Grand Rapids Timberline
NEWS
FOR AND ABOUT
AAUW GRAND RAPIDS
BRANCH
MEMBERS
EDITOR: Arlene Wheaton, Volume 45, Issue 1 September 2020
(218) 232-4989
September 21 Program Meeting
Location: United
Methodist Church
Business Meeting: 6:30 pm Program:
7:00 - 8:00 pm
**No meal will be served due to restrictions at the
church. Masks are required and only three people will be seated per table.
RSVP