The next meeting of the Greater Naples Branch of the AAUW will be held Saturday, March 2,2024 at the Collier County Education Association, 6710 Lone Oak Blvd., 34109. Refreshments and registration will be provided at 9:30 a.m., and the meeting will begin at 10:00.

The March Branch meeting, March 2, will host Pat DeWitt, Public Policy Director for the State of Florida.

 She is extremely knowledgeable regarding politics; and she inspired us to enthusiastically lobby the Senate and House of Representatives during Lobby Days in Tallahassee. She will fill us in on the latest stories of political intrigue at the State level. 



NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF WOMEN............

In 1920, the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (a predecessor to AAUW) helped

raise money to purchase a gram of radium for Marie Curie. The effort was led by

Marie Meloney, a journalist and editor of The Delineator women’s magazine, who

learned while interviewing Curie that her research was being held back by short

supply of radium.

Meloney asked, “If you had the whole world to choose from, what would you

take?” Curie replied, “I need a gram of radium to continue my research, but I

cannot buy it; radium is too dear for me.”

Meloney formed the Marie Curie Radium Fund in the U.S., where ACA was an

active participant along with the International Federation of University Women

American Committee. This committee consisted of 35 women, including leader

like: Virginia Gildersleeve, Ada Comstock, Aurelia Reinhardt, Marion Park, Mary

Woolley and Meta Glass.

In 1921, Curie and her two daughters visited the U.S. to receive the gift and travel

the country. The AAUW New York City (NY) Branch organized an event in her

honor at Carnegie Hall. She then traveled to Washington, D.C., and visited the

White House, where President Warren Harding presented her with the gram of

radium in a lead-lined box.

At the time, a gram of radium cost $100,000. The Marie Curie Radium Fund was

so successful that it raised an additional $56,413.54. After Curie died in 1934, the

money was passed to her daughter, Irene Joliot-Curie, who continued her

mother’s research.

The funds eventually went into a trust managed by a bank, and the ownership of

the money was called into question. AAUW had to fight the case in court to

secure the money for a cause related to its original purpose. After the court case,

the bank granted the funds to AAUW to use for the Marie Curie Fellowship, which

was first awarded in 1963, to support a French or American woman studying

chemistry, physics, or radiology.

AND THE REST IS HISTORY.......

Our very successful STEAM program is an example of the collective efforts of so

many of our members, the Charitable Foundation, and the dedication of STEAM

leadership. Inspired by the words of Marie Curie, Science & Nobel Prize winner

in Physics, "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. Now is

the 7me to understand more, so that we may fear less."

our STEAM Girls

received kits and all the necessary elements to explore, experiment, and enjoy the power of learning. We welcome them to the wonderful world of discovery led by the efforts of strong AAUW women!!!

On February 1, 2024d, The Greater Naples Branch of the American

Association of University Women (AAUW) hosted the President of

Framingham State University, Nancy S. Niemi, Ph.D., who spoke

about how the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action has

and will affect equity and inclusion. A discussion followed and a light

breakfast was served. The event was held at the Quarry Beach Club,

in Naples. Florida.

Nancy S. Niemi, Ph. ,is the President of Framingham State

University in Massachusetts. Her commitment to social equity

through education is evidenced in her work with universities across

the country and in her research throughout her career. Her

experience in education includes positions as Provost and Vice

President for Academic Affairs at the University of Maryland Eastern

Shore, Professor and Chair of Education at the University of New

Haven, and as an elected public school board member.

Branch members and community partners, as well as guests

attended this very important and informative workshop. This discussion was rich and enhanced by those in attendance.

The AAUW GNB Nominating Committee has contacted over 30 members (some of them several times) and submits the following slate of nominees for the positions for which we were asked to find candidates:

Co-President: Sylvia Natalie is willing to serve if she has a co-president. The Nominating Committee has been unable to find anyone else to serve in this position. Perhaps another appeal at the branch meeting will yield a member willing to serve.

