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Volume 33, No. 8 Five Cities – Pismo Beach (CA) Newsletter April, 2012

Newsletter Editor: joanflorence13@yahoo.com http://5citiespismobeachaauw.wordpress.com

President’s Message

We are quickly coming to the end of another year of AAUW general meetings. The

programs this year have been wonderful, enlightening, and on target with our mission, both locally

and nationally. Through diligent fundraising, both the old-fashioned way and through grants we

were able to provide three scholarships to high school graduating seniors, and six scholarships for

Tech Trek campers. Thanks to all of you who made each of these events happen. It is so satisfying

to work with a group which is able to accomplish so much.

We still have work to do, though. The book sale is May 19, as well as staffing the polls on

June 5. All money earned this year will be the budget for next year. If we want to continue

handing out those scholarships, we need to have these be a huge success.

We have new projects through IBC working with Cal Poly students. Get Out the Vote,

encourages students to register and vote, while $mart $tart, guides them on negotiating salaries

in their first jobs. These are very much in line with AAUW’s Public Policies and help to inform the

public about AAUW and our mission.

Another Interbranch project that needs help is an essay contest on women’s history written by

middle and high school students. It is being conducted jointly by AAUW, The League of Women

Voters, and San Luis Obispo County Office of Education. Please contact Lynn Janeway

gljaneway@yahoo.com if you are available on May 8, from 8:30-3:00 to come to the County Office

of Education and read and evaluate essays.

Be on the look-out for information from AAUW State on the upcoming elections for State

officers. Voting no longer takes place at the convention. Now, it is One Member, One Vote. Every

AAUW member is encouraged to read the candidate information available on the State website or

in the Perspective. This year the presidency is contested, so there is a decision to make. (It

should not be nearly as difficult, nor nearly as entertaining as the Republican race, though.) Voting

will take place on line. Those who do not have email access will be receiving a paper ballot.

For our final general meeting, the dinner at Spyglass Restaurant should be a grand affair

for the installation of our in-coming board and a gathering for general members. I hope to see you

there.

Susan Gray

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CALENDAR 2012

MAY

3 Lunch Bunch 11:30 am 17 Finessing Femmes

5 Book Sort 10 am 19 Book Sale

8 Night Readers 7 pm 21 General Meeting 6 pm

10 Book Sort 1 pm 29 Great Decisions 7 pm

12 Cooking Together 5:30 pm JUNE

12 Book Sort 10 am 5 VOTE!!!

15 Book Sort 1 pm 15 Dues Deadline

Meeting and Program Information Corner

Program Vice President Jean Burns Slater

May Meeting

The May meeting will be a celebration of Branch activities, recognition of current

officers and installation of new officers and will be held at Spyglass Inn Restaurant of

Shell Beach on May 21, Monday. A reservation form is included in this newsletter and

due by May 12. Please print out the reservation form, select your entrée choice and

send the form, along with the dinner cost to Jean Burns Slater, whose address is on the

reservation form. The cost is $32, including salad, entrée of baked salmon, chicken

sautéed in a butter lemon sauce with capers or Eggplant Parmesan, vegetables and

dessert. A no host bar begins at 6:00 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Please join

us as we celebrate our Branch activities which provide the community of Five Cities and

Pismo Beach with advocacy, education, philanthropy and research focusing on women and

girls.

2011-2012 Program Evaluation

Included in this newsletter is a Branch program survey for 2011-12. This survey will

assist in evaluating program topics’ relevance for members and provide direction for

2012-13 Programs. Please print out the program survey, follow directions and drop the

survey off at the May meeting. You may also email it to jbslater2006@gmail.com or

mail a hard copy to Jean Burns Slater at 3132 Meadowbrook Lane, San Luis Obispo, CA

93405. Thank you for your help in providing direction for the 2012-13 programs.

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Please Join

Five Cities-Pismo Beach AAUW Branch members for

Year End Recognition and Installation of Officers Dinner

Spyglass Inn Restaurant

2703 Spyglass Drive, Shell Beach

May 21, 2012 Monday 6:00 p.m.

