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APRIL 2023 NEWSLETTER
edited by Dottie Burk, Jeanne Lese, Cherie Sorokin and
Leslie Zimring
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AAUW Advances Equity for Women and Girls! | |
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Time to Vote!
AAUW's Annual Election kicks off on April 5. Please watch for your ballot and unique voting credentials which will be emailed to you directly from Vote@simplyvoting.com and please do vote! There are three items on the ballot: Election of Directors, revisions to AAUW's statement of Public Policy Priorities, and revision of AAUW's national bylaws to better align them with current governance standards and practices. Cherie Sorokin, our Program Chair and Secretary of the National Board, spent the last two years heading up the subcommittee on the bylaws revision. She'd sure appreciate your vote in favor of the proposed new bylaws! Note, the proposed revision focuses only on updating governance practices plus some clarification and reorganization of existing provisions. The revision does not propose changes to AAUW's membership degree requirement.
We're in Good Company!
Mission in Action, the AAUW national newsletter, recently highlighted "AAUW Trailblazers"--an amazing list of members, fellows, and AAUW award winners pioneering advances in gender equity. If you missed it, use the link below to our website where Jeannette Rankin, Shirley Chisholm, Patsy Mink, Nancy Pelosi, Jackie Speier, Edith Greene, Francis Perkins, Marjorie Child Husted, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Tererai Trent, Dorothy Boulding Ferabee, Nancy Grace Roman and many. many more are highlighted. Makes you really proud to be in their company. Here is the link
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Spring 2023 AAUW Greatest Needs Campaign
Please join us in supporting AAUW’s efforts to ensure that everyone gets the same opportunity to “learn, earn and lead”.
The Greatest Needs Fund allows AAUW to respond to the most critical and emerging issues affecting women. As a leader in advancing equity for girls and women, AAUW’s CEO is one of a group of leaders who meets with White House staff weekly on women’s issues. Your donation will be doubled by your board of directors and branch angels until the $4,500 Marin Matching Challenge is fulfilled. Don’t miss this opportunity to double your impact. To donate: Go to AAUW National Website or BY POST – Mail your check made to “AAUW Fund” to Lisa Allanson Campaign Chair, 23 La Crescenta Way, San Rafael, CA. 94901.
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AAUW CA Lobby Days
On March 21 and 22, 120 members representing 50 California branches met with state representatives and/or their staff to inform them about AAUW and advocate for their support of AAUW California’s three top priority bills. Meetings were held in person at the Capitol, in person with staffers in the district office, or virtually via Zoom. Prior to Lobby Days, AAUW CA’s Public Policy Committee selected 30 bills that best represent AAUW’s mission and values to track and support this year. You can read about the selection process and the Public Policy Priorities HERE.
The 3 priority bills that were presented to legislators are:
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AB 549 – Requires all state agencies to conduct an evaluation of all their departments to ensure the state does not discriminate against women and report their findings every 2 years.
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AB 1394 - (AAUW CA is a co-sponsor) Provides that a social media platform that knowingly or recklessly, facilitated, aided, or abetted an act of sexual exploitation may be sued.
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SB 287 - Prohibits a social media platform from using a design, algorithm, or feature that the platform knows or should have known that the feature causes child users to experience addiction to the platform or other harms.
BELOW: Marin branch members Nancy Major and Dottie Burk and Lynda Shafhauser (Madera Branch) met with State Senator Anna Caballero’s (District 14) aide, Yarelyn Trujillo via Zoom.
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Successful Gov Trek Finale
AAUW California's newest program Gov Trek concluded on Saturday, March 25 with eight teams of high school girls presenting their campaign simulations in a spirited competition. Awards were given for best candidate speech, best campaign management, best voter outreach plan, best campaign ad & flyer, and the grand prize for the best team. You can view the competition HERE.
Kudos again to branch member Nancy Chiu who served on the Gov Trek committee, chaired a panel discussion, and gave the closing summation of the excellent speakers who presented over the course of five Saturday sessions.
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President's Message - Ask Dianne
Spring, a good time for new beginnings and also a good time to invite new members to our Marin Branch. Think about inviting them to one of our upcoming events this month or coming to an interest group with you. Guests are allowed to attend an interest group up to two times before joining AAUW. During 2022 we acquired ten new members and three have joined this year so far. Speaking of interest groups, maybe you would like to start a new one. Check the list on our website under activities to see what you think would be a good addition. Contact Vicki Samo with your idea.
Dianne
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Two Great Programs Coming Up | |
Wednesday April 12, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Marin Women Run for Office.
