Leadership Conference

June 2017

Congratulations to our newly elected President-elect Patricia Ross.Two most qualified members were slated. We thankthem both for their willingness, unselfishness, anddedication as we continue to fulfill our mission.

2017 leadership conference concludes. Thanksto everyone who participated in and planned thisyear's Leadership Conference – Branches Leadingthe Way – held Sunday, April 2, and Monday, April3, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sarasota.

It was indeed a rewarding experience. The venuewas beautiful and well-suited to our needs, and the workshops wereexceptional – as feedback from members affirmed. It was gratifying to seemany first-timers attend, including younger women who hold greatpromise for the future of our organization. Overall, however, attendancewas not what we'd hoped. That meant we could not meet the guaranteewe'd made to the hotel for the number of guest rooms needed, and had tomake up the financial obligation for the shortfall.

Plans underway for 2018 convention. Our goal for our nextstatewide gathering is to have more members attend – so mark yourcalendars for Sunday, April 22, and Monday, April 23, and join us againat the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota. The convention is an important eventthat enables us to meet other members from throughout the state and todiscuss and strategize in person to achieve our common goals.

In determining the dates and place for the convention, we weighedseveral factors. In setting the place, we considered the logistics of Florida,trying to meet most members halfway. The dates we selected are near theend of tourist season, not only offering lower room rates, but also with theability to accommodate members who are seasonal residents.

If you are interested in being part of the conference planningcommittee, just let me know (sdreid1965@aol.com).

Concerns about Tech Trek. The future of Tech Trek weighs heavilyon our minds. National announced that it will no longer provide financialsupport or manage Tech Trek after 2017. Instead, it will be up to each stateorganization. Tech Trek is important to Florida and, we are determined tomake certain this program continues.. We will keep you updated.

Board changes. We welcome Antoinette Kruse to the post of webmanager, and Judith Bonn, who will take on the duties of Director ofDevelopment. She replaces Florence McNally, who resigned recently dueto illness. ■

President’s Message

floriVision

Shirley ReidPresident, AAUW-FL

What’s Inside

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

List of Officers,Appointees . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Election Results . . . . . . . . . 3

2017 LeadershipConference/AnnualMeeting Recap . . . . . . . . 4, 5

ReportMemory board

Photos

Tech Trek . . . . . . . . . . . . .6, 7ReportPhotos

State, Branch News . . . . . .8MembershipLobby DaysNova Southeastern

OcalaPompanoVenice

floriVision: June 2017 Page 2

Calendar/State Officers and Appointees

Appointed Officers

Bylaws, Policies, Resolutions – Carol NewnamHistorian – Linda BarkerParliamentarian – Mimi WelchAdministrative Assistant – Sue Shea

Other appointees

C/U Partner Liaison – Susan CornehlSocial Media Chair – Diane SchrierWeb Manager – Antoinette KruseTech Trek Director – Sue SloneVoting and Elections Chair – Virginia FaraceSTEM Chair – Laura AdolfieDiversity Coordinator – Synthia FletcherResearch Director – Kamala Anandam

Elected Officers

President – Shirley ReidPresident-elect – Patricia RossDirector for Program – Jacqueline D’AlessioCo-Directors for Membership – Coral“Corky” Miller, Maria BarbosaDirector for Finance – Kathy VanderVlietDirector for Development – Judith BonnCo-Directors for Communications – LauraAdolfie, Carol MacDonald (florVision)Director for Public Policy –Patricia DeWittSecretary - Susan Baird

2017

Friday, September 8 –Deadline, hotel reservations for October 7, AAUW-FLboard meeting.Saturday, October 7, Noon – AAUW-FL board meeting, Deadline, hotelreservations for October 7, State board meeting. Hampton Inn & SuitesSarasota, 8565 Cooper Creek Boulevard, University Park, FL. ( 941) 355-8619.Friday, December 29 – Deadline, hotel reservations for January 27, 2018,AAUW-FL board meeting.

