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Advancing gender equity for women and girls
through research, education & advocacy
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- Upcoming Events
- President's Message
- Branch Business
- Here's what Happened
- Connecting with Our Members
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- Giving Back
- Other AAUW News
- Branch Links
- Our Advertisers
| | | Look at the bottom of this email. If this message appears, be sure to click where it says "View entire message" so you don't miss important information! | | |
These events are coming up - please read the Sunday Email Blast for more information.
Celebrate the holidays! Our annual branch Holiday Party will be held on Sunday, Dec. 7, at Giorgio’s Restaurant in downtown Morgan Hill from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Enjoy your choice of Italian dishes including salad, fresh-baked bread, dessert and coffee. We look forward to live holiday entertainment! Cost is $38 per person. Look for details in the Sunday Email Blast.
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President’s Message
As the days grow shorter and the air turns cooler, it’s clear that fall has arrived — a perfect time to reflect on all that we’re thankful for. There is so much that I’m thankful for – my wonderful family, the beautiful town I live in, my awesome friends, and of course all my AAUW cohorts! What are you thankful for this season?
Read the full message HERE.
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2025 Philanthropic Honoree Announced
We’re thrilled to announce Monica McClintock as our 2025 AAUW Philanthropy Night Honoree! Since 2013, Monica’s quiet diligence and tireless behind-the-scenes service have strengthened our branch and community.
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From managing our Sunday email blast to leading outreach and inspiring acts of service—she’s so deserving!
Click the button below to join us at the Philanthropy Night Gala, November 14, to celebrate Monica. Be sure to specifiy the AAUW table!
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Five Stars for Morgan Hill (again)!
Morgan Hill branch attains Five Star status for third year. How did we do it? A team effort! Read more HERE.
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Wildflower Run 2026
The Wildflower Run 2026 will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2026. The committee is working behind the scenes. The course team is excited to unveil our new proposed course, as well as changes at the venue. We are introducing our 2026 WFR logo!
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Our first meeting for WFR 2026 will be held on Thursday, November 13 at 7pm.
For more information contact: wfr@aauwmh.org
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2026 Wildflower Fund Giving Campaign
The Wildflower Fund combines member donations, Wildflower Run proceeds, and corporate sponsorships to support scholarships, grants, Tech Trek, and national AAUW programs.
| | | Members are encouraged to contribute annually, with the option to donate before December 31, 2025, for a 2025 tax deduction. Every contribution helps advance opportunities for women and girls and strengthens our branch’s mission. | | | |
Would you like to be more involved with our branch?
Support AAUW Morgan Hill, meet others, and have fun! We are looking for members, both new and long-time, who are interested in a board position, committee chair, or joining a committee.
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There are many opportunities available with varying responsibilities and time commitments.
To learn more and to discuss options, contact Suman Ganapathy, Leadership Development Team chair.
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All Member Meet Up 2025
On August 28, nearly 80 branch members gathered at the San Martin Lions Club for our second annual All Member Meet Up.
Read more about what happened HERE.
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Susan & Charles Berghoff Foundation
Celebrates Pizza in Paradise 2.0
In September, the Berghoff Foundation held an awareness-tribute-fundraiser with AAUW Morgan Hill as a co-sponsor. Researchers from Brigham & Women's/Harvard, UCSF, and Stanford spoke of their work for a dementia-free world, supported by our foundation.
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We honored our co-founder, the late Sue Berghoff, whose remarkable advocacy after she was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia began with the original Pizza in Paradise in 2017 and whose legacy lives on. Funds raised will support more research, education for healthcare professionals/students, caregiver support programs, scholarships and honoraria. We love AAUW!
