My dear friends,

As I contemplate my first year as president, I find myself reflecting on what I have learned and considering new opportunities to further our mission of advancing gender equity for women and girls. One highlight has been the success of the July 16 Zurawski v. Texas event, which remains at the forefront of my thoughts.

The idea to bring the Zurawski v. Texas documentary to the Twin Cities, highlighting the real stories of women in Texas who were denied reproductive health care, originated with the AAUW Minneapolis Branch, which reached out to our branch, AAUW MN, and other organizations, including the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (WFM), the League of Women Voters, and the YWCA. Some of these organizations provided financial support, while others helped promote the event among their members. Thanks to this collaboration, $8,980.00 in proceeds from ticket sales was donated to the WFM’s Reproductive Freedom Fund. The event clearly demonstrated the impact of partnership and collaboration among organizations committed to advancing equity for women and girls. By working together with groups that share compatible missions, we amplify our collective voice and achieve more than we can alone.

At the June transition meeting for incoming, continuing, and outgoing Board of Directors members, three priority areas for 2025-26 were announced: alignment, advocacy, and partnerships/projects.

• Alignment: Building on our branch’s foundation, alignment will focus on current initiatives and developing strong connections with other AAUW branches and with the state and national organizations. Monthly branch business meetings will be held to keep members informed and energized about AAUW activities.  
• Advocacy: Advocacy is essential to the AAUW mission. There are many ways to influence public thought, from learning about current issues and communicating with legislators to participating in rallies and sharing informed opinions within our communities. A key advocacy goal is supporting legislative approval to place the ERA MN constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot to further the cause of equity.
• Partnerships/Projects: The St. Paul Branch has a proud history of partnering with other organizations on a wide range of collaborative projects. Our involvement with the Zurawski v. Texas event opens new doors for partnership/project activities. Perhaps, with national’s strong focus on higher education, this is the year we establish partnerships with one or more of our local universities. When it comes to extending our reach and visibility, there are so many possibilities.

While I love lazy summer days, I am already feeling the energy and excitement of our upcoming year. Let’s have lots of fun together this year while we strive to make a significant impact on advancing gender equity for women and girls.

My best to all,
Sharon Klumpp, AAUW St. Paul President 2024-2026
President@aauwstpaul.org

Posted: 8/1/25