Monthly Archives: September 2023

October Program

Sacramento Branch of AAUW and CHAR* Present (By Hedda Smithson and Liz Jordan)

Episode Two of “The Rights Stuff”:
                               The ERA and Reproductive Rights 

                             >>> Lights, Camera, Action!! <<<

Saturday, October 14, 10 AM-12:30 PM in the Sacramento Fine Arts Center, 5330-B Gibbons Drive, Carmichael

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Join us for an educational, energetic and timely program about our rights to reproductive health care and its relationship to the Equal Rights Amendment. What position does AAUW take on our rights to reproductive healthcare and on the ERA?

A Readers’ Theater presentation will start the program and then we can engage in an interactive discussion about the current issues surrounding reproductive healthcare. We will share information about the trend of laws in the 50 states, as well as what is happening in California and our Sacramento Region. How does the Equal Rights Amendment, ratified in 2020 but still unpublished in the Constitution, apply to these trends?
> Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
> Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
> Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.

What happened to the amendment written by Alice Paul 100 years ago in 1923, passed by Congress in 1972? Where is it? What can we do as individuals or as a group? What kinds of action might make a difference?

We have questions, some answers and information to share, and some ideas for individual action.

The doors open at 10 a.m. and the meeting begins promptly at 10:30. Seating is limited so please make your reservation by either calling CHAR’s Lee Battershell, 916-230-1110 or at Eventbrite by clicking <here>.

Click <here> for the event flyer.

*Citrus Heights/American River Branch of AAUW

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

As I write this, summer is hanging on, and we are anxious for cooler weather and fall
activities. Apple Hill, fall sports and sweaters are looking pretty good.

By now, our first monthly meeting is in the record books and we are looking forward to our Oct. 14 event. I hope to see you attending our events as the Smith and Smithson team is planning our second Lights, Camera, Action program. This will be our best program season in a while as they are creativity personified!

On another note, I would like to introduce you to pages 1-8 in the front of our directory. I think most of us use the directory only to locate other members, but we are overlooking some really good information. As we all are being encouraged to recruit friends and family to join our branch, page 1 describes who we are and what we stand for. Page 2 is the membership cost and board meeting schedule. Page 3 describes the standing programs that are an asset to the community. This is what I talk about when I am sharing what I am most proud of. (I know, don’t end a sentence with a preposition!) The following pages are interest groups, branch programs and branch leaders.

As an FYI, please add Marissa Floyd as the Public Policy chairperson. We are so
pleased that she has agreed to take this on to keep us informed about legislation.
Our voting board, those who attend board meetings, consists of the four elected
and five appointed members. Thus, meeting attendance is narrowed down to
attract leaders who are meeting-adverse. Keep this in mind when you are asked
to help out!

See you in October!

P.S. Also note our Tech Trek co-chairs for 2023-24 are Marlys Huez and Joyce Humphrey. At the Sept. 23rd kickoff we were introduced to our summer 2023 Tech Trek campers.

DEI Event

Diversity in Action! By Lisa Howard

As the DEI Chair for the branch, I would like to invite members to join me for a field trip to a
black cultural center in Sacramento. The trip is an opportunity for members interested in bringing diversity to the branch membership to experience a predominately black space in our own community at the Sojourner Truth Museum and Sac African Market Place on Saturday Oct. 7 at 1 p.m.. The museum will provide us a custom tour of the museum exhibits highlighting women. Before or after the tour, members are free to explore the market, which is held in the museum parking lot at 2251 Florin Road from noon to 6 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays each month.  Come explore the shops, food and entertainment.

Sojourner Truth Museum requests an $8 donation for the tour, which can be paid at the door. Tour size is limited to 30 individuals. Please RSVP to Lisa Howard if you plan to attend so we can estimate the group size. My email address and cell phone information can be found in the Membership Directory.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
Lisa

Membership Happenings

Membership Happenings By Gloria Yost, Vicky Lovell

We are off and running!
Take action on our list below!

