| | |
Wyandotte-Downriver has earned 3 of 5 stars
in the national 5-Star Recognition Program.
| | |
|
"News & Views"
The monthly newsletter for the
AAUW Wyandotte-Downriver Branch
| |
|
Spring has arrived -- finally!!
The weather is slowly warming up. It is time to get out of the house and get your outdoor furniture ready to enjoy the weather.
I want to thank Sheila and her committee for the work they did to select our scholarship winners. I know that all the members of AAUW appreciate your hard work.
Mark your calendars for the award celebration with our scholarship winners on May 13th from 6pm to 8pm at the Grosse Ile Country Club. We will be served appetizers. The costs for the event will be covered by our Branch.
A special thank goes out to the STEM committee for their hard work. The speakers are all in place. The students' registrations are slowly coming in and Wayne County Community College has assigned all the areas we will use. Please contact Lynn Strain to volunteer to help on Thursday, May 15th with our STEM event. We need everyone's help.
Thank you again to our AAUW Board and our AAUW Foundation Board for all their continuing work throughout the year.
See you all in April!
Andrea Witkowski
Branch President
| | | |
" Thank You"
"I would like to thank all the AAUW members that have sent cards and/or visited me during this difficult time. I really appreciate all the care and concern expressed."
Hugs, Julie Treves
| |
| |
NOTE: The April meeting is an afternoon event at 2:30pm; we will not have an evening meeting in April!
If you would like to carpool, please reach out to Sue Stoll.
| | |
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE BRANCH "NAMED GIFT" AWARD
Branch member Ruth Briggs is accepting nominations for the Named Gift Award. Money will be sent to national AAUW in honor of outstanding members of our branch.
Please don't nominate anyone who has received the award in the past 10 years. Past awardees are listed in back of the member directory.
Send nominations along with reasons for the nomination to Ruth at: ruthbriggs1@comcast.net.
Deadline is May 13th, 2025.
| |
| BRANCH FUNDRAISER - THRU APRIL 30TH | |
Schwartz's Greenhouse
SPRING GIFT CARD fundraiser
Schwartz’s Greenhouse AAUW gift card sale begins April 8th.
Please bring cash or your check book (checks made out to AAUW Wyandotte/Downriver branch) to the April 8 mtg.
We’ll earn $4 for each card sold.
Spring $25 gift cards have NO expiration date, but MUST be used in full and no change will be given back to customer.
Please keep this in mind when shopping.
Cards will be handed out at the May mtg or arrangements may be made to pick them up earlier.
Please reach out to me at 517-263-0396 or email: carpenter0396@frontier.com if you wish to support our fundraiser or if you have questions!
Leslie Carpenter
Fundraising Chair
| | | |
HELP WANTED!!
Branch Looking for a Scholarship
Committee Chair for 2025-26
The AAUW Wyandotte-Downriver Foundation is seeking a Scholarship Committee Chair.
The Chair reports to the AAUW-WDF board and manages the distribution of scholarship funds, communicating with scholarship applicants and winners during the award period (Feb. through May).
The chair also works with the foundation finance officer to ensure checks are sent to the correct recipients. This role involves knowledge of email, scanning, printing, the use of Excel, typing and printing letters and other clerical tasks.
If you are interested in taking on this role, please contact Sheila Blair at sheilablairpmp@gmail.com.
Role would begin July 1st, 2025.
| | |
|
UPCOMING BRANCH MEETINGS/EVENTS:
"SAVE THE DATES"
| |
April 10, 12:30pm: STEM Committee Meeting, Riverview Library
May 13. 6:00pm: Scholarship Dinner & Branch Meeting Location: Grosse Ile Country Club
May 15, 7:30a-1:30p, STEM SAVVY event, WCCCD-Taylor
June 10, 6:00pm: Branch Meeting, Location TBD (outdoor location).
June 20-21st: PRIDE Festival, Downtown Wyandotte (our branch will have a vendor table there.)
No branch meetings in July or August!
Any updates to above dates, times and locations will be sent to members via email in advance of the event.
| | |
April Birthdays:
4/01: Ruth Briggs
4/10: Barb Conroy
4/11: Sheila Blair
4/17: Bebe Hartman
4/17: Georgia Stahl
4/18: Ginny Riling
4/15: Carolyn Hoey
| | | |
Our annual STEM Conference is ready to go!!
