Monthly Archives: February 2022

March 16th Branch Meeting – Important!

Important March 16th Branch Meeting 

7- 8:30 p.m.  on Zoom!!

What is the impact of AAUW in Sacramento?

  • Tech Trek: over last three years, 18 local middle school girls to STEM camp, for total tuition of $16,500.  Imagine the impact over the last 22 years!?!
  • Speech Trek: over last five years, 37 local student speakers won $4,675 in awards.
  • Scholarship: over past five years, 21 local women have received $42,000 in scholarship money toward a college degree.
  • NCCWSL: for the past two years, we have sent 5 young women student leaders to a national leadership conference at Univ. of Maryland for $2,400.
  • Advocacy: last year several members lobbied our state legislators about the impact of legislation on the equitable treatment of women and men all over California.
  • From 2019-2021 we helped reconstruct a new Sacramento County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

CALLING ALL MEMBERS TO A BRANCH MEETING TO BRAINSTORM SOLUTIONS.  March 16, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. over Zoom, we will discuss in small groups, 5 critical questions to help us find answers for the future of our branch.

  • Why do we belong to AAUW?
  • How do we ignite interest and motivation among members to continue our mission of empowering women and girls?
  • What inspires or prevents us from serving on branch board or a committee?
  • What inspires or prevents us from participating in meetings and programs?
  • Should we discontinue some of the outreach efforts described above?

Today, the Sacramento Branch of AAUW is in a crisis of leadership.  We cannot find volunteers to step forward to lead some of these important outreach efforts.  The Nominating Committee has searched for several weeks to fill necessary board positions; some critical positions remain unfilled.

FACTS: A branch must have an executive officer, a treasurer and a branch secretary to exist.

  • Over several weeks, the Nominating Committee has found two of the three required volunteers to serve for the next two years.
  • No local students will be attending STEM CAMP this summer from AAUW Sacramento. We have $17,000 in the account to send six girls.  We don’t have a Tech Trek Director.
  • We are not participating in Lobby Week in April organized by AAUW CA because we do not have a Public Policy Director.

 FACT: No outreach can occur, no money spent, no beneficiaries awarded without the structure of the branch.

The March 2022 branch meeting is an opportunity to brainstorm some solutions. Please attend! You will receive the Zoom link in an email prior to the March 16th meeting.

AAUW CHAR Program-In Celebration of Women’s History Month

AAUW CHAR Program-In Celebration of Women’s History Month By Charmen Goehring

If interested, please attend the March AAUW CHAR Branch Program on March 12 at 10 am. Here is the Zoom link:

We are fortunate to be joined by new author, and longtime AAUW member, Sandy Camillo, who will be sharing stories from her new book.

The Journey of an “Invisible” Woman recounts stories of how Sandy and women of many generations struggled to overcome stereotyping and societal barriers erected to keep them in their “place”, to keep them invisible and silenced. She invites readers to accompany her on this journey of confronting biased gender norms, becoming visible, and finding a voice. Sandy and I (Charmen Goehring) served together on the National AAUW Board from 2011-2015 and I look forward to introducing you to my talented friend from New York!

(Sandy’s book is available on Amazon and other retailers if you would like to read it ahead of our visit with her on March 12.)

Living Our Mission of Equity

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation learning about how racism affects us all 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. Others are welcome as well.

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 chapters 4 and 5 of our new book, “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together”, by Heather McGhee on March 9, 2022 at 7pm. If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Speech Trek Contest Celebrates Its Winner

15th Annual Speech Trek Contest Celebrates Its Winner By Ann Arneill

On Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, the Speech Trek Committee held its Speech Trek contest via Zoom with great success.  A full audience listened to five high school students from three Elk Grove Unified School District high schools speak on the topic:  “Has the US 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?”

First-place winner was Maren DeMille, a sophomore at Pleasant Grove High School, receiving $500.  Second-place winner, Yasmin Haidari, a senior from Laguna Creek High School, received $300.  The third-place winner was Marielle Geresola, a junior from Sheldon High School, who received $100.