  • Be on the lookout for a new member orientation before Halloween
  • Bring in a potential new member and become a Membership Ambassador
  • When you convince your potential new member to join, you’ll be eligible for our monthly drawing
  • Let us know when congratulations are in order for members who have been promoted, received rewards, made themselves known in the community
  • Let us know who among our fellow members may need to hear a friendly voice

Together we can strengthen our AAUW Sacramento connections and friendships.

Gloria and Vicky would love to hear from you. Their contact information can be found in the Membership Directory.

Glendalee “Glee” Scully 

Glendalee Pierce Scully (Glee) was born on Oct. 18, 1937 in Santa Barbara, California, and died peacefully in her Sacramento area home on July 4, 2023.

Glee is survived by sons Greg and Gavin Garfield, Sean and Zachary Scully, stepchildren Patrick and Andrew Scully, Suzanne Anderson, by thirteen grandchildren and by her sister, Cynthia Pierce. Her beloved husband Jed (Skip) Scully predeceased her in 2019.

She graduated from high school in Roseville and from the University of California, Davis. In 1972 she graduated as valedictorian from McGeorge School of Law and later joined its faculty. As director of the Clinical Legal Education program at McGeorge, she and her colleagues and students served many Sacramento residents who could not afford to hire an attorney.

Glee was a nurturing and supportive mother and grandmother, and a loyal and loving partner to her husband Skip. She was, as mentioned, a determined and accomplished lawyer between 1976 and 2008. Her interest in people, politics and women’s rights was unflagging. She was inquisitive, generous, focused and kind. In both California and France—the latter where she spent considerable time in her later years—she designed, created and tended verdant and colorful gardens, and she cultivated many lasting friendships.

A memorial service/celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Celebrating October Birthdays! 

Happy Birthday to All!

  • Kathryn Schrumpf                           10/1
  • Janice Stuter                                     10/5
  • Mary Williams                                   10/8
  • Karen Ann Smith                              10/9
  • Lynn Blair Wood                               10/12
  • Linda Cook                                        10/13
  • Jennifer Virginia Stanley                  10/14
  • Lyn Roefs                                           10/15
  • Susan McLearan                               10/17
  • Elizabeth Hendrickson                    10/21
  • Marianne Rorden                             10/21
  • Christina Calpo                                 10/23
  • Gail Evans                                          10/26
  • Bakula Maniar                                   10/27
  • Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin          10/27

Book Groups for October

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

Reminder there is a “books” page under “Activities” on our branch website (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net/bookgroups/).  If you wish to see what others are reading, or get ideas for your book group or yourself, please find the books page and take a look.

Each book group has its own tab, by book group number.  (These book group numbers correlate with page 6 of the branch Membership Directory.)  On each list, the meeting days, times and coordinator are listed.  Feel free to call me if you have trouble locating it.

October Book Groups

Book Group 1:
TBA, on Oct. 12; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 2:
Fellowship Point, by Alice Elliot Dark, on Oct. 3;  coordinator is Carol Hayes

Book Group 3: 
TBA, on Oct. 25; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek, by Kim Richardson, on Oct. 11; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishiguro, on Oct. 16; coordinator is Kim Rutledge

Book Group 8: 
The Milky Way, by Moiya McTier, on Oct. 23; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus, on Oct. 19; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
The 40 Rules of Love, by Elif Shafak, on Oct. 5; coordinator is Linda Cook

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 generally meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. This book group is a joint AAUW Sacramento and CHAR event and open to all.

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 “How the Word is Passed” by Clint Smith (pages 85-206) at 7 p.m. Oct. 4. If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Here are the books that are planned September through June:

How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America – by Clint Smith-Sept/Oct/Nov
 
The Talk – by Darrin Bell (graphic novel)-December
 

Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under The Color Of Law – by Richard and Leah Rothstein-Jan/Feb/March

The Four Pivots: Reimaging Justice, Reimaging Ourselves, by Shawn Ginwright, PhD-April/May/June

