Volume 40, Issue 6 April 2016
FROM THE PRESIDENT – Spring is here--Winter is back…April Fool’s!
Our March 21st meeting found us back at the United Methodist church for our evening Branch meeting. Barbara Zimmer brought a guest, Vicky Harding. WELCOME to three fairly new members, Jeannie Walthour, Kathleen Possai andDeanna Ensly. Nancy Raymond brought a "Treasure from Travels" to auction off as a fundraiser for our scholarships. Everyone is welcome to pick up a "treasure" while traveling for the purpose of selling at a meeting to raise funds. Amanda Ysen, executive director of Support Within Reach, updated us on the work being done in our North Central Minnesota communities around the sexual exploitation of youth. It is a difficult subject to hear about, but the only way we can facilitate change is to become informed. We were invited to put together a care package, which you are still welcome to put together and bring to our April meeting.
Items needed for SURVIVAL CARE PACKAGES given to victims of sexual violence or exploitation include: travel size bottles of shampoo/conditioner, body lotion, liquid body soap, toothpaste. Other items are toothbrushes, dental floss, hairbrush/comb, deodorant, razors, sanitary pads(min. of 10), tampons (min. of 10), panty liners, wet wipes, lip balm, footies, socks, pens/memo pads, manicure sets. All items should be new. Personal care supplies are packaged into gallon-size zip-lock bags. No time for shopping? Monetary donations to Support Within Reach will help too.
Our April 16th meeting will be held at the United Methodist Church at 5:30. Our presenter will be newly selected Itasca Community College Provost Bart Johnson. We will also have a brief update on the new wellness center for mental health; Beacon Hill.
The nominating committee of Cheryl Vogel, Anne Clark and Mac Custer presented their report. For president, Marva Jean Hutchens; for Secretary, Jan Miland; for Membership Sharon Quern. Thank you to the committee for forming this slate of officers and thank you to the members for stepping forward and agreeing to serve. We will hold our election at our April 16th meeting. Let’s hope we are soundly into Spring (without snow every other day) by mid-April.
Sincerely, Marj Lavalier
QUOTABLE
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”- Wayne Dyer
** BRANCH NEWS **
April 18 Program
Location: Methodist Church, Grand Rapids
SOCIAL: 5 PM DINNER: 5:30 PM BUSINESS: 6:15 PM PROGRAM: 6:30-7:30 PM
COST: $13
MENU: Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, mixed vegetable, roll and dessert
Reservations due to Charmayne Nelson by Wed., April 13. Call 326-4178 or email charnels@paulbunyan.net
COST: $13
MENU: Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, mixed vegetable, roll and dessert
Reservations due to Charmayne Nelson by Wed., April 13. Call 326-4178 or email charnels@paulbunyan.net
TOPIC: Challenges and Future of Community Colleges
Speaker: Brad Johnson
Brad is the newly appointed Provost of Itasca Community College. He has a background in the engineering field, and has served as the Academic Dean and the interim Director at Itasca Community College, following Dr. Barbara McDonald's appointment as director of the Minneapolis Community College system last year.
The program will begin at 6:45 p.m. We have asked him to speak about the current challenges and future plans for community colleges.
At 6:30 p.m. there will be a short explanation about the new Mental Health Wellness Center by Steve Loney, current director of Keisler House, and Marva Jean Hutchins, AAUW member and Keisler House Board member.
BOOK SALE FUNDRAISER FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
At our April meeting, we will host our semi-annual used book sale to raise funds for scholarships for women and girls. Please bring to this meeting used books that are “good reads”—no manuals or reference books.
May 16 Dinner Meeting
We will hold our Branch’s May dinner meeting at a new location--the Eagles Club in downtown Grand Rapids. The buffet meal will feature a dinner salad, chicken cordon bleu, pork loin, baby red potatoes, asparagus, dinner roll, chocolate cake and coffee. The price is $20, which can be paid at the April meeting. The program will feature Lilah Crowe of the Itasca County Historical Society.
Summer Meetings
Our Branch will hold summer meetings on the Mondays of June 20, July 18 and August 22. These meetings are informal, held during the day. They are usually at members’ homes. If you would like to host a meeting, or have a recommendation for a program call JoAnn Bakken, 326-3564 or email jbakken@paulbunyan.net or Marilyn Rossman at 326-6775 or email mbro@paulbunyan.net We have been fortunate in the past to have programs that feature experts who are summer visitors or family members who are available in the summer. Visitors are always welcome at our summer programs.
