PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
June is busting out all over…!! For the gardeners and the graduates, it is a wonderful month.
Please be sure to attend the June Branch Meeting to celebrate another successful year and our local high school scholarship awardees, and members who will be honored for their length of membership. We are almost through Spring and into our end-of-the-year project – Tech Trek!
Thank you for having confidence in me as your branch President these past two years. It has been a ride of learning about AAUW, and our branch. This would not have been a successful two terms without the support of the board members for each year. It does take a village to get things done, the board members and the many members (100+ strong). Don’t be shy about joining the board or being part of a committee to get things done each year. As the Immediate Past President this coming term, I will be calling on members to see if YOU as a member can step up and be a part of leadership in any area of interest. To become comfortable about what branch leadership does take a small step to join a committee, talk with a board member in a position you think you can assist, etc.
I do want to extend a very grateful THANK YOU for honoring me with one of the AAUW FUND Honoree Awards in April (presented to me at this past May Branch meeting by Carole Restovich). I feel honored, and very humble in receiving the award. My thanks to those of you who nominated me and supported me. It was a total surprise, as those of you at the May meeting saw on my face! I am in good company with past and present honorees. Many, many thanks!
The results of the national AAUW election for officers and a policy change to Open membership was posted a few days ago via email. Melissa LaDuke, Dianne Owens, Sona Pancholy and Christine Schmitz were elected to the AAUW National Board of Directors. The open membership initiative did not pass. Changes to AAUW’s bylaws require 2/3 majority (66.6%) to pass. AAUW members voted 65.1% to approve the measure, just shy of passing.
June is also TECH TREK Summer camp. There will be two 1-week camps at Whittier College (June 16-22, and June 23-29). Our campers will go the second week and we hope to have them back at the September Branch Meeting to meet them, their supportive families, and learn about their experience at camp. Contact Tech Trek coordinator, Brenda Carrillo (find her contact info in The Yearbook 2023-24, or contact any of the committee members: Karen Van der Baan, Ann Chambers, Kay Clark, Barbara Gile, Rosalind Marquez and myself) if you have questions or a desire to volunteer locally for any aspect of the TECH TREK week or to help at registration June 16 and/or June 23.
My congratulations to all of the recipients of the Las Distinguidas Award in May! Especially to our own Pat Dudley! We have seen her distinguishing leadership in our group over the years and so appreciate her leadership in what roles she has taken on since joining GWA AAUW. Congratulations, Pat, Norma, and Guadalupe!
Please consider attending the June Branch meeting to honor the scholarship awardees and for the installment of the new 2024-25 GWA AAUW Board.
Submitted by Nadine Wilcox, President
