Southern Highlights
Austin Minnesota Branch
Volume 9 Number 4 December 2010
Shaping the World One Woman at a Time
Marijo Alexander and Liz Richardson, Co-Presidents
Co-President’s Column
Another Thanksgiving Day is history, and I trust on that day you each recounted the things you are thankful for. When we consider what many in other parts of the world are going through we are indeed blessed. One of the things I am thankful for is education. The fall issue of our AAUW Outlook magazine has an article “Back to School After All These Years” in which it tells of the struggles of two women to earn their degree. Whether you were among those fortunate enough to be able to go directly through college from high school or found a way later, you will no doubt agree it was worth the effort. AAUW has established itself as a trailblazer for women’s education, which is one reason we so heartily support AAUW.
We earned $895 from our Younkers Community Day fundraiser! Thanks you to everyone who bought and/or sold coupons, and to Marijo Alexander and Joyce Goetz who put in extra time selling at Younkers (one of the requirements). If you still have money out please turn it in to Mary Kay Wilson.
Our Holiday Party will take place on Tuesday, December 14, at The Coffee House on Main. If you know someone who might be interested in AAUW this is an excellent time to invite them. Please bring an unwrapped gift or a gift card which will be taken to the Salvation Army to help brighten Christmas for a needy child.
There will not be another newsletter until the end of January, so we will take this opportunity to say MERRY CHRISTMAS and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR from your co-presidents!
Liz Richardson
Upcoming Programs
For our December 14th general meeting we will once again celebrate the holiday season with a social at the Coffee House on Main. Dessert will be served at 6:30 PM. Drinks will be available for purchase. Joe VanRyn and Jesse Smith will provide musical entertainment with an acoustic music set. Members are asked to bring an unwrapped gift or gift card to donate to the Salvation Army.
On January 11th we will be honored to have Pulitzer Prize nominee and New York Times #1 Best Selling author Alison McGhee present to us on ‘Writing the Last Page First’. We will have dessert served at 6:30 PM with the program to follow at 7 PM. We will meet in room C108 at Riverland Community College.
Dani Heiny, Sue Howard & Nel Zellar
Small Groups
These groups are open to any member wishing to attend.
Morning Book Group
The A.M. Book Group will meet on Thursday, December 16th at 9:00 at Jerry’s Other Place. We will discuss the book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. For January we will read Manhunt and in February. Pillars of the Earth. New members are always welcome. Call Gerry Rustad (433-3718) for more information.
Evening Book Group
Evening book group will be discussing Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton on Tuesday, December 21st at 7 PM at the home of Sue Grove. Please RSVP to sue.grove@riverland.edu. For January, we will be discussing The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. We will meet at Ruth Monson’s home on the evening of January 18th at 7 PM. Please RSVP Ruth at ramonson@smig.net
Just Come
The December Just Come To Lunch will be held at the Old Mill at 11:30 AM on December 3rd. Peggy Benzkofer is the contact. Please RSVP at 433-5934 or pjbenzko@gmail.com
Travel Group
Travel Group will meet at Marcia Kuehn’s on December 9th at 2:00 p.m.
Board Meeting Location Changes
Board meeting locations for January, February, & March have changed as follows:
January 25th: Home of Liz Richardson February 22nd: Home of Ellen Stark March 22nd: Home of Marijo Alexander
WELCOME NEW MEMBER!
We are pleased to welcome Amanda Hunter to AAUW. Amanda received a BA degree in French and English from UW-Madison in 2008. Please add Amanda to your membership booklet.
Amanda Hunter
305 1st Ave NW
Austin, MN 55912
507-434-9148
Amanda.b.hunter@gmail.com
Sandy Folk, Membership Co-Chair
Library Used Book Sale
The date has not been confirmed as of this time, however, we do know that the Book Sale will be in May. Please start gathering your useable books. We will also need to help fill a schedule of sorting and setting up for the sale. It is also very important that we help with the publicity. Just keep in mind that this is a very profitable fund raising event for AAUW.
