Southern Highlights

Volume 10 Number 5 February 2012

Shaping the World One Woman at a Time

 

 

 

Marijo Alexander and Liz Richardson, Co-Presidents

Co-President’s Thoughts

We were treated to an interesting and entertaining presentation at our January meeting. Thank you, Carolyn Bogott, for sharing with us your experiences and pictures from a recent trip to China. Our understanding of that corner of the world has been broadened.

 

Sandy Folk and Dani Heiny willingly accepted our request for them to be the nominating committee. In checking our by-laws we discovered a third person was required and Marijo volunteered. This committee has secured co-presidents, a program co-president, and a membership co-president to be on our board next year. They will be voted on at our next board meeting. Nominated are: Sue Grove and Marijo Alexander as co-presidents; Yesenia Mendoza on program with Kari Bain, and Kathy Kester on membership with Marsha Kuehne. Thank you to these people who are willing to share their time and talents.

 

State convention is right around the corner: April 27, 28 and 29. If the warmer weather for this year holds true into April the Ruttger’s Bay Lake location might be a very appealing location for those of you who are golfers. New officers should consider going if possible.

Liz Richardson

Co-President

 

 

 

 

February Program

Greetings! We hope you will join us on Valentine’s Day for a very special program: “Our Love is as Good as Yours”. The program will take place on February 14^th at the Austin Public Library. A panel of three gay women will talk about the anti-marriage amendment, which defines marriage as an act between one man and one woman. The women will share their stories and the impact the amendment would have on them and on the Gay Community. Social time starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7:00 p.m.

Nel Zellar & Kari Bain

Program Committee Co-chairs

Small Groups

These groups are open to any member wishing to attend.

 

Morning Book Group

 

We meet the third Thursday of each month at 9:00 AM at Perkins Restaurant unless otherwise announced. For the book group discussion on February 16, 2012, the group selected the book Rebecca by Daphne deMaurier. On March 15, 2012, the group will discuss Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. Please feel welcome to join the group at any time. Call Lois McConnell at 507-433-8101 if you have questions.

 

Evening Book Group

 

We will be discussing State of Wonder by Ann Patchett at 7 PM on February 6^th. Ruth Monson will be the hostess. Please RSVP to Ruth at ramonson@smig.net. In March we will be reading the Page Turners’ selection Deadly Reunion by Ron Handberg.

 

Just Come

 

We will meet for lunch at the Brick House at 11:30 AM on Friday February 3^rd. Please RSVP to Dorothy at sdkrob@charter.net or 437-2855 by Wednesday February 1^st.

 

 

Travel Group

We will meet on Thursday, February 9^th at 2 PM at the home of DedaRae Graber. DedaRae will be sharing her trip to Washington D.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left to Right: Sue Grove, Titian Butash, Alexander Jacobsen, Bonnie Rietz

Austin Branch of AAUW Awards Scholarships

 

The Austin Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) working in conjunction with the Riverland Community College Foundation recently awarded two $1,000.00 scholarships to students at Riverland.

 

The award recipients are Titian Butash and Alexander Jacobsen. Titian, an award winning sculptor (from Austin, Minnesota!) will be pursuing a Bachelor’s Fine Arts in sculpture at Minnesota State University Mankato after completing a degree in Art at Riverland. Alexander is pursuing a degree in History. He plans to transfer to Minnesota State Mankato to complete his History degree and then plans to go on to attain his Master’s Degree.

 

AAUW in Austin sponsors a tour of homes every other year to raise funds for these scholarships. They also work with the Friends of the Austin Public Library to hold the annual used book sale. In addition, the Austin branch of AAUW provides an annual assembly at Austin High School during Women’s History Month. They work with the AP History instructor to develop research projects for students. The winners of this project are announced at the assembly and are awarded a cash prize.

Public Policy

Take Part in the Trust Women Week Virtual March!

“This week, dozens of organizations, including AAUW, and tens of thousands of reproductive rights supporters and advocates are joining together in a virtual march on Washington! Take part! Join the march now and help send a message in support of below women’s health and reproductive rights.

2011 was a banner year for rollbacks on reproductive rights, with 80 anti-choice restrictions enacted in state legislatures. The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation which would limit comprehensive coverage of women’s reproductive health care and allow doctors to refuse even lifesaving abortion care.

This year must be better. We must be vigilant in 2012 and help ensure that women’s agency over their own bodies is expanded, not lessened, and that women have adequate access to necessary health care.

As advocates, we can start by celebrating the 39th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade with the online march for women’s reproductive rights. Sign the petition and send a message to Congress: trust women!

Remember: You can always help strengthen AAUW’s efforts to protect reproductive rights by making a tax-deductible donation to AAUW’s Public Policy Fund!
Double your impact! Tweet, Facebook, and forward this action alert to friends and family.”

Evelyn Guentzel, Public Policy Chair

State of the Union Highlights AAUW Priorities

 

President Barack Obama addressed several items on AAUW’s wish list during his State of the Union speech Tuesday. The president brought national attention to the gender pay gap through his call for “equal pay for equal work,” saying that an economy built to last requires encouragement of the talent and ingenuity of every person. The president also highlighted AAUW priorities of higher education within everyone’s reach and a world-class education for every child. Higher education cannot be a luxury, but should be affordable for every family in America, the president said. He called for Congress to prevent the doubling of student loan interest rates and to extend the tuition tax credit.

 

As for K-12 education, the president demanded the resources to keep good teachers on the job, rewards for the best teachers, and the flexibility for educators to teach beyond a standardized test. The president also drew attention to another AAUW priority – moving judicial and executive branch nominees through the process more quickly – when he asked the Senate to vote on those nominations within 90 days.

 

Although AAUW was pleased overall with the president’s calls for action in his speech, we regret that he did not mention fully funding the Pell Grant program, further his commitment to reproductive rights, or call for the passage of the Violence Against Women Act.

 

-As Written in AAUW’s Washington Update

AAUW Monthly Financial Report
December, 2011 & January, 2012
Period: 12/1/11-1/31/12
Opening Balance:		$8,272.08
Income:
Dues Received	33.00
House Tour Tickets Sold	15.00
Total Income:	$48.00	$8,320.08
Disbursements:
AAUW Funds	850.00
National Dues	24.50
State Dues	4.50
Total Disbursements:	$879.00
Closing Balance 11/30/10		$7,441.08

 

 

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:

http://www.aauw.org

Association e-mail: info@aauw.org