Monthly Archives: August 2020

Past President’s Message

Liz Jordan

Past President’s Message By Liz Jordan

Dear Branch Members,

I joined AAUW Sacramento in 1976 and I have been glad to pay my dues every year because I believe in the mission to bring a state of equity to the lives of women and girls; because I have made many life-long friendships and acquaintanceships as a member; and because I have learned so much, and grown with some leadership skills by participating in our Sacramento branch.

As your co-president these past two years, I learned about leadership from a hospital bed, from my computer screen, from standing before you at branch meetings and from leading the board meetings each month.

I am proud I was able to participate in the 100^th anniversary program, to figure out a way to help us vote electronically, to work on laying the groundwork for fulfilling some of the expectations of AAUW’s 5 Star Recognition Program.

I express my deep gratitude to Ruth Ann Hines for all her guidance as our parliamentarian.
I am grateful to Shari Beck and Ann Arneill and proud of the Speech Trek program’s 13 years of successful contests.
I brag about our Tech Trek program that Jo Reiken has led with others for the past several years. Jo has led us gracefully through this joyful and painful year.
I am excited about the 5 young women that Anna Storey and Linda Patterson worked so hard to find and help with $2,000 each for the coming academic year.
I am amazed by the programing that Cathy Locke and Karen Burley put together for us this year, in spite of all the uncertainty.
I am forever grateful to Donna Holmes for jumping in (in spite of still being a co-president!) last spring to keep our branch’s accounts, pay our taxes, make our reports, and keep us informed about our financial well-being.
I have great admiration and appreciation for all the work that Jan Stuter has put into recruiting and introducing several new members to our branch.
I was very excited to recruit Amy Rose to lead public policy. What a great job she did for us, organizing our participation in the Women’s March 2020.
I am continuously thankful to Tiffany Ardisana-James for taking our board minutes and getting them back to board members to review in a timely manner.
I relied upon Kathy Asay and Merrie McLaughlin, and they led us beautifully through big changes in AAUW Funds.
I’ll never be able to thank Sharon Anderson enough for all her help and knowledge about our membership, for her guidance onto the MPP renewal, and for submitting the book group calendar and birthdays to the newsletter each month.
Thanks, and thanks again go to Barbara Smith who agreed to lead us though the planning for changing over to the MPP Program.
Thank you to Kathy Papst and Becky Anton for keeping the interest groups informed about branch activities, attending monthly board meetings, getting interest group calendars etc. for the newsletter.
Thank you Cherril Peabody for writing our “Board Briefs” for the newsletter each month and asking helpful questions.
We can never say thank you enough to Kim Rutledge for editing our newsletter for how many years? Every month, every article, every word!
And Angela Scarlett for getting the newsletter up on the website, and working on website renovation, social media outreach, etc., etc., etc. So much for which to say thank you.
Thank you, Jane Cooley, for sending our good wishes, our get well wishes and our condolences to so many branch members for how many years??
Gloria Yost wore several hats this year, but most importantly as C/U liaison, building and strengthening our relationship with CSUS and those young women who are our future. Gloria also led and guided the 100^th Anniversary Committee for over two years, getting us to do research, write articles for the newsletter, for holding monthly planning meetings, for creating the Memory Book and planning our wonderful, memorable 100^th Anniversary Party. I know she did it so well because of Linda Whitney’s steady hand and reliable guidance as co-chair.
I want to thank Nancy McCabe, with the help of Michele Hobza and Becky Anton, for leading the Nominating Committee for two years, finding board members to serve in seven positions.
I saved my thanks to Charmen Goehring and Angela Scarlett, the presidents, to the end because I can never express my appreciation for how much and often I relied on them. They saved me from my own mistakes, offered guidance and solutions, technical expertise, AAUW knowledge, and I am grateful for their opinions. I made it to this moment because of them.

It takes the talent, time and generosity of 27 women to lead this branch of AAUW. I speak not just for myself, but for our membership — Gracias, Merci, Thank You.

AAUW Members: Socially Distant But Still In Touch & Branch Board Outreach

AAUW Members: Socially Distant But Still In Touch by Bonnie Penix

Distance — a word so often used right now. Physical distancing, social distancing. We agree with the first, not so much with the second. It seems, perhaps, even more important these days to connect intellectually, emotionally, and socially. Membership in AAUW is a perfect vehicle for that.

How so?

Meet other educated, dynamic women. Network to find new jobs, opportunities, friends. Support our mission of improving equity for women in the workplace, in education, and in work-life balance. Promote individual and social justice. Join interest groups — there are many — for friendship and fun.

