Volume 114 Issue 4

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2022-2023 Theme:

Supporting Marginalized Women and Girls

During This Time of Change

Message from the President

Dear Members,


The weather is beginning to feel like San Antonio Autumn. I hope you all are doing well.


Speaking of doing well, Kathy Dicke is the Chair of our Member Outreach Committee. Kathy is the person you contact when you or another AAUWSA member, or a family member of a member, is not well, needs help, assistance, or comfort. She will determine the response needed.


Please contact Kathy at kdicke946@gmail.com.


Be aware of all the dates pertaining to voting, i.e., Early Voting days, last day to apply for a mail-in ballot, Election Day. We have provided the dates again in this newsletter. You are now able to print out a generic sample ballot at bexar.org/1568/Elections-Department. If you want to know who the candidates are in your Precinct and District, go to vote411.org/ballot. Add your full address. Then select “See My Races.” You will see a list of the positions for which you will vote. Open the position titles to see the candidates from each party that will be on your ballot. Plus, you can read each candidate’s answers to questions on various issues. 


Please read AAUW News releases in which Gloria Blackwell, AAUW Chief Executive Officer, provides AAUW’s positions on President Biden’s announcement to cancel federal student loan debt and the U.S. Census Bureau latest report on the gender pay gap data. These position statements are very important to us as advocates promoting these positions at the local level. These statements clarify AAUW’s position and provide talking points as we converse with others interested in our organization, recruit prospective members, dialogue with community influencers and leaders, and court other organizations we may wish to engage in partnership.      

                                  

We should be especially interested in the disappointing Census Bureau data as it reflects a lot of similar data on women provided by the report on the Status of Women in Bexar County presented by our last guest speaker Ernie Wittwer. The widening of the gender pay gap is not only disappointing but “egregious” for women of color as Gloria Blackwell emphasized.


So what? Now what?


In our September General meeting, we talked about meeting to discuss “hard issues” after Kimberly Henry and Veronica Quinones spoke to us about diversity, equity, and inclusion. So, if you wish to participate in a discussion on “Hard Issues”, email me and I will send you an invite to a zoom on Wednesday, October 26, 3:00pm.


As a response to “Now what?” after Ernie Wittwer explained the report, the suggestion was to promote local Get-Out-The-Vote. Several AAUWSA members have been busy as VDVRs. Another suggestion was to volunteer with an organization that has a direct impact on a marginalized group. Another response was to partner with other organizations with a similar mission and values on various issues that relate to the wellness of women and girls and equality for all. We have started one partnership with The League of Women Voters on their Youth Initiative. If you would like to participate in this endeavor, please email me.


We may meet in person in December....stay tuned!

 

Warmest regards,

 

Diane Claiborne-Carr

President

AAUWSA

canyond2@gmail.com

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Meet the 2022-2023 Branch Leaders

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

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

Appointed


Historian

Patricia Tucker

Community Coordinator

Vacant

Reservations

Betty Russell

Publicity

Michelle Burk

Member Outreach

Kathy Dicke


 

AAUW IS STILL ZOOMING

 

Saturday, November 5, 2022

11:30 am

Link to be sent by

President Diane Claiborne-Carr

Opportunities for Youth through the CAST Schools Network

November Program



Jeanne Russell, Executive Director of CAST Schools will speak about “Opportunities for Youth through the CAST Schools Network." This presentation aligns with AAUW Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) - Diversity in Education.


Ms. Russell will discuss the various educational opportunities provided to students in San Antonio through the Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) Network, a non-profit organization with a network of tuition-free, industry-led, career-themed high schools and one Pre-K through 12th Academy. The schools are located in underserved areas of San Antonio and encompass an innovative school approach in areas of STEM, medical professions, technology, leadership in retail, hospitality, and tourism, teaching profession, and the Advanced Learning Academy.


Guest speaker, Jeanne Russell, began her nontraditional career in education as a teacher. She reported on education as a journalist, and shifted into public policy work to improve not just the classroom, but the system. Her commitment to equity was shaped through early work in Oakland, East Harlem and Central America, where she also learned the value of giving students ownership of their own learning. She has helped create many of San Antonio’s signature education initiatives, including Café College, PreK4SA, Upgrade and SA Works. She joined Kate Rogers as part of the founding team that conceptualized CAST and was later named Executive Director of the growing network. Her personal passion is for student voice. She led the San Antonio Youth Commission in the year that it presented the first youth-informed public policy agenda to City Council. She also introduced the citywide civics fair (Speak Up Speak Out!) to San Antonio. Jeanne believes “We learn the most when we stop to listen to students, and put their needs at the forefront.”


