Stanwood-Camano Branch of AAUW In Touch March 2015 page 1

Stanwood-Camano Branch of AAUW

In Touch

March 6th

10:30 a.m.

Board Meeting

Anne Milton’s Home

****

March 12th

1:00 p.m.

General Meeting

Brookdale Senior Living (formerly Emeritus)

7212 265th NW Stanwood

Program: Leslie Collings, Market Manager for Port Susan Farmers Market, will address her efforts to create the Market,

the impact it has on local economy and the organizations that support its continuing role.

In addition, Penny Buse will briefly speak about the Twin Cities that existed prior to Stanwood as we know it today.

Her talk will be entertaining as well as informational.

For more information contact: Beverly Maxwell VP of Program

Message from the President Anne Milton

www.facebook.com/stanwoodcamanoaauw Do you believe it? Spring is just about here. In fact, in just a few days, we

will be “springing forward” by turning our clocks ahead. I just love this

time of year when the days become longer, the sun shines brighter and our

energy soars. This is the busiest time for our AAUW Stanwood Camano

branch with scholarship, Tech Trek and purse initiatives approaching full

throttle.

Before highlighting our spring planning, I would certainly like to thank you

for supporting and attending our February meeting themed, “Envisioning

Peace in our Home”. We welcomed our speaker, Jennie Wieland , who

outlined the array of causes, prevalence and resources to combat domestic

violence. With this knowledge and increased understanding, it helps us to

be more attuned to the needs of domestic violence victims in our

community.

We do know that the various Purses With A Purpose committees are

digging in planning, strategizing and collecting purses. The PWAP update

will follow in this newsletter, and I am happy to report that the Purse-O-

Meter is growing. At our March 12 Membership Meeting, there will be a

special focus on this initiative with big updates on inventory, tickets and

committee work.

As for our Scholarship timelines, Norma Mouton and her team are ready.

Thewashboard.org site is up and running and numerous calendar

updates have been running in both the Crab Cracker and Stanwood

Camano News. Likewise, Betty McCadden and her Tech Trek trio is now

positioned for nominations from both middle schools and the interviewing

schedule will take place soon. Thank you so very much for your leadership.

Speaking of leadership, it’s that time of year to spring ahead with building

our new Board for the 2015-2016 year. Our dynamic duo, namely Susan

Blake and Julie Maxwell (along with yours truly) will be reaching out to

seek your commitments for the following positions: President-Elect and VP

Finance-Elect; Secretary and VP of Programs and Assistant (single year

terms for 2015-16) . What a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the

important decisions and creative ideas that help drive our AAUW Branch.

Stay tuned….

www.aauwsc.org

March 2015 Edited by Martha Huyler and Georgi Proulx

Stanwood-Camano Branch of AAUW In Touch March 2015 page 2

Visit our branch

website for forms, newsletters, and

upcoming events.

www.aauwsc.org

Save the Date

April 3rd

10:30 a.m.

Board Meeting

Anne Milton’s Home

****

April 9th

1:00 p.m.

General Meeting

Brookdale Senior Living

7212 265th NW Stanwood

Mary Lou Sanelli, author of

Among Friends: A Memoir will speak to the group.

Purse Procurement Julie Maxwell

Spring is almost here. The sun is out. Crocuses, daffodils, tulips and

forsythia are starting to bloom! The committee for procurement of purses

for our fall fundraiser need your help! We are interested in quality purses

for the live auction: new purses, designer purses, purses with a story,

purses from high-profile women locally and nationally.

Also needed for display setup are any shoeboxes of any size. We need

your support to make this fundraiser the best ever!! Bring purses and

shoeboxes to the March meeting.

Thank you for your generous support. It is appreciated.

PWAP Tickets Go On Sale April 1 Nancy Roberts

TICKET SALES COMING SOON! With ticket sales set

to begin April 1, our auction feels close. Hooray!

Here are the procedures for sales that the committee

came up with:

SAVE THE DATE email announcements are ready for

you to send to your friends. Look for that email with instructions from

Georgi. Include a personal note asking for them to RSVP. Follow up

by phone to those who do not respond.

ORDER YOUR TICKETS through Joyce Leak or Elaine Richards beginning

April 1. Tickets will be available for pick-up at the branch meetings,

or you may arrange some other mutually-agreeable meeting time/

place with Joyce or Elaine.

