It’s kind of a clunky application* but you can

• find all the submitted amendments
• read comments on those submissions
• make your own comments or amendments
• sign up to be notified by e-mail if additional amendments/comments are posted for a particular section

Thanks to the bylaws committee for their work (most of the changes are ones they proposed).

Start at the One Member/One Vote section of AAUW.org and click the Bylaws Amendments to get to the application.

*I’d expect at least a “filter to show only sections with amendments/comments” and “show all” links

Anyway, Facebook’s recent change to the “home page” allows users some control over what they as they first bring up Facebook:

• The default “news feed” shows some collection of items that Facebook predicts will be “interesting.” Their algorithm is clearly undergoing some changes and has occasional hiccups when it will emphasize something from a week ago even though you’ve checked Facebook regularly since then.
• With one click you can change the “news feed” to a “live feed” that shows, in most recent first order, all the traffic from your friends — what they posted on their status, notes they wrote on others’  walls, links they posted, pictures they uploaded, friends they made, groups they joined, and more. This is more information than appeared on the old home page, but is closer in spirit than the edited news feed.

Note that both of these view are configurable. Look for an “edit options” down in the lower right. In the news feed options, you can hide friends and fan pages that you don’t want to hear about on a quick check of Facebook. In the live feed you have a “hide” and a “show me more” for both friends and pages. You can also change the 250 default limit on the number of friends who will appear in these feeds. Note that you can still “hide”  friends and pages (and the applications they may use) by clicking the “hide” at the top right of a particular story for the options that pertain to that story. Any users you’d hidden before carry over to the new views.

There’s also an option that some are recommending to configure the home page view by looking at the left hand side and dragging “status updates” to the top of the list, above “News feed”. [You may need to click "more" to see the "status updates".] This, then, shows status updates from your friends — but doesn’t appear to show their other activities that would appear in the “News feed” or “Live feed”. Therefore choose this carefully.

Another option is to create “friend lists” that will then appear in that right hand menu. Add Jane, Sally, John and Paul to a list called “relatives” and you can then click the “relatives” list to get caught up on all of them. Spend some time thinking about how you group your friends, maybe who you’d expect to see at the same party, put them into groups and then you can click through to see their content in the context of each others remarks. This doesn’t prevent you from “introducing” someone from one area of your life to someone from another area (one of the key benefits of Facebook), but it may cut down on the information overload — especially if you have a “really important” list that you drag to the top of the left hand column so posts about those folks will be what you see when you start Facebook.

So, keep in mind that Facebook is offering a way to “follow” friends and acquaintances that is sometimes hard for our brains to absorb — particularly for those of us who remember when phone calls were expensive and communicating over long distances usually involved paper. Facebook  hasn’t figured it out perfectly, but they’re trying. Take some time to experiment with different options and find one that works for you and the circle of friends and organizations you’ve chosen to follow. And be prepared to change again in a few months.

I’ll be traveling with my trusty laptop — this is old faithful’s fourth convention (knock wood). [See posts from 2003, 2005 and 2007.] But because Internet connectivity at convention is limited, I won’t be lugging that with me during the day — no e-mail or web (or Facebook), but I will have twitter.

On twitter we’re using the “hashtag” #aauw09, and folks at home can follow that at

• search.twitter.com or with other tools, like
• http://wthashtag.com/Aauw09 (“What the Hashtag”) — summary stats and a transcript [Thanks, Peggy!]  or
• twitterfall.com, and put #aauw09 in the search box (or use this link), then check back on that browser window every once in awahile.

If you want to post a comment or a question from home, some of us will be “listening” for that. You can post general comments to the #aauw09 twitter stream, but you can also send targeted messages (use “D <twittername>”) to reach a particular person. No promises, of course — there will be times when phones are turned off and we’re concentrating on the interactions with the wonderful members we see once every two years. But it may be a way to reach out to convention attendees and add your voice to the conversation.  You may just want to ues e-mail or Facebook to post your comments — some people will be staying in touch all day, and others will pick up those messages over night.

