...empowering women since 1946 | |
AAUW-Big Rapids Newsletter
October 2025
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Cocktails & Convos
Topic: Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention
Wednesday, October 22, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Artworks Lower Level
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In recognition of this annual observance and to promote attendance at the Take Back the Night vigil on the Ferris State University campus on October 28, the discussion topic for this edition of Cocktails and Convos will be domestic violence.
To prepare for this session of Cocktails & Convos, we invite you to read Sandra Cisneros' "Minerva Writes Poems," a very brief vignette from her novel, The House on Mango Street. Copies will also be available at the gathering. It's a really short piece, so you'll be able to read it then if you don't find time in advance. We will divide into small groups to discuss the reading. (Be assured you don't need to read the whole book.)
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Since we are publishing this newsletter during Banned Books Week (October 5-11), we also want to mention that The House on Mango Street is a book that has been challenged and banned in parts of the United States. Sandra Cisneros wrote an essay, "A Year Among My Fellow Banned Writers" for the New York Times last December. You can read that essay, which includes some background on The House of Mango Street, here.
Please email Sarah and Débora to volunteer to bring appetizer-type food, wine, or other beverages to this event. Please invite friends to attend.
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Venus Envy Performs at
the Sawmill Saloon
October 25, 9:00 p.m.
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Kelly Samuels and her band Venus Envy have agreed to play for a Big Rapids Festival for the Arts program to be sponsored by AAUW-Big Rapids on February 26! The theme of the concert will be Women and Music of Revolution. Stay tuned for more details when we get closer.
In the meantime, Venus Envy will be performing at the Sawmill Saloon on Saturday, October 25, at 9:00 p.m. I know that's kind of late for some of us (me included), but it would be cool if a cohort of our members showed up in our AAUW shirts to cheer on Kelly and the band. Contact Leah if you would be interested in meeting up at the Sawmill that evening.
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Take Back the Night Vigil Ferris State University
October 28, 4:30-6:45 p.m.
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As part of our branch's observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are hoping to have a number of us present at the annual Take Back the Night Vigil at Ferris. The Anti-Violence Alliance, a registered student organization at Ferris, has information about the event on their Facebook page. AAUW-Big Rapids is listed as a community partner for the event.
Sarah has obtained a signup sheet to volunteer for the event. Please contact Sarah if there is something you think would be good for the branch to volunteer to assist with.
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Many, many thanks to Sarah who agreed to chair the Scholarship Committee this year! Thanks also to Kathi, Wendy, Julie, and Anne who volunteered to serve on the committee to help select award recipients.
After further discussion with the Ferris Financial Aid office, Sarah recommended that we not use the Ferris scholarship portal to advertise the branch scholarship. To do so, we would have to contribute the award dollars to the Ferris Advancement Office so that checks were distributed to students via Ferris, and we would also have to delegate selection of the awardees to a committee of Ferris employees, who would endeavor to match recipients to our criteria.
| | | Sarah conferred with Leah, and the two of them were not comfortable that our members would have been happy with this last requirement; consequently, Sarah is advertising the scholarship to counselors throughout the Ferris system via email, Leah has posted the scholarship on the AAUW-Big Rapids website (flyer and application form can both be downloaded here) and Facebook page, and Leah also shared the post to several local Facebook groups. Please share information about the scholarship to anyone you know who might be eligible. | | September 24th Candidate Forum for Big Rapids City Commission and Mayor | |
Kudos to Jennifer, Susan, and Julie for their roles in organizing the September 24 candidate forum for open positions on the Big Rapids City Commission and Mayor. Jennifer, with assistance from Julie, compiled a thoughtful list of questions for the candidates, and Susan did a great job moderating the event and posing the prepared questions to the candidates.
It was truly wonderful to observe such civil discourse during this polarized time. If you know of city residents who missed the live event, the archived recording is available on YouTube.
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Save these Dates
for Future AAUW-Big Rapids Events
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November 19 Meeting: Colleen Green will be our speaker for Native American Heritage Month. Colleen is the Senior DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) Officer at Ferris State University and an enrolled citizen of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and a descendent of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. We will meet at the Mecosta County Services Building.
December 6: Holiday Brunch at Pere Marquette Bistro, Reed City
February 26, 7:00 p.m.: Festival of the Arts event featuring Venus Envy at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Big Rapids
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