Advancing gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy

American Association of University Women Austin, TX Branch

FY 25-26 Vol. 6 January 2026 Newsletter
 

A Message from Co-President, Terry Whaley
new_years_fireworks.jpg

As we perch on the edge of the New Year, we wish you all

good health, strong friendships

and happy celebrations.

We'll see you at our first meeting of 2026 on January 10th at 10AM at Balcones Country Club.

For more info and to save your spot, click here: RSVP here
 

Happy New Year! As we approach the midpoint of our business year, I want to recognize and celebrate what we have accomplished. We started the year with a very successful Summer Social, where we gained several new members. We have had excellent programs each month and our members have enjoyed 14 busy, thriving Interest groups. 


We have a hard-working and productive board with several projects moving forward. And what can I say about the Winter Social - such fun! The food was delicious, the sale and silent auction were a huge success, and there was lots of camaraderie. Thanks to everyone who keep the wheels turning. It takes a lot of communication and cooperation to make the branch a success.


Just a reminder that we need to continue to work toward completing our Strategic Plan, now well underway.


Strategic Focus

1.     Increase Membership

2.     Promote and Fund the AAUW Centennial Scholarship Project

3.     Develop and implement an AAUW-aligned Public Policy Action Plan based on branch priorities

4.     Increase visibility of AAUW by strengthening strategic alliances and partnerships among organizations aligned with the AAUW Mission

5.     Promote leadership development and opportunities


News Flash! A new interest group is forming to participate in Austin’s incredible food scene. It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere is a happy-hour group that will meet at local restaurants from 4-6:00 p.m. This is a chance for us to get to know each other better in an informal setting while taking advantage of the discounts and lower prices offered at that time of day. You can contact Terry Whaley or Shirlene Justice if you are interested in participating or have location suggestions. Watch for further information on the first meeting in the February newsletter. (whaleyterry@gmail.com, shirlenejustice@gmail.com)


Our Public Policy Committee and LWV of the Austin Area have scheduled an exclusive showing of the powerful film Zurawski v Texas on January 20, 2026 at the AFS Cinema. Click here for more information and to secure your spot: Purchase tickets

 

We are a busy and successful group, all due to your support and efforts. I am proud to be a part of the leadership team. Together we can accomplish great things! Terry Whaley

Brenda Scholin., Kathy Stewart, Brenda Hahne, and Berta Lloyd at the Winter Social




January Guest Speaker -- Amy Bawcom


Amy Bawcom is the Senior Director of Leadership Giving at Austin Community College. She holds an M.A. degree in English (Medieval Literature) from Baylor, a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB), and has acquired 30+ years of experience in higher education and 20+ years in advancement and development. Amy has also obtained teaching certification for grades 6-12. Her many leadership and teaching positions have included work with UMHB as well as with Fort Hood’s Education Center and at Allen Community College in Japan. Both our Austin and Georgetown AAUW branches are pleased to have her as a member.

 

For our January program, Amy will speak to us about the extraordinary and transformational year this has been for ACC and its remarkable students. In 2025, ACC saw more students than ever pursuing their dreams with fewer financial concerns. She will highlight the pillars which make this possible: Access & Affordability, Student Success & Academic Resources, Meeting Basic Needs, and Belonging & Connection. These pillars represent ACC’s theory of change for achieving their North Star of a 70% completion rate by 2030. By working together across the campus to remove financial barriers and connect students to resources they need, these students not only enroll—they persist, they complete, and they thrive.  


Come hear Amy describe how ACC is achieving this and how organizations like AAUW are contributing to this goal!

Winter Social Highlights

Sixty members and friends gathered on Sunday, December 7 at the Balcones Country Club to enjoy fellowship and good food, and to benefit the AAUW Greatest Needs Fund. It was a beautiful late fall day — albeit with the parking challenges that come with those lovely days — but the hosting Branch past-presidents brought smiles with their warm welcome and specially prepared treats.  


The Branch Fundraising Team thanks everyone who helped make the Winter Social Sale/Auction a success. We appreciate the generous donations and those who purchased items. We especially appreciate the Georgetown branch donations and Terry Whaley’s many handmade creations. We earned more than $1,700 that will be sent to our National AAUW organization.


Crews of branch members have been gift-wrapping at Book People this month, earning $522.50 in tips for AAUW. See's candy sales are also going well, with Ceci Schubert selling out of candy at her building in one day, making $354 for the Greatest Needs Fund. She deserves a salesmanship award!

Honest Mary's Fundraiser

Be sure to mark your calendars for Thursday, January 15 to dine at the Honest Mary’s location at 4800 Burnet Road between 5-9 pm. Customers who mention AAUW when paying will have 25% of their check amount donated to our branch.