Let’s grow our membership. Reach out with email or a phone call to those you know from your book groups, place of employment, neighborhood, school, organizations to which you belong. Invite them to attend our Fall Showcase with you on Saturday, Sept. 12. Help us build relationships and our branch. The collective is stronger than the individual. Remember, we also have a dues assistance program, and a dues discount for joining at a public event such as on September 12.

So let’s decrease distance — the social distance. Zoom into AAUW, and grow together.

Branch Board Reaches Out to Membership During Covid-19 Stay-at-Home By Liz Jordan

At the April 6 board meeting, members of the board suggested that we might need to check on our branch members. We knew we were cancelling the popular Author’s Luncheon, a good time to see fellow AAUW members and friends. So, we created a script so the callers would know what kinds of things to be sure to discuss, such as the membership renewal process that changed this year.

Twelve board members volunteered to call and each was assigned about 12-15 members to call. Jane Cooley, our Sunshine chair, reached out and called everyone in her zip code, surprising all of us. During the last week of April and the first week of May, we tried to call every branch member. When a member didn’t answer her phone, messages were left on answering machines and many members returned those calls. Past President Molly Dugan volunteered with a small group of helpers to run errands for members who might need some extra help.

The response to the program seemed to be universally positive. The phone callers reported back what they heard:

“I appreciate the phone call … I have been a member of AAUW for years—I am so proud to be a member, it is my ‘touchstone.’”
One member lamented her book group was not meeting due to lack of understanding and skill in using a computer.
Another member is taking this time to learn to play an instrument. We called one member who mentioned she was stuck in another state waiting out the stay-at-home orders.

The board members who made the calls said:

“What a pleasant and enjoyable task!”
“This was a really good experience!!”
“Definitely a worthwhile endeavor we should probably do more often.”
“I got as much out of the calls as they (members I called) did.”

Seems like there are a few silver linings to this very difficult time.

Funds / Legacy Circle, Funds Tea for One & Fund News

California Is In It To Win It! Legacy Circle Contest by Charmen Goehring

The competition is on to increase the number of Legacy Circle members in our branch. This statewide contest will end in November and members of the winning branch will be invited to a special Virtual celebration with AAUW CA President Dianne Owens, AAUW CA Funds Chair Judy Cavin Brown, AAUW Director of Development Heather Miller and maybe other special guests. The winning branch will also be closer to completing its Funds Star in the 5 Star program and receive a special banner to display at meetings, virtual or in person.

The Legacy Circle is a special group of members who have made plans to include AAUW in their estate planning. There are numerous ways to do this from making AAUW the beneficiary or part beneficiary on an insurance policy or 401K to creating a charitable gift annuity. Becoming a member is easy and takes less than five minutes online. Or, you can download and mail in a form. AAUW does not require you to designate an amount, all that is needed now is your commitment.

We look forward to expanding the Legacy Circle and the special recognition each member receives for their commitment to equity for all women and girls. Join us! Questions? Contact Charmen Goehring (charminme@yahoo.com or 207-756-0406), Northern CA Legacy Circle Liaison.

Charmen Goehring

Funds Tea for One Coming Soon! by Charmen Goehring

This year, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic and most programming moving to Zoom, the annual State Funds luncheons in October will be held on the virtual platform. This means that more of us will be able to “attend” and hear the inspiring women in California who have received AAUW fellowships and grants.

It also provided me with inspiration for a unique branch fundraising opportunity. Normally, the funds luncheon costs $45 and a drive to the Bay Area. This year, in lieu of listening to speakers over lunch, I am offering to deliver Tea for One to your home in time for the presentation on October 10!

For a $25 minimum donation to the Greatest Needs Fund, I will bring homemade scones and jam with a tea bag or two to your home on the morning of October 10. Enjoy your treats while listening to our fellows during the 1pm event on Zoom. You will also be helping our branch reach 5 Star Status!

You can mail a check to our CFO, Liz Jordan, with Tea for One/Greatest Needs in the memo line, or make your donation online at aauw.org and email Charmen Goehring to let me know. The sooner you donate, the easier my planning will be.

Thank you for supporting AAUW Funds, especially the Greatest Needs.

Kathy Asay

Fund News by Kathleen Asay and Merrie McLaughlin

In 2018, AAUW created a Strategic Plan for the current and future operation of our organization. We’re hoping you are becoming familiar with the five new funds that grew out of that plan but, if not, here’s a review. As you will see, the funds of the past have been absorbed into these, the funds of the future.

The first and most vital fund is the Greatest Needs Fund #9110 because as it states it can be used where needed, even to support programs administered through other funds. By enabling AAUW to respond quickly to societal change and opportunities for action, it ensures our participation in the effort to provide equity to women and girls.

