Grand
Rapids Timberline
NEWS
FOR AND ABOUT
AAUW GRAND RAPIDS
BRANCH
MEMBERS
EDITOR:
Arlene Wheaton,
(218) 232-4989
AAUW Membership Dues for 2020-21
Membership
renewals are due! The AAUW dues are officially due by June 30. If you have not
renewed, please mail your renewal check for $85.00 to Cheryl Vogel, 20401
Miskawaka Shores Drive, Grand Rapids, MN 55744.
The winner of a free membership from our drawing was Joan Solberg. Congratulations Joan!
The winner of a free membership from our drawing was Joan Solberg. Congratulations Joan!
President’s Message
Happy Summer! We continue to find out a new
normal and to see what is ahead and to comply with social distancing. There are
still so many things that make us smile during these challenging times.
A couple of things for me are the daffodils
and tulips in my garden and my orioles, which arrived on May 13, and I had the
grape jelly ready! And one that made me
laugh...I got up during the night when there was a full moon and looked out and
there was a big raccoon sitting in the birdfeeder tray eating birdseed. I
turned on the light and he didn't care...just kept eating!
A thank you to Jan Miland, who served as our secretary for the past 6 years. We
read your minutes in the newsletters and it kept us up to date with board
meetings and the business part of our meetings.
We want to thank you for all your dedication. We will miss you!
We want to thank you for all your dedication. We will miss you!
We have July and August meetings scheduled and
hope that it will work to meet. We will
see!
This will be our last issue until September.
Enjoy our beautiful Minnesota summer!
Cyndy Agle, Co-President
SUMMER PROGRAMS
More details to come on the July and August
programs closer to the date when we know whether they can proceed or not.
JUNE 15: CANCELLED:
Blandin Foundation visit and update
JULY 20: Eben Spencer will present a program on owls that is very interesting and a treat for those of us interested in nature and birds in general, or owls in particular. Although not an ornithologist, Eben has a strong background in plant and animal science with his Bachelor of Science degree from the U of M in Agronomy and Animal Science, plus his experience with the DNR and the Audubon Sanctuary Board of Directors in NW Minnesota. The exact place of this program will be announced.
JULY 20: Eben Spencer will present a program on owls that is very interesting and a treat for those of us interested in nature and birds in general, or owls in particular. Although not an ornithologist, Eben has a strong background in plant and animal science with his Bachelor of Science degree from the U of M in Agronomy and Animal Science, plus his experience with the DNR and the Audubon Sanctuary Board of Directors in NW Minnesota. The exact place of this program will be announced.
AUGUST 17: MDI of Cohasset will provide us with a
morning tour of the facility and a look at the work done there with vulnerable
people…if there is no threat of Covid-19 at that time. The plan is to lunch at
Florio's after the program.
“Hard times should pull us together and not apart.”
― Donald T.
Iannone, D. Div., M. Div., M.A.
Sunshine & Caring Member Service
By Juliet Jones
By Juliet Jones
I am the Sunshine
and Caring committee member who loves sending cards to let everyone know that
whatever is going on in their lives, it is vital to be recognized and
remembered.
When I left for
college in the late 60's and the only person in my family to go away to
college, students in Australia usually went to the closest university to their
home as there were no forms and tuition was free! My father insisted I write at least once
week, as of course, no cell phones, texts, emails, etc., so I wrote and am so
accustomed to the written word.
I feel a card
conveys so much more care, so if you have an occasion, a birthday, a wedding, a
retirement, a move, a hospital stay, a family issue, a celebration, surgery, or
the loss of a loved one. REMEMBER, your
AAUW family is your family to lean on.
Please email me at:
kcjones50@yahoo.com or call 218-327-2696. Be well, safe, healthy and hopeful for a better
year.
** INTEREST
GROUPS **
Groups not meeting due to social
distancing requirements:
Bridge, Lit groups, Exploring our Community and Public Policy
Bridge, Lit groups, Exploring our Community and Public Policy
Book recommendations from Jan Hill
I highly recommend
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. This is a best seller based
on four generations of a proud Korean family in the early 1900’s, wars that
ensue, relocating in Japan. Beautifully told especially about the “class
system” between Koreans and Japanese. I highly recommend it.