Program: 6:00 pm Arrival, Mingling and No Host Bar

Introduction of New Members

6:30 pm Dinner Service

7:15 pm Recognition of Current Board Members: President Susan Gray

AAUW CA Five Cities-Pismo Beach Branch Named Gift Honorees

Installation of New Officers

2011-2012 Program Survey: Completion & Collection

Announcements

Dinner Cost: $32, including tax and tip

Menu: Mixed Green Salad, Entrée Selection, Rolls, Non Alcoholic Beverages, and Dessert

Entrée selections:

Baked Salmon, lemon dill sauce, served with rice pilaf and fresh vegetables

Chicken sautéed in butter lemon sauce with capers, garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables

Eggplant Parmesan with eggplant, spinach, roasted tomatoes, Marinara sauce and mozzarella

cheese.

Reservations requested by May 12th. Questions: 627-1845. Please mail your entrée selection and payment by

check, made out to Five Cities-Pismo Beach AAUW to:

Program Co-Chair Jean Burns Slater

3132 Meadowbrook Lane

San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ ________

Entrée Selection

Baked Salmon____________Lemon Chicken _____________ Eggplant Parmesan _________

______________________________ Number of guests______________

Name

Amount enclosed _______ x $32 = ________

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American Association of University Women

Five Cities – Pismo Beach Branch

DATE: Saturday, May 19, 2012

TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

PLACE: K-MART Parking Lot,

Arroyo Grande

Bargains

Galore!

$5.00 a Bag after 1:30 p.m.

We will pick up your book donations.

Call 481-3844 or 544-7149

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COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Three of our outstanding senior women were presented certificates representing their

$1,000 scholarships at our April general meeting. These winners were selected from

forty one applicants. Gennerous donations from eight branch members allowed us to

award a fourth scholarship this year. Pictured from left to right are: Melinda Marchiano

from Nipomo High who is headed for Pepperdine University with a pre-med major on her

way to becoming an oncologist, Stephani Domakio from Arroyo Grande High who will

attend UCLA with a political science major prior to law school, and Jenna MacCarley from

Nipomo High who will go to Carnegie Mellon University with an electrical engineering

major. Our fourth winner, Kylie Anderson from Arroyo Grande High was at Fresno State

attending a mandatory orientation in an honors program. Her major will be interior

design.

The thirteen members of the Scholarship Committee were in awe of the accomplish-

ments of these outstanding young women. Melinda is a published author of “Grace”, an

account of her journey through Hodgkins Lymphoma. Kylie designs and sells jewelry

through a self designed website. Jenna is currently ranked first in her class while

competing on both the varsity cross country and water polo teams. Stephani maintained

a 4.5 GPA while participating on the varsity tennis team, which won the PAC 7 League

Championships for service completed by all four young women.

We urge all members to consider a tax deductible donation to the Scholarship

Committee for the upcoming fiscal year so we may award even more of these deserving

young women scholarships.

Debbie Audet, Scholarship Co-Chair

Pictured from left to right are three senior women $1,000 scholarship winners: Melinda Marchiano

- Nipomo High, Stephani Domaki - Arroyo Grande High, and Jenna MacCarley - Nipomo High. Our

fourth winner, Kaylie Anderson, of Arroyo Grande High School, was attending a mandatory

orientation for an honors program at college.

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Five Cities-Pismo Beach AAUW 2011-12 Program Evaluation

Name (optional) _____________________Phone_____________

Please respond to each question to assist in planning for 2012-2013 Programs. Completed

surveys will be collected at the May meeting or may be mailed to

Jean Slater 3132 Meadowbrook, SLO CA 93405

Directions: Mark each program that was interesting and contributed to your

knowledge as an AAUW member. Offer comments as appropriate.