This will be a unique opportunity to hear from three different women who hold elected office in Marin: Mary Sackett (County Supervisor), Rachel Farc (Novato City Council), and Samantha Ramirez (Marin Healthcare District). The program will be moderated by Maika Llorens (San Rafael City Council). Come hear their perspectives on running for office and serving the community as elected member of local government. Maybe you'll get inspired to run!!!
AAUW Marin is a co-sponsor of this program, so we hope to see many of you there at the Creekside Room on the Dominican Campus. RSVP and purchase tickets for this event through Eventbrite here. Registration is $15. Space is limited. A reminder email will be sent next week, but as the invitation to this program has been sent to multiple organizations, we highly recommend registering ASAP.
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Saturday, April 15, 10:00 - Noon. Stories Make a Difference.
Join us for an engaging presentation by Anita Gail Jones, storyteller, artist, novelist and philanthropist among other things. She has stories to tell! Come hear how the power of storytelling affects us all and even led Anita to write her first novel based on her family's real and imagined stories. The Peach Seed is scheduled to be published this summer.
This program will also be held at the Creekside Room at Dominican University. Cost is $15 by check or $16 by PayPal. Checks should be sent to AAUW Marin c/o Sue Torres, 256 Marinda Dr., Fairfax, 94930. If you use PayPal (Link is here) your payment also serves as your RSVP. If paying by check, please also RSVP to the invitation to be sent next week so we know your check in in the mail. Please RSVP by April 10 so we know approximately how many expect.
Same Day! 1:00 PM at Passages - see Felecia Gaston interviewed (see below in newsletter)
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Noted local muralist Fred Alvarado joined us in March to talk about his own art and the role of murals in culture both as art and as political statements. Fred has an MFA focused on social practice and he often works collaboratively with marginalized or traumatized Bay Area communities and communities abroad. Fred's work includes everything from washing brushes to grant writing to the mathematics of the design as he works with community artists to plan and execute the creation of each mural. On the left is Fred sharing his website with Nancy Finston https://fredalvaradoarchives.squarespace.com/ Other photos show samples of his work. | |
2023 Tech Trek Girls Chosen
Did you hear the whoop of delight on Sunday, March 26 as six 7th grade girls found out that they had been chosen to receive a sponsorship to Tech Trek. Yes, the following girls are quite excited: Abigail Woodbridge and Madeline Leung from Hall; Amelia Loedolf and Tallula Rice from Mill Valley; Danna Esparza from Venetia Valley and Leila Torres-Benavides from White Hill. The Tech Trek committee (Angela Nuckles, Kathleen Clark, Melanie Chancellor, and Amy Anderson) was impressed with the quality of the girls’ essays and the poise they showed during the interviews. To all the members who gave to our scholarship fund specifically for Tech Trek, the committee extends a huge “Thank You”
The girls will attend Camp Sonoma, July 23 to 29, 2023. Please contact Amy Anderson if you can be a workshop monitor or help with driving on field trips.
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All You Have to Do Is Ask
You know that AAUW's mission to empower women and girls can change the world. AAUW Marin is a wonderful organization, so why not invite a friend, neighbor, or colleague to attend an event or meeting? Many people want to find a community of women such as AAUW. Often all that is needed is an invitation to join us. Contact Membership Chair Chris O'Neill if you have questions or would like her to contact a prospective member. Next month Chris will explain changes regarding membership renewal and dues changes.
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MEET DIANA LYSTER
A longtime San Rafael resident, Diana has lived many places and had many interesting careers. Among those careers she’s been a model, created her own clothing line which was sold in I.Magnin, wrote the Ferry Tales, a newspaper inspired by a desire to promote ferry ridership (she met her husband on the Sausalito ferry), produced educational seminars for those in the wine industry and her dream job as corporate event manager for the Fine Arts Museums. In addition to California, Diana has had adventures while living in France and Saudi Arabia. Throughout her life, Diana has had a keen interest in art and art history. Now that her two children are grown and she is retired, she is pursuing her love of art by volunteering at Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, painting in a small studio there and taking as many art history classes as she can. We are so pleased to have you join us, Diana, and look forward to getting to know you and learning more about your interesting life.
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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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Art Tour
Ansel Adams in our Time at the DeYoung Museum, Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 10 AM. Purchase tickets in advance and we'll lunch in the Museum Cafe. For Car pooling, meet at Strawberry Shopping Center Parking Lot just south of West America Bank at 9:30. RSVP to Gerrie Young (please include your cell number) or call 415-497-1247. In June we're heading to the Asian Art Museum.
