Tag Archives: PresidentsMessage

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

As my term of president winds down, I have a few thoughts to share. First, this AAUW branch has the nicest group of women (and an occasional man) that I have met. I would suggest that if you are a member, and don’t know many others, that you take a leap of faith and join one of the standing committees. It is difficult to make meaningful connections with others if you attend meetings and then go home. Volunteering is the best way to get to know members as you work on a mutual interest in AAUW’s mission. Join a group who can use your time and ideas, such as Program and Public Policy. Both of these areas have had outstanding years and we have a lot to build on. There are other ways that you can contribute which you will see on your renewal forms. Volunteer with Karen and Cathy to take a role in leadership. Most do not have to attend the monthly zoom board meetings-just send a form to the director of your area telling what you have done during the month. See? Easy Peasy! The more you get involved, the more rewarding your membership will be. Volunteer to be a greeter for meetings and get to meet the new branch members who are transitioning from CHAR. Engage the person sitting next to you at meetings and see what AAUW interests you share. You will be glad you did. Because I am leaving the presidency doesn’t mean I am going away. I will see you at meetings and Singles Dining- I am never above publicizing our Dinners out!

Incoming Co-Presidents Message By Karen Burley and Cathy Locke

Our duties as AAUW Sacramento co-presidents don’t officially begin until July, but we want to introduce ourselves, as we will be asking for your help in the coming weeks.

We joined AAUW about four decades apart, one right out of college and the other after retirement. Cathy joined what is now the Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon AAUW branch in Stanislaus County in 1975. As a recent college grad, she was impressed by AAUW’s emphasis on promoting equity and educational opportunities for women and girls, and “education over the lifetime.” She joined AAUW Sacramento in 1987 and has served as chair of the scholarship, funds and program committees. She retired from The Sacramento Bee in 2018 after a 43-year career in community journalism. She is single, has no children – but enjoys dog-sitting her extended family’s canines.

Karen joined the Cupertino-Mountain View branch of AAUW in 2017 when she retired from High Tech. Shortly after moving to Sacramento a year later, she joined our branch. In addition to supporting equality for women and girls, she is passionate about fighting climate change and will eagerly tell you about the many changes she has made in her life to try to eliminate her dependence on fossil fuels. Karen has three adult children: a son who lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains and two daughters who live in Sacramento. She is the proud grandmother of three granddaughters (latest born just a month ago!).

We are happy to partner to lead AAUW Sacramento in the coming year, welcoming CHAR members to the branch.

We know many members join AAUW to participate in our various interest and groups, but it is the branch structure that provides for those groups and we need your help to maintain that. One of our goals is to involve more members in branch volunteer activities, whether it be serving on program, scholarship, Tech Trek, public policy, membership, communications or other committees, or bringing refreshments or helping as greeters at branch meetings. So if you
receive a call or email asking for help, please say “yes”. You’ll make friends and enjoy yourself, guaranteed!

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

Please be sure to sign up for our May 31st meeting, the last one of the AAUW year which ends in June. Details are elsewhere in the newsletter. We will gather at 10:30 in the Unitarian Universalist Society Meeting Room, 2425 Sierra Boulevard, Sacramento. Some highlights are hearing the Speech Trek contest first place winner (last one for our branch) and finding out more about the upcoming disbanding of the Citrus Heights American River Branch  (CHAR) and welcome those CHAR members who’ve decide to join  the Sacramento Branch, plus much more. Be there!

At the April 26th Author’s Luncheon we elected two co-presidents for the coming two year period: Karen Burley and Cathy Locke. Fay Grundel was also elected as the co-VP of Programs. If you want to help out Fay with Programs, please let me know!

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

This message is a repeat from last month as we still need to fill some Branch Board positions: President and Programs.  Please consider one of these positions as you will get a lot of help and much appreciation!

A Love Letter to AAUW Sacramento, by Hedda Smithson:

Here is my take on our beloved branch. First – is it loved? Yes, indeed it is loved. We have endured and flourished for more than 100 years. If that isn’t love, it will have to do – until . . . (oops – bird walk!) With recent efforts to have more efficiency, our board has been downsized and the elected positions are fewer in number. We need candidate(s) for program director and our search for a president is ongoing.

