Branches and Twigs - Redlands Branch AAUW

Branches and Twigs
Redlands Branch, AAUW
October 2015
www.aauw-redlands-ca.org
Issue 3, 11 Issues Annually
AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research
The President’s Corner – Janice Belden
On September 12, I attended our annual membership meeting. It
was truly an impressive affair. Nineteen beautifully decorated tables
were set up to serve 102 members and guests. In addition tables
around the room were manned by members of various committees and
interest groups. What a great display for any guest thinking of
joining our branch.
During the business meeting AAUW's mission statement--AAUW
advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and
research--was demonstrated by Toni Momberger who gave a video presentation about
women in the last century who have helped bring about these goals.
Last week I attended Judith Brandt's hospitality committee meeting. This group has
the most amazing plans to welcome and retain our new members. Their plans include
a mentor for each new member, a welcome committee at each branch meeting, and a
hospitality table set up for new members coming to meetings on their own. Thanks to
Heather Abushanab for getting us so many new members and thanks to the hospitality
committee for reaching out to them. With their efforts, our branch will remain strong.
October Branch
Meeting
When
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Social
5:30 p.m.
Dinner 6:00 p.m.
Program 6:45 p.m.
Where
University of Redlands
CASA LOMA Room
Menu Chef’s Choice
Dinner Buffet
Chef’s choice main entrée;
vegetarian entrée; Chef’s
choice starch; mixed green
salad with Ranch and
Italian dressing; fresh
seasonal vegetables;
dinner rolls and butter;
carrot cake, coffee/tea
Cost
October Branch Meeting:
“GRID Alternatives – Making the World a Greener Place”
Bambi Tran is the Regional Director for GRID Alternatives for
the Inland Empire, a community non-profit organization that
makes renewable energy technology and job training accessible to
low income communities. With over twenty years’ experience, she
has worked as a green builder, designer and educator. She has
consulted for Habitat for Humanity affiliates and Global Green. Bambi served on the
Board of Directors of the U.S. Green Building Council- Inland Empire Chapter.
Bambi will be speaking about the Solar Futures program. With growing interest in
the solar industry, this program is designed to educate students about solar power.
With a focus on high school juniors and seniors, this program enables students to
learn about solar power and the diversity of career pathways as well.
Solar Power provides energy efficiency, cost savings and a source of clean local
energy that benefits all. In 2014, The International Energy Agency projected that
under its "high renewables" scenario, by 2050, concentrated solar power would
contribute about 11 percent of the worldwide electricity consumption and solar
would be the world's largest source of electricity. This program will be about the
growing solar power industry and how GRID is providing students a future in this
expanding field.
~Antoinette Brenion
Members and guests: $19
Reservations
The reservation deadline
for the October 6th
meeting is Wednesday,
September 30, 2015
Please call 909-362-4955
or email
[email protected].
Reminder: a reservation
made is a reservation
paid.
Members and guests
are always welcome at
all branch meetings.
There is no cost to
attend the program at
6:45 a.m. Chairs will
be available.
2015-2016
Branch Meetings
Saturday, 11/7 brunch
Tuesday, 12/1 dinner
Tuesday, 1/5 dinner
Saturday, 2/6 brunch
Tuesday, 3/1 dinner
Sun
Mon
Tues
October 2015
Thu
Fri
Sat
2
3
Wed
30-Sep
1
RESERVATION
DEADLINE for
Oct. 6 dinner
7 pm Bridge
(Schumann)
4
5
6
7
6pm
California
Cuisine
9am Recorder……….
7pm Bridge (Earney)
5:30pm
Branch Mtg
1pm Bridge
(O'Prey)
11
12
13
14
15
1pm Bridge
(Earney)
1pm & 7pm
Reading & the
Rainbow
21
22
9am Recorder……….
6:30 pm Board
Meeting
20
8
18
19
Funds
luncheon
(page 9)
9am Recorder……….
1pm Bridge (Vaughn)
6pm Adult Literacy
Tutor meeting…….…
7pm Bridge (Perkins)
25
26
27
28
9am Recorder
9am
International
Affairs
NOON I Am,
Therefore I
Think
10
6:30 pm Dup.
Bridge (Schumann)
16
17
9am STEM
Redlands Mtg
23
24
30
31
6:30pm AAUW
Funds Theatre
Benefit Kitchen
Witches (details
on page 9)
Adult Literacy Tutor Training
10/19 6-8pm. Smiley Library Assembly room
~Trudy Waldron & Kathrine Gifford.