Recommended before
but needs to be highlighted—The Honey Bus by Meredith May. Her memo of a disjointed
family and her relationship with a beloved grandfather, a bee keeper. The bees
become a guiding force in a lonely child’s life, but you as a reader, learn the
amazing colony of bees, their
extraordinary intelligence and how desperately we need them for pollination. A
sad story of her life but you will learn!
LITERATURE – Wednesday group
From Barbara
Zimmer: The Wednesday Morning Book Group does not meet in the summer but hopes
to resume in September on the 2nd Wednesday at the Grand Rapids Library River
Room, 10:30 a.m. The title for discussion is A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell.
NEW NONFICTION GROUP
From Marilyn Rossman: We are getting used to no large crowds, no getting close to each other at meetings. I am thinking that a small group who want to read and discuss nonfiction books would work. We should consider how we can make such a group work, especially in the summer when we could meet outside. Holding the meetings via computer is a possibility, but I would rather try a get to gather in a small group.
If you are
interested, please call me at 326-6775 or email mbro@paulbunyan.net or contact Emilie Zasada, 326 4909 or emiliezasada@mac.com Thus far, I have a list
suggested from all sorts of suggestions, including short, interesting new looks
at current issues.
I hope you all are
enjoying the summertime. I would like to
see and talk about new views even though we do not have to agree or like what
the authors have to say. We could at least meet and start a list and discuss
how we want the discussions to be organized.
I would like to hear from you by June 14. Emilie and I will have some sort of short
starter and some kind of refreshment.
WALKING & TALKING group
From Karen Karls: The Walking
and Talking Group is on its summer schedule of walking on Wednesday
mornings at 9 AM. We walk using appropriate physical distancing
rules, generally for about an hour. Past practice was to have coffee at one of
the local restaurants following the walk. Since this has not been an option, we
have managed a time of distance-talking; those who like bring their own lawn
chair and gather in a large circle. We will continue this as long as it’s the
best health practice.
The location of
the walks changes from week to week and is chosen by the group. Locations are emailed
to the group. Members walk when they want to and at their own pace; no need to
RSVP. It is a social group rather than a hard-core exercise group. We welcome
new members. If you want to be added to the group, send your email address to k.karls@yahoo.com
Kathleen SpencerAlmost 3-year member of AAUW
Family/Education: I was born in St.
Paul and graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy. I met my husband, Eben Spencer,
when my family moved to the North Shore of Lake Superior near Duluth. After
marriage, my husband and I moved to the Red River Valley where he worked as an
agronomist. I received a Master of Science (MS) from the University of North
Dakota (UND) in Geography/Geology and a Master of Library Science (MLS) from
Southern Connecticut University. I also attended Saint Paul College and
received certification from the National Interpreter Training Consortium as a
deaf interpreter.
Career: Initially, I was a
stay-at-home mom until my three children – two boys, one girl - were all in
school. My oldest son was born deaf, which took me by surprise and required a
substantial commitment to understand his communication, educational, and
psychological needs. He has since received two Master’s degrees.
My professional career was as a librarian
at the University of North Dakota Geology Library within the UND School of
Engineering & Mines. There I managed a collection of geologic literature
and a map collection of more than 150,000 maps. After 15 years in geology, I
migrated to the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences, working as a
librarian for a new online rural health information service providing and
presenting information, technical assistance, and referrals for improving rural
health throughout the U.S. I developed guides on topics of significant interest
to help rural healthcare organizations, providers, and communities develop,
maintain, and improve rural health. Travel was required and frequent, with 50+
trips across the U.S. – from Alaska to Florida, from Hawaii to Maine.
My work included participation in several
fellowships including the National Library of Medicine, Medical Informatics
Fellow, and the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Rural Health Fellow.
Elected to the NRHA Rural Health Congress for 8 years, I collaborated with
colleagues writing policy papers to inform the U.S. Congress of critical issues
affecting healthcare in rural communities. Most recently I was a contributing
author to a textbook, Handbook of Rural
Aging, to be published late 2020.
