Volume 72 Issue 3

Jan./Feb. 2025

Calendar of Coming Events

Wed., Jan. 15 - Hike, Pt Pinos Loop

Sat., Jan. 18, 2:00 - January Branch Meeting. "Demise of Fundamental Rights"; Center for Spiritual Living, 400 W. Franklin Street, Monterey

Wed., Jan. 22, 10:30 - Romancing the Coast tours Japanese American Cultural Center

Wed., Feb. 5 - Hike, TBA

Wed., Feb. 19 - Hike, Garrapata Beach & Calla Lily Valley

Sat., Feb. 22, 11:30 - 2:30 - Annual Inter-branch Council Luncheon Meeting, Flying Artichoke Restaurant, 40 Mortensen Avenue, Salinas

JANUARY BRANCH MEETING

Date: January 18

Time: 2:00 PM

Place: Monterey Center for Spiritual Living, 400 W. Franklin Street, Monterey (Click here for map.)

Originalism: Is the Demise of Fundamental Rights Inevitable?

Many of us believe that our fundamental rights, including autonomy and privacy, are secured by the U.S. Constitution from infringement by the states or the Federal government because the US Supreme Court is bound to uphold them. But will the shift by the current Supreme Court to an “Originalist” interpretation of the Constitution inevitably lead to the demise of our fundamental rights by restricting the definition of “Liberty” to beliefs that date back to the 18^th or 19^th Century?

Opinions on the US Supreme Court's task of interpreting the Constitution are divided, with some believing the Court should prioritize the original meaning of the text as it would have been interpreted in the historical era in which it was written (Originalism). Others argue for a more flexible interpretation that adapts to current societal needs, balancing historical context with contemporary understandings of what “liberty” means to us today. 

Our speaker, Michelle (Mickey) Welsh, teaches Constitutional Law at Monterey College of Law, where she was recently named Distinguished Professor of Law. Join us for a highly informative and provocative presentation about how Originalism may have affected recent Court decisions in landmark rulings and what it may mean for the future of our fundamental rights, our Constitution, and our democracy.

Members of the public are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by January 14 to Chris Parmentier at cmparmentier@gmail.com or at (408) 427-2740.

Chris Parmentier and Joanne Webster - Co-Directors, Program Committee

Annual Inter-Branch Council (IBC) Luncheon Meeting:

February Joint Meeting with Santa Cruz County Branch

Speaker: Steven Pifer

Date: Saturday, February 22

Time: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Place: Flying Artichoke Restaurant, 40 Mortensen Avenue, Salinas

Click here for a map.

After 25 years as a Foreign Service officer, including Deputy Assistant Director of State for Russia and Ukraine, and Ambassador to Ukraine, Steven Pifer is now an affiliate of the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation, and a non-resident senior fellow of the Brookings Institution. Steven served as the special assistant to the President and senior director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia on the National Security Council. Other positions in which he served were at the U.S. embassies in Warsaw, Moscow and London along with the U.S. delegation to the negotiation on intermediate-range nuclear forces in Geneva. Given today's geo-political environment, Steven will talk about the Challenges of Russia in 2025. With his extensive knowledge and expertise, this is a meeting you don't want to miss.

Event cost is $42, due no later than Feb.18. Reservations are pre-paid and non-refundable. Click here for the reservation form in Word format or here for it in PDF format. Mail it with your check to the Santa Cruz County Branch, which is handling reservations.

Questions: Sharyn Siebert, sharynsiebert@comcast.net or (831) 809-4918

PRESIDENTS' MESSAGE

Dear AAUW Members,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of AAUW-MCB, we wish you a Happy New Year! We are pleased to report that we continue to thrive as a branch with a strong leadership team who work hard to engage our members. Below is a snapshot of some of what’s been going on in the branch this past fall.

Branch membership numbers have remained steady throughout 2024 and currently we have 130 with the addition of a new application yesterday. Our newest members and women interested in joining our branch recently participated in a “new member orientation” organized by the membership team. Group leaders and new members had a chance to gather over coffee and treats to learn more about branch activities and how to become involved.  

The Program Team has worked hard to bring interesting programs to our members. October’s program, where we learned about Escape Rooms, was fascinating as we were challenged in small groups to solve a puzzle typical of an Escape Room. Don’t miss the upcoming presentation in January with speaker Michelle Welsh of Monterey College of Law who will offer an in-depth look at the shift of the current US Supreme Court’s view of “originalism”. More details are in the newsletter.  

In November, 17 members and  guests attended Wine and Whine held at Osteria Al Mare located on the Coastguard Pier. (See photo below.) It was a lovely setting for a lively gathering and a chance to meet other members. Attending an AAUW activity is a great way for non-members to learn about AAUW, and as a reminder...a membership discount can be offered to women wanting to join AAUW after attending a program or activity.

Finally, as you read your newsletter, you will notice a few new activities forming to meet member’s interests including a gourmet cooking group, a new book group, and a handicraft/knitting group. Many thanks to those who step up to initiate and lead programs and activities. If you have an interest in leading or creating a new interest group...let us know.

