Advancing Gender Equity for Women and Girls | |
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FEBRUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER
edited by Dottie Burk, Jeanne Lese, Cherie Sorokin and Ann Vercoutere
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We Are Living in Interesting Times! | |
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Although the world seems pretty crazy on the political front right now, and the old Chinese Curse, "may you live in interesting times" seems ever more accurate as a curse, our CEO Gloria Blackwell put out a great message in the most recent Mission in Action newsletter. In case you missed it, we are repeating it below.
"In this critical moment as we navigate the transition to a new administration and uncertainty looms, we need to remember to take care of ourselves, support one another and those who look to us for support.
Even if we can’t see the entire path ahead and progress may take more time, our collective efforts must continue to shape a future where women’s economic equity isn’t just a dream but a reality.
The resilience of AAUW as an organization cannot be overlooked--and all we have invested in women and girls demands that we remain focused and purposeful.
We face significant challenges for equity and attainment in education. As advocates, our resolve will be tested like never before.
Our reality: Across the nation, laws and policies hinder equal access to quality education. From budget cuts to legislative rollbacks, the road ahead is tough.
Our resolve: Our efforts to advance women’s economic security through higher education remains critical. The progress we've made is at risk — and we must be vigilant in fighting back.
Our advocacy: We are ramping up our efforts to influence policy surrounding enforcement of Title IX civil rights protections and supporting essential college-access programs.
Our support: Our Fellowships & Grants programs will continue to support women scholars globally.
Our community: We will strengthen our network to create a united front for change.
AAUW’s foundation is unwavering and rooted in strength, courage, and purpose. Side by side, we will continue the fight—for the women, girls and communities we cherish, the impact we elevate, and the legacies we create.
With your ongoing support, we will persevere."
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NOTE: AAUW will host a Member Gathering by zoom on February 5th at 1:00 pm California time. Worth signing up for. Register here. | |
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AAUW CA has posted a recording of the January 22nd AAUW Silicon Valley program on Reproductive Rights. The Speaker was Emily Bazelon, New York Times journalist, Yale Law Professor and research fellow, and Political Gabfest co-host. Materials from the webinar are also available on the AAUW CA website. Here is the LINK to the AAUW CA website where you can see the webinar recording and download the materials.
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Are you saving the date for AAUW CA Lobby Days? April 8 and 9th are the dates, and you can indicate whether you wish to meet with legislators in person in Sacramento, or via Zoom from your home. There is also a mandatory zoom training session on March 31. More than ever, it is important for us to be face to face, or zoom to zoom, with legislators, so do give the opportunity more than a passing thought. Go online and register to be in the lobbying gang! Here is the link to register for lobby days, and to the link to register for the training session. The deadline for registration is February 21st.
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Chat with Leslie
Good morning!
I was recently astounded at the number of people, issues, events, etc. celebrated in February. Who makes these lists?!! I propose that we not be diverted by dark chocolate day or thank your mailman day - all good things - true. Let's instead celebrate our loved ones and be mindful that both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln lived in tumultuous times.
Your board met on January 13th to review the first half of the year and to report on our recent successful fundraising. Nancy Lubamersky, Marin AAUW Scholarship Fund president, announced that we met our goal of raising $25,000. Way to go! As a recipient of some of those monies, Tech Trek program chair Angela Nuckles reported on the committee's progress in selecting 7th graders to attend summer 2025 TechTrek and our TTAG chair Judy Kramer announced the Tech Trek alum's next event - a ranger led hike in March. The program team met to create interactive segments for our upcoming programs and to brainstorm 2025-2026 programs. If you have ideas for programs you would like, please reach out to Katherine Brinnier or Susan Angel, our program chairs. Our Equity team reported, and Laura O'Malley will be sharing her experience of a Marin diversity training at Behind the Headlines next Wednesday, February 12 (see below).
The Nominations committee has begun its work. If you are interested in one of the open positions, please contact Dottie Burk, Chris O'Neill, or me. The positions are president-elect, treasurer, membership, public policy, program, and scholarship chair. We are meeting with candidates now and would love to hear from you! Membership Chair Chris O'Neill reports that we have grown to 164 members. More friends to meet!
Dates for your calendar:
- Feb 5 - AAUW zoom member gathering featuring our own Cherie Sorokin (link above in red)
- Feb 12 - deadline to RSVP for the tri-branch meeting
- Feb 21 - register to participate in lobby days. Questions? Ask Nancy Lubamersky or me
- February 22 - Tri-Branch Brunch at the Key Room with Assemblyman Connolly.
See you February 22nd!
Leslie O. Zimring
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February Tri-Branch Program | |
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Join us for our annual tri-branch gathering on February 22.
