Southern Highlights
Austin Minnesota Branch
Volume 9 Number 3 November 2010
Shaping the World One Woman at a Time
Marijo Alexander and Liz Richardson, Co-Presidents
Co-President’s Column
I hope you were all able to be out enjoying the beautiful fall weather and brilliant colors that we’ve been able to enjoy right here in Austin this year, before the windstorm of this past week hit. Nature reminds us how quickly change can happen.
Our program committee brought us an excellent October program which many of you attended. Lisa Bickler, Athletic Director of Austin Public Schools, and Liz Erickson, a pastor and former star high school athlete, told about changes and opportunities Title IX has brought. Our daughters and granddaughters have benefited from these changes.
November 2nd is coming up very soon which we all know is ELECTION DAY! One of our members, Jeanne Poppe, is running for another term as state representative; and another member, Marian Clennon, is vying for the position of mayor of Austin. Remember to vote!
We are proposing a slight change during our meetings. We’d like to dispense with any business at 6:45 so that the program speaker can have the entire time after 7:00 p.m. This will cut down on visiting time before the program, but you may extend that time as long as you wish after the program.
As the Younkers Community Day fund raiser is coming to a close we remind you that all coupons, if not sold, must be returned for the final count. This is required if we are to participate in profits from sales on November 13. If you took a packet to give to another member please be sure those coupons or money for those sold come back to us.
Liz Richardson
November Program
We will be meeting on November 9th at the Austin Public Library Large Meeting Room. Our program for the month is on Pay Equity in the Workplace. AAUW works for education and advocacy for equal pay for equal work, an issue that continues to plague working women even in the 21st century. Dawn Thompson, Director of Human Resources at Good Samaritan Homes will discuss pay equity and how it affects women of all ages. Dessert will be served at 6:30 PM with the business meeting at 6:45 PM and our speaker will begin at 7 PM. Hope to see you there!
Dani Heiny, Sue Howard & Nel Zellar
Program Committee Co-chairs
Small Groups
These groups are open to any member wishing to attend.
Morning Book Group
The morning book group will meet on Thurs., Nov. 18 at 9:00 at Jerry’s Other Place. Members will each choose a book from Alexander McCall Smith’s Isabel Dalhousie Series or his #1 Ladies Detective Agency Series to discuss. Call Lois McConnell at 433-8101 with questions.
Evening Book Group
Evening book group will be discussing The Help by Kathryn Stockett on Monday November 1st at 7 PM at the home of Eunys Kloempken. This is a reschedule date for October. Please RSVP to eokloempken@yahoo.com. For November, we will be discussing Still Alice by Lisa Genova. We will meet at Judy Pesonen’s home on the evening of November 16th at 7 PM. Please RSVP Judy at rpesonen@smig.net
Just Come
AAUW “Just Come for Lunch” group will meet at Perkins Restaurant and Bakery located at 701 17th Ave NW on November 5th 2010, at 11:30 a.m. Please RSVP by November 4th to Shannon Doll at 507-396-
2228. Hope to see you there!
Travel Group
The October meeting has been postponed until November 18th at 2 PM. We will still be meeting at Joyce Goetz’s home at 900 17th Ave SW. There will be a presentation on Cape Cod. Please let Joyce know if you are coming. (Tel: 437-4608 or e-mail her at rgoetz@gofast.am)
GREAT DECISIONS
We will be meeting on November 22nd at 1 PM in Riverland East. Room C128. The topic for this month is “Europe’s ‘Far East’: the Uncertain Frontier.”
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Movie Night at Carolyn Bogott’s Home!
View “Iron Jawed Angels” starring Hilary Swank and Frances O’Connor Tuesday, November 30, 6:30 PM. Come and learn about the suffragists who fought so hard to win our right to vote. This is an outstanding movie and I wanted to share it. I’ll make some popcorn! Call and let me know you are coming (433-4457) or just show up! (406 21st. St. NW) See you then ! Carolyn
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
We are pleased to welcome the following new members to AAUW. Please add them into your membership booklet.
Gail Minerich graduated from The Ohio State University with her BS and from the University of Minnesota with her MS. She previously taught at The Boys Ranch in Austin and is now retired.
(1605 27th St. NW, Austin MN, 434-7505, gminerich@charter.net)
Lisa Flerlage graduated with a BS in Business Administration – Accounting from Kansas State University. She is currently employed at Hormel Foods Corporation as a cost accountant. (803 8th Ave SE, Austin, MN, 785-317-1240, lmflerlage@gmail.com)
Also, there are corrections for the booklet, so please make the following changes:
Mary Lou Nelson, njnmln@charter.net
Peggy Benzkofer, pjbenzko@gmail.com
Ann Odegaard’s address: 1500 7th St. NW
Please delete Anita Bissinger’s name.
Sandy Folk, Membership Co-Chair
YOU ARE INVITED!!!
Come and help our branch member, Eulalah Adwell, celebrate her 90th birthday at an open house at The Oakes on Saturday, November 20 from 1 to 4. No gifts please. Just come and honor Eulalah with your presence.
SCHOLARSHIP NEWS
Congratulations to our scholarship recipients Rachel Thompson and Kaylin Wolf. Riverland Community College would like to express their sincere gratitude to all AAUW members who made these scholarships possible!
