A Message from our GNB - AAUW
Co-Presidents
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Dear Branch Members,
We are excited to welcome you to another year of advancing equity for women and girls through education, advocacy and community engagement.
We look forward to our monthly Branch meetings with thought-provoking speakers, a wonderful Holiday Luncheon, many Special Interest Group gatherings and a spring filled with achieving our program goals. Thanks to your generosity and hard work last year, our organization touched the lives of literally hundreds of elementary and middle school girls and gave 17 $2000 higher education scholarships. This year we will continue building on our success.
According to Gloria Blackwell, AAUW CEO, “This year, higher education has faced profound challenges — from attacks on academic freedom to widening gaps in access and opportunity. But AAUW remains steadfast. For more than a century, we’ve championed women’s education — especially for those from underrepresented communities. Today, our mission is more vital than ever. We're proud to be the largest non-institutional funder of women’s graduate-level education in the U.S."
With your support, we will remain a powerful voice for equity, inclusion and opportunity in our community. We are women of Action with a long and proud history of advancing equity through scholarships, advocacy and education!
We strongly encourage each of you to get involved—whether by attending meetings, events, joining committees, mentoring new members or lending your voice to our public policy initiatives. Every action brings us closer to the future we envision: a world where all women and girls can thrive.
Thank you for your commitment to our mission. Let’s make 2025-2026 a season of growth, collaboration and impact!
With gratitude and enthusiasm,
Sylvia Natale
Lucy Williams
Co-presidents
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| Greater Naples Branch Achieves 4-Star rating | | |
Sylvia and I are so proud of what our Branch accomplishes every year. AAUW National recognizes outstanding branches through their Five Star Program. Our Branch achieved Five Stars during Jacky’s tenure as President. We thought we could reach Five Star status again for our recent 2024-25 fiscal year and wanted our Branch to be recognized on the National level of AAUW.
The AAUW Five Star National Recognition Program (https://www.aauw.org/resources/member/5-star-program/) is designed to help branches align with AAUW’s strategic priorities and advance our mission of achieving gender equity for women and girls. By participating in this program, our branch contributes to a strong network of advocates, elevating both our local impact and our collective efforts nationwide. The five areas of assessment include Advancement, Public Policy and Advocacy, Governance and Sustainability, Programming, and Communications and External Relations.
The application consisted of answering a survey that assessed how our accomplishments aligned with AAUW National’s Strategic Plan, based on our activities in the 2024-25 fiscal year. We were recently informed that we earned four stars: Public Policy & Advocacy, Governance & Sustainability, Programming and Communications & External Relations Stars! Only one branch in Florida received five stars, eight branches received four stars, three received three stars and three received one star. According to information from Susan Barley, nationally, 453 of 613 eligible branches completed surveys and only 54 branches achieved 5-star recognition.
We are proud of this achievement that reflects our branch’s commitment to advancing gender equity and aligning our programs, advocacy and sustainability efforts with AAUW’s strategic priorities. With your commitment to helping us achieve the fifth star, we feel certain that next year we will be able to obtain Five Stars for our Branch. We want it known what an accomplished and successful group we are!
| | BRANCH MEETING SATURDAY OCTOBER 4 | | Important Location Change | | |
NonSequiturs October Fun
Thursday October 16
Empty Bowls Painting
Join us for fun and fellowship
as we create beautiful bowls
for the Empty Bowls Event
Details will be forthcoming!
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The Non-Fiction Book Club meets at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation (6340 Napa Woods Way, Naples 34116) at 2:00 p.m. on the fourth Monday of the month, October through April with the exception of November and December. We do not meet in November and our December meeting (December 8 at 1:00 p.m. ) is not only a book discussion but also a luncheon at a member’s home. (Location to be determined.) New members are welcome to join us!
The book selection for the first meeting on October 27, 2:00 p.m. is A History of the American Book Store by Evan Friss, 416 pages. Discussion Leader is Carol Light.
If you need further information, contact Coordinator Karen Clegg 913-488-7707 or clegg115@gmail.
