...empowering women since 1922 | |
Early Bird Rate Extended
to Tuesday, March 31!
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2026 AAUW of Michigan Convention
April 24-25, 2026
Firekeepers Casino & Hotel 11177 East Michigan Avenue
Battle Creek, Michigan 49014
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Great news for those of us who procrastinate! The Early Bird Registration Rate for the Biennial Convention has been extended to Tuesday, March 31! To be eligible for the reduced rate, registration forms received by mail must be postmarked by March 31.
The theme for the convention is "Educate to Elevate: Women Leading the Way." Join fellow AAUWMI members and friends to explore new ideas, share experiences, and build lasting relationships at this exciting in-person gathering filled with inspiration, connection, and growth!
Convention Overview
Friday, April 24, includes an optional local tour focused on the rich history of the Battle Creek area in the afternoon. See tour description in the next paragraph. A limited number of bus seats are still available! Get your tour ticket now! The day concludes with a dinner reception in the evening. Saturday, April 25, will be the Convention and Annual Meeting.
| | Note: The printable form includes additional details not found in the text of this email. | QR code to register online | | On Friday Afternoon, join Battle Creek members on a bus tour of Battle Creek historic sites. See the city's Underground Railroad and Sojourner Truth roots; learn about Kellogg, Post and Ralston cereal inventors; note the sanitarium and religious village they inspired; visit Kimball House; and more. On this tour, you'll meet Hope, AAUW-commissioned sculpture at Kellogg Community College, pop into the beloved downtown used book site and visitors center and museum, and end with a stop at Horrocks Farm Market. | Battle Creek branch members pose next to Hope, the bronze statue they commissioned for their 100th anniversary. See Hope on the Friday afternoon tour of historic sites in Battle Creek. | |
New! Battle Creek branch members will have a limited number of convention t-shirts for $20 available for sale at the vendor tables! | | | On Friday Evening, join friends and colleagues for a night of entertainment featuring a cash bar, dinner, Golden Recognition Awards for members who have belonged to AAUW for 50 years or more, trivia games, and great prizes! | | On Saturday Morning, enjoy a full breakfast before AAUWMI President Amy Shamroe opens the convention with an exciting announcement that will impact AAUW members statewide. Keynote speaker Tremayne Parquet, Deputy Director of Advancement for AAUW (National), will discuss the new strategic plan and Five Star Program and field questions. With more than twenty years of dedicated service to AAUW, Tremayne has been instrumental in supporting branches nationwide with membership and fundraising initiatives, developing essential resources and tools, and overseeing member support and customer service operations. | | Tremayne Parquet, Deputy Director of Advancement for AAUW and Convention keynote speaker | | Currently, Tremayne focuses on the AAUW Five Star Program, a strategic framework designed to guide branches toward success in alignment with AAUW’s mission and priorities. | | |
The morning wraps up with breakout sessions facilitated by two of our AAUWMI members.
Mary Nameth (Dearborn branch) will present "Recruiting New Members."
Targeting the younger generation is imperative to the future of the AAUW. Through sharing and guided discussion, Mary will help you generate ideas specific to your Branch that will be beneficial in recruiting and retaining new members.
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Sheila Blair (Adrian/Irish Hills branch) will present "Revive To Thrive: Incorporating Self-Care into Branches to Re-Energize Burnt Out Leaders."
We keep asking more of our branch leaders and we are struggling to find women who will accept leadership roles. This session will aid in developing programs to re-invigorate current leaders and also recruit new leaders through new expectations and leadership paradigms.
| | | Saturday Afternoon will start with a delicious lunch, our statewide awards presentation and another special announcement, followed by our Annual Meeting and a discussion featuring AAUW Fellowship recipients, Dr. Demet Korucu, president of the Capitol Area branch, and Hanikka Muna, a third-year medical student at the University of Michigan. Finally, we will hear closing remarks from current state president, Amy Shamroe. | | Dr. Demet Korucu, was a speaker at AAUWMI's 2025 Women's Equality Day celebration. A native of Turkey, Dr. Korucu, received an AAUW Fellowship to complete her educational journey in physics in the United States. She is currently an Instructor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at Michigan State University, and she also serves as president of the newly formed Capitol Area Branch. | | Hanikka Muna is a third-year student at the U of M Medical School and a 2022–2023 AAUW Selected Professions Fellow. Originally from Dededo, Guåhan, she brings an Indigenous Pacific Islander perspective to her clinical, research, and community work. Ms. Muna serves as Executive Director of Wolverine Street Medicine, where she works to expand access to care for individuals experiencing homelessness. | | We invite you to extend your stay after the convention for a great meal and night of entertainment. We encourage you to turn this opportunity into a girls' weekend or a couple's refuge. | |
Lodging must be booked by you directly with a local hotel. We have two hotel options: Firekeepers Casino/Hotel or Quality Inn & Suites, both next door to each other. | |
Firekeepers is providing a discounted rate to our guests at $259 per night (group code 042426AAUW expires 4/9/26), which includes:
- Convenience of all weekend events under one roof
- Free valet parking (please tip)
- Free WiFi
- Bell Service
- Multiple restaurants and room service
- Multi-level pool area with fountain, hot tub, sauna, and steam room
- State-of-the-art fitness center
- $10 free play in the casino
- On-site shopping
- Lounges and live entertainment
- Other typical room amenities
Reservations can be made online by following this link: AAUWOFMI Room Block. Note the link to input the group code 042426AAUW for the discounted group code just under the date fields for your stay. If you prefer to make your reservation by phone, please call 877-352-8777 and mention group code 042426AAUW. Please note, reservations must be made by 10:00 p.m. on April 9, 2026 to receive the discounted rate. The address for Firekeepers is 11177 E. Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, Michigan 49014.
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The average room rate for Quality Inn & Suites is $166 per night. The address for this hotel is 11081 E. Michigan Avenue, Battle Creek, MI 49014; phone number is 269- 924-0227.
If you have any questions about this event, please email Sheila Blair at sheilablairpmp@gmail.com.
See you in Battle Creek!
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