AAUW General Meeting

WHEN: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 17, 2026

WHERE: Scottsdale Community College



 WHAT: Building Brain Healthy Habits

WHO: Jodie Khotim, MSW

Alzheimers Association, Arizona Chapter

NO KINGS DAY...An Opportunity Before Our AAUW Meeting

Our October 17 AAUW Scottsdale meeting coincides with the No Kings Day of Action and members who wish to participate have an opportunity to stop by before heading to Scottsdale Community College.

The Old Town Scottsdale rally, at Scottsdale and Camelback Roads, is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to noon. At previous rallies, however, participants have begun gathering well before the official start. Members who would like to participate before our meeting might consider arriving at the rally around 8:30 a.m., then heading directly to SCC. Arriving at the rally early may also make parking easier as attendance grows.

SCC is only about 3.8 miles—a 10-12 minute drive—from the rally location, making it very possible to participate for a while and still arrive at SCC around 10:00 a.m.

Some AAUW Scottsdale members have attended these events together in the past, while others have participated at locations closer to home, then

come directly to SCC—rally attire is perfectly appropriate! We’ll have refreshments waiting and time to visit beginning around 10:00 a.m. Our meeting starts promptly at 10:30 a.m., with a speaker from the Alzheimer’s Association joining us for an informative and important program.

Participation in the rally is entirely optional. We simply want members to know about the opportunity to do both that morning. And just for your information, AAUW is officially a part of this nationwide mobilization.

Additional information and registration for the Old Town Scottsdale rally are available through the official No Kings event Sign-up Page https://www.mobilize.us/nokingsalerts/event/1029202/

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD:

In September we were pleased to have good attendance at our opening meeting. We received this year’s directory, prepared by Linda Nance, President Elect, with distribution overseen by Janet Larkin, Secretary. Our speaker at the meeting was Cathy Sigmon, a co-founder of Civic Engagement Beyond Voting (CEBV). Her presentation was quite engaging and included information on the Arizona court judges up for re-election, as well as the propositions on November’s ballot. In case you were unable to attend the meeting, the information she shared can be accessed here via www.cebv.us. She is also the founder of Gavel Watch, which provides a review of each judge’s past performance and

rationale for retention/no-retention. Gavel Watch is available here at www.cebv.us/gavel-watch.

The October 17th meeting will feature Jodie Khotim, MSW, Alzheimers Association, Arizona Chapter. Her presentation will be Building Brain Healthy Habits, which should be positive and useful. We will also have Dr. Jennifer Johnson who is running for the Scottsdale School Board.

I am hopeful that Senator Mark Kelly will join us for the November 21st meeting. A member of his staff will speak on his behalf if his legislative schedule is not conducive to traveling. A perspective from the US Senate will be enlightening, nonetheless.

In February, David Jenkins will speak on Arizona's Path to a Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy Future. His presentation is broad enough to cover all the big energy issues facing Arizonans including utility accountability and the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), data centers, renewable energy, water challenges, and climate. Hewill also touch on wildlife and his experiences with bears in Alaska.

Arrangements are underway for the Author’s Luncheon on Thursday, March 11th . Our speaker will be J A Jance, the mystery author who has three series of novels, centering on retired Seattle Police Department Detective J. P. Beaumont, Arizona County Sheriff, Joanna Brady, and former Los Angeles news anchor turned mystery solver Ali Reynolds. Following our luncheon, J A will be traveling to participate in the Tucson

Festival of Books. More information about the luncheon specifics will be shared when determined.

Speakers for our January and April meetings are still in the works. This year the board Is focused on achieving the AAUW 5 Star Program Goals. I have been researching potential presenters and welcome your suggestions in that regard. Also, I want to publicly thank the members who have volunteered to serve on the newly established Welcoming Committee to ensure members and guests are greeted upon their arrival.

We will also have a spreadsheet so each member and guest can initial/sign in. This will enable the board to see the level of interest in the various programs. Your participation is welcomed! As always, spouses and guests will be welcome at each meeting!

