Monthly Archives: December 2022

AAUW Fund Zoom Event Sponsored by IBC

AAUW Fund Zoom Event Sponsored by Capital Counties InterBranch Council (IBC)

Saturday, Jan. 28, 1 – 3 p.m.

Your local InterBranch Council is delighted to offer members the opportunity to hear directly from four powerful women. AAUW CA State President Sandi Gabe, always engaging and knowledgeable, will bring us up to date on the issues that inspire us.  Our AAUW CA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Director, Stormy Miller Sabia, will speak on the progress and the challenges we face.  Following these articulate leaders, two dynamic AAUW Fund Grant recipients—Kyndra Cleveland and Isha Poudel — will present their research, connecting us to the passion that motivates their work and their lives.  We are delighted to sponsor their research and even more delighted to hear them speak to us directly. Register on EventBrite for this free Zoom event with this <link>. Once registered, you will be emailed the Zoom link 2 days prior to the event. Our branch members generously support AAUW Funds–please take this opportunity to do so again.

Kyndra Cleveland, pursuing her law degree at the University of California, Berkeley, seeks to amplify the voices of parents and children navigating legal systems, bringing the results of her research to policy decisions.  Children in the many thousands are removed from their families during crises, and then often face a chaotic road without a chance for family reunification.  These children can be lost in the system – but Kyndra and the Policy Advocacy Clinic at UC Berkeley are working to give voice to their challenges and use data to change policy for their well-being. She is a polished and effective speaker on a critical topic, of special relevance to AAUW’s advocacy for girls.

Isha Poudel, a graduate student at UC Davis studying international agricultural development, with a focus on gender equities, takes us to Nepal with a compelling project that makes us see the world a little differently.  In Nepal, three-fourths of the economy is agricultural—but 80% of the farmers are women. Men have emigrated to other areas to work, leaving the women farmers to deal with the challenges of gender bias, of food insecurity, of Covid-19, and of global warming.

Don’t miss these terrific four speakers on Jan. 28! Register NOW using the EventBrite link above!

Interest Group Happenings

Interest Group Happenings By Vicki Nicholson

  • Art & Architecture:  No meeting in January
  • Board Games:  Jan. 27, 7 p.m., at Ruth Werner’s home
  • Film Fans:  Jan. 24, 11 a.m., contact Cherril Peabody
  • Great Decisions I:  group resumes meeting in February
  • Great Decisions II:  Jan. 12, 7 p.m., book distribution at Gloria Yost’s home
  • Great Decisions III:  Jan. 16, 1 p.m., book distribution at Kathy Schrumpf’s home
  • Healthy Heart:  Jan. 13, 11:30 a.m., contact Jane Cooley
  • Readers’ Theater:  Jan. 10, 10 a.m., California Suite by Neil Simon, at Mary Williams’ home
  • Scrabble: Jan. 30, 1 p.m., at Vivian Counts’ home
  • Singles Dining:  Contact Nancy McCabe to verify date of Jan. 8

 

Book Group News

Book Group News By Sharon Anderson

NEW DAYTIME BOOK GROUP FORMING IN THE TAHOE PARK AREA

A new book group is forming which generally will meet only in the Tahoe Park area (a little south of Sac State).

All branch members are invited, of course, but the meetings will be hosted generally in the Tahoe Park area. Meetings will be held on the second Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. The first meeting is Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 on 55th Street, 95820.

If you are interested, please email or call Joy Clous. Joy’s contact information can be found in the Sacramento Branch Membership Directory. Your name will be placed on the interest list and you will be notified of the location of the meeting.