If you’re going to be in St. Louis and will depend on your phone for access, you have lots of options if you’ve entered the age of the “smart” phone. But if, like me, text messaging is the limit of your phone connectivity, how do you follow the #aauw09 conversation from the floor of the convention? Again, you may not want to keep up with all of that — but I’m exploring some options and if you have a suggestion, let me know. If any of my experiments pan out, I’ll let y’all know what I’m using.

But…

Let’s define “hard core member” as “life member or someone who has served on the state or national board in the last 10 years”

At the meeting we had

• 10 hard core (2 who met both criteria)
• 2 others

In the branch we have

• 15 hard core
• 20 others

So we’re facing not just the challenge that AAUW is so many different things to different people, but also that the group that coalesces to make decisions about the branch may share some underlying assumptions that may not have been articulated to the members who are new or who aren’t active.

Personally, I’m making my bet on the Tar Heel Branch, but there are those who want the community-based branch to succeed. If you have strategies, surveys, or other ways to elicit “what do branch members want” from the silent majority of members, do pass them along.

This morning I heard that the AAUW CA Convention voted (narrowly) to propose to the AAUW Convention that the decision on the degree requirement be put off until after the implementation of one-member/one-vote.

Now while that may have some appeal, I think it is seriously flawed.

Remember the context of the vote — it is part of the major restructuring that will see AAUW transform from a 501(c)(4) to a 501(c)(3). In that change, we will be dropping some of the trappings of the organization that was founded in 1881 and become much more closely linked with the charitable arm that was founded in 1958.  At the core we are stating that we are to become a public charity.

This is an  important decision with complex ramifications. The decision was discussed at length leading up to the 2007 convention where the members voted unanimously to set this course for the organization.

AAUW’s tradition is that important decisions are made by the delegate body in a face-to-face biennial convention, a meeting with extensive opportunities for questions to be asked and answered. It will take some time before we set up systems of voter education for the many members who view AAUW as primarily a local organization.  We cannot risk derailing the new AAUW before it gets started by pulling out one piece of the change and acting as if it can be decided in isolation from the change to the organization’s purpose and the other related changes.

The delegates in St. Louis must take responsibility for a decision on this change.

The Fem2.0 conference brought it back to my attention (though I still think scrolling the #fem2 tweets on the screen behind the panelists was more distracting than valuable, and the twitter based meetings were *really* low on signal to noise). Also that meeting helped put twitter on the AAUW radar, so there’s now an “official” @aauw twitter stream and a few of the staff chime in on their own. I’ve still no evidence that AAUW members in general are into twitter — I expect (as I found in 2007) that the number of AAUW twitterers compares to the number of AAUW Facebook users about the way twitter/facebook has penetrated the general population. That might be down from the 1:100 ratio to more like 1:30 — but with only on the order of 1000 folks on Facebook who identify with AAUW, I’m not convinced there’d be a big payoff for twitter. [But then, I remember crying as I was leaving the "younger members session" in Phoenix in 2007 -- the panel said "use text messaging" but my note about twittering the convention was rejected as  inappropriate for the Convention Daily.]

We’ll see if I stick with it (and can control the time sink). Two new tools may help:

• The Firefox add in Shareaholic. Almost a one-click tweet of an interesting link. Let me know if you find those annoying. I still do use del.icio.us for things of lasting value (particularly tag aauwtech).
• Web interface tweetree.com. This is something like twitter.com on steroids –
  • gives additional info on links including showing  the media links as pix or videos,
  • has a box to do a search directly (instead of moving over to search.twitter.com),
  • shows (as best as it can figure) the original message when a friend posts an @reply,
  • supports retweet directly (without copy/paste),
  • and more.

I’m still being circumspect about following other folks – so don’t take it personally, just consider my borderline ADD and twitter @nes49 to get my attention (or, as my twitter profile still says, find me on Facebook).