The Fundraising team will continue to sell candy and cards at branch meetings and collect Change for Change, which stays with the branch.


Wishing all branch members a Happy New Year. Joyce Pulich


Please remember our commitment to our endowed scholarship fund at ACC. Consider a year-end gift to support this important endeavor and its future benefits for Austin's children. Thank you, thank you!


https://offices.austincc.edu/foundation/

(Remember to click "other" for your support designation and type in "AAUW Centennial Fund" in the notes box).
 

Welcome Stephanie Barko


Although new to AAUW, Stephanie knew of the group from its book sales through the years. Currently a college coach with ScholarMatch, she was drawn to AAUW by its emphasis on education and women’s issues.


Stephanie has a BA in Sociology from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and a BBA in Marketing from The University of Texas at Austin. Her career path has led from her family’s portable industrial equipment business in Houston to the offshore industry where she hired tool pushers and roustabouts. In 1989, she landed a job with the federal government that brought her to Austin. She decided to return to school to repackage herself where the action was -- in high tech marketing. After marketing semiconductors for Motorola for 12 years, she became a book publicist for the next twenty until retiring in 2024. 


Stephanie and her partner Jim just celebrated 30 years blending their lives together in Driftwood, where there’s always a cat underfoot. She has learned through genealogy research that her dad is a Duquesne University Hall of Famer (1937 Orange Bowl) and her mom narrowly missed her 1936 Berlin Olympic trial. Today Stephanie musters her parents' genes and Scottish ancestry to spring and fling as a member of the Hill Country Highland Dancers.


Public Policy and Education Team Updates

From Anita Knight: In the midst of holiday and new year celebrations, make a resolution to be active in AAUW and other organizations that promote gender equity and protect civil rights.


AAUW is proud to be a Grassroots Power Partner with the League of Women Voters US on their nonpartisan Unite & Rise 8.5 campaign, alongside the National Council of Jewish Women and other organizations working to expand civic participation, foster equity, and build a stronger, more inclusive democracy.


This January, our branch is partnering with the League of Women Voters of the Austin Area to host a screening of the film Zurawski v Texas on 1/20/26 at the AFS Cinema. For more info and ticket purchases, click here: Zurawski v Texas info


If you missed the AAUW webinar in November on “Building Power through Partnerships" you can find the recording at the link below.  https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/webinars/

https://www.aauw.org/app/uploads/2025/11/Working-in-Coalition-Building-Power-through-Partnerships-Resource.pdf

https://www.aauw.org/app/uploads/2025/10/Its-My-Vote.pdf


The ACLU is also Defending Freedom Against Authoritarianism. Join the fight at ACLU info.


When Rosemary Morrow asked AAUW to help her neighbors at the Brookdale Retirement center update their voter registrations, our team of VDRs jumped in and successfully helped 23 residents complete their forms. Thanks to Pam Doan, Joyce Pulich, and Lynn Gambrill who helped Jackie Hardee with this effort. If you'd like to help at future events, contact Jackie Hardee jshtxtx@yahoo.com. Many thanks also to Ann Berasley for her long shift at the election poll center in November. 

Goodbye 2025, Hello 2026


From Mary Ellen Scribner: New Year’s resolutions have become a subject of jokes because so few of us follow through with our frequently unrealistic or casual objectives. The deliberate attempt by politicians to destroy public education is no joke. Our branch public policy education team resolves to be deliberate and strategic in doing all we can to regain citizen control of our education system in 2026.


For the last couple of months, the education team had sent a weekly or bi-weekly one-page email listing to public policy committee members with upcoming advocacy actions and opportunities. In January, we will expand that to all interested members. With the first bulletin, you will have the opportunity to opt out. We will also launch a postcard-writing initiative. If you are interested in being an early bird participant or are already involved in writing postcards, you can contact Jackie Hardee.


Additionally, we plan to focus some of our efforts on civic education. A first step to your involvement might be registering for and participating in an online presentation hosted by Texas Woman’s University -- Center for Women in Government -- on January 27. Dr. Lindsey Cormack, author of How to Raise a Citizen (and Why It's Up to You to Do It), will be the presenter. AAUW Texas Public Policy Committee is also promoting this virtual event. Questions or suggestions regarding civic education advocacy may be addressed to Mary Ellen Scribner.


January 27, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Book Talk: How to Raise a Citizen (virtual)

Register here





IN MEMORIAM


We extend our deepest sympathy and caring thoughts to branch members Kathryn Pew and Lynn Cooksey on the passing of father/husband Frank Cooksey. [Pictured at right at AAUW event with Nancy Pelosi in 2017.]


