Advancing gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy

American Association of University Women Austin, TX Branch

FY 25-26 Vol. 3 October 2025 Newsletter
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A lot has been going on so far this year in our Austin Branch. Keep reading to learn more about our events, activities, new members, public policy activities, and what's coming up in the month of October. We'll see you on 10/18/25 at Balcones Country Club for our meeting.
 
 

Greetings from Terry Whaley, Co-President

Hopefully it will soon feel like fall as we continue kicking off all the activities our AAUW Austin branch has planned. In addition to our monthly branch meetings, our interest groups are now meeting monthly and offer something for almost everyone. Find one you like and get involved. Interest group meetings are listed in the new Branch Yearbook and in this monthly newsletter.


Save the date of December 7th for our annual Winter Social. The event will be held at Balcones Country Club from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. This year, the board is offering a holiday gift sale during the social to support the AAUW National Greatest Needs Fund. If you are crafty or have a special holiday treat or an item you would like to donate, please get in touch with Joyce or Brenda to discuss your donation. joycepulich@sbcglobal.net; bwhahne@gmail.com


Leadership will be a monthly topic at our branch meetings. You are all leaders, and AAUW needs your talents. At the October meeting, Marsi Lidell will talk about the advantages of serving on the AAUW Texas state board. Later this fall, co-president Shirlene Justice and I will be hosting gatherings for new members and potential leaders to get to know one another and encourage participation in our activities. We are eager to learn about your talents and interests so that we can support your involvement.


Finally, we need everyone to engage in our public policy efforts however you can. One easy way is to become a 2 Minute Activist on the AAUW National website. It only takes a couple of clicks at aauw.org/act/. It's easy, so sign up today to stay informed about important issues.



Thanks to each of you for your participation in Austin AAUW. Together, we can make it the best year yet.

Achieving Economic Stability Through Art – Kathleen Stafford

An assignment in 1979 to work in the US Embassy’s visa section in Tehran was Joe and Kathleen Stafford’s first diplomatic posting with the Foreign Service. Their experiences there during the Embassy takeover proved both memorable and frightening, depicted in Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning film, Argo. Following their escape with help from the Canadians and the CIA, it was clear to Kathleen that life could be fragile and she could no longer delay her passion for creating art. She was already well-trained, having completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1973 in the United States and post-graduate work at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma.  


During the next forty years of traveling with her diplomat husband, Kathleen wore many hats: artist, mom, language student, resident manager, and diplomatic corps spouse. She immersed herself in the culture of more than a dozen countries in Africa and the Middle East, collaborating with local artists and holding exhibitions and workshops there and in the United States. In 1991 she earned her Master of Education degree at Marymount University and taught art full-time in Virginia, Noakchott, Mauritania and back in Virginia when her husband was assigned to Algiers, a location deemed too dangerous for family members. In all, the Staffords' service overseas was not only broad but also punctuated by several additional episodes of unrest and emergency evacuation.


Kathleen’s paintings and collagraphs have been chosen for permanent collections at many American and foreign embassies, and in private collections and centers for art around the world. Locally, Kathleen is a board member of Waterloo Watercolor Group, and is a member artist at the Bee Caves Art Foundation, the Capitol Arts Society in Austin and the Williamson County Art Guild. Her paintings are on view in the main dining room at Chez Zee Bistro in Austin.  


 


 

Program Recap -- Rep. Donna Howard

Marsha Endahl-Kramer writes: "I attended an awesome AAUW branch meeting with Donna Howard as our guest speaker...20 years of serving as a leader in the TX House of Representatives. She gave an outstanding presentation on the historical and current political situation here in TX. She was dynamic, articulate, and super dedicated to her constituents and ALL Texans. Rep Howard has served District 48, which covers much of western Travis County, since 2006. Her expertise and interest areas are well-aligned with AAUW’s goals of improving women’s health, increasing women’s access to higher education, and quality public schools for Texas children."