It looks as if this group will get together in St. Louis for lunch, on Friday, June 26.

For details, twitter to “d nes49″ or check the Facebook group for the convention. We’d hope to be in the official program, but one never knows…

[This conflicts with the legacy circle lunch and the Patsy Mink documentary -- but hopefully, this will all be ok.]

See www.aauw.org for details.

http://www.fem2pt0.com/?p=673

Threaded discussion from #fem2 twittercast, 1/18/2009

This transcript attempts to reorder the tweets of the twittercast into threads. Apologies for any misunderstandings. For the raw data, go to search.twitter.com.

• Fem2pt0 good evening, everyone! time to get this twittercast started: what issues should we cover at Fem2.0?
• GloPan: Fair Pay, obviously. And healthcare, work-family balance, how women are depicted in the media…
  • nes49: Would case studies on how GloPan’s topics get pushed through web 2.0 channels be appropriate?
• MadamaAmbi: if I were going to be in attendance, I would want to discuss how to make a movement 2.0
  • blogdiva @MadamaAmbi “how to make a movement” is really a good topic. i have no idea how that is “instigated” or if it can be, for that matter
    • MadamaAmbi @blogdiva I don’t think it can be instigatged, but it can be propagated!!!
  • Jillmz re: how to make a movement-it’s amazing the different ways that can happen-many routes to expression/activism, might depend on issue
• ktdagroovecat: @fem2pt0 generational divide! says the resident fem2.0 millennial :)
  • GloPan @ktdagroovecat digital divide, cultural divide…
• Luci_Kali: perhaps what to anticipate in the 1st 100 days of Obama’s administration in regards to women’s rights, health
• cameronreilly @blogdiva I launched a podcast about feminism last year but it didn’t catch up
• Jillmz I’m interested in rules of engagement: how do we not talk past each other, as well as people w/whom we’re disagreeing on an issue
• veronicaeye But do want to know what media topics peeps want coverd
  • nes49 @veronicaeye – media topics? would the (relatively) new “mom’s spaces” appearing on newspaper sites count? a venue for feminism?
• MadamaAmbi @Fem2pt0 this is so important…I have much to say on this…
• GloPan I am constantly amazed by how many women’s blogs and ventures there are on the Internet, all seemingly doing it on their own.
  • MadamaAmbi @GloPan yep…we need to unify in order to leverage our power
    • dianamarie @MadamaAmbi Excellent! Alliances must be formed across divdes to make a real difference for all women!
  • blogdiva @GloPan what do you mean by that? i mean, blogs were supposed to be about doing it on your own w/o corporate leashes
  • Jillmz I agree w/ @GloPan re: how many individual blogs/ventures; its independence that entices us to speak out, but how can we find others
  • GloPan Blogs should be independent, but single voices speaking on different things not as powerful as many speaking about 1 thing at once.
• Jillmz I think Fem2pt0 is a great example of gravitating for better, more impact (we hope, right!?) but what else can we be doing?
• FaithFeminism @Fem2pt0 What new (tech-y?) methods can we utilize to connect feminist leaders with “grassroots” activists?
• Jillmz making alliances goes back to last week in that it can feel risky to step up when it might involve giving up some independence
• MadamaAmbi I’m getting a little ahead of this convo, but we need a 5 yr plan & a 10 yr plan
• blogdiva we also need to talk about money. raising money for this event has been like pulling teeth because people don’t want to fund feminists
  • Jillmz @blogdiva money issue indeed; here in Ohio, trying to get women in leadership stuff going, also like pulling teeth
  • myrnatheminx @Jillmz Try Nevada!
• GloPan Campaign idea: For one week, we all agree to reach out to 3 blogs a day and invite them to Fem2.0 site.
  • GloPan Of course, there needs to be more substance on issues on the Fem2.0 site.
  • HopeChat @GloPan good evening, I think that is a good idea
• MadamaAmbi @blogdiva that’s why we need to workaround this reality and stream/video/webcam
