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Wyandotte-Downriver has earned 3 of 5 stars
in the national 5-Star Recognition Program.
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News & Views
The monthly newsletter for the
AAUW Wyandotte-Downriver Branch
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Open Membership Vote to Begin April 3rd | |
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Open Membership Q&A Session
Learn about the upcoming member vote on candidates for the national AAUW Board of Directors and on a bylaws amendment to open membership to all who believe in AAUW’s mission of equity for all.
Please join us on Tuesday, April 2 at 7 p.m. ET for a Q&A session on all things open membership.
Register here.
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Please visit OpenUpAAUW.org for all the information and resources available to assist members in voting for or against the degree requirement for anyone who has in interest in joining AAUW.
The voting information will be sent to each member's email address on file and you will be required to vote from the link you receive in that email.
The email will come from "Simply Voting", which is a 3rd party organization who is managing the distribution of the emails for AAUW national.
If you anticipate having trouble locating the email or are not sure of the voting process, we will have private voting stations set up at our April 9th Branch Meeting so you can vote from your phone, laptop or tablet at the April 9th meeting.
The voting window will be open from
April 3rd to May 15th.
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April 9th Branch Meeting
Annual Members Meeting to vote on Board Vacancies and to discuss the Open Membership Vote!
Please plan to ATTEND!
Date: Tuesday, April 9th
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Brownstown Community Center, 21313 Telegraph Road, Room A
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Nominations for "Named Gift" Award now Open! | |
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Nominate someone who you feel has done an outstanding job for our branch this year.
Do not nominate anyone who has received the Named Gift Award for the past 5 years; recipients are listed in the Yearbook.
Send nominations to Ruth Briggs at:
ruthbriggs1@comcast.net
Deadline is the May 14th branch meeting.
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UPCOMING BRANCH MEETINGS/EVENTS:
"SAVE THE DATES"
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April 11: 12:30pm, STEM Savvy Committee Mtg., Riverview Library
April 23: 5:00pm, Foundation Board Meeting, Riverview Library
May 9: STEM SAVVY EVENT - WCCD Taylor
May 14: 6:00pm, May Branch Meeting & Scholarship Awards Dinner, Brownstown Comm. Center
May TBD: Joint Branch/Foundation Board Meeting, TBD
June 11: 6:00pm, June Branch Meeting: Awards/New Board Installation, TBD
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STEM SAVVY PLANS CONTINUE TO GATHER STEAM AS DATE APPROACHES!
Excitement is building as we are getting closer to the BIG EVENT on MAY 9.
The speakers are lined up and we expect 125 girls, plus their chaperones to attend.
The need now is for more volunteers from our branch to help for the day on May 9.
Please contact Jackie Hector or Lynn Strain to offer your services to help make this the best day ever.
The next STEM meeting will be April 11th, 12:30 at the Riverview Library.
Jean Carnahan
STEM SAVVY Committee
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PUBLIC POLICY REPORT - April 2024
Lauren Gibbons was a guest on a recent AAUW-MI Lobby Corps zoom meeting.
She is a leading Lansing Capitol news reporter. The following are highlights that Lauren shared with participants from across the state:
1. The MI State Legislature is composed of 44% women.
2. Winnie Brinks, Majority Leader of the Michigan Senate, decides the legislative agenda.
3. State budget deliberations are led by 2 women for the first time.
4. In 2023, 9 bills dealing with reproductive rights were signed in Lansing.
5. Abortion access is now guaranteed in MI.
6. Nine bills concerning parental surrogacy (outlawed in MI in the 80’s) have been introduced.
7. LGBTQ rights have been expanded with Michigan’s Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act
8. Conversion therapy ban has passed the House and is in the Senate Civil Rights committee.
9. Economic issues being considered highlight paid leave.
AAUW supports women in leadership positions, reproductive and transgender rights, and paid leave.
Lauren graduated in 2014 from MSU with a double major in journalism and history. She covered the 2016 presidential election, federal and state politics and the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. Recent coverage has been on elections, voting rights and government transparency. She frequently appears on radio and TV programs across the state and is a regular panel member on “Off the Record,” a weekly program on DPTV that focuses on the latest political issues.
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Registration is requested, available online through the Library Events Calendar.
If you need assistance with registration please call the library at (734) 676-9777.
This event is intended for adults. Teens are welcome with parental supervision.