She has a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of California-Berkeley, a master’s degree in education from the University of California-Davis and a joint master’s degree in journalism and Caribbean and Latin American Studies from New York University. Both of her children attend CAST Schools.

October Meeting Recap


Did you know that Texas is the 8th most unequal state in the country? Did you know that 24% of children in Bexar County live in poverty? Did you know that 40% of families (with children) living in poverty are single women as the head of the household? Mr. Wittwer addressed these areas of inequities. Since the late 1970s, wealth in the US has migrated upward, the rich are much richer at the expense of the poor and middle class. The US is the least economically equal of the seven large economies of the G-7. We are now as unequal as we were in the 1920s or the Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century. Inequality harms our democracy, our economy, our society, and our health. Our current circumstance was brought about largely by public policy choices made on our behalf by our elected representatives. Different choices on taxes, health care, education, labor, housing, criminal justice, and childcare could reverse those circumstances. The residual impact of these policies remains today. You can access Mr. Wittwer’s presentation on our website.

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The greenery is allergy friendly.

They do not spray the greenery with preservatives or scents.

Some of the pine cones have spray on fake snow.

Membership Survey


Our Board of Directors serves you, our members. We want to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete our survey. Let us know what types or programs, speakers, and interest groups you would like us to provide by answering a few questions.

Click Here to Take the Survey

Mental Health

San Antonio Community Resource Directory (SACRD)

sacrd.org

SACRD has identified 1,502 mental health resources in the San Antonio area.


IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS, CALL 911 NOW.

Helpful Numbers:

If you are feeling overwhelmed or

just want to talk to someone about your needs,

try one of these resources.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (open 24/7) 988


National Alliance on Mental Illness

San Antonio Warmline (M-F 9 am - 5 pm CT)

210-734-3349

The Warmline is not a crisis line.

They offer legal services or representation, psychiatric care,

case management, or financial assistance.

The Warmline is free and confidential


NAMI Helpline (M-F 9 am - 9 pm CT)

800-950-6264

Domestic Violence Hotline: 210-733-8810

Youth Hotline: 210-340-8090

Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 or text 838255

Taking Action in 2022-2023


As the 88th Texas legislative session approaches, AAUW Texas will build upon all that was learned about navigating the process during the 87th session. We will also take advantage of many excellent resources that are available to help us engage so we can and take meaningful action at the state and branch levels, and as individuals. Our work will focus on the top five public policy priorities that members from around the state identified in the survey the state public policy advisory committee sent to all Texas AAUW members during the summer.


The top five concerns are:

•           Women’s healthcare and reproductive choice

•           Open and fair elections that are broadly accessible to all voters

•           Opposition to the censoring of city, county, and public school libraries

•           Reduction in gun violence

•           Pay equity


A major effort this fall is for AAUW Texas to become involved in coalitions with other organizations that share the AAUW mission. This will help us magnify our influence and raise our profile. There is strength in numbers. 


Pat Sanford

Public Policy Chair

Dates To Remember

 

October 24       First Day to vote early in person

October 28       Last Day to apply for vote-by-mail ballot

November        Native American Heritage Month

November 1     National Family Literacy Day

November 4     Last Day to vote early in person

November 6     Daylight Savings ends

November 8     Election Day and vote-by-mail ballot receipt deadline

                            National STEM/STEAM Day

November 11   Veterans Day

                            Lightscape opening night at San Antonio Botanical                                Gardens

November 13   Sadie Hawkins Day

November 18   Useless Stuff Day

November 20   Universal Children’s Day

                           Pay Back Your Parents Day

November 24  Thanksgiving


Do you know who represents you?


Follow this link to learn who represents you now.

Do you feel that person

represents your needs?

Do you want a change?


The League of Women of Voters

have the ballot at this link.

Scholarships


The committees have been formed to review the scholarship applications. The textbook committee is Kathy Dicke, Sophie Lim, and Ashlee Martinez. The graduate committee is Adrien Frank, Diantha Perelli, and Jeanette Pierce. They are in for a rewarding experience! You will hear all about it at the April branch meeting.


Scholarship announcements will go out in November to the various colleges and universities in Bexar County; high school students with an unconditional letter of acceptance to a college or university in Bexar County are also eligible. The applications must be submitted online by February 4, 2023.