January Book Groups

Book Group 2:
Miracle at Saint Anna, by James McBride, on Jan. 3;  coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, by Kim Michele Richardson, on Jan. 23; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
Book selection meeting, on Jan. 11; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
Book selection meeting, on Jan. 18; coordinators are Angela Scarlett, Gloria Yost

Book Group 8: 
Book selection meeting, on Jan. 23; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
While Justice Sleeps, by Stacey Abrams, on Jan. 19 ; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro, on Jan. 5; coordinator is Linda Cook

Living Our Mission of Equity-Book Discussion

Living Our Mission of Equity-Book Discussion 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 generally meet the first 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 the first half (through page 121) of our new book, “How to Be an Antiracist” by Dr. Ibram Kendi, at 7 p.m. on Jan. 11 (note: this month we are meeting the second Wednesday). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Year End AAUW Funds

Year End AAUW Funds By Charmen Goehring

AAUW’s story began in 1881 when a small group of female college graduates joined together to open the doors for women’s career advancement and to encourage more women to pursue higher education. Over the past 141 years, we have been at the forefront of many of this nation’s greatest achievements in the areas of equity, empowerment, justice and opportunity. Our accomplishments are too many to list but include laws such as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, launching one of the most enduring fellowship programs for women in the world, and commissioning groundbreaking research that documents women’s abilities and value.

If our story is to continue — and as we have witnessed the erosion of hard-fought rights in our nation over the past few years, we know that it must- — we will need to help build our resources. To this end, we urge you to make a year-end gift to the AAUW Greatest Needs Fund as a member of the AAUW Sacramento Branch. No gimmicks, little effort and yet big bang for our beloved organization. (use this link https://my.aauw.org/donation-product-detail )

While you are at it, consider becoming a Legacy Circle member as well. Many of you have been members of AAUW for decades as I have. Let’s ensure that the women and girls of the future finally see equity in their lifetimes.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones!

Charmen Goehring, AAUW Sacramento Fund Chair

Speech Trek – January and February Events

Speech Trek – January and February Events By Ann Arneill

The Speech Trek Committee has completed its recruitment for Elk Grove High School students to compete in the contest and has stimulated significant interest in this year’s topic:  “How can communities, organizations and citizens of all ages help protect and expand voting rights?” The contest will be held on Feb. 18, 2023 – mark your calendars! We hope to be conducting it in person at Cosumnes River College, COVID-19 pandemic conditions permitting.

We are now looking forward to the Speech Trek Challenge that will be held via Zoom on Jan. 21, 2023 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 pm.  Members will have a chance to discuss the topic in advance of the contest to pique their interest. There will also be an opportunity to hear from scholarship recipients. Look for the Eventbrite registration announcement arriving in your email in mid-December and several times in January. We hope to see you there for a lively discussion of this important topic! Please register on EventBrite using this <link>. Once registered, you will  receive the Zoom link two days prior to the challenge event.

We look forward to holding the Speech Trek Contest in person this year (as long as there are no COVID-19 complications) on Feb. 18, 2023 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Cosumes River College, Room Winn 150.  We hope to see you there!

UC Davis Added to Branch Scholarship List

UC Davis Added to Branch Scholarship List By Cathy Locke

Women attending UC Davis are now eligible for AAUW Sacramento scholarships.

The branch board on Dec. 5 approved the scholarship committee’s recommendation to add UC Davis to the list of colleges that scholarship recipients may attend. Previously, we have had to turn away otherwise qualified applicants who were transferring from a Los Rios Community College campus to UC Davis. Because UCD is a public university with a major presence in the Sacramento region, it is a logical option for community college transfer students.

The branch is offering $3,000 scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year to women age 25 and older who are pursuing their first baccalaureate degree at American River College, Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College, Sacramento City College, California State University, Sacramento, or UC Davis. Students must be Sacramento County residents at the time of application. The number of scholarships will depend on available funds and the number of qualified applicants. The deadline for applications is March 1, 2023.

Our scholarship program is listed on the financial aid office websites for the various campuses. Information also is provided to mentoring organizations, student services centers and community groups, including Women’s Empowerment and Saint John’s Program for Real Change. We encourage branch members to assist in outreach efforts by passing along information to other organizations and individuals that might be interested in the scholarship program.

