Advancing Gender Equity for Women and Girls | | |
MAY 2025 NEWSLETTER
edited by Dottie Burk, Jeanne Lese, Cherie Sorokin, and Ann Vercoutere
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AAUW Has a New Strategic Plan
Drumroll please! AAUW will be announcing a new strategic plan on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, via Zoom. You should have received an email from Gloria Blackwell, our CEO, with registration information. Here’s a quick preview!
Higher education is under attack, rights of women are being threatened, and the challenges to overcoming gender and race-based discrimination of women keep coming! It’s easy to become overwhelmed, but as AAUW women we also know the best way to meet these challenges is to stay focused. So, we’re doubling down on our mission through grantmaking, fellowships, and advocacy, and laying out our more focused priorities in a new strategic plan.
Our new plan is centered on the value of higher education as a critical driver of equity, opportunity, and economic security. Key priorities of the plan include:
· Providing critical funding for women in higher education
· Removing systemic barriers in education and the workplace
· Reinforcing national-branch alignment to maximize impact
Join the webinar on May 13 to hear more details.
Don't Forget to Vote
The AAUW national voting for new directors and some minor administrative bylaw changes and honing of our public policy priorities continues through May 14. You can find out about the candidates, the bylaw changes and the national public policy priorities on the National Election page on the AAUW national website. You should have received a direct link to cast your vote via email from SimplyVoting.org on or about April 14th. Look for it if you haven't already voted.
Take the Pledge for Gender Equity
Did you see the email from Gloria Blackwell yesterday asking you to "take the pledge" for gender equity in 2025? The pledge consists of simple but important steps:
- Speak up when you see attacks on equity
- Engage in events, like town halls, school board meetings, or public demonstrations to make your views known
- Contact elected officials when legislation threatens access and equity in education
- Support AAUW and other organizations working to protect our rights
- Seek facts, beyond the headlines, of how policy changes impact women and girls
Look for the email and take the pledge!
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AAUW CA recently held its annual gathering for members. Hope many of you were able to attend. The gathering centered on ideas in Sean Ginwright’s book The Four Pivots, Reimaging Justice, Reimaging Ourselves. Gainwright is a local activist, and his work focuses on the critical importance of examining and changing ourselves in order to change the world. Gainwright’s book, published in 2023, is available in paperback and audio versions. Pivoting seems to be a necessity these days, but Gainwright’s point is that to be effective pivoting requires some careful self-reflection. A recording of at least some of the meeting will be available soon on the AAUW CA website.
AAUW CA is also having an election of new officers and additionally is asking for approval of a $10 increase in state dues and approval of the AAUW-CA public policy priorities. Voting continues until May 16. On April 26, you should have received an email with a link to vote electronically in the state election. The email would have come from "siteadmin@aauw-ca.org. Check you spam folder if you didn't already see it.
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Chat with Leslie
Dear all,
Please join us for a sensory feast of memories, friends, flowers, and food for our body and mind on May 10th! We will celebrate together, announce our named gift honorees and elect 2025-2026 board officers. Finally, Dr. Cynthia Boaz of Sonoma State will share her thoughts on the state of women. Whew - a lot of wonderful things!
I have heard from several of you that you can't find our invites. I also struggle to keep track of the important stuff in the morass of my emails, so here's the key. When you lose an AAUW invite or a newsletter, search for Constant Contact. That is the sender. Or text me and I will email it to you!
Did you tune in to the state conference on Saturday to hear Cherie’s stirring call to double down on our commitment to AAUW’s mission? Her speech will be available soon on the AAUW-CA website. I'll send a link in my mid-month for May. By the way, if you are having trouble with the platform to renew your membership or donate to the AAUW fund, you are not alone. Check out the article below. It gives you 3 easy ways to renew and while you are there - donate.
AAUW - CA also announced the top CA branch 2024 Fund donors. We were #2 and we were among the 17 branches across the US to earn the 5-star distinction. So nice to see Marin AAUW being honored!
I am looking forward to seeing YOU in 10 days!
Come celebrate together!
Leslie
Leslie O. Zimring
President, AAUW Marin
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Enjoy the company of your AAUW friends at our Annual Spring Brunch as we celebrate our accomplishments over the past twelve months, announce our Named Gift Award winners, thank our retiring board members and officers, elect new board members for the coming year, and hear from keynote speaker, Cynthia Boaz, PhD.
When: May 10 10:00 - Noon
Where: The Club at McInnis Park
Cost: $38.
