february 11 branch meeting — why should i come to the...
TRANSCRIPT
February 11 Branch Meeting —
Why Should I Come to the February Branch Meeting?When people ask you what AAUW is, what do you tell them? The acronym AAUW stands for “American Association of University Women,” but then what do you say? Do you tell them we are a group of concerned women who meet each month to discuss issues that affect all women or that we raise money for scholarships for young women to attend college? Maybe you describe our branch by telling people about our mission, “Advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research,” but I think our organization is more than this. That is why our team has worked so hard to design a website that we can all be proud of, and we want to take you on a tour of this wonderful tool that you have at your fingertips. In addition to having the most up-to-date information on everything we are doing now, you will find a complete history of how we have worked for eighty years to improve women’s lives in Ashland. We will also provide a close look at the AAUW National website, and you will not believe what a wealth of knowledge it contains!
Established in 1881, 15 alumnae from eight colleges met in Boston to create an organization for women college graduates to find
greater opportunities to use their education and to enable other women to attend college. AAUW has since grown to become one of the world’s largest sources of funding exclusively for women college graduates. Every year they provide $3.5 -4 million in fellowships, grants, and awards for women and for community action projects.
Continued on Page 2.
B R E A K I N G T H R O U G H B A R R I E R S FEBRUARY 2017
The monthly newsletter of the Ashland, Oregon Branch. http://ashland-or.aauw.net
In This IssueBoard Notes 2February Branch Meeting continued 2Public Policy 3Membership News 4Oregon News 4AAUW of Oregon Survey 4In Our Thoughts 4Scholars News 5Top 5 Facts about Scholarships 5Interest Groups 6Holiday Party 7January Meeting 8Ashland Sisters March 9
Looking AheadBranch Meeting Feb. 11Fair Pay Lobby Day Feb. 15Branch Meeting Mar. 9Branch Meeting April 15Oregon State Convention April 21-23Celebration of Scholars May 24
Mission: AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.
March Branch Meeting Our speaker will be Marjorie Trueblood- Gamble, SOU’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Title IX Coordinator, who will share valuable information about the role of her department Please join us for this informative program. When: Thursday, March 9, 5-7:30 pm Where: Diversions Room, SOU Stevenson Union
Calendar 2017February 11, 2017 SAT., 9:30 a.m.–12 noonBranch Meeting: The Designing Divas feature a Website overview.Diversions Room, SOU
March 9, 2017THURS., 5–7:30 p.m. Branch Meeting: Speaker Marjorie Trueblood, SOU Director of Diversity and Inclusion, “Diversity and Inclusion”Diversions Room, SOU
April 15, 2017SAT., 9:30 a.m.–12 noonBranch Meeting & Presidents’ Meeting: Election and installation of officers, Florence Schneider Award and Named Gift Honoree Award presentation, Platinum Society AwardsDiversions Room, SOU
May 24, 2017Wed., 6–9 p.m. Celebration of ScholarsRogue River Room, SOU
June 23, 2017FRI., 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Annual Board RetreatAshland Public Library, Guanajuato Room
June 30, 2017AAUW membership renewal deadline for 2017–2018
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Financial Report – Kate Wolf-Pizor paid the first year’s premium for board liability coverage.
Jan 14th Branch Meeting – Pam Marsh, the newly-elected state representative from District 5 (Peter Buckley’s former seat), will speak. The Public Policy team will provide information regarding plans for Lobby Day in February.
Feb 11th Branch Meeting – The website overviews will include a tutorial of the branch site by Carol Mockridge and a video from the National site, “Barriers and Bias”, hosted by Cokie Roberts.
Bylaws – The Co-Presidents reformatted the branch bylaws to comply with new National guidelines. A final version will be posted on the branch website.
District, State, and National Participation – The budget line item to support attendance at AAUW conferences will be allocated for mileage and registration fees for two people to attend the State convention, and stipends for members attending the National Convention in Washington, DC.