Laura Tjomsland, Book Sale Chair
PUBLIC POLICY NOTES
AAUW GIVES THANKS
President John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” With that in mind, the American Association of University Women takes time in November to be thankful for the opportunities and advancements available for women and girls in 2010. Here are some of them.
- Since 1990 there has been a fivefold increase in the number of women ambassadors to the U.S! More presidents are choosing female ambassadors.
- Equal opportunities in the Navy for women to serve; women will serve on submarines next year!
- California’s Equal Rights Advocates are fighting on behalf of female UC Davis students for increased opportunities in sports. The U.S. Department of Education closed a loophole that allowed schools to evade Title IX compliance in athletics.
- ACLU of Louisiana is contesting sex segregation in public schools.
- First Lady Michelle Obama has highlighted the epidemic of childhood obesity through the “Let’s Move!” campaign.
- Education Department’s encouragement through “Race to the Top” of students and teachers who dream big.
- Labor Department’s 1.8 million in grants for the support of women in nontraditional occupations.
- For 50 years, the pill has empowered women to make reproductive choices.
- Wisconsin law now says public school sex education courses must include information about birth control and STIs.
- Office of Civil Rights (Dept. of Ed.) is investigating public schools to ensure equality for all students.
- AAUW’’s leadership: 54th U.N. Commission on the Status of Women in March; U.N. Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization group meeting on Gender, Science and Technology in Paris, France in October.
- Title IX legal victories against bullying (Michigan) and gender discrimination (New York.)
- Enhancement of the nation’s commitment to STEM education by the U.S. Business and Industry STEM Education Coalition.
- No longer will $20 million be diverted from public schools to private schools voucher program. Amendment defeated.
- CDC is making an effort to combat teen dating violence; AAUW has a Legal Advocacy Fund’s “Campus Sexual Assault Program in a Box.”
- “Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics which explains the shortage of women in STEM fields. Nationwide coverage!
We can be proud of our leadership and the visibility being brought to AAUW’s initiatives and concerns. Through our actions we all play a part in moving the human rights agenda for women and girls.
Evelyn Guentzel, Public Policy Chair
AAUW BOARD MEETING
November 23, 2010
AAUW Board met November 23 at Laura Tjomsland’s home. Present were Marijo Alexander, Liz Richardson, Mary Kay Wilson, Gerry Rustad, Sandi Folk, Laura Tjomsland, Ellen Stark, Sue Grove, and Joyce Goetz.
Secretary’s report was read and approved.
Treasurer reported a balance of $4,428.83. Contributions to AAUW Funds were adjusted as follows to achieve our goal of naming Sue Grove honoree:
EF Fund 4166 – $200.00
EF Fund 4203 – $200.00
EF Fund 4326 – $350.00
LAF Fund 2505 – $100.00
Insurance has been paid for 2011.
After January 1, 2011, we will begin accepting one half-year dues ($32.50) for new members who have not been a member for at least two years.
We have received a total of $895.00 so far from the Younkers fundraiser.
The December 14th Holiday Celebration will be held at the Coffee House on Main. Jessie Smith and Joe VanRyn will provide music. All members should bring an unwrapped toy or gift card for the Salvation Army Christmas baskets.
Small groups reported.
Newsletter items should be submitted to Rae Dawn by November 26th. There will be no December board meeting. January 25th board meeting will be at Liz Richardson’s home. January agenda items should be submitted to Marijo or Liz by January 18th.
The spring book sale will be in May 2011.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Stark, Secretary
| AAUW Monthly Financial Report | ||
| November 2010 | ||
| Period:11/1/10-11/30/10 | ||
| Opening Balance: | $4,411.83 | |
| Income: | ||
| Fund Raiser | 125.00 | |
| Total Income: | $ 125.00 | $4,536.83 |
| Disbursements: | ||
| Speaker Nov Meeting | 50.00 | |
| National Dues | 49.00 | |
| State Dues | 9.00 | |
| Total Disbursements: | $108.00 | |
| Closing Balance 11/30/10 | $4,428.83 | |
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
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AAUW Southern Highlights
1001 22nd Ave. SW
Austin, MN 55912