Welcome to Poughkeepsie AAUW!
We have been advancing equity for women and girls as individuals and nationally since 1881 and as a local branch since 1925! We invite you to visit the pages of our website to explore the many parts of our organization. Our work continues. We welcome you to join us!
AAUW Membership – JOIN OR RENEW
Upcoming Events/Information
♦AAUW Centennial Endowment Fund
“a legacy for our next 100 years.”
Contribute HERE
Join Poughkeepsie AAUW for these exciting events:
♦Sunday, April 27,
12-3 pm
Lorraine Rothman
2025 Woman of the Year
Beekman Arms
RESERVATIONS: HERE
♦Let’s celebrate like it’s 1925!
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO
The Poughkeepsie Branch AAUW
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church
1168 State Route 55, Lagrangeville, NY 12540
Thursday, May 8, 2025
6:30 PM-9:00 PM
RSVP by May 1: https://forms.gle/kh8rMfWg24Nw8WAC8
There is no cost to attend, but please RSVP to aid our planning.
Volunteers can sign up to bring food or assist with the event.
Announcement of event to print and share.
♦Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 6 pm
Annual Dinner & Meeting
Villa Borghese
Recent Events & Information
♦MOTHER JONES: A LABOR MOVEMENT HEROINE

Mary “Mother” Jones

Sandra Opdyeke
On MARCH 13, 2025 Sandra Opdyeke presented an interesting survey of the work of Mary “Mother” Jones. “Mother” devoted herself, heart and soul, to supporting strikes and building unions. She fought fearlessly for the rights of children covering any number of industries. Sandra Opdycke, Ph.D., has published books about the woman suffrage movement, the flu epidemic of 1918, the WPA of the 1930s, Bellevue Hospital, and Jane Addams.
AAUW March program announcement
♦PRESENTER: Dr. Jacqueline Goffe-McNish
On February 13, Dr. Goffe-McNish presented a highly interactive program on Zoom discussing the Critical Race Theory and the meaning of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It was well received by a large audience
Dr. Goffe-McNish was a professor of English and Humanities at Dutchess Community College for 32 years. Her Doctorate in Education is from St. John Fisher University. Jacqueline is a past president of Poughkeepsie AAUW where she was Chair of the Diversity Committee for 5 years.
February-AAUW-Program-Announcement
♦Great 20th Century Women of Science Who Did Not Receive Appropriate Credit for Their Contributions and Discoveries
January 9 on ZOOM, Arnie Serotsky presented a fascinating program citing the many women of science that had not been credited for the work they had done. In the early years, many who were even nominated many times for the Noble Prize in their field were overlooked by men who made either later or lesser contributions. This was still true in the 20th century but there has been improvement.
Arnie has been interested in the history and role of women in science since 1964 as a pre-med student. Arnie’s career progressed from Doctoral studies in Neurophysiology, to Science Education, to teaching in and administering science education programs in school districts and colleges for more than 40 years. He is a member of the Hunter College Alumni Association Hall of Fame and a Past President and Fellow of the Science Teachers Association of New York.
Program announcement for you to share: AAUW January 2025 Program Announcement
♦Artificial Intelligence (AI) Presentation and Discussion
On December 12, 2024, Jean-Claude Fouéré explained to a large group of AAUW members and friends how essential it for us to become aware of the moral and ethical considerations; the reshaping of many jobs; the spread of fake information, and the loss of privacy through the use of artificial intelligence.
Additional Information
♦New York State Equal Rights Amendment
On Thursday, October 10, 2024 The League of Women Voters of the Mid-Hudson Region (LWVMHR) gave a presentation for Poughkeepsie AAUW on the New York State Constitution Amendment Ballot Initiative that will be on the November ballot. If you were not present, please be sure you educate yourself on the provisions and importance of this initiative.
The speaker, Cindy Lanzetta is a Board member of the LWVMHR and chair of the ERA Task Force. The New York State Equal Rights Amendment is an amendment to New York’s State Constitution that adds explicit protections for people who experience discrimination at a moment when we are seeing state governments and courts walk backwards. The proposal embeds explicit protections within our state constitution.
Program details HERE.
President Celia Serotsky Report
Reports from your board and appointed office holders.