E-mails – Some members have reported they have not received announcements and/or newsletters. Members should check their spam folders for communications from Maureen Wilson-Jarrard. All broadcast messaging should be sent to the Co-Presidents for approval; they forward the approved copy to Maureen who sends the all-member emails.
Community Projects
Maslow Project – Contributions collected at the November general meeting and at the holiday party will be used to purchase gift certificates to BiMart and Target for girls attending AHS.
Dunn House – The project this year is purchasing new vacuum cleaners for the shelter. The fund raiser is planned for the January meeting.
Membership – The next orientation event for new members is planned for January, and another is anticipated in the spring. As of this report, we have 177 members.
Communications – The Newsletter Committee has recruited a new co-editor to join the team, Marisa Stone.
Fundraising Team – The $$4Scholars committee recommended the proceeds be allocated as follows:
• 20% to be divided between the endowment funds at RCC and SOU
• 40% for scholarships for the current fiscal year
• 40% for scholarships awards in 2017-18
The money held for the 2017-18 academic year will be moved to the Vanguard account. The savings account returns are minimal (about 32 cents/month) and Vanguard is expected to yield an average of 5-7% annually.
Public Policy – Kathy Brandon resigned from the Public Policy team. We thank her for her contributions to Public Policy over the past six years, both as a member of the team and for serving as Chair this year.
A new Community Grants sub-committee has been established to raise funds for special projects such as community grants for local organizations (i.e. AWSEM, ScienceWorks, etc.) and Branch projects like NCCWSL and Public Policy initiatives. The committee is looking for ideas for small events that target nonmembers in order to expand public awareness of AAUW and bring in additional funds. Anyone interested in joining the committee should contact Chris Donchin.
Grant from AAUW Oregon – Janet Troy submitted a proposal for a project, Make Your Voice Heard, to identify resources for AAUW Public Policy priorities and to recruit members to attend Lobby Day in Salem. Interested members will meet in small groups at the homes of Julie Benezet, Carryl Breon, and Kate Wolf-Pizor during the week of January 23-30. The grant will cover the cost of information booklets and stipends for members who attend Lobby Day.
Nominating Committee – It is now time to identify people to fill positions for next year’s leadership. Anyone interested in participating should contact Sandy Theis.
DATE CHANGE for CELEBRATION OF SCHOLARS – Due to a special event at SOU, Celebration of Scholars has been rescheduled for Wednesday evening, May 24th. Linda Schott, SOU President, will give the welcome speech.
Board NotesNovember 28, 2016 Meeting
February Branch MeetingContinued from page 1.
The AAUW Foundation also funds pioneering research on women, girls, and education.
There is much more to learn about this wonderful organization and its inspiring work on behalf of women all over the world, but if you want to know what that is, you’ll just have to show up at our branch meeting on Saturday, February 11 at 9:30 am. But “where is this meeting going to be,” you ask? Look it up on our website. Just kidding! It will be in the Diversions Room of the Stevenson Union. Bring your laptop, iPad, or smart phone and follow along with us. We’ll have members on hand to assist you and Valentine cookies because we love you! ♥
When: Saturday, February 11 9:30 am social time 10 am program
Where: SOU Stevenson Union Diversions Room
November 28, 2016 was the 135-year anniversary of AAUW.In 1881, 17 women formed a committee to identify ways
to better the lives of college-educated women.
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Public Policy
Fair Pay and Lobby Day 2017
With the election behind us, AAUW stands with other progressive women’s organizations with optimism for the future of women and girls in our representative democracy. Our mission, programs, and advocacy all target equity and address the removal of bias and barriers for all women.
This year those policy priorities include the passage of a Fair Pay Bill, our top priority, Paid Family Leave, Comprehensive Women’s Health, Predictable Work Scheduling, Non-Discrimination for Caregivers, and Day Care Assistance.