  • GloPan @MadamaAmbi We are working on it – I think it’s going to happen, just can’t promise at this point.
  • blogdiva @MadamaAmbi i have to double check but am sure webcasting is being taken care of
• MadamaAmbi can we talk about why ppl are afraid of feminists/feminism?
  • Tifanei @MadamaAmbi please do
    • MadamaAmbi @Tifanei I mean, as an ongoing public forum, make this a topic…???…
  • Tifanei @MadamaAmbi I took a Gender & New Media class where we addressed this question. The answers were infuriating, but good lesson learned.
  • MadamaAmbi we’re in a double-bind as feminists. We are trying to take power without upsetting anyone…!!!…
    • GloPan @MadamaAmbi But there are also those who believe that upsetting people is the way to get people to pay attention.
    • GloPan I think the fearlessness about upsetting people is a part of the feminism brand that a lot of people don’t like.
      • MadamaAmbi @GloPan women being put in foreground is upsetting enuf! Don’t have to work at it,imo!
      • MadamaAmbi @GloPan agree! But I am fearless, that’s a fact. I have nothing to lose.
      • dianamarie @GloPan While fearlessness of upsetting people is ok for other activist causes it’s so “anti-woman” that with feminism it burns more.
        • GloPan @dianamarie So true. I worked on the breast implant issue for a while, and the derision over the feminist aspects of it totally GloPan ovrshadowed/buried the real threat to women’s health and their families’ economic security
        • MadamaAmbi @dianamarie you make a really important point…could be a topic all by itself…breaking the archetype open
    • Tifanei personally I am not trying to GET power I think I’m trying to stop people who think they can allocate my already established .
      • ktdagroovecat @Tifanei right on
      • MadamaAmbi @Tifanei what’s wrong with getting/having power?
      • Tifanei @MadamaAmbi Nothing at all. I am just not scared of anyone being intimidated by it. My concern is the aforementioned.
• Jillmz so…there’s communication & engagement; participation & funding; issues – maybe those are general categories for topics?
• ktdagroovecat re: topics: need to offer lessons on “online activism,” not just giving money, but using fb page as soapbox & being thought leader
  • MadamaAmbi @ktdagroovecat yeah, and here is where I ask all of you to check out Feminist Advisory Board for Obama on Facebook
    • ktdagroovecat @MadamaAmbi the reactions i get when i “get all feminist” on my fb page are amazing. ppl shouldn’t be afraid to talk to their networksktdagroovecat @MadamaAmbi about what they believe in… what else is there to talk about? but it’s that fear thing again.
      • Tifanei @ktdagroovecat We really need to alleviate the fear of the damn word. Alleviate the ignorance behind the fear
  • nes49 @ktdagroovecat. Yes.
• GloPan How do we get the millions of women online to become activists? They have the opinions, but just are not connected to the issues.
  • Jillmz @GloPan that kind of thing has come up when issues involve mothers but the group has many women who are not mothers
    • blogdiva @Jillmz oh lord have mercy … that focusing on mothers is taking the attention away from them (or something like that) :P
    • Jillmz @blogdiva LOL I know I know!! lol
    • Jillmz @Jillmz but to be fair…. now… :) I don’t blog my momness a ton, but when solid feminist issues come up…and I throw in my perspective, which is as a mom (cuz I am one), I get some really hateful stuff back; we need to be helpful
    • Jillmz that’s the whole point of engaging: so we BUILD on our different perspectives, make the activism stronger, more universal
    • GloPan @Jillmz Ha! We need to be saints!
      • Jillmz @GloPan LOL You mean…we aren’t? :)
      • MadamaAmbi @GloPan maybe we need to teach/learn how to argue productively…
        • Tifanei @MadamaAmbi and isn’t strong rhetoric the key to everything
          • ktdagroovecat @Tifanei absolutely! can’t be afraid to talk about it, not with anyone. first step is always communication, i think
          • MadamaAmbi @Tifanei dunno. I didn’t study rhetoric, studied psychotherapy, drama, lit, voice