Bridge: contact coordinator for information
*1st Monday 7pm, Nancy Earney
1st Wednesday 1pm, Evelyn O'Prey
*1st Saturday 7pm, Louise Schumann
*2nd Wednesday 1pm, Nancy Earney
*2nd Saturday Duplicate 6:30pm,
Louise Schumann
3rd Monday 1pm, Sally Vaughn
*3rd Monday 7pm. Cindy Perkins
* These Bridge Groups are Community Groups
that welcome AAUW Members
California Cuisine and Conversation
10/4 Host & address will be sent by email
~Kim Roman
I Am, Therefore I Think
10/28 “I Am…” “Living With Less Water”
presented by Linda Richards Sharlene Lund
12 -2 pm (12-12:30 informal brown bag lunch).
continued in next column
Page 2
9
29
Save the date
Sunday, December 6
YMCA Holiday Home Tour
I Am… continued
Trinity Episcopal Church Lounge (Rm 6-8). 419 South
4th St, Redlands. ~ Ellen Schollenberger & Sharlene
Lund
International Affairs
Switzerland
Speaker: Rose Marie Minder
10/27 9-11 am. Mitten Building 345 N 5th St, Redlands.
Brunch $16, reservation by 10/23 to Barbara Pike
Reading and Rainbow
10/15 The Children Act by Ian McEwan.
1pm host Del Barrett, 7pm host Pat Kruger. Reservations
are not required. ~Pat Kruger & Lynne Reasoner
Recorder Music Group
Mondays 9 am * This is a Community Group that
welcomes AAUW Members
~Mary Jane Auerbacher
STEM Conference, Redlands
10/17 9am Melissa Walker’s home. Conference date:
Wednesday, March 2, 2016. ~ Melissa Walker &
Marilyn Shankar
October 2015
Calendar Information
Continued from page 2
Walking our Hills and Mountains
Wednesdays & Saturdays, Dates TBA.
~Erica Wilson
Branch Officers:
B&T Submission:
President: Janice Belden, President-elect: Theresa Lantz , Program Vice President:
Toni Momberger, Membership Vice President: Heather Abushanab, Secretary: Sue
Wallace, Hospitality Vice President: Judith Brandt, Treasurer: Melissa Walker,
Communications: Rebecca Johnston
The deadline for the November
newsletter will be October 5th.
Send your articles to the editor
via email to
[email protected]
or by mail to Janice Belden.
Membership Benefits
We already know how important it is to be an AAUW
member so that collectively we can work to empower
women through opportunity and education. But there
are other concrete benefits to AAUW membership.
Here’s a great one: discounts on copying services and
other items at Office Depot! Use this link to print your
own discount card now. And explore the AAUW
website to find other tangible benefits of AAUW
Membership!
~Heather Abushanab, Membership VP
The State AAUW program committee
selected OUR branch's program as the
April Branch Program of the Month.
The Redlands' branch is to be commended for their
mission-based programs in the new year! Their
program in April was outstanding - "Not Every GI Is a
Joe: Caring for Women Veterans". The speaker was
Lisa Roybal, a women's health nurse practitioner who
has dedicated over twenty-five years of her career to
women's health and their care.
Additionally, their STEM conference in February was
attended by 600 girls and 50 young women attended
their "Elect Her" at the University of Redlands and
Crafton Hills College.
Congratulations to Redlands in being chosen the April
Program of the Month!
Cathy Foxhoven
AAUW CA Director
Program Co-Chair
October 2015
The Competition is ON!
Invite your friends and neighbors to visit and
join AAUW every month!
Last month we announced this year’s membership
recruitment competition. The prize is a free national
membership for 2016-17. The competition will
continue all year. So far 18 of our members have
participated in the competition by inviting a friend to a
branch meeting, and 12 have gotten a friend to join.
Here are the front runners:
Most Recruits: Kay Dobbertin and Kate Pretorius
have each recruited two new members!
Most Invitations: Cathryn Oltman and Toni
Momberger have two invites each!
Remember, the free memberships will be awarded in
the following way:
 1 – awarded to member(s) who recruits the
most new members** from April 2015 –
March 2016. If there is a tie, we will award
multiple or hold a drawing – max 5

1 – awarded to member(s) who invite(s) the
most potential new members from April 2015
– March 2016, regardless of whether they join.
If there is a tie, we will award multiple or hold
a drawing – max 2

3 (or the rest) will be awarded by a drawing.
Members will be entered in the drawing once
for each new member** invited to join
AAUW.
**new members refers to paying members,
including MALs who affiliate with our branch, but
not including student e-affiliates.
Page 3
From the Membership VP
We had a wonderful turn out at the September brunch.