PUBLIC POLICY NOTES
In light of the fact that Austin Branch of AAUW will have a presentation on pay equity in the workplace, more information about this topic from AAUW seems pertinent. AAUW has been on the front line of efforts to ensure pay equity.
AAUW has led the coalition fighting to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and member contributions have brought us within sight of victory. Now it is time to redouble our efforts for the next three weeks and pass this critical fair pay legislation.
In less than three weeks, the Senate will vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act. Your senators will either pass an historic piece of fair pay legislation or they will fail to act to close the wage gap and protect the victims of gender-based pay discrimination.
AAUW’s Action Network makes it easy for advocates to influence Congress to act on issues critical for equity for women and girls.
* * * * *
As part of AAUW’s new one member, one vote process, Field Director Seth Chase reminds AAUW members they have the opportunity to make comments and offer amendments to the Public Policy Program. The system for accepting recommendations will be available until November 15, 2010, at which point no more proposals or comments will be accepted. The AAUW Public Policy Committee will then finalize the proposed Public Policy Program that will go before the membership for a vote in 2011. AAUW Public Policy Committee Chair Nancy Mion has submitted the committee’s recommended amendments, which you can see on Public Policy Proposal Amendments page of the website. To access the One Member, One Vote online system, log into the AAUW Member Center using your AAUW member ID and then select One Member, One Vote from the left navigation menu. To review, propose amendments, and discuss AAUW Public Policy Program online, select Public Policy Program from the left navigation menu.
* * * *
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! On Wednesday Oct. 27, President Obama and Vice President Biden spoke at a White House event in observation of domestic violence awareness month. The Administration has been collaborating with a variety of federal agencies to develop initiatives to reduce violence against women. The issue remains a passion for the Vice President, who was the lead sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994. Former baseball player and manager Joe Torre also spoke about his own personal experiences with domestic violence at the event and his organization the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation which seeks to create safe places for children impacted by domestic violence.
AAUW advocates freedom from violence and fear of violence in homes, schools, workplaces and communities and considers that violence a prerequisite for justice and equality.
Evelyn Guentzel, Public Policy Chair
NOVEMBER 2nd!!!!!!
AAUW Board Meeting Minutes
October 26, 2010
AAUW Board met at Sandy Folk’s home at 6:30. Present were Marijo Alexander, Liz Richardson, Sandy Folk, Mary Kay Wilson, Joyce Goetz, Evelyn Guentzel, Carolyn Bogott, Sue Howard, Rae Dawn Rao, Gerry Rustad, Laura Tjomsland, and Ellen Stark.
Minutes were read and approved.
Treasurer reported a balance of $5266.83. We have outstanding bills for insurance and AAUW Funds. Motion was made and seconded to recommend Sue Grove as honoree for AAUW Funds. Motion seconded and approved.
We have sold 137 books ($685.00) to date. Please turn in all unsold books. Someone is needed to sell tickets on November 13 at the store.
We have received a request to host the AAUW State Convention in 2012. We last hosted in 2003. Majority wanted to wait at least another year before hosting it again.
Membership reported 10 new members for a total paid membership of 59.
Carolyn reported for Women’s History Month. Two topics being considered are tracing the female side of your family tree, or doing a biographical study of one of the principals of the women’s suffrage movement. We are observing the 90th Anniversary of women’s suffrage this year. The Assembly will be held March 13 in the late morning.
Small groups reported.
Newsletter items should be sent to Rae Dawn by October 29.
Agenda items for the next meeting should be sent to Liz or Marijo by November 16.
The 2011 State Convention will be April 29 – 31 in Winona.
The topic for the November 9th general meeting will be Pay Equity with Dawn Thompson, director of HR for Good Samaritan Homes. It will be held at the Austin Public Library at 7:00, with dessert at 6:30 and the business meeting at 6:45.
The November 23rd Board Meeting will be held at Laura Tjomsland’s home at 6:30.
Evelyn Guentzel thanked members for the get-well wishes.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Stark
| AAUW Monthly Financial Report | ||
| October 2010 | ||
| Period:10/1/10-10/31/10 | ||
| Opening Balance: | $7,759.08 | |
| Income: | ||
| Dues Received | 325.00 | |
| Fund Raiser | 365.00 | |
| Total Income: | $690.00 | $8,449.08 |
| Disbursements: | ||
| Scholarships | 2,000.00 | |
| Directory | 16.25 | |
| National Dues | 784.00 | |
| State Dues | 162.00 | |
| AAUW Funds Contribution | 850.00 | |
| Insurance | 125.00 | |
| Website Work | 100.00 | |
| Total Disbursements: | $4,037.25 | |
| Closing Balance 10/31/10 | $4,411.83 | |
Mission Statement: AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.
Vision Statement: AAUW will be a powerful advocate and visible leader in equity and education through research, philanthropy, and measurable change in critical areas impacting the lives of women and girls.
Southern Highlights Editor: Rae Dawn Rao
rao_raedawn@yahoo.com
Minnesota State Website:
http://www.aauwmn.org
The Pine Editor: LouAnne Hoppe
Association Website:
Association e-mail: info@aauw.org
______________________________________________________________
AAUW Southern Highlights
301 4th Ave. SW
Austin, MN 55912