Personal Interests:
After living in the
Red River Valley for 30+ years and surviving several floods, Eben and I moved
back to pine-and-lake country. A forced buyout due to a flood mitigation
project speeded up the process, and we built our home in 2012. Since retirement
we try to spend as much time as possible with our children - a teacher, an
engineer, and a physician - all living in Minnesota. We have four grandchildren
who my husband wishes we should have had first! Free time finds me hiking,
kayaking, doing yoga, listening to music, dancing, reading, quilting, trying
new recipes, and gardening. Eben and I
enjoy traveling, particularly to more remote and scenic areas of the U.S.,
Latin America, and Canada.
AAUW Interests: I always wanted to
join AAUW while working at UND but could not find the time. Now retired, I have
joined and met many wonderful and like-minded women who have the most
interesting lives. This is a great group - a perfect choice for someone new to
the area interested and good connections with whom to socially interact. I am
happy to be involved with the scholarship committee helping non-traditional
women return to school, and in supporting a campership for high school girls
interested in science, math, engineering, and technology (STEM). Thank you all
for making this a great club!
2020 AAUW Scholarship recipients
By Kathleen Spencer
By Kathleen Spencer
ICC Scholarship
Recipient: LaNaya Allen-Abdulai is
from Grand Rapids and is pursuing an Associate of Science in Accounting with
future plans to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Management offered
through St. Scholastica on the ICC campus. She is 39 years old and has a 3.8
GPA.
GRACF Scholarship
Recipient: Desiree Rohling graduated
from Deer River High School in 2007 and is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing
Practice degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Mankato State University. She
is currently working at Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital as a registered
nurse clinical preceptor teaching other RNs.
Members share “pandemic” activities
Karen Lonson: I enjoyed making “May Day” baskets filled with pansies and dropping them on my neighbor’s door steps.
Karen Lonson: I enjoyed making “May Day” baskets filled with pansies and dropping them on my neighbor’s door steps.
Julie Skallman: I volunteered to help Madeline Cook, who owns North in Bloom, (she spoke at our May 2019 meeting) by delivering Mother’s Day flowers. I drove all over the west side of the county for two days providing “no contact delivery”. One mom had four little ones step out on the porch with her, and everyone was excited to see what I had placed there. The smiles and shouted thank you’s as I walked back to my car warmed my heart. For about $6 in gas for my Prius, I got back boundless joy.
Arlene Wheaton: I’ve been trying some new recipes…latest
one was for Andes Mints Brownies…so delicious with vanilla ice cream! Found the
recipe online and it’s the one from Mel’s Café, comes up as one of the top five
recipes for these brownies. I’m finding more enjoyment in the simple things of
life…walks in nature, sitting in the sun, flower gardening. While out for a walk today, two 8- and
10-year-old neighbor girls flagged me down and showed me their handmade “game
arcade” made out of cardboard and other materials, showing quite a lot of
creativity and boundless enthusiasm. You go, girls! It made me feel good to be
supporting an organization with a mission of empowering girls and women.
Jan Bilden: I’ve gotten my idle spinning wheel out and am working on those skills, and am taking organ lessons so will have even more pleasant hours practicing.
Pat Anderson: Besides reading, I’ve been doing a bit of sewing, making masks, potholders, and potato bags for friends. With more togetherness than ever before in our 57 years of marriage, Phil and have come up with two partnering activities that we never shared before: crossword puzzles and online exercise workouts.