 

Eleanor Skelley

Karen Reichensperger

Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs

Member Spotlight

 

Congratulations to Lea Lopez-Fagin who was crowned Poet Laureate of the Women’s Club of San Antonio. Lea has been a member of the Women’s Club of San Antonio since 2016, but just joined AAUWSA in August. Her interest in poetry started as a teen listening to the radio Poetry Hour in her small village in Peru. Her interest in poetry lead to writing poetry which evolved into her authoring poems that appeared in the Alamo Area Poets of Texas Anthology, Voices Along the River, and Voices De La Luna (Critical Care Journal).


Lea is a retired Registered Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner but fills her time with not only writing poetry but writing her memoir. Also, she is currently a member of the Alamo Area Poets of Texas, San Antonio Writer’s League, and Writer’s League of Texas. She plans to publish her collection of poems in the near future.


Thank you, Lea, for sharing a few of your poems with fellow AAUWSA members.


Memory is an award-winning poem published by Voices Along the River.

(The writer has copyrights.)

Enjoy it.

 

Memory

 

Hiding in fleeting silence,

the minutes we forgot,

the memories we had.

 

They hung like pearls,

in silent beauty in the brain’s closet.

 

Things that we must do,

gone without a clue,

too vain to pop up

too sneaky to pull up

 

Memory games, computer files,

word associations still dissociations,

why not, a copy in a computer chip

carved in the brain with files to remember?

 

 

The Waltz of Life

 

In the tranquil meadow,

where the river flows,

I found a place for my soul to dream.

 

Its unending turns of aquamarine hue,

fuse on together with my solitude.

It is there where butterflies flap,

their orange-black wings.

 

It’s there where my soul and the water

dance together to the Waltz of Life!


 

This poem is dedicated to the mothers

of members of The Woman’s Club of San Antonio.

 

Farewell to My Mother

 

Mother, your love bloomed like a sweet magnolia,

with a delicate fragrance in the early spring.

 

Your noble heart lifted me up with joy,

and made me the person that I am today.

 

I thank you for the gift of my existence,

and the blessings you have given me.

 

Your memory will always glow like a candle,

in the inner sanctum of my soul.

 

Today, I want to tell you that I love you,

and you will remain in my being forever.



For my sisters at AAUW to enjoy. 

 

"Life is unwritten Poetry,

with pages to be embroidered." 

 

Lea S. Lopez-Fagin

Poet Laureate

Woman's Club of San Antonio. ď»ż

 Did You Know This About AAUW SA?

 

AAUW San Antonio was started 114 years ago in 1908; as part of the Southern Association of University Women. Later in 1921 we joined with similar national groups to become AAUW. Each month this column will focus on the many outstanding women of this branch who came before us.

 

One such founder was Miss Gladys Morgan. Born in England she came here as a small child. She earned two University of Texas degrees, and was one of this branch’s first 20+ members. She served as president three times, and was once president of the Texas Division. She was totally involved with this branch until her death in 1960. At one point she was known as “Historian for Life.”

 

In her will Gladys left the sale of her home at 217 Lexington Ave in three equal sums to her church, the Retired Teachers Association, and this branch. Each group received $4,168.95. Inflation since 1960 would have increased our part to $42,089.57 in today’s dollars.

 

Several years ago her name was added to our permanent endowment fund along with its other donors: Irma Gesche, Jean Longwith, Mildred Magee and Orlene M. Olsen. So many young women graduate scholars have benefited from the donations of these generous members.

 

We have come a long way from our branch’s first scholarship of $100 to send a young woman to UT!


Mynda Holman McGuire

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Have your read an interesting book? Binged a great tv series? Listened to new music? Visited an exciting city, country, art exhibit, music festival, restaurant?


Let us know so we may share it in our newsletters.


Click Here to Share

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Try Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper

mariashriversundaypaper.com



If you missed the local Oktoberfest,

consider the New Braunfels Wurstfest

November 4th - 13th



Still exhibiting:

Status Of Women In San Antonio:

Reflections In The Pursuit Of Gender Equality

115 Plaza De Armas, San Antonio

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

This exhibit was inspired by the 2019 Report: “The Status of Women in San Antonio” by Rogelio Saenz and Lily Casura with the University of Texas San Antonio.

It features works by a diverse group of local women artists who were asked to reflect on the findings outlined in the report as a prompt for creation of new, original works.