The next three funds are Education and Training #4450, Economic Security #4449 and Leadership #4452. These funds are more specific in their goals and funding targets. Education and Training supports public policy, fellowships and grants, and research to see that all levels of education are free from sex discrimination. Economic Security #4449 includes pay equity, Title VII and retirement security through Start Smart, Work Smart and the Legal Advocacy Fund. Leadership #4452 seeks to develop women leaders so that the concerns of women and girls will be considered in training and careers. NCCWSL is a Leadership program at the national level. (At the branch level, funds for college students to attend the national conference are raised locally.)

The fifth fund is Governance and Sustainability #4451 which is designed to support the operation of AAUW, using modern technology and communications to expand and create a vital and diverse outreach.

These are big goals. Important goals. If you have any questions about these goals and the funds that support them, contact us.

Finally, some of you may remember that in September 2018 you were told in this space about Cecilia Payne who received an AAUW fellowship in 1924 to complete her PhD. in astronomy at Harvard. Payne received Harvard’s first PhD in astronomy and went on to become the first female department head at the university. Her work in studying the stars is still recognized for its importance to the field. A biography of Payne has just been published if you’re interested in learning more about this brilliant woman: What Stars Are Made Of by Donovan Moore.

Tech Trek Committee Introduces 2020 Selectees by Charmen Goehring

Although the Tech Trek camp at UC Davis did not occur this summer due to the pandemic, the Tech Trek committee wishes to introduce and honor the six girls that we selected for the 2020 season. We will be delivering a special 2020 camp tee along with a UCD water bottle to each of the girls and keeping in touch with them, offering opportunities to connect with other girls and to learn throughout the next year. So far, they have had a Zoom call with a scientist who works at Boeing on NASA projects.

Valeria Mena (Starr King K-8): She enjoys math, science, English and history. Valeria also takes part in choir, theater, Model UN, Rainbow Alliance (GSA), Running for Rhett and sewing club. Her essay focused on using math to create more equitable paths for immigration, an issue that has touched her family.

Jacquie Washington (Starr King K-8): She lists history, math, PE and science as her favorite courses. She also enjoys leadership, track, math and sewing clubs, and Rainbow Alliance. Jacquie’s essay discussed the depletion of resources and the potential migration to another planet in the future.

Izabella Mendoza (Will C. Wood): Izabella enjoys science and math as well as being on the student council as the 7^th grade president and volunteering at a local elementary school. She also likes to write and practice a martial art called Muay Thai. Her essay focused on ways to use math and science to help the Earth.

Rianna Vong (Will C. Wood): Rianna told us she likes her math, science and language arts classes. She also participates in Mathletes and drawing, and even had a piece of her art displayed in a gallery. Her essay talked about the Pacific trash vortex.

Kayla Bautista (Billy Mitchell): Science and English are her favorite classes. She also participates in student council, track, science and robotics clubs. Kayla’s essay discussed ways to use science to help climate change, and she included a unique idea — The Butterfly Project.

Constance Prince (Billy Mitchell): Constance prefers science over her other classes. She enjoys horses and would like to work with equines in some capacity — she hasn’t decided yet between trainer and veterinarian. Her essay talked about the harmful effects of conveniences like air conditioning and showed off her comedic side.

Speech Trek News By Ann Arneill

Speech Trek, AAUW’s public speaking contest, is in its 14^th year. The topic for 2021 is “Has social media helped or hindered the breaking down of barriers for women and girls?” We work with the 9 high schools in the Elk Grove Unified School District and recruit students to compete in the contest that will be held this Academic Year on February 20, 2021. Students deliver 5-6 minute speeches extemporaneously for cash prizes ranging from $200-$500. The local winner can go on to the statewide competition to compete for a prize of $1,500. The committee is currently busy figuring out how to modify the contest’s recruitment to the distance education environment being employed by the Elk Grove Unified School District. We are also exploring the possibility of conducting a virtual speech contest. We hope you will support us through any changes that we may need to make with the contest in these challenging times.

Our Proposed Branch Budget, Board Briefs, Named Gift Honorees, Book Group News, & September Birthdays

2020-21 Budget Needs Branch Approval by Liz Jordan
The Board of Directors is reviewing the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2020-21, shown here. Branch members are asked to review the proposed budget, which will be voted on at the September Showcase. Many thanks to Donna Holmes for her past efforts as our Finance Director!

Board Briefs
AAUW Sacramento Board meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of the month with the exception of September, which is held the last Monday of August. Until further notice, all meetings are being conducted virtually using Zoom.