Academic and other criteria for applicants are available at https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/programs/scholarships. Applications may be completed and supplemental materials submitted using the link on the webpage.

Prospective applicants may direct questions about the program or application process to the Scholarship Committee at aauwsacramentoscholarships@gmail.com.

Thanks to the generous support of our members, families and friends, we are assisting five women who were each awarded $3,000 scholarships for the current academic year.

Tech Trek News

Tech Trek News By Mary C. Miller and Lori Franz

The Tech Trek committee is busy making plans to recruit students for the 2023 camp at UC Davis.

Plenty of new opportunities and changes have occurred at the state and camp levels.  We have attended zoom planning and orientation sessions and are managing the constant flow of communications. Committee members Gloria Yost and Kathleen Deaver have made initial contacts with two of our target schools as we await new brochures and materials from the state level. In short, we are ready to begin the recruitment process as soon as the resources are received.

A new look and feel for the 2023 camp season has already been unveiled, focusing on the “STEMpowerment” of all those who participate. We will be excited to send students for Tech Trek’s 25th year, and we thank our members for their long-term commitment.  We know participation has created many opportunities and dreams for the future for the girls representing our branch.

After camp this year, recent participants were invited to create a new program logo. McKenna Rose, a 2022 camper representing the Five Cities-Pismo Beach branch, submitted the winning concept. What a nice symbol to describe our role in empowering young women interested in the STEM fields!  (See the new logo below.)

Our branch has traditionally selected and sent six girls to the UC Davis camp. Although we would have liked to offer the opportunity to more of our wonderful applicants over the years, the capacity of the camp was limited. This year, we were invited to request additional slots; we have requested seven slots with the option to also send up to four girls to a “virtual” camp. Although the costs have increased from $900 to $1,000 per camper, along with $500 per “virtual camper”, our budget is sufficiently funded at this time.

Thanks to our board, this ambitious plan has been approved. We appreciate the past and future support of our members that allows us to resume participation in such a positive way.

AAUW CA Tidbits

AAUW CA Tidbits, Forwarded by Liz Jordan

AAUW CA Office New Mailing Address:

Due to the closure of our local UPS facility, we have moved our mailing address to:

AAUW California
PO Box 160067
Sacramento, California 95816-0067  

AAUW FUND                                                                                                                           

Karen Vanderwerken, Director, AAUW Fund Committee Chair, aauwfund@aauw-ca.org
END-OF-YEAR DEADLINES AND DONATIONS!
Zooming In: factoids from our record four Fund Events:

  • 38 of 41 California scholars/grantees presented.
  • 376 members registered with 141 unique viewers.
  • 57 average number branches attended each session.
  • 17 branch positions participated.

View the 2022 recipients, read their bios, watch any of the videos of the four Fund Events, and/or donate to AAUW by clicking HERE.

Are you looking for a branch or IBC program speaker?  Schedule one of our scholars/grantees to provide a more detailed presentation through April 2023. Click HERE to request a scholar/grantee speaker for your branch.

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Dec. 31, 2022, is the deadline for donating this year to AAUW Fund. Use Branch/Individual Contribution Form when sending in branch and member donations.

Remember Legacy Circle Gifting!  What will be your AAUW legacy?
Contact Charmen Goehring at charminme@yahoo.com or Judy Horan at queenjah@pacbell.net

Consider using your IRA RMD (required minimum distribution) by giving directly to AAUW. Contact: cfo@aauw-ca.org.

Giving your time, your energy, and your dollars — all make AAUW California Fund great.

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NOMINATIONS & ELECTIONS                                                                                   

Charmen Goehring, Nominations & Elections Chair, nominating@aauw-ca.org
LOVE AAUW? WANT TO GIVE BACK?
This year we are looking for a President-Elect to serve one year followed by two years as president. I know that Sandi will be leaving some big shoes to fill. Each of us has strengths and weaknesses to share. Come forward and let your light shine. We need someone who cares about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Women’s Rights, Financial Security and so much more.Please think at least twice before you say you can’t do it.  AAUW matters, women matter, everyone deserves a chance.  If President-Elect is too big a bite, how about CFO or one of the director positions?