Co-Vice President/Programs: Kathy Miller and Carol Siwinski

Finance Director: Nancy Beights

Co-Secretary: Laura Candris and Linda Raclin

Lynne Romey asked the Committee to canvas members to determine if any were willing to help with the newsletter, website, or PR. Laura Williams expressed a willingness to help with the website (preferably) or possibly the newsletter. Jacky Territo informed she would consider working on the website.

If you would like a list of the members we have contacted, please let us know.

Submitted by Nominating Committee Members Julie Olander, Judy Blackburn and Karen Clegg

AAUW Fund

The Greater Naples Branch contributed $3,755 to AAUW in 2023, to help ensure the AAUW mission continues. Nineteen branch members made individual gifts totaling $2,255, and the branch gave $1,500 from our Operating Fund. Thank you to everyone. Without the support of members and branches, our national organization could not continue. Many think we do our part when we pay our dues, but dues only cover a very small part of the budget. The balance of the income has to come from investments, corporations and foundation support, and branch and individual member giving. You may also use this link to resubscribe to Emails:  https://secure.everyaction.com/p/8fvkDOF_gkmwgUN5RDy1tw2

Florida Tech Trek    

Every summer since 2013, the 32 branches of AAUW Florida have sponsored AAUW Tech Trek Camps for girls going into eighth grade. The two 2024 camps will be in June on the campus of Stetson University in Deland and on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter. Each camp will have 48 girls. The cost to each girl is $50. Core courses this year will be Qualcomm Wearable Tech, Structural Engineering. Neuroscience, Marine Biology, Qualcomm Think a bit Lab, Marine Science, Forensic Science, and Environmental Science.

Once again, the Greater Naples Branch, is sending $1200, from our Operating Fund, to pay for a full week of camp for one girl. If you are interested in individually supporting the camps, visit the website, https://techtrek-fl.aauw.net/.  Your contribution is tax deductible. Make sure you state that you are a Greater Naples Branch member.

AAUW Annual Voting

Every spring, AAUW members are asked to elect AAUW Directors. This year, members will also be asked to approve a proposed amendment to the bylaws. Voting is April 3 - May 15 and will take place online. Members will receive an email from vote@simplyvoting.com with their unique Elector ID and Password. Now is a good time to make sure that AAUW has your correct email address and that you are subscribed to receive emails from AAUW. You can easily check your information on the AAUW Community Hub. Go to https://www.aauw.org/ . Click Log In (upper right). Your Personal Snapshot page will appear. Verify your communication access under My Preferences.

Proposed AAUW Bylaws Amendment

Members will be asked to approve the proposed amendment to the AAUW Bylaws that opens membership to any individual who supports AAUW's important mission. This will eliminate the degree requirement. The AAUW Board of Directors and the Governance Committee recommend approval of this amendment. This change will align our membership practices with our purpose of advancing equity for women and girls and enable us to include members with the diverse backgrounds and perspectives needed to achieve our purpose in today's world.

Approval of an amendment to the bylaws requires a 2/3 vote. In 2021, 63% of the voters approved this same amendment. This included 29% of the Greater Naples Branch members who voted with 72% of the voters approving the amendment. Be an informed voter. Take the time to check out why this amendment is so important to pass: https://www.aauw.org/resources/member/governance-tools/national-election/



George Gershwin and Modern Art

A Rhapsody in Blue

Artists-Naples Baker Museum

Private Docent Tour )Minimum 15 person person required)

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 11:30 a.m.

$20/person included $10 admission to Artis )$10 to members who are admitted free) and $10 donation to AAUW-GNB

Checks are payable to AAUW GNB

sent to

Jacky Territo 9399 Quarry Drive, Naples, FL 34120

by March 4, 2024

Plan to join us for lunch afterwards at California Pizza.

A portion of our lunch purchase will be donated to

AAUWGNB



Public Policy: Equal Pay Day March 12

AAUW is recognizing Equal Pay Day this year on March 12. This is the day, on average, that

women have to work until to earn what men did in 2023. Overall, the pay gap in the US is 84

percent, and for most of Collier County, it’s 82.3 percent. Yes, we’re closing the gap, but very,

very slowly.