We can see the headlines now:
                    AAUW Sacramento goes TOPLESS for 2025-2027
Well – that’s not an image we want to see. So – remember in school when the teacher asked for volunteers? And if no one raised her hand, the teacher just CALLED ON HER!

We don’t want that to happen – so – think about your skills and what you can contribute to our branch going forward! There will be LOTS of support offered – you won’t be alone. EVER! So – reach out and ask questions – and be sure to call us before we call you. It is time for one good woman (it could be two) to come to the aid of her branch.

Let the love flow … CALL Nancy McCabe. Phone number is on page 19 of the membership directory.

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

I hope you are enjoying our Spring-like weather!

National is planning a $5 dues increase effective April 1, 2025. See the details here: Dues Information. None of these increases will affect Student Dues or MBHL-50-year honorary life members. The National increase does not affect MBL-Paid life members.

Please remember that our branch has a dues assistance fund if you need help. I know none of you wants to hear this but please read the rationale. Most of us can afford this, and it is needed and important that we keep working our mission!

Thanks to Donna Holmes, Membership Finance, for providing this information.

And…A Love Letter to AAUW Sacramento, by Hedda Smithson:

Here is my take on our beloved branch. First – is it loved? Yes, indeed it is loved. We have endured and flourished for more than 100 years. If that isn’t love, it will have to do – until . . . (oops – bird walk!) With recent efforts to have more efficiency, our board has been downsized and the elected positions are fewer in number. At this writing, we believe we have candidate(s) for program director. Our search for a president is ongoing.

We can see the headlines now:
                    AAUW Sacramento goes TOPLESS for 2025-2027
Well – that’s not an image we want to see. So – remember in school when the teacher asked for volunteers? And if no one raised her hand, the teacher just CALLED ON HER!

We don’t want that to happen – so – think about your skills and what you can contribute to our branch going forward! There will be LOTS of support offered – you won’t be alone. EVER! So – reach out and ask questions – and be sure to call us before we call you. It is time for one good woman (it could be two) to come to the aid of her branch.

Let the love flow … CALL Nancy McCabe. Phone number is on page 19 of the membership directory.

MEMBERSHIP DOINGS By Gloria Yost, Donna Holmes

Hopefully you all received the recent eBlast with contact information on new members and some revisions for current members. Please note that the last 4 digits of member Dr. Viki Montera-Heckman’s phone number are 1401.

If you have a question regarding membership, you can reach out to Gloria Yost or Vicky Lovell, contact information can be found in the Membership Directory.

Celebrating March Birthdays! 

Happy Birthday to All!

  • PJ Missman                                     3/1
  • Patricia Morgan                             3/5
  • Sharon Norris                                3/6
  • Marjorie Patzer                              3/6
  • Julia Maclay                                     3/8
  • Vicky Lovell                                     3/9
  • Alice Bauer                                     3/14
  • Mary Lou Lentz                              3/17
  • Carolyn Meeker                              3/17
  • Janice Chung                                   3/19
  • Shelagh O’Rourke                          3/20
  • Elizabeth Jordan                             3/28

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

Those of you who attended our Winter Luncheon in December may recall the big stack of books our members contributed to the Love Talk Read program. You can find a copy of the thank you letter from the program’s director Celeste Roseberry-Mckibbin, CSUS, <here>.  The grand total of books donated was … drum roll … 240 books! Proving once again that our members are so generous and awesome!

Also, there is a metric that AAUW branches use to measure how well we are doing, called the Five Star Program. Earning all 5 stars is awesome, and most branches do not achieve it. For 2024, our branch did reasonably well but there is room for improvement. Here is the notice we received from the AAUW Deputy Director of Advancement:

Dear Branch President,

It is with great pleasure that I share some exciting news—AAUW Sacramento Inc. (CA) Branch has achieved three stars in AAUW’s FY24 Five Star Program! Your branch attained the Advancement, Communications & External Relations and Programming stars. This recognition is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and commitment of your branch members to advancing AAUW’s mission of gender equity for women and girls.