_____ September: Welcome Tea, State President Judy Pfiel, introduction of the 2011-

2012 program and interest groups Karen and Larry Thomas’ Home

Comments:

__ October: Speaker: Consuelo Muex, Ph.D.: Women’s Issues & AAUW Mission and Goals

Comments:

_____ November: County Board of Supervisor Paul Teixeira: Social issues and solutions

affecting women in SLO County

Comments:

_____December: Joint SLO/5 Cities Pismo Beach Holiday Luncheon, performance by

the Arroyo Grande High School Choir at SLO Country Club

Comments:

_____ January: Superintendent Jim Hogeboom: Lucia Mar Unified School District

Mission, Goals,Vision

Comments:

_____ February: Bunco Party, Silent Auction

Comments:

______March: Women In Herstory: Harriet Russell Strong, and Harriet Quimby:

Comments:

______April: Tech Trek Middle School and Scholarship High School Winners

Comments:

_____ May: End of Year Dinner, Installation of Officers, Spyglass Restaurant

Comments:

What topics and speakers should be considered for the 2012-2013 program?

Additional Comments/Suggestions:

Thank you. 2011-2012 Program Chairperson Jean Slater

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Great Decisions

The Great Decisions group will meet at

7 pm on Tuesday, May 29 at Mary Jo’s

home, 330 Leeward, Shell Beach. The

topic will be “Exit from Afghanistan and

Iraq: right time, right place?” (page 59 in

the study guide). We welcome new

members and visitors. For questions or

more information, call Mary Jo at

556-0193.

PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE

MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY, THIS

GROUP WILL MEET ON TUESDAY THIS

MONTH.

Night Readers: The May 8

meeting of the book club will be

held at the home of Joan

Knowlton at 7 pm. The book for

discussion will be Ken Follett’s

long historical fiction piece, “Fall

of Giants.” The story follows five

families across the globe as their

lives intertwine with the events

of World War I. The book is the

first of a planned trilogy on the

century. Looking ahead, the book

for the June meeting will be Dr.

Jill Taylor’s “My Stroke of

Insight.” The evening Book Club is

currently filled to capacity. --

Sandra Ku, chairperson

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TECH TREK Recipients of the six $850 Tech Trek Scholarships to the 2012 UCSB Camp have been chosen:

Paulding: Annie Zwarg and Krista Knudsen

Judkins: Riley Koziel and Cheyenne Gray

Mesa: Brooke Cuzick and Laken Hamby

These deserving young girls were introduced to members at the April 16th Branch Meeting. They

will be attending an IBC-sponsored Ice Cream Social the first part of June to meet all of the San

Luis Obispo County campers and their families , and they will attend the camp from July 29th

through August 4th. There, they will be making their own memories, just as Ashlyn Walker and

Alyssa Shallanberger describe in their thank you letters after the 2011 camp:

Thank you California AAUW Branch of Arroyo Grande, A big thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to come to Tech Trek. It has been a memory to never forget, and I loved it. My core class was Physics. I learned about how to save for college, and about other great women in history. Dorm life was great, along with excel-lent food. My most memorable memory was Physics. We built water rockets, which was totally fun. Some of the rockets even went in the tree. We stuck a raw egg on the inside, and when we launched them we all had scrambled eggs, except one. Once again, it was wonderful of you to share these memories with me that I will remember forever. Thanks again! Sincerely yours, Ashlynn Walker, Mesa

Dear AAUW 5 Cities Branch,

I want to tell you how amazing you are

to give us girls the amazing experience and

knowledge we need to jump start our future.

Never in a million years would I have thought

I'd be so lucky to go through a camp that made

me think so much, yet have the BEST time.

You have to be really special to give out so

much just to give others a better life. I can

never thank you all enough.

We did so many activities that involved

learning and summertime fun! Going and walk-

ing on the beach and to the touch tanks at the

reef was amazing. The sea cucumbers were so

squishy and cute! I wish I had kissed one for

good luck! :) Also being able to go and watch

the chemistry experience was really the cherry

on top of the perfect boat experience day! I

especially liked the bubbles that turned to fire.

The absolute BEST thing of the week

was the boat trip. Being able to go through

that maybe once-in-a-lifetime experience, and

so young, was truly a privilege. Even though a

lot of us got seasick, it was an amazing memo-

rable moment. I loved the way our eyes

watered and hair dampened as we were

standing on the stern.

Again, thank you for this life changing

experience. It really opened my eyes to TONS

of things such as it's never too early to

prepare for college. You are all beautiful,

smart, HILARIOUS women. THANK YOU!!!

Sincerely, Alyssa Shallanberger, Paulding

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FINESSING FEMMES

BRIDGE GOES ON!!