--Jacqui Sasser

Vice President, Programs

Membership Matters... In This Together

WITHOUT YOU

THERE IS NO WE! 

After decades of slowly moving legislation into law toward pay equity, access to reproductive healthcare for women and their families, and protections for the right to vote, all of these rights are among those under threat. Alone, I am, in no way, nowhere prepared for the fight that is ahead of us, to protect what remains of these rights, and in some cases, to wrestle them back. This is not what I envisioned happening in the United State of America in the 21^st century. Yet here WE are. 

AAUW has never wavered since 1881 to fight to empower women, girls and their families. Thank you for joining AAUW Scottsdale as we fight for public education in Arizona, collect books for children attending Title I schools, protect women’s rights to the reproductive healthcare of their choice and much more. This is a snapshot of what we do here. And when you share with family and friends your support and involvement, you practice advocacy and engender interest. You are an essential key to recruiting new members to join US in this important work. 

Note that in the face of political pressure to bend otherwise, AAUW remains steadfast in its commitment to remain: 

Intersectional. Inclusive. Intergenerational. Empowering. 

When you send the name of a potential member to me, or anyone else on the Board of Directors, one of us contacts that individual to chat, share more information and sends an invitation to join. AAUW National offers ½ off dues for the first year to new members! Instead of the $76, that is $38 to give AAUW Scottsdale a try!

Welcome newest members Susan Goldberg, Caitlin Saha, Hema Chary, and Gail Jones. Watch for an e-blast soon with the new members' contact information.



--Jane Adrian, Membership Vice-President

480-710-0353 (Please leave a message)

jadrian@cox.net

Special Interest Group News...

International Affairs/Great Decisions:

Registration for the 2027 Great Decisions program is underway! Click HERE to view the 8 proposed essay topics; email me if you wish to sign up. Thanks to our branch members who have confirmed to date. We need at least 4 more who register by October 15 and pay for hard copy books by November. Then I can place the order at a discount and will deliver the books to you – at a meeting, SIG or other arrangement. If you want to buy your own booklet instead of being counted in the minimum of 10 to get a discount, I’ll provide directions how to order your books directly in my confirmation email.

--Laraine

Books...

Books Etc.

Dear lovely ladies,

I love it when one of our bibliophiles gets really, I mean REALLY, excited about a book and then passes it on to me to put on our list. This next selection is one of those books!

We will be discussing Theo of Golden by Allen Levi on October 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the lovely home of Roberta Rowland, 5939 E Thunderbird Rd, Scottsdale. Renae Bates will be our facilitator. Perhaps we will all be better for reading this book! A quick summary follows:

Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden begins with a simple, almost suspiciously gentle idea: an elderly stranger arrives in a small Southern city, finds a coffeehouse full of pencil portraits, and decides the people in those portraits should have them.

That is the plot on the surface. Underneath it is something stranger, sadder and more powerful: a man at the end of his life quietly using art, money, memory and attention to repair what time has broken.

The novel has become one of the most unlikely publishing stories of recent years. It was first self-published in 2023, then acquired by Atria Books, and is now presented by Simon & Schuster as a major bestseller about generosity, connection and the “quiet miracles” that happen when people choose kindness. The Taylor Tailored structure used here follows the supplied full-spoiler, plot-first article engine.This is not a thriller. It is not a romance. It is not a high-concept dystopia. It is a slow, sentimental, spiritually charged novel about an old man who pays attention. And that is exactly why it works for so many readers.

“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.”

— Mortimer J. Adler

Please let Roberta know you will be joining us on October 21:

neldenger59@gmail.com

--Cynthia Peplinski cynthiadysart@cox.net

Lunch Bunch...

