2022-2023 Theme:
Supporting Marginalized Women and Girls
During This Time of Change
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Message from the President
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Hello everyone!
The start of the holiday season is upon us! Many changes will occur just as the weather is beginning to change. Plus, it is a very busy season!
I look forward to this month's guest speaker, Carol Bertsch. She has a lot of information that we should pay attention to as we age. I look forward to her presentation.
We just went through exercising our right as a citizen of the United States by voting in the midterm election, registering voters as volunteer Deputy Voter Registrars, and probably providing financial support to candidates of your choice. What are your thoughts, feelings, and/or takeaways from the results of the midterm election?
As for me, I am encouraged by the number of women who ran for office throughout the United States, especially at state levels. As an AAUW member, I advocate for our members and other women becoming engaged in the process of governing in order to influence more positive outcomes for women and girls and marginalized peoples locally and throughout the world, and promote equality for all.
I am impressed by Maxwell Frost, first Gen Z elected to a congressional seat. We must find ways to involve and keep our youth in conversations about our government, its processes, how laws affect them, how to listen to candidates, how to get involved. We have a chance to be involved in the education of our local youth through our partnership with The League of Women Voters’ Youth Education Program.
The results from five states - California, Vermont, Michigan, Kentucky, Montana - that had reproductive rights propositions on their ballots are significant. Voters in all five states voted in favor of reproductive rights. In Kentucky, voters rejected proposals to further restrict reproductive rights.
Update: The Board decided that we should consider meeting in-person for our Monthly General Meeting in February. We are planning this as a hybrid meeting. So, if you are not ready or are not able to meet in person, you can still attend by zoom. To help us make good decisions and make plans, please complete our Hybrid Meeting Survey in this newsletter.
Please save January 17, 2023 for a tour of the Cyber Security School conducted by two students. More information is available in this newsletter.
March is Women’s History Month. We are planning a visit to the Young Women's Leadership Academy - among the top one percent of high schools in the United States. We have been invited to speak about our organization’s mission, values and goals and discuss its relevance with the students. Please volunteer to help plan and implement the program. Just email Kathy Dicke to volunteer.
Also, we plan to present a letter to the San Antonio Mayor and City Council asking about the status of pay equity of city employees. More to come on this project. But, when we implement this action, we would like a large contingency of members present.
We are continuing our fundraising efforts. Remember our major advocacy is providing textbook scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students. The amount and number of awards are based on the amount of money we raise through fundraising efforts. We just finished the wreath sale which made $400.
The next fundraiser is the Textbook Scholarships Drawing for $300 and $100 gift cards. This opportunity is open to your family and friends - so let them know they can participate. Each member should have received a Constant Contact email notice. You can also access the drawing from this newsletter or on the website. The drawing will be held 7 January 2023 - look out for more information about the drawing.
This holiday season remember those who are struggling through this inflation. But hold close those we love. Safe travels to those who will visit away from home.
Happy Holidays to all!
Diane Claiborne-Carr
President
AAUW San Antonio
571-330-1039
canyond2@gmail.com
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Executive Committee
President
Diane Claiborne-Carr
President Elect
Vacant
Vice President Membership
Ruth Lyle
Vice President Programs
Monica Ruiz-Mills
Secretary
Ashlee Martinez
Treasurer
Adrien Frank
Parliamentarian
Suzanne Benson
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Standing Committees
Public Policy
Pat Sanford
Budget/Finance
Adrien Frank
Scholarships/NCCWSL
Karen Reichensperger
Eleanor Skelley
Colleges/Universities
Martha Steele
Funds
Kimberly Henry
Communications
Malinda Gaul
STEM
Mary Ellen Pratt
DEI
Kimberly Henry
Governance
Vacant
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Appointed
Historian
Patricia Tucker
Community Coordinator
Vacant
Reservations
Betty Russell
Publicity
Michelle Burk
Member Outreach
Kathy Dicke
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Saturday, December 3, 2022
11:30 am
Link to be sent by
President Diane Claiborne-Carr
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December Program
Carol Bertsch is really an old soul. You can see it in her eyes when she listens intently to what you need and helps you evaluate all your options. She treats her clients with dignity, patience, and understanding and will make house calls to those unable to visit the office.
Her presentation in December will be “Getting Your Affairs in Order” about the importance of establishing Wills and Powers of Attorney while you still have mental capacity and a discussion on the various options for paying for long-term care.
Carol received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 1992 and started her elder law practice in 1996. In 2012, she earned a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) certification after completing rigorous testing and demonstrating her practice’s focus on elder and disability law. To maintain her CELA, Carol continues to specialize in elder law and completes continuing education credits for advanced practitioners.