PAY FIRST to secure your tickets. While reservations will be accepted,

actually purchasing your tickets will ensure you get them. If more

than 170 tickets are purchased or reserved there will be a waiting list.

Unpaid reservations will not be held past our August picnic date. Any

unpaid reserved tickets will be offered to persons on the waiting list.

$25 is the cost for tickets including members who wish to sit at a table

and have lunch. Members who wish to participate in the bidding and

lunch but do not require a table seat will pay $10. Keep in mind that

there will be many duties to be performed by members at the auction

so not everyone can be a participant.

SEATING ARRANGEMENTS Let Joyce or Elaine know if your guests wish

to sit together. Every effort will be made to accommodate them.

There will be 8 tables of 6 and 16 tables of 8.

INCLUDE in your sales special guests that should be invited: i.e.,

community business women, local politicians, artists, or anyone with

whom you have a contact or relationship. It will be up to members to

make sure this is done, as we will not be mailing out invitations.

RIGHT NOW email Joyce or Elaine the list of people you intend to invite!

They will let you know if that name is already on another’s list. This

way we will avoid duplication or omission.

AUCTION HOURS are 11:00-3:00. Be sure your guests know there will

be no early check-out for successful bidders. Doors open at 10:30 for

check in and early viewing. Silent auction bidding begins at 11:00.

SELL SELL SELL! GO GO GO! Great merchandise and enthusiastic

sales are the key to our success!

Stanwood-Camano Branch of AAUW In Touch March 2015 page 3

Public Policy: Make Your Voice Heard Gay Campbell

Talk to your representatives!

By the time you receive this newsletter, the House of Representatives may

have voted on a version of the No Child Left Behind Act, which governs

education across our country. Our national AAUW office is urging us to

contact our representatives and ask them to vote against the current

proposal which has had no public hearings or opportunities for teachers,

students and others to comment.

Misleadingly called the “Student Success Act.” AAUW opposes H.R. 5

because it would open the door for private school vouchers rather than

directing funding to public schools that have the greatest need.

If you believe in the need for federal laws that support the best possible

education for every student, urge your representative to pass a bill that

spends public funds on public, not private schools; reauthorizes and fully

funds the Women’s Educational Equity Act; and provides resources to fully

implement Title IX.

Stream the Solving the Equation Launch Live!

March 26, 2015

Time: 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m./Eastern; Pacific/2–3:30 p.m.

Location: Online (You just need to register.)

Cost: Free

From the research team who brought you Why So Few? Women in Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics comes a deeper dive into

engineering and computing, fields that offer 80 percent of STEM jobs but

still boast dismal numbers of women students and workers.

On March 26, AAUW members can watch the launch event for Solving the

Equation: The Variables for Women’s Success in Engineering and

Computing live from the new Samsung headquarters in Silicon Valley to find

out why women aren’t in these fields — and what employers, educators,

and parents can do about it.

A panel of experts from the industry and academia, moderated by leading

gender-in-science researcher Londa Schiebinger, will discuss the report’s

findings and what they mean for anyone who cares about tapping the

innovative solutions that half our population offers.

Viewers will be able to send in questions or comments for the panel and

follow along with the discussion using the hashtag #addwomen on Twitter.

To register for the event, go to the AAUW website, www.aauw.org. by

March 24.

Solving the Equation—LIVE! Jackie DeFazio

Your 2014-2015 Board President

Anne Milton

President-Elect

Cheryl Gruger

VP of Finance

Kaye Sodt

VP of Finance-Elect

Terry Benson

VP-Membership

Thea Wellington

Membership Assistant

Cathlin Starke

Secretary

Mary Raymond

VP-Program

Bev Maxwell

Program Assistant

Joyce Leak

Stanwood-Camano Branch of AAUW In Touch March 2015 page 4

Mary Lou Sanelli—April 9 Taken from Mary Lou Sanelli Press Kit

Mary Lou Sanelli is our speaker for the April 9

meeting when she will discuss her book, Among

Friends: A Memoir, where she explores the subject of

friendship in women’s lives.