Thanks to all our members for inviting so many
wonderful guests to learn about AAUW. We have a
bunch of new members this fall. Please be sure to
introduce yourself to them at future meetings or
activities. Here are some interesting facts about our
newest members:
Fay Glass has been a speaker at our STEM Conference
and is the Emergency Operations Manager for the City
of Redlands.
Catherine Glover recently moved to Redlands from
Pasadena. She is a costume designer and used her early
education degree while working as a nanny for many
years. Catherine loves to read and cook and is looking
forward to getting to know people in the branch.
Suzanne Gorman was a member of the Upland AAUW
branch. She was a first grade teacher for 40 years and is
now a resident of Solera in Beaumont. I know the Pass
Area ladies are particularly excited to have her!
Mary Lou Guerrero was a National member of AAUW and
has now affiliated with our branch! Mary Lou recently
retired from nursing at Loma Linda Medical Center where
she cared for patients in the Neurosurgery ICU and High Risk
OB areas. She now has time to indulge her travel passion
with recent trips to Istanbul, Athens, the Greek Islands,
Central Europe and Paris!
Joyce Heitmeier is originally from Illinois, but has lived in
Redlands for 28 years. She retired from nursing 3 years ago
and now has more time to enjoy her grandkids and other
passions.
Jessica Law is a geologist and works as a project manager for
an environmental consulting firm. She grew up in Yucaipa
and moved to Redlands in 2014. She claims her two children
as her best hobbies and interests, but she is also interested in
our STEM conference, where she has been a speaker.
Randa Little also lives in Solera. Before retiring, Randa was
a teacher in grades 1-3 as well as summer ROP. Randa wants
to be involved in something local that helps the community,
especially women, so she is excited about AAUWs STEM
Conferences and Scholarship Programs.
Page 4
October 2015
Barb Lord returned to Redlands after many years
in the high desert. Barb still works as a teacher in
Victorville, where she recently has taken on the
challenge of interim principal at one of the
elementary schools. Barb may be a bit busy these
first few months!
Julie Lowe works at Esri and enjoys photography.
She is a colleague of Meena Spangrud and is
interested in the STEM Conference, California
Cuisine, Great Decisions and International
Affairs.
Andrea Saavedra is the City of Highland’s Public Services Coordinator
and a triathlete in her spare time. Andrea is interested in our Hiking
and Book Groups as well as STEM and California Cuisine.
Diane Shimota has two teenage boys, loves cooking and gardening.
She supports the Adult Literacy program and is interested in the I AM
and International Affairs Groups.
Barabara Simmons is interested in just about all of the AAUW interest
groups! She retired from Kaiser where she was a Marriage and Family
Therapist. She has lived in Redlands since 1981, but is originally from
Bellevue, WA. Barbara loves to read, bake and draw.
Carol Townsend has been a national member of AAUW and was invited to join our branch by Anne Derfer.
Carol retired from teaching pre-school and now enjoys oil painting and studying French. She hopes to join our
book group and help with Adult Literacy.
Ellen Wilkinson has intended to join AAUW for a while and was encouraged to join our branch by Kate
Pretorious. Ellen relocated here from St Louis and has a new job in Colton.
Linda Richards and Susan Sechrist have renewed their AAUW Redlands
memberships…..weclome back.
October 2015
Page 5
International Affairs
The International Affairs interest group will meet at the
Mitten Building, 345 N. 5th St., on October 27 at 9 a.m.. It
promises to be a great year with countries we have not
covered. Our first speaker, Rose Marie Minder, was born in
Switzerland and is a frequent visitor. She was educated
there and now lives in Redlands. Come join us for this fun,
interesting and educational event.
Cost of brunch is $16. For reservations call Barbara Pike by
10/23.
~Dorothy Richardson, Chair
Hospitality Committee
Reading and the Rainbow
The Children Act, by Ian McEwan, is October’s
book selection. In this 2014 novel, McEwan tells the
story of London High Court Judge Fiona Maye, who
presides over a case involving a family of Jehovah’s
Witnesses who refuse a lifesaving blood transfusion
for their 17-year-old son. Please note that the October
If you receive any of those "free" notecards from 15th meetings are on the third Thursday of the month.
AAUW or other organizations in the mail and you don't
need them, I would be happy to put them to good work.
Just bring them to the next meeting and I'll be glad to
take them.
~Pat Belk, Hospitality Special Occasions Chair
One of our responsibilities for this year is to send a
note to any of our members who are ill or who have lost
a loved one. If you hear of someone who fits one of
these situations, please send her name to Janice Belden
or to me so that we can be sure to send them our support
through a card.
