Branch Briefs AAUW Mission Statement Birthdays May

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1 Branch Briefs AAUW Mission Statement AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Newsletter of the Geneva Lake Branch Volume 69 Issue 2 May 2018 Birthdays May Joan Davis Jean Henderson Jan Schuren Ursula Grud Kathy McCarville An Evening of Celebrating Educators In this Issue President s Message 2 Public Policy 3 Programs 4 Interest Groups 5/6 BIG READ/Calendar 7 Geneva Lake Branch Annual Meeting Leaders in Education Awards and Local Educators Wine and Cheese Walworth Memorial Library May 10 th at 6:30 pm 1

2 President s Message A certain saying kept running through my head as I began to write this month s president s letter- All Hands on Deck. Maybe it was a combination of the nice room with a Lake Michigan view at the state AAUW convention and the break out session about the rising number of women in the military. Anyway, for any maneuver to succeed, it takes practice and communication. We have a busy spring and summer planned for our branch, and this issue of the Branch Briefs is your communication. Read it carefully and keep it handy. Our recipients for this year s Leadership in Education awards are James Gee and Kate Meredith. James Gee was nominated by Tom and Ann Reynolds and has been Operation Director and Manager at Yerkes Observatory for over 25 years. Kate, a member of our branch, was nominated by Sharna Ahern and is Director for Educational Outreach at Yerkes. Please join us on May 10 at 6:30 pm at Walworth Memorial Library for An Evening to Celebrate Educators with a wine and cheese reception as we recognize our awardees and toast local educators. Our branch has invited a number of guests to this event and as hosts, we all need to pitch in. A Google doc link for the sign-up was sent to all members and is also included at the bottom of this message. Our slate for next year s officers is now complete as Sharna Ahern has stepped up to be the president elect. The May 10 meeting will also serve as our annual meeting, and we ll take just a few short minutes to vote on this slate of officers: President: Pam Christensen; President Elect: Sharna Ahern; Secretary: shared by Joanne Barrett and Julia Leamanczyk; Treasurer: Mary Winingham; Co- Membership chairs: Karen Hirn and Terri Cronin; Co-Program chairs: Ann Reynolds and Lisa Gilstrap; and STEM: Val Schmitz. Thank you to all those involved with the BIG Read luncheon, especially Roberta Rohdin Killian for heading up the arrangements. It was a great lunch and a fantastic speaker. If you didn t catch it, Amy Casselman Hontalas book is Seeking Justice for a Legacy of Violence against Women in Indian Country (available on Amazon), and all proceeds go to the organization she mentioned- The White Buffalo Calf Woman Society at Included with this Branch Briefs are the approved budget and the programs for as we currently have them. Please note that the July meeting is NOT on a Thursday night. Have a wonderful spring, and I know I ll see you all soon- Gretchen McCarthy 2

3 Geneva Lake Branch Board and Officers President: Gretchen McCarthy, President Elect: Pam Christensen, , Secretary: Joanne Barrett, (630) Treasurer: Alice Hill, , Co VPs Programs: Joan Davis, , Ann Reynolds, (630) , Co VPs Membership: Kate Berley , Karen Hirn, (815) , Branch Briefs/ Message Angel: Bev Kitzmiller, , PUBLIC POLICY By Sharna Ahern It s Time to Vote! At the AAUW Wisconsin State Convention held in Milwaukee on April 20-21, Cheryl Sorokin, JD, our AAUW National Board Secretary, spoke on the upcoming vote on Bylaws changes proposed by the National Board. She also addressed the survey ed to all members asking for input on the proposed new strategic plan that will be adopted and which we as a branch will be responsible to implement. The survey has been sent to your . Responses need to be in by May 1. Please take the survey to have a voice in the direction our organization will be moving. Don t let others speak for you! The Bylaws voting will begin on April 25 and run through June 9. You can vote online using your member ID and PIN (which you can find ed to you with the digital version of OUTLOOK magazine or on the mailing label of the print edition). You can request a print version by calling by May 7. Proposed Bylaws: 1. Create three-year staggered AAUW National Board terms with 1/3 up for election at a time. 2. Open AAUW Board service beyond AAUW membership up to five members with the Chair and Vice-Chair having to be AAUW members. 3. Eliminate the degree requirement for membership. (Some background information on this: AAUW membership is declining, and dues no longer provide enough money for National to operate. AAUW is competing with about 400 nonprofits who have a similar mission. The name, American Association of University Women, has not been an accurate organization title for quite some time, since AAUW is international, takes members with other types of educational certification, and has allowed men to be members since 1987.) It is important that all of our members be aware that we a part of a national and state organization with goals and action plans and not just a social club. Every member s participation and contribution will be expected as we join together to move our mission forward and accomplish our goals. 3

