Advancing Gender Equity for Women and Girls | |
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JANUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER
edited by Dottie Burk, Jeanne Lese, Cherie Sorokin and Ann Vercoutere
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Looks like we're going to have fireworks well into 2025, at least metaphorically. Hard to know where to put one's time and energy, there's so much going on, up in the air, and topsy turvy! But here's an idea: how about a New Year's Resolution or two focused on helping AAUW and AAUW Marin continue to advance equity for women and girls in these turbulent times? AAUW women have always been tenacious and trailblazing. Let's keep it up!
Here are 6 suggestions:
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Become an AAUW two-minute activist, if you aren't already. Click herel
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Send a letter to Biden to order the National Archivist to publish the ERA before he leaves office. Click here!
- Come to the AAUW branch meeting at College of Marin on January 29, 2025, to learn about how important diversity, equity and inclusion efforts still are. Watch for the program invitation coming this month.
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Bring in or refer one or more new members to AAUW Marin and help expand our network of women who support equity for women and girls. Contact our membership chair, Chris O'Neill if you need information or a brochure.
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Help our branch thrive. Attend meetings, join an interest group, help out on a committee, lead a project, join the board, suggest a project or program, tell your friends about our mission. Let Leslie know how you'd like to be involved.
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Make a donation to support our work nationally and locally
Other ideas welcome! Let's all DO SOMETHING!
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Save these dates! The AAUW CA lobby days will be Tuesday, April 8 (for meetings in person at the state house in Sacramento), and Wednesday, April 9 (for meetings via Zoom). There is a mandatory training session on March 31, 2025, at 7:00 pm. Bills that AAUW will be supporting in these visits have not been announced yet, but they always are carefully selected by AAUW CA's public policy committee and excellent background information is provided to AAUW members who participate in the lobbying sessions. The meetings, whether with our legislators or members of their staffs, are always worthwhile. The AAUW CA Public Policy Committee really helps make these lobbying efforts successful. Stay tuned for more information, but do save the dates! | |
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Chat with Leslie
Happy and healthy New Year to you all!
I don't know about you, but my mind is inundated with the incessant noise and uncertainty of life in 2025. As the late President Jimmy Carter said, ’The experience of democracy is like the experience of life itself – always changing, infinite in its variety, sometimes turbulent and all the more valuable for having been tested by adversity.’ So, although I can’t control the noise or the turbulence, I can resolve to look beyond it to find and support future bridge-builders and thought leaders. And we have a wonderful opportunity this month to meet some of these future leaders at the College of Marin. Thank you to Deborah Learner and Stormy Miller for arranging this branch meeting. See the details below.
And a huge thank you to one of our wonderful supporters – IJ Giving Marin! Our branch’s 5 Star achievement was highlighted in an article on the Giving Marin page on December 26. If you missed it. Check it out!
Your AAUW Marin board will be meeting on January 13th to review where we are and where we are going. Reach out to any of us with your thoughts or ideas. You are the heart of our branch!
I look forward to seeing you on January 29th!
Leslie O. Zimring
President, AAUW Marin
(picture below from National Parks)
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COM Supports DEIA
Mark your calendar for the January 29, 2025, joint meeting between our branch and College of Marin. This intergenerational experience will explore the meaning and value of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).
Keynote speaker Dr. Dana Emerson, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President of Student Learning and Success, will focus on the college's continued commitment to DEIA for students and with the community. We will also be welcomed by key College staff including College of Marin AAUW reps Stormy Miller and Angela Olmanson.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025, 12 noon to 2pm
Student Activities Center
Lunch and parking included. Cost: $20.
Look for the program announcement in mid January.
Questions? Contact Deb Learner at: dlearner45@gmail.com
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Auction Results Are In!
We are pleased to report that our recent online auction and direct buy sales at the Holiday Luncheon raised over $7,000 for the AAUW Marin Scholarship Fund. The auction proceeds will be added to your direct donations and grants from our sponsors to fund scholarships and awards for students at Dominican University and College of Marin and sponsorships for middle school girls to attend AAUW of California’s Tech Trek STEM camp next summer.
We thank members and interest groups who donated items to the auction, and we are most grateful for the merchants who supported us. Click HERE for a list of merchant donors. Please patronize them and thank them for supporting our Scholarship Fund.
A special thank you to the members who solicited donations from merchants this year: Katherine Brinnier, Dottie Burk, Sara Goerke, Jeanne Lese, Carol Lorenz, Mary Mossteller, Aileen Murphy, Paula Nichols, Angela Nuckles, Chris O’Neill, Laura Phipps, Sarah Pruden, Dianne Sheridan, Cherie Sorokin, Ann Thomas, Gerrie Young, and Leslie Zimring.
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Did you mean to donate to the Scholarship Fund but forgot?
Here's a resolution you can keep right now. Click HERE to donate via PayPal OR send a check made out to the AAUW Marin Scholarship Fund to Laura O'Malley, 32 Maplewood Drive, San Rafael, CA 94901. If you want to target your donation to Tech Trek or college scholarships, make a note in the memo line.
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Deborah McCarthy
Deborah is only new to us- she has been an AAUW member since 1981 when she joined and has been in the SF and Pacifica branches. She has managed high rise apartments and industrial business parks. She enjoys reading, gardening, walking and travel.
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Anne Pixley
Anne is a retired teacher, both primary and secondary, and a fabric artist. From Villa Marin she is a friend of Marilyn South. She will be joining us in book groups, movies, and of course museums!
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Ann Goforth
Another Ann joins us. She is nurse practitioner and still works part time in addiction medicine. She is a self-described exercise addict, having hiked Mt. Blanc and walked The Camino de Santiago 4 times. She loves travel, music, photography and books.
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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.
Or start a new group?