Your Ashland Public Policy Team is studying these issues and preparing to advocate for them at the 2017 Oregon Legislative Session which begins on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 and ends July 9, 2017. Regular sessions convene each February and may last 160 days in odd-numbered years and 35 days in even-numbered years. With this longer legislative session, we are optimistic that a Fair Pay Bill will pass. Supporters of the bill started their work last year and will continue to move the legislation forward in 2017.
We all know that women do not get paid the same as men for the same work. Gender discrimination in compensation begins early and lasts a lifetime. Women one year out of college working full time get 82% of what their male peers are paid even after controlling for hours, occupation, major, and employment sector. And as women take over a male dominated field, the pay decreases - the opposite of the Midas touch.
The disparity gets locked in as the years pass and women discover in retirement that they did not receive the compensation they deserved. But by then it is too late. The disparity compounds as the years go by and may significantly reduce retirement benefits.
Here is suggested language for a Fair Pay Bill
An employer shall not pay any of its employees at wage rates less than the rates paid to employees of the opposite sex for substantially similar work, when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, and responsibility, and performed under similar working conditions.
Join your Public Policy team on AAUW of Oregon Lobby Day on February 15, 2017 in Salem to lobby for the passage of a Fair Pay Bill; carpool on Tuesday, February 14, stay at the Grand Hotel and return to Ashland on Thursday, February 16.
—Regina Ayars
p.s. We are still looking for personal stories about your own experience with gender discrimination in compensation. Send your short stories to Bessie Azari at [email protected].
Gateway Real Estate 541 261 -7939www.gateway-realestate.com/ julie-downey
Liz Murphy, CFP MBA/Financial AdvisorRaymond James Financial [email protected]/lizmurphy
Annette Pugh, BrokerGateway Real [email protected]
Sara Walker, BrokerPatricia Sprague Real Estate541-951-5454 [email protected]
Charitable Partners
These four members have pledged to make a donation to
either the AAUW/SOU or AAUW/RCC Scholarship Fund every time
an AAUW member uses their services or refers someone who
uses their services. We thank them for their generosity and
dedication to AAUW.
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Membership News
The year has already started for our Branch with another welcome to a new member! We are now 181 members strong!! Due to those joining over the past several months, on January 24 we held a second orientation event. Organized by Kori Calvert, our leadership team also included Elaine Hamlin, Sunny Anderson, Bessie Azari, Kathy Gorman, and Priscilla Arnold. This was a lively social time of meeting each other and hearing a bit about new members’ always-fascinating personal stories. The schedule also included presentations on how to be more involved with our Branch activities. Many thanks to those who participated, most especially to Kori!
A special message to ALL members is a request that you enter our all-member email address in your e-address book so that you don’t miss important messages. Announcements such as our Branch meeting alert will come to you from [email protected]. Since a couple of members have apparently missed getting these, please be sure your system is not filtering this address out of incoming email. You will be getting an additional directory update from this group address to print out and add to your 2017 membership book.
Below are the newest members of our Ashland Branch:
Em Gomez is a returning member of Ashland AAUW. She received a BA in Sociology and a Masters in Social Work from San Francisco State. She has worked as a Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist and for 17 years was a
counselor for faculty and staff at UCSF and UC Berkeley. Em moved to Ashland 11 years ago and established a private practice. She recently retired and has happily rejoined our Branch. Her interests include Buddhist studies, photography, travel, and community involvement.
Sue Nelson always had the dream of becoming a nurse, even working in a hospital during high school. She began working in the lab as a phlebotomist, moving up to the position of histologist. Then she pursued her goal, obtaining her nursing degree from Harper Rainey College in Illinois. After graduation, she worked as a home health nurse. Sue and husband CP live in Talent now, with their 3 cats and two dogs. Her interests include gardening, hiking, bike riding, cooking, painting, and many other activities.
Roseanne Wyatt graduated from Mary Washington College with a BS degree in Chemistry and then pursued graduate education in Biochemistry. She has worked professionally in research for Philip Morris and Chevron and for various medical diagnostic companies. Other career paths included managing orthopedic surgery practices and as COO for a nanotechnology start-up. From 2007 to 2016, she traveled with her husband Jeff as his work took them to Kuwait, Kazakhstan, and London. On retirement in June of 2016, they moved full-time to their home here in Ashland. Roseanne’s hobbies are cooking, hiking, wine tasting and reading.