MAY 17, 2012 ELVERA HORNUNG

JUNE 21, 2012 SHARON LOWELL

HOSTESS WILL CALL EACH MONTH.

Do you want to be on our Substitute

list? Call me!!!

ELVERA HORNUNG

595-9314

Cooking Together – Next Event

Please join us for our next dinner in May at 5:30 p.m. Also included are June and August

Cooking Together events. I do not have an exact date for June, as of yet. Stay tuned!

May 12, 2012 Elin McCall

June, 2012 Ann Sawyer

August 4, 2012 Sue Crume

Please call or e-mail the hosts your RSVP at least one week before each dinner

so that they can plan accordingly.

Please bring a bottle of your favorite beverage (alcoholic or not) to share with the

group. Cost per person is $10 paid to the hosts.

Hosts will print copies of all recipes for the dishes we prepare for everyone to take

home.

Your Committee Chair, Lisa Walker.

Questions? Phone 473-0075 or e-mail LWalker@vtc-sm.org

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AAUW Lunch Bunch All branch members are welcome to join this group! Attend when it is convenient for

you! Enjoy lunch and stimulating conversation--

Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.

Rooster Creek Tavern 200 East Branch (in the Village)

Arroyo Grande (489-2509)

From their website: Rooster Creek Tavern is the result of four families coming together to build a dream. We wanted a special place in The Village for people to come together with friends and enjoy delicious food, refreshing drinks and good company in a lively yet comfortable setting. Situated on the Arroyo Grande Creek we are entertained daily by the Roosters who make the banks of the creek their home. If you’re dining on our patio you are sure to hear them welcome you with a cock-a-doodle-doo! Inside you’ll find our modern bar and dining room.

Chef Brian Price has created an exciting menu with items to please every palate. Whether you’re in the mood for more traditional tavern food like wings and nachos, or something a little more sophisticated such as our bacon wrapped filet, or our sea bass, you’ll find something savory to satisfy your hunger. We grill over wood fire that seals in natural juices and imparts a rich, smoky flavor, and our wood-fired pizza oven turns out a wide variety of scrumptious artisan pizzas.

Please call Kathi Pettersen – 474-9149 if you are attending, or to carpool. If you

need to reach me on the day of the luncheon, my cell is 650-678-0148, though I

prefer RSVPs to my home number or email (kcpettersen@msn.com). Looking forward

to our get together--

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Membership Renewal Applications

It's time for us to renew our memberships for the 2012-2013 season. Attached in our May newsletter is the membership Renewal form. Please print it out and complete the required information and mail to the address provided on the form. Please try to return your dues no later than June 15th. We need to insure that we have your correct email and phone numbers for compiling our new directory and need to forward information to AAUW National. We are adding a little incentive for those of you who return your application and checks by the May 21, general meeting. We have 2 tickets to PCPA for the remainder of the season. All members who submit their renewal by this time will have their names put into a hat for a drawing at the end of the general meeting. You do not need to be present to win. If you know of anyone who is interested in joining, this would be a great time to have them get on board for the full year. Olivia Larson Gaye Peltzman Co-Membership

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HELP MAKE THE MAY 19th BOOK SALE A SUCCESS

To make the May 19th Book Sale a success, we need your help in many ways. One, we need

more books. So collect books and bring them to Mary Jo Aspinall’s home or call Pat

Muhlethaler at 481-3844 or Dee Carlson at 544-7149 and they will arrange to have the books

picked up. Two, we need sorters. The remaining sort dates are;

Saturday, May 5, 10 am – noon Thursday, May 10, 1-3 pm

Saturday, May 12, 10-noon Tuesday, May 15, 1-3 pm

Note these are only 2 hour shifts. Third and most important we need people to pick up sorted

boxes of books, store them and bring them to the sale on May 19. There is no more room to

sort and store sorted books in Mary Jo’s garage. We desperately need members to take sorted

boxes of books to make room for sorting. Come any sorting day to pick up sorted books.

Fourth, sign up with Pat Muhlethaler to work the day of the book sale.

Thank you for your support.

