Holiday Luncheon and Branch Meeting By Donna Holmes and Barbara Smith

The Branch Holiday Luncheon is happening on Dec. 11, 2021. Members and guests will gather at the North Ridge Country Club at 11 a.m.

We know that everyone will be excited to meet in person again, but trust Gloria Yost and Bonnie Penix to challenge us with some theme-related conversation starters on each table.

The official business meeting will begin at 11:30. This is one of four official meetings required per year. Lunch will be served at noon, followed by our guest speakers.  See below for the menu options and reservation form.

Note that all reservations must be received by Dec. 1.

Ahmad Ibrahimi

Continuing our tradition of providing gifts to worthy causes, members are asked to bring items to be given to recent Afghan immigrants through Deborah Sternin’s Comfort Toys project, an outreach program based at the Highlands Community Charter School, which serves more than 1,600 Afghan students and their families. We will be collecting soft, cuddly toys, dolls, children’s books, and coloring books and crayons.

Ahmad Ibrahimi and Lindsey Curtis, from the school, will be our speakers. They will tell us about their work and the Afghan community here. For more information about our speakers, please click here.

As per National AAUW and our board’s decision, all attendees must show proof of COVID vaccination upon arrival. Our greeters will be efficient and friendly, but please respect this requirement for everyone’s safety. No one will be admitted without proof of vaccination.

Menu:

• Chicken Piccata OR Portobello Mushroom Ravioli
• Both include Garden Salad, bread, and coffee, tea, or iced tea
• Vegan available upon request
• Seasonal candies will be on the tables for dessert
• A No host bar available

Cost per person is $32.50, plus processing fees. Register and pay via credit card on Eventbrite here, OR by check payable to AAUW Sacramento sent to Donna Holmes. Donna’s contact information can be found in the branch Membership Directory. You can use the registration form found here. Please be sure to indicate your meal choice: chicken piccata, portobello mushroom ravioli, or vegan. Also remember to bring your gift for Afghan children.

ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY DEC. 1.

Fall Program Kick-Off is Happening Virtually on Saturday, Sept. 11 By Kim Rutledge and Karen Burley

Welcome to Fall at AAUW Sacramento Branch! We are committed to bringing our branch membership a robust array of programs in a virtual format, and hopefully some in-person events as well.

The branch program year starts on Saturday, September 11, with the virtual AAUW Branch Year Kick-Off from 10 am to Noon. This year we will have a joint session with our sister branch Citrus Heights American River (CHAR). We will highlight all that has been happening with Tech Trek, followed by planned programs, Interest Groups, and outreach programs for each branch.

Invite a friend who may be interested in joining our branch and log on to Zoom to learn what the coming year has in store. Registration information for this free event is available on Eventbrite by clicking here. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aauw-sacramento-branch-year-kick-off-tickets-168649706813 ) A Zoom link will be emailed to all registered members 2 days prior to the event. Please mark your calendars! This event is open to the public, so people who join on the 11th can join at a reduced rate.

As we look to December and beyond, we will assess whether or not we can return to monthly in-person branch events. Regardless of where we do our programming for the coming year, we promise to bring timely, compelling monthly programs to branch members. We look forward to seeing you on Zoom in September!

Here are all of the current program dates for 2021-22:

• Saturday, September 11, 2021, 10 am – 12 Noon
  Branch Year Kick-off and Tech Trek presentation, on Zoom (a joint meeting with CHAR)
• Saturday, October 23, 2021, 12:30 – 2:30 pm
  In-person Ice Cream Social and Scholarship presentation, Eastern Oak Park, Maple picnic site (the one closest to the parking lot), 3127 Eastern Ave., Sacramento
• Thursday, November 18, 2021, 7 – 8:30 pm
  Panel presentation on California’s child care workforce, on Zoom
• Saturday, December 11, 2021, 11 am – 2 pm
  Holiday luncheon, Northridge  Country Club
• Saturday, January 15, 2022, Time is TBD
  Speech Trek Challenge, on Zoom
• Saturday, January 29, 2022, 2 pm – 4 pm
  IBC Luncheon, on Zoom
• Saturday, February 19, 2022 Time and Location are TBD
  Speech Trek Contest, In-person
• Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 7 – 8:30 pm
  Panel discussion, Master Plan for Aging update, on Zoom
• Saturday, April 9,  2022, Time and Location are TBD
  Author’s luncheon
• Saturday, May 21,  2022, Time and Location are TBD
  Installation of officers, Speech Trek winner, Named Gift and 50-Year Member Honorees