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Watch for additional local opportunities to further our involvement in AAUW’s public policy agenda to advance women through political, nonpartisan measures, and forward suggestions to Diana Mente at: dmenteaauw@yahoo.com | |
Scaveng-HER Quest Event a Success! | | |
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The March 9th Scanveng-HER Quest Event in Downtown Trenton had about 40 women-owned businesses that participated in the day's festivities. Here are some photos of the ladies visiting the woman-owned merchants, and checking out the historical woman's information for clues at each location!
A huge THANKS goes out to the planning committee and all of the members' hard work in making this day a huge success!
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The golf shirts and sweatshirts with the AAUW logo are in.
If you ordered one, you can pick them up at the April or May meeting.
They cost $30.
You can pay by check made out to AAUWWD Foundation.
I ordered extras so if you want one, they are available.
Ruth Briggs
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April Birthdays:
4/1: Ruth Briggs
4/10: Barb Conroy
4/11: Sheila Blair
4/17: Bebe Hartmann
4/17: Georgia Stahl
4/18: Ginny Riling
4/25: Carolyn Hoey
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RECRUITMENT & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WITH SWCRC AND DBA! | |
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The list of monthly events for both of these organizations are below; one of the perks is that any of our members who wish to attend an event can do so at member pricing. We can also take advantage of discounts on e-blasts, expo tables, newsletter articles, marketing opportunities, and other perks.
Just be sure to note that you are an AAUW-WD member when registering for any SWCRC or DBA event!
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SWCRC UPCOMING EVENTS
www.swcrc.com
Fri. 4/5/24 - 8:00-9:00am
Morning Spark
Kudos Fieldhouse & Taproom
14100 Pardee, Taylor, MI 48180
No fee to attend; Food provided by host.
Thurs. 4/18/24 - 5:30-9:30pm
Black Tie Gala & Expo
Presented by Community Publishing
Crystal Gardens | Southgate
Vendor info & Tickets:
SWCRC Black Tie Gala & Expo 2024 - SWCRC
Thurs. 4/25/24 - 5:30-7:00pm
After Business, Ours
Public Service Credit Union
7665 Merriman, Romulus
No fee to attend.
Expo Tables: $45
https://swcrc.com/events/april2024abo/
Mon. 4/29/24 - 11:30am - 1:00pm
Business Forum: Equity in Healthcare
Crystal Gardens, Southgate
Lunch: $25.00
https://swcrc.com/events/health24/
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DBA UPCOMING EVENTS
www.downriverbusinessassociation.com
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Weds. 4/3/24 - 8:00 - 9:30am
Breakfast Networking
Downriver Community Fed. C.U.
15261 Trenton Rd., Southgate
Breakfast is $10 per person
Mon. 4/15/24 - 11:30am-1:00pm
Non-Profit Meeting
Location: TBD
No fee to attend; lunch provided.
Weds. 4/17/24 - 5:30-7:00pm
Evening Mixer
Location: TBD
No fee to attend; complimentary appetizers provided by host.
Weds. 4/24/24 - 11:30am
Networking over Lunch
Texas Roadhouse
14660 Pardee Rd., Taylor
No fee to attend; lunch on own tab.
Thurs. 4/25/24 - 8:00-9:00am
DBA Book Club Discussion
"Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business"
by Danny Meyer
Glass Onion Griddle
6828 Allen Rd Allen Park
No fee to attend. B'fast on own tab.
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News from the State (AAUW-MI)
www.aauwmi.org
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AAUW of Michigan
Important Dates
April, 2024
Monday, April 1
- Call to Annual Meeting distributed
- State Convention Sponsorship deadline
Tuesday, April 2
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Town Hall Zoom Meeting on Open Membership Vote, 7:00pm ET
Register here.
Saturday, April 6
- State Convention Early Bird Registration deadline
Tuesday, April 30
- State Convention Registration deadline
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Register NOW...
for the 2024 Statewide Convention
May 10-11, 2024,
Detroit Marriott, Livonia Early Bird Registration is open.
Click below to register:
The planning committee for AAUW of Michigan's 2024 Convention is excited to share highlights of the developing schedule for this biennial event.
Arrive on Friday, May 10th to enjoy afternoon shopping discounts at the Laurel Park Place Mall attached to the Detroit Marriott, Livonia where the convention will be held.
In the evening there will be a reception with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, the presentation of Golden Recognition Awards to celebrate our members who have been active in AAUW for 50 years or more, and fun and prizes playing Motown Bingo.