Interest Groups for October

Interest Group Happenings By Vicki  Nicholson

  • Art & Architecture: Oct. 1. 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Fall Season Celebration at Manetti Shrem Museum, UC Davis Campus. Contact Deborah Dunn
  • Great Decisions I:  Oct. 16, 7 p.m. on Zoom; topic is “China and America: Back to the Future?”. Contact Cathy Locke
  • Great Decisions II:  Oct. 12, 6-8 p.m. on Zoom. Contact Lynn Wood
  • Great Decisions III:  Oct. 16, 1 p.m. on Zoom; topic is “Iran at a Crossroads”. Contact Kathy Schrumpf
  • Healthy Heart:  Oct, 20, 11:30 a.m., Matteo’s at Arden and Fair Oaks. Contact Jane Cooley for restaurant location.
  • Reader’s Theater:  Oct. 10, 1 p.m., home of Mary Williams. October’s play is “Morning’s at Seven” by Paul Osborn. Contact Diane Peterson
  • Scrabble Just for Fun:  Oct. 23, 1 p.m., in game room of Eskaton Village. Contact Vivian Counts
  • Singles Dining:  Oct. 1, 6 p.m., Bear and Crown British Pub. Contact Nancy McCabe

Upcoming Programs

Sacramento Branch of AAUW Presents (By Hedda Smithson)

Episode Three of “The Rights Stuff”:
                The Right to Personal Safety and Second Chances  

                             >>> Lights, Camera, Action!! <<<

Saturday, November 4, at the Carmichael Library

                         Coming Attraction!!      Save the date!

On Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 we will gather at the Carmichael Library to listen to leaders from Sacramento’s leading organizations dedicated to improving the lives of women in our community. Our panel will feature representatives from My Sister’s House, St. John’s Program for Real Change, WEAVE and Women’s Empowerment, Sacramento. They will discuss their programs as well as local women’s needs for personal safety and second chances. We will look for ways to focus on our Action or Actions to support these efforts. See the next issue of Capital Ideas for more details.

And Another:        Coming Attraction!!      Save the date!

AAUW Fund Luncheon By Charmen Goehring

Save the Date!  Saturday, January 20, 2024 Noon to 2pm
Northridge Country Club, 7600 Madison Ave., Fair Oaks

Join us for the first in-person AAUW Fund Luncheon since 2020. Hear from your AAUW California state officers and be inspired by 2023-24 AAUW Fund scholars.

Enjoy the luncheon and speakers while benefitting the AAUW Fund.

Reserve your spot today: Send $40 to AAUW CHAR, P.O. Box 1555, Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Note “AAUW Fund Luncheon” on the memo line. Specify your luncheon choice of either Turkey with mashed potatoes and veggies  *OR* Vegetarian Risotto.

You can find the event flyer <here>.

News from NCCWSL

News from NCCWSL Forwarded By Gloria Yost

From attendee Roshelle Czar:

As a women’s studies major, I was really grateful to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL), especially because this was my last year at Sacramento State University.

I got the chance to meet Blair Amani, who is the head of Education at the Feminists. As a fellow Muslim myself, it was wonderful to see that kind of representation and to be able to speak with her in regards to her work.

The workshops were also insightful as one of them taught me how to run for office and asked that we come up with an elevator pitch as well.

Lastly, hearing all the wonderful speakers present on their journeys and the resilience that kept them going was beyond inspiring. It allowed me to see that we must always remain humble in our pursuits and also not get stuck in comparing ourselves with other people. Sometimes, social media can do that to us, and it’s not healthy to operate in that manner. It was a gentle reminder to hold compassion for myself as well. Please view attached pictures from the conference.

Did You Know?

Did You Know? By Liz Jordan, Nancy McCabe, Karen Burley

You can get up to 75% off of office supplies! By Liz Jordan

Every AAUW member is entitled to a number of perks and discounts. As a member of leadership for the last few decades I used the old Office Depot discount to make copies of all kinds of materials for different programs in which I participated. Recently, I learned that Office Depot has completed a reorganization of their discount program, and if I wanted to continue to get a great discount on printed copies, etc. I needed to take a few new steps. It was easy to do. If you want to get an Office Depot discount card, here’s is what you do:

  1. Go to aauw.org. Click Log In and sign into your membership. You probably set this up when you first paid your membership online. https://www.aauw.org/membership/
  2. Once on your Profile page, click Membership tab on the upper right corner of the menu band across the top of the page.
  3. On the new page, on the right side there is a menu list. The very last item is Discounts and Perks. Click through to the list of opportunities.
  4. Scroll down. Under the red band Other Discounts and Services, the third item is Office Depot.
  5. When you read through the information, it will tell you that to receive your member discount, you’ll need to re-enroll or register for an account through our dedicated ODP site. REGISTER NOW. Click through and follow the directions, giving your name and address to register for the program. Once you have registered, you will receive an email at the address you gave, to click through and get access to the card you can carry in your wallet.