The Sacramento Branch’s winning speaker is entered in the AAUW CA Speech Trek semi-finals.   If Maren DeMille makes it into the top three, she will be invited to compete in the finals for $1,500.  She will also be presenting her speech at the May branch meeting — something to look forward to because she is a very dynamic speaker.

Virginia Kidd, Ph.D., communications professor emeritus at CSUS; Mark Hoffman, a Toastmaster club member; and our very own Liz Jordan judged the event.  AAUW member Kathleen Deaver served as timekeeper for the contest.  Thanks to branch members Kim Rutledge and Karen Burley for technical assistance.

Membership Matters

Membership Matters… By Donna Holmes & Marty McKnew

Welcome our newest member:  Margo Davidson.  Margo moved to this area in 2020 from the Bay Area.  We have her friend in Austin, Texas to thank for encouraging her to join our ranks.  Margo is semi-retired and is looking to get involved in governmental affairs as well as meeting some new people.  Look for her contact information in the next Directory Update.

Consider Lifetime Membership!

This is a great time for current members to upgrade to lifetime membership for $1,240, a $100 savings compared to the cost after June 30. Lifetime membership is fully tax-deductible and allows you to put your values into action for many years to come!  Contact Marty or Donna to apply.

Beginning July 1, the AAUW national dues will be $67, of which $64 will be tax-deductible.  This is a $5 increase for 2022-23 year.

A Golden 100 Years

The women of California struck gold when the first branch of AAUW was founded in 1886 in San Francisco. By 1921, branch leaders knew they had tapped the deep vein of women’s interest in pursuing equity, and they formed an umbrella organization to unify their efforts: AAUW California.  Since then, AAUW California has grown to 119 branches with 9,571 members. The past 100 years have given a rich treasure of accomplishments, most notably the establishment of the Tech Trek program, which has provided hands-on STEM learning to more than 13,000 seventh-grade girls. The program was so exemplary that AAUW adopted and expanded it nationally.

AAUW California also sponsors the Speech Trek public-speaking contest for high school students. Through the generosity of its members, AAUW California has the distinction of completing 245 AAUW Fund endowments.

Always innovative and nimble, it pivoted to virtual programs during the pandemic, reached out to all members through multiple channels, provided an entirely homegrown educational webinar series, and launched a marketing campaign to build brand recognition and membership.

Thanks to a robust and innovative leadership team, AAUW California has weathered war, social change, COVID-19 and Twitter. And it continues to support branches with the resources and education they need to carry out the AAUW mission.

Sacramento AAUW is proud to be a member of AAUW California.

Legacy Circle and Funds Update

Legacy Circle and Funds Update By Charmen Goehring

Welcome to our newest Legacy Circle Members!!

I am pleased to welcome Liz Jordan and Donna Holmes to the AAUW Legacy Circle! Both have made the commitment to provide for AAUW in their estates to help ensure our organization is healthy and nimble in the future! Sacramento is now leading all CA branches in the number of Legacy Circle members in our midst.

If you have been a member of AAUW for a long time or if you are passionate about our mission of equity for all women and girls, consider joining the Legacy Circle. There are many ways you can include AAUW in your estate planning/will and no money is required now. There is a simple form online to print and mail or email  — it takes just a few minutes of your time! Contact Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com for more information.

AAUW Sacramento also experienced a year of generosity when it came to contributions to the AAUW Greatest Needs Fund and others. Our members and branch collectively sent more than $13,000!! Many members make regular donations which are easy to set up online. This is an amazing show of support and love for the work that we do in AAUW. Thank you!!!!

Interest Group Highlight – Healthy Heart

Interest Group Highlight – Healthy Heart By Jane Cooley

Healthy Heart meets for lunch now instead of dinner due to Covid19. We meet the Friday after the second Sunday.  The March meeting is March 18.

Currently, we have nine members who come regularly. Due to Covid19, we choose patio eating and fresh air.  The February meeting was held at Pure Soul Plant Based Eats in their parking lot. The next meeting will be March 18 at 11:30 a.m. at Lido’s Café on Fair Oaks Boulevard in Carmichael.