Save the Date! Branch Program Dates By Kim Rutledge

Here are all of the current program dates for 2021-22:

• Saturday, September 11, 2021, 10 am – 12 Noon
  Branch Year Kick-off and Tech Trek presentation, on Zoom (a joint meeting with CHAR)
• Saturday, October 23, 2021, 12:30 – 2:30 pm
  In-person Ice Cream Social and Scholarship presentation, Eastern Oak Park, Maple picnic site (the one closest to the parking lot), 3127 Eastern Ave., Sacramento
• Thursday, November 18, 2021, 7 – 8:30 pm
  Panel presentation on California’s child care workforce, on Zoom
• Saturday, December 11, 2021, 11 am – 2 pm
  Holiday luncheon, Northridge  Country Club
• Saturday, January 15, 2022, Time is TBD
  Speech Trek Challenge, on Zoom
• Saturday, January 29, 2022, Time and Location are TBD
  IBC Luncheon
• Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 7 – 8:30 pm
  Panel discussion, Master Plan for Aging update, on Zoom
• Saturday, April 9,  2022, Time and Location are TBD
  Author’s luncheon
• Saturday, May 21,  2022, Time and Location are TBD
  Installation of officers, Speech Trek winner, Named Gift and 50-Year Member Honorees

March Program Explores Aging Issues in California By Kim Rutledge

Aging is changing in California. Our state’s over-6o population is projected to diversify and grow faster than any other age group. By 2030, 10.8 million Californians will be an older adult, making up one-quarter of the state’s population. This aging population will be ethnically diverse and dominated by women.

In June 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order calling for the creation of a Master Plan for Aging. The executive order affirmed the priority of the health and well-being of older Californians and the need for policies that promote healthy aging. It also called for a “blueprint” for state government, local government, the private sector and philanthropy to prepare the state for the coming demographic changes and continue California’s leadership in aging, disability and equity. The Master Plan covers five bold goals: housing for all ages and stages; health reimagined; inclusion and equity; caregiving that works; and affordable aging.

On Wednesday, March 24 at 7 p.m., AAUW Sacramento will host a panel discussion on the Master Plan for Aging and its five bold goals and 23 strategies to build a California for All Ages by 2030. The panel will focus on women’s issues and equity considerations in the Master Plan.  We will be joined on Zoom by the following experts who helped shape the Master Plan. To register for the March program, go to the Eventbrite link here.

Amanda Lawrence, MPH, is the project director of the Master Plan for Aging at the California Department of Aging (CDA). Immediately prior to joining CDA, Lawrence served as strategist and program consultant on several projects at the California Department of Public Health, including the launch of the Department’s Healthy Aging Initiative. Following graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a passion for health and social justice led her to earn a Master of Public Health degree and to work for international, community-based and healthcare nonprofits promoting health and equity, including the planning and implementation of community organizing efforts with and for older adults in Nicaragua.

Edie Yau is the director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Alzheimer’s Association, Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter. She provides leadership and strategic direction in equity and inclusion in the pursuit of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. She is responsible for developing culturally relevant programs to effectively reach underserved communities. Yau serves on the Executive Council for AARP California and is a member of the Master Plan for Aging Equity Advisory Committee. She has been in the field of aging for more than 20 years and has an MA in gerontology.

Ellen Schmeding is the chair of the California Commission on Aging and currently serves as the chief operating officer for St. Paul’s Senior Services. Prior to joining St. Paul’s in 2017, Schmeding worked with the County of San Diego for 30 years, most recently as the director of Aging & Independence Services (the Area Agency on Aging for San Diego County) as well as serving as the Public Administrator, Public Guardian and Public Conservator for San Diego County.

Kiara Harris is co-founder of Sistahs Aging with Grace & Elegance (https://sagesistahs.org). Founded in 2012, the mission is to empower and support African-American women with tools and resources they need to implement a plan of action that enhances their quality of life from midlife and throughout their senior years. Harris began her justice and equity work in 2015 at Sacramento City College in the Department of Student Equity and Success. Harris also served as a member of the Equity Work Group for the California Master Plan on Aging. She has more than 30 years of professional experience in executive-level communications and public policy-related positions. Harris owned H&H Ecoprises, an environmental and public health marketing and communications consulting firm in Oakland, CA for more than 10 years. She has a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State East Bay and a bachelor’s degree in mass media communication from Hampton University, a historically black college in Hampton, Virginia.

To register on Eventbrite for the March program, click here. We look forward to a fruitful discussion about this important project.