Advancing Gender Equity for Women and Girls | | |
FEBRUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER
edited by Cherie Sorokin, Dottie Burk, and Ann Vercoutere
| | |
What Has Changed? A lot, but focusing here just on just a few things related to science and education, areas near and dear to AAUW hearts:
-
According to a January 2026 article in Nature, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, two of the largest public supporters of scientific research in the US, are in line to lose significant funding starting in 2026. The administration's proposed budget for 2026 (not yet approved) contemplates a 35% reduction in non-defense related scientific research, essentially reducing spending for scientific research to 1991 levels.
- According to Grant Witness, an online database that has been tracking the termination of funds for scientific research at the NSF and NIH, there have already been significant cuts to STEM education grants and scientific research grants by the NSF and NIH. Cuts and "rethinking" of previous grants were focused principally on projects that "are not aligned with the goals or agency priorities under the current administration, including but not limited to projects related to diversity, equity and inclusion, environmental justice and misinformation/disinformation."
- As we learned at the recent branch program at the Buck Institute, funding for projects related to women's health has also been delayed or cut back.
- Beyond scientific research, as has been widely reported in the press and by AAUW, overall funding for higher education has been seriously compromised and government definitions of eligibility for scholarships and loans is about to change.
What Has Not Changed?
-
In this environment, AAUW's fellowship and grant program is increasingly important, particularly in STEM fields and in graduate and post-graduate level research in fields not necessarily "aligned" with priorities under the current administration.
- Women are still underpaid in STEM fields (as well as in others!), so our work to end the pay gap continues to be important.
- Women rely more on loans to fund their education than men, and changes to eligibility for higher education grants and loans may disproportionately affect women.
What Can You Do?
-
Your voice can make a difference. Write, or better yet call, our Senators Padilla and Schiff and Congressman Huffman to let them know how important it is to fund scientific research and how women may be affected disproportionately by the Administration's proposed cuts to scientific research and funding for higher education and potential changes to definitions of eligibility for loans and grants.
- Your donations to AAUW's Greatest Needs Fund help AAUW maintain the flexibility to advocate for changes to government funding and policies that disproportionately affect women and girls. Consider a generous donation before the end of AAUW's fiscal year in June.
| | |
AAUW California sent a letter to senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff asking them to conduct Congressional hearings and oversight of the Administration's announced plans to move key education programs to other agencies, and to block the proposed dismantling of the Department of Education which was created by Congress and assigned specific duties by statute.
The letter points out that the proposed changes will hollow out civil rights enforcement and move core K-12 and higher education functions into agencies that do not have expertise in education, but instead focus on labor, health or foreign policy.
AAUW Marin's Board approved adding our branch's name as a signatory to the letter, joining with 67 other branches in California. AAUW branches in other states are signing similar letters in this coordinated grassroots communication effort by AAUW.
| | Look for the program invitation with more details coming SOON and please RSVP. | |
January Program at the Buck was a Hit!
RSVPs came quickly for our January meeting at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. Those lucky enough to attend gathered first in the I.M. Pei designed main lobby/atrium for coffee. Moving to the auditorium we were greeted by our own member Afaf Meleis, PhD, a Buck Board Trustee, and Brian Van Weele, Chief Philanthropic Officer, for an overview of the remarkable work occurring at the institute and an introduction to the Women’s Healthy Aging Innovation Center.
We heard talks delivered by two Buck Institute researchers involved in the Center. Francesca Duncan, PhD, spoke on “Women’s Healthy Aging and the Impact of Ovarian Health” and Deena Emera, PhD, presented “Evolutionary Insights into the Mystery of Menopause.” After the talks in the auditorium, we climbed the angled stairs (Pei did not like right angles) to the Center for Healthy Aging in Women lab where we were treated to a presentation by Bikem Soygur-Kaya, PhD, the Reproductive Biology Hub Director. The visit ended back in the atrium with a delicious lunch.
Our appreciation goes to all involved in this fun and enlightening visit and a special thank you to Afaf for coordinating and sponsoring the event.
