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AUGUST 2023 NEWSLETTER
edited by Dottie Burk, Jeanne Lese, Cherie Sorokin and
Ann Vercoutere
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Let's Get On The ERA Bus! | |
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The above photo was taken by AAUW Board member Kimberly Adams at the July Women's Rights National Park 2023 Conference in Seneca Falls, NY commemorating the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923 and the 175th year since the amazing Seneca Falls Women's Rights Convention in 1848. Three hundred women attended the conference this year to strategize on how to get women's rights finally recognized in our Constitution!
As Gloria Blackwell, AAUW CEO, noted in the recent Mission in Action, AAUW (along with many other women's organizations) is "actively supporting the newly introduced ERA Now bill which calls on Congress to affirm the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution." You can help with this effort by writing your congressional representatives and senators using AAUW's Two-Minute Activist program. Thankfully all our Bay Area members of Congress support the ERA, but they need to know that we, as their constituents, applaud them for that support.
Use the link Here. All you have to do is add your name, address and email to the existing text and press send. You can also revise the text to add your personal touch. Your personal advocacy makes a difference because it helps our representatives know where we stand.
Once you've become a two-minute activist, you can use this wonderful AAUW system to send messages on a variety of issues that AAUW supports. Last year AAUW's Two-Minute Activists sent over 200,000 messages!
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AAUW Public Policy Priorities | |
Besides the ERA, members of AAUW have adopted public policy priorities that inform our legislative and general activism on behalf of women and girls. Our overall priorities are grouped around three basic areas: economic security for women, equal access to education for all students, social and racial justice for all members of society. Every two years our members vote on the specific areas of focus under these priorities and each state also crafts specific areas of focus tied to actions needed within each state. You can check out the specifics of our national and AAUW CA priorities by clicking on theses links; AAUW Public Policy Priorities and AAUW CA Public Policy Priorities. Nancy Major is our branch Public Policy chair and is always available to answer questions on our public policy positions. You can contact her at nancypezdekmajor@aol.com | | |
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As I understand from the Northern California AAUW leadership, the Novato AAUW branch is no longer holding meetings or writing a newsletter, so I’ve reached out to our Novato AAUW friends and invited them to attend any and all of our programs and events. If you have friends in Novato, please give them a call and add your personal invitation. Getting to know more interesting women as we enjoy programs and events is a win-win!
Reminders
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August 9th - Board Retreat Please reach out to me (click on my name above) if you have ideas or suggestions you would like considered.
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August 27th - Sip and Sup Details below!
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AAUW Marin Programs for
August and September!
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A "Signature Event" with Wine and Cheese
Sunday, August 27, 3:00 pm
at the Tiburon home of Cherie Sorokin
Free!
Come "sip and sup" with us in August. Mingle with your AAUW friends, enjoy a glass of wine or bubbly water with appetizers, AND chat with our special guest Anita Jones, author of The Peach Seed. Anita spoke to our branch last spring about her journey writing this book, finding an agent and then a publisher. She'll share some of her adventures getting to the finish line and then moving on into the madness of the book tour circuit. She'll be happy to personally autograph her book for you. (Some copies will be available for purchase at Cherie's, but best to bring your own.)
Optional Dutch treat dinner at 6:00 pm at the Tiburon Tavern will follow for those who can attend. Watch for the invitation later this month and be sure to RSVP!
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Saturday, September 9, Artists and Brunch!
10:00 am Brunch at the Key Room at Homeward Bound. $25
Are you an art lover, or an artist, or both? You won't want to miss our fall kick-off program
featuring SF MOMA public docent Avril Angevine speaking on three contemporary women artists, plus an exhibition of work by some of our own wonderful artist members. Watch for the invitation later in August and please RSVP as soon as you receive it. Guests are welcome.
Attention artists among us! Do you have a painting, a small sculpture, weaving, fine art photograph or other artistic creation you’d be willing to display, and perhaps say a few words about at this meeting? A few of you have volunteered, but we know we have many creative, artistic members and it would be great to have lots of examples of our members’ work. Please pass this information along to other AAUW artists you think might be interested, just in case they don’t see this message. Please email Cherie Sorokin at cheryl@sorokinsf.com no later than August 15 if you wish to participate in displaying your work, and be sure to include your phone number so Cherie can call you back easily.
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Nominate an Extraordinary Woman!
AAUW Marin is one of the three co-founding organizations for the Marin Women's Hall of Fame (MWHF). Together with the Marin Women's Commission and the YWCA Golden Gate, now the steward of the MWHF, we continue to support the MWHF mission to honor the extraordinary achievements and contributions of women living in Marin or contributing significantly to the Marin community.
Do you know a Marin woman whose extraordinary personal achievements or contributions to our community should be publicly recognized and preserved for history?
Nominations are now open for five new women to be inducted in 2024 to the Marin Women's Hall of Fame. You can access the nomination form here. Nominations must be submitted by September 22nd.
