The Virginia Beach Branch was founded in 1958. Throughout the years, we have become known for contributing to the community as well as for advocating education and equity for women and girls. The leadership skills, learned through AAUW participation, have enabled many of our branch members to move to influential policy–making positions in local government, education, and business as well as to elected and appointed offices in Virginia AAUW.
Today we have nearly 50 members from a variety of backgrounds, colleges, professions, and interests. We continue to focus on accomplishing our written goals. They include increasing the number and participation of members, raising sufficient monies for AAUW Funds, continuing and expanding community action projects, increasing involvement with public policy, and strengthening our leadership development program and increasing our local visibility.
AAUW Virginia Beach Achieves 5 Star Status
Congratulations to our branch for being awarded five-star status! AAUW’s Five-Star National Recognition Program rewards affiliates (states, branches, and other organizations) for aligning their work with the AAUW strategic plan and other initiatives that foster the organization’s mission of advancing gender equity for women and girls.
Virginia Beach Branch received a star in each of the following categories:
- Programs
- Our branch’s regularly scheduled meetings focused on AAUW’s strategic plan as well as the completion of the branch community resource mapping exercise,
- Advancement
- We successfully increased the branch’s contributions to AAUW’s Greatest Need Fund, demonstrating our commitment to the future of our branch, which is invaluable to AAUW’s strength, relevance, and ability to carry out its mission into the future. Our branch also increased our Legacy Circle members by 10%.
- Communications and External Relations
- Our branch has an engaging website, newsletter and a strong social media presence on Facebook. All of which are updated monthly and the Work Smart Online link is listed on our website home page,
- Public Policy and Research
- Our branch members engage with local communities in our public policy advocacy efforts to benefit women and girls and meet with legislators or their staff to discuss strategic-plan focus areas.
- Governance and Sustainability
- Our branch’s succession planning and alignment with AAUW state and national strategic plans are testaments to our commitment to empower women and girls.