled the Repeal of the Healthy Youth Act
(SB 237) for a vote TODAY.
It’s outrageous! To fast track a politically motivated bill that will reverse the Healthy Youth Act during a time of economic decline and growing poverty rates is simply an outrage. SB 237 will leave teens in the dark:
- Deny teens information about contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and STDs.
- Deny teens the skills they need to make responsible decisions about sexual behavior.
- Return Wisconsin to failed abstinence-only until marriage instruction.
- Gut the definition of “medically accurate”.
- Remove parents’ right to know when sex education is not being taught in the classroom.
- Ban volunteer doctors and nurses from providing sex education in schools.
Will your senator listen to parents, students, educators, doctors, school board members, clergy, and domestic violence advocates who all oppose repealing the Healthy Youth Act and vote NO on SB 237
Our Badger State Needs YOU!!
This has been a year when Wisconsin is mentioned in the national news on a regular basis. The nation has been watching as Wisconsin struggles with partisan politics. I’m afraid we’re not done yet!
I suspect that our volatile political scene may be one reason that AAUW-WI was awarded a $1000 impact grant by the AAUW Association for “Women to Women Voter Turnout; Community-Based Campaigns to Mobilize Women to Vote.” As the state public policy coordinator I was called last month with the news.
In our current legislative climate it will be difficult or impossible to gain passage of legislation that assures women’s health, education and safety rights. We can all work together to cut spending but AAUW will continue to work so that women and children do not take the brunt of these cuts. There is a shared economic responsibility here and legislation should be equalized across the board. The best way to achieve this is by getting women to the polls in 2012. AAUW – WI has been challenged to do that across our communities in this state.
On Saturday, October 22nd, 2011, from 9:30 to 3:30 I am asking each branch to send 2, 3, 4, or 5 members to a meeting at the Holiday Inn in Stevens Point for training on Get Out the Vote (GOTV) in your community. The Association is sending a speaker to train us and materials for you to take home to your branch for use in your community. I am asking that you make this a branch focus in 2012. We will use AAUW issues to make the case for voting in this important election. I know you are all committed to AAUW issues; that is one of the reasons you joined. At this training you will learn how to best interest and influence others to vote. We will also be inviting other women’s organizations who are members of the Wisconsin Women’s Network to join us in this training. The cost will be $15 for the luncheon meal and well worth your time.
In 2012, the Association will be hiring a part time person (AAUW-WI member preferred) to track our GOTV efforts in Wisconsin. I hope to have a job description for this position by the end of the year. If you would like to apply, please contact me via email and I will forward the information when it is available. The Association has asked us to gather names of interested candidates.
I look forward to meeting many of you at the October 22nd meeting in Stevens Point. Please contact me if you have questions. Use the registration form below.
Barbara Peterson, AAUW – WI Public Policy Coordinator
lbpeters@dishup.us
715-425-5638
Delegates at the 2009 AAUW National Convention approved changes to the AAUW Bylaws that enabled all AAUW members (whether or not they attend the convention) to elect candidates for the AAUW Board of Directors and vote on other items of business such as bylaws amendments, resolutions, and the Public Policy Program. Click here for more information (login required).
