Volume 72 Issue 5

May/June 2025

Calendar of Coming Events

Wed., May 7 - Point Lobos Hike with Pat Fletcher

Tues., May 20, 2:00 - RTC Planning Meeting,

368 Calle de Los Amigos, Pacific Grove (Click here for a map.)

Wed., May 21 - Carmel River Trail Hike with Kathy Greenwald 

Sat., May 31, 2:00-4:00 Branch Annual Meeting & Local Scholarship Celebration. Casa Serrano, 412 Pacific Street, Monterey. (Click here for a map.)

Wed., June 4 - Jack’s Peak Hike with Nancy Edwards

Sat., June 7 - RTC Tor House Tour, 26304 Ocean View Ave, Carmel (Click here

for a map.)

Wed., June 18 - Hike TBD with Andrea Madsen

Wed., July 16 - Carmel Beach Loop Hike with Nancy Soulé

Wed., August 6 - Fort Ord Dunes Hike with Ardith Peck 

Wed., August 20 - Lover’s Point Coastal Loop Hike with Nancy Soulé

Sat., August 23 - Annual Branch Picnic, Whispering Pines, 1085 Pacific St., Monterey (Click here for a map.)

BRANCH ANNUAL MEETING

AND LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP CELEBRATION

Date: Saturday, May 31

Time: 2:00-4:00 pm

Location: Casa Serrano, 412 Pacific St. Monterey (Click here for a map.)

Please join us for our annual meeting, to meet and celebrate this year’s scholarship recipients. After a short business meeting, we will hear from several of the scholars who will share how our scholarship made it possible for them to achieve their goals. It’s also a chance for them to meet inspirational women (that’s all of you), and thank you for making their scholarships possible.

We encourage you to bring a friend so they can see how our work directly benefits women in our community. Our venue is the historic Casa Serrano in Monterey and docents will be available for a brief tour. Parking is available on the street and nearby city lots. Light appetizers, wine, and other beverages will be served.  

If you joined us last June for our scholarship fundraising program, you know it’s a program that you won’t want to miss. We hope you can join us.

Kindly RSVP by May 29 to Maggie Pedersen (713-206-6507 or maggiep52@hotmail.com).

If you are unable to attend the fundraiser and would like to make a donation to the Local Scholarship Program, please make your check payable to:

"AAUW-MPB Local Scholarships" and mail to:

Kathy Poulson, 1092 Presidio Road, Pebble Beach, CA 93953-3124.

The LS Program is a 501(c)(3) program. You may also contribute through your IRA and DAP programs. Tax I.D. number is: 81-0567656.

Because of your generous donations plus two grants in the past year, we were able to award $30,000 in scholarships this year to students attending CSUMB, MPC, and Hartnell. Thank you so much!

Maggie Pedersen and Maureen Vieth, Co-directors, Local Scholarship Program

PRESIDENTS' MESSAGE

Dear AAUW Members,

Happy Spring and a special welcome to our new AAUW Members. We hope that you will find interesting activities and programs as well as additional ways to become more involved in our Branch. 

In June, many of you will be receiving membership renewal notices via email from AAUW National. While there is a slight increase in State and National dues, we hope that you will continue to support the good work of AAUW. This is an amazing organization which has been investing in the lives of girls and women since 1881.

Below are highlights of just two dynamic programs that are coming up, and exemplify the work AAUW is doing locally:

The AAUW scholarship fundraiser/annual branch meeting, our next major activity, is scheduled on Saturday, May 31^st. Hosted in a historic adobe in Monterey, members and guests will be able to share wine and appetizers, and meet last year’s AAUW scholarship recipients. 

In addition to the May event, members have an opportunity to work with young girls at one of the two TECH TREK Camps this summer. Both of these very worthy programs are featured in the newsletter.  

Are you "tech-savvy"?

AAUW is being encouraged to use CANVA software for our local website. If you are tech-savvy, we solicit your guidance to better showcase our many worthy and exciting programs to prospective and current members of AAUW, as well as the general public.

For more information about CANVA, see https://www.canva.com/ or contact Debbie Hobbs with questions.

Best,

Anne Albano & Debbie Hobbs - Co-Presidents

The voting period began on April 26 and will end on May 16. Every member may vote electronically, but those who do not have an e-mail address on file with AAUW-CA will receive a ballot via postal mail with information on how to vote.

On April 26, members should have received an e-mail with a personal invitation to vote and a link to click. The link takes you directly to your ballot; no password or code needed. The ballot must be submitted by May 16.

There are three issues to vote on the ballot:

• Approve the Public Policy Priorities (PPP)
• Approve a dues increase
• Elect the Board of Directors

When you receive your ballot, please vote, as a quorum is needed; our own Sharyn Siebert is running unopposed (for Co-President-Elect), but others are not.

