Text Box: Volume 29, Number 5 January, 2009 Page # Text Box: Legal Advocacy Foundation Text Box: Branch Contributions to LAF Happy New Year!  It's time to start gathering gently-used books and other media material for the LAF sale event at the May 16th luncheon.  Last year our branch members spent $217 for books; Browsers' Books bought $25 worth and Book Bin bought $7.70 worth; and a member gave $15 to the book sale.  The total proceeds for the sale was $249.70.  Our total branch contribution to LAF was $825--member checks ($305) and fundraisers ( $520).  Thanks so much! LAF Updates Purpose and Goal: The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund was conceived and implemented to aggregate member contributions to invest in activities that prevent and combat sex disrimination and promote gender equity through support of litigation and educational programs.  Beginning January 1, 2009, LAF case support will expand Text Box: to address discrimination cases that protect women in all workplaces, as well as those that arise in the academic context.  Specifically, LAF will seek to support plaintiffs with significant cases that have the potential to set precedent and protect others against discrimination in the future. Current and past plaintiffs: * While LAF has notified 2008 LAF plaintiffs that their funding will terminate on December 31, 2008, most of the cases supported in 2008 have already ended.  The few remaining plaintiffs are welcome to apply for support under the new LAF criteria, and further support decisions will be made through the processes described in the criteria. *LAF will continue to provide travel grants and stipends to LAF speakers as requested by branches and will work proactively with potential speakers, including those we support as amicus Text Box: curiae, to encourage their participation.  Educational Foundation Board Oversight LAF operates under the auspices of the Educational Foundation, which makes the EF board the voting body until after the restructure vote. *Staff will work with branches to expand the marketing of "Campus Outreach Programs" to encourage more branches and colleges to participate. *Staff will continue to expand the online "LAF Resource Library". Information on the Family and Medical Leave Act and Pregnancy Discrimination Act have recently been added and information on sexual harassment in workplace will be posted in late December. *The LAF strategic case expansion will take effect January 1, 2009, with specific criteria for case selection and an articulated process for decision making. 

By Legal Advocacy  Foundation  Chair

Marilyn Roland

rolandm2@comcast.net