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National Member Perks

You may not know or, perhaps, have forgotten that AAUW members get all sorts of perks. You can get discounts on cruises, cars, and car insurance. Check out the bucketsful of deals on the national website HERE. And whenever you take advantage of these benefits, AAUW receives royalties to support its work.

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Public Policy

NOVEMBER 8th WAS A GOOD DAY FOR WOMEN!
The election is finally over and overall, AAUW members can be pretty happy with the results.  Here are a few highlights:

  • One woman was added to each house of Congress: the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, bringing the numbers to 124 (H) and 25 (S).
  • Of the total of 149, 54 are women of color.
  • With Nancy Pelosi stepping down as Speaker of the House, we lost the most powerful woman’s voice in government, but still have a woman on the minority leadership team, Minority Whip Katherine Clark.
  • Governors of 12 states are now women.
  • 23 percent of all mayors across the nation are women, including our brand-new and first woman mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass.
  • 32 women won seats in the California Legislature (total confirmed 44, three pending)
  • All executive positions in California except Governor are filled by women, including Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, and Controller.
  • Proposition 1 prevailed and women’s right to control their own reproductive choices is now enshrined in our constitution.

The state Public Policy Committee thanks each and every AAUW California member who voted, who assisted in our Voter Education (VE) campaign by spreading our messages on social media, who took the pledge to vote for Prop. 1 (we had 437 sign up!), and who worked within their branches to do their own VE events.

Next challenge:  Let’s add California to that list of states with a woman governor!  Together we can – and will – change the world!

Membership Update: Birthdays, Winter Party, and More

Welcome New Member! By Donna Holmes

Pat McCarty joined our branch at the Winter Luncheon using STF!  She is a former member from Burlingame and when she contacted us about joining she was delighted to hear about STF and came with her application and check in hand!

She is retired from research administration, has a degree in history from UCD, secondary and elementary credentials from UCD and an AA in Culinary Arts from the California Culinary Academy/Cordon Bleu.

Pat is interested in scholarships, art & architecture, day book groups, bridge for fun and scrabble just for fun. Be sure to say “Welcome!” when she shows up at our interest groups and events.

Celebrating January Birthdays! By Donna Holmes

Happy Birthday to All!

  • Lana Widman                                   1/1
  • Susana Mullen                                 1/1
  • Marilyn Orrick                                  1/6
  • Joanne Reiken                                  1/6
  • Tiffany Ardisana                              1/6
  • Mary Miller                                       1/14
  • Jane Pivetti                                       1/15
  • Gail Johnson                                     1/16
  • Gloria Yost                                        1/17
  • Gretchen Christophel                     1/18
  • Nancy Nolen-Swanson                   1/21
  • Kimberly Rutledge                           1/23
  • Betty Hayes                                      1/24
  • Elizabeth Rose                                  1/24
  • Katherine Henderson                      1/26
  • Joan Hammond                                1/27
  • Georgia Richardson                         1/28
  • Molly Dugan                                      1/31

Winter Event Photos

Some photos from the December Winter Event. Good conversations, great food, inspiring presentations!

                                                    

Do You Know CANVA? A Request

Branch Communications and Publicity folks are looking for a member who knows the creative program CANVA.  We have many advertisements for branch activities, outreach programs and efforts like the annual membership drive for which we want to design eye-catching fliers, social media posts, email blasts, etc.  The branch has a CANVA subscription but we don’t have anyone who is experienced with using this program.  If you or someone you know would be helpful in volunteering for this effort, please contact Tiffany Ardisana-James or Liz Jordan, both of whom can be found in Sacramento Branch Membership Directory.

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