AAUW General Meeting

WHEN: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 21, 2026

WHERE: Scottsdale Community College



 WHAT: The U.S. Senate, post-election

WHO: Arizona U.S. Senator Mark Kelly

The November 21st meeting will feature Senator Mark Kelly or, in case his schedule does not permit, a member of his staff. We will receive an inside view of current Senate business, a fascinating and important first- hand description of what we can expect after this most dramatic and traumatic political season. The meeting will be in the Turquoise room. As always, we encourage the attendance of your spouse and friends.

Our October 17th meeting featured Nour Hassan who presented Supporting Brain Health in Our Community. She is an ASU senior studying Neurobiology and facilitates a support group and volunteer group for adults living with dementia at Hospice of the Valley's Dementia Campus.  It was an interesting and educational presentation.

--Jacqui Sasser, Programs VP

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Following the meeting, please join us for lunch at California Pizza Kitchen, located at 10100 N. Scottsdale Road. Theresa W. will be making the reservation, so please email her at theresa.webber555@gmail.com by November 20th or let her know before the meeting begins if you plan to attend. This will help ensure we have an accurate headcount.

She shared valuable information about Alzheimer’s disease, healthy brain habits, and the many programs and services available through the Association’s Arizona Chapter. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. Resources and support are available at alz.org/Arizona or by calling (800) 272-3900.

--Laraine Rodgers, Branch President

Below, members at October meeting. Photos by Laraine.

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD...

Happy Fall, Y’all!

It’s wonderful to finally enjoy some cooler temperatures! The change in weather has brought back smiling faces as members return after escaping Arizona’s brutal summer heat. Our many AAUW Scottsdale Branch groups and programs are meeting again, marking the beginning of an exciting time as we work together to advance AAUW’s mission and goals.

November brings Thanksgiving and an opportunity to give back to those in need while supporting education. Our Advocacy/Community Action Committee is collecting food and other essential items for Artie’s FIT Pantry at Scottsdale Community College. This is an important and active committee that welcomes new members! We encourage more members to attend committee meetings and help identify and participate in additional community projects, including nonpartisan political activities. We also have our Adopt-A-Book program, which collects books for a Title I elementary school

Our November 21st speaker will be Mark Kelley or a representative from his office if he is unable to attend. This presentation should be especially interesting, as the midterm elections will have concluded and the new Congress will be taking shape. We look forward to gaining insights into the new Senate and House of Representatives under the Trump administration.

As a reminder, our Holiday Luncheon will be held on December 5 at Paul Martin’s American Grill. The Holiday Luncheon Committee is accepting donations of jewelry, handbags, scarves, and other items to create baskets for the auction. Please see additional information later in this newsletter. This special holiday event serves as a fundraiser for local and national AAUW scholarships. Your participation and support of these programs are always encouraged and greatly appreciated!

If you have questions or ideas about our programs and activities, please reach out to a Board member. We genuinely value your input and welcome your suggestions.

Wishing you a wonderful fall and a Happy Thanksgiving!

--Linda Nance, President-Elect

Membership Matters... In This Together

Welcome New Member 

Barbara Zwiebel

AAUW Expands Membership Eligibility 

The college experience that many of us enjoyed is morphing rapidly and outside the traditional bricks and mortar confines with which we are familiar. I marvel at the variety of courses and majors as well as opportunities to study in non-traditional settings available today. 

In keeping with these changing realities and the increasing unaffordability of post-secondary education, AAUW has expanded eligibility criteria for membership. In addition to the associate or higher degree options, AAUW invites prospective members who have earned the equivalent of an associate degree to apply for membership.

Equivalency is defined as at least two (2) years of full-time, or 48 credit hours at an accredited institution recognized by the U.S.A. Department of Education. 

AAUW asks that all members demonstrate an ongoing commitment to fund education, work to advance equity for all and remove barriers to success in education and the workplace. 

As you share your advocacy and involvement in AAUW Scottsdale with family friends, you engender interest in the work and the community. Please contact me if you would like a copy of the invitation to join AAUW Scottsdale to share with others.

The half-off national dues applies to all new members. That is $39 instead of $78 (plus $30 for branch and $9 for state dues, for a total of $78 instead of $115). Contact me and I will give you that code if the prospective new member is joining on-line at the AAUW National website. https://www.aauw.org/membership/. 

AAUW remains: 

Intersectional. Inclusive. Intergenerational. Empowering.



--Jane Adrian, Membership Vice-President

480-710-0353 (Please leave a message)

jadrian@cox.net

Special Interest Group News...