May we all have peace, good health, and enriching experiences in this New Year. Cheers!

Anne Albano & Debbie Hobbs - Co-Presidents

At our November meeting, Christina Riddoch, entrepreneur, told us about how she has opened and operated various businesses, including Escape Room.

We split into groups to try solving a sample puzzle, as would be done at Escape Room. It was both fun and challenging.

TECH TREK

Volunteers Needed as Tech Trek Gears Up

With the new year comes the start of the recruiting and selection season for 7th grade girls who'll attend Tech Trek in the summer of 2025. Our goal is to send at least 12 girls to camp. That means we need to contact the schools, identify the science and math teachers and demonstrate the value of camp so that they will nominate the girls who'll get the most out of camp. To make this happen, our committee needs a few more members to volunteer. Each volunteer is assigned one school as the liaison but the committee will work in teams once we begin interviews in the Spring. Schools are located on the Peninsula and Salinas. Reach out to Gail or Fatima with any questions. 

Although the girls speak English, volunteers who can speak Spanish are particularly desirable as some of the parents are not fluent in English.

If you can't volunteer and haven't yet donated, it's never too late. We accept donations throughout the year and 100% goes to the girls! Tech Trek is a 501(c)(3) and you can donate through your IRA or Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), or by sending a check. Kindly make your check payable to  "AAUW-CA SPF" with "Tech Trek, Monterey Peninsula" in the memo line. Please send checks to: Noelle Hetz, 200 Hawthorne Street, Monterey, CA 93940.

Fatima Dias and Gail Widener - Co-Directors, Tech Trek

PUBLIC POLICY

Save the Date: Lobby Days

Get ready to advance legislation that makes a difference! This spring the AAUW California 2025 Lobby Days event will be held over two days: an in-person meeting day at the State Capitol on Tuesday, April 8, and a virtual meeting day over Zoom on Wednesday, April 9. We encourage all AAUW California members to participate in this opportunity for advocacy that is essential to achieve our legislative priorities!

Sharyn Siebert - Public Policy Director

AAUW FUNDS

With donations to AAUW Funds, AAUW will be able to focus on our critical priorities:



• Expanding college education for girls and women. That means helping more women pursue STEM education, ending discrimination and harassment in schools, and defending Title IX.
• Continuing to fight the gender pay gap. It’s costing American women billions of dollars, and it’s time to end it.
• Supporting the economic security of all women. AAUW is committed to ensuring women have the resources and support they need to succeed. 

The challenges we’re facing are greater than ever, but so are the opportunities for victory if we work together now. Donate online at

https://my.aauw.org/donation-product-detail or mail your check to Gabriele Simbriger-Williams, 1822 Links Drive, Seaside, CA 93955.

Gabriele Simbriger-Williams - AAUW Funds Director

FROM THE ANNALS OF AAUW

Did you know that AAUW Members raised funds to support Marie Curie’s research? In 1920, the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (a predecessor to AAUW) helped raise money to purchase a gram of radium for Marie Curie. The effort was led by Marie Meloney, a journalist and editor of The Delineator women’s magazine, who learned while interviewing Curie that her research was being held back by short supply of radium. The AAUW New York City (NY) Branch organized an event in her honor at Carnegie Hall. She then traveled to Washington, D.C., and visited the White House, where President Warren Harding presented her with the gram of radium in a lead-lined box. At the time, a gram of radium cost $100,000.

A new book has been written about Marie’s life, titled “The Elements of Marie Curie; How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science” by Dava Sobel. Goodreads choice award for Nominee for Readers’ Favorite History & Biography (2024). If you’d like to hear the segment about Madame Curie on NPR Science Friday, click on this link: https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/dava-sobel-marie-curie-book/

Banned Books Club

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New Groups Forming

Not yet in a book group? There is a new book group forming that will meet Wednesday afternoons. Nancy Soulé is hosting an organizing meeting at her home at 504 Larkin Street, Monterey, at noon on January 8. Nancy will provide lunch. Contact her if you are interested, as there are a few openings still available (nancyksoule@yahoo.com).



Other book groups that have openings are Storytellers, meeting the fourth Thursdays at 2 pm (contact Arlene Coffman, arlenecoff@aol.com); Morning Book club, meeting the third Mondays at 10 am on Zoom (contact Kathy Poulson, abeachlov@gmail.com); and Banned Book Club, whose dates vary (contact Suzette Cavanaugh, suzettecavanaugh@gmail.com). 

Interested in spending time with your AAUW friends over conversation and a cup of tea while you work on your small projects...knitting, crochet, fiber arts, embroidery, etc? Claire Scalzo is starting a monthly group at her home in Marina (near REI). Please contact Claire if you would like to talk to her more about dates/times and logistics. claireascalzo@gmail.com

HIKING GROUP

Jan. 15 - Pt Pinos Loop Hike with Andrea Madsen

Feb. 5 - Location TBA.

