Read what AAUW National has to say about the new Administration of Joseph Biden and Kamela Harris, including their equity wish list.
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It’s your AAUW, and your voice counts. It’s time to comment on and proposed changes to the AAUW bylaws and Public Policy Priorities.
This spring, AAUW members will vote on a long-standing membership requirement, which creates a barrier to women who do not hold a college degree. By eliminating this requirement, AAUW can become a more diverse and inclusive organization, better aligned with the needs of women today. This is an important step toward true equity for women and girls.
Members are encouraged to check out these resources and comment on this and other proposed changes in AAUW 2021-23 Public Policy Priorities. You can do so before Feb. 5th by clicking on the above link.
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AAUW National Art Contest
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Let your creativity show! Enter the AAUW National Art Contest. The contest begins on January 6 with entries accepted through February 3. Click the link to find the rules and to take a look at last year's entries and winners.
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Follow the link and learn what AAUW California has to say regarding their Public Policy Priorities. Each of the three pillars is explained as well as a link to the brochure.
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Letter from AAUW Marin Board in Marin IJ
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The following letter to the editor from the AAUW Marin board was published in the Marin Independent Journal
January 23, 2021
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As members of the American Association of University Women Marin board, we would like to share that our directors join with a coalition of leading national gender equity organizations (AAUW, Feminist Majority, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Institute for Women’s Policy and Research, Jewish Women International, MomsRising, National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws Pro-Choice America, National Council of Jewish Women, National Crittenton, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women’s Law Center, Paid Leave for All, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Service Employees International Union, She the People, Supermajority, Time’s Up Now, United State of Women, Women’s March and YWCA USA) who, on Jan. 11, called upon congressional leaders, former Vice President Mike Pence and the former members of the cabinet to do the right thing and condemn White nationalists’ violent extremism and hold the former president accountable for his actions.
As a local affiliate of AAUW, the board of AAUW Marin supports this call to action. The House of Representatives has already voted to impeach the former president. Members of the Senate, each of whom has sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, must now take the next step in holding the former president accountable. Failure to do so would be a neglect of their basic responsibility to serve the American people.
On behalf of the board of AAUW Marin.
— Cheryl Sorokin, Tiburon, and Sue Torres, Fairfax
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2021 Summer Virtual Tech Trek
Amy Anderson, Tech Trek Coordinator, welcomes new Tech Trek committee members Jane Winter, who has previously been a dorm mom at Tech Trek, and Erica Kienzle-Barnes, whose daughter attended Tech Trek. Thanks go to departing members Priscilla Hopkins and Joyce Erlenbach. Joyce deserves special recognition and thanks for her many years of service as Tech Trek Coordinator. The other committee members are Angela Nuckles and Melanie Chancellor.
The board will be approving sending 16 girls to Virtual Tech Trek this summer. The opportunity will be offered to the 8 girls selected last year and then we will be choosing 8 girls to sponsor for this year.
There will be a call for volunteers to help with the virtual Tech Trek during June, July and August. Stay tuned for the requirements.
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Catching Up With a Tech Trek Alumna
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I had the chance to spend some remote time with Lorena and hear about what she is doing now and her plans for the future.
Lorena, an eighth grader at Miller Creek Middle School, is an alumna of the Tech Trek class of 2020. After attending distance classes last spring and fall she is now in school in person four mornings a week, attending remotely each afternoon.
When Lorena was in seventh grade she started an astronomy club at Miller Creek. She met with students once a week giving them presentations about the topic. The club has gone on remotely and she has been able to add outside speakers. Recently Dr. Shiko Sakai, one of the presenters during Virtual Tech Trek last summer, was a featured guest.
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Currently Lorena, in addition to her middle school classes, is enrolled in a Center for Talented Youth class as part of Johns Hopkins Gifted Education Program. Having tested into the program she is working with the microcontrolled board, Arduino.
Lorena also has an interest in art, particularly drawing and painting both on paper and digitally. She says she likes reading as well.
Looking toward the future, Lorena has applied to the STEM Marin program at San Marin High School. Long term, she plans to continue studying astronomy and eventually enter the field focusing on space exploration, whether going to space herself and/or using the information from the James Webb space telescope to be launched this year.