The Five Star Program is designed to honor branches that align their work with AAUW’s strategic priorities in areas such as Advancement, Public Policy & Advocacy, Governance & Sustainability, Programming, and Communications & External Relations. Earning three stars is an incredible accomplishment, and we are thrilled to celebrate this success with you.

Congratulations again on this well-deserved recognition. Thank you for your continued leadership and dedication to creating a more equitable world.

And a reminder that we are still requesting help with next year’s programs and presidency. Partnering with a buddy is a good way to do it. Having a partner makes the position easier as you can share the tasks.

As the outgoing president, I can state that the position of president is not difficult. The members of the board are responsible and get their parts done. The monthly board meeting is on Zoom and typically lasts no longer than an hour. A position in the branch gives you opportunities to meet and plan with a really nice group of women! Do choose to get involved in our mission, now more than ever.

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

The start of a new year generally feels like a clean slate for whatever goals one might have. Do you want to start an exercise program, a new way of eating, a new way of organizing your time/bills/social events or your volunteer time? I have no suggestions about the first five, but I do have a suggestion about the last one. You have heard us request help with next year’s programs and presidency. At the Winter Luncheon, a new member volunteered to cochair program, so she needs a partner to help plan and execute the programming. Having a partner makes this position easier as you can share the tasks. As the outgoing president, I can state positively that the position of president is not difficult. The members of the board are responsible and get their parts done. The monthly meeting is on Zoom and our technology coordinator sets it up on the Internet. Any position in the branch gives you opportunities to meet and plan with a really nice group of women! Do choose to get involved in our mission of advancing gender equity locally.

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

As we head into the holiday season, we hope you are able to spend time with loved ones, with gratitude for all that we enjoy living in the Sacramento area.

Also reflect on what you might do to help keep our branch a vibrant community focused on equity for women as well as enjoying interest groups with other members of the AAUW Sacramento branch. When you get involved, you will get to know other active members who just could become your great friends. There are a number of areas we could use some help, such as the Branch Local Projects team, the Tech Trek team, Hospitality or Communications, to name a few.

That old saying is so true “many hands make light work.” It takes a lot of hands to accomplish our goals, and we would like to have your time and talents to help accomplish our goal of advancing gender equity for women and girls! Be in touch!

SEE YOU AT THE HOLIDAY PARTY!

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

We are deeply saddened by the news of Lilly Ledbetter’s passing on Oct. 12th at the age of 86. Lilly was a courageous champion for wage equality, whose fight for fair pay transformed workplaces across the nation.

As the driving force behind the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, she opened doors for countless women and workers to seek justice for wage discrimination. Her grace, grit, and unwavering dedication to wage equity will continue to inspire us all.

Our thoughts are with her family and all who knew and loved her.

Rest in power, Lilly. Few women embody the AAUW Mission better than Lilly Ledbetter.
[Courtesy of AnitaB.org]

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!

President’s Message

President’s Message By Nancy McCabe

Welcome Back to AAUW after our summer break!

Not a lot continues through the summer except Singles Dining. We have the opportunity to eat outdoors unless it is Sacramento HOT on our scheduled evening for dinner. If you are a single lady and not on my mailing list you are welcome to join us any time — just shoot me an email and I will add you to our roster.

Our program vice presidents have scheduled some wonderful programs for the coming year so be sure you check them out. In September our Tech Trek girls will be showing us some of their experiences from this year’s camps, both resident and online. This is a life-changing week that we provide to six girls at UC Davis and two at their homes online.

We need a member to assume leadership of this program for the coming year so that we will be able to continue to provide five days of STEM learning for these girls. It would be tragic if we were unable to continue this due to lack of leadership. The past coordinators are available to help you get comfortable in this role. It consists of working with a few middle school science teachers to get referrals, interviewing the girls and their parents, and doing the paperwork to get them registered and the fees paid.

Each summer during the week our girls are at camp, our membership is invited to spend a half day touring the program, and AAUW volunteers are always needed to assist with camp tasks, as little as a half day to all week. Please consider giving your time to save this life-changing program.

Also, the proposed 2024-25 Branch Budget will be voted on at the September 14th program meeting. You can review the proposed Budget <here>.