RSVP: Please respond to the invitation sent on April 22 or the reminder coming tomorrow. The deadline to respond is May 5.
Guests are welcome!
Questions or troubles RSVPing: Contact Katherine
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Members Lobby for AAUW California's Priority Bills
On April 8 and 9, branch members met with California legislators for AAUW CA's Lobby Days. Nancy Major and Dianne Sheridan traveled to Sacramento on the 8th for in person meetings and on the 9th Kathleen Clark, Audrey Zavell, Leslie Zimring, and Dottie Burk met via Zoom with State Assembly Member Damon Connolly's aide Megan Myre to promote AAUW California’s three priority bills for 2025.
Each year the AAUW-CA Public Policy Committee chooses bills to support based on at least one of our four Public Policy Priorities
- Economic security for women,
- Equal access to quality public education for all students,
- Social and racial justice for all members of society, and
- Increased representation of women in leadership roles.
Branch member Nancy Major who serves on the state Public Policy Committee describes the process of selecting bills to support or oppose as follows:
"Our State Public Policy Committee has devoted many hours and completed an entire weekend in March upgrading our Public Policy Priorities and analyzing 66 bills to determine which ones we want our lobbyist to support. The 25 bills we chose were prioritized into A, B, and C bills (according to which bills we want our lobbyist to spend most of her time on), in addition to 8 bills we will be watching for further developments. We are opposing 8 and supporting 17 of these 25 bills."
To see the full 2025 Legislative Agenda go to the Bill Tracking Report. The report is updated as bills move through the legislative process, so you will always be able to see the latest status.
| | Marin Author, Jasmin Darznik, Speaks at April Tea | | On April 12th members and guests enjoyed tea and scones at the Key Room at Homeward Bound. Our speaker Jasmin Darznik, author of “The Good Daughter” "Song of a Captive Bird” and most recently “The Bohemians," spoke about her creative journey, her writing process, and finding her niche as an author focusing on strong, creative women. | | Jasmin autographs a book for Shari Shamsavari dual member of the AAUW Marin and Novato branches | |
Tech Trek Update
Camps are just around the corner and the excitement is mounting!
Tech Trek, a program of AAUW California, encourages young women to be confident in their STEM pursuits. This summer 775 students from over 100 branches will attend one of 8 residential camps or the virtual Tech Trek camp. If you are not familiar with Tech Trek, here's Everything you need to know about Tech Trek.
This year the Marin and Novato branches will sponsor seventeen 7th grade students from 9 schools to a Tech Trek camp; 12 to Camp Franklin at Sonoma State University (June 22-28); 3 to Camp Hopper (July 6-12) at Santa Clara University, and 2 to the Virtual Camp (July 20-25).
Trekkers were nominated by their public-school math & science teachers, completed an application and an essay and were interviewed by our Tech Trek committee before being selected. The Marin and Novato campers (pictured below) will attend an orientation garden party on May 4 to meet each other and to hear about the experience from Tech Trek alums.
Nine branch members and alums have volunteered to be staff at Camp Franklin at Sonoma State. Angela Nuckles, Judy Kramer, Melina Drazien (2018), and Christina Schwartz (2017) will be Dorm Monitors, Amy Anderson and Cindy Demchuk will be class or workshop instructors, Mattea Fazio (2022) will serve as a Peer Counselor, and Lillian Cohen (2024) a Director in Training.
How YOU can contribute to the Tech Trek experience
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Do you know a young woman in STEM that would be inspirational for the campers to meet? The camp schedule includes a Professional Woman’s Panel on Thursday evening where the campers are introduced to women in a variety of STEM careers. This is a highlight event for the trekkers. Contact Cindy Demchuk for more information about this event.
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Be a Class or Workshop monitor. Volunteer for a few hours and see Tech Trek in action. (Angela highly recommends the Money Management session – noisy but fun!) Sign up HERE.
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Camp Franklin at SSU is looking for an Engineering core class instructor. Contact Angela Nuckles for more information about this staff position.
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Camp Hopper at Santa Clara is looking for a Dorm Monitor. Contact Angela Nuckles, an experienced Dorm Monitor, to learn about this rewarding way to contribute to the camp experience.
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Save your newspapers! – Campers have a Build-it-Night where they are challenged as a dorm team to engineer & build a structure from just newspaper and a roll of tape. Judy and Angela will arrange a pickup prior to camp.
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NCCWSL is on!
