MEMBERSHIP DOINGS
By Gloria Yost, Hedda Smithson
AAUW Sacramento begins our 2025-26 year with a burst of excitement. We are
blessed with the addition of 22 new members from the former Citrus Heights-American River (CHAR) branch. They are bringing their dedication, talents and energy with them, along with some new interest groups.
| Michelle Davis Baer | Fran Clarke | Darlene Houston |
| Lisa Barney | Lee Battershell | Pam Bone |
| Jean Bronner | Trish Caldwell | Janice Chung |
| Virginia Dunstan | Mary Duval | Charlene Eberwine |
| Joyce Farruggia | Mary Fenner | Gwendolyn Houk |
| Pat Boyd | Carol Laursen | Jean Lind |
| PJ Missman | Roberta Schmalz | Gloria Sears |
| Virginia Sturdevant | Mary Toutonghi |
Please welcome and get to know them.
Since May we also have three new members!
-Cassandra Trevino: Joined us online and lives in Orangevale
-Judy Lane: Is a retired librarian who is interested in Great Decisions
-Julika Barrett: Lives in West Sacramento; is the AAUW CA Office Manager
Welcome to AAUW Sacramento Cassandra, Judy and Julika.
If you would like to connect with and mentor our new members, please contact Hedda or Gloria.
* * * * * * * *
Membership Ambassadors Program Continues!
Latest Ambassadors – Fran Clark, Donna Holmes
- 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 2026-27
Help us Strengthen our Branch connections and friendships
Gloria Yost and Hedda Smithson – Our contact information can be found in the Membership Directory.
Celebrating August Birthdays!
- Jennifer Krebsbach 8/5
- Linda Patterson 8/5
- Marlys Fredrickson Huez 8/6
- Pamela Harder 8/8
- Nancy McCabe 8/14
- Darlene Houston 8/16
- Robin Howlett 8/17
- May Ruth Lynch 8/22
- Barbara Smith 8/25
- Vicki Nicholson 8/28
- Catherine Locke 8/31
Celebrating September Birthdays!
- Kathleen Keers 9/3
- Lynn Wilcox 9/4
- Anne Just 9/6
- Merilee Colton 9/8
- Susan Cox 9/9
- Rebekah Machado de Quevedo 9/9
- Gail Field 9/10
- Jeanette Finn 9/10
- Cathy Sallas 9/11
- Barbara Kamilos 9/12
- Pamella Vaughn 9/15
- Malinda Rice 9/20
- Hedda Smithson 9/20
- Cherril Peabody 9/22
- Patricia Poyner 9/23
- Elinor Anklin 9/26
- Kathryn Brann 9/26
- Karen Humphrey 9/27
- Joy Clous 9/28
In Memoriam – Member Carolyn Meeker
On July 16, 2025, Carolyn Meeker died as she had lived, with dignity and resolve, and on her own terms. Faced with a terminal cancer diagnosis, she chose to end her life peacefully, using Medical Aid in Dying rather than letting
the disease kill her painfully.
Carolyn was born on March 17, 1940, in Fresno and spent her childhood in Coalinga and LA. A trip to Europe after her sophomore year at UC Berkeley inspired Carolyn to realize that life had more to offer than settling down and
starting a family right after college. After graduating from Cal with a BA in psychology, she entered a PhD program in physiology at UCLA. She earned her doctorate and took a teaching position at Long Beach State.
In 1981, she accepted another lecturer position at Sac State, where she met Gary Meeker. They were married in 1983 on Gary’s sailboat.
After retiring from Sac State, Carolyn supported her husband’s hobbies while engaging in her own interests, including gardening, tai chi, and working on a mystery novel. She joined Gary on sailing adventures in the Delta. After his death in November 2024, Carolyn continued with her walking/lunch group and multiple book clubs until her sudden illness and diagnosis in June.
Remembrances may be made to the Nature Conservancy.
(This article from The Sacramento Bee, July 18, 2025, was edited for brevity.)