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Refugee and Immigration Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES)

1305 Flores Street

San Antonio, TX 78212

raicestexas.org

At RAICES, we believe that all people have the right to seek a safe and secure future for their families. We open over 10,000 affirmative and removal defense cases annually to preserve that right.

For 35 years, our attorneys and social service providers have modeled through their work what a humane immigration system could look like in the U.S. And we continue to fight in the courtroom, the halls of Congress, and alongside our community to make that model our country’s reality.

Defend the human dignity of asylum seekers, immigrants, and refugees.

Make a tax-deductible donation today.

AAUWSA and LWVSA Partner to

Support Day of the Girl San Antonio

 

AAUWSA members Kathy Dicke, Wondra Chang, and Diane Claiborne-Carr volunteered in partnership with The League of Women Voters San Antonio (LWVSA) Youth Initiative Committee (YI) to support the “Day of the Girl San Antonio” in HemisFair Park’s Yanaguana Garden. The Youth Initiative’s goal is to promote civic engagement among youth and young adults in Bexar County. LWVSA and AAUWSA volunteers worked 2 tables. One table focused on voter education and registration, and the other on the Youth Annual Contest and The Youth Leadership Training Program. Volunteers had fun playing a game with youth of all ages, taking pictures with photo props promoting voting, and asking participants of all ages to pledge to remind someone to vote by signing their name on a Pledge Board.

 

“Day of the Girl San Antonio” is celebrated to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives. San Antonio’s girl-serving organizations have a weeklong celebration around this day.

 

For more information on LWVSA YI Youth Annual Contest and The Youth Leadership Training Program see LWVSA.org and AAUW SA website.

 

Alene Lindley, Mary Dierolf, Diane Carr, Rachel Duke, Kathy Dicke, Wondra Chang, Tammi Lambert, Reggie Moore, Madhu Sridhar

Program Schedule for 2022-2023


October 1, 2022: Inequity within our communities (Aligned to DEI topic: Privilege)

Speaker: Ernie Wittwer

Program: Study on Economic Inequity in Bexar County

The presentation will address poverty, education opportunities, diverse populations, and pay equity in Bexar County.


November 5, 2022: CAST Schools Network (Aligned to DEI topic: Diversity in Education)

Speaker: Jeanne Russell, Executive Director of CAST Schools

Program: Opportunities for Youth through the CAST Schools Network

Discussion of the various educational opportunities provided to students in San Antonio through the Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) Network, a non-profit organization with a network of tuition-free, industry-led, career-themed high schools and one Pre-K through 12th Academy. The schools are located in underserved areas of San Antonio and encompass an innovative school approach in areas of STEM, medical professions, technology, leadership in retail, hospitality, and tourism, teaching profession, and the Advanced Learning Academy.


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

Interest Groups

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 Jardin in the Botanical Garden

CULINARY ADVENTURES

Thursday, November 10

11:30 am

Carriqui (formerly Liberty Bar)

239 E. Grayson

Located in The Pearl area

“The inspiration for our South Texas restaurant is the green jay, colloquially called the Carriqui. It is a social and gregarious bird that is a colorful delight. Its flightpath is the inspiration for our menu. When you're here you'll enjoy fresh seafood from the Texas Coast, botana platters worthy of the Rio Grande Valley, brisket and barbacoa from pits forged in the Texas Hill Country, and South Texas standards like nachos, enchiladas and fajitas.”

RSVP (yes only) to Ali Heller

by Monday, November 7, noon

hahhah82@gmail.com

210-617-8189

BRIDGE

Monday, November 21

12:00 noon

IHOP

14424 San Pedro Ave. 78232

Contact Pearl Eng

pquaneng@hotmail.com

210.240.8118

BOOK DISCUSSION

ZOOM!

Saturday, November 19

10:00 am

Age of Innocence

by Edith Wharton

RSVP to Diane Carr

canyond2@gmail.com

to receive the Zoom link,

2022-2023 Officers

President Diane Claiborne-Carr

Vice President Programs Monica Ruiz-Mills

Vice President Membership Ruth Lyle

Secretary Ashlee Martinez

Treasurer Adrien Frank

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.

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. 

Follow AAUW San Antonio on:

Facebook www.facebook.com/aauw.sanantonio

Twitter @AAUW_SanAntonio

LinkedIn AAUW San Antonio

For more information visit the AAUW websites:


AAUW NATIONAL


AAUW TEXAS


AAUW SAN ANTONIO