2018

Saturday, January 27, Noon – AAUW-FL board meeting, Hampton Inn & Suites,Sarasota, 8565 Cooper Creek Boulevard, University Park, FL. (941) 355-8619.Sunday, April 22, and Monday, April 23 – 2018 AAUW-FL State Conference,Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sarasota.

2017-2018 AAUW-FL Officers and Appointees

New web manager, development director named

Antoinette Kruse has stepped in as web manager. She plans to update the site frequently, sobe sure to check it out often – http://aauw-fl.aauw.net/. Judith Bonn will take over as Directorof Development, replacing Florence McNally, who resigned due to illness. ■

Looking Ahead

floriVision: June 2017 Page 3

State Board Election

President-elect, board members selected

Election results are in, andPatricia Ross is the new AAUW-FL president-elect, winning overDiane Schrier by 55 votes.

Three posts were uncontested.Jacqueline D’Alessio will serveher second term as director forprograms, and Patricia DeWitt, hersecond for director for publicpolicy.

Kathy VanderVliet takes overas director of finance, the postheld previously by Nancy Pura.The completion of voting closesthe annual meeting that wasopened at the April conference.

This was the first time in manyyears that there was a contest forpresident-elect. Ross received 141votes and Schrier, 86, of the votescast for president. Schriercongratulated Ross on running avery professional campaign and

said she was sure Ross would do avery good job.

More members voted online –230 – than with paper ballots – 5.Two bylaw amendments (explainedin the February 2017 floriVision)passed, with 207 Yes votes.

Although the total number ofmembers voting seems low, thequorum needed is just 5 percent ofmembers. This year’s turnout was11 percent, more than double thequorum, said Virginia Farace,Voting and Elections Committeechair. Last year's percent was 9.69percent, she added.

Farace also noted that beforeOne Member One Vote, only thosewho attended conventions couldvote. OMOV allows everyone toparticipate.

For complete election results, goto http://aauw-fl.aauw.net/.■

Jacqueline D’Alessio,

Director for Programs: As Ienter my second term asDirector for Programs, my goalis to visit as many branches aspossible to implement thetheme of the 2017 LeadershipConference, Branches Leadingthe Way. If your branch wouldlike me to visit betweenJanuary and May 2018, emailme at jqline@verizon.net.

After July 2017 visit theAAUW-FL website for anupdate on two of ourunderused programs: Leaderon Loan and Mini Grants. I lookforward to seeing many of youduring the coming year.

Patricia Ross, president-

elect: I am both honored andexcited to be voted AAUW-FLPresident-Elect. Thank you foryour confidence in me.

I know that workingtogether, we can expand ourprograms and advocacy toempower women in Florida.We have much to do if AAUW-FL is to be recognized for ourimportant work. Please let meknow how AAUW-FL can workwith you to ensure your effortsand ours are most effective.Email me at Paross@aol.com.

Elections will be held in 2018for four posts: Director forMembership, Director forDevelopment, Director forCommunications, and Secretary.

Members who will serve onthe Nominating Committee thatwill develop the slate for theelections are Marge Ostrom,

Nominating Committee set for 2018 election

Venice; Margaret Arthur, Ocalaand Nancy Pura, West Pasco.

Board members on thecommittee are Patricia DeWitt.Jacksonville, and JacquelineD’Alessio, Manatee County.

Paula Staier, Sun City, andAvalon McGann, Vero Beachare alternates . ■

Patricia DeWitt, Director for

Public Policy: I am happy toserve another two-year term asDirector for Public Policy. Wehave seen several fine branchprojects in support of our publicpolicy goals and I hope morebranches and individuals willstep up to help advance AAUW'sobjectives in their communitiesand with local, state and nationalgovernment. ■

Officers reach out

to members

Patricia RossPresident-elect

Jacqueline D’AlessioDirector for Programs

Patricia DeWittDirector for PublicPolicy

Kathy VanderVlietDirector for Finance

floriVision: June 2017

Leadership Conference/Annual Meeting

Page 4

Eighty-four AAUW-FL mem-bers from twenty branches attend-ed this year's AAUW-FLLeadership Conference and leftrejuvenated and ready to plan theirAAUW year with programs aimedat advancing AAUW’s mission ofequity for women and girls.

