Monthly Archives: November 2021

Reminder Holiday Luncheon is Almost Here!

Holiday Luncheon and Branch Meeting By Donna Holmes and Barbara Smith

The Branch Holiday Luncheon is happening on Dec. 11, 2021. Members and guests will gather at the North Ridge Country Club at 11 a.m.

We know that everyone will be excited to meet in person again, but trust Gloria Yost and Bonnie Penix to challenge us with some theme-related conversation starters on each table.

The official business meeting will begin at 11:30. This is one of four official meetings required per year. Lunch will be served at noon, followed by our guest speakers.  See below for the menu options and reservation form.

Note that all reservations must be received by Dec. 1.

Ahmad Ibrahimi

Continuing our tradition of providing gifts to worthy causes, members are asked to bring items to be given to recent Afghan immigrants through Deborah Sternin’s Comfort Toys project, an outreach program based at the Highlands Community Charter School, which serves more than 1,600 Afghan students and their families. We will be collecting soft, cuddly toys, dolls, children’s books, and coloring books and crayons.

Ahmad Ibrahimi and Lindsey Curtis, from the school, will be our speakers. They will tell us about their work and the Afghan community here. For more information about our speakers, please click here.

As per National AAUW and our board’s decision, all attendees must show proof of COVID vaccination upon arrival. Our greeters will be efficient and friendly, but please respect this requirement for everyone’s safety. No one will be admitted without proof of vaccination.

Menu:

  • Chicken Piccata OR Portobello Mushroom Ravioli
  • Both include Garden Salad, bread, and coffee, tea, or iced tea
  • Vegan available upon request
  • Seasonal candies will be on the tables for dessert
  • A No host bar available

Cost per person is $32.50, plus processing fees. Register and pay via credit card on Eventbrite here, OR by check payable to AAUW Sacramento sent to Donna Holmes. Donna’s contact information can be found in the branch Membership Directory. You can use the registration form found here. Please be sure to indicate your meal choice: chicken piccata, portobello mushroom ravioli, or vegan. Also remember to bring your gift for Afghan children.

ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY DEC. 1.

President’s Message

President’s Message By Angela Scarlett

Angela Scarlett

For the past two years, I’ve always struggled to find a topic to write a monthly president’s message, much to our newsletter editor’s chagrin. I never wanted to repeat what our other officers were writing. You may have noticed that I have missed several months.

What do I have to say this month as your president? I’ll make this as simple as possible: I look forward to seeing everyone at the holiday party on Dec. 11. After nearly two years of separation, this event will allow us to connect in person! Meanwhile, if needed, please get a booster shot and consider gifting someone with a membership if it is within your means.

Living Our Mission of Equity

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation, looking at our own biases and what actions we can take to attract diversity to our branch and become better people in the process. Each month, we read a section of our selected book then meet to discuss what we have learned, along with exploring other issues related to race and equity. We will meet the second Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. This is a joint CHAR/Sacramento activity.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780, or you can join using this link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780

We will be discussing pages 1-109 in our new book, “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning”, by Cathy Park Hong, on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

You and AAUW

Use Your IRA for Charitable Donations By Charmen Goehring

If you have not completed your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) for 2021, because you have nowhere to spend it, consider giving it to charity.

Donating to charity from your IRA generally results in a tax benefit. Normally, distributions from an IRA are taxed. However, an individual who is age 70 ½ or older may donate to a qualified charity (has Sec. 501(c)(3) status such as AAUW Funds or Tech Trek) and not pay tax on the distribution. The donation must be paid directly from the IRA to the charity (the check drawn on the IRA must be payable to the charity). Even better, the distribution can be counted as part of your required minimum distribution (RMD).

For example, Hilda wants to donate $1,000 to AAUW.

If Hilda withdraws the $1,000 and then writes a check to AAUW, she will pay tax on the $1,000. Assuming that the tax is $200, that will leave her $800 to donate.

Before recent tax law changes, Hilda could offset the tax on the distribution by claiming an itemized deduction for the donation. However, under current tax rules, most people do not itemize deductions because the standard deduction is higher.

If instead, Hilda directs her IRA to send a $1,000 donation to AAUW, the distribution is not taxed, and the charity gets $1,000.

Please consult your tax adviser to determine if this strategy works for you.

AAUW Legacy Circle By Charmen Goehring

You are invited to join the AAUW Legacy Circle, a wonderful community of likeminded supporters who have made equity a central part of their legacies through planned giving. Planned gifts, also known as legacy gifts, offer some of the most innovative and meaningful ways to give back and ensure a better future for women, girls and their communities. Affirm your commitment to AAUW through a planned gift to AAUW National today. Together we’re making a lasting impact to ensure a better future for girls and women!