You print the paper, take it with you the next visit to Office Depot, and they will laminate the card for you.

TA-DA! “Up to 80% discount off of Preferred Products!”

Ordering AAUW Name Badges By Nancy McCabe

You probably have seen some of our members wearing AAUW badges with our branch inscribed. We ordered them about six years ago when we were using paper badges on a string around our necks. It reminded some of a work badge or a nametag for a cocker spaniel. Ten dollars looked like a bargain for a bit of self esteem. Strangely, the badges are still $10 and can be ordered at aauw.source4.com, then choose Accessorize. My second line is ‘Sacramento Branch, Inc.’ We chose not to add our leadership position name as we often change jobs within our branch. After all, $10 is $10! When we ordered the badges earlier, they added ’empowering women since 1881′ but I gather they are no longer doing that. Anyway, the badges are pretty cool, so feel free to order yours, and shop the site for other logo stuff!

Sunshine Chair

Pat Winkle is the new Sunshine Chair and needs to hear from you if you know members who might appreciate a get well, sympathy or “thinking of you” card. As she doesn’t know everyone, she needs your help in remembering our friends. Her contact information is in the directory.

RBG Stamp

The U.S. Postal Service is issuing a Ruth Bader Ginsburg stamp! The Postal Service has announced plans for a first-day-of-issue ceremony to unveil a new Forever stamp that honors the legacy of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The ceremony is scheduled to take place Monday, Oct. 2 at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. at 6 p.m. ET.

 

Sacramento’s Own

Sacramento born-and-bred Greta Gerwig’s movie, “Barbie, ” is now the biggest movie of the year so far at the domestic box office, as of Aug. 25. Way to go, Greta!

 

Printable Newsletter Articles

Click here for Printable Newsletter Articles.

Public Policy: Advancing Gender Equity

Advancing Gender Equity is Advancing Environmental Sustainability (and vice versa)

By Missy Maceyko, Co-Chair, CA State Public Policy Committee

After a year of wild weather in California, many of us may be thinking more about climate, environment, and sustainability. How does our concern with the weather relate to AAUW California’s Public Policy Priorities? Advancing gender equity is directly related to environmental sustainability. The inverse is also true.

The United Nations sustainable development goals, adopted in 2015, seek to push all countries to act to protect the planet, ensure widespread prosperity, and promote peace. Achieving gender equality, goal number five, is a crucial element in this overall strategy.

We know that having greater gender diversity in leadership improves organizations. One of AAUW California’s public policy focus areas is increasing women in leadership positions. However, advancing this goal can also have positive climate impacts. The UN has found that having greater gender diversity in climate discussions leads to improved outcomes on climate-focused policies and projects. This is just one case in which we can see how sustainable development goal 5, promoting greater gender equality, alongside advancing AAUW California’s public policy priorities, can be important for achieving sustainable development goal 13, creating more impactful climate action.

Data also shows us that (un)sustainable production and consumption patterns, which harm the environment, tend to be gendered, with “green” choices being widely feminized. While this is a global trend, we see this in popular portrayals of more planet-friendly consumption choices in the United States, as well, such as veganism, which tends to be marked as more “feminine” and less “masculine.” This example shows us that sustainable development goal 5, promoting greater gender equality, alongside AAUW California’s overall public policy mission of advancing equity for women and girls, is also important for achieving sustainable development goal 12, which focuses on creating more planet-friendly and responsible production and consumption patterns.

Advancing gender equity is directly related to environmental sustainability, and vice versa. In advancing AAUW California’s public policy goals, and expanding the rights of all women and girls, we can help create the conditions for greater justice and inclusion, economic parity, and environmental viability, all at the same time.

Click <here> for the full CA State Public Policy Newsletter.