Three of our current members have been inducted into the MWHF: Joan Brown, Afaf Meleis, and Cherie Sorokin. Any of them can help answer questions you might have about the nomination process. Nominees do not have to be AAUW members.
Even if you don't have a nominee in mind, save the date of February 8, 2024, for the induction dinner. It's always inspirational.
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Tech Trek - What a Week!
Seven Marin middle school girls attended AAUW CA's Tech Trek at Sonoma State University the week of July 23 to July 29. Tech Trek is a week long residential camp designed to encourage girls to follow their passion for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The girls had a very busy week participating in a variety of activities including core classes (in botany, chemistry, engineering, forensics and robotics), workshops, a field trip to the Sonoma Water Water Education Center, Professional Women's Night, 'Build It' Night, and a riotous budgeting exercise 'Reality Bites: Money Management.'
The camp relies on volunteers to help the camp run smoothly. Angela Nuckles was a Dorm Mom spending the whole week with the girls. Amy Anderson taught an origami workshop. Dianne Sheridan, Susan Whittom, Dottie Burk, and Kathleen Clark volunteered to monitor field trips and classroom activities.
It's hard to believe that this is the 25th year of Tech Trek and that our branch has sponsored 140 girls. Kudos to all participants. Here are a few pictures. You will see more at our October branch program.
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Camper's tee shirt shows the locations of this year's Tech Trek camps. | |
Marin Tech Trekker Tallula Rice models her origami creation. | |
Dusting for latent fingerprints in the Forensics class | |
Soldering an electric circuit to make a small flashlight | |
It's Time to Solicit Donations for Our Silent Auction
Speaking of Tech Trek, our Fall fundraising campaign for Tech Trek sponsorships and local college scholarships will be coming up before you know it. And, once again, we are planning on having a silent auction in late November to raise money for the AAUW Marin Scholarship Fund.
Though it may seem early, now is the time to solicit donations from the local community. Gift cards and certificates are extremely popular and tend to be bid up to full value. So, if you have a favorite restaurant or merchant that you use, consider asking for a donation. To avoid having more than one member visit an establishment, please email Dianne Sheridan at traciinmarin@sbcglobal.net to let her know the business you will be contacting.
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Have you renewed your membership?
If you joined AAUW before July 1, 2022, your grace period is running out and you need to renew your membership NOW! Your membership expired on July 1, 2023. You have received a few email reminders from National and the branch that might not have gotten your attention. So, here’s your chance to renew NOW! You don’t want to miss all the wonderful events and news that AAUW Marin has in store for you.
You can renew online at www.aauw.org. Confused about how to do that? Click HERE for the "How to Renew Your AAUW Membership Online" instructions prepared by our Treasurer Sue Torres.
Like to pay your dues by check? That's just fine. If you prefer to renew by mail, you can access the Dues Renewal Form HERE. Print the form, complete it, and send it along with your check to Sue. Questions? Contact Sue Torres.
Don't delay. Get your renewal in today!
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Woohoo! Judy Solle is a 50-year Member | |
Another of our longstanding members, Judy Solle became the latest Marin branch member to join the honorary 50-year Life Members. Congratulations! Judy joined AAUW in 1973, shortly after she moved to Marin. She is a former president of the branch and remembers raising funds to support the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. Who knew, so many years later, AAUW would still be lobbying for its passage. Judy has been a docent for many years with the Fine Arts Museum, is a member of two book groups, and still meets monthly to view and discuss movies with the women she met through AAUW in the 80s. Thank you, Judy, for your past service to the branch and for your support for equity for women and girls for all these years. | |
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Welcome Sandra Brim
Like so many of our new members, Sandra decided to join us after hearing Leslie Zimring share all the benefits of being an AAUW member. Sandra has a wide and varied background. She pursued her fine arts and photography degree through owning a graphic design and printing company. Art is still her passion, painting mostly in acrylic and photographing birds. She enjoys writing – look for her byline in the Marin IJ. Not one to slow down, she manages several rental properties both in San Rafael and in Michigan, where she spends the summer, and over the years has remodeled, restored, and built over 25 properties across the US. She is widely traveled and volunteers at Marin Villages. She has been married to Fred for 44 years and is Mom or stepmom to four children. Sandra, we all hope to meet you when you are back in Marin.
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Join the Welcome Committee
Been a member for a few years? Don’t have time or want to take on a leadership position? We have just the thing for you. You can help the branch by being a part of a new Welcome Committee. What it would entail is occasionally calling a new member to introduce yourself and find out more about them, perhaps meet one of them for coffee, make sure they know about the interest groups, look out for new members at any branch programs you attend and be sure they are included and welcomed, or anything else that keeps our new members informed and engaged. A little bit of your time would really be appreciated by our Membership Chair, Chris O’Neill, and the Board. To learn more, contact Chris at coneill514@comcast.net. She’d love to hear from you.
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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.
Is anyone interested in a Creative Writing Group?