          • Jillmz some conversations w/potential allies regarding race have had to deal w/some of these issues of communication, yes?
          • Tifanei @MadamaAmbi well I am… and it is. In my opinion of course. It’s how any face of a movement did it.
          • MadamaAmbi @Tifanei I’m listening!
          • Tifanei @MadamaAmbi well it depends on which theory you want to consider. All the good ones use relativity to connect with anyone.
          • Tifanei the strongest, most influential argument. It’s the art of influential speech. How can you fail if you’ve mastered an art???
          • MadamaAmbi @Tifanei sounds reasonable. Can u recommend a book/text/resource to study?
  • MadamaAmbi @GloPan one at a time, relationship by relationship, creating connections across issues, cross-pollinating, what we R doing right here
  • Jillmz some of this goes back to how do we engage w/each other, communication, so we don’t talk past each other
  • myrnatheminx Women have to be courageous enough to jump into things regardless of level of “expertise” We talk ourselves out of things
    • MadamaAmbi @myrnatheminx good point!!! great point!!!
  • Jillmz I was just looking over the sessions listed right now – it is AMBITIOUS!
    • MadamaAmbi @Jillmz r you referring to last Sunday’s tweetcast? #fem2 -
      • Jillmz @MadamaAmbi no I was looking at the website for the conference
    • GloPan @Jillmz The program is ambitious because the potential is limitless! #fem2 -
      • Jillmz @GloPan agree completely – untapped and unrealized should be thrown in there too
    • nes49 @jillmz http://www.fem2pt0.com/?page_id=2 does seem pretty detailed. What help is needed from us tonight?
    • ktdagroovecat @nes49 @jillmz i think tonight’s cast is more to make sure everyone’s issue is heard — most important topics sure to be addressed
  • terrizsoloceo @3keyscoach @blogdiva is doing a feminist conversation thing #fem2 I think!
  • GloPan Join Fem2pt0 Twittercast on Tweetchat, room #fem2
  • Tifanei You consider how the audience is going to interpret your message. You consider why they would have different interps and come up with
  • Jillmz fems, I need to turn in – getting excited for 2/2 thanks for engaging, letting me engage :)
    • MadamaAmbi @Jillmz yep, I think my brain is over tweet capacity!
  • GloPan @nerdette Yes, let’s end the Mommy Wars! #fem2
  • GloPan Thanks everyone. Same time next week: Why men should be feminists. And we can have one more nite before confrence. Ideas anyone?
  • dianamarie As much as I’m loving the #fem2 discussion it’s time to either work or hit the sack. Haven’t decided which, but either way… ‘night tweeps!

My background for the conference (which I guess I am thinking of as mix of web 2.0 and feminism) includes

• Working on web minus 1 strategies for using technology to connect people since 1982.
• Using web 1.0 strategies to connect feminists, in particular, since 1996
• Using web 2.0 strategies for feminists and other organizations since 2005.
• Supporting the NC Women United coalition with web/virtual office strategies since 2002 when the nonprofit that had been managing that organization’s projects lost its funding.

I’m a fan of WordPress and Facebook. I’m a twitter dropout (but for limited use of twitterfeed). I’ve been a noisy advocate for better use of technology at AAUW since 2001, and am currently serving as admin of the largest AAUW Facebook group which is about to pass 1000 members.

I hope to connect with new folks and learn new strategies to

• promote AAUW’s mission and feminist goals
• learn how to better use 2.0 strategies for fundraising
• engage volunteers, particularly feminists (of all generations)
• keep up with the whirlwind pace of new techniques that help us all share information without succumbing to information overload.

So, as you can see, I’m a “work on the plumbing” kind of person — not much feminist theory in my background, and I’ll let others do the heavy lifting of crafting positions that I’m glad to help publicize.

I’m looking forward to the day!