The Perspective - Page 5
Tiffany Renee and Doris Tolks to lead Branch for 2008-2009
A
t the EF-LAF luncheon we heard the
courageous Legal Advocacy Fund liti-
gant, Paul Thein, who had been vice
president of student services, athletic
director, and dean of students at Feather River
Community College when he was fired in 2007.
In 2005 he voiced concern that the athletic depart-
ment was not in compliance with Title IX. He rec-
ommended hiring the highly reputable basketball
coach, Michelle Jaureguito.
Later when the fe-
male (!) college president learned that Michelle is
a lesbian, she fired Michelle whom Paul
de-
fended. Michelle is an AAUW supported litigant.
Moreover, after Paul and Michelle witnessed a
staff member consuming alcohol with underage
students and sexually harassing them one eve-
ning, they reported it to the president and urged
her to contact the authorities. She refused.
In 2006 Paul was given his first negative evalua-
tion in seven years and was told that his contact
would not be renewed in 2007.
Then that presi-
dent made sure that neither Paul nor Michelle
would ever be hired by another college. As a re-
sult Paul has been forced to move his family from
their house in California and into a three bed-room
apartment in another state where he has found
lower paying employment. Paul seems to have no
regrets because he firmly believes that he did the
right thing.
Many of us at that luncheon found
ourselves in tears as we stood to applaud this
very remarkable man.
Charlotte Pedersen, Branch Delegate
S
unday’s program featured four inspiring
women who have traveled the world and
decided to take action to help women
struggling under tremendous odds.
Photojournalist Paola Gianturco shared her pic-
tures taken in India. Mothers, who rode the rails
in search of employment, had made the difficult
decision to abandon their children at the train sta-
tion. The photos showed these children gathered
around a volunteer teacher. All the children were
squatting around her as she used puppets to
teach them...all the while noisy trains were pass-
ing alongside them in opposite directions. The
image of poverty like this stays with you. (The
website: womenwholightthedark.com will explain
more of the mission.)
Jane Roberts co-founded an organization called
34millionfriends.org It is her dream to have
women in the most prosperous areas of the world
help their sisters in the most impoverished na-
tions, by simply supporting their efforts to have
access to education, health and human rights. At
the convention, items that had been made by
these struggling women were for sale. All kinds of
crafts were offered, and I purchased a set of ear-
rings made in Turkey. (This will be a gift for a
young woman graduating with a master’s in engi-
neering from UCLA and whose family is from In-
dia, by the way. A gift from a woman of the world
for a young woman of the world who has been
blessed with talent and a strong education.)
Janet Silverberg, Branch Delegate
Some reflections from the State Convention
O
ur Branch officers were officially sworn in
during our May meeting. (On June 9,
old and new board members will meet
for a potluck dinner at the home of
Nancy Lefler at 6:30 p.m.) Congratulations, all!
President: Tiffany Renee and Doris Tolks
President - Elect: Vacant
Program VP: Patricia Souza and Dea Steigner
Finance VP: Nancy Lefler
Membership VP: Pat Riley
EF VP: Nancy Sutton
LAF VP: Kay Kerriden
Board Secretary: Barbara Guggemos
General Secretary: Kathleen Collins
We depend on everyone taking the time to volun-
teer for the benefit of our organization. We are
always supportive when new members show their
interest. See page 2 for leadership possibilities.
Openings include: Publications Sponsors; New
Members; International Affairs; Tech Trek; Commu-
nity Projects. Discussions are underway with some
members who have expressed interest, but speak
up if you’d like to display your leadership talent.