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Non-fiction Reading Group
The Nonfiction Reading Group is meeting Monday, April 24, at 1:00 on Zoom to discuss An Indigenous People’s History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. 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 members who normally meet on the second Wednesday of the month are instead invited to join the Marin Women Run for Office program on April 12. If you are not already on the Behind the Headlines email list and wish to be notified of future meetings, contact group leader Cherie Sorokin.
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New Yorker Reading Group
The New Yorker Reading Group is meeting Monday, April 10, at 1:00 on Zoom. We have an interesting selection of articles covering topics including: the end of the English major, what does Indigenous really mean, light pollution problems, re-inventing infant nutrition, seed catalogs, important caterpillars, and other articles. Something for everyone! All are welcome to join us. You can read The New Yorker on line free through the library, and we will also send you links to the articles. If you would like to be on our email list and receive the list of articles and Zoom link each month, contact leader Phyllis Kuehn .
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LitWits Reading Group
The Painted Veil, by English playwright/screenwriter/novelist W. Somerset Maugham, is about an English couple in colonial China in the early 20th century. This is the first of three Maugham novels the group will read, followed by Cakes and Ale and The Razor's Edge in May and June. If you would like to join us Contact group leader Ann Thomas. LitWits meets 3rd Wednesday of the month (4/19) at 10 AM.
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What Are You Reading?
We meet on the third Tuesday of the month (3/21) at 10am to share comments and thoughts on books that individual members are reading. Contact Cherie Sorokin if you are interested in joining. The group is seeking new members.
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Reading Arts Group
On Thursday, March 16 1PM - We'll discuss The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton. The novel was inspired by the real life of Chicago heiress Mary Jayne Gold. If you would like to join the group, contact group leader Ann Jessup.
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Happy Hour Group
Next Happy Hour is Thursday, April 6 @ 4:30. Join us for conversation and libations. Contact Dottie Burk.
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Meet me at the Movies!
Hidden Letters at the Lark, One Fine Morning, and Tar are the some of the recent movies that we have seen and discussed. Want to join us? Contact Mary Mossteller and/or Freddie Greene
Handcraft Circle:
What is your talent/passion? Meeting monthly in members' homes, we knit, crochet, quilt, scrapbook, make jewelry, etc. Join us! Contact Mary Mossteller
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Play Mah Jongg?
Join our Mah Jongg Group. We play every Wednesday, 1:00-3:00 PM, in members’ homes or online using Myjongg.net. Contact Chris O’Neill for more information or if you would like the name of a teacher Chris found.
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Homeward Bound Fresh Starts Chef Events
The Chef Event Dinner Group has restarted. They have some very exciting local chefs lined up. If you make a reservation for one of the Chef Events let Dianne Sheridan know. If there is more then one of you, she can ask that you be seated together.
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Hiking
Ann Vercoutere will have new information in May regarding the hiking club. Contact her if you are interested.
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So Much to Do, So Little Time | |
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Lights, camera, action! AAUW California will roll out the red carpet for its blockbuster Annual Event on Saturday, April 22nd at 9 am.
The virtual Academy AAUWards will feature red carpet interviews with the famous actors and directors of AAUW California, impressive speakers, and the suspenseful opening of secret envelopes to reveal the winner(s) of the Equity Champion award, the State Named Gift Honoree, and the Branch Activity of the Year awards. You’ll see screenings of the finalists for the Speech Trek and Gov Trek competitions and trailers for the Tech Trek program. Then join us for an after-party to mingle with other members and toast AAUW. Register below and prepare to be star-struck.
Register HERE
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April 15, 1:00 at Book Passage
Felecia Gaston, who spoke to us at the Tri-Branch, will be interviewed about this new publication documenting the founding off Marin City as a shipbuilding community during WW II and the housing and social changes affecting Marin City to the pre
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SAVE THE DATE 6/14
Living with the Reality of the Dobbs Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade
June 14, 2023 at 6:00 pm
New Branch Meeting on Zoom
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Got Two Minutes? Become a Two-Minute Activist! | |
Even if you aren't currently in Congress, heading the World Trade Organization, inventing the Hubble Telescope or leading a campaign against discrimination, you can make a difference by advocating for issues important to women, girls and families as an AAUW Two-Minute Activist. AAUW makes it easy! You receive all the tools you need to call or send messages to your Congress persons or state legislators. You can use the language provided by AAUW or add your own thoughts, and at the press of a button your message will be on the way. Last year Two-Minute Activists sent over 200,000 messages, which helped ensure lawmakers knew how we felt on issues either under consideration or missing from legislative agendas. If you aren't already a Two-Minute Activist you can become one HERE. | |
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. | | | | |