October Interest Group Activity


ART TOUR

When: October 1

Time: 10:00 am

Where: The Wittliff Collections – Texas State University

Host:   Sharon Babot

Contacts: Pat Beal: patrbeal@gmail.com 512.762.9924

Devon Austin: devonaustin@msn.com 562.225.7681


BRIDGE GROUP

When: October 9 and October 23

Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Where: North Lamar Senior Activity Center

Contact: Elaine Penn: epenn9915@gmail.com 512-328-3100


CENTRAL BOOK GROUP

When: Monday, October 13

Time: 10:30 am

Where: La Madeleine, 5493 Brodie Lane, Austin

Book: “Isaac’s Storm” - Author Eric Larson

Facilitator: Barbara Fry

Contact: Linda Quintanilla, quintalin@gmail.com 713.202.8525


CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE

When: Monday, October 6

Time: 7:00 pm

Where: Zoom

Book: “Dorothy Day: Dissenting Voice of the American Century”

Facilitator: Norma Williams

Contact: maryescribner@gmail.com 512.698.5539


CREATIVE STITCHERY

When: Wednesday, October 15

Time: 10:00 am

Where: 3304 Shady Valley Drive, Austin

Project: Knit or Crochet Scarf

Contacts: Suellen Mills, sssmills9@gmail.com 512.965.2214

Beverly Locklin, bklocklin@outlook.com 512.633.2902


CULTURE AND CUISINE

When: Thursday, October 9

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Theme: Greece

Hosts: Marsha Endahl-Kramer and Brenda Scholin 

Where: Home of Marsha Endahl-Kramer, MEKSpirit@66@gmail.com 512.906.6566

Contact: Ann Gibbs agibbs5200@gmail.com, 512.250.1203


FRIDAY MORNING BOOK REVIEW

When: Friday, October 3

Time: 10:00 am

Where: Church of Christ at Hyde Park, 10 West Avenue B

Book: “We Loved It All” - Author Lydia Millet

Facilitator: Elizabeth Newell

Contact: Judy Reinhart: jareinhart@att.net, 512.345.5936


HIKING 1

When: Thursday, October 2

Time: 10:00 am

Where: Belterra Hiking Trail 

Leaders: Kate DiPronio, ktlee523@gmail.com 512.924.9061

and Linda Gassert


Hiking 2

When: Saturday, October 18

Time:  10:00 am

Where:  Violet Crown Trail from the Wildflower Center

Leader: Janet Lawson


MAHJONG

When: Thursday, October 16

Time: 1:00pm-4:00 pm

Where: N. Lamar Senior Activity Center

Contact: Connie Munoz, comunoz1@yahoo.com 361.813.8012

**Bring your 2025 updated mahjong card**


MYSTERY INTEREST GROUP

When: Tuesday, October 28

Time: 11:00 am

Book: “Animal Allies”

Where: BJ's Brewhouse, The Shops at Arbor Walk

Contact: Pam Wolfe: piwolfe@yahoo.com 512-925-7865


OUT TO LUNCH

When: Tuesday, October 21

Time: 11:15 AM

Where:  Shore Raw Bar & Grill

Planner: Sharon Babot

Contact: Elaine Penn:  epenn9915@gmail.com 512-328-3100


PEARS

When: Saturday, October 18

Time:  5:30 pm

Where: True Food Kitchen

Contact: Milli Stecker: mstecker@austin.rr.com 512-468-1088


SOUTHWEST BOOK GROUP

When: Monday, October 13

Time: 10:30am – 12:30 pm

Book: “Three Days in June” - Author Anne Tyler

Facilitator: Susan James

Host/Where: Susie Angel, 220 Silver Charm Drive, Austin

Contact: Brenda Hahne: bwhahne@gmail.com 832.233.4254


WINE TASTERS

When: Sunday, October 19

Time: TBD

Theme: Octoberfest

Hosts: Octoberfest Hosts: Lynn Gambrill and Paula Coopwood

Where: 1102 Quaker Ridge, Austin

Contact: Elaine Penn: epenn9915@gmail.com 512-328-3100

Updates from Board and Committee Chairs

AAUW Austin Branch is proud to announce our receipt of the FY25 Five Star award

Purpose: The program aims to provide branches with a framework to ensure they are financially healthy, sustainable, and aligned with AAUW’s mission and priorities.

Requirements: Branches earn Stars by meeting the criteria in one or more of the five categories: Advancement, Public Policy & Advocacy, Governance & Sustainability, Programming, and Communi-cations & External Relations.

Thank you to all members who contributed to our success and a special shout out to Jackie Hardee who compiled the information.

Other Texas Awardees:

Only Austin, San Antonio, Northeast Tarrant County, North Harris County, West Harris County and Fort Bend County received all Five Stars for FY 25.

Public Policy, Anita Knight


EDUCATION-RELATED ISSUES in TEXAS: How do we define separation of church and state? What is your school district doing? See: Christian Nationalism - BJC

On September 18 a coalition of Texas leaders were trained in how to effectively oppose SB11 that authorizes school boards to adopt policies requiring daily, school-led prayer and religious text readings, a threat to religious freedom. There is already a lawsuit including AISD to counter enforcement of SB10 requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in each public school classroom.