The conference was held Sun-day, April 2, and Monday, April 3,at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Sara-sota.

Keynote speaker Sonja W. Gar-cia, an advocate for educational ini-tiatives, inspired attendees to takeaction by supporting women andgirls in their quest for education.

Joanna Amberger, a member ofAAUW’s Board of Directors, updat-ed conference attendees on nationalinitiatives. She stressed the benefitsof being part of a larger group thatadvocates for change, especially inthe current climate, and encouragedmembers to sign up for AAUWtools such as the Two-Minute Activ-ist.

Four workshops focused onbranches sharing their successes andgave participants a toolkit of ideasand projects for becoming part ofthe rising tide of advocacy for wom-en and girls.

• “Finance and Membership

Perfect Together” was an interac-tive workshop bringing all the stake-holders in the membership processtogether to allow branch participantsto share solutions on sustaininghealthy branches.

•“The Nuts and Bolts of

Branch Leadership” offered thelatest updates on strategic planning,bylaws, membership, fund raising,and programs from state and branch

leaders who had exciting, pre-testedsuggestions to help build committedbranches.

• “Get Out on the Town” en-couraged branches to take theAAUW message to the communityat large. Three recipients of AAUWPublic Policy Impact Grants pre-sented their projects.

• “STEM Initiative-Girls and

Branches Reap Tangible Benefits

and Your Branch Can TOO” pre-sented ways in which AAUW-FLbranches can connect with girls, par-ents, teachers, businesses, local gov-ernments, and other non-profits toraise awareness of AAUW’s mis-sion, programs, and highly talentedmembers.

The participants learned howbranches have increased member-ship and formed impactful alliancesin their local communities throughengaging and supporting STEM ini-tiatives.

–Jacqueline D’Alessio, AAUW-FL Di-rector for Programs. ■

Branches had key role at April conference

Memory Board honors recently deceased members

Mildred Marshall—JacksonvilleGeorgina Barrett—JacksonvilleMarjorie Glessner—FlaglerColleen Wells –SarasotaArlene Kern—SarasotaHarriet Nace--Daytona BeachJoann Eaton--Daytona BeachLois Gassett--St. AugustineCarol Leahy-Roberts—VeniceEthel Schaffer—VenicePat Fox--Punta Gorda-Port CharlottePhyllis Williams—Lake/SumterCarol Napper--St. AugustineMarybelle Roberts—Ocala

Nancy Hample--OcalaAnn Strachter--Vero BeachGloria Chermak—WestonCandy Fish – Nova SoutheasternElinor Crawford—SarasotaHellen Offutt--Ft. LauderdaleEllen Kirby--Ft. LauderdaleHelen Landers--Ft. LauderdaleKaren Hosto--Ft. LauderdaleJuliet Love--Ft. LauderdaleGermaine Savia—ManateeBarbara Turner-Grace—ManateeShirley Coates--Vero BeachGloria Woods--Vero Beach ■

A Memory Board at the April Leadership Conference memorializedAAUW branch members who had passed away since April 2016. Namesincluded on the board by attendees at the conference were:

floriVision: June 2017

Leadership Conference/Annual Meeting (Continued)

Page 5

PatDeWitt

ShirleyReid,(left),SonjaGarcia

Nancy PuraLinda Guilfoyle (left), Susan Farstrup

Lunch in the Boat House.

Meet-and-greet reception.

Left to right:MaryAnn Sines,Laura Adolfie, JudyBonn, Pat DeWitt,Pat Ross, DianeSchrier, KarenZalkin

Left to right: Sue Slone, CindyAdolfie, Laura Adolfie

SusanBarley(left),JoannaAmberger

Carol Newnam

Madeline Roby, TechTrek camper, (left) andElizabeth Roby, hermother. Left to right: Diana Sells, Audrey Laue,

Kathy Oarr

AntoinetteKruse (left),Pat Ross

Water views with meals.