Here are the highlights from the AAUW Retreat held August 15, virtually using Zoom, by Della Knowles

Finance Director: Liz Jordan was appointed finance director.

Robert’s Rules: Marty McKnew reviewed a very helpful update on Robert’s Rules of Order. Of particular note is the process by which we make motions and vote. A reminder that reports to the board do not need approval.

National 5 Star Program: This is a slide show from the national office. Items brought up were the feasibility of our chapter aligning with National, implementing an action network and increasing fellowship. All ideas will be turned over to the Program Committee for discussion and implementation.

Mentor Program: A new committee will be formed to develop and implement a mentor program.

Future Meetings: Discussion regarding dedicating time at general meetings to see where our chapter is headed, sending information to National, implementing 5 Star program, encouraging more young women into membership (pertinent information on the National webinar).

Mission of Equity: Charmen Goehring presented and discussed how we can attract diversity and become better in the process, each person’s implicit and unconscious bias. Charmen suggested using the RIR protocol in all branches. Charmen has all the appropriate resources for members.

The next board meeting is August 31 at 7p.m.

10 Named Gift Honorees! (Announced in May) By Kathleen Asay and Merrie McLaughlin
This year we were truly honored to be able to select ten members as our Named Gift Honorees. We are entitled to one for every $750 we donated to AAUW Funds last year, and last year was a very special year as we raised money to complete our 100^th Anniversary Research and Projects Grant. In all, we raised $7880. Our grant fund was complete. We are proud now to be able to introduce our ten honorees:

Liz Jordan – Liz has been a branch co-president for 2 years, 2018-2020. Prior to that, she was a co-director for Speech Trek 10 years, 2007-2018, and a finance director for CA AAUW Speech Trek. A former high school English teacher, she continues to learn more about AAUW so she can teach us and expand our understanding.

Tiffany Ardisana – Tiffany has served as branch secretary for 4 years, 2016-2020, attending all official meetings and taking terrific minutes. She is also an accomplished grant writer for the branch. She has degrees in Public Administration and is quite an athlete we understand.

Jo Reiken – Jo has been a Director for Tech Trek for 3 years, 2017-20. Jo is passionate about Tech Trek. She talks to schools, teachers, students, families, raises money, and prepares the students for the TT experience. She even goes along as a dorm mom and keeps in touch later. In October 2019 she and her girls put on a wonderful branch program about Tech Trek.

Donna Holmes – Donna has received two Named Gift Honors already, after being a Funds co-director for 3 years and a branch co-president for 2. When our previous financial director had to resign, Donna took over. She carefully guided the branch through the 100^th Anniversary Grant fund-raising and our anniversary celebration and smoothed the way for the transition to the new MPP program for membership renewal and Funds donations.

Gloria Yost – Gloria has 4 previous honors and has held many of the elected positions of the branch in her years in Sacramento AAUW. With that experience, she has been the perfect University Liaison to expand our relationship with local colleges and with the students in our Affiliate Branch at Sacramento State. She was also the perfect person to serve as chair of our very special 100^th Anniversary Celebration.

The following five honorees contributed their time and special talents to making our Anniversary Celebration the joy that it was:
Carole Cline – Carole volunteered from the beginning to serve on the steering committee for our celebration, then volunteered to write the skit. Being a newish member, she got branch history from Liz Jordan, but as Liz says, the creativity was Carole’s. She also prepared the props.

Cathy Locke – Cathy has been honored once before. She’s been co-program director 2018-2020 and Phone Tree director for 8 years. Cathy worked with Cherril Peabody and Anna Storey to design and edit the memory book and to place history articles in the branch newsletter. She also handled reservations and arranged the check-in process.

Vicki Nicholson – Vicki’s a long-time member and also a previous Named Gift Honoree. She volunteered to facilitate the music part of the program, chaired the sub-committee, and even re-wrote the words to “California Here I Come.”

Cherril Peabody – Cherril is a past Named Gift Honoree, past president 2014-2015, Interest Group Coordinator for 4 years, and Board Briefs reporter for the branch newsletter 2019-2020. Cherril researched and wrote articles for the memory book and organized the outreach posters on display at the luncheon.

Anna Storey – Anna is another past Named Gift Honoree as being a co-director for Scholarships 2015-2020. Anna chaired the sub-committee that created the memory book. She spent much time at the Sacramento History Center researching branch history, then wrote and edited articles for the book and arranged for the publisher. She also prepared the poster describing our Scholarship program.

Congratulations to all of you and Thank you!

Useful Links for September

Click here for books being read by Book Groups in September
Click here for members’ September Birthdays