Submitted by Robin Shepherd, co-founder, President and Executive Director of the Susan and Charles Berghoff Foundation, and AAUW Morgan Hill member.
| | CONNECTING WITH OUR MEMBERS | | | | |
Sunday Gardeners Tour Native Plantings
The Sunday Gardeners Interest Group was recently treated to a tour of the plantings along the Hale Avenue Extension by branch member Lesley Miles.
| | | When the project was first planned by the city, Lesley consulted on native and drought-resistant alternatives to traditional plantings. The group learned about the rationale for different plants and how they might fit in their yards. | | | | |
New Guaranteed Pathways
for Morgan Hill Students
Congratulations to member Carmen Garcia, Superintendent of the Morgan Hill Unified School District, on the launch of the new Guaranteed Pathway program with San Jose State University!
| | | This initiative offers MHUSD students an extraordinary opportunity, combining dual enrollment with guaranteed admission to SJSU. It is a result of Dr. Garcia’s vision, persistence, and hard work. Her leadership and commitment to expanding educational opportunities for our students will have a lasting impact on our community. | | | | |
Cruising Alaska
Nancy Altman, Susan Rife and respective spouses greatly enjoyed an Unadventure Cruise with 68 fellow passengers in the inner passage around Juneau, Alaska.
| | | They kayaked, got up close to glaciers calving, got closer than comfortable to brown bears while hiking and got to kayak near humpback whales. They experienced the Aurora Borealis and orcas swimming by their boat. A great time was had by all! | | |
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Oregon Shakespeare Festival Trip
Joanne Rife, Susan Rife and spouse Steve Kreidler, and Carol Holzgrafe spent a week in October in Ashland at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, seeing seven plays in five days: “Shane,” “Quixote Nuevo,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” “”Julius Caesar,” “As You Like It,” and “Into the Woods.”
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Monterey Jazz Festival
Carol and Ed Ferri enjoyed three days at the Monterey Jazz Festival. The music was outstanding! Under balmy weather conditions they listened to a myriad of jazz bands, including professionals and local high schools.
They were lucky enough to get a photo with trombone and trumpet player Delfeayo Marsalis, of the famed Marsalis family. His New Orleans Jazz Band rocked the arena!!
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Sicily
Sicily is a beautiful island just off the toe of Italy, and Denise Weyl recently enjoyed two weeks of travel around much of the island including Palermo, Mazara del Vallo, Ragusa, Catania, Agrigento, Taormina, and more.
| | | Sicily has been conquered by the Greeks, Romans, Normans, Ottomans and others, and their architecture, art, history, food, etc. all add to a wonderful blend of cultures across the island. | | | | |
Welcome Ivy
Valerie and David Chambliss celebrated the birth of their first grandchild, Ivy, on August 22, to their daughter Allison and hubby Sam Springhower. They drove cross-country to Tennessee to help the new parents settle in.
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Happy Anniversary
On October 1, 2025, Gautam and Suman Ganapathy celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary. Then on the 11th, they sang 19 songs at a fun private Pink Floyd Unplugged Jam with 30 friends. With just three prior rehearsals, they said this was one of their favourite experiences as a couple.
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Back to School!
Susan Rife has been admitted to the Purdue Global Law School as a first-year law student. Her online classes in Torts and Contracts start in January.
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Community Action Grants
The Britton Middle School Library was awarded a Community Action Grant in 2024 to purchase 50 new FollettBound books. The library was able to use their $1,000 grant to obtain popular new titles and complete other collections.
| | | FollettBound books last for years and the books purchased with the grant have been wildly popular with students. | | | | |
AAUW and Leadership Morgan Hill
AAUW sponsored member Heather Poore is proudly representing the organization in the Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2025. Recently featured in the Morgan Hill Times, Heather and her classmates were highlighted for their efforts to restore two of the community’s most cherished spaces: the beloved Loki sculpture and the historic Native Plant Garden at Villa Mira Monte.
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YWL Off to a Good Start
The Young Women Leaders group is off to a great start this year. Led by Senior Sobrato student Ishq Kandra, the girls run their own meetings with guidance from adult facilitators Nancy Altman, Julie Schwartz, Charlene Wiltsee, and Wendy Thowdis.
| | The group meets monthly at the MH Community & Cultural Center and is already planning its annual Youth Leadership Conference for spring. Members interested in helping please contact the facilitators at ywl@aauwmh.org. | | |
Proposition 50 Information
AAUW California will be providing information-centered messages on the potential benefits of Proposition 50 for all Californians.
Read more HERE.
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What is the AAUW Fund?
Do you know what it does at the National level and why we should care? How does our branch support it?
Find out HERE.
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