Former Austin mayor Frank Cooksey, 92, died Monday

Interest Group Activities January 2026


ART TOUR

When: January 7, First Wednesdays (Some exceptions)

Time: 10 am

Where: Beloved Gallery

Host:  Debbie Shaffer

Contacts: Pat Beal: patrbeal@gmail.com 512.762.9924 

Devon Austin: devonaustin@msn.com 562.225.7681


BRIDGE GROUP 

When: January 8 and January 22 Second and Fourth Thursdays 

Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm 

Where: North Lamar Senior Activity Center 29th, North Lamar 

Contact: Elaine Penn: epenn9915@gmail.com 512-328-3100


CENTRAL BOOK GROUP 

When: Monday, January 12

Time: 10:30 am

Where: La Madeleine, 5493 Brodie Lane, Austin, Tx.

Book: “The Message” Author Ta-Nehisi Coates

Facilitator: Linda Quintanillla

Contact: Linda Quintanilla: quintalin@gmail.com 713.202.8525 


CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE

When: First Monday, January 5 (meets on Zoom)

Time: 7 pm 

Where: Zoom

Book: “Remarkably Bright Creatures” Author Shelby Van Pelt

Facilitator: Dorothy Shelley

Contact: Mary Ellen Schribner: maryescribner@gmail.com 512.698.5539


CREATIVE STITCHERY

When: Wednesday, January 21

Time: 10:00 am

Where: 7507 Long Point Drive

Project: Quilt Blocks

Hosts: Beverly Locklin and Suellen Mills

Contact: Beverly Locklin: bklocklin@outlook.com 512.633.2902


CULTURE AND CUISINE 

Cancelled: January 2026 Meeting

Contact: Ann Gibbs: agibbs5200@gmail.com, 512.250.1203


FRIDAY MORNING BOOK REVIEW

Cancelled: January 2026 Meeting 

Contact: Judy Reinhart: jareinhart@att.net, 512.345.5936


HIKING

Hike 1

When: Thursday, January 8

Time:  10 am

Where: Violet Crown from Spyglass

Leader: Kate DiPronio

Contacts: Kate DiPronio: ktlee523@gmail.com 512.924.9061

         Gayle Kanies: gayle.kaines@gmail.com 512.587.7747


Hike 2 

When: Saturday, January 24

Time:  10 am

Where: TBD

Leader: Suki Steinhauser


MAHJONG 

When: Thursday, January 15 (every third Thursday)

Time:   1-4:00 pm

Where: N. Lamar Senior Activity Center 2874 Shoal Crest Ave (29th and North Lamar) Austin, Tx.

Contact: Connie Munoz, comunoz1@yahoo.com 361.813.8012


Bring your 2025 updated mahjong card.

We are joining other ladies that play every Thursday and if more than 4 players show up, we help fill other tables.


MYSTERY INTEREST GROUP 

When: January 27

Time:  11:00 AM

Book:  Readers’ choice!

Place:  BJ Brewhouse. The Shops at Arbor Walk, 10515 N. Mopac Expy, NB Austin, Tx.

Contact: Pam Wolfe: piwolfe@yahoo.com 512.925.7865


OUT TO LUNCH

When: Tuesday, January 20

Time:  11:15 AM 

Where: Santa Catarina

Planner: Mary Ellen Scribner

Contact: Elaine Penn:  epenn9915@gmail.com 512-328-3100


PEARS

When: Saturday, January 17

Time:  5:30 pm

Where: Ling Wu Restaurant, 7415 Southwest Pkwy, Austin, Texas

Contact: Milli Stecker: mstecker@austin.rr.com 512-468-1088


SOUTHWEST BOOK GROUP 

When: Monday, January 12

Time: 10:30 – 12:30 pm

Book: “Backyard Bird Chronicles” (NF) (PP 321) Author Amy Tan

Facilitator: Sylvia Garcia

Host/Where: Pat Beal, 10507 Damon Rd., Austin, Tx

Contact: Brenda Hahne: bwhahne@gmail.com 832.233.4254


WINE TASTERS

Cancelled: January 2026 Meeting

Contact: Elaine Penn: epenn9915@gmail.com 512-328-3100

We are an interested group of members doing interesting things


Pictured above, top row and bottom left and right -- Winter Social attendees at Balcones Country Club; Center bottom: SW Book Group


Top row: Out to Lunch at Chez Zee; Art Group at the Ransom Center; Creative Stitchery Group


Bottom row: Wine Group; Voter Registration at Brookdale in Westlake; Hiking Group downtown tour

We wish you all a safe and joyous holiday season and look forward to seeing you in the brand new year of 2026.


Be happy. Be well.

AAUW-Austin | P.O. Box 5304 | Austin, TX 78763-5304 US

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