Stuart Area Branch History

Origin

A small group of intelligent, educated women with common interests and the willingness to face challenges held an organizational meeting February 12, 1972 in order to establish the Stuart Area Branch of AAUW.  The group received formal recognition by the State of Florida in April of 1972 and was granted a national charter June 27, 1972. The first business meeting was conducted September 23rd of that year.

 

An Overview of the Past Three Decades and into the 21st Century

The 70’s

Throughout the decade of the 70’s, the branch initiated action on its commitment to make a difference in the community.  In November 1973, the members compiled and distributed a Directory of Community Services. They worked on the State AAUW project “Helping Interested Mature Citizens Find Gainful Part Time/Full Time Employment” in 1974.  In April 1975 the Stuart Area Branch and the National Organization for Women co-sponsored the Women’s Resource Center.  This was a place for women to gather, discuss their problems and receive referrals as needed.

 

As a 1975 Bicentennial project, the branch created “Martin County Women, Past, Present and Future” a series of biographies about the role of women in developing the county. The series published in the Stuart News was followed by the publication of the book “Profiles”, a continuation of the history of Martin County women.  Publication was supported by a grant from the AAUW Educational Foundation. In 1978, the branch produced BLIS, a Bi-Lingual Interpreter Services booklet that was widely distributed throughout the community.

 

The 80’s

The Stuart Area Branch expanded its ongoing programs. It became an influential entity in the community. The branch helped introduce the noted Laubach course to fight illiteracy in 1981. In 1989, the 75th birthday of the City of Stuart, the branch presented another noteworthy accomplishment to the Stuart City Commission, “A Self Directed Historic Tour of Stuart,” subsequently reprinted over the years.

 

The 90’s

This decade marked a period of significant growth in our membership with the 200 plus mark passed in 1998.  Innovative groups, e.g., Opera and Working Women’s Network, were added to the Special Interest meetings roster in the 90’s.  Partnerships with community agencies  blossomed in this decade to enable the branch to hold official AAUW programs and worthwhile local projects.  For example, the practice of collecting clothing and household goods for abused women of SafeSpace was initiated.  In 1995/96, the branch sponsored a public forum, “A Community Looks at Juvenile Crime”, to feature a panel of experts from law enforcement and educational fields.  Relevant social issues were discussed by community leaders in several Woman-To-Woman Forum meetings during these ten years.  In 1999, a highly successful Sister-To-Sister Summit, a coalition of Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts, League of Women Voters, Martin County School District and YWCA, received extensive press coverage in local newspapers and FLAAUW publications.  A grant from FLAAUW had been awarded to the branch to defray the Summit’s cost.  That same year, branch members began teaching FLAAUW’s Financial Independence for Girls (FIG) course at the PACE Center for Girls, an alternative educational program, and filling Miracle Boxes with holiday  gifts for the girls at the Center.

 

An Award Winning Branch

The branch’s newsletter evolved along with the branch’s activities, membership and interests. Since the mid-90’s, Sailfish Lines has been a prize-winning publication receiving awards from the Florida State AAUW.  The branch has also received recognition from National AAUW’s “Five Star” program for attaining AAUW goals. The branch first participated in the program in 1994-95 at which time it received three stars for successful completion of community programs.  In 1995-96 it received four stars. The branch continued to climb the “Reach for the Stars” ladder and achieved six star recognition in 98-99 and seven stars in 99-00 and 00-01. The “Reach for the Stars Program”was changed to the “21st Century Recognition Program” in 2002 by AAUW. The Stuart Area Branch received a prestigious “Gold” award for 2002-2003 that was presented via a recognition ceremony at the Florida AAUW State Convention in April, 2003.

 

In 2008, Stuart Area Branch received an award as one of Florida's Finest Branches at the Daytona Beach AAUW convention in April.

 

2000 Forward

The successful FIG course was repeated for the next several years at the Pace Center, and in ’01-’03 was taught for the women of an organization providing transitional housing and education to homeless women. 

 

Branch members continued the annual collection and distribution of items for SafeSpace with increased generosity.

 

In conjunction with the League of Women Voters, the branch held candidate forums prior to all local elections.

 

In ’02 and ’03 branch members assisted in the planning of and served as guides for “A Night of Stars,” an award event for the students of Martin County schools who created anti-substance abuse posters and video public service announcements.  This was sponsored by a consortium of twelve community agencies.

 

The branch partnered with the Port St. Lucie Branch to hold a Woman-to-Woman Forum in the spring of ’02; both branches received a mini-grant from FL AAUW to help underwrite the project which received local, state, and national recognition.

 

The branch website <stuartaauw.org> provides current information on all branch projects, meetings, historical data, and links to FL AAUW and the Association websites.

 

Stuart AAUW again lent its name to literacy by supporting the United Way’s Success by Six program in book drives and by members reading in local elementary schools.  A Jeopardy game highlighting women’s accomplishments was presented to 5th graders at Port Salerno Elementary.

 

To demonstrate the significance of Title IX and athletics in girls’ lives, AAUW partnered with the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals to hold golf tournaments to benefit Martin County girls’ athletics.

 

During ’07-’08, aided by a grant from FL AAUW, the branch’s Contemporary Women interest group conducted an early learning/ reading project with a pre-kindergarten class at the Port Salerno Learning Center.

 

The branch’s newsletter Sailfish Lines has received many awards from FL AAUW.  The branch has received recognition from FL AAUW as well as the Association for its many accomplishments.

 

Since 1975 the branch has awarded more than 100 scholarships totaling more than $135,000 to deserving high school graduates and to women graduating from the local community college.  From 2001 until 2007 the branch partnered with The Iris Arnowitt Foundation to award graduates of Indian River Community College scholarships to enable these women to continue their education.

 

Throughout the years many of the branch’s members have served on the FL AAUW board.

 

The Stuart Area Branch has attracted some of the most influential, talented, and energetic women of the community into its membership ranks.  Branch members have excelled in their commitment to serve and support the women and girls of Martin County.  Their accomplishments are legion and well recognized.  The Stuart Area Branch’s members continue to go forward to actualize the AAUW mission.

 

 

 

Written by Rita Armstrong and Barbara Cahn.  Edited by Sheila Leach.

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