Carol Bertsch is a member of several organizations including the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Bexar County Women’s Bar Association, San Antonio Bar Association, and the National Association of Women Business Owners. Carol has been the recipient of the Barbara Kishpaugh Award from the San Antonio Bar Association Elder Law Section.
When Carol’s not working, she’s trying new restaurants with her husband and visiting her mom and her siblings. She’s also a mentor for the THRU Project.
Learn more about Carol and her firm on her website: assistingseniors.com
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November Meeting Recap
Jeanne Russell, Executive Director for the CAST Schools Network, presented at our November monthly meeting on the purpose of CAST Schools in the San Antonio area. What we learned: CAST Schools is a public-school network that establishes partnerships with school districts in underserved areas to prepare students for college and careers. Learning is customized for students and is based on student interest. There are five CAST Schools in the surrounding area. At CAST Schools, students take ownership of their learning, with a focus on community and service, and they are provided opportunities to participate in internships and apprenticeships. The recording can be found on our website.
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AAUW San Antonio Textbook Scholarships
$300 VISA Gift Card
And
$100 VISA Gift Card
Drawings
We are continuing the tradition of raising funds for the textbook scholarships that AAUW SA awards annually to assist women attending a college or university in Bexar County to purchase textbooks. We will have a drawing for $300 and $100 gift cards at a special virtual meeting January 7, 2023. You do not need to be present or a member of AAUW to win.
Please support this worthy effort by donating to this drawing.
- 1 Ticket for any donation of $10
- 3 Tickets for any donation of $25
- 10 Tickets for any donation of $80
This year you can donate online by debit card or credit card by clicking the link below and following the instructions.
https://app.galabid.com/aauwsanantonio
Once your donation is complete, GalaBid will
automatically send an email
with an identifying number
based on the amount of your donation.
You may also donate by check:
Payable to AAUW San Antonio
Mail check to:
Adrien Frank
140 Patterson Ave., Apt 104
San Antonio, TX 78209
Include the total number of tickets for which you
are donating on the memo line of your check.
Once we receive your check, someone on our team
will contact you with details about your tickets.
The last day we will receive donations is January 4, 2023.
All tickets generated by your donations online and via check will be combined into a randomizer that will select winners. You can only win one prize. The first draw will be for the $300 gift card and the second draw will be for the $100 gift card.
Please forward this email to family/friends who may want to donate to our fundraiser.
Thank you in advance for your generosity. Textbooks cost hundreds of dollars each semester. Winners often tell us that receiving the AAUW SA scholarship has enabled them to stay in school or work less which allows more time to study and achieve better grades.
By automating the drawing, we save some operating dollars to apply to the scholarships.
Thank you for making this year’s Textbook Scholarship Fundraiser another great success.
Sincerely yours,
Kimberly Henry, Chair, Fundraising (864-387-0585)
Ruth Lyle, VP Membership
Adrien Frank, Treasurer
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Hybrid Meeting Survey
Please complete this survey and let us know your preferences for future meetings.
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Institute of Cyber Security and Innovation Tour
San Antonio is home to the country’s second-largest concentration of cybersecurity experts and nearly 40 cybersecurity companies have headquarters in San Antonio.
NEISD wants to create a space that prepares students for the workforce and introduce them to an industry that has infinite potential.
The AAUW SA Community Outreach Committee is organizing a tour of the Institute of Cyber Security and Innovation (ICSI) in January. More detailed information will be sent to members through Constant Contact regarding date, time, location, parking, agenda and bios.
Students Seyma Kilic and Andrea Navarro and Teacher Mrs. Pullido will be our tour guides.
Adrien Frank
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From a NCCWSL Scholarship Winner
Spring 2022
I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to attend the NCCWSL conference. Special Thanks to Ela for showing us and letting us participate in “Un-stuck” part of the session. It really opened my mind and made me realize that I am not alone. Growing up one only saw men in power and only men running things. As times change so do the roles. I heard guest speakers talk about the struggles they had to overcome in order to achieve their goals. It made me feel hopeful; so much hope for the future roles of women in leadership. I feel more empowered after attending your conference.
I can’t remember her name at the moment, I think it was Simone. She’s a marine biologist. Her speech about her experiences really made me feel like we connected in so many levels. The struggles she faced and how she didn’t let anything stop her really made me realize that even though the struggles are there, goals are achievable.