AAUW SOUTH DISTRICT NEWS
Medford Branch Meetings
Saturday, February 4, 9:30 am Rogue Credit Union, 1330 Poplar Drive (corner of McAndrews)
“The X Factor: Female Faculty Support and Advocacy” with speaker Hala Schepmann, Professor of Chemistry at Southern Oregon University.
Saturday, March 4, 9:30 am Rogue Credit Union, 1330 Poplar Drive
“Endowments and Funding: The Crucial Work of AAUW.”
Grants Pass Events
Saturday, February 18, 10 am Branch Meeting, Fruitdale Grange
“How Energy Efficient Is Your Home?” with Karen Chase of the Energy Trust of Oregon.
Saturday, February 25
Girls Rock! is a fun-filled event for girls ages 9–13, who participate with their parents in activities that foster communication and explore the fields of science, math, and technology. More than 135 girls attended in 2016.
AAUW OREGON STATE CONVENTION
Friday–Sunday, April 21–23 Salishan Resort, Lincoln City
“Turning the Tide for Women & Girls”
AAUW Oregon News
Coming Soon-
AAUW of OREGON SurveyState planners are asking for each AAUW member in Oregon to answer questions about state conventions. This survey will be announced via OR NEWS and e-blast.
It’s safe, easy and anonymous. Watch for it!
—Gayle Clason, Co -District Director
Sara Walker made a financial donation to our Branch following
a successful Real Estate sale.
In Our Thoughts
The following ‘In Our Thoughts’ cards have been sent:
Karen Serrett had a surgical procedure in December.
Karen Spence will undergo a medical procedure in January.
Lynne Stolzer is scheduled for a hip replacement on 1/23.
Elaine Sweet recently had surgery on her back.
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Scholarship NewsTOP 5 Fast Facts About AAUW Ashland Scholarships1. YOU – our AAUW Ashland members fund our scholarships! Together strong, we work to enable other sisters to get an education and make a difference to their own lives, family, and community!
2. AAUW Ashland awarded scholarships in 2016 to 8 women at SOU and RCC, from diverse majors and pre-professional programs; at community college, undergraduate and graduate levels.
3. Our partners are Southern Oregon University Foundation (SOU) and Rogue Community College Foundation (RCC). With the help of each financial aid office, applicants are matched with funds for which they qualify. Each quarter the accounting office applies one third of the scholarship award to the student’s account to cover any university expense (i.e. tuition, on-campus housing, fees, and books); no checks are issued directly to students. No interest or earnings are accrued on these funds.
4. Our AAUW Ashland Scholarship Committee reviews the applications, in-terviews the finalist candidates, and selects scholars to receive our scholarship awards.
5. Annual Funds and Endowment Funds are available for both partner schools! Endowment Funds are invest-ments where the principal remains intact; earnings can be allocated to scholarships.
27th AnniversaryThe “U” in AAUW Ashland ScholarshipPersistence. For 27 years, Ashland AAUW Scholarship Funds have grown due to the dedication of you—our members! We know the power of “U” in us.
Together strong—we empower women students at Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University with scholarships. Together, our contributions of dollars are truly the sum of small and great.
Through our partnerships with RCC and SOU we support women from diverse backgrounds, academic studies, and leadership abilities. What a difference for women to be able to lessen the need to work two or three jobs and reduce their overall student loan debt!
Our AAUW Ashland Scholarships provide women students the time to invest in their studies, their families and our communities.
February starts our annual scholarship drive for 2017! Around Valentine’s Day you will receive a request in the mail for scholarship donations. We invite you to give and grow the financial support through our annual and endowment scholarship funds.
