PROGRAM

Looking Back

For the GWA-AAUW, this year has been much better than the previous two.  That’s because each meeting was held in person and we were able to enjoy the camaraderie of our peers at close range, reveling in conversations that we would not have had were we still on ZOOM.

Our year kicked off with Bonnie Weber, a former Whittier librarian who had us enthralled with some of the latest books that came out in 2022.  Margo Reeg followed in October with her clear understanding of two measures AAUW would be supporting.  She also clarified a confusing gambling proposition.   In November, our memoir speaker, Hong-My Basrai had us holding our breath as she relayed the story of her family’s attempt to escape Vietnam in the 1970s.  Her story was so riveting that she sold all the copies of her book, Behind the Red Curtain, at that meeting!

In December, we heard holiday stories from a few of our own members: Barbara Gile, Paula Ocampo, Carole Restovich, and Sharon Heck.  The stories were accompanied by the talented Jauhar Basrai who had arranged and played the music to go with each of them.  After January’s Meet and Greet, February showcased our AAUW Fund Fellow, Stacey Cabaj who introduced us to the “Sound of Touch,” complete with a video demonstration of how it works.

March caused a minimal scramble for our Program committee since our chosen speaker, Emily Teipe, had to cancel due to the loss of a close friend who had been ill.  Luckily for us, she rescheduled for May and gave us an engaging PowerPoint presentation on “Women and Victorian Culture.”  In it, she revealed how women helped form the culture in Victorian times, partially because families split into two different life spheres, one being the man’s which engaged him in business affairs, while the woman became master of her own home which elevated her status as wife and mother to a whole new cultural norm.  This allowed women to become somewhat independent—at least culturally if not politically.

Since our March speaker could not be with us, our own Pat Dudley graciously took on the offer to speak to us about Tech Trek.  She presented some GWA-AAUW Tech Trek history and gave us some insights on how it all comes together, not an easy fete, but a valuable one.  Dr. Niki Elliott followed in April giving us an eye-opening look at how to uproot “unconscious bias” by being aware of how our own biology sometimes overwhelms logic due to our body’s built-in alert system that causes us to react, sometimes in extreme ways even when a situation does not call for such drastic action.

This coming June, our Program will include the awarding of MLSF scholarships to six high school students and the installation of our Board for 2023/2024.

Claire Koehler, VP Program Director

Ann Topjon, Program Committee Associate

Chris Heller, Program Committee Associate

MLSF Classroom STEM Grant Report 2022-2023

THE SPOTLIGHT

As promised, our new column highlighting member milestones is here.  It’s the SPOTLIGHT!

…Joyce Paul, after her move to Rancho Cucamonga, has remained a dual member of our branch. In addition, she became a member of the OUR AAUW Branch (Ontario, Upland, Rancho) where she now serves as President. Congratulations, Joyce.A

…Karen Van der Baan is thrilled to be a grandmother for the first time with the birth of her granddaughter Emmeline Sky Dominguez, born on New Year’s Eve.  Great timing, Emmeline. You get to be a tax deduction!

…Kelly Collazo got a call last August from the District Superintendent of her school district offering her a principal’s position starting in ONE WEEK!  She said, “YES!”  Extra points, Kelly, for having your old classroom ready for the incoming fourth graders and their new teacher.

…Vicki Marshall fell and fractured her hip on January 11, 2020.  She is healing remarkably well according to her daughter, Geri.  Keep on getting better, Vicki.

…Patricia Cuocco’s husband Dennis got his long-awaited kidney transplant on December 21, 2019.  BEST.  CHRISTMAS. PRESENT. EVER!

…Marcia Orr passed away on December 27, 2019 from complications of a stroke the week prior.  She was 87 and had not been ill.  In fact, we enjoyed Marcia’s company at our October meeting. Marcia, you will be missed.

Throughout the month, as you learn about things, send me an email – patricia@fullerton.edu.  Don’t worry about format or making it into a Word doc.  I will keep items in a file and publish them.  The only thing you MUST concern yourself with is getting permission to share the information from the person involved (or family).  This is very important, since we are not in the business of violating anyone’s privacy.

Patricia Cuocco, Newsletter Editor

ANNOUNCING NEW COLUMN AND CONTEST

Several of us have been talking about how difficult it is to keep up with what is happening with our fellow members.  This includes good stuff – milestones and accomplishments, as well as the not so good stuff – sickness, accidents and deaths.