On Thursday, March 7, at 6:00 p.m. EST, AAUW-Florida’s online forum will feature our co-

director for the state Public Policy team, Mary Gatta, who will talk about women’s economic

security in Florida and the gender pay gap. This free Zoom meeting is open to the public. You

must register in advance to receive the Zoom link here:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtd-GurTMoGdGYbZw3qSffBnt6xp4lhB9z -

/registration

Also this month, we have the Florida Presidential Preference Primary on March 19. The vote-by-

mail ballot request deadline is March 7. Early voting is March 9-16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for Collier

County. On election day, the polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Remember, you can check

your registration and mail-in ballot status online at your county’s supervisor of elections website:

https://www.colliervotes.gov/ or https://www.lee.vote/.

Sign up to receive emails from AAUW and become a Two-Minute Activist at

https://www.aauw.org/act/two-minute-activist/.If you would like to join our education subcommittee or have any questions, please contact Carol Light, Public Policy Director.



The Great Decisions group will meet on Monday, March 4, 2:00-3:30 p.m. at the North Collier

Government Center community room at 2335 Orange Blossom Drive (behind the headquarters

library). This month’s topic is Global Trade and Green Energy. Lynne Romito will be the

discussion leader.

If you are interested in learning more about the group, please contact Carol Light

Reading Is Fun will hold a book distribution at Lavern Gaynor Elementary School on March 8

and at that school and at Golden Terrace Elementary School in May. (May dates will be

determined later in the Spring). If you wish to volunteer, particularly if you will be here in May, please contact RIF Coordinator Judy Blackburn.



The Non-Fiction Book Club meets at 2:30 p.m. (note time change) on the fourth Monday of each

month, on the back covered patio of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6340 Napa Woods

Way, Naples 34116.

* March 25, American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, Race and America’s

Forgotten Crisis by Adam Hochschild, 361 pages.

* April 22, Career and Family: Women’s Long Journey Toward Equality by Claudia Golden, 344

pages.

If you need further information, contact Non-Fiction Book Club Coordinator Karen Klegg.

CC= Cocktails and Conversation

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 @ 4:30 PM

Guiseppi and the Lion --outside terrace

1585 Pine Ridge Road

Naples, FL 34109

Reservations desired but not required

Susan Becker @ smmsbecker@gmail.com



NonSequiturs March Gathering

Painting with Julie

No experience or prior skills necessary

It’s another fun adventure discovering our creative side!

March 21, 2024

Julie Olander’s Studio

5:00 - 7:30

RSVP to Nancy Beights

Please bring your own box supper;

Beverages provided, or BYO

As many members know, the Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a small

public charity created by members of the AAUW Greater Naples Branch in 2001. Although

small, it has a big mission: To promote equity, education, and development of opportunities

for local women and girls that enable them to realize their full potential. In addition to sup-

porting the charitable community service programs of the Branch, the Foundation has

awarded academic scholarships to deserving local women pursuing college degrees for over

20 years. The Scholarship Committee, comprised of dedicated Branch members, annually

promotes the availability of our scholarships and carefully selects recipients to recommend to

the Foundation.

Although the Foundation has had good success in obtaining grant funding for the Branch’s

STEAM Girls Count Program, we’ve found no grant source for the scholarship program. This

means that when more than the three endowed scholarships are awarded in any year (e.g.,

the 14 awards of $2000 each made in 2023), the Foundation must replenish the scholarship

funds with new donations over the next 12 months. Over the years, many Branch members

have contributed generously to these programs benefiting deserving local women.

We have an opportunity to grow the scholarship program via donations by others

too. Uniquely, we think, the Foundation offers a Named Scholarship Opportunity: For a min-

mum donation of just $2000, a one-time scholarship can be awarded in the name of a busi-

ness or organization or in memory or honor of a friend or loved one. This opportunity allows

businesses, organizations, and individuals to create a legacy without having to make a large,

lump sum donation. As an example, Dellatore Real Estate Company is sponsoring its sec-

ond annual Local Scholarship. Friends of Bayview I (where Judith MacGregor lives) is spon-

soring its third scholarship. A flyer describing the named scholarship opportunity is posted

at https://greaternaples-fl.aauw.net/files/2023/11/2023-Named-Scholarships-Flier-final.pdf.