Until then Lorena will be finishing her last year at Miller Creek continuing to pursue her interest in astronomy and share her knowledge with members of the club.
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Meet Nancy Chiu, Branch Public Policy Officer
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I joined the Southern Marin Branch of AAUW in 1993 when I moved to Marin from Los Angeles. That branch eventually merged with the Marin Branch. I was practicing law in San Francisco then and wanted to meet more women with common interests closer to home. When I was quite young, my Mom was an AAUW member and told me that AAUW was a great organization that I should join after I graduated from college. Mom was right, of course.
Not only did I meet accomplished women, I also learned leadership skills through various positions at the branch and state levels, including being president of the Southern Marin branch. After teaching special education children and then practicing law, I retired. With my lifetime membership in AAUW I have been able to maintain my support of women’s issues and lifelong learning through various AAUW educational, political, and entertaining programs. During this shelter at home pandemic period, I am enjoying webinars and continuing to socialize through Zoom with activities like playing online mahjong and discussing movies and books with the Interest Groups. AAUW has definitely made a difference in my life for the better.
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Branch Meeting, February 27 at 11-noon
Dominican University as an Agent for Change
Hidden Jewel in San Rafael—Nicola Pitchford
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Nicola Pitchford, the incoming President of Dominican University of California in San Rafael, will join us to talk about Dominican as an agent of change. She will focus in particular on its work that resulted in Dominican being named as the most transformative four-year university by the American Council on Education in recognition of the university’s commitment to student opportunity and success. Come find out what has made Dominican “one of the top colleges among its peers for student transformation” according to a study published by the New York Times examining colleges and engines of upward mobility. Dominican has also placed in the top one-third of U.S. colleges and universities delivering valuable outcomes and quality education to its students in the last decade according to a recent Wall Street Journal/UK Times Higher Education college survey. In the last decade Dominican has moved from 45th to 23rd on the U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Universities in the West list and in the top 11 colleges and universities in California. It is tied for the #1 position in California and #2 in the West for ethnic diversity.
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February Bonus Meeting
A talk with COVID-19 survivor Frank Cutitta on February 9th at 4:00 PM.
Having survived COVID and 100 days in the healthcare system fighting for his life and then recuperating from the aftereffects of his viral infection, Mr. Cutitta learned a lot about healthcare in the U.S. and, in particular, the effects of isolation on patients. This is a rare opportunity to hear his insights and to ask questions about his COVID experience. Here is the link to the program. Please RSVP to [email protected] to let us know if you plan to attend. This really helps with managing zoom meetings. Guests may attend, but please do not forward the link without letting us know you are doing so and to whom.
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March 20 at 11:00 am focusing on reproductive rights
Put the Tri-Branch Luncheon on your calendar for March 20 at 11am. Petaluma Branch is the host this year and is planning a zoom event with time to visit at your “table” with AAUW friends and members from Petaluma, Novato and Marin. Recipes will be circulated so you can prepare your DIY lunch to enjoy while we listen to our speaker. Dr Cynthia Boaz of Sonoma State University will give a timely update on how reproductive rights impact a woman’s – and our society’s - quality of life. It will be a fun and informative time together, just like it is every year! Zoom info will be provided in March.
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Marin Women's Hall of Fame
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Save the Date: March 24, 2022
Class of 2020 Induction Celebration
As a result of the ongoing public health concerns related to COVID-19, and in order to provide a meaningful experience for both our Inductees and guests, the Marin Women's Hall of Fame has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 24, 2022. We hope you will join us then to honor our local sheroes and celebrate herstory in Marin!
Patricia Kendall, Medical Group Administrator, Kaiser Permanente
Eva Long, Ph.D., Founder, President and CEO, Center for Longevity Transition & Renewal
Tamra Peters, Founder & Executive Director, Resilient Neighborhoods
Amy Reisch, Executive Director, First 5 Marin
Cecilia Zamora, Executive Director, Latino Council
QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to reach out for assistance or with any questions regarding reservations you have made or would like to make at [email protected].