Many have expressed interest in a walking group, walking on the flats. If you want to join or organize it, please contact Ann Vercoutere.
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Art Tours
NO tour this month but we recommend Tamara de Lempicka at the deYoung through February 9, 2024. Members are free; you need a ticket for date and time, which includes the permanent collection. Seniors $32.00. Lots of info on her: see famsf.org/Lempicka.
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Hiking Group
Our next hike is planned for January 7th, weather permitting. Please contact Ann Vercoutere if you are interested in joining us.
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Bocce Group
Come join us for Bocce. We have a court reserved at Albert Park in San. Rafael on January 14th at 10 AM. You don't need to know how to play- just come and have fun! The cost of the court is split among those who show up. Contact Ann Vercoutere if interested.
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LitWits Reading Group
LitWits resumes meetings in January, 3rd Wednesday of month, 10 AM, held in member's homes. Starting Wednesday, January 15th, the group begins three months reading novels by James McBride. The group begins with The Color of Water on January 15th. New members welcome. For info contact Ann Thomas, or 415-924-9559. New Members always welcome.
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What Are You Reading?
What Are You Reading book group will meet on January 13th from 10-11 AM on Zoom. Members share what they are reading. You always come away with a list of great books to read! Contact Cherie Sorokin or 415 730-0204 if you wish to join the group.
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Reading Arts
Reading Arts meets on Thursday, January 16th at 1PM, to discuss “A Fever in the Heartland “ by Timothy Egan. Interested in joining us? Please contact group leader Ann Jessup for more information.
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Nonfiction Reading Group
The Nonfiction Reading Group is meeting Monday, January 13th, 1:00 PM on Zoom to discuss The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human by Siddhartha Mukherjee, the wonderful medical oncologist researcher and science writer. If you would like to be on the group’s email list and join us, please email either co-leader for the Zoom link: Phyllis Kuehn or Olivia Ruel. We welcome new members! The group meets the second Monday of the month at 1:00 PM on Zoom.
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Behind the Headlines
Behind the headlines will meet on January 8th, at 6:00 PM, on Zoom, on the topic of tariffs and how they may or may not affect the economy and, in particular the lives of women. Jon Haveman, a noted local economist, will be the speaker. Contact Cherie Sorokin or 415 730-0204 if you are interested in attending or joining the group.
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Happy Hour Group
Our next Happy Hour is Thursday, January 9th at 4:00 PM at Il Fornaio. Il Fornaio is located at the north end of Corte Madera Town Center. Contact Dottie Burk if you would like to be added to our email list.
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Homeward Bound Chef Events
Join members of AAUW Marin for an evening of culinary demonstrations and delicious food. Homeward Bound is focused on solutions to homelessness with a range of long-term supportive housing programs for families and adults. Local renowned chefs are featured and always guarantee a well-spent evening out and the opportunity to support this worthy cause. Chefs for January and March are set and there are still tickets available. If you would like to be part of this interest group, contact Dianne Sheridan.
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Meet Me at the Movies!
In December we watched an August Wilson film, The Piano Lesson ,and met to discuss it at a new Larkspur restaurant, the Rustic. Our next movie is January 14th and the group will be notified of the choice, place and time closer to the date. Contact Mary Mossteller or Freddie Greene if you would like to learn more about or join this interest group.
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French Conversation Group
Group will meet on Wednesday, January 15th, 1:30-2:30 PM, at Emporio Rulli in Larkspur.
If interested, contact Janet Lynn.
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Handcraft Circle
We had a delightful potluck holiday salad luncheon at Amy Anderson’s festive home in December. On January 21st we will be meeting at Ann Jessup’s home to craft and chat.
Contact Mary Mossteller if interested.
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Play Mah Jongg?
Join us for our weekly games on Wednesdays in members' homes 1:30 to 3:30 PM. If you are interested in joining or would like to get on the list, email the group leader Chris O'Neill. We play American Mah Jongg. You need the card to play and should have a basic knowledge of the game. Chris can also give you information on where to take lessons, if you'd like to learn to play. Come join us!
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January 29, College of Marin, 12-2 PM. Lunch with staff and students: Focus on DEIA – Keynote speaker Dr. Dana Emerson
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February 22, Key Room @ Homeward Bound, 9:30 - noon. Tri-branch Brunch with Damon Connolly, JD, CA State Assembly member for Marin, southern Sonoma counties - Legislation and AAUW issues
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March 15, Corte Madera Town Center, 10-noon. Coffee with Suzanne Ford, president of SF Pride LGBTQ+ non-profit - Issues affecting the transgender, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented communities
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April 12, Key Room @ Homeward Bound, 2 PM - 4 PM. Afternoon tea with Jazmin Darznik, JD, PhD, MFA, author- Women in history and literature
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May 10, McInnis Park, 10 - 1PM. End of the year luncheon and celebration! Election of officers and invited speaker Cynthia Boaz, PhD, Scholar for UNESCO program in Peace, Conflict, and Development Studies, Sonoma State professor of political science with expertise in nonviolent strategy, civil resistance, quality of democracy, reproductive rights.
We hope to see YOU at each and every one of these wonderful events!
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Register using this LINK and let Leslie Zimring know you are coming so we can request a table together. | |
Know Someone Who'd Like to Join AAUW? | |
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AAUW women make an impact on women and girls.
Word of mouth is the best way to recruit new members!
Why Join? AAUW offers multiple ways to stay engaged with our mission of advancing equity for women and girls, as well as to develop friendship with others who understand that the fight for equality is still critical! Excellent national webinars! Engaging monthly branch programs! A wide variety of interest group meetings! Energetic, intellectually curious friends! A mission that is more important than ever!
CONTACT Chris O'Neill for membership information.
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AAUW is a top-rated 501(c)(3) charity. Donations are tax deductible.
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