TECH TREK

Tech Trek Campers Selected

Thanks to your generosity we will send 12 girls to Tech Trek Camp this summer. Our Campers attend North County Middle School in Castroville, Los Arboles in Marina, and John Gutierrez and El Sausal in Salinas. Unfortunately, there were no applicants from Seaside Middle School. Thank you to Pat Fletcher and Andrea Madsen, our small but brilliant committee, and to Paula Higgins and Anne Mollet who joined us to interview candidates.

You Can Go To Camp, Too

Our campers will attend CSU Fresno June 15-21, Camp Carson at UC Santa Cruz July 13-19, or virtually July 20-25. Volunteers are needed for everything from week-long Dorm Monitors to two-hour Workshop Leaders to one-day support and more.  Gail Widener was a Dorm Monitor last year and can tell you more about the day-to-day at camp.  

Click on the link to see the many opportunities, and how you can experience the magic. https://www.aauw-ca.org/documents/2024/11/tech-trek-volunteer-roles-no.pdf  Also check out the AAUW CA Tech Trek website, it's full of great information. https://www.aauw-ca.org/tech-trek/

Together we're advancing gender equity for girls in our community.  

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

RECAP OF MEDIA LITERACY PROGRAM

Thanks to Susan Meister and Mark Gomez for a highly informative and thought-provoking presentation on April 12^th. We learned about techniques used to create fake news and about tips on how we can be more effective in determining what is factual news and what is not. To learn more about the work of the Media Literacy Coalition, check out this link: tinyurl.com/MediaLIteracyCA.



You may also want to click here to learn more about the Mis-Information Day that Susan helped start in Monterey County.

Welcoming More Members

Looking for a small friendly AAUW group? Interested in reading discussions? Storytellers Book Club is looking for just those people. We meet the fourth Thursday of the month at 2:00 PM at members' homes. If interested, contact Arlene Coffman at (775) 815-6909.

HIKING GROUP

May 7 - Point Lobos with Pat Fletcher

May 21 - Carmel River Trail with Kathy Greenwald 

June 4 - Jack’s Peak with Nancy Edwards

June 18 - TBD with Andrea Madsen

July 2 - No hike due to holiday week

July 16 - Carmel Beach Loop with Nancy Soulé

August 6 - Fort Ord Dunes with Ardith Peck 

August 20 - Lover’s Point Coastal Loop with Nancy Soulé

September 3 - No hike due to holiday week 

September 10 - Hike Planning Meeting 

September 17 - Mission Trail Park with Ardith Peck 

Chris Parmentier and Ardith Peck, Coordinators

During their Moss Landing hike the group met artist Nancy Russell and were invited to tour her colorful, whimsical home, garden, and studio. She was so warm and has offered to host us in her garden for a future event. Stay tuned.

Pictured are: Artist Nancy Russell, Nancy Coss-Fitzwater, Noelle Hetz, Nancy Edwards, and Sharon Armbrust, kneeling.  

ROMANCING THE COAST

May: Planning Meeting, but no trip.

Date: Tuesday, May 20

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Place: 368 Calle de Los Amigos, Pacific Grove (Click here for a map.)

Come one and all who love to visit interesting places, learn something new, and eat lunch out. There will be a Tea and a brainstorming/planning meeting.

Please RSVP by May 17 to Nancy Edwards, njfedwards44@gmail.com 

or 831 238 3603. 

June: Visit Tor House

Date: Saturday, June 7 

Time: Tour starts at 10:00 a.m.

Place: 26304 Ocean View Ave, Carmel (Click here for a map.)

Tor House was the home of poet Robinson Jeffers and his family from 1919 until 1999. The tour is limited to 6 people, and costs $15 per person. Nancy prepaid to get reservations, so please bring your tour fee. Lunch spot TBD.

Please RSVP by June 1 to Nancy Edwards, njfedwards44@gmail.com

or 831 238 3603.

Nancy Edwards, Coordinator

SAVE THE DATE:

ANNUAL BRANCH PICNIC

Date: Saturday, August 23

Time: 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM

Location: Whispering Pines, 1085 Pacific St., Monterey, (Click here for map.)

Please join us for our annual get-together, and enjoy good food plus great company. More details will be sent out towards the end of July.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership Renewal

The majority of you will be renewing your AAUW Memberships in late June (except for those who joined at other times of the year, and who have a different renewal date). There are two ways to renew your membership this year. Either way, you will receive an email reminder from National advising you to renew.

1. You can respond to the renewal email that you receive from AAUW, which asks you to log into your online account. Your profile will be there, including any donations you have made, and it will also include your renewal date and amount due. Be sure to include paying your branch and CA state dues when renewing online.

