My dear friends,
Have you ever noticed how busy our lives get once the crisp autumn air arrives? Routines change, there are more meetings to attend, and we start preparing for winter (my least favorite season and, sadly, the longest). For now, it’s time to enjoy the brilliantly changing landscape, apple orchards, Halloween costumes, and refreshing frosty mornings. Autumn encourages us all to turn over a new leaf, experience renewed energy and purposefully focus on the things that matter most to us.
Across the country and the world, eyes are focused on the 2024 Presidential election. Again, this year, the polls indicate a very close race, underscoring the importance of all citizens exercising their right to vote.
“Voting…gives citizens control over who holds legislative, executive, and – in some states – judicial offices. And voters do not only select officeholders, but they also have the power to hold those officeholders accountable thanks to the frequency of democratic elections. But voting power is only maximized when it is exercised.” Source
According to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, as many as 30,000 election judges will be temporarily employed on November 5 at polling places across Minnesota. This will be my fourth year serving as an election judge in Ramsey County. Similarly, an impressive number of our members also serve as election workers and play an important role in making sure elections are administered fairly. Election judges have a front row seat to the many protocols and checks and balances that ensure the integrity of our elections. If you are interested in serving as an election judge, visit your county website or the Minnesota Secretary of State website to learn more.
AAUW consistently demonstrates interest in and advocates for a broad range of issues affecting the equity and advancement of women and girls at all levels of government. In our state, AAUW MN will be closely following the 2024 election results and working with partnering organizations to develop a strategy for passage of ERA MN. Stay tuned!
As our democratic process is the heart and soul of our country, participation and volunteering are essential to the vibrancy and success of our organization. Our program committees have been busy throughout the summer lining up informative, thought-provoking, and mind-stretching programs that identify opportunities for us to engage and make a difference in our community.
One way many AAUW St. Paul Branch members recently made a difference in our community was participating in the Project Reach school supplies drive held by the Community Outreach Committee in September. Project Reach is a program in the St. Paul School District that serves homeless students. Donations of school supplies and personal toiletry items and cash gifts were distributed to students in need. This committee is planning more community outreach opportunities throughout the year.
Want to get in on the action? Beginning in October, we are planning to reserve a few lunch tables for members interested in learning more about our committees, what they do, and how the committee work has deepened their connection to the AAUW St. Paul Branch. Watch our weekly emails for more details. You can also check out a list of committees and their members on our website, and contact any of these members to find out more about joining their committees. We all build a more vibrant branch whenever we participate on committees and assume leadership positions.
My best to all,
Sharon Klumpp, AAUW St. Paul President 2024-2026
President@aauwstpaul.org
Posted: 10/7/24