Texas is moving forward with its first-ever statewide private school voucher program, created by Senate Bill 2 during the regular legislative session. The new program is housed under the Texas Comptroller’s office. For more information, see: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/03/texas-school-vouchers-greg-abbott-signs/

Book Banning; A Long History of Suppression


The first Banned Books Week in the U.S. was in 1982, hearkening back to a practice as old as the printed word. From the Chinese in 213 BCE, to the Egyptians (Pharaoh Akhenaten) around 1350 BCE, and on through the Romans in 443 BCE, censorship has been practiced. The word itself is from the ancient Roman office of "censor."

Since 1990 ALA has been tracking the accelerating number of attempts to censor library books and other materials. In 2024, ALA recorded the third highest number of book challenges since tracking began, at 2,452 unique titles.



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Texas has now enshrined censorship into law through the passage of SB13 which allows school boards to establish “local school library advisory councils” if 10% of the parents in the district (or 50 parents, whichever is fewer) submit a petition. Members appointed by the boards will be tasked with making recommendations on new book/material purchases as well as reviewing and removing materials they deem to be “harmful,” “indecent,” “profane,” or “inconsistent with local community values.” Advisory councils are not required to include trained librarians. NOTE: Banned Books Week is coming up on October 5-11; we will have bookmarks/buttons for you at the branch meeting.

     

 ACLU states, “Local councils and boards – including city councils, county boards, school boards, and more – are increasingly the forum where critical civil liberties issues are addressed.” If your school district has voted to establish an advisory council, you can request to be appointed as part of it or encourage someone you trust to do so. If your local board hasn’t already established a council, you can request that such a council not be established. Many public policy and advocacy groups are already offering information and training to address and combat these efforts. By Mary Ellen Scribner, Contemporary Book Group Chair & Public Policy Grp

Central Book Group News

*BRAVO to the Central Book Group for their Community Outreach!

--Central Book Group has established a Sue Ellen Jeffers Memorial with the focus on membership donations for books for disadvantaged elementary school libraries. Berta Lloyd will provide the leadership in coordinating this project, in collaboration with AISD.


*CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. Linda Quintanilla, the Central Book Group Chair. She has received an award from the Austin Tejano Genealogy Society for her book, Warriors for Social Justice. This award will be announced at the 45th Annual Austin Hispanic Genealogical and Historical Conference in late September.


Branch Fundraising Committee, Joyce Pulich

Thanks to everyone who purchased handmade cards at the September branch meeting. Cards will be available at branch meetings until we run out. Thanks also to Marsha and Larayne for purchasing the beautiful fall table runners sewn by Terry Whaley. We made $149 that will be sent to national’s Greatest Needs Fund.

**Remember to collect your spare change and bring it to branch meetings. The Change for Change proceeds stay with the branch.

 

Holiday Sale

As noted in the President's Letter, our fundraising team will sponsor a holiday sale at the winter social on Sunday December 7. Please contribute items to sell -- e.g. baked goods, homemade candy, hand-stiched items, spa baskets, purses, jewelry, art work, wine, etc. Items will be displayed on tables at the social and successful buyers will take them home that day. To donate, contact Brenda or Joyce with a brief description of the item and a proposed selling price. Proceeds will benefit the National Greatest Needs Fund.

As a November program preview, you might want to access TeenSet, Teen Fan Magazines, and Rock Journalism: Don’t Let the Name Fool You. Written by our speaker, Allison Bumsted, PhD., an Associate Professor of Cultural Studies at ACC, the book looks at teen fan magazines from the 1960s and the role of TeenSet in not only music journalism, but also with broader social issues like politics, race, and gender.


If you would like to read this insightful and interesting book in advance of our meeting, it is available on Amazon and through Birdhouse Books, a local independent bookstore. Follow either of these links to find more information.

https://www.amazon.com/TeenSet-Teen-Magazines-Rock-Journalism/dp/149685327X

https://www.birdhousebooksatx.com/online-store/Teenset-Teen-Fan-Magazines-and-Rock-Journalism-Dont-Let-The-Name-Fool-You-p779387705

Unity, Identity, Support! AAUW Austin is going to have its own t-shirt for those times when we want to let the world know who we are and that we're a team! These attractive heather blue shirts with the AAUW Austin logo on the front can take you to capitol visits, rallies, volunteering, training meetings, and anywhere, really. The shirts are made from a tri-blend material with raglan sleeves and a slightly scooped neckline, with a final cost estimate of $25. You will receive an email with a link for ordering and paying for your shirt. The orders will be delivered to the branch for distribution at meetings. If you have questions or need a copy of the flyer, email Mary Ellen Scribner at maryescribner@gmail.com.