Leadership Conference

floriVision: June 2017 Page 6

By Laura Adolfie, STEM Chair

Tech Trek 2017

62 girls hone STEM interests at this year’s camp

Florida’s 2017 Tech Trek girlsmay have started camp with “Ithink I can, I think I can. But theyended the week with “ I KNOW Ican.”

Sue Slone, director of AAUW-FL’s Tech Trek camp summed it up:“Great girls, great instructors, greatteam, great week!”

This was AAUW-FL’s fifth yearoffering Tech Trek Camp (June 11-17, 2017) and the second year thatthe camp was held at the adjoiningcampuses of Palm Beach StateCollege and Florida AtlanticUniversity, Boca Raton.

Thanks to AAUW-FL, a numberof our branches, and camp sponsors,62 girls from across the state wereable to experience a high-quality,educational experience that launchedor solidified their interest in the fieldof science, technology, engineering,and mathematics (STEM) and thepossibility of STEM careers.

Building skills

The focus of Tech Trek camp isto build and hone our girls’ STEMskills and increase their confidence,using well-designed curricula andproviding reinforcing extracurricularactivities.

Other major components of theTech Trek experience include aProfessional Women’s Night thatprovides girls with an up-close andpersonal opportunity to meetsuccessful STEM women and a fieldtrip, which this year is to the SouthFlorida Science Center andPlanetarium.

Of course, having fun and beingwith diverse, like-minded girls asnew friendships develop is anotherimportant aspect of the camp.

Schedule

Over the course of the week,girls focus in one primary area ofcomputing and engineering andare introduced to other STEMareas and activities as well. Thefour core courses offered include:App Inventor, Cyber Security,Engineering and Robotics. Priorto camp, girls choose their corecourse of interest.

Each day, after a healthybreakfast, girls head to their corecourse for the morning. By theend of the five days, girls whocame with little or no knowledgehave built an app, bridge, robotor code.

In the afternoon and by theend of the week, girls haveparticipated in DNA, SimpleMachines, Chemistry, Zumba,Scratch (computer animationusing coding), Problem-solving,Rocketry, and Hip Hop courses.

After dinner there areworkshops, discussions, andplanning for their presentationsto parents.

Exceptional team

The key component to thegirls’ transformation is theinstruction and support, and, thisyear’s team was exceptional,Slone said.

“Girls were instructed bycurrent STEM professors,teachers, and professionals; thecounselors and staff from PBSCand FAU Boca were well-organized and well-trained; andthe Tech Trek planning team dida great job,” she added.

She also noted thatProfessional Women’s Night was

a great success with the girls.Attending this year’s dinner werewomen representing a wide varietyof STEM disciplines andprofessions. Prior to the paneldiscussions, each STEMprofessional dined with a smallgroup of girls to exchangeinformation and guidance.

It is an important fact thatFlorida needs more girls majoringin and women working in STEMoccupations, especially incomputing and engineering.AAUW-FL and all branches,working together across the state,can make this our legacy and areality. ■

Got tech know-how?The AAUW-FL Tech Trek

Committee needs a volunteerwith technology knowledge towork with the committee thisyear. Interested? Contact SueSlone at techtrekfl16@gmail.comfor more information. ■

Team effort made

camp successful

Tech Trek Camp 2017 hasconcluded as a great success.

My sincere thanks to allwho helped to make it happen.From the branches and theirmembers, to the planningcommittee and those who livedin the dorm and worked allweek to provide for the girls, itwas a team effort that ensuredsuccess.

–Sue Slone, 2017 Tech TrekCamp Director. ■

Tech Trek 2017 (Continued)

Page 7floriVision: June 2017

This Year’s Campers and the Tech Trek Team

Left to right:Daniela Ileana,Katina Fasul,Randee Morris,Sarah Lombardo,JeanetteWyneken, KerriFoley, LumineseGilot.

Lourdes Avellana,from AerojetRocketdyneanswers questions.

Professional Women’s Night Building STEM skills all week

Dressed up for Professional Women’sNight. Left to right, front row: MalaikaRussell, Greanne Mosquera, GiannaFalbo; back row, Mallory Tyler, GivaClavizzao, Stephanie Nguyen, AlanaSapp, Skyler Simmonds.