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Reading Is Fun Coordinator Judy Blackburn is coordinating dates for book distributions with the media specialists at Golden Terrace Elementary School and Lavern Gaynor Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year. The first distribution will be on January 30 at Lavern Gaynor. If you want to participate in the fun of being with children in grades K through 5 and experience their joy in selecting a book from dozens of titles, contact Judy. We need volunteers! Judy’s
phone number is 732-801-7913.
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We are excited to announce that our first Tour & Talk of the season is
of the Gulfshore Playhouse, 100 Goodlette-Frank Road South,
Naples, FL 34102, on October 8, 2025 at 11 am “Behind the Curtains” a Tour of the Baker Theater and Education Center.
Cost $18 .
Lunch immediately following at Grappino’s , 90 9th st N, Naples, Fl. 34102
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The Great Decisions group will meet on Monday, October 6, from 2:00-3:30 p.m. via Zoom.
We’ll be kicking off the season talking about international climate cooperation in this era of geopolitical turmoil. Come learn with us and join our discussion!
If you are interested in learning more about the group, please contact Carol Light.
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Did you know.... Greater Naples AAUW awarded 17 Scholarships in 2025? Are you interested in being part of this selection process in 2026?
Please join us for the first meeting of the SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE on Wednesday, October 29th at 10am!!
The scholarship awards made annually are a cornerstone for our branch activities and we invite all members that would like to take part in this selection process for 2026 to join us. We are getting started early this year because we will be opening our scholarship submission window on December 1st. The first committee meeting is when we divide and conquer the marketing efforts of our available scholarships.
If you potentially have community connections that will help us get candidates to apply, we would appreciate your participation in this meeting.
Please email Jeannine Stetson at jeannine07@gmail.com and I will add you to the email list to receive communications regarding the Scholarship Committee for the upcoming season. I will send out a Zoom link for those that would like to participate in this meeting online and I will also have a meeting location set up for those who would like to attend in person.
Thank you! Please contact Schoarship Director Jeannine Stetson 239-961-3481 with any questions
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WE ARE MOVING FULL STEAM AHEAD with our 29th STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) program. This year we will serve 300 Fifth grade girls from the Collier County Public Schools (CCPS) and New Horizons. Each girl receives two self-contained STEAM experiments, A book titled Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women, signed by the author., and goggles.
The STEAM program has truly become a keystone of AAUW Greater Naples Branch programs. With funding that is secured through the AAUW Greater Naples Charitable Foundation, notably Suncoast Credit Union, Arthrex, Hyman Family Foundation, Susan M Mehas with John R. Woods, CCPS, FGCU, Catherine Thimmish, BeightsTech.com, J. Webb Horton, and AAUW Greater Naples Members.
Under the capable direction of Charmaine Klein, the STEAM Team is continuing the work in grand style. Members of this team include Nancy Beights, Laura Candris, Linda Epstein, Ann Horton, Judith MacGregor, Carol Siwinski, and Jacky Territo.
We welcome your help as we move into the implementation phase of this very important endeavor. Your donations of time, energy, monetary gifts through the AAUW Greater Naples Charitable Foundation will be gratefully appreciated and help us to make this great program even greater in the coming year!!
If you wish to have further information or would like to volunteer in any way, please contact Charmaine Klein, or any of the committee members. You will be so very glad you did!!
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It has been a very busy summer for the Foundation, as applications for grants needed to support our programs had to be submitted. See summary below. Note some grants require the % of our membership that are donors.
Consider a donation to the Foundation which funds our programs. Go to our website, hit Foundation tab, far right side is the donate button. It is important to be a donor even if a small amount. Thank you for helping!
After a great deal of effort, the Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation is registered at the Collier Community Foundation. This is an important milestone and opens many doors to us for support. More to come about opportunities. Check out the listing at
https://www.colliercf-nonprofitdirectory.org/organizations/greater-naples-aauw-charitable-foundation.
We have a donor for the 2026 Scholarship Luncheon! Schwartz & Co., a financial services company, will be the sponsor thanks to Laura Candris’s incredible effort.