Program plans for 2016-17: The Food Committee and the Program Committees will begin making plans soon. Suggestions are welcome. Contact the Food and Program committee chairs.
SIGN UP TO HELP SERVE/CLEAN UP: Members will asked to sign up to assist with serving meals/clearing tables at the Methodist Church for our Sept., Oct., Nov., March and April meetings. We will have the sign-up sheet at the April meeting so that you can choose your month. If you have a preference, you may contact cyndy.agle@gmail.com to reserve a specific month. Thank you for your help!
** INTEREST GROUPS **
Any member can start a new interest group. Current interest groups are open to any member. Each group decides on its meeting time, calendar of meetings and subject or purpose of the group.
Writing group interest? Anyone interested in a writing group that would meet for several months should call Marilyn Rossman, 326-6775, or email mbro@paulbunyan.net Have you ever thought…"I really should be writing some of these things down for the grand kids!” If there is interest in this endeavor, we can make some organizational arrangements.
BRIDGE
Group will resume meeting again in May, meets May-December, first Thursday of the month at Majestic Pines bistro.
CREATIVE ART
Open studio for painting is held at the MacRostie every Tuesday, 10 AM through the afternoon. Free for members; nonmembers pay $5. Margaret Z. Morris sends an email to those interested each week, including if this group will not meet some weeks. Bring your lunch. This is open for anyone of any level of painting or any media. We have watercolor and acrylic, and welcome other media. No cost or instruction, learning from each other and having fun. Margaret’s email: ipaint@paulbunyan.net or phone 999-9683.
LITERATURE – Wednesday group
Group meets at 10:30AM on 2nd Wednesday, Grand Rapids Library, September-May. Contact is Barbara Zimmer, 327-0911 or kbzimmer@q.com
Group meets at 10:30AM on 2nd Wednesday, Grand Rapids Library, September-May. Contact is Barbara Zimmer, 327-0911 or kbzimmer@q.com
April 13: West of the Moon by Margi Preus
May 11: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee; pick titles for September-May
LITERATURE – Monday group
May 11: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee; pick titles for September-May
LITERATURE – Monday group
Group meets on 1st Monday at 10:00 AM at Grand Rapids State Bank Annex. Contact is Jan Hill, 246-979 orjmhgkh@paulbunyan.net
The majority of the group would like to attend the area ELCA congregations’ study of the Bible led by Pastor Vicki Taylor. The six weekly sessions are in April and May (first three sessions at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and last three at Zion Lutheran Church). Thus, we will suspend our Lit Group for two months and resume again in June. The June 6 book discussion will be “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman; discussion led by Nancy Raymond.
The majority of the group would like to attend the area ELCA congregations’ study of the Bible led by Pastor Vicki Taylor. The six weekly sessions are in April and May (first three sessions at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and last three at Zion Lutheran Church). Thus, we will suspend our Lit Group for two months and resume again in June. The June 6 book discussion will be “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman; discussion led by Nancy Raymond.
PUBLIC POLICY
The group will meet on Thurs., April 14, 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the KAXE Meeting Room. The group has been readingAmerican Mojo: Lost and Found: Restoring our Middle Class before the World Blows by Peter D. Kiernan. Our discussion will be about chapter 16 to the end of the book. The meeting is open to any member, and you are invited to join us, even if you have not finished the book.
The group will meet on Thurs., April 14, 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the KAXE Meeting Room. The group has been readingAmerican Mojo: Lost and Found: Restoring our Middle Class before the World Blows by Peter D. Kiernan. Our discussion will be about chapter 16 to the end of the book. The meeting is open to any member, and you are invited to join us, even if you have not finished the book.
WALKING & TALKINGThe group’s winter schedule is walking on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. The group is flexible and open to interested members. Locations of the walks are chosen by the group and are generally in Grand Rapids neighborhoods during the winter. We schedule week by week and an email is sent with the location. We walk for about one hour and then have coffee. To be included in the group, send your email to Karen Karls at k.karls@yahoo.com
**AAUW National News**
We need more women leaders.