I am just very thankful for this experience in the whole. I met so many different women from different parts of the country that felt the same way as I did. I did not think anyone else felt or thought as I did until we started getting into the break out sessions. Connecting was such an eye opening for me. Coming from a low income family and at 39, almost 40 years old, and being a continuing student, first in my family to attend college, there are so many things I still am unaware of. Thank you for this. I really appreciate it.
Josefina Serrano Andrade
San Antonio College
San Antonio, Texas
Women's Empowerment Center
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Please welcome new members:
Kimberly Sama
Alexandra van de Kamp
Deborah Andrepoint
Tammi Lambert
We look forward to getting to know you.
Ruth Lyle
Membership Vice President
ruthannlyle@gmail.com
210-722-1732
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Shape the Future Membership
Invite a friend or family member to attend a meeting. If they join after attending a San Antonio AAUW event or meeting the National dues are only $33.50, AAUW Texas $13, and San Antonio Branch $16 for a total of $62.50.
Thank you for supporting AAUW!
Ruth Lyle
Vice President Membership
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THANK YOU TO PAST PRESIDENT CHERYL FULLER | |
Member Spotlight
Sophie Lim has been a member of AAUW SA since 1985. She has served on many AAUW committees: arranged lunch meetings for Historic Southwest, phone committee Historic Southwest, Education Foundation Chair, Public Policy Chair, Publicity Committee, Social Arrangements Committee and is currently serving on the AAUW-SA Textbook Scholarships Committee.
She was born/raised in San Antonio, TX, and graduated from Incarnate Word with a degree in Biology/Medical Technology. She worked at Baptist Hospital. Then, while working as manager at the family’s Golden Palace (now the Golden Wok), Sophie became aware of AAUW when members met there for some of their meetings. She currently works with her husband, Alex, in the family restaurant, Golden Star Cafe. The Golden Star Cafe, established in 1932 by Alex’s grandfather, just celebrated 90 years and three generations of family ownership. Many city and county celebrities attended the celebration and the family was awarded a Proclamation by the Mayor and City Council on 11/3/2022.
Sophie has been a busy woman throughout her life as an active member of a national lobby group, Chinese American Citizens Alliance. She served as president of the San Antonio Chapter; represented the San Antonio Restaurant Association on the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s Issue Focus Group and on the Roundtable Group on Environmental and Health Issues, specializing in identifying food-borne illnesses; assisted the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce in its focus on alternative modes of transportation; veteran of the Cattlemen’s Square Board of Directors; and member of the Downtown Southwest Optimist Club. In 1999 she helped facilitate a National Teleconference on Reforms for Women in Social Security which included Hilary Clinton and local Congressmen Ciro Rodriguez and Charlie Gonzales. Sophie says, "Oriental women are retiring in the background. The fact that I am a woman working within the Oriental culture with people accustomed to traditional roles was quite a challenge to me."
She has been married to Alex Lim for 48 years, has 2 daughters, Alexa (Oakland, CA) and Yvonne (Austin, TX), 1 son, Edward (Denver, CO) and 3 grandchildren. Family is really special to Sophie. When there’s time, Sophie enjoys her hobbies of cooking and working with stained glass.
Sophie and many of her family at the current Golden Star Cafe
which had been remodeled to resemble the 1932 restaurant.
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AAUW Webinar
Gloria Blackwell interviews Dr. Keisha Blain, Ph.D.,
Professor of African Studies and History at Brown University, columnist for MSNBC, AAUW Fellow Alumna,
author of "Until I am Free: Frannie Lou Hamer's Enduring Message to America"
aauw.org/resources/programs/webinars
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Golden Star Cafe
821 W. Commerce Street
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December Dates to Remember
1 - National Christmas Lights Day
1- National Woman Support Woman Day
2 - World Aids Day
2 - National Bartenders Day
2 – National Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3- AAUW San Antonio December Monthly General Meeting
3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
4 – National Cookie Day
5- AAUW San Antonio Bridge IHOP
5 – International Volunteer Day
7 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
8 – Culinary Adventures – Silo Restaurant
10 - Human Rights Day
10 - International Animal Rights Day
11 – UNICEF Day
12 – National Poinsettia Day
13 – National Guard Day
14 – National Free Shipping Day
16 – National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
16 – National Ugly Sweater Day
16 – Las Posadas
17 – National Wreaths Across America Day
18 – Hanukkah
22 – National Cookie Exchange Day
24 – Christmas Eve
25 – Christmas Day
26 – First Day of Kwanzaa
26 – Last Day of Hannukah
26 – Boxing Day
27- National Thank You Note Day
28 – Wounded Knee
31 – New Year’s Eve
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Program Schedule for 2022-2023
December 3, 2022: Preparing for our future now (Aligned to DEI topic: Presumption of Incompetence/Bias)
Speaker: Carol Bertsch, PA
Program: Getting Your Affairs in Order
Explore the importance of establishing Wills and Powers of Attorney while you still have mental capacity. Discussion on the various options for paying for long-term care and making decisions while we still have the mental capacity.