- Enjoy a delicious buffet brunch including those ever-popular scones!
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Meet and mingle with AAUW members from the Petaluma, Novato, and Marin branches.
- California Assemblyman Damon Connolly will give an update on the current legislative session, including issues related to gender equity and other issues relevant to North Bay constituents
- Cost: $34 if paying by check or $35 if paying by PayPal
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RESPOND to the invitation that came on Friday, January 24, or to the reminder coming soon.
Deadline for RSVPs is February 12
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January Program Focused on DEIA at COM | |
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By Deb Learner, branch liaison to College of Marin and the January program coordinator
Thanks to all who made our January 29 joint meeting at the College of Marin a great success. Dr. Dana Emerson, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Learning and Success, posed the question: why do we focus on understanding and implementing principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA)? She gave us an historical context tracing the founding of the Harvard Divinity School in 1636 which was open only to elite white males, up to the opportunities offered today to all at community colleges. Challenges remain, however; thus, DEIA is an ideal worth working toward. Following Dr. Emerson, Teresa (Tea) Perales, Equity and Activities Coordinator, described the many support services and learning communities offered to all students at the College.
AAUW is a Community Partner and ally in this ongoing effort. We had a meaningful discussion probing the current political climate, and what we as a supportive organization can do to support the DEIA mission.
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Dr. Dana Emerson and Deb Learner | |
Nominate a Named Gift Honoree
Every year the AAUW California Fund Committee honors AAUW California members who have done outstanding work in supporting the programs and goals of the AAUW Fund and/or AAUW. For branches, in particular, a Named Gift is a special way to pay tribute to an individual or group giving extraordinary service to AAUW.
Do you know a member of the Marin Branch who deserves this honor? Send your nomination(s) (with details, please) to branch AAUW Fund Chair Nancy Finston by February 28. Honorees will be announced at our May meeting.
For the Marin branch, the Named Gift tradition dates back to 1955! To see a list of previous honorees CLICK HERE.
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Diana Nicoll
Diana is a retired physician. She was the Medical Director of the San Francisco VA and Associate Dean at the UCSF School of Medicine. She stays busy volunteering to teach English at Bahia School, also walking, gardening reading, playing bridge, going to the theater, etc.
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Phyllis Josi
Phyllis has a degree in hospital administration and worked in that field as well as strategic planning and marketing, employee benefits and medical and dental insurance. She volunteers with Extra Food and at a soup kitchen. Also investments, hiking and exploring, bocce and theater.
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Phyllis Josi with Laura O'Malley at the College of Marin event on January 29. | |
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Member Nancy Greenfield's Advice for 2025
(As published in the Marin IJ's Six-Word Story on January 28)
Learn new things! Toss humor around!
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Ready to join a new interest group?
All groups welcome new members. Just contact the group leader for information or to be added to the group email list. For a list of all Marin branch interest groups with leader contact information, click HERE. Note: Interest Groups are just for members of AAUW Marin, but guests who may be thinking of joining are welcome to visit an interest group twice before being asked join.
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To all you sports fans out there:
Are you interested in getting together with like minded fans to watch the women's sports team from College of Marin and Dominican?
Dianne Sheridan hopes to get a group going.
Please contact her if interested.
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Art Tours
Due to lack of participation, art tours will disband.
The Tamara de Lampicka exhibit closes at the DeYoung on February 9 if you want to catch it.
Also at the Larkspur Library on Feb 22, 2pm, there will be a docent talk to relive the Legion of Honor's opening day and celebrate the art on display when the doors first opened in 1924.
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Bocce Group
Bocce is on a roll! We will play again on the second Tuesday of February, Feb 11.
You don't need to know how to play. Just come and have fun. We do split the cost of the court amongst the players- its usually about $15-20.
If interested, contact Ann Vercoutere
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Hiking Group
Our next hike is planned for February 4, weather permitting. Contact Ann Vercoutere if you are interested in joining us.
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What Are You Reading?
What Are You Reading book group will meet on February 10 from 10-11 on Zoom. Members share what they are reading. You always come away with a list of great books to read! Contact Cherie Sorokin or 415 730-0204 if you wish to join the group.
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Reading Arts
Reading Arts meets on Thursday, February 20 at 1PM, to discuss The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich. Interested in joining us? Please contact group leader Ann Jessup for more information.
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Book Lovers
Booklovers will meet on Tuesday, February 4th to discuss Trespasses by Louise Kennedy. Kathleen Clark will lead the discussion which will be held in her home. If you want more information, or to join, contact Carol Hoffman
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LitWits
For the first three months of 2025 the group is reading and discussing novels by James McBride; the February book is The Good Lord Bird. This group focuses on literary fiction and meets the third Wednesday of the month at 10 AM in members’ homes. The February meeting is February 19 at home of Ann Thomas in Corte Madera. New members always welcome. For info contact Ann Thomas, or 415-924-9559.