Lovely ladies, 

Are you ready for an oldie but goodie? We are going to reinstate Wildflower in Seville Center on Indian Bend and Scottsdale Rd. because EVERYONE LOVES IT THERE! If you have forgotten, they serve the most delicious salads and sandwiches which seem to be unique to this restaurant. I know many of us are sandwich lovers but keep going back to the same sandwich combo over and over. Well, if you haven’t already, why not try the turkey cranberry walnut stuffing --you don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving!--or the chipotle chicken melt or try half a sandwich and a bowl of potato cream cheese, chicken lemon or forest mushroom soup to enhance your sandwich!

Wildflower also has that yummy but "difficult to find" strawberry spinach salad which might be your best choice if you are eyeing those “scrumdillyicious” (my word) desserts!  

We will meet at Wildflower, 7001 N Scottsdale Rd. at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 1 to welcome each other and the scrumptious fare.

Please let me know before Monday, September 28 if you will be joining us.

“Un bon repas réchauffe le corps et l’âme”  (A good meal warms the body and the soul!

--Cynthia Peplinski cynthiadysart@cox.net

Advocacy/Community Action

(Public Policy)

This group of members supports AAUW’s goals by taking action on such issues as Education, Women’s Health, Economic Security, Voting Rights, Civil Rights-Equal Rights for Women.

With a midterm election coming up in November, we’ll be watching for the best leaders with the best vision for our priorities in AAUW. At the Branch level and the State level our focus will be on propositions for and against those issues.

Community Action drives our local engagement with Adopt-A-Book, Artie’s FIT Pantry, supporting our Public School Boards and students.

We will hold our first meeting of the ‘26-‘27 year on the 2nd Tuesday,

October 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

Location: 7409 E. Bonita Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85250



Any questions: email: janetlark@gmail.com call: 480-242-3089

SAVE the DATE!!!

Saturday, December 5, 2026

Join Scottsdale AAUW at our annual Holiday Luncheon

this year to be held at Paul Martin’s American Grill

at 6186 N Scottsdale Rd (in the Borgata)

Delicious lunch, exciting conversation, many fun things to buy

Our luncheon meal will include a choice of soup or salad, rolls, dessert platter at each table, and your choice of a main dish:

Grilled Salmon

Fried Chicken

Hamburger with French Fries

Asian Chopped Chicken Salad

Watch the November Newsletter for detailed information

and reservation forms.

Pssst: Remember to donate fantastic white elephant items,

jewelry, handmade items, etc. 

Judy Hubbard (trinahub@aol.com)

Gail Stempil (stemgw@aol.com)  

Joyce Yarbrough ( jkyarb1@cox.net, for jewelry info)

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!

New Data Show Uneven Progress on Gender Pay Gap: AAUW Equips Women to Strengthen Their Financial Futures

September 16, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New Census Bureau data released yesterday show the gender pay gap narrowed in 2025. Women working full-time, year-round earned 84 cents for every dollar men earned, up from 81 cents in 2024. Median annual earnings were $60,760 for women and $72,380 for men, a difference of $11,620.

The gap didn’t close for everyone. Progress looks very different by race and ethnicity and by whether women work full-time, part-time, or seasonal jobs. Black women working full-time, year-round earned 64 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men, down from 65 cents last year. Latinas earned 60 cents, up from 58 cents. When all working women are considered, women earned 78 cents for every dollar earned by men, a difference of $13,760. See AAUW’s full breakdown of the 2025 gender and racial pay gap data here.

“Narrowing the pay gap is welcome news, but it is not a reason to declare victory,” said Gloria L. Blackwell, AAUW CEO. “Black women actually lost ground this year, and women are still earning thousands of dollars less than men each year. That affects real decisions women make about education, childcare, buying a home, and saving for retirement.”



Closing the gender pay gap requires stronger policies and workplace practices that address the barriers holding women back. Women can’t negotiate their way out of a systemic pay gap. But they should have tools they can use right now to advocate for themselves and make informed decisions about their careers and finances.

Time to sign up for the Two Minute Activist:

Send emails and texts to your legislators to fight for equal pay, family leave, stopping sexual harassment, equality in education and more. Sign up to get regular alerts to be able to take timely action.

To sign up, (click here).

Be an AAUW Activist. SIGN UP NOW