Redlands STEM Conference
The 2016 STEM Conference is set for Wednesday
March 2nd. Please save the date!
Please consider
volunteering for
this
event.
Besides
guides
and
hosts
important
for
conference day,
help is needed on
our committee for
fundraising,
computer support,
packet assembly
and speaker cochair. Call Melissa Walker or Marilyn Shankar for more
information or just come to our next meeting on October
17th at Melissa Walker’s home.
~ Melissa Walker & Marilyn Shankar, Co-Chairs
Page 6
The afternoon meeting will be hosted by Del Barrett
at 1:00 p.m.
The evening meeting will be hosted by Pat Kruger at
7:00 p.m.
AAUW members are welcome at either the 1:00 p.m.
or 7:00 p.m. meeting. No reservations are needed.
Please call or e-mail if you have any questions.
~Pat Kruger & Lynne Reasoner, Co-Chairs
October 2015
Scholarship Boutique
YMCA Holiday Home Tour 2015
The Nancy Yowell Local Scholarship committee will
Volunteers Needed
be having a boutique again this year. Please plan on
rd
st
shopping at the November 3 and the December 1
For the last twelve years AAUW has assisted the
meetings. The income from the boutique provides YMCA with their annual home tour by hosting a
scholarships for local women who have returned to home. If you would like to join the fun and volunteer
college.
on December 6, 2015 to be a hostess in the home that
AAUW is assigned for that day, please let us
We are looking for
know. We have two shifts available, 9:00 am – 1:00
more crafty people to
pm and 12:45- 4:45 pm. It is a wonderful way to
donate items for these
assist the YMCA with their big fund raiser. T he
boutiques.
Do you
money raised goes to support the Y's Legal Aid
paint?
Work
with
program which provides legal services to low income
wood? Knit? Sew?
clients, primarily women. The program employs a
Design jewelry or
paralegal who helps with the filing of paperwork and
cards?
helping set up court appearances and then she has a
Make
table
group of attorneys who volunteer their time to help.
decorations?
We’d
It's really a great program that was a YWCA initiative
love to include your
that they brought over when they merged with the
work in our boutique.
Please give Pat Belk a call or send her an email to let her YMCA. Your gift of time and energy makes you
feel good and serves a wonderful cause. There will
know that you wish to donate items for our boutique.
be a sign-up sheet at the October meeting, or you can
Remember all the income goes directly to providing email me your name, phone number, and which shift
scholarships for local women. We provided seven you would like to Ann Leonard’s email.
scholarships last year. We hope to see you at the
~Ann Leonard and Linda Browning, Co-Chairs
boutiques at the November and December meetings!
~Bessie Reece, Co-Chair
Member News
Senator Mike Morrell Announces
2015 Women of Distinction
Congratulations
to AAUW
Redlands member,
Anne Viricel,
for being selected as one of 44
women from throughout the 23rd California Senate
District who make a positive difference in their
communities.
"It's a privilege every year to honor women from
around the Inland Empire who demonstrate a deep
commitment to their friends, family, and the community
at large," said Morrell. "Their service is a testament to
the strength of our region. I'm grateful for the work they
do."
October 2015
Legal Advocacy Fund
Donate Frequent Flyer miles?
April 5, 2016 is our super
fabulous Legal Advocacy Fund
branch meeting with Amalia
Lam, AAUW Legal Advocacy
Senior Manager. Does anyone
have oodles of Frequent Flyer
miles she/he could donate to
help fly Mollie out here from
Washington D. C. for our LAF
branch meeting?
~Jane Roberts, LAF Chair
Page 7
Our Hospitality committee is putting
together a list of all our members by
their birth months and we need your help.
Please give us your name and the month you were born.
Of course, we hope to see you at the branch meeting
during the month of your birth so we can wish you a
happy birthday in person but we will also be sending
you "best wishes" in the Branches and Twigs. Barbara
Krause and I will really appreciate hearing from you
soon! We look forward to seeing you when it’s your
birthday month!
~Pat & Barb
Happy Birthday to our members
September
Dolores Barrett
Janice Belden
Linda Browning
Beverly Cox
Katherine Gifford
Fay Glass
Patricia Larson
Grace Martin
Cathryn Oltman
Kimberly Roman
Linda Rowland
Sue Wallace
Karen Warren
October
Kathleen Albrektson
Susan Bentley
Barbara Bowers
Judith Brandt
Ellen Cope
Amber Costa
Nancy Perry
Deborah Seilby
Diane Shimota
Patricia Stubbs
Give a Grad a
Gift, woman or man,
who is graduating from a
college or university in
2015. You can give a
recent (up to two years)
grad a free, one-year
AAUW (and AAUW
California) membership at
no cost to you or to them.
