AAUW MARIN DECEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

edited by Dottie Burk and Cherie Sorokin

AAUW Advances Equity

for Women and Girls!

'Tis the Giving Season!

AAUW National has a matching gift year-end campaign going for donations to AAUW’s Greatest Needs. Likely you have received multiple emails about it from national, especially on Giving Tuesday this week when it seemed as if every nonprofit in the universe was asking for donations. For those of you not familiar with the term “Greatest Needs” it refers to unrestricted funding that supports AAUW’s highly regarded research, federal advocacy in support of women and girls, and new national programs such as Start Smart and Work Smart on salary negotiation and other programs needed based on current issues affecting women and girls. Greatest Needs funding also supports AAUW’s administrative functions, including branch support. Our branch runs a campaign in the Spring specifically to support national, but like most national nonprofits, fundraising for the national organization is year-round! And if you can help now, great!

PS--Donating online through the AAUW website is the most efficient way to donate to national.

AAUW-CA Closes Its Twitter Account!

Despite AAUW-CA’s great commitment to outreach and marketing via social media, the AAUW-CA board of directors has terminated its account with Twitter based on a number of actions taken by Elon Musk both before and since his takeover of this social media platform. The primary basis for the decision was concern about whether under Musk’s leadership the incidence of hate speech, disinformation, discriminatory and misogynistic rhetoric, and the spread of dangerous and divisive theories would continue and increase. Additional reasons for the AAUW CA Board’s decision are laid out in greater detail in the press release the board issued, which is available on the AAUW CA website. The state board left it open to branches whether to continue use of their own Twitter accounts. Our branch has rarely used its Twitter account except to post as requested by AAUW CA and likely will be closing it, at least pending further developments at Twitter. If you have any questions or concerns about AAUW CA’s decision, please feel free to contact Public Policy Director Kathi Harper at publicpolicy@aauw-ca.org. Questions about our AAUW Marin Twitter account should be referred to Dianne Sheridan at traciinmarin@sbcglobal.net

SAVE the DATE: AAUW-CA's next lobby days have been scheduled for March 21st and 22nd, 2023. There will be a training session on March 20th.

What is Gov Trek and Why Should I Care?

Gov Trek is a community educational project by AAUW California to support gender equity for women and girls. It is a free, virtual, state-wide program designed to engage young women across California who are high school juniors and seniors with the goal of elevating a new generation to pursue careers in public service, either as an elected official or as a senior executive in a policy-making position. Learn more about Gov Trek on the aauw-ca website here: Gov Trek

This new program will give our branch another way to connect with local high school girls. AAUW California has created the curriculum and all the materials needed to introduce Gov Trek to the Marin community. In order to do this there is a need for volunteers to distribute information to the schools. This can be done by taking flyers to the schools or by emailing them to the teachers. The other job is being a virtual facilitator to small groups of students as they work on their assigned activities such as writing speeches or designing political messages. Read about the facilitator position HERE.

To volunteer to distribute information contact Dianne Sheridan. For more information or to volunteer as a facilitator contact Nancy Chiu.

AAUW Marin News

Ho, Ho, Ho, Auld Lang Syne, and Welcome 2023!

Happy News! Our December 3 holiday lunch is essentially sold out! If you forgot, we can put you on a waiting list in case someone cancels. Contact Cherie Sorokin about this. 415 730-0204. If you have already signed up, you will receive a reminder email on Friday. 

Please bring cash or check to pay for any of the great treasures that will be on display at this event. These direct buys are only a small part of what we have as part of our annual auction to help raise funds for scholarships at College of Marin and Dominican and to send middle school girls to Tech Trek and one or more college women leaders to AAUW’s National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL). Bidding online will also be possible at the lunch. See below!

The lunch is not all about fundraising. There will be music, surprises, and a great time with friends. Festive masks are suggested.

New Year's Day Brunch!

Cherie Sorokin will host what has now become a New Year’s Day tradition for members of this branch---the Sassy Singles Potluck Brunch on January 1 at 11:00 am. You don’t have to be widowed or orphaned, or even single! But this event is just for AAUW Marin Members traveling solo for at least the time of the party. Space will be limited to 40. Watch for the invitation later this month.

SAVE These Dates in January!

• January 7 at 11:00 am, a Zoom with the wonderful Avril Angevine holding forth on California Pop Art
• January 21 at 10:00 am in person with Dr. Wynne Canio, Geriatrician at Kaiser, enlightening us on Women’s Health as we age. We are scheduled to meet at the Creekside Room at Dominican (but stay tuned, the location might change).

You can check out all future programs on our website.

Auction ends at 3 pm on Saturday, December 3rd

Help raise funds for 2023 local college scholarships, NCCWSL, and Tech Trek sponsorships by bidding in the auction.

Have you viewed the many great items up for bid? We have a wonderful selection of restaurant gift certificates and event tickets, lovely gift baskets, and some terrific experiences. Treat some friends to a sparkling wine and nibbles party, sail on a tall ship with a grandchild, play bocce ball with 16 to 24 family and friends, treat 6 children, ages 6 to 9 years, to a 2-hour, naturalist-led hike at Lake Lagunitas, or spend two hours in an art studio where you can explore your inner creativity.

Check out the auction NOW and encourage your Marin friends and relatives to do the same. Free delivery within Marin! The more bidders, the more money we raise. Bid often, bid high!

To register and bid go to https://www.biddingowl.com/AAUWMarin.

If you need help contact us at aauwmarin@gmail.com

Thanks again to the individuals, merchants, and interest groups who donated items to the auction. A special cheer to the auction committee for their efforts on behalf of the AAUW Marin Scholarship Fund: Nancy Lubamersky, Amy Anderson, Elaine Marevich, Ann Thomas, Pauline Nakamuli, and Dottie Burk.



Interest Group News

Ready to join a new interest group? All groups welcome new members. Just contact the group leader for information or to be added to the group email list. For a list of all Marin branch interest groups with leader contact information, click HERE. 

Note: Interest Groups are just for members of AAUW Marin, but guests who may be thinking of joining are welcome to visit an interest group twice before being asked join. For general info or to suggest a new group, contact Interest Group Chair, Vicki Samo.

December Highlights

Homeward Bound Fresh Starts Chef Events

The Chef Event Dinner Group has restarted now that Homeward Bound has re-instituted their events. They have some very exciting local chefs lined up. There is a difference in how to make your reservations. There are a limited number of seats that you can reserve as an individual and then you can reserve a table for 4, 6 or 8. The next two events are sold out, but they are taking reservations for Stephane Saint Louis on February 27. If you make a reservation for one of the Chef Events let Dianne Sheridan know. If there is more then one of you, she can ask that you be seated together.