Join the scholarship committee members to review the applications: Peggy Moore, Elaine Sweet, Suzanne Hering, Susan Henderson, Mary Coombs, Priscilla Arnold, Lynda Gutierrez, Karen Wilson, Katharine Lang, Carole Florian, and Wanda Chin, Chair.
If you are interested in serving on the AAUW Ashland Scholarship Committee, email [email protected].
—Wanda Chin, AAUW Ashland Scholarship Co-Chair
2016 SOU Scholarship Recipients (from left: Sydney Lund, Daisy Proksch, Peyton Moore, Lauren Aldana, Katie Boehnlein
2016 RCC Scholarship Recipients (from left): Jangle Swain, Michele Goldfelder, Theresa Jensen, Jocksana Cortona
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Interest GroupsContact the Coordinator to join a group.
Arts and Language
MUSICALS meets the third Monday of the month at 4:30 pm, usually at the home of Ed Perkins. Look for a group e-mail. Coordinator: Diane Novak
OPERA meets at 4 pm on the first Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting is February 7 at the home of Ed Perkins. We will be watching “L’Etoile” by Chabrier. Bring a hearty appetizer/potluck dish and wine or other beverage to share. For further information, contact Coordinator: Nancy Kramarenko.
PLAY READING will meet at Carolyn Peake’s house for the next three months, December through February, at 4 pm on the 4th Friday of each month. We will be reading “Shakespeare in Love.” Coordinators: Annette Lewis and Carolyn Peake
SHAKESPEARE AT OSF will meet at Barbara Willson’s home the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 12:30 pm. We will continue “Henry IV, Part 1.” Coordinators: Annette Lewis and Peggy Audibert
Book GroupsADELANTE! Online book group sponsored by AAUW. Go to www.aauw/org/resource/adelante-book-list. In recognition of Black History Month, February’s selection is “Florynce ‘Flo’ Kennedy: The Life of a Black Feminist Radical” by Sherie M. Randolph, 2005-06
AAUW American Fellow. In the first biography of Kennedy, Randolph traces the life and political influence of this bold and controversial radical activist. Using an extensive and previously uncollected archive, Randolph demonstrates profound connections within the histories of the New Left, civil rights, Black Power, and feminism, showing that black feminism was pivotal in shaping the postwar U.S. liberation movements.
BRAIN BOOKS discussion group will meet on February 28 to discuss “What Intelligence Tests Miss: The Psychology of Rational Thought” by Keith Stanovich (2009), a solid evidence-based probing of why intelligent people (like some of our Presidents) sometimes do really irrational things. The group meets on the fourth Tuesday 1:30-3:30 pm, in Ashland Public Library. New members are welcome! Coordinator Sandra Coyner.
FICTION DAY BOOKS meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 1-3 pm. We will meet at the home of Iris Milan on Wednesday, February 15, from 1–3 pm to discuss “Last Bus to Wisdom” by Ivan Doig. Please RSVP to Coordinator: Kate Wolf-Pizor
MONDAY EVENING BOOKS will meet on Monday, February 13 at 7 pm at Margaret Dole’s home to discuss “Everything I Never Told You” by Celeste Ng. Coordinator: Shannon Stuver
DAY NONFICTION: We meet on the 1st Wednesday at 1 pm. Because we had to cancel our January meeting due to snow, discussion of each month’s book will be pushed forward to the following month, keeping the original hosts and leaders. On February 1 we will discuss “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates at the home of Diana Quirk who will also lead. She suggests reading some background material, such as a classic book or article on the role of Blacks in America to enhance the discussion. Coordinator: Linda Lipkind
EVENING NONFICTION meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 pm. On February 15 we will meet at the home of Gretchen King to discuss “Truman” by David McCullough. We would welcome new members! Coordinator: Ellen Fowler