For more information about the Buck and events open to the public, such as the Community Seminar Series, click HERE.
| | Deena Emera, Francesca Duncan and Afaf Meleis | | Francesca Duncan's opening slide showing the spectacular setting of the Buck Institute | | Deena Emera is studying the bowhead whale ovary! | | Francesca Duncan's closing slide. Healthy aging is the goal. | | Members squeeze into the reproductive biology lab. | | Bikem Soygur-Kaya showcases her research in the lab. | |
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.
| | |
Branch Members Invited to Zoom with Behind the Headlines
John Carroll, Marin County Superintendent of Schools, will be the speaker via Zoom at Behind the Headlines in February. He'll be talking about the impact of federal funding cuts on schools and educational programs in Marin, among other things. The group meets at 6:00 PM Wednesday, February 11, for an hour. If you'd like the zoom link to join, please contact Cherie Sorokin.
| | |
Member News
Do you know about a member who has done something notable that should be included in the next newsletter? Published a book? Received an award? Reached a milestone birthday like 100? Please let us know!
| | |
Celebrating our Newest Member
Maureen Broderick has recently joined us. She earned her BS and MBA from USF. She is the founder and CEO of several businesses, including WorldWideWomen. Check it out here. She is now retired, but her passion is education and support for women and girls. This certainly fits our mission.
| |
Concern
Are you aware of a member who is ill or grieving or in need of our support and best wishes. If so, please contact board secretary Sarah Pruden. Sarah and Gerrie Young have kindly offered to send cards on behalf of the branch.
| | |
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.
| | |
GO PENGUINS!
The final home game of Dominican's basketball season is Saturday, February 28, and they will be playing Fresno Pacific University. The game is at 1pm. The AAUW fans will be out front around 12:45. You can just come in on your own if you arrive later. Anyone with questions can contact Dianne Sheridan.
| | Members cheered on the Dominican Penguins women's basketball team at a December game. | | |
Art Farther Afield
Our next Art Farther Afield trip will be on Friday, February 27 for a tour of the Oakland Museum of California Art. Entry is $19 and there is a parking lot below the museum. Our favorite docent Avril Angevine will be meeting us at 11 AM for a tour of the California Art Galleries. Contact Diana Lyster if you wish more information.
| | |
Bocce
The next big event will be held February 10 at the Albert Park Courts in San Rafael at 10 AM. You don't need to know how to play! Come for the fun. Contact Ann Vercoutere if interested.
| |
Hiking Group
The next hike will be February 3. We are heading up to Phoenix Lake Trails. It's about a 5-mile loop. Contact Ann Vercoutere if interested.
| |
LitWits Reading Group
LitWits meets next on Wednesday, February 18., 2026, to review and discuss Tomorrow Will be Better (1948), the second of three books by Betty Smith that the group is reading. LitWits meets in members' homes, 3rd Wednesday at 10 AM September through June. New members or guests are welcome. Info: Ann Thomas, or 415-924-9559.
| |
What Are You Reading?
What Are You Reading book group meets at 10 AM on the second Monday of the month on Zoom. Members share what they are reading. You always come away with a list of great books to read. What could be better than a referral from an erudite woman friend! Contact Cherie Sorokin or 415 730-0204 if you wish to join the group.
| | | |
Reading Arts Group
The Reading Arts group is reading After Annie by Anna Quindlen this month. We meet on Thursday, Feb. 19th at 1 PM to chat and discuss the book. Like to join us? Please contact Ann Jessup for information.
| |
Booklovers
Booklovers is meeting Tuesday, February 3rd to discuss The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Contact Carol Hoffman if you want to join.
| |
Nonfiction Reading Group
The AAUW Marin Nonfiction Reading Group is meeting Monday, February 9, 1 pm on Zoom to discuss A History of God by Karen Armstrong. If you would like to be on the group’s email list and join us, please email Phyllis Kuehn for the reading list and Zoom link. We always welcome new members! The Group meets the second Monday of the month at 1 pm on Zoom.