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Nonfiction Reading Group
The Nonfiction Reading Group is meeting Monday, February 10, 1:00 pm on Zoom to discuss Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why it Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross. If you would like to be on the group’s email list and join us, please email for the Zoom link: Phyllis Kuehn We always welcome new members! The Nonfiction Reading Group meets the second Monday of the month at 1:00 pm on Zoom.
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Behind the Headlines
Behind the Headlines will meet by Zoom on February 12 at 6:00 pm Our speaker will be Laura O'Malley, a member of our branch. Laura recently attended and completed a diversity program offered to Marin residents. She'll talk about the program and the conversation will likely branch out into discussion of DEI initiatives generally in the current environment. Contact Cherie Sorokin or 415 730-0204 if you are interested in attending or joining the group.
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Happy Hour Group
Our next Happy Hour is Thursday, February 6 at 4:00 pm at the Flatiron in San Rafael. Contact Dottie Burk if you would like to attend and/or be added to our email list.
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Movie Group
The Movie Group will next meet on February 11. You will hear from Mary Mossteller with the movie selection for February as we get closer to the date. We have been struggling with movie selection a bit more with multiple theaters having closed in Marin. We are happy to have several new members join the group and likely will be seeing some Academy nominated films over the next couple of months. Contact Mary if interested.
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French Conversation
Bonjour, les Francophiles! The February French Conversation Group will meet Wednesday, February 19, 1:30-2:30 at Rulli Cafe in Larkspur. As always, only conversation in French. Please rsvp to Janet Lynn. A bientôt!
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Handcraft Circle
Handcraft Circle will meet next on February 18 at a member’s home. Our group has delightfully continued to grow with several new members joining us. Contact Mary Mossteller if you want to join.
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Play Mah Jongg?
Join us for our weekly games on Wednesdays in members' homes 1:30 to 3:30. If you are interested in joining or would like to get on the list, email the group leader Chris O'Neill. We play American Mah Jongg. You need the card to play and should have a basic knowledge of the game. Chris can also give you information on where to take lessons, if you'd like to learn to play.
The games are high stakes: 25 cents a game!
And BTW, those quarters add up for the weekly Mah Jongg game. The Mah Jongg interest group donated over $300 in 2024 to the AAUW Marin Scholarship Fund. Way to go ladies!
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So Much to Do, So Little Time | |
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February 5 is an AAUW Member Gathering on Zoom at 1:00 pm. Speakers include
- Cherie Sorokin - AAUW National Board Chair,
- Gloria L. Blackwell - Chief Executive Officer,
- Meghan Kissell - Senior Director of Policy and Member Advocacy, and
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Katrina Sun Breese - Senior Director of Institutional Advancement.
You received an email on January 22nd inviting you to register. Or use this LINK.
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Register using this LINK and let Leslie Zimring know you are coming so we can request a table together. | |
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March 15, Corte Madera Town Center, 10-noon. Coffee with Suzanne Ford, president of SF Pride LGBTQ+ non-profit - Issues affecting the transgender, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented communities
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April 12, Key Room @ Homeward Bound, 2 PM - 4 PM. Afternoon tea with Jazmin Darznik, JD, PhD, MFA, author - Women in history and literature
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May 10, McInnis Park, 10 - 1PM. End of the year luncheon and celebration! Election of officers and invited speaker Cynthia Boaz, PhD, Scholar for UNESCO program in Peace, Conflict, and Development Studies, Sonoma State professor of political science with expertise in nonviolent strategy, civil resistance, quality of democracy, reproductive rights.
We hope to see YOU at each and every one of these branch programs!
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Thanks to Nancy Finston and Judy Kramer our Facebook and Instagram accounts are active. Check us out!
https://www.facebook.com/AAUWMARIN
https://www.instagram.com/aauwmarin/
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Know Someone Who'd Like to Join AAUW? | |
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AAUW women make an impact on women and girls.
Word of mouth is the best way to recruit new members!
Why Join? AAUW offers multiple ways to stay engaged with our mission of advancing equity for women and girls, as well as to develop friendship with others who understand that the fight for equality is still critical! Excellent national webinars! Engaging monthly branch programs! A wide variety of interest group meetings! Energetic, intellectually curious friends! A mission that is more important than ever!
CONTACT Chris O'Neill for membership information.
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© 2019 AAUW
AAUW is a top-rated 501(c)(3) charity. Donations are tax deductible.
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