Donors to our scholarship funds have the opportunity to read the recipients' essays and often

to meet them at our annual scholarship luncheon. Please consider promoting the Named

Scholarship Opportunity. Folks are often grateful to have been given an opportunity to con-

tribute to a worthy cause.

Questions? Ask Cathy Hackney, Jeannine Stetson, Laura Candris or Judith Macgregor

Greater Naples AAUW Charitable Foundation, Inc.

2023 Year in Review

Scholarship Programs:

- 14 Scholarships of $2000 each were awarded in 2023, both the traditional scholarships for women 21

years old or older and the STEM scholarships for graduating high school seniors and older women.

- In 2023, a new scholarship for future teachers was created at the suggestion of, and with funding by

Nancy Chism. Then the Dorothy King Sutton Memorial Scholarship Fund for Future teachers was

created and received contributions of over $4000 as of 12/29/23, permitting award of two more

scholarships to future teachers in 2024.

- Over $8500 was contributed for our traditional Local Scholarship for women age 21 or over , including

the second Dellatore Real Estate Scholarship and the third Friends of Bayview I Scholarship.

- $24,000 was donated for STEM Scholarships to be awarded as three $2000 STEM scholarships in each

of the next four years.

- The scholarships in the names of the Dellatore Real Estate Company, Friends of Bayview I, and Dorothy

Kind Sutton were made through the Foundation’s Named Scholarship Opportunity. This is a great way

to recruit non-member donations to our scholarship programs!

Support of the Branch STEAM Girls Count Program:

- The current STEAM Operating Fund as of 12/29 is over $9000.00 Three grants for this program were

obtained this year from the Hyman Family Foundation, Arthrex and Suncoast Federal Credit Union

Foundation. The two new grants totaled $14,500.)

Total grants to the Foundation in support of the Branch STEAM Girls Count Program were $19,500.00.

Total cash donations for STEAM were over $21,000. We also had substantial in-kind contributions and

pledges.

Support of the AAUW StartSmart Salary Negotiation Workshops:

- The Foundation continued to support facilitation of AAUW StartSmart programs at FGCU by Branch

members (Judith MacGregor and Jeannine Stetson) and collaborated with Dress for Success to provide

interview attire to the StartSmart participants.

SWFL Women Giving Together (WGT):

- SWFL Women Giving Together (WGT) had 15 members and a total balance of $5,942.20 as of

12/29/23.

- WGT members voted to donate $3500 to The Shelter for Abused Women and Children, with the

donation designated for the medical and dental care of Shelter residents.

The Janet Martin Welch Reading is Fun! Program:

- Donations continue to be made to the Janet Martin Welch Reading is Fun! Sustaining Fund, which had a

year-end balance of over $18,000.00. The total balance of funds contributed for this program at year

end was $23,811.27

Other Activities:

- Held the annual Scholarship Celebration Luncheon netting $2,631

- Conducted the 11/14 Salon Event, netting $711

- Research and solicited grant opportunities and other funds

- Reviewed and updated its Bylaws, Policies and Procedures, other documents, listings, and governmental

filings.

Bank Account 12/29/2023

Fifth Third Bank $55,424.16

Edward Jones $60,994.20

Fidelity (#3511) $75,598.26

Fidelity (#3845) $47,437.02

Total $239,453.64

Total Assets $239,453.64

Liabilities (Scholarships

awarded but not yet paid) $8,680.94

Net Assets (Assets - minus

liabilities) $230,772.70

Restricted Endowments $108,431.22

Reserves $75,598.26

Operating Funds $46,743.22

Unrestricted and

Undesignated Operating

Funds. These are the funds

that may be used to pay the

Foundation’s bills for

insurance, the CPA,

governmental registrations

and other operating

expenses.

$5,688.86