Cathy Davies: Staying at Home since March 15th has given me a lot of "Bonus Time." At our winter home in GA, the workbenches in both our basement workshop and "Stable," (detached garage) are free of clutter for the 1st time in 20 years. The pile of "stuff" that accumulated in the middle of the basement floor has been sorted, stored and/or dispatched. A couple of ancient cockroach skeletons even made it to the trash! Ziploc bags of papers from my 3M years (retired since 2011) have FINALLY been recycled after walks down memory lane as to the dreams of sales I would have, could have, should have made. Since arriving in MN, my husband Larry's health has taken plenty of time. He's the only one I know who has had 5 negative Covid19 tests after 4 hospital stays since April. Flower and vegetable gardens are in better shape than usual for late May. Although I don't wish for "Staying at Home" to continue, if I had another year, maybe, just maybe, my sewing room and sewing machine cabinet would get purged and organized. Make that 2 years J…
Cyndy Agle: I’m figuring out a new hairstyle that involves wearing a ball cap. Watched a live-stream video of one of my Florida girlfriends getting married today at an outdoor wedding ceremony. Called Goodwill every day for over a week to see if they were accepting donations and yesterday they finally were so I was there in 15 minutes to drop off.
Juliet Jones: As of June 1st, most restaurants in town
that have outdoor seating will open! Many of us have been having outdoor
picnics, purchasing lunches at local restaurants such as UnWined Up North…and
then going to a spot...Ice Lake, Pokegama Golf Course, Grand Rapids Area
Library grounds...Gunn Park, Scenic State Park. Masks are needed, but usually
once we are at our spot with the 6' social distancing, we remove our masks, and
enjoy “girlfriends day”...no more usually than four women. We all look forward
to our Thursday picnics, and supporting local businesses.
Submitted by Cyndy
Agle:
We're allowed back to work and into stores
and restaurants, but remember to:
Avoid touching MEN… Mouth
Eyes
Nose
Instead, follow WOMEN… Wash
your hands
Obey
social distancing
Mask
up
Exercise
and eat well
No
unnecessary travel
The 19th Amendment:
100 years of women voting
By Cyndy Agle, Co-President
By Cyndy Agle, Co-President
Early suffragists
spent years, and in some cases entire lifespans advocating for the right to
vote.
The first territorial legislature of the Wyoming Territory granted women suffrage in 1869. On Sept. 6, 1870, Louisa Ann Swain of Laramie, became the first woman to cast a vote in a general election.
The first territorial legislature of the Wyoming Territory granted women suffrage in 1869. On Sept. 6, 1870, Louisa Ann Swain of Laramie, became the first woman to cast a vote in a general election.
Minnesota ratified
the 19th amendment on Sept. 8, 1919.
The 19th Amendment
does not directly mention women.
Mississippi was the
last state to ratify the amendment on March 22, 1984.
AAUW support, new political group
By Deanna Ensley, Co-President
By Deanna Ensley, Co-President
As we remain under
pressure from coronavirus’ regiment and other serious stresses at this unique
time in history and in our lives, I want to share a couple “potential” items
with you all.
First, although it
is the time of year to pay our AAUW dues and without much enjoyment from our
membership due to the pandemic, it is also time for the AAUW’s national
fundraising. I encourage you each to send some donation to the organization in
exchange for the beautiful greeting cards the national office sent out to us
several weeks ago. AAUW does important work for young women throughout our
country. I met Kim Churches last year and am quite convinced she is doing the
best she can for all us women!
Secondly, some of you that know me realize I am quite politically liberal, a member of Itasca County DFL and the Progressive Caucus. I have always had respect for Republicans until the Tea Party distorted matters. My mother and her family were all Midwestern Republicans. My Dad turned into a Republican with time. I am sure my brother and sister-in-law are Republicans but out of love we do not discuss politics much in our older age!
This week I became
aware of an organization called “Defending Democracy Together”. It is made up of Republicans who can no
longer support President Trump’s re-election and other significant issues. I
found it very interesting and was so impressed with the platform I read about
that I sent them a small donation in appreciation for their serious
reconsideration in what I think in the name of “civility”. Coincidentally, I heard from my favorite
conservative pundit, David Brooks, just two nights ago, that 16% of the 2016
Trump supporters have become discouraged and are considering not voting from
him this year.
Websites for local, state and national AAUW information:
Our Grand Rapids AAUW blog: http://grandrapidsaauw.blogspotcom/
MN AAUW website: http://aauw-mn.aauw.net
National AAUW website: www.aauw.org
ADVANCING EQUITY
FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
– FOR MORE INFORMATION