OR

2. You can renew by USPS mail, sending your check made out to AAUW-MPB, to AAUW MPB, PO Box 1786, Monterey, CA 93942 with the correct amount.

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

Mardi Taubert has a new email address.

New Members

Joanne Ferretti

Phyllis Jordan

Paula Jordanek



Debbie Juran

Sharon Miller

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

Joanne Ferretti

Joanne Ferretti has a BA from Cal Berkeley and an MA from Santa Clara University. She is a current resident of the Monterey Peninsula but has lived in the San Francisco Bay area most of her life. She thoroughly enjoys the slower pace here and walks 7-9 miles in Ft. Ord daily. She is a teacher by training though she has worked as a bank officer, a heating and air condition contractor, and a catechetical leader for a Catholic church in San Mateo. She is active at San Carlos Cathedral and volunteers at CHOMP, Hospice and Gathering for Women. Relaxation includes reading, listening to books, knitting, and crochet. Her husband is Croatian and they spend summers in Croatia each year. She is interested in Great Decisions, Hiking Group, Romancing the Coast, Fiber Arts Group and Public Policy.

Phyllis Jordan

Phyllis Jordan has a bachelor’s degree in English and History from Sweet Briar College and a master’s in journalism from the University of Missouri – Columbia. She is a former journalist who now writes about education and health care policy.

She and her husband moved to Monterey in summer 2024 and enjoy hiking. Phyllis is interested in an evening book group, Great Decisions, the hiking group, Romancing the Coast, and public policy.

Paula Jordanek

Paula Jordanek is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, with an MS in Operations Research. She also earned an MA in Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, an MS in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, and a BA from UC Santa Cruz.

She has lived in Monterey County since 2004 (this time). Before coming back to the central coast, she lived in Naples, Italy; Newport, Rhode Island; Washington, D.C.; San Antonio, Texas; San Francisco (Treasure Island); and San Diego. Her career in the U.S. Navy included Associate Provost as well as Director of Programs at the Naval Postgraduate School, Chief of the Multinational Joint Logistics Center, Allied Joint Force Command, Naples (NATO), and Executive Officer of Treasure Island.

Her favorite job was working with an international community at Naples, Italy. She is currently retired. Paula has been a widow since 2022, and her mother lives nearby. Paula’s interests range from current events, hiking/walking, golf, reading, and learning languages. She’s interested in Romancing the Coast and Hiking groups, as well as a book group in the future.

Debbie Juran

Debbie Juran has a bachelor’s degree in economics from San Jose State University. She retired a year ago after 46 years in financial services in Monterey. She has served three terms on the CSUMB Foundation Board. Since education meant so much to her, Debbie is an avid supporter of higher educational opportunities -- especially for first-generation students. She adopted and raised two daughters, now 38 and 35, living in the Monterey area.

Debbie loves to swim and walk Del Monte Beach daily, and looks forward to new friendships and opportunities to serve. She is interested in joining a book group (day or night), Great Decisions, gourmet group, local scholarship, and public policy. Debbie is re-engaging in AAUW because, “I believe in its mission.”

Sharon Miller

Sharon Miller has a BA and an MA from San Francisco State. She is an 81-year-old widow, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is a retired educator; she was Assistant Director of Salinas Adult School, with a principal focus on ESL and Citizenship. She belongs to two book groups, and is a member of League of Women Voters, ACLU, Unitarian-Universalist Church, and Democratic Women of Monterey County. She lives in her home of 30 years in Pacific Grove with a dog, and her two daughters are within walking distance. She is interested in civic education, preserving democracy, DEI, and scholarships. She walks a lot, used to travel a lot, and enjoys cinema, but doesn't like to drive at night anymore. She is interested in our Book Groups (day or evening), Great Decisions, maybe hiking and Romancing the Coast.

Board Meetings

May 1 at 1:00 pm

CFMC, 2354 Garden Rd.

AAUW BOARD RETREAT 

June 5

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Home of Debbie Hobbs

Websites

AAUW-MCB

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

==========

AAUW-CA

http://aauw-ca.org

September/October Messenger

Please email articles for the September/October newsletter to

Caryl Rojas and Bonnie Lockwood by August 15.

AAUW DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS

The full amount of National dues you paid is tax deductible as a charitable donation. (This does not include State and Local dues.) 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.

Local Scholarships

Make check payable to "AAUW-MPB Local Scholarships".

Send your check to

Kathy Poulson,

1092 Presidio Road,

Pebble Beach, CA 93953.

(Tax ID # is 81-0567656)

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.

Bonnie Lockwood & Caryl Rojas, Newsletter Co-Editors