The
Redlands
Branch
College/University
Partnership with the University of Redlands and
Crafton Hills College is off to a great start this fall
with the team reserving the date of Friday, January 29,
2016 for the exciting ElectHer, Campus Women Win
Program. The focus of this program is to expose
college women to the idea that they can successfully
run for office and thus to create a pipeline of
candidates for political office who have the skills and
knowledge, who have tasted success and are ready to
RUN! This is an excellent program put on by AAUW
and Running Start, who provide an experienced
Facilitator and local politicians, all who are
experienced and who interact with these college
women and share their tools of the trade to help them
along. The day closes out with a reception mixer for
Q & A where those last tips are shared. This is an
exceptional Conference and the attendees then have
another opportunity to attend a leadership Conference
at the University of Maryland next May which also
addresses similar skills and many additional
opportunities.
~ Sheron Bealer & Kathy Toister, Co-Chairs
http://www.aauw.org/resource/give-a-grad-a-gift/
Page 8
October 2015
Banning, Beaumont teens to attend Tech Trek in San Diego
Record Gazette
Thursday, June 18, 2015
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Pass area is sponsoring four girls to
attend a STEM (Math Science) camp at the University of San Diego in June.
The four girls have just completed their seventh grade
year at the Banning/Beaumont middle schools. They were
selected for their essays and personal interviews.
The camp consists of living in the college dorms,
participating in classes of math, science, technology,
engineering and related fields.
Field trips to educational sites are also part of the
curriculum. Instructors at the camp are highly qualified
teachers and professional women currently engaged in
math, science and technology fields. All Tech Trek
personnel are volunteers.
Without the financial support of groups such as Sun Lakes Charity; other community groups;
and individuals in the community the girls would not have this opportunity.
In addition to the Math/Science Camp, the AAUW Pass Area Group also provides a STEM
Conference each January on the campus of Mt. San Jacinto College.
Over 300 8th grade girls from Beaumont/Banning school districts attend the conference. At the
conference the girls have an opportunity to meet with women presently employed in math/science
careers. The girls are encouraged to set goals, stay in school and continue beyond high school.
Pictured from left, Maya Gonzalez, Kenya Nunez and Nadia Urquidez will attend
the Tech Trek in San Diego. Jaelyn O’neal, not pictured, will also attend.
AAUW Funds OCTOBER THEATER BENEFIT
Join us at the annual AAUW Funds theater fundraiser Thursday October 22nd
titled ”Kitchen Witches". Two rival cable access cooking show hostesses find
themselves together on a new show.
Temperatures quickly rise, food and insults fly, and the ratings continue to grow
as people tune in to watch the drama unfold.
Members can help by selling tickets at $25 each, make donations of wine, or
donations of door prizes. Please turn in any donated gift cards by October 6.
Tickets include the Door Prize drawing at the event. Contact Susan Willis for
tickets. Prepaid tickets can be picked up at will call the night of the event. Order
form on page 10.
~Susan Willis and Gail Anderson, Co-Chairs
The AAUW of California Funds Committee
is proud to honor our 2015-2016
California Fellow and Grant Recipients
Join us at the Airport Marriott Hotel in Irvine Sunday, October 18, 2015 from noon to
3:00 PM as we celebrate and honor this year's grant and fellowship recipients.
Lunch is included. Please RSVP by October 6th http://www.eventbrite.com/e/southern-californiaaauw-fall-funds-luncheon-tickets-12435576143
October 2015
Page 9
Redlands Branch, AAUW
P.O. Box 7678
Redlands, CA 92375-0678
Branches and Twigs
Issue 3, October 2015
AAUW Funds THEATER BENEFIT
TICKET ORDER FORM
“Kitchen Witches”
Thursday, October 22nd
Wine and Cheese Reception 6:30 p.m.
Performance 8:00 p.m.
Door Prizes and Light Dessert at Intermission
_____ # of tickets @ $25 each
NAME:
______________________
PHONE:
______________________
EMAIL:
______________________
Your tickets will be waiting for you at
the Will Call table the evening of the
benefit.
____ We cannot attend, but we would like to contribute $_____ to the fundraiser.
Please make check payable to: AAUW Funds.
Please mail order form with payment to:
Redlands Branch, AAUW
AAUW Funds Theater Benefit
P.O Box 7678, Redlands, CA 92373
AAUW Redlands Branch is a 501(c)4 and contributions are not tax deductible
Page 10
October 2015