All 18 middle schools in the Downriver area will be participating. That is 124
7th grade girls. They will each be attending 3 different classes out of the total of 6 classes presented.
Seminars include sessions on Financial Literacy, Netflix, Living Independently, Wildlife of Isle Royale, Project Management and Testing New Drugs. Dr. Angela Wilson will be our key note speaker.
We are still in need of a few volunteers. We need people in the classrooms, assisting with lunch and assisting the girls.
The date again is Thursday May 12th. Please plan to report to the lobby of WCCCD by 7:30am.
If you would like to participate in this wonderful event, please contact Lynn Strain 734-552-2267 or Jackie Hector 734-284-6603.
Remember many hands make light work. Let's all chip in and make this another successful STEM SAVVY Event!!!
Looking forward to seeing you there!!
Lynn Strain
STEM Committee Member
| | Diversity Discussion Corner | | |
DEI = Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
1) ILRC = Immigrant Legal Resource Center has 'red cards' you may print out in many languages from their website:
http://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas#item-4477
These red cards help folks assert their rights and defend themselves if ICE comes to their door. You could print these cards and pass along to folks who may need help with ICE or share the website with folks at your church/community center/library. All people in the U.S. have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution.
2) Our branch applied to have a booth at Downriver PRIDE in Wyandotte, June 20 – 21. This will be a good way to advertise our branch’s good deeds/activities, AAUW’s mission, as well as reach a more diverse audience. If accepted as a vendor, we’ll need members to sign up to take a 2 - 3 hour shift at the booth. (PRIDE events are just about the HAPPIEST places on Earth.) We’ll have signs, a tent, table, & chairs for volunteers as well as information about AAUW to share with guests. Please mark the dates on your calendar and step up to volunteer!
3) National AAUW supports free speech and believes in the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. We will continue to defend and promote our values. Members are encouraged to review the DEI toolkit on AAUW.org website.
aauw.org/resources/member/leader-resources-tools/dei-toolkit
Leslie Carpenter (she/her)
Diversity Director
| |
|
One specific way to make your voice heard is by using 5 Calls, which is a website and also an app you can download from your app store to your phone.
5 Calls challenges you to make five phone calls to your elected officials every day and can be found at 5calls.org.
Check it out and accept the challenge!
==============================================
Downriver is getting attention!
U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin delivered her rebuttal to the Joint Session of Congress in Wyandotte.
U.S. Sen. Shri Thanedar held a coffee hour in Lincoln Park.
The State of the County address is being held at Woodhaven HS by County Commissioner Warren Evans in May.
Let me know if you’d like to be apprised of future appearances of elected officials, and I will pass on the information.
=======================================================
Upcoming seminars
-
Red Wine & Blue Michigan is sponsoring a guide on how to take hands-on actions in our communities and about running for office and appointed positions in Michigan!
Tuesday April 8th, 7pm-8:30pm at the Trenton Westfield Activities Center, 2700 Westfield Rd.
Register at: https://go.redwine.blue/DRActionsMItwem
-
Face-to-face advocacy can drive real change. Learn how to make your voice heard, maximize participation and effectively use key talking points at local town halls. AAUW Zoom meeting April 8 at 7:00 p.m. Register at: https://bit.ly/41VFJkc.
=======================================================
New Donation Category! The new Defend Higher Education Fund will enable AAUW to elevate national issues impacting women, mobilize advocates, provide resources to college students, staff and faculty, and fuel investments in infrastructure and technology to move our mission forward.
Now we can give to the Greatest Needs, Defend Higher Education, and/or Public Policy Funds! Donate at: https://my.aauw.org/donation-product-detail.
=======================================================
Legislation in the News
-
Our vote is our voice. AAUW urges you to take action against the SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act. If passed as written, a woman registering to vote whose married name is different from that on her birth certificate will be required to produce a passport, or a birth certificate plus enhanced driver’s license to prove citizenship. Documents would need to be presented in person at the local Secretary of State office during business hours. Mail-in and online registration options would disappear. No more local voter registration drives, or registration at DMV offices. By far, married women would be the most disenfranchised group affected by the SAVE Act.
-
“Every student deserves a safe, inclusive and equitable education.” AAUW denounced Donald Trump's Executive Order to dismantle the Department of Education as a reckless action that will undermine vital protections, especially for women, students of color, and low-income students. This order attacks student rights, educational equity, grants and loans and civil rights (Title IX) enforcement.
Speak your mind to your elected officials on these issues and more, using the link AAUW Action Network – AAUW : Empowering Women Since 1881.
| | | | | | 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 | | | | RECRUITMENT & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE SOUTHERN WAYNE COUNTY REGIONAL CHAMBER! | | |
One of the perks of our chamber membership 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 event!
| | To find the list of chamber events happening this month, please visit www.swcrc.com | | |
News from the State (AAUW-MI)
www.aauwmi.org
| |
|
AAUW of Michigan
Important Dates
April, 2025
Saturday, April 5, 10:00 a.m. ET – AAUWMI Board meeting (via Zoom)*
Monday, April 7 – Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Women’s Equal Pay Day
Saturday, April 19 – Distribution of AAUW of Michigan Annual Report
Saturday, April 26, 9:00 a.m. – noon ET – AAUW of Michigan Annual Meeting (via Zoom) -- All Branch Members are encouraged to attend!! Your vote COUNTS! (See invitation below).
| | |
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!
| | |
Follow
AAUW of Michigan
on Facebook
Click HERE to access the AAUW Michigan Facebook page. Be sure to LIKE and Share our posts!
| | |
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.
| | |
NATIONAL DUES INCREASE IN EFFECT APRIL 1ST 2025
The AAUW Board approved a modest dues adjustment — $2 per year over the next two years.
New national dues: $74 starting April 1, 2025, and $76 starting April 1, 2026.
Why it matters: Member dues are an important funding source for AAUW. While costs for member support increase annually, dues have not kept pace. During the feedback process, we heard from more than 750 members.
The Board’s decision to increase dues by $2 reflects an adjustment to the original proposal to lessen the burden of a dues increase on members while keeping pace with inflation.
Your member dues help fund member services such as:
- Administrative Support: Assist with dues processing, Community Hub management, 990N filings, branding materials, and toolkits (e.g., DEI Toolkit, College/University Member Toolkit).
- Website Support: Update and manage ~500 branch and state websites and provide ongoing Site Resources support.
- Member Trainings: Hold regular virtual member gatherings and training programs.
- Member Engagement: Organize member-led groups and committees like Archives Corps, Lobby Corps, and national committees.
- Speaker Engagement: Offer National speakers for branch meetings and state conventions.
- Real-Time Support: Connect Team provides daily assistance and semi-weekly “Office Hours” for member leaders.
- And more!
The bottom line: We heard you. The dues increase balances AAUW’s financial sustainability with the member feedback we received. Thank you for being an engaged leader!
With gratitude,
Shannon Wolfe
Managing Director & Chief of Staff
AAUW National
| |
|
AAUW NATIONAL PROVIDES WEBINAR SERIES ON DEFENDING EQUITY
I wanted to make sure you were all aware of our upcoming webinar series - Defending Equity: Strengthening Our Collective Impact Series.
The goal of the series is to help members cut through the confusion and learn more about actionable ways we can effect change in the current environment. Descriptions of each event, dates and registration links are all follow – please share freely.
Defending Equity: Strengthening Our Collective Impact Series
Amid growing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion, AAUW is taking action. This series equips members with key policy updates, advocacy strategies, and tools to strengthen our impact. Join one or all sessions to stay informed and take action!
Building A Stronger AAUW
April 1 | 7:00 p.m. ET Register here
Strong fundraising fuels AAUW’s impact. This session, led by AAUW National’s Advancement Committee, will provide strategies for successful branch fundraising. Learn about AAUW’s budget, the Greatest Needs Fund, and hear directly from branches with proven fundraising success. Walk away with tools and resources to help your branch grow its financial support.
AAUW Advocacy Strategies for In-District Meetings
April 8 | 7:00 p.m. ET Register Here
Face-to-face advocacy can drive real change. This session will guide members on how to set up in-district meetings with members of Congress, maximize town hall participation, and effectively use key talking points during the upcoming April congressional recess. Learn how to make your voice heard.
Funding Futures: Understanding Changes to Sex and Gender-Based Scholarship Programs
April 15 | 7:00 p.m. ET Register Here
Navigating legal changes to sex-based scholarships can be complex. This session will provide guidance for AAUW branches on how to administer scholarships in compliance with evolving regulations while staying true to our mission of advancing education for women and girls.
| | | | | | |
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.
| |
Check out AAUW action, experts and research making headlines! Access articles & stories about AAUW published in the national spotlight here.
| | Interest Groups & Activities | | |
Daytime Book Club
April 4, 1:00pm -
Hello Beautiful, by Ann Napolitano
Venue - Olive Garden,
15355 Eureka Rd., Southgate
May 2, 1:00pm -
Behind Closed Doors, by
B. A. Paris
Venue - TBD
June 6, 1:00pm –
The Rise and Fall of An American Fortune, by Anderson Cooper
Venue - TBD
July 11, 1:00pm -
Murder on Canvas, by Aaron Ben-Shakar
Venue - TBD
August 1, 1:00pm -
My Friends, by Fredrik Backman
Venue - TBD
September 5, 1:00pm – The Secret War of Julia Child, by Diane A. Chambers
Venue - TBD
October 3, 1:00pm –
The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon
Venue - TBD
November 7, 1:00pm –
The Queens of Crime, by Marie Benedict
Venue - TBD
December 5, Time TBD – How to Age Disgracefully, by Clare Pooley
Venue – Sibley Gardens
Snacks are welcome!
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.
| |
Fisher Theater Playgoers
We have season tickets for the following plays, on Sundays, 1:00pm, at the Fisher Theatre.
June 22, “The Wiz”
The 2025-6 season may be announced this spring.
If you are interested in joining us for the next season, call Jean Carnahan at 313-382-1914.
| |
Ripcord
by David Lindsay-Abaire
Thru April 6th
| |
When prickly Abby is forced to share her room at Bristol Place Senior Living Facility with the sunny and chipper Marilyn, she decides to get rid of the intruder by any means necessary.
A seemingly harmless bet between the old women creates some hilarious battles, escalating into a game of one-upmanship that reveals the tenacity and wit of these worthy opponents, as well as some hidden secrets.
Click here for tickets!
| |  | |
Evening Literature
April 22: ”Sipsworth” by Simon Van Booy; discussion to be lead by Sharon Dmochowski.
We will also discuss the feasibility of continuing this group and also alternative time and places so I hope all will attend to give us your input.
Book discussions are on the 4th Tuesday (every other month opposite the Great Decisions dates) at the Southgate Library at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome to join us.
If you have book selections or would like to lead any of the 2025 evening book club discussions, please reach out to Jean Carnahan for the 2025 year. 313-382-1914.
| |
Great Decisions
Our readings from our new 2025 book are as follows:
May 27,Chapter 3,
”Competition….
U.S. China Relations…”
& Chapter 7,
”Al & American National Security”
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.
| |
Stay Tuned for our "out and about" adventures in future newsletters!
| |
Stay Tuned for any Travel Opportunities HERE in future newsletters!
| |
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.
| |
Detroit Symphony
If you are interested in future plans for this group, contact Jean Carnahan at 313-382-1914.
| | | |
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.
| |
| Ongoing Branch & Foundation Fundraising | | |
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.
| | | |
| |
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)
| | |
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
| | | |
Branch Board of Directors/Chairs:
Effective 7/1/24 - 6/30/25
President:
Andrea Witkowski
President Elect:
OPEN
Past President:
Terey DeLisle
Foundation President/Chair (Ex-officio): Melanie Orr
Vice President of Finance:
Sue Stoll
Recording Secretary:
Marsha Bardoni
Corresponding Secretary:
Barb Duran
Diversity Committee Chair:
Leslie Carpenter
Fundraising Committee Chair:
Leslie Carpenter
Historian:
Patricia Cox
STEM Committee Chair(s):
Jackie Hector
Andrea Witkowski
Membership Committee Chair:
Barb Duran
Program Committee Chair:
Lee Ann Shade
Public Policy Committee Chair:
Diana Mente
Nominating Committee Chair:
Terey DeLisle
Scholarship Committee Chair:
OPEN
College/University Liaison:
OPEN
Communication Committee Chair:
OPEN
Webmaster/mistress:
OPEN
| | | | | |
