Monthly Archives: September 2024

October Program-The Right to be Informed Voters

Sacramento and Citrus Heights/American Branches of AAUW Present

“The Rights Stuff”

Lights, Camera, Action!

The right to be informed voters

Saturday, October 19, 9:30 AM to 12 noon

Carmichael Presbyterian Church

5645 Marconi Ave.,  Carmichael CAHas everyone noticed this is an election year? Well – we have heard of  “Political Junkies” – we would like to make you aware of a subspecies – and we call them the “Proposition Junkies.”

Is your proposition knowledge and history up to date? Here is a quick quiz to get you engaged:

  1. How are propositions placed on the California Ballot?
  2. How often are propositions renumbered?
  3. Proposition 4 passed in 1911 did what? (AAUW would have supported it!!)
  4. What was the target of Proposition 65, passed in 1965?
  5. Proposition 73 in 2005 and Proposition 85 the next year failed. What was the issue?
  6. Proposition 8 in 2008 passed and then was declared unconstitutional. What was the issue?

Join us for a panel discussion about the 10 propositions on our November ballots. Helping us to become educated voters will be Professor Mary-Beth Moylan and students from the McGeorge School of Law.

Here are three propositions we think will be interesting:

  1. Proposition 36: Increase drug crime and theft penalties; allow drug and mental health treatment.
  2. Proposition 5: Lower the vote threshold from 2/3 to 55% for local bond issues.
  3. Proposition 6: Remove involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime from the constitution.

The doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting starts at 10. Light refreshments will be offered. Seating is limited to 80 guests so reserve a spot through Eventbrite (click here) or call Lee Battershell, (916) 230-1110 to leave a clear message; spell your name slowly.

Lights? Check! Camera? Check! And now we look for Action!!

  • Register for the event: (click here) or call Lee at the number above.
  • Invite a friend to come with you and be sure to let us know.
  • Look at the 10 Propositions and come to the meeting with questions.
  • Remember to wear a name tag but know that if you forget or don’t have one, a name tag will be provided. We want to get to know you!!
  • Educate yourself by checking out Ballotpedia and other online sources.
  • VOTE!!

                                       

 

 

 

 

 

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

I have exciting news for our membership! CHAR, Citrus Heights-American River AAUW, is disbanding due to a drop in membership and would like to merge with the Sacramento branch! 

This has a lot of positive facets for our branch — more interest groups, more new members to meet, more experienced officers to share leadership, and more new ideas for programs, etc. Several of our members are already dual members with CHAR. 

A group has met once to talk about what a merger would mean and when we have an agreement, we will send it to our membership for a vote. If you have any specific concerns, contact Hedda Smithson, Barbara Smith, Susana Mullen or me. 

Everything is in preliminary stages at this point. When an agreement is reached we will share it with you and put it out for a vote. Stay tuned!

Book Groups Update

Book Groups Update By Sharon Anderson

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

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.

September Book Groups

Book Group 1:
Absolution, by Alice McDermott, on Oct. 10; coordinator is Joy Clous

Book Group 3: 
Will be selecting books for the next period, on Oct. 23; coordinator is Carolyn Meeker

Book Group 4: 
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, by Olga Tosarczuk, on Oct. 9; coordinator is Pat Morehead

Book Group 6: 
Waiting to be Arrested at Night, by Tahir Amul, on Oct. 21; coordinator is Susana Mullen

Book Group 8: 
The Bookbinder, by Pip Williams, on Oct. 28; coordinator is Diana Squire

Book Group 10: 
A Land Twice Promised, by Noa Baum , on Oct. 17; coordinator is Sandi Schoenman

Book Group 12: 
Sold, by Patricia McCormick, on Oct. 3; coordinator is Linda Cook

Living Our Mission of Equity By Charmen Goehring

We hope you will join us in a monthly equity conversation where we look at our own biases, seek 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 meet the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. on Zoom.

The Zoom meeting code is 737 420 3780 or you can join using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7374203780  We will discuss our current book, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. We will discuss chapters 5 through 8 (up to page 162). If you have questions and to RSVP, please email Charmen at charminme@yahoo.com.