| |
Behind the Headlines
Behind the Headlines meets at 6 PM the second Wednesday of the month for discussion of current issues, generally tied to AAUW's mission. October through March meetings are on Zoom. April through September meetings are in person at the home of Cherie Sorokin in Tiburon. Contact Cherie Sorokin or 415 730-0204 if you are interested in attending or joining the group. Speaker for February will be John Carroll, Superintendent of Marin County Schools. He will be talking about, among other things, federal funding cuts affecting Marin County school programs.
| |
Happy Hour Group
The next gathering of the group is Thursday, February 5, 4 - 6 PM, at Il Fornaio in the Corte Madera Town Center. Contact Dottie Burk if you would like to join the group this month.
| |
Homeward Bound Chef Events
Join members of AAUW Marin for an evening of culinary demonstrations and delicious food. Homeward Bound is focused on solutions to homelessness with a range of long-term supportive housing programs for families and adults. Local, renowned chefs are featured and always guarantee a well-spent evening out and the opportunity to support this worthy cause. Contact Dianne Sheridan if interested or for a schedule of upcoming events.
| |
Meet Me at the Movies!
The Movie Group saw The Tale of Sylian at the Rafael Theater, an interesting blending of documentary, fable and family drama. The story takes place in Macedonia, where a family who farmed for decades is forced to seek work abroad. After the movie, the group met at My Thai for dinner to talk about our opinions of the movie. Most agreed it was interesting. We meet the second Tuesday of the month- next on February 9. The movie will be announced closer to the date. Contact Mary Mossteller or Freddie Greene if you would like to learn about the group or join us.
| | |
French Conversation
Cheres Francophiles,
Au mois de février nous retournerons au clubhouse de Peacock Gap HOA pour notre rendez-vous grace a nos hôtesses, Lynn et Erika. C’est mercredi le 11 février a 1:30 PM. Plus de details seront dans l’invitation officielle. Santé! Contact Janet Lynn or 415/755-8486 if interested.
| |
Spanish Conversation--Drop In for Friendly, Casual Conversation
Normalmente, nos reunimos los martes a las 12:30 PM por una hora, la segunda y cuarta semana de cada mes. We meet at Gott's in the Bon Air Shopping Center. Pick up lunch or a cup of coffee, look for our group of intrepid Spanish speakers at one of the long tables to the right of the bar in the back, or if the weather is nice, just outside at the picnic tables, and join the conversation. Lo importante es charlar! Preguntas? Please contact one of the organizers if you have questions. Nancy Finston, Vicki Samo, Cherie Sorokin, or Leslie Zimring.
| |
Handcraft Circle
Our next meeting is February 17 at Ann Jessup’s from 1-4 PM. Details and any size constraints will be communicated by Ann to members. Contact Mary Mossteller if you would like to learn about the group or join us.
| |
Play Mah Jongg?
Start off the New Year with a friendly Mah Jongg game. We play Wednesdays in members' homes 1:30 to 3:30 PM. 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. You play when available. If you would like to learn, contact Chris and she will give you a list of teachers. We play for a quarter per game which we donate to AAUW Marin Scholarship Fund. Join us!
And speaking of Mah Jongg...
| | Mah Jonng Group Throws a Fundraising Tea Party | | |
Mah Jongg members threw a Tea Party for 20 paying guests on January 22nd. There were 5 sandwich makers and 5 dessert bakers. Members offered chairs, dishes and candy favors. One member even took on the job of washing about a hundred dishes! All of their efforts raised $665.00 for the AAUW Marin Scholarship Fund. The group received much praise. One guest, who had enjoyed high tea in London and other places, proclaimed this Tea Party was the best!
Special shout out to Sara Goerke for offering her beautiful home and taking charge of set up. Pauline Nacamuli organized all the delicious food and made the flower arrangements. Amy Anderson was the lead organizer. She was sincerely grateful for each and every contribution that made the Tea Party a highly successful event.
| | So Much to Do, So Little Time | | |
Keep Educated!