4 Wisconsin AAUW State Convention Our Geneva Lake Branch was well represented at the state convention in Milwaukee on April 20 and 21. We had eight members and one future member attend, which enabled our branch to hit all the break-out sessions in groups. It was announced that our district will host convention 2019 in the Geneva Lake area. Needless to say, all of our branch members paid close attention to the details and took notes during the entire event. A big thank you to all who donated to the basket for the Legal Advocacy Fund raffle. A total of $5000 was raised and our basket received the second highest bid of $95. Upcoming Monthly Programs Please mark your calendars for these important summer monthly meetings. June 14- Navigating the Navaho with Mark and Carol Rholl. at Chapel on the Hill, N2440Ara Glen Drive, Lake Geneva, 6:30 pm. Installation of new officers. July 9 (a Monday)- Open Arms Clinic with Director Sara Nichols. Open Arms Clinic 797 E Geneva St. Elkhorn. Please note the day of the week. August 9- Remarkable Women of Geneva Lake with Black Point s Chris Brookes. Held at Linn Presbyterian, W3335 Willow Road, Lake Geneva. Public Policy follow-up. September 12 (a Wednesday)- Soup and Signing,, our semi-annual fundraiser at Horticulture Hall. Dues Payment Information from Treasurer, Alice Hill Dues must be paid by June 1 and should be mailed to Alice Hill at the address listed on the renewal form. The form accompanies this newsletter. 4

5 Interest Groups Bridge By Kathleen Kelleher To date, we have not had anyone offer to be hostess for afternoon bridge on May 21. Please let Kathleen Kelleher know, if you might be able to hostess bridge on the 21st of May. Earla Sommerville is hostess for evening bridge on May 28. Additional information will be sent shortly. Betty Shay is hostess for bridge on June 18, and Janet Huelster is hostess of June 25. Bluestockings By Bev Kitmiller On Tuesday, May 15, we will meet at the Fontana home of Kate Berley where Julie Lemeanczyk will lead our discussion of So Big by Edna Ferber. Ann Ruff and Doris Mosser will assist as cohostesses. If you plan on attending, please contact Kate in a timely manner at kmberley@comcast.com or (262) And remember to bring a sandwich to share. Great pic from our April Bluestockings discussion of Hillbilly Elegy. 5

6 Lunch Bunch By Sue Greben Get out your calendars for delicious dining in Elkhorn on Tuesday, May 29, at 12:00 p.m. at SOMEPLACE ELSE. It is located on the square at 1 West Walworth and No. Wisconsin and yes, there is even FREE parking in Elkhorn. If you have never been to this family owned restaurant, which has been in business since 1993, now is your chance to celebrate the coming of the summer season with friends of our wonderful organization, AAUW. Check out the Someplace Else website someplaceelserestaurant.com to view their menu: Soups made fresh daily Salads Sandwiches and even Pizza. If you would like to join us please or call Sue Greben sgreben53@gmail.com or by Friday, May 25 so that reservations can be made. Meet New Friends and Come Join the Fun! Culinary Questers By Karen DeFalco On Wednesday, June 6, the Culinary Questers will dine at Karen Hirn s home at 5:30. Please Karen DeFalco kdefalco1@gmail.com and join the group. All welcome. The following have signed up so far, but room for more: Karen Hirn Host, Dee Dee Allen Cohost, Sandy Heine Cohost, Jan Schuren, Linda Fitzsimmons, Kate Berley, Susie Schaid (maybe), Andrea Farb, and Bev Kitzmiller. Yummy lunch at Robin Nuzzo s at the April CQ! 6

7 Calendar May 2 5:30 PM Culinary Questers Sharna Ahern s May 10 6:30 PM -- Leaders in Education Reception/Annual Meeting Walworth Mem. Library May 15 Noon Bluestockings Kate Berley s May 28 Evening Bridge Earla Sommerville s May 29 Noon Lunch Bunch Someplace Else June 1 Dues Payment Deadline June 6 5:30 PM Culinary Questers Karen Hirn s June 14 6:30 PM Regular Meeting Chapel on the Hill July 9 Open Arms Free Clinic Tour and Presentation by Director, Sara Nichols Aug. 9 6:30 pm Regular Meeting Linn Presbyterian Church Sept. 12 Soup and Signing The Big Read Luncheon 7