Interest Group Happenings

Interest Group Happenings By Pat Winkle

If you would like to propose a new Interest Group for our branch, please contact me and I will present your ideas to the board for approval. My contact information, as well as the contacts for each of the Interest Groups, is in your directory for this year.

 

  • Art & Architecture: Wednesday. Oct. 2, 10 a.m. Docent led tour at the Crocker Art Museum for the Mary Tuthill Lindheim exhibit. Optional lunch to follow. Contact: Deborah Dunn
  • Great Decisions I: Monday, Oct. 21,  7p.m. on Zoom. Topic: The US and the Middle East. Contact: Cathy Locke
  • Great Decisions II: Thursday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m. on Zoom. Contact: Lynn Blair Wood
  • Great Decisions III: Monday, Oct. 21, 1 p.m. Meets in a member’s home. Contact: Margaret McCarthy
  • Healthy Heart Lunch: Friday, Oct. 11, 11:30 a.m. at Matteo’s Pizza and Bistro, 5132 Arden Way. Contact: Jane Cooley
  • Reader’s Theater: Contact: Diane Petersen for updates.
  • Scrabble Just for Fun: Monday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. in the game room at Eskaton Village Carmichael.  Contact: Vivian Counts
  • Singles Dining Out: Sunday, Oct. 6, 6 p.m. at Cafe Europa, 1537 Howe Ave, Suite 116. Contact: Nancy McCabe

AAUW Priorities

AAUW Priorities By Kathy Papst

First, I want to thank Karen Burley for stepping up to be the chairperson of Funds. This is
especially great with all the other jobs she oversees in our branch. Thank you for your selfless
commitment to our branch mission.

There is so much happening with the state organization to further our goals for equity for women in many ways. It is easy to think that we have made so much progress that we can all rest and think that the mission has been accomplished. That is not the case, and we need to continue to work toward moving forward and to keep outside forces from trying to erase all of the work that AAUW has fought hard to enact.

Some interesting news from the state website: If you wish to find out what is new, take a few
minutes to read what is happening in Public Policy, Equal Rights, Title IX, Pay Equity, and
Discrimination issues. The Sept. Public Policy newsletter can be found <here>.

In 2024, even though the federal government has laws in effect regarding pay equity, women still make 84 cents for every dollar that men make. The state website has a 2024 voter issue guide available to download.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed into law AB 1078, which prevents school districts from banning
books and censoring curriculum.

The Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to 77-year-old Claudia Goldin without men as
collaborators. Claudia is a professor of economics at Harvard University.

We have some very exciting programs coming up this year, and I strongly encourage all branch
members to consider attending these mission-based programs. Remember that we can make great friends and get together for book discussion groups, dining groups, Art & Architecture, etc. because of our involvement with AAUW.

The Oct. 19 program will feature a discussion of ballot measures in the 2024 election. This will
be led by law students from McGeorge Law School.

On Nov. 16, I will host a meeting regarding the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX into law. I am working on having a speaker(s) talk about pay-equity cases that went to the higher courts for deliberation in California. I am crossing my fingers to schedule a very prominent
speaker on this issue. Please put these dates on your calendar.

Once again, if you would like to help work on any part of Priorities, please contact me and we can find some way to contribute to this important cause.

Happy Autumn,
Kathy

From the CA AAUW President:

This is a reminder of the critical impact school board races have on our communities.

Though they may seem small, school boards make vital decisions about what students learn, how resources are allocated, and the policies affecting the health, safety, and equity of our schools. They also influence essential issues like sex education, mental health services, and inclusion, while managing key decisions about land use and school closures that directly affect neighborhoods.

With the upcoming election, it’s important that we all participate. These elections determine the quality of education and fairness in our communities, and often serve as stepping stones for future political leaders. Please be sure to research your local school district, review your sample ballot, and learn about the candidates.

In some parts of California, school boards may challenge the state’s pro-choice and health equity values, which makes your vote even more urgent.