Starting with the February 2020 newsletter, we will have a new column which gives this information and it all depends on YOU.  We will try to make this as easy as possible.  Throughout the month, as you learn about things, send me an email – patricia@fullerton.edu.  Don’t worry about format or making it into a Word doc.  I will keep them in a file and publish them.  The only thing you MUST concern yourself with is getting permission to share the information from the person involved (or family).  This is very important, since we are not in the business of violating anyone’s privacy.

Contest?  What Contest?  We need a name for our new column.  Think about it and send your suggestions (as many as you like to me by January 12, 2020.  I will ask the ladies who work with me on the newsletter to help select the winning title and the winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to somewhere cool.

This is a  great time to acknowledge the newsletter helpers:  Sharon Heck prints the copies for those without email and is a first-class proof-reader.  Dolores Seidman and Kaye Kidwell proof-read and do a fabulous job of catching my errors.  Carole Duff mails out the printed copies to our members.  THANKS, LADIES!

Patricia Cuocco, Newsletter Editor

AAUW of CALIFORNIA CONVENTION 2020

Theme:  “REMEMBERING THE PAST – Votes for Women 1920

                     ROCKIN’ THE FUTURE – Pay Equity 2020″

April 17-19, 2020       Westin San Francisco Airport

AAUW California Board of Directors invites you to present a workshop.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL – Application Deadline October 1st

       For more information and the proposal form, visit

http://www.aauw-ca.org/2020-aauw-ca-convention-call-presentation/

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a paid opportunity: travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AAUW CALIFORNIA STATE ANNUAL MEETING — 2019

Branch members Kay Clark, Pauline Rogers and Dolores Seidman represented the Greater Whittier Area Branch at the AAUW CA Annual Meeting in San Diego on April 6. Unfortunately, Rozanne Child’s illness prevented her from attending. We were also joined by our dual member Joyce Paul, who represented her AAUW Branch (Ontario, Upland, and Rancho) where she is President-Elect.

One of the best reasons for attending these state meetings is getting to know other AAUW members from throughout the state, as well as to put a face to the name of our state officers. The exchange of information, both formally and informally is invaluable.

The day began with a business meeting in which each state officer reported on her activities throughout the year. The goal was to increase communication with the branch officers and members and to listen to them, as evidenced by the huge rabbit ears they wore as they reported! (What a sight!)

At the end of that session, awards were presented to four branches for outstanding programs. Dolores Seidman was pleased to accept the award for our Branch for the Annual Math/Science Conference for 8^th Grade Girls. In her remarks she gave credit to Sharon Heck for being the chair of this event and to the over 40 Branch volunteers who assisted.

The Membership Panel next featured information from Donna Lilly about the AAUW College Relationships, especially the work done through Start Smart (for students) and Work Smart (for staff members). Our own LACIC Chair Susan Negrete introduced the Young Women’s Task Force, and the leader of this group, Camille Veneracion (who was a former dorm mom at Whittier College Tech Trek) explained this program to involve more younger women.

During lunch we heard from Julia Brown, AAUW National Board Chair, whose talk was titled “AAUW: This is Your Moment” highlighting ways we can grow. She emphasized the need to contribute to AAUW’s Greatest Needs Fund in order to maintain our financial solvency.

After lunch the three Speech Trek finalists gave their talks, with the winner being Dominique Ruedaflores from Ramona Convent sponsored by the Poway/Penasquitos Branch.

The meeting ended with the Leadership Panel, which distributed a Leadership Development Toolkit offering many ideas we can implement in the future.

Dolores Seidman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PUBLIC POLICY

 

Patricia Cuocco                                                                                                                                                   Public Policy Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORIGINAL ROADHOUSE GRILL

Our final fundraiser will be held at the Original Roadhouse Grill in Whittier on Wednesday, June 13, 11 AM to 10 PM. This casual steakhouse restaurant has always been a popular venue for us. There are great options including lunch combos, soup and salad duos and a Little Less Dinner menu. Just present your flyer so that 20% of your food and non-alcoholic beverages will be donated to the Myra Long Scholarship Fund. Enjoy those jukebox tunes and feel free to throw those peanut shells on the floor!

As this fundraiser year ends, I want to sincerely thank all of you who have supported these Dining 4 $$$$$ events. Each dollar helps our important goals while giving us the perfect opportunity to enjoy good food and the company of others. Thank you so much!

Carole Duff

 

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY INTERBRANCH COUNCIL (L.A.C.I.C.)

The next meeting of L.A.C.I.C. will be Sunday, November 12, 2017 at PIH (Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital), 2:00-4:00 PM.  The program topic will be Branch Advocacy.

LACIC Refreshment Arrangement

Please bring your own beverage.  Attendees may bring snacks to share.