The Annual Meeting and Convention will be held on Saturday, May 11, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Lisa Maatz, former Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy for AAUW (2002-2017), now an independent consultant and nationally sought-after speaker, will be one of our keynote presenters. Sarah Bannon, a consultant and expert in board leadership, will be another featured speaker. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been invited to attend, but her office is unable to confirm her availability this far in advance.
We also have training sessions planned in the afternoon that will focus on member recruitment and retention, branch leadership succession, and marketing and PR strategies for your branch.
We will be voting on the election of new state board officers, bylaw updates/changes, as well as a proposed state dues increase of $3.00 per member.
Remember that it is now "One Member, One Vote" so delegates are no longer required and EVERY VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
If you are a member in good standing and are in attendance at the convention, you will be eligible to vote!
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AAUWMI is Rallying on Twitter
@AAUWofMI
Follow us for tweets and retweets of AAUW strategic priorities that make the news, raise awareness, and need attention. Click HERE
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Follow
AAUW of Michigan
on Facebook
Click HERE to access the AAUW Michigan Facebook page. Be sure to LIKE and Share our posts!
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SUBSCRIBE to the AAUW of Michigan channel
Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the AAUW of Michigan YouTube channel for access to webinars, videos, book discussions and more.
Click HERE to access and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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Follow AAUW of Michigan
on Instagram
Click HERE to access the AAUW of Michigan Instagram page.
Be sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE our posts!
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Take just 2 minutes of your time on the internet using the AAUW Two-Minute Activist tool to influence legislators on important issues for women and girls.
Click HERE to access AAUW's Two-Minute Activist Site.
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Check out AAUW action, experts and research making headlines! Access articles & stories about AAUW published in the national spotlight here.
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Interest Groups & Activities | |
Please note that all meetings and outings may be cancelled or postponed due to ongoing developments with the COVID-19 situation. Be sure to check with group leaders or branch officers about current plans for upcoming events. All members are encouraged to observe CDC and State of Michigan requirements to maintain health when participating in AAUW events. | |
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Daytime Book Club
April 5 at 1:30pm: Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, by Curtis Chin
Location: P.F. Chang’s,
Fairlane Mall, Dearborn
May 3: First Ladies by Marie Benedict (Location: TBD)
June 7: The Secret Daughter by Kelly Rimmer (Location: TBD)
July 5: The Book of Fire by Christy Lefteri (Location: TBD)
August 2: The Waters by Bonnie Jo Campbell (Location: TBD)
September 6: Oath and Honor by Liz Cheney (Location: TBD)
October 4: The Women by Kristen Hannah (Location: TBD)
November 1: The Cold Hard Prayer by John Smolens (Location: TBD)
December 6: Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge by Spencer Quinn (Location: TBD)
Please contact Jan Ingle at janingle40@gmail.com to confirm your attendance each month for restaurant headcount!
Everyone is welcome to read the books and join in our discussions.
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Fisher Theater Playgoers
Next season’s programs have been announced and again the group will attend the Sun matinee.
Anyone interested in joining us for the new season please call Jean Carnahan 313-382-1914 for information.
The season’s listings are online under “Broadway in Detroit”.
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Tickets Available!!
A handful of our members have Open Book Theater tickets for the following dates, and invite others to join them:
Sunday matinee dates -
4/7, 6/9.
Contact Jean Carnahan.
Saturday evening dates -
6/1.
Contact Diana Mente.
Notify the appropriate member to obtain possible lunch or dinner plans before or after shows.
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Travel Group Opportunity!
The Grosse Ile Travel Club is looking for 10 travelers to fill a car on the Rocky Mountaineer Train, Aug 4-12, 2024.
The train includes an outdoor viewing platform and fully domed windows at your seat. Train hosts inform you as you travel and serve you beverages, including alcohol, at your seat.
If you would like more information on this travel opportunity, please text, call, or email Lynn Strain:
734-552-2267 or
Lynnstrain68@yahoo.com
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Detroit Symphony
If you are interested in future plans for this group, contact Mary Sue Sickafus at: mssickafus1@gmail.com
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Evening Literature
Apr. 23: “The German Wife" by Kelly Rimmer (rescheduled from February 2024)
June 25: “Sold On A Monday” by Kristina McMorris
(NOTE: “The 16th Tree of the Somme” by Lars Mytting, originally scheduled for April 2024 reading is currently not available from the library so the discussion is on hold).