The National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL), formerly a program of AAUW, is now managed by NASPA the professional home for student affairs administrators in higher education. With support from our AAUW Marin Scholarship Fund, both Dominican University and College of Marin have selected student leaders to attend this year's conference at the University of Maryland, College Park, from May 28-30, 2025. We wish these women well in their trip east and look forward to hearing about the conference upon their return.
| | Celebrating Our New Members | | |
Barbara Strong Barbara heard about us from both Cherie Sorokin and Chris O'Neill. Barbara earned her degree in Sociology/Criminology from UC Berkley. She spent 30+ years with Silicon Valley tech companies and startups, but now is active with the League of Women Voters, focusing on affordable housing and public transit. She enjoys travel, golf, books, baseball and a growing family.
Jennifer Omholt Jennifer earned a BA in English from San Diego State and is a writer and author. She is still working! She enjoys cooking, gardening, hiking, music, yoga, reading and entertaining. Welcome Jennifer.
Natalie Gomez Natalie began her college career at College of Marin and transferred to Dominican last summer. Her major is Business Administration, with a minor in Global Innovation and Sports Management. A born leader, she was selected to attend this month's NCCWSL leadership conference at U of Maryland. She has joined our branch as well.
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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.
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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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Bocce
The next big event will be held May 13 at Albert Park Courts in San Rafael. 10am. You don't need to know how to play! Come for the fun. Contact Ann Vercoutere if interested.
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Hiking Group
Our next hike is planned for Tuesday, May 6 to Ring Mountain in Tiburon/Corte Madera. The wildflowers are up. Join us. Contact Ann Vercoutere if interested.
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LitWits Reading Group
For our May 21 meeting we will read two works by South African/Australian Nobelist John Coetzee: Life & Times of Michael K and The Pole. LitWits meets the third Wednesday of the month at 10 AM in members’ homes and new members or guests are always welcome. For info contact Ann Thomas, or 415-924-9559.
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What Are You Reading?
What Are You Reading book group will meet on Monday, May 12 from 10-11 on Zoom. Members share what they are reading. You always come away with a list of great books to read! Contact Cherie Sorokin or 415 730-0204 if you wish to join the group.
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Reading Arts Group
The Reading Arts group is reading The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride this month. We meet on Thursday, May 15th at 1PM to chat and discuss the book. This is our last meeting until September. Like to join us? Please contact Ann Jessup for information.
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Booklovers
Booklovers will be meeting on Tuesday, May 6th at 1 p.m. to discuss The Safekeep by Yael Van Der Wouden. Contact Carol Hoffman if you want to join.
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Nonfiction Reading Group
The Nonfiction Reading Group's May 12 meeting has been cancelled. The book scheduled for May - How Science Got Women Wrong and the New Research That’s Rewriting the Story by Angela Sain - will be discussed at the June 9 meeting. If you would like to be on the group’s email list and join us, contact Phyllis Kuehn. We always welcome new members! The group meets the second Monday of the month at 1:00 pm on Zoom.
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Behind the Headlines
Our May meeting will be Wednesday May 14, at the home of Cherie Sorokin and will start with a light potluck supper. Our speaker will be Jon Haveman, noted economist, and we will be discussing the economics of immigration. Contact Cherie Sorokin or 415 730-0204 if you are interested in attending or joining the group.
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Happy Hour Group
Our next Happy Hour is Thursday, May 8, at 4:00 pm at Monk's Kettle in Terra Linda. Contact Dottie Burk if you would like to attend and/or be added to our email list.
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Meet Me at the Movies!
Eight members of The Movie Group saw The Penguin Lessons at the Smith Rafael Theater this month. Afterwards we had dinner at Red Rooster Brick Oven where we had a lively discussion about the movie.The opinions about the movie ranged from just okay to very good. The next movie night will be Tuesday May 13th. We will choose the movie the week before after we see what's playing. Contact Freddie Green if you want to join in.
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French Conversation
Bonjour, les Francophiles! Notre heure de conversation en français en mai sera mercredi le 21 (le troisième mercredi du mai) chez Rulli à Larkspur 1:30-2:30.
À bientôt j’espère, Contact Janet Lynn
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Handcraft Circle
Handcraft Circle will meet at the home of Carolyn Jones on May 20 from 1-4. We regularly meet on the third Tuesday of the month. If you are interested in joining this group, contact
Mary Mossteller
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Play Mah Jongg?
Join us for our weekly games on Wednesdays in members' homes 1:30 to 3:30. 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.
| | So Much to Do, So Little Time | |
- Sunday, August 23 - Summer Fling
- Saturday, September 13 - Meet Our Tech Trek Girls
| | 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 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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