Benefits of Planned Giving

  • Planned gifts, also known as legacy gifts or bequests, allow you the flexibility to provide for your family and support AAUW at the same time.
  • Planned gifts need not affect your cash flow during your lifetime; some legacy gifts are designed to also give back, providing steady income for you and your loved ones for life.
  • Certain planned gifts may reduce or even eliminate estate or capital gains taxes.
  • There is no minimum gift amount, and every gift can be tailored to suit your needs.

Become a visionary member of the AAUW Legacy Circle! To learn more, please visit AAUW.ORG/Legacy.
Or request a brochure or ask us a question by contacting Heather Miller, Director of Advancement, at: 202-785-7766 or millerh@aauw.org. Charmen Goehring  of the AAUW Legacy Circle Team is also available to assist you and may be reached by email at charminme@yahoo.com.

Speech Trek Challenge is January 15th

Speech Trek Challenge is Coming Up By Ann Arneill

The Speech Trek Challenge will be held Jan. 15, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 am.  It’s a warm-up for the Speech Trek Contest to be held on Feb. 19, 2022.

At the Speech Trek Challenge, we will discuss this year’s topic: “Has the United States lived up to its pledge of liberty and justice for all?  Would requiring the study of diversity, equity, and inclusion in a high school setting help ensure liberty and justice for all?”

The Speech Trek Committee will provide some background information, and then participants will break up into groups to discuss the topic.  The gathering will end with breakout groups briefly summarizing their discussions for the group.

We hope you will be interested in previewing this topic with us.

Sue Bordner’s Passing

Sue Bordner’s Passing – Obituary

[Editor’s Note: Sue Bordner was a branch member and past AAUW California president. This obituary was published in the Sacramento Bee.]

Sue Bordner

Susan Elizabeth Wellington Bordner, born December 23,1939 in San Francisco, CA, to James Frederick Wellington and Caroline Wardner Harrison Wellington of Berkeley, CA passed away on November 15th, 2021 at 81 years of age.

Raised in Berkeley and Kensington, CA, Sue, as she was called, attended Kensington Elementary School, Portola Junior High School, was an active Girl Scout and Senior Girl Scout Mariner, and graduated in 1957 from The Anna Head School in Berkeley. She attended Pomona College for one year where she met her husband of 61 years Dalton William Bordner. She transferred to UC Berkeley where she became a member of Phi Mu Sorority and then to UCLA, after marriage, graduating with a BA in Political Science in 1961. She and husband Dalt moved to Fullerton, CA in 1963 where they raised three sons: Robert, Douglas and Bruce. All their sons achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the BSA.

Sue was a lifelong volunteer in the communities where she lived. She served on PTA boards of schools her sons attended and on the Fullerton PTA Council, and on boards of the North Orange County YWCA and the League of Women Voters. She served on the City of Fullerton Planning Commission 1977-81 and was recognized for her service on the Orange County Transportation Commission’s Special 20 Year Master Plan Citizen’s Committee in 1989.

She was a 50-year Honorary Life Member of the American Association of University Women, serving as the Fullerton Branch President in 1985-86, as Director of Public Policy for the California State AAUW 1990-92, as the State AAUW President 1994-96, and in other state level board positions. Women In Action Lobby Day (WIALD) was developed while she was Director of Public Policy. In 1994, the Bordners relocated to El Dorado Hills in Northern California and Sue joined both the Sacramento and Foothills of El Dorado County branches of AAUW.

Sue was introduced to Japanese flower arranging (ikebana) in 1986 while her husband was working in Singapore for Ameron PTE. When they returned to California in 1987, she began taking lessons in the Ikenobo School of Ikebana and in 1990 in the Sogetsu School under the direction of sensei Kimi Kika Shibata in Sacramento.  She attained the Fourth Grade teaching certificate. She served on the board of the Sacramento Chapter #26 of Ikebana International for many years, including time as bylaws chair, newsletter editor, and president. She displayed and demonstrated at Sogetsu and Ikebana International events, at the Bloom 1 & 2 shows in Davis, CA. She was a member of the Sacramento Floral Design Guild also.

In 2019 Sue and Dalt relocated to South Orange County to the active retirement community of Reata Glen in Rancho Mission Viejo, CA where she died. Cause of death was cancer.

Sue is survived by her husband Dalton William Bordner; sons Robert (Susan) of Seattle, WA, Douglas (Jennifer) of Simi Valley, CA, and Bruce (Christine) of Riverside, CA; Grandsons Nicholas, Austin, Travis and Ryan; Granddaughters Caroline, Samantha, Tara, and Addison; and Step-Grands Mitchell and Kate Duran. She is also survived by her brother, James “Jim” (Cheryl) of Davis, CA and several cousins.

Plans for a Celebration of Life will be announced at a future time. McAulay and Wallace Mortuary of Fullerton is handling arrangements for the family.

