I joined AAUW when I was a mother of small children in the early ‘70s because it was a lifeline to adult conversation. I stayed on because it became it became clear to me that AAUW is a source of strength, optimism, and esteem-promoting, life-enhancing change for all women of all ages and circumstances. By working together toward equity for women (and therefore equity for all) — in education, in the workplace, in health care benefits — we in AAUW multiply exponentially our individual power to make a difference in the lives of the women and girls who come after us. And through our community programs and scholarships, we encourage an interest in life-long learning and an understanding of what women have contributed down through history. In addition to the pride of knowing that I’ve played a role in all this there has been the reward of personal growth and enrichment from my nine years as branch public policy representative.