International Affairs/Great Decisions:

2027 Great Decisions

Thanks to all who participated in the 2026 Great Decisions Program. We concluded our 2026 discussions on October 22 about "The Future of Human Rights and International Law in a Divided World."

We will be on break for November and December and will start our 2027 discussions on January 28 with Chapter 1 of our new booklet, "American Foreign Policy and the Future of Multilateralism." The location, start/end times, and meeting schedule will remain the same: Westminster Village, 1:00–3:00 PM, on the 4th Thursday of the month.



Orders have been placed, and your booklets are expected to arrive by early January for distribution!

--Laraine

Books...

Non-fiction/Banned Books

Interested in reinstituting a non-fiction book group? I've been hearing from some. If it is combined with banned books of any genre, perhaps it will have wider appeal. You decide.

The format will not be typical-- it will be stretched out to do only six books in the year. The reasoning for two months per book is two-fold. We can have a so called “deeper dive” into the subject matter, AND, given the leisurely pace per book, that should appeal to our members who are already in book groups, sometimes multiple.

Tentatively, the meeting place is Westminster Village at 90th Street and East Cactus on the second Friday morning of each month from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Chatting and perhaps snacking from 9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.; then discussion from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

During the odd months, the first discussion of the selected book will be about the author(s) and reviews, plus some additional background, such as the reason for banning or author’s motivation. 

The second meeting of the same book will be during the following even month for discussion questions. Often, questions appear at the end of the book. In their absence, the discussion leader or any member can bring questions to discuss. Also, there are numerous sources for questions about a given book from goodreads.com, publisher’s website, author’s website, litlovers.com, readinggroupguides.com, bookbrowse.com. Book Browse also has author insights and contextual “Beyond the Book” articles.

The first meeting, if there is enough interest, will be at Westminster Village, Friday morning, December 11 at 9:30 a.m. This will be our time to choose our six books, strictly a planning session. I’ll have suggestions, but please feel free to bring some too, and be prepared to plug them. Also it will be our chance to volunteer to be discussion leaders or co-leaders. 

The purpose is education, lively exchange of ideas, and FUN.

If you are interested and plan to join and attend Friday morning December 11, kindly contact me immediately at neldenger@gmail.com or (602)689-0774.

--Roberta Rowland

Books Etc.

On November 18, we will be immersed in All the Beauty in the World which, at least one author, Patrick Bringley, feels rests mainly in the art museums of the world! We will go on a historic, metaphysical and “feel good” journey of some of the most alluring and healing art on the planet. Jayann Fordon has graciously allowed us to use her house, at 41 Spur Circle, Scottsdale, as a venue and we will begin at 1:00 p.m.! Please let Jayann know, at jayann41@hotmail.com, if you will be attending. A short review follows from The Harvard Crimson:

In “All the Beauty in the World,” debut author Patrick Bringley presents a stunning meditation on time, relationships, and finding purpose. Bringley brings readers on a journey of ruminating in the stillness of his grief to reentering the busier, louder world – which he finds full of renewed meaning.

Bringley, a former staffer for the New Yorker magazine, begins his story by explaining his decision to quit his job after losing his older brother to cancer. As a result of his changed perspective after this devastating loss, Bringley intentionally steps away from his busy New York lifestyle to pursue a slower pace. He ultimately chooses to become a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art....

Bringley presents art museums as a haven for the world. He offers descriptions of art that may be too detailed for some readers. Some readers, though, may find that these intricate details draw them into the same pensive state of mind, the same thought processes that Bringley himself existed within. What “All the Beauty in the World” lacks in exclusive detail about Bringley’s personal life, it compensates for it in stunning insight into Bringley’s mental space. His humble awareness of self and others refreshes readers.

“Art should be something that liberates your soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further.” – Keith Haring

--Cynthia Peplinski cynthiadysart@cox.net

Lunch Bunch...

Want a little break from turkey, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes? Let’s try the Mediterranean flavors of The Persian Room (17040 Scottsdale Rd.) on Thursday, November 5 at 11:30 a.m. . They have a delightful lunch menu that consists of soup and salad (lentil soup made with lentils and Persian spices); Greek Salad or with a side of Loobia Polo (sautéed chunks of beef tenders and green beans simmered in fresh tomato sauce and saffron mixed with basmati rice).

But my very favorite (even if you are not a Persian connoisseur) is the shish kebab (you know the kind you try to make on your grill) with chunks of marinated beef or chicken, skewered with green bell peppers, onions and tomatoes. The beef or chicken just melts in your mouth and there is always enough to take home! But do you think that just because you are at a Persian restaurant, there is no dessert? Remember BAKLAVA or better --- BAKLAVA AND ICE CREAM? Where else is there homemade baklava? Don’t feel guilty - just enjoy!

