AAUW National recognizes the need to have a diverse and inclusive membership. They have developed a new toolkit on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that provides best practices for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization.  I encourage you to become familiar with this DEI Toolkit and strive to implement its recommendations in your branch and state organizations.

Each state is being asked by National to have a Diversity officer, as well as each branch to have one.  I know that nominating committees are starting to meet for next year’s branch officers, and I ask that each branch consider this new officer also.

I would like to form a committee to be led by the state Diversity officer, made up of each branch Diversity officer.  If you would like to volunteer to be the state Diversity officer, please let me know.

As state president, I just received the following from Shannon Wolfe, Managing Director and Chief of Staff at AAUW National:

“Commit to a virtual format and no in-person meeting or event until CDC guidelines for safe gatherings have been met.”

Please respect this as you plan your virtual branch meetings for the upcoming months.

And lastly, I want to wish each of you a Happy and Healthy New Year, and all the best for our Colorado AAUW membership.