Mary Lou also works as a public speaker and as a

dancer, dance instructor, choreographer, and

currently teaches Master Jazz Workshops throughout

the country. This training and performance

experience enables her to present with skills that

surpass the average author reading. She presents

her work at corporate events, theaters, writing

conferences & festivals, literary venues, colleges and

universities, book clubs, and private events.

This program would be the perfect introduction of your friends to our

branch. Please consider bringing a guest.

Well, we just viewed another OSCAR event this past

Sunday. I was truly happy to see Eddie Redmayne win

Best Actor as “Theory of Everything” was so moving.

Didn’t you just love Lady GaGa and Julie Andrews?

Patricia Arquette certainly voiced AAUW’s messaging and

support of equal pay for women. I would like to call

attention to another event pertinent to women’s equality

issues that occurred AFTER the Academy Awards. Reese

Witherspoon initiated a twitter feed #ASKHERMORE.

Essentially she and her fellow actors are stressing to media interviewers to

“ask me more about just who’s dress I am wearing”…”ask me more

instead of just to twirl around to show my outfit”. They continued with

“How about these questions?”:

Can you tell me about your most significant accomplishment this year?

What’s your latest project that you’re excited about?

Cultural changes are needed to stop the inequalities so prevalent in the

entertainment industry, for example. I truly applaud the women of

Hollywood. It does start with a simple, clear and strong platform:: ASK

HER MORE. I am sure we all wish them the best and will track their

successes.

Now, on to Movie Club. Yes, we love getting together and our February

movie choice, Kingsman: The Secret Service, was silly and entertaining. As

Thea Wellington asserted…It’s Colin Firth…Need we say more? So, you

movie goers, mark your calendar for the next movie date:

Tuesday, March 17. Meet at Stanwood Movie Theater at 12 noon for

lunch (optional) followed by Sequel to the Marigold Hotel…cross your

fingers that it plays on that day.

Georgi will update our movie plans once we have the schedule. We chose

this movie because we already heard from several that it would be a great

choice….AND that’s what Movie club is all about.

See you at the movies.

Anne Milton Georgi Proulx

AAUW SC Movie Club

Leaders for Branch

Activities

Purses With A Purpose

Nancy Roberts

Norma Mouton

AAUW Education Funds and

AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund

Jackie DeFazio

High School STEM Scholars

Helen Smith

Judy Trammell

Scholarship Chair

Norma Mouton

Tech Trek Chair

Betty McCadden

Volunteer School Partners

Cathlin Starke

Public Relations

Mary Raymond

Public Policy

Gay Campbell

Candidate & Issues Forum

Laura Lewis

Webmaster

Georgi Proulx

Newsletter Team

Send Your News to:

Georgi Proulx

Martha Huyler

Social Media

Jeryl Garrett

Stanwood-Camano Branch of AAUW In Touch March 2015 page 5

Special Branch

Activities

Book Group

Martha Huyler

Day Trippers

An informal gathering of members with time and interest to participate in a variety of outings.

Julie Maxwell

Movie Club

Anne Milton

Georgi Proulx

March

WHAT: Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson

WHEN: Monday, March 2, 2015, 2:00 P.M.

WHERE: Jeanne Metzger’s Home

April

WHAT: Klail City by Rolando Hinojosa

WHEN: Monday, April 6, 2015, 2:00 P.M.

WHERE: Karen Van Lier’s Home

NOTE: This book is NOT at the library, but copies will be available at the

March book club meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting, the

remaining copies will be at Jeanne’s. Contact her at

rlmetzger@outlook.com.

May

WHAT: Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

WHEN: Monday, May 4, 2015, 2:00 P.M.

WHERE: Joyce Leak’s Home

For more information, contact Martha Huyler.

The Book Group is open to all members. Books are

available through Sno-Isle Libraries or can be purchased at

the Snow Goose Bookstore at a 10% discount. Join us for

lively conversation if you’ve read the book or if you just

want to come join the discussion.

Public Policy

Go to:

AAUW Washington to keep

up with happenings in the

current legislative session

and to learn about areas

for action.

www.aauw-wa.org

AAUW Action Network for

Cong re ss i ona l i t ems

regarding the national

issues for action.

http://capwiz.com/

aauw/home/

www.facebook.com/stanwoodcamanoaauw

Book Group Martha Huyler

Movie Club meets on the third Tuesday of the month to

go to the movies. A general email is sent to the

membership a few days prior with the details.