The group would meet once a month … date to be determined. Group members individually would write memoirs, stories or poems to bring to meetings, where members could then positively critique and discuss. Please contact Joann Levin if interested.
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What to do in August and Beyond?
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GOLF!
Golfers! Let's get together to plan golf outings at McInnis. Contact me if you are interested and we can talk about a weekday morning that suits. Looking forward to getting this group started.
Email me at Hannah Panger or call 650-743-4107.
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Hiking Group
Next hike is August 8! We plan hikes often on the first Tuesday and the 3rd weekend of each month with distance and destination determined by the hikers. Please contact Ann Vercoutere if you are interested in joining us.
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LitWits Reading Group
LitWits starts its reading year early with a special summer meeting August 30 to review and discuss Sinclair Lewis’s 1935 novel, It Can’t Happen Here, about the election of a fascist similar to Adolf Hitler to the American presidency. The regular branch year, which will include 3 novels each by Philip Roth, J.G. Farrell, and Walker Percy, starts with Roth’s The Plot Against America on September 20. LitWits reads literary fiction by writers from any era or country. Meets third Wednesday at 10 AM, and new members are welcome (even for August meeting). Meetings are in-person/Zoom hybrid. For info contact group leader Ann Thomas 415-924-9559
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What Are You Reading? Book Group
Plans for an August meeting of this group are still up in the air. Members of the group share what they are reading or plan to read next. This group is looking for new members, so if you are interested, please contact Cherie Sorokin.
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Nonfiction Reading Group
The Nonfiction Reading Group is meeting Monday, August 28, at 1:00 on Zoom to discuss Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams is a 2017 popular science book about sleep written by Matthew Walker, an English scientist and the director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley, who specializes in neuroscience and psychology. If you would like to be on the group’s email list and join us, please email either co-leader for the Zoom link: Phyllis Kuehn or Olivia Ruel. The nonfiction reading group meets on the 4th Monday at 1:00 via Zoom and discusses nonfiction books selected by the group members.
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Behind the Headlines
The Behind the Headlines discussion group will not meet in July or August. Contact Cherie Sorokin if you are interested in joining the group in the fall.
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Happy Hour Group
Our next Happy Hour is Thursday, August 10 at 4:30. Location TBD. If you would like to join the group email list, contact Dottie Burk.
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Meet Me at the Movies!
The movie group meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Each month we look for an entertaining, thought-provoking movie. We attend the late-afternoon matinees followed by dinner and discussion at a nearby restaurant.
Want to join us? Contact Mary Mossteller and/or Freddie Greene
Handcraft Circle
Crafts will meet throughout the summer. The next meeting will be at Dianne Sheridan’s on August 15. We welcome new members as we get together monthly to craft and chat. Bring any type of project you can do in a group including knitting, jewelry, crocheting and others. Contact Mary Mossteller for information, if you are interested.
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New Yorker Reading Group
The New Yorker Reading Group is not meeting this summer.
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Play Mah Jongg?
The Mah Jongg interest group will start back up in mid-August with our weekly games on Wednesdays, 1:00 - 3:00, in members homes. If you are interested in joining, please contact the group leader Chris O'Neill at coneill514@comcast.net information or to get on the email list. We play American Mah Jongg. You need the card to play and should have a basic knowledge of the game. If you'd like to learn to play, contact Chris and she can give you information on where to take lessons. Come join us.
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Art Tours
Contact Gerrie Young for new dates and times (please include your cell number) or call 415-497-1247 for more information.
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Interest Group Picture of the Month
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The 'Meet Me At The Movies' Group enjoys dinner and discussion after the July movie.
(Photo courtesy of Carol Lorenz, Interest Group Chair, third from right)
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So Much to Do, So Little Time | |
Attend a Book Talk on the Female Body
Member Afaf Meleis' daughter-in-law, Dr. Deena Emera, is a newly published author! Her book is A Brief History of the Female Body. Afaf has invited us all to the Buck Institute on August 23rd at 4pm for a reception, book talk, and book signing by Dr. Emera. Thank you, Afaf! This is a free event so invite your friends and family to join you in learning more about the history and mysteries of the female body. For more information, click HERE.
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Join Experience Corps
Are you interested in helping a primary grade student improve on reading skills? Experience Corps has an excellent program placing volunteers in several schools in Marin. The program screens, trains, schedules, and makes placements to help volunteers make the most of their experience. If you would like to learn more about the opportunity to move ahead with the process this summer, contact Laura Phipps or call/text 415-250-0101.
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Save These Dates for Future AAUW Marin Events
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November 18 at 11:00 am Our now annual program with Elaine Petrocelli at Book Passage
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December 2: Our annual holiday lunch. Always a fun gathering.
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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.
Tell your friends what AAUW is doing. Word of mouth is the best way to recruit new members!
Why Join? AAUW offers you 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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PLEASE NOTE IF YOU HIT THE UNSUBSCRIBE BUTTON BELOW YOU WILL NO LONGER RECEIVE AAUW MARIN NEWSLETTERS. | | | | |
