Next year AAUW will be 120 years old. We are one of only a handful of organizations that have survived over the years because we have been flexible and able to adapt to changing societal trends. In 1881, 17 women with brand new BA degrees formed a small group to promote the advancement of education for women. Today over half the student body of universities is made up of women, and by 2008, 58% of college graduates will be women. We have gone far beyond the wildest dreams of our foremothers.

In 1921, the descendents of this 1881 group faced their need to grow and joined with two other organizations with similar missions to form the American Association of University Women. Even 80 years ago they realized the critical importance of coalition building. In 1947 AAUW recognized the need to become a national organization with more inclusive policies and eliminated the practice of voting in - or out - prospective members. Instead the only qualification for membership became the baccalaureate degree.

In the 1950's AAUW's membership mushroomed with young suburban housewives. These were no longer the college-connected elite members of before, and AAUW changed to meet their needs. In fact, 1979 saw the first Association president without a doctorate. AAUW was transformed over this period from a mission-driven organization to a membership organization with a mission. Women heard about - and joined - the organization generally by word of mouth, and the friendships and affiliations formed in the branches became as important as the mission itself.

Why the short sociology lesson? Because we are once again at a crossroads. Membership is dwindling - not because our mission isn't viable but because our message isn't being heard. We are continuing to do business as usual when all indications show us that what we're doing isn't working. It is time to become more visible and mission-driven.

We should not be planning for our monthly meetings or even what fundraiser we're going to do. We should be discussing what we want our organization to be and what we need to do to accomplish this. It means getting out into the community in a meaningful way, promoting programs like Sister-to-Sister, FIG, Transitions Conferences, Woman-to-Woman Summits, Tech Check, Math/Science projects, and Public Policy Issues Forums. It means working with other, like-minded organizations in our communities. It means turning these programs and alliances into membership and new members into future leaders. And it means embracing the new technology and working smarter and more efficiently.

With the above in mind, I would like to see all FL AAUW branches do the following: 1. Take time this fall for a strategic planning meeting. Urge all members to attend and discuss what is working and what isn't working for your branch. Then change what isn't working. Ask your daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and friends of baby-boomer age what they expect from an association like AAUW, and what would motivate then to join. I think you'll be surprised at their expectations. Respect the comfort level of your membership but keep in mind that occasionally rising above one's comfort level is healthy and necessary. As we espouse positive societal change, we too must be willing to change. 2. Next year fight the temptation to put those "set-in-stone" monthly meeting programs into your branch directories. Instead be flexible; use a few of those meetings to prepare for a community project or issue forum, attend a meeting of a coalition partner, or ask for some air time on public radio to talk about AAUW issues. 3. BE VISIBLE! In the past associations had no need for membership campaigns - prospective members came to them. Today we have to compete for members with hundreds of other organizations. It is no longer affiliation that will attract membership - it is mission and message.

Finally, as you plan your programming this year, I would like you to remember a saying of Nelson Henderson: "The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Planting trees under which we don't plan to sit...that is certainly worth the effort.

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