Discussions start at 7:30 at the SOUTHGATE Library on the 4th Tuesday of the month, except the Dec. dinner meeting.
Everyone is welcome to read the books and join in our discussions.
Call Jean Carnahan at 313-382-1914 for information.
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Great Decisions
Our meetings will be 7:00 pm on each designated Tuesday at the Southgate Library.
Our readings are as follows:
May 28: Chapter 2, “Global Trade & Green Energy” & Chapter 3, “Risky Science Across Borders”
Sept. 24: Chapter 5,”Nato’s Future” & Chapter 7, “High Seas Treaty”
Nov. 26: Chapter 4, Technology Denial” & “Sino-American Rivalry”
Jan 24, 2025: Chapter 6, ”Invisible Indonesia”
Meetings are on the 4th Tuesday (every other month opposite the evening book club dates) at the Southgate Library at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome to join us.
For information call Jean Carnahan at 313-382-1914.
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For April's Out and About, consider supporting the Trenton Library's program on April 27th.
See the 2nd item under the "Public Policy Priorities" elsewhere in this newsletter for all the details.
It will be a good opportunity to interact with the community as well.
The presenter, having been a former prof at WSU, promises to be entertaining!
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Wednesday Afternoon
Bridge Group
The Wednesday afternoon Bridge group meets every other Wednesday. The playing generally lasts until 3:30 or 4:00pm.
We are in need of substitute bridge players. If you would be interested in subbing, please call Grace Baclawski at 734-341-0643.
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Meet-N-Eat
Any branch member is welcome to join us for our culinary adventures (especially if you bring food!) so give our group a try!
If interested, send an email to aauwwd@gmail.com with "Meet-N-Eat" as the subject.
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Correspondence
Please let Barb Duran know of any surgeries, illnesses, accidents, deaths, congratulations, etc., or any occasion that would warrant a note or card from us, as a community of concerned & supportive women.
You can reach her by e-mail at barb@easy2sendcards.com or call 313-300-1710.
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Branch & Foundation Fundraising | |
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Kroger Community Rewards makes fundraising easy. All you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card!
Link here for all the details on Kroger’s website and select organization number TP885 for the AAUW WYANDOTTE-DOWNRIVER FOUNDATION INC.
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For every $20 you spend at Big Bear Lodge, they will donate $3 to our Foundation! Take the opportunity to have some great food and contribute to our branch at the same time! You must have the post card with you. Please see a Foundation Board Member for one or several OR download copies by clicking HERE.
Big Bear Lodge is located at 25253 Telegraph Rd. Brownstown, MI 48134. Phone - 734-782-6600
www.bigbearlodge.org
(Offer excludes banquets)
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We are seeking advertisements to help defray our newsletter and directory costs. An advertisement in the newsletter is $25 for the entire year. An advertisement in the newsletter and the directory is $50. Please share the flyer below with your contacts and local businesses. Thank you! | |
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Newsletter Article Submissions
Please send information and articles by the 25th of each month for inclusion into the next month's newsletter. Email submissions are much preferred as content in digital format is the easiest to work with.
The branch email address should be used for all AAUW Newsletter business.
aauwwd@gmail.com
Please put "Newsletter" and the month in the Subject field of your email.
For example, items for the monthly newsletter should have the following subject:
Subject: Newsletter - {Season or Month}
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Mission Statement
We support leadership, education, equity and economic security for women through scholarships, training and political advocacy.
Vision Statement
AAUW will be a powerful advocate and visible leader in equity and education through research, philanthropy, and measurable change in critical areas impacting the lives of women and girls.
Branch Goals
Impact
Relevance and Visibility
Leadership Development
and Succession Planning
Funding and Membership Sustainability
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Branch Executive Board
Co-Presidents:
Terey DeLisle / OPEN
President Elect:
OPEN
Past President:
Barb Duran
Foundation President/Chair (Ex-officio): Melanie Orr
Vice President of Finance:
Sheila Blair
Recording Secretary:
Marsha Bardoni
Corresponding Secretary:
Barb Duran
Scholarship Committee Chair:
OPEN
Historian:
OPEN
College/University Liaison:
OPEN
Diversity Committee Chair:
Grace Baclawski
Membership Committee Chair:
Sue Stoll
Program Committee Chair:
Lee Ann Shade
Public Policy Committee Chair:
Diana Mente
Communication Committee Chair
Barb Duran
Fundraising Committee Chair:
OPEN
Nominating Committee Chair:
Barb Duran
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