Just let me know by Monday, November 2 if you will be joining us.

• Hospitality — Sharing food, especially bread, is a vital aspect of Persian hospitality, reflecting respect and warmth.
• Celebration of flavors — Persian cuisine emphasizes the use of fresh herbs and spices, making meals a sensory experience.

--Cynthia Peplinski cynthiadysart@cox.net

It's Your Snapshot...

Access your AAUW Personal Snapshot and update your contact information and preferences. Frequent users, click LOG IN to our web portal, as usual. Non-frequent users, click LOG IN, then below the blue login button, click FORGOT PASSWORD. Enter your email address and click RESET YOUR PASSWORD to receive and confirm a new password to access your Personal Snapshot. Need help? Email connect@aauw.org and enter LOG IN HELP in the subject line.

Shopping at Fry's Can Help an SCC Student...

Scottsdale Branch has, over the years, been part of Frys Reward Program--whereby, if you are enrolled, a percentage of your purchase goes to our scholarship fund at Scottsdale Community College's Maricopa Community Colleges Fund, which will then benefit a returning student. Here's how you can enroll:

1. Go to frysfood.com
2. click on Community
3. click on community rewards
4. click on Enroll Now
5. sign on with your email and password
6. enter with organization number XV773 (Maricopa Community Colleges Fund)
7. click Enroll
8. enter your 12 digit Frys account number (which you will have had to obtain first)
9. MCCF will pop up

HOW TO ORDER AN AAUW NAME BADGE

Go to AAUW.org and in the upper right hand corner, log in with your email and password. 

You'll need to create an account if you don't have one.



Click on Membership in the top right hand corner.

Go to Discounts and Perks on the right side of the screen.

Scroll down to Shop AAUW, about halfway down, and click on it.

Click on Accessorize.

You'll see Custom Name Badge and click on it.

Decide between pin or magnet back. 

Customize to order.

$11.50 w/pin   $15.00 w/magnet

And place your order!

Not the newest of news but important information to know:

July 1, 2026

*Update: As of July 16, 2026, AAUW increased its award total to $6.1 million and can now serve 259 outstanding women scholars, researchers, and community change-makers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) announces its 2026–2027 class of fellowships and grants recipients, awarding a projected $5.4 million to 219 outstanding women scholars, researchers, and community change-makers across the country and around the world. For 145 years, AAUW has invested in women’s education, leadership, and economic security, awarding more than $150 million to scholars, researchers, and community-based organizations.

“These awards are a powerful expression of AAUW’s mission in action — supporting the women who are advancing research, pursuing their education, and strengthening communities across the country,” says Gloria L. Blackwell, CEO of AAUW. “We are proud to invest in their success and in the broader impact their work will have for generations to come.”

AAUW’s fellowships and grants are designed to help counter longstanding inequities in education, research and professional advancement by supporting women at pivotal points in their academic and professional journeys. The 2026–2027 awardees include women pursuing advanced study, conducting groundbreaking research, and leading projects designed to improve lives and expand access to education.

By the Numbers: 2026–2027 AAUW Fellowships and Grants Recipients

• 61% of recipients are pursuing degrees or conducting research in STEM fields, where women remain underrepresented.

• Six community-based organizations received up to $75K in funding to implement STEM programs that engage and inspire women and girls in grades K–12.

• 41% of fellows pursuing advanced degrees or research identify as first-generation college students, and 38% come from or are leading single-parent households – underscoring AAUW’s commitment to expanding educational opportunity for those who have historically faced additional barriers.

• International Fellowship and International Project Grants recipients represent 22 countries around the world.

Together, these numbers tell the story of AAUW’s continued investment in expanding opportunity for women and girls — particularly those pursuing leadership in STEM, higher education, research, and communities that have historically faced barriers to access and advancement.

At a time when changes to federal student aid policies and new borrowing limits may make graduate and professional education less accessible for many students, AAUW’s fellowships and grants provide critical support for women pursuing advanced degrees, conducting research, and leading community-based initiatives. This year’s recipient class reflects AAUW’s commitment to ensuring talented women can continue to pursue opportunities in higher education, research, and community leadership, regardless of their background or circumstances.

By investing in both individual scholars and community-based organizations, AAUW is supporting women and girls at every stage of the educational pipeline — from early STEM engagement in grades K–12 to advanced study, research, scholarship, and professional leadership.

These investments advance economic security for women and create pathways for women to thrive in education, leadership, and the workforce.

Learn more about AAUW’s Fellowships and Grants on the website at aauw.org.

Time to sign up for the Two Minute Activist:

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