Grant Highlights:
Suncoast Grant for STEAM 2026 was successfully submitted and approved for $6000.
Arthrex Grant for STEAM 2026 was submitted requesting $5000. Awards are made typically in December.
FGCU Grant request was made in June and was awarded for $1000.
A new potential donor, The League Club, approved our application to be considered for a grant. Their process is complicated and has many steps. In October they will decide if we go to the next step.
Judith MacGregor
410 991 9115
jamacgregor101@gmail.com
| | Cocktails and Conversation | | |
There will be an autumn CC: Cocktails and Conversation
When: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 @ 4:30 PM
Where: SOLUNA Restaurant, 403 Bayfront Place, Naples, FL 34102
Reservations requested: Susan Becker @ smmsbecker@gmail.com
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The last meeting of the Virtual Book Group will be held on Monday, October 20 at 11:00 a.m., when Teddy Furst Martin will lead our discussion of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Merriweather Post by Allison Pataki.
Who knew that she was a feminist? Carol Siwinski will host us on the Branch Zoom account.
All are welcome. If interested, please contact Laura Candris.
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The Public Policy committee has a new initiative: Education Ambassadors!
With The League of Women Voters of Collier County and The Interfaith Alliance of SW Florida, we have already advocated tor the approved biology text (some community members were in opposition), and have been closely monitoring the budget process, including supporting the Superintendent’s contract issues. Plans include tracking on book bans, the rules for and impact of various vouchers, possible vaccine issues, and more. Chapter members on our “on call” list have received info and buttons, and can expect to be contacted to assist if available—to attend school board meetings, write letters, make calls, and so on. If YOU have a passion for educational issues, please see Nancy Chism or Nancy Dick for more info.
The Public Policy committee needs another co-chair to help monitor state and local actions impacting women and girls. Denny McGuire and Barb Richardson are doing a great job reporting on legislation, and alerting us to educational webinars and opportunities for advocacy and cooperation with other groups. Pat DeWitt, the state AAUW Public Policy Chair, is wonderful to work with, too! If YOU feel called to help out at this busy, critical time, please contact Barb or Denny—and PLEASE NOTE: the first GNB Public Policy Mtg, is Oct. 20, 2pm, at the Collier County Government Center on Orange Blossom Road. ALL members of our branch are invited!
| | MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER | | |
Join us as we play our part in
MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Paradise Sports Complex
To Register:
1. Log on to makingstrideswalk.org
2. Click on Sign Up
3. Enter a Naples zip code
4. Select an event: Making Strides Florida, Paradise Sports Complex
5. Click on Sign Up and enter your email address
6. Select Join a team: AAUW GREATER NAPLES BRANCH
7. Fill in Contact Information
8. Click SIGN UP
Together, we can join our Sisters and Neighbors in the fight against breast cancer. Whether you decide to walk, donate, or engage in fundraising efforts, your participation will be appreciated!!
If you would like assistance to register, feel free to call 1-800-227-2345 and the organization will be glad to help you.
Questions??? Contact Jacky Territo at jackyt9399@gmail.com
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We are thrilled to be presenting our 13th StartSmart Salary Negotiation Workshop on October 14th 12:30 pm at FGCU.
If you would like to come and watch, email Judith MacGregor. jamacgregor101@gmail.com
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Attention!: AAUW of Florida has the following positions open:
- AAUW Fl Secretary
- AAUW Fl Director of Communications
- AAUW Fl Director of Membership
Descriptions of positions and nominating forms are available.
Interested members may contact:
Sylvia Natale
Co-President, AAUW GNB
sylviaanatale@verizon.net
401-480-0777
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2025-2026 Branch Directory
The Branch Directory will be updated in October. Please check the 2024-25 Directory located on the website to determine if any changes need to be made to your information.
New member information is in our files and will be added to the directory.
Send any updates to Susan Barley, barley702@gmail.com no later than October 17.
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Frequent users, click LOG IN as usual. Non-frequent users, click LOG IN, then below the blue log in 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.
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