[If you’d like to donate to the American Fellowship in Sue’s name, send your check made out to AAUW, with American Fellowship in the memo line, to Treasurer Liz Jordan, who will make sure it gets to where it needs to go. Liz’s contact information can be found in the Membership Directory.]

Saying Yes!

Saying Yes Won’t Kill You! By Donna Holmes

As we approach nominating committee time, are you afraid you will be called upon?  Don’t be.  We are an organization with a common goal, and we all have a place.

Our branch is the perfect place to say “yes”.  My first “yes” was to become the treasurer, now titled finance officer.  Mary Schneider asked me in the street in front of Cherril Peabody’s house after a foster youth committee meeting.  I was surprised and asked why and was told that when she heard I taught algebra, she figured I could handle the math!  I was nominated from the floor at the April 2009 branch meeting and the rest is history.

So, the job was much more than I thought, but what a wonderful experience!  The outgoing treasurer, Dee Brookshire, held my hand every step of the way.  Our then presidents, Marty McKnew and Wendy Hayden, recommended we convert to a 501c3.  I took that on with a ton of help from Gloria Yost.  Sharon Anderson had become the membership treasurer, and we learned BDRs and ADRs together.

My second year, I was still working on the 501c3 with the IRS — it took 18 months.  My new presidents were Lisa Beauchamp and Gail Reed.  I was car pooling to board meetings with Barbara Smith, Gloria Yost and Sandi Schoenman.  Molly Dugan was our secretary, trying to keep everything recorded.  Cherril Peabody was chairing scholarships and I joined her committee.  When the 501c3 was approved, our branch went from awarding two $750 scholarships to awarding $2,000 scholarships – three, then four, then five and this past year, up to $3,000!

See all the names in the previous paragraphs?  All have become friends, some besties for life! That was 12 years ago, and there are so many more names/friends.  And it was all due to that first “yes”.  Not only the friends — I have learned so much, I even can update a website.  My life is so much richer, and I am still saying “yes” whenever I am able.  Say “yes” to something and reap the rewards!  I said “yes”, again, am doing Membership and Membership Treasurer this year and next with bestie Marty McKnew. The saga continues.

Membership Update

Membership Update By Donna Holmes

Donna Holmes

Please welcome our newest member, Barbara Puett, living in Zip Code 95628.  Barbara was recruited by Janis Appel, thank you.  Barbara has a BA in political science and is interested in lots our branch and AAUW have to offer.  She would like to join the AAUW Funds, Public Policy, Scholarships and Speech Trek committees.  Interest groups peaking her interest are Art & Architecture (already attended her first meeting), Healthy Heart Lunch and Travel (once they start meeting again).

Marty and I are working on our branch stars and have made our first submissions to National.  Stay tuned for our much-deserved recognition!

Interest Group: Singles Dining

Interest Group: Singles Dining By Nancy McCabe

If you are a member of the Sacramento Branch of AAUW and are single, you are welcome and encouraged to join our dinner group. We have about 35 members and generally have eight to 12 dining together on the first Sunday evening of each month.

We began as an offshoot of the couples dining as there was a difference in the community of interests, like how does one survive without cooking! We vary from restaurants where you look up to read the menu or look down. Cuisine was our most important criteria before outside heaters rose to the top! We prefer to patronize locally owned businesses to support the community.

We share good conversation about AAUW activities, personal interests and who has the cutest grandchildren!

I am always open to suggestions about restaurants that are relatively accessible to everyone, are open on Sunday evening and have adequate parking. If you are newly single or have been so for a long time, email me (contact information can be found in the Membership Directory)  to be added to our mailing list and give us a try — we would love to get to know you better. Good food and good friends — it doesn’t get much better.

December Birthdays, Book Groups, and Printable Articles

Celebrating December Birthdays! By Donna Holmes

  Happy Birthday to All!

  • Becky Anton                          12/1
  • Diane Squire                         12/1
  • Jean Bonar                             12/4
  • Marcia Becwar                      12/8
  • Diane Petersen                     12/8
  • Angela Scarlett                      12/11
  • Karen Burley                          12/12
  • Laraine Silberstein                12/14
  • Lynn Anderson                      12/17
  • Linda Whitney                        12/27
  • Nancy Lawrence                    12/29
  • Bonnie Penix                          12/30

Book Groups By Sharon Anderson

Book Group 2: 
Group does not meet in Dec.; coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
Group does not meet in Nov. and Dec.; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White, on Dec. 8; coordinator is Nancy Lawrence

Book Group 6: 
TBD on Dec. 13; coordinator is Angela Scarlett

Book Group 8: 
Group does not meet in Dec.; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
Holiday Party on Dec. 16; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah, on Dec. 2; coordinator is Linda Cook

Book Group 33: 
The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett, on Dec. 2; coordinators are Jane Pivetti, Nancy Lawrence

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