January 2023
POC: Helga Anderson
Program: Wine Women and Wisdom
POC: Ali Heller
Program: Culinary Adventures
February 4, 2023: Access for youth in the foster care system (Aligned to DEI topic: Systems that Foster Disparities and Inequities)
Speaker: Airika Buford, Project Director, Bexar County Educational Success Program, UTSA
Program: It takes a Village: Creating a Holistic Pipeline of Support for Students with Experience in Foster Care.
The Bexar County Fostering Educational Success Program (BCFES) is a collaborative effort to improve access and retention of youth and young adults interested in or pursuing higher education. The presenter will provide an overview of the model, strategic framework, and the special initiatives put in place to fill in the gaps in resources and support services for BCFES participants. Lastly, the presentation will discuss the community support needed to ensure that pipelines of support like these are sustainable and how to become a part of the village that help to improve the educational trajectory of students with a history in foster care.
March 4, 2023: The Status of Women in San Antonio Update (Aligned to DEI topic: Disparities and Inequities)
Speaker: City of San Antonio Member TBA
Program: Status of Women in San Antonio
The Status of Women in San Antonio report was commissioned by the city of San Antonio to provide an overview of disparities in San Antonio in the areas of gender, health, well-being, economic opportunities, political participation, and safety.
April 1, 2023
Lead: Dr. Karen Reichensperger, Scholarship Committee Chair
Program: San Antonio AAUW Scholarship Winners
May 6, 2023: Scobee Girls STEM Summit (Aligned to DEI topic: Equity)
Speakers: Michelle Risse and Andrea Montano
Program: Scobee Education Center: STEM Education for Young Women Interested in STEM Careers
This presentation will reflect on the programs Scobee has provided through the Artemis Academy for Girls, the Scobee STEM Summit and what research tells us about how general STEM careers currently reflect our population. The Scobee Education Center has hosted the Scobee Girls STEM Summit since 2016 and funded an all-girls STEM camp.
Committee Members:
Monica Ruiz-Mills
Judy Branch
Mary Ellen Pratt
Martha Steele
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WINE, WOMEN & WISDOM
No WWW in November and December.
See you in January!
Helga Anderson
handersonsa@icloud.com
| Members attending Wine, Women and Wisdom at The Hayden | | |
CULINARY ADVENTURES
Thursday, December 8
12:00 noon
Silos 1604
434 N. Loop 1604 W
RSVP (yes only) to Ali Heller
by Tuesday, December 6, noon
hahhah82@gmail.com
210-617-8189
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Members attending Culinary Adventures at Carriqui
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BRIDGE
Monday, December 5
12:00 noon
IHOP
14424 San Pedro Ave. 78232
Contact Pearl Eng
pquaneng@hotmail.com
210.240.8118
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BOOK DISCUSSION
Saturday, December 17
11:00 am
A Long Way from Verona
by Jane Gardam
Holiday Lunch Provided by
Kathy Dicke, Wondra Chang and Michelle Burk
100 W. El Prado #207
RSVP to Kathy Dicke
kdicke946@gmail.com
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2022-2023 Officers
President Diane Claiborne-Carr
Vice President Programs Monica Ruiz-Mills
Vice President Membership Ruth Lyle
Secretary Ashlee Martinez
Treasurer Adrien Frank
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DONATE!
You can donate to the AAUW San Antonio Branch for Scholarships by making a check out to AAUW SA and sending it to Treasurer Adrien Frank, 140 Patterson, #104, San Antonio, TX 78209.
You can also donate to AAUW Greatest Needs
by clicking HERE.
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The Two-Minute Activist
The Two-Minute Activist is a source of information on topics relating to women’s issues. It also enhances our ability to send emails and texts to legislators to fight for equal pay, family leave, stopping sexual harassment, equality in education and more. Sign up on the AAUW webpage to get regular alerts to be able to take timely action.
You can also text “AAUW” to 21333 to get AAUW action alerts via text.
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Follow AAUW San Antonio on:
Facebook www.facebook.com/aauw.sanantonio
Twitter @AAUW_SanAntonio
LinkedIn AAUW San Antonio
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