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The Women are Coming Watch an inspiring video recommended by Freddie Greene from WWLI, The Washington Women's Leadership Initiative.
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Susan Gilardi and the Movie Group recommend "The Glorias" a movie about the life and work of Gloria Steinem on Amazon Prime.
Members Nancy Major and Chris O'Neill strongly recommend
"The Codebreaker". This is the story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, the groundbreaking cryptanalyst who laid the foundation for modern codebreaking today.
Along with this is a companion YouTube video in which participants discuss Elizebeth Friedman’s accomplishments in cryptology, and how her legacy lives on today in groups dedicated to increasing opportunities for young women in STEM. https://youtu.be/ftgexA3fZ7w
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Interest Group Activities
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There are twelve interest groups available through AAUW Zoom for the foreseeable future. The newly revised list of current offerings is available on our AAUW Marin web site. If you are not currently a member of any particular interest group and would like to join one or more, please email the leader and/or Board Member Olivia Ruel.
All members are invited to try out any group for a session or two before joining as a regular member. This social opportunity seems to be appreciated by those of us confined to home during this ongoing pandemic. Visit us!
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Don't Miss Happy Hour February 4th!
A Zoom Happy Hour will be held on Thursday, February 4th 4:30 -6:00 PM (Feel free to join in any time between 4:30 and 6:00 PM)
If you are interested in joining contact Dottie Burk and she will send you an invitation.
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Behind the Headlines
Wednesday February 10 at 5:30 pm
Barbara Creed, attorney and veteran Supreme Court watcher, will join us again for another great presentation and discussion on three cases currently pending before the Supreme Court. We will not only have a chance to discuss the issues presented in the cases, but will also have a chance to vote on how we think the Supreme Court as currently constituted will decide the cases. At the end of the term, Barbara will let us know how we did in predicting the outcomes.
Contact Cherie Sorokin if you are interested in attending this program and are not already on the Headlines mailing list so she can forward you the Zoom link.
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Reading Arts
Reading Arts meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 7 PM. They will be meeting on February 24th to discuss Chris Bohjalian's The Sandcastle Girls.
If you are interested in joining contact Ann Jessup.
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Book Lovers Group
The Book Lovers Group welcomes new members to join them. They will meet via Zoom on February 9th at 1:00 PM to discuss Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger.
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LitWits
The LitWits meet the third Wednesday of each month at 10 AM, which this month is February 17th.
They are reading Blindness by Jose Saramago.
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The Nonfiction Book Group
The Nonfiction Group will meet on
February 22th 1:30 PM. The book they will discuss is The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson.
For more information or to join this group:
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Mah Jongg
The Mah Jongg interest group has been playing and staying connected for several months via Zoom and Myjongg.net. They meet Wednesdays 1:00-3:00 PM. If you already know how to play Mah Jongg and would like to join them, contact Chris O’Neill. If you don’t know how to play and would like to learn, Nancy Chiu has offered to teach you using the Myjongg.net website. Contact Nancy. You will need a 2020 National Mah Jongg League card to play.
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Movie Group
The movie group is meeting on the fourth Tuesday, February 23. If you would like to join this group contact Susan Gilardi.
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Golf Group
The golf group is back in gear and playing.
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Crafts Group
The Crafts Group meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 12:30 PM. This month the meeting will be on Fe 19th. Contact
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Become a member of the AAUW Legacy Circle by making a planned gift to AAUW. The gift will affirm your commitment to expanding AAUW programs and public policy agenda the future of women and girls. These gifts can be given to AAUW's general fund or directed to your preferred program.
AAUW seeks to increase our long-term financial resources to help continue our important work. Members of the Legacy Circle help that expansion through their planned gifts.
Questions? Read more about the Legacy Circle, review the brochure or contact the Director, Major and Planned Giving at 202.785.7766.
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Donate to AAUW's Greatest Need Fund
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Join Us to Make an Impact for Women and Girls
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JOIN MARIN AAUW ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
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© 2019 AAUW
AAUW is a top-rated 501(c)(3) charity. Donations are tax deductible.
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