The Book Sale Committee

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AAUW Five Cities-Pismo Beach 2012-2013 Membership Renewal

“Advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and re-

search” We are glad you want to join us for another year! This year join a new section and

meet new friends! Dues are $82.00 through June 2013. Dual branch members pay the $17

local fee only.

Make your check payable to AAUW Five Cities-Pismo Beach. Please return this form with

your annual dues check to:

Olivia Larson

AAUW Membership

4656 Snapdragon Way

San Luis Obispo, Ca 93401

Name: ________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________ZIP________

Phone: ___________________________ Cell:________________________

Email: ____________________________Fax:________________________

Degree(s), College/University, Major

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Birthday (Month/Day): ____________Spouse’s Name:__________________

Please place a circle on those sections of our AAUW branch that you would like to participate in

or get more information about.

*Women in History ("Her-story") * Great Decisions * Hospitality at meetings

*Diversity * Adopt-a-Poll * Public Policy Issues * Reading is Fundamental (RIF)

*Bridge * Lunch Bunch * Tech Trek * Scholarship * Cooking Together

*Book Sale *Book Section, Daytime *Book Section, Evening *Theatre Group

*Supper Club * Education Foundation/Legal Advocacy

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Women wield great power in American politics. More than ever before, women are registering to vote and casting ballots in greater numbers and with more consistency than men. We are a powerful and influential bloc of voters. But as we look forward to Election Day 2012, we know that we have to do more — more education, more out-

reach, more voter registration, and more mobilization. We know that elections matter - The views and votes of our elected officials affect everything from college affordability to our access to birth control. That’s why the AAUW Action Fund is making an unprecedented investment in turning out women voters. We will be educating, engaging, and registering millennial women voters across the country. Together, we’ll ensure that women understand what’s at stake in 2012 and know how to use their voice and their vote to influence the election!

Special emphasis will be exerted towards millennial women (women between the ages of 18 – 31) Right now millennials have yet to establish a consistent pattern of voting (studies have shown that voting is actually habit-forming). However, fewer millennial voters participated in the 2010 election compared with 2008. By engaging with millennial women, we have the opportunity to support an enormous generation of young women in establishing lifelong voting habits and to strengthen the voice of women in the 2012 elections.

We in the Five Cities Pismo Beach Branch are exploring possible activities to support this effort such as sponsoring a Candidates Forum, going to both high school and college campuses to register new voters and in general making the women of our communities aware of the importance of their vote. If you would like to be a part of this effort, contact Patti Melsheimer, Public Policy chair. (pattimelsh@charter.net or 489-4811)

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PRESIDENT: Susan Gray, smg1@sbcglobal.net

PRESIDENT ELECT: Judy Zaretzka, judyyoung@hotmail.com; and

Alice Addison, addisonauto@yahoo.com; Maureen Briggs, doctorMo@aol.com

CO-PROGRAM VICE PRESIDENTS:

Jean Burns Slater, jbslater2006@gmail.com and

Patricia Justice, pjustice@montagetechinc.com

CO-MEMBERSHIP VICE PRESIDENTS:

Gaye Peltzman, gayepeltz@ gns2000.com and

Olivia Larson, oclarson@hotmail.com

AAUW FUNDs & LAF CO-VICE PRESIDENTS:

Dee Carlson, deec5485@sbcglobal.net and

Lee Whipple, leeadd0001@sbcglobal.net

TREASURER: Ann Sawyer, teachreach@charter.net

SECRETARY: Pat Muhlethaler, patmuhlethaler@sbcglobal.net

PARLIAMENTARIAN: Mary Weeks, marylee35@aol.com. AAUW-CA website http://www.aauw-ca.org;

AAUW national website http://www.aauw.org.

NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Joan Florence, joanflorence13@yahoo.com.

The American Association of University Women promotes equity for all women and girls, lifelong education,

and positive societal change. In principle and practice AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership.

The AAUW Educational Foundation provides funds to advance education, research, and self-development for

women and to foster equity and positive societal change.

The AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund provides funding and a support system for women seeking judicial redress for

sex discrimination.

There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual

orientation, national origin, or disability.

AAUW 5 Cities Pismo Beach

P.O. Box 1604

Pismo Beach, CA 93448-1604