This group has been together for a long time, and we support each other as we enjoy hearing about each other’s lives. We talk about everything, including current events, world situations, what the ingredients are in a specific dish — you name it, we will talk about it.

We have recently welcomed two new members.  A third is interested but hasn’t been able to join us yet.  We get the names of members from the interest form that is filled out when joining or renewing membership in the branch.  Sometimes we get recommendations from others in our group.

When we met at night, we took turns hosting at our homes. The host made the main dish, and the rest of us brought salad, an appetizer, vegetables, or dessert.  We considered allergies to foods and diet choices such as vegetarianism.

We also kept our membership at eight due to the fact most dining room tables seat eight.  Like the rest of society, we have adjusted to changes.

ERA Update

ERA Up-Date By Liz Jordan

On Jan. 27, 2022, two years after the last required ratification vote in Virginia (38/50), the Equal Rights Amendment sits in the National Archivists office because the Trump Administration blocked the certification and publication of the amendment.

A large coalition of women’s rights groups met and marched in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 27 this year to urge President Biden, Attorney General Garland, and the U. S. Senate to take the final steps to enshrine it as the 28th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution.  President Biden sent a message to Congress urging them “to pass a resolution recognizing the ratification of the ERA.” (1/27/2022 The White House Statement from President Biden o the Equal Rights Amendment.)

Facts on the ground:

  • On Wednesday, March 17, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to remove the time limit with a vote of 222-204 on HJ Res 17. Attention now turns to the U.S. Senate and moving SJ Res 1 to the floor for a vote. (org.)
  • On Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, Reps. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Maloney and 154 cosponsors announced the introduction of a resolution before the U.S. House affirming that the Equal Rights Amendment has been validly ratified and is now in effect as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
  • However, the Senate has yet to act. “So far, the only Republican senators supporting the ERA joint resolution are Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine. Not one male Republican senator has indicated support, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has pledged to block the measure.” (2/10/22 Carrie N. Baker, Ms. Magazine)
  • On Feb. 8, 2022, Senators Romney (Utah) Johnson (Wisconsin) and Portman (Ohio) sent a letter to the U. S. Archivist “seeking …[his] commitment” to not certify the amendment to the U. S. Constitution.
  • Breaking news: Feb. 18, 2022. Virginia Attorney General Miyares has withdrawn his state from participation in a lawsuit against National Archivist Ferriero to force publication of the ERA. The attorneys general of Nevada and Illinois, along with Virginia’s Miyares, had joined together to sue the Archivist to publish the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution.
  • March 22, 2022, 50 years after the ERA was passed out of Congress, ERA Coalition and Fund for Women’s Equality begin a series of virtual events.

“Certainly, the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex.  The only issue is whether it prohibits it.  It doesn’t.” Antonin Scalia

March Birthdays, Book Groups, and Printable Articles

Celebrating March Birthdays! By Donna Holmes

  Happy Birthday to All!

  • PJ Missman                              3/1
  • Patricia Morgan                      3/5
  • Margi Park                               3/5
  • Sharon Norris                         3/6
  • Marjorie Patzer                      3/6
  • Julia Maclay                             3/8
  • Vicky Lovell                              3/9
  • Andrea Woelfle                       3/11
  • Alice Bauer                              3/14
  • Mary Lou Lentz                       3/17
  • Carolyn Meeker                      3/17
  • Cecilia Delury                          3/25
  • Elizabeth Jordan                     3/28

Book Groups By Sharon Anderson

Book Group 2:
News of the World, by Paulette Jiles, on Mar. 1; coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
Passing, by Nella Larsen, on Mar. 23; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman, on Mar. 9; coordinator is Nancy Lawrence

Book Group 6: 
The Golden State: A Novel, by Lydia Kiesling, on Mar. 21; coordinator is Angela Scarlett

Book Group 8: 
Hamnet: A Novel of the Plague, by Maggie O’Farrell , on Mar. 28; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
The Lincoln Highway, by Amor Towles, on Mar. 17; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson, on Mar. 3; coordinator is Linda Cook

Book Group 33: 
Inheritance, by Dana Shaprine, on Mar. 3 coordinators are Jane Pivetti, Nancy Lawrence

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