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Please join us for this very special meeting!

WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 5, 2025

WHERE: Scottsdale Community College, Turquoise Room

Directions: Drive East on Chaparral.

Take the 1 st entrance to SCC.

Take immediate left.

Follow it around to Parking Lot A.

When you turn into Parking Lot A, the Turquoise Room will be straight ahead.

WHO: Stacey Sutherland, Program Director, Training and Resources United to Stop Trafficking

WHAT: Human Trafficking and the Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network

We hope to see all our members at this meeting. Friends, relatives, and prospective membersare always welcome!

We will not be able to provide refreshments at this meeting. If you wish to bring a beverage, please bring it in a covered container.

Judy Hubbard will make arrangements for those who wish to meet for lunch at Wally’s following the meeting. Please let Judy know ASAP at trinahub@aol.com .

Brought to you by Judy Hubbard and Gail Stempil, your Program Vice-Presidents

April is also Annual Meeting:

We need you with us on April 5 to vote on our 2025-2026 slate of officers:

President: Laraine Rodgers

President-Elect: Open

Co-Vice Presidents Membership: Judy Hubbard and Gail Stempil

Co-Vice Presidents FInance: Lennie Andrews,. Viva Ashcroft

Coordinator Programs: Jacqui Sasser

Past President: Alice Buck

LUNCHEON FOR INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS: SAVE THE DATE

WHEN: Saturday May 3rd at 11:30 am

WHERE: Red Lobster, 4802 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix 85254

MENU: Choice of Fish & Chips; Grilled Shrimp on rice; or Grilled Salmon, Cheddar Biscuits, Beverage & Dessert

We'll be installing new officers for the 2025-2026 AAUW year. This Luncheon is a Thank You to our members and no charge to you. But you will need to make a reservation by RSVP'ing to: Judy Hubbard at: trinahub@aol.com

Message from the Board...

March has been an active one for our Branch!

March 5, AAUW Scottsdale’s Scholarship Committee’s Jennifer Quinn and I attended the Inaugural President’s Club Scholarship Breakfast at Scottsdale Community College. At our table was the first person who received an AAUW Scholarship! With this financial assistance, Jeanne Alspaugh was able to complete her degree in Animal Science-Equine. After a career in that industry, Jeannie is now a luxury travel advisor in Scottsdale.

March 11 was AAUW-AZ’s Legislative Day at the Capitol. In addition to great speakers, we

had lunch during a discussion with elected officials. Then all AAUW Arizona members in

attendance chose either the House or the Senate, where we were recognized! In attendance, above, were Jodi Liggett, Laraine Rodgers, Lynn Spinelli. Karen Ramos and Alice Buck.

Scottsdale member JENNIFER QUINN and JEANNE ALSPAUGH above at March 5 Breakfast.

AAUW-AZ President Becky Gunn and Scottsdale Branch member Jodi Liggett at Legislative Day

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWS

Lunch Bunch...

Ladies: Do you long for that sophisticated atmosphere while dining on delicious food? I have just the place for you on April 3, at 12:00 PM. It’s called Seasons 52 and it’s at 2502 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 140 just waiting to be visited by our kind of group! You could choose to split a wood-fired artichoke flatbread or the fresh mozzarella and chicken flatbread to waken up your tastebuds. Then you can continue with the “wakening” process by sharing avocado toast or grilled artichokes (of course you DON’T HAVE TO SHARE! No one is watching!)

But if your tastes run to healthier fare, there is a lobster bisque and spinach and strawberry salad just waiting to be paired! (Well, at least the spinach salad is healthy!) But if you want to go home with no “guiltees," you can choose a larger salad of sesame grilled salmon or Maui tuna crunch. Both are yummy and still within the calorie count for the day. 

Did I say calorie count -- Oh, dear. Have I mentioned the delectable “mini indulgences”? Well, they are just mini but taste like they are “mighty” -- raspberry chocolate chip cannoli, peanut butter chocolate or turtle cheesecake among the variety that is served. And in lovely mini glasses that just set off the meal you have just eaten. 

Please let me know by April 1 if you plan on attending. 



--Cynthia Peplinski, at cynthiadysart@cox.net

Books Etc.

Lovely bibliophiles, Come and join us on April 16 at the home of Nadine Schwarz at 9097 E. Meadow Hills Dr. Scottsdale, to discuss the novel, Attribution, by Linda Moore. Anne Palazzo will be our discussion leader ( a lady who can discuss anything!). We begin at 1:00 PM. A short synopsis follows:

• Cate, an art historian, leaves her troubled parents and embarks on a doctorate in New York, where she finds herself assigned to a misogynistic advisor. While working on a catalog, she discovers a hidden painting, potentially a Baroque masterpiece, in the university basement. Risking her career and financial stability, she flees to Spain with the painting to consult art experts, further alienating her from her family. On the train to Seville, she meets Antonio, an impoverished duke clinging to the decaying legacy of the House of Olivares, who joins her search. Together, they uncover evidence in Antonio's five-hundred-year-old library, including a document about the artist's final years that could shock the art world. 
• 
  
• Cate grapples with the implications of revealing the truth, fearing it could destroy her career, her family's expectations, and her budding relationship with Antonio.The novel explores themes of grief, family, ambition, and the pursuit of knowledge and truth, set against the backdrop of the art world and 17th-century Spanish art. 
• 
  
• Who could resist this enticing mystery? Please join us to discuss the implications to the art world and Kate’s career. Just let Nadine know at nadiness@cox.net if you will be attending as she might 
• have to put the big pot in the little pot if enough of us show. Don’t forget, Wednesday, April 16!

--Cynthia Peplinski cynthiadysart@cox.net

Good News for Scottsdale Branch!!!

We had a recent donation of over 200 books from an Arizona author and we now have met our goal. I want to thank our Scottsdale Branch members for their support, energy, and time to collect books over these past

several months. There are even funds remaining that will provide the purchase of books in any areas in which we might still have needs.

In April I will be sending out a notice to help prepare the books for delivery to Navajo

Elementary. Preparation will occur in mid-to late-April and delivery in early May. Please

watch for upcoming blast emails and information in the newsletter with this important information.

Again, THANK YOU to all branch members that assisted in this endeavor. You are the

kindest branch of all and helping our community literacy goal!

Warmly,

--Linda Nance

Adopt-A-Book Chair

NEWS FROM NATIONAL....

March 20, 2025

AAUW Condemns Executive Order to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

Take Immediate Action to Protect Students 

Washington, D.C. — The American Association of University Women (AAUW) unequivocally condemns President Trump’s executive order “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities” dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.

“This reckless and shortsighted action threatens to gut vital protections that ensure equal access to higher education and will have devastating consequences for students — especially women, students of color, and those from low-income backgrounds — who rely on federal oversight for their right to an equitable education,” said Gloria L. Blackwell, CEO of AAUW. “Eliminating the Department of Education would decimate federal civil rights enforcement, slash protections against gender-based discrimination, and roll back decades of progress toward making higher education accessible and affordable. This decision is not about streamlining government; it is about stripping students of their rights and futures.” 

For further information regarding this AAUW press release see https://www.aauw.org/resources/news/media/press-releases/aauw-condemns-executive-order-to-dismantle-the-u-s-department-of-education/?emci=ed3be517-e704-f011-90cd-0022482a9fb7&emdi=a709f112-d605-f011-90cd-0022482a9fb7&ceid=28907045

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