Your involvement ensures that all students receive the education and resources they deserve in a supportive and inclusive environment. Voting in these elections helps shape not just our schools, but the future of leadership in our communities.

Your vote matters!

 ***
This message was sent to you from the Capital Women’s Campaign (CWC).  Chaired by former Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo, CWC is an alliance of pro-choice activists from the greater Sacramento region determined to flex our collective power. If you have information to share, especially regarding bringing more pro-choice women into the political process, please send to info@capitalwomenscampaign.com  Note that if you prefer not to receive information/calls to action from CWC, simply reply to this email with a request to be removed from our mailing list. 

 

Membership Doings

Membership Doings by Gloria Yost

We Have a New Member!

Merilee Colton – fairly new to Sacramento and is again joining AAUW
She is active in the Cal State Retiree Association and enjoys singles dining group.

WELCOME Merilee.  We are glad you have joined.

Membership Ambassadors Are Back!

  • Bring in a new member — get your name on our Wall of Honor
  • Bring in a new member — get your name added for our drawings
  • Monthly drawing for prizes at meetings
  • Recruit the most new members — WIN a free AAUW membership for 2025-26

Congratulations to Jan Stuter — our first 2024-25 Ambassador

Help us Strengthen our Branch connections and friendships. Contact Gloria Yost or Vicky Lovell, our contact information can be found in the Membership Directory.

In Memoriam – Ruth Werner

Our almost-50-year member, Ruth Werner, recently passed away after a long
struggle with cancer.

Ruth joined AAUW in 1976 and regularly attended branch programs and events.
She was dedicated to AAUW Sacramento and enjoyed participating in, and later
leading the Board Games interest group. Ruth also enjoyed traveling and was very
close to her nieces and nephews. She will be missed.

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
  • Susan McLearan                                10/17
  • Elizabeth Hendrickson                      10/21
  • Marianne Rorden                              10/21
  • Christina Calpo                                  10/23
  • Darcy Burton                                     10/26
  • Gail Evans                                           10/26
  • Bakula Maniar                                   10/27
  • Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin          10/27
  • Sascha Mowrey                                 10/30

Our Branch Moves Forward!

Our Branch Moves Forward! By Hedda Smithson

Last month we read about the new structure of our governing body – the board in its new
format. Now we ask you to look at some of the back pages of our membership directory.

Liz Jordan! Donna Holmes! Marty McKnew! Nancy McCabe! Cherril Peabody! Molly
Dugan! Gloria Yost! Barbara Smith! Hedda Smithson! Jane Cooley! Jean Bonar! Linda Sparks! What do all these women have in common? YEP! Each has served as AAUW
Sacramento Branch President! (A couple have done repeat performances!!) AND each is still
active at some level in our current membership year. So – something about that experience
sparked a passion for our branch and a desire to continue being involved.

Guess what – your name could be added to that Presidents list! Sometimes being
president is a bit easier than taking on a director’s responsibility and/or committee chair.
Regardless of the “job”, there are lots of resources available to facilitate your experience. Check
out our branch web site (https://sacramento-ca.aauw.net). Use the password in the back of the
directory to access the Members-Only page.

Here are some of the expectations:
* Be familiar with our governing documents: our bylaws, policies and leadership responsibilities and see that these are followed.
* Have good communication skills.
* Be comfortable using email, texting and Zoom
* Commit to a two-year term.
* Preside during board and business meetings and play a part in general membership meetings in welcoming guests and helping with the program.

Our election will be held early in 2025. Our rules allow for self-nominations.
AND – you would not be alone – the dozen women listed above are more than willing to be your cheerleaders.
Oh! Did we mention that the job comes with a gavel at the beginning and a lovely pin at the end? Tempted? Interested? Curious? We hope so. Contact our president, Nancy McCabe. She will help you get involved.

Did You Know?

From the September Program

The 2024-2025 budget was approved as presented at the members program.

Here are some photos from 2024 Tech Trek:

The full Tech Trek camp at UC Davis

Sacramento Branch Tech Trek girls

One of our Tech Trek girls, Mackenzie Thor.


Sunshine Chair

Pat Winkle is our 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.

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