The Georgetown AAUW branch will hold its 11th annual Duck Race on Oct. 25th at 11am at San Gabriel Park. You can adopt a duck for $10 each with a chance to win $500 (1st prize), $300, or $100. You need not be present to win. To participate, call Polly Herriott at 786.525.4402 or contact her via email at herriottpolly44@gmail.com. Let the fun begin!


**By the way, the ducks in the photo above aren't the ones you'll be cheering for. Those are some cute ducklings I met in South Carolina in May.


Look below for a more apt prototype.



Meet Two More of our Fabulous New Members

Fai Chan (below left) was an AAUW member previously and rejoined this year, actively participating in the different group activities we offer. Fai graduated from Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1992 with a major in marketing, ending up with a career in medical research in analytical biochemistry. She works for an award-winning company and is a recognized researcher, with recent work in neuroscience. A deputy editor and peer reviewer of academic and pharmaceutical journals, she is also a devotee of natural holistic protocols. She has collaborated on work with both Ivy League schools and big pharmaceuticals.

 

Fai has a parent in Hong Kong and a brother in Taiwan, bound together daily through the medium of technology. She lives here in Austin with her husband James Teng and his mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease. During her recovery journey, Fai has found that it is the loving behavior from the family that has given her the courage and hope to get well. She is glad that they make this effort for her, although it is very tiring…

 

Fai enjoys the visual art of flower arrangement and will get a teacher’s certificate in Ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) soon. She also has collaborative efforts underway with some auction houses related to the auctioning of her copyrighted designs through reconstruction. Her dream is to be a media tycoon…. still a dream to be accomplished.

 

Vicky Hines (above right) joined our branch at our Summer Social in August, having moved to Austin just 3 months ago. She's delighted to connect with AAUW women in Austin as she previously enjoyed participating in the Nevada County branch of AAUW in California, serving as their membership VP. Vicky and her husband Eric resided in Grass Valley in the Sierra Nevada Mountains by Lake Tahoe, where they ran a 10-acre organic regenerative farm (orchard, garden, ducks, chickens, goats, rabbits and more).

 

Vicky attended Carleton College, followed by the University of Chicago where she earned her PhD in Biochemistry. After five postdoctoral years in Switzerland, she joined the nascent biotechnology industry. Her years in the industry brought many adventures, including moving to London for a few years with Eric and their two boys. In her move to Austin, she's interested in getting involved in science education.  

 

Vicky and Eric are looking forward to exploring Austin from their new home in Round Rock.

Branch Interest Group Activities in September

The Culture and Cuisine interest group enjoyed a tasty Cajun extravaganza outdoors at the home of Ann Gibbs.









The first branch meeting, recapped by Marsha (see photos at left and center), gave us not only a riveting presentation by Representative Donna Howard, but also the always-great opportunity to meet and greet with new members and friends. And now we can pay by credit card! Thanks, Cynthia!

The turnout was amazing and I'm curious about what Terry was reading there with Leslie to the right. Stay tuned for more innovative activities coming up soon with these and our other groups.


We are off and running with our interest group activities in the new program year. The art group, pictured in the 3 top pictures and 1 above, had an amazing time at the Spirit & Splendor exhibit at the Blanton. Our docent tours provided great information.

Moving Forward


If you haven't yet voted on the Texas AAUW state bylaws the deadline is approaching on September 25th. The ballot was emailed to you earlier this month.


If you're interested in Public Policy and haven't signed up yet for one of the 5 focus teams, please consider doing so. They are:

  1. Threats to public education (Mary Ellen Scribner)
  2. Women's Health (Anita Knight)
  3. Benefits to middle and low income families (Joyce Pulich)
  4. Voting rights (Jackie Hardee)
  5. Strengthen community partnerships (Cathy Werner)


The deadline for the November newsletter is October 15th. Send photos of group activities, please! As always, be sure to share your experiences in our branch with friends, and on Facebook and Instagram. Thanks!

AAUW-Austin | P.O. Box 5304 | Austin, TX 78763-5304 US

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