Friends and spouses are invited. Depending on the

showtime we may meet for lunch before the movie.

Please contact Georgi Proulx or Anne Milton with your

suggestions.

Movie Club: Members and guests with a love for spend-

ing an afternoon at the movies.

There will not be a Day Tripper Outing for March.

Please contact Julie Maxwell with your ideas for

future outings.

Julie Maxwell

Day Trippers: An informal gathering of members

with time and interest to participate in a variety of

outings

Stanwood-Camano Branch of AAUW In Touch March 2015 page 6

Meeting Minutes February 7, 2015

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by President Anne Milton at 11:30 a.m. at the Community

Resource Center following a presentation by Jennifer Wieland of Domestic Violence Services.

Acknowledgement: Anne thanked our speaker and also acknowledged guests.

Minutes: Laura Lewis made a motion to approve the January general meeting minutes. This was seconded by

Norma Mouton and approved by all.

Lobby Day: Anne reported on Lobby Day which she attended with Helen Smith and Thea Wellington. The

focus of discussion at this event was the ample funding of education as required by the McCleary decision.

Randy Dorn was the keynote speaker and his message was that we must look at smaller components to make

it work, starting with reduction in class size for grades K-3. It was mentioned that Pam Krone, state AAUW

lobbyist, provides weekly updates when the legislature is in session. The group also met with Representative

Dave Hayes. Anne reminded us that education is the public priority pf AAUW.

Purses: PWAP update began with Georgi Proulx showing the Purse-O-Meter; we have 123 purses, plus 10

received today. We still need about 150 purses for the silent auction; the live auction probably has sufficient

purses. The procurement committee will meet on February 23 and will assess the donations received so far.

Susan Blake asked if there are funds available to purchase quality purses from the Second Chance Thrift Shop

and the committee will check on this at the upcoming February meeting. The June 28 meeting will be the last

time to get purses in. Norma said the PWAP committees are set. Mary Raymond said that a group of artists

have volunteered to decorate identical canvas bags and Jackie DeFazio has promises from AAUW leaders to

donate purses.

Scholarship: The AAUW scholarship application is now open and these will be due on April 15. The review of

applications will be completed by May 15 and the winners will be honored at the June 28 meeting.

Tech Trek: Barbara Carroll reported on Tech Trek. She said that she and Betty McCadden met with the

science teachers at Stanwood Middle School. Betty is trying to get in touch with science teachers at Port

Susan Middle School. George Zeigen, counselor, will work to get this information out. Parents and girls will be

interviewed.

Calendar:

Day Trippers will visit the Skagit County Historical Museum, leaving from Terry’s Corner at 10:00

a.m. on Tuesday, February 10.

Movie Club will meet on Tuesday, February 17.

Norma Mouton will host a branch party on April 17 at 6:00 p.m. for members and their

significant other. BYOB and heavy appetizer!

AAUW STEM Recognition will be on May 14 at the Community Resource Center. We need to invite

Tech Trek students to this event each year.

AAUW State Convention will be held in Kirkland on May 2-3.

Women’s Expo is on May 2 at the Camano Community Center.

National AAUW Convention will be held in San Diego, June 18-21.

Scholarship Tea will be on June 28 at Mary Pilkington’s home.

Girls Night Out: Helen Smith will contact George Zeigen to see if there will be a Girl’s Night Out for middle

school aged girls. There is a possibility of AAUW donating T-shirts for this event.

Continued on page 7

Stanwood-Camano Branch of AAUW In Touch March 2015 page 7

Meeting Minutes February 7, 2015 continued from page 6

Nominating Committee: The following positions are open for 2015-2016:

Vice-President Elect

Vice-President of Finance Elect

Vice-President of Program and Assistant (1-year positions this year only)

Secretary

We will need a new chair for the Nominating Committee; Susan Blake will serve on the committee but will not

be chair.

CASA: Martha Huyler asked for quality donations for the CASA flea market in late May.

New Name Tags: Georgi will update our nametags with the new AAUW logo in time for the 2015-2016 year.

Adjournment: Kathy Cunningham moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:15 p.m. This was seconded by Kaye

Sodt and approved by all.

Respectively submitted,

Mary Raymond

Secretary

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day