Feb. 19 - Garrapata Beach & Calla Lily Valley Hike with Kathy Greenwald

March 5 - Marks Ranch Hike with Anne Albano

March 19 - Pinnacles Hike with Deborah Stern

Chris Parmentier and Ardith Peck, Coordinators

Quarry Park hike of October 16. From left Andrea Madsen, Ann Donaldson, Anne Albano, Sandy Grimmer, Suzanne Schmidt, and Pat Fletcher (not pictured Nancy Soulé)

ROMANCING THE COAST

RTC events are always open to all members, and guests are also welcome.

Japanese American Cultural Center Talk and Tour

Date: Wednesday, January 22

Time: 10:30 a.m.

Cost: While there is no fee, if you would like to make a small donation to support the museum, it would be welcomed. 

Place: 424 Adams Street, Monterey (Click here for a map.)

Local historian Tim Thomas will provide an overview of the cultural legacy of the Japanese in Monterey. We will also tour the small museum located on site which houses significant interesting and historic relics.

The tour will be followed by lunch at Sapporo’s Japanese Restaurant near the Wharf for those who wish. Please indicate when you RSVP if you want to join us for lunch. RSVP by January 19 to Anne Albano, apalbano@att.net.

Carmel Valley History Museum

Date: Late February - Exact date to be announced

Time: To be announced

Place: 77 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village (Click here for map.)

This little museum houses an interesting collection of photos and artifacts about Carmel Valley's fascinating past. Historian and Docent Jeff Ohlson will offer a short talk about a recent project documenting the women significant to the ranching history.  https://carmelvalleyhistoricalsociety.org/

MEMBERSHIP

Kenis Dunne & Judy Nejasmich, Co-VP Membership

To protect the information of our members, membership information about new members and changes for current members will not be shown in the newsletter. Instead, we will list their names, for you to go to the password-protected online directory (see the third column below) to see what is new, allowing you to make changes in your printed directory. - Editors

Directory Updates

If there are errors or changes in your directory listing, please tell us so corrections can be made. - Editors

Ed Gavrin and Catherine O'Connor have rejoined and may be added to your directory.

New Members

Kathy Cleary

Nancy Coss-Fitzwater

Online Directory

The password to our protected online directory on our website in the Member Center is on the second page of your pink membership directory. (If you cannot find it or do not have a directory, call Kenis Dunne or Judy Nejasmich.) This is where all members' contact information is readily accessible.

http://mpb-ca.aauw.net

NEW MEMBER BIOS

Kathy Cleary

Kathy's bio will be in the March/April newsletter.

Nancy Coss-Fitzwater

Nancy recently returned to the Peninsula after 50+ years' absence and lives with her (also retired) husband Tom in Pebble Beach. THey have two adult children, Paige, an Assistant Nurse Manager at the UC San Diego Medical Center Hillcrest Hospital and Blake, an Environmental Scientist who specializes in water quality management and lives in the East Bay. Nancy enjoys reading, walking/hiking (knee permitting), and hanging out with family and friends. She is retired, but spent most of her career doing government relations, policy analysis and administration in the public and private sectors, focusing on transportation issues. Lately, she spends her time unpacking boxes. 

Nancy is interested in a daytime Book Club (joining Nancy S's new group?), Hiking Group (once knee improves), Romancing the Coast, Local Scholarship Committee, Tech Trek, and Public Policy.

Board Meetings

Jan. 9 at 1:00 pm

CFMC, 2354 Garden Rd.

Feb. 6 at 4:00 pm

by Zoom

Websites

AAUW-MPB

https://mpb-ca.aauw.net/

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AAUW-CA

http://aauw-ca.org

March/April Messenger

Please email articles for the March/April newsletter to

Caryl Rojas and Bonnie Lockwood by Feb. 15.

AAUW DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS

If you paid the full $115 AAUW yearly dues, National dues ($72) is tax deductible as a charitable donation. In addition, any donations to our charitable funds will be tax deductible for a tax year if paid by December 31st of that year and if you itemize deductions. Note that a donation to any of these three areas can also be made in honor or in memory of a friend or family member. More information and a donation form (optional) may be found at this link to our website. If making a donation directly from an IRA as a qualified charitable donation (QCD), consult your tax advisor or www.irs.gov for more information.

Tech Trek

Make check payable to "AAUW-CA SPF"

with "Tech Trek, Monterey Peninsula"

in the memo line.

Send to Noelle Hetz

200 Hawthorne St.

Monterey, CA 93940

AAUW Fund

Donate at aauw.org, or write a check payable to "AAUW".

Send your check to Gabriele Simbriger-Williams

1822 Links Drive

Seaside, CA 93955

NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE

Newsletters are published around the 1st of the months of September, November, January, March and May. There will be short "eblasts", containing reminders or special announcements. If you do not receive a newsletter, please contact us so we can fix it. Please note that newsletter content will relate only to AAUW and branch matters, a policy of AAUW National.

Caryl Rojas & Bonnie Lockwood, Newsletter Co-Editors