THURSDAY EVENING MYSTERY will gather on Thursday, February 9 at 7 pm at the home of Chris Donchin to discuss “Coroner’s Lunch” by Colin Cotterill. All are welcome. Please let Chris know if you are planning to attend. Coordinators: Carol Ryan or Rosemary Adalian
Dining, Games, Knitting & GenealogyDINNER CLUB: Enjoy casual dinners three times a year. Coordinators: Sunny Anderson and Elaine Sweet
POTLUCK SUPPERS: Look for an email. Coordinator: Elaine Sweet
BOARD GAMES meets the 1st Wednesday at 7 pm. We will meet February 1 at the home of Shannon Stuver and on March 1 at the home of Jean Conger. RSVP to hostess and Coordinator. Coordinator: Christy Austermann
GENEALOGY meets on the 4th Thursday from 1:15-3:45 pm at the Jackson County Genealogy Library, 3405 S. Pacific Hwy., Medford. Our group extended its time slot by one-half hour to include a genealogical fact-based creative writing segment for interested members who attend our regular group. Current group members who wish to participate may stay for the sharing of our writing efforts at the end of our regular meeting. Our goal is to move beyond the statistics we’ve gathered about our ancestors and attempt to personalize them by focusing on the roles they’ve played within their historical times. We welcome any AAUW Ashland member interested in family research (beginning or advanced) who would like to participate in the exchange of family history discoveries, stories, and tips. Coordinator: Linda Lipkind
KNITTERS AND STITCHERS will meet Thursday, February 3 from 1-3 pm at the home of Peggy Audibert. As a courtesy, please RSVP to Peggy if you plan to attend, and bring a hand project to work on. Coordinator: Peggy Audibert
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From left: David Wickwire, Suze Yenchick, Regina Ayers, Bessie Azari, Richard Brewer, Pat Brewer
Our bartenders (from left): Catherine Lutes-Koths, Mike LeTourneau, Elaine Sweet
From left: Maureen Wilson-Jarrard, Vicky Griffen, Paula Wilkin, Howard McEwen, Jim Wolf-Pizor, Kate Wolf-Pizor, Rae Otto, Galen Otto
December Holiday Party
From left: Chris Donchin, Shannon Stuver, Caroline Morse, Margaret Karsten
From left: Ellen Fowler, Rosemary Adalian, Linda Lipkind, Elaine Hamlin
From left: Alice Mallory, Wanda Chin, Chris Donchin
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Ashland Vision is a monthly newsletter of the Ashland,
Oregon, Branch of AAUW
Vol. 31, No. 5 — February 2017
Co Presidents: Elaine Hamlin and Sandy Theis
Financial Officer: Diana Quirk
Recording Secretary: Peggy Moore
Membership Chair: Priscilla Arnold
Public Policy Chair: Kathy Brandon
Contact Secretary: Rosemary Adalian
Newsletter Team
Editors: Pat Brewer, Ellen Fowler and Marisa Stone
Designer: Chris Licata
Photographer: Alice Mallory
Readers: Rae Otto, Alice Mallory, Margaret Karsten
Newsletter deadline is the 15th of the month. Photos of interest group activities are welcome.
AAUW Ashland Website: http://ashland-or.aauw.net
In principle and in practice, AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no
barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or class.
Newly elected Oregon State Representative Pam Marsh was featured speaker at January meeting, with informative talk about legislative priorities for 2017.
January 2017 Meeting
New members were introduced by Priscilla Arnold, including (from left): Roseanne Wyatt, Wenonoa Spivak, Vicky Griffin, Paula Wiiken
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Kate Wolf-Pizor and Alice Mallory
Mimi Pippel addresses the crowd
at the Lithia Park bandshell
AAUW Ashland members Ginny Dugan and Donna Wright carrying the AAUW banner
AAUW Ashland Member Karen Grove participated in a sister march in Oaxaca, Mexico photo by Karen Grove
Sign at the Newseum, a museum dedicated to the First Amendment Photo from Ellen Fowler
AAUW members, Catherine Lutes, Diane Novak, and Bessie Azari .
AAUW Members Unite at Home and Across the World!
Crowd gathers at the starting point of the Ashand Sister March
A small section of the crowd in Washington D.C. Photo from Ellen Fowler
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