Left to right: Christina Romelus Marianne Porter, MariaAscencio, Lourdes Avellana, Nicole Peterkin, CarlaDuhaney, Becky Mercer, Jerri White. (Romelus, Mercer,and White are AAUW members.)

Left toright: AnnaLee, KaylaPham andAbriannaSeibertwith othermembersof theirdormgroup in ateam-buildingactivity.

Left to right: Kaitlin Flaherty,Katherine Zolner, Karissa Jackson,Sa'Mya Williams, Ella Armbrusterwith other campers in a team-building activity.

Carmen Cirar (left) and JillianParrish build a bridge in theengineering core course.

JennaWilkinson(left) andKimmySmith,intent appinventors.

Creating presentations.

floriVision: June 2017 Page 8

State and Branch News

Grant will help PACE Center initiative

The clear winner of the“February is Membership”campaign is the AAUW branch atNova Southeastern University.

A new branch, their member-ship more than doubled, startingwith six in January and adding eightin February. Congratulations to thebranch and its president, RandiSims.

All branch Directors forMembership should be proud ofwhat they have accomplished. TheMembership Services Databaseshows that 32 new membersjoined in January and February.

To validate these figures andbring the tally up to date, allbranch marketing directors areasked to email the state co-directors the number of newmembers engaged fromSeptember 2016 to present. Tokeep counts accurate goingforward, branches should email thestate co-directors whenever a newmember is installed.

--Thank you all for MakingMembership matter. We are here tohelp. Do not hesitate to contact us:Co-Directors for Membership:Coral ‘Corky’ Miller, millerca330@Comcast.net; Maria Barbosa

AAUW members know howspecial our Tech Trek program isand how much it costs. But thatdoesn’t mean their communitiesknow enough about it and howimportant it is to help support it.

So when Patricia Woodbury ofthe Ocala branch submitted an

The Nova Southeastern Univer-sity branch recently received one ofAAUW’s Community ActionGrants to support its work at thePACE Center for Girls in Fort Lau-derdale in 2017-18.

The grant will be used to imple-ment the new E-STEAM (Explor-ing – Science, Technology,Engineering, Art & Math) Projectfor Girls.

An experiential learning initia-tive, STEAM, is aimed at encour-aging girls to pursue highereducation and STEAM careersthrough mentorship, interactiveactivities, and academic successworkshops.

The AAUW-NSU branch isalready active at the Fort Lauder-dale PACE Center, a not-for-profitorganization that provides non-resi-dential, prevention, intervention,and diversion services for girls andyoung women in Broward County.

Campus visits, class visitation,science demonstrations, art proj-ects, and a tour of NSU’s GuyHarvey Oceanographic Center areamong the activities in whichmembers participate.

AAUW’s Community ActionGrants fund innovative programsthat promote education and equal-ity for women and girls.

The grant NSU received wasone of 250 awards given bynational and provided more than$3.7 million in funding for fellowsand grantees in the 2017–18 awardyear, which kicks off in July.

AAUW-NSU members JulieTorruellas Garcia, associate profes-sor at the Halmos College ofNatural Science and Oceanogra-phy, and Sheila Fabius, director ofundergraduate student success atthe NSU’s College of Under-graduate Studies, spearheaded thegrant. ■

article and photo to the newspaper,she didn’t just name the local girlsattending. She described theprogram in detail and askedcommunity members for donations,making sure to include wherechecks were to be sent and who tocontact for more info. ■

AAUW-FL President ShirleyReid took to the road recentlyto install new officers in thePompano and Venice branches.“It was an honor,” she said. Sheoffered her congratulations toboth branches , which alsoawarded scholarships todeserving young womencontinuing their education. ■

Reid installs officers

in Pompano, Venice

Ocala gets good press for Tech Trek

New-member numbers up

Letting legislators know where we stand

AAUW membersmade sure state legis-lators were up to dateon key Public Policyissues during this year’sLobby Days trek toTallahassee March 14-15. A Rally for EqualPay for Equal Work wasalso on the agenda.■