Women are not new to leadership; think of Cleopatra or Queen Elizabeth. Think of the women who led the civil rights and education reform movements. But women are still outnumbered by men in the most prestigious positions, from Capitol Hill to the board room. Barriers and Bias: The Status of Women in Leadership examines the causes of women’s underrepresentation in leadership roles in business, politics, and education and suggests what we can do to change the status quo. Read the report at http://www.aauw.org/research/
Women are not new to leadership; think of Cleopatra or Queen Elizabeth. Think of the women who led the civil rights and education reform movements. But women are still outnumbered by men in the most prestigious positions, from Capitol Hill to the board room. Barriers and Bias: The Status of Women in Leadership examines the causes of women’s underrepresentation in leadership roles in business, politics, and education and suggests what we can do to change the status quo. Read the report at http://www.aauw.org/research/
Grand Rapids Branch Finance Report
v When any new member joining from now until June 30, 2016 pays her annual dues, it will cover the remainder of this year and next year.
v $46 of the dues can be considered to be a tax deduction.
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March 2016
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February 2016
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Based upon 03.09.2016 Bank Statement
General Checking Account: $6,892.26
Savings Account: $ 1,697.30
v Total Cash on Hand: $8,589.56
Income - Meeting Fees: $ 540
Travel Souvenir Fund Raiser: $7.00
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Based upon 02.10.2016 Bank Statement
General Checking Account: $6,869.26
Savings Account: $ 1,697.30
v Total Cash on Hand: $8,566.56
Income - Meeting Fees: $ 382
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STATUS OF DEDICATED FUNDS (4th Quarter 2015): $56,966.88
Local Scholarship ICC Foundation: $28,222 Ending Balance: 12/14 - Year end 2015 unavailable
· $ 19,269 – Endowment: Permanently restricted funds
· $ 8,953 - Temporarily restricted funds
Community Foundation: Grand Rapids AAUW
Anniversary Scholarships:
YTD Total Donations in Fiscal Year 2015 – 2016: $1,600
$ 50 (AAUW Education Fund 09.28.2015)
$ 750 (AAUW Education Fund, 12.2015)
$ 750 (AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund, 12.2015)
$ 50 (Community Education Fund memorial 01.2016)
$1,600
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AAUW GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH MEETING
March 21, 2016, 6:00 PM, United Methodist Church
Marj Lavalier welcomed members to the March 21, 2016 Grand Rapids Chapter of AAUW meeting. There was one guest present. The winners of Nancy Raymond’s travel treasures were Marj Lavalier and Barb Ricker. The money raised is for scholarships. Marj recognized the March birthdays.
The nomination committee presented these candidates: President, Marva Jean Hutchins; Secretary, Jan Miland; VP of membership, Sharon Quern.
Announcements were about the board meeting on March 28th and the state convention in Duluth on April 29-May 1. Registration is due by March 27th, online.
Karen Karls introduced the speaker, Amanda Ysen from Support Within Reach Sexual Violence Resource Center. Her topic was Human Trafficking.
Respectfully submitted, Jan Miland Secretary
AAUW GRAND RAPIDS BOARD MEETING
March 28, 2016, 4:00 PM, Public Utilities Building
Members present: Marj Lavalier, Jan Hill, Jan Miland, Lynette Eck, Jean Hoshal, Cyndy Agle, Marilyn Rossman, Nancy Raymond
The secretary’s report was approved with the following amendment to the February minutes, Marj agreed to contact Sara at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and Cheryl Vogel agreed to contact ICC.
A motion made by Marilyn and seconded by Cyndy passed. It is as follows: The annual local dues will be raised $5.00, from $12 to $17. The total dues would then be $75.
Marilyn suggested that in the fall the new budget would be itemized so the membership can see where the money is distributed.
A discussion was held about membership. Marilyn discussed April’s meeting plans. Steve Loney will speak briefly about a new facility. The program committee welcomes ideas for summer programs and for next year. The Public Policy group will meet two more times.
Cyndy Agle reported that she and Jan Hill have the arrangements made with the Eagle’s for the May meeting. The cost is $20 for a buffet dinner. Jan will do table decorations. You may sign up and pay the $20 in advance at our April meeting, but can also pay at the door.
Several members are attending the AAUW state convention. There is a book sale fundraiser at our April branch meeting.
Respectfully submitted, Jan Miland, Secretary
ADVANCING EQUITY FOR WOMEN & GIRLS – FOR MORE INFORMATION
ADVANCING EQUITY FOR WOMEN & GIRLS – FOR MORE INFORMATION
AAUW MINNESOTA www.aauwmn.net
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