-
Brush Up on Your Women's History! Check out THE HELLO GIRLS playing at Ross Valley Players through March 1. Nancy Major is interested in getting a group together to attend the 2 PM matinee on 2-14-26. Contact Nancy directly if you are interested. The Play is based on the true story of the first women soldiers in the U.S. Army, who served as bilingual telephone operators during WWI. The play follows these women from their recruitment in the U.S. to their deployment in France, highlighting their crucial role in wartime communication.
-
Tune in to one of the Buck Institute's Live Better Longer Community Seminars. We learned about these seminars which focus on aging when we visited the Buck for branch program in January. These are both in person and on Zoom and the cost is $10 either way. Here is the link to sign up.
-
Did you miss the Zoom on continuing attacks on abortion and reproductive choice? Here is the link to watch the video of Professor Leah Litman's excellent talk to the Silicon Valley Branch.
-
The AAUW 2026 Virtual Economic Empowerment Schedule is available. Know someone (maybe even yourself?) who could benefit from free training on salary negotiation or managing finances? These are great webinars. Check out the schedule and register!
-
Resubscribe to AAUW emails and publications. Mission & Action is AAUW national's monthly newsletter. It's a great way to stay in touch with what is going on at AAUW, to receive notice of webinars, to hear about our most recent advocacy. If you aren't getting Mission & Action, you may have inadvertently unsubscribed. You can resubscribe using this link.
Be Active!
-
Attend the AAUW Winter Member Gathering on Zoom. Celebrate our achievements, learn about our collective impact, get inspired by the work of other branches. February 18th at 1:30 PM Pacific time. Register here.
-
Attend a Black History Month event in Marin. The Marin County Library is hosting two programs at several libraries throughout the month--a Ballerina's Tale, and Black Voices in American Opera--plus there will also a book group discussion of James McBrides' The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. Specific dates and locations are listed on the library's online calendar. Watch for other events in your town and show your support for this annual celebration of the history and achievements of Black Americans.
-
Download and share the Legacy of Marin City, A California Black History Story. It's an amazing history of which many in Marin are unaware. Here is the link for the download.
-
Consider joining the next local No Kings Day (March 28) or other protest demonstrations. Show your support for democracy. If you have participated in the past, tell people about what it was like, why it was important to you and why they should consider joining the next protest. Refresh your understanding of AAUW's policy on keeping participation in protests nonpartisan when representing AAUW. If you are interested in learning about your rights in documenting and recording ICE activities, consider registering for this virtual training webinar which will be held on February 5 at 5 PM Pacific Time.
-
Keep our local, state and federal politicians informed. As budget cuts and other changes loom, our elected officials at all levels need to know how their actions can negatively impact women and girls. Send letters and emails or reach out personally. Contact information is easily available on the web.
-
Join one of our branch's meetings with a local Marin politician. Cherie Sorokin and Barbara Strong are setting up meetings with County Supervisors and local elected officials throughout Marin in April and May. Email Cherie or Barbara if you are interested is being a part of these meetings.
| |
-
March 21 (Saturday 9:30 - Noon) Presentation by the Marin County Civil Grand Jury Association at the Corte Madera Town Center Community Room.
-
April 11 (Saturday, 2– 4 PM) Afternoon Tea with two branch authors at The Key Room at Homeward Bound
-
May 13 (Saturday, 10 AM - Noon) Annual Branch Meeting and Brunch at The Club at McInnis Park.
For more AAUW Marin branch meeting dates, check our website HERE.
| | Know Someone Who'd Like to Join AAUW? | | |
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 Mardi Diamond for membership information.
| | |
© 2019 AAUW
AAUW is a top-rated 501(c)(3) charity. Donations are tax deductible.
| | |
PLEASE NOTE IF YOU HIT THE UNSUBSCRIBE BUTTON BELOW YOU WILL NO LONGER RECEIVE AAUW MARIN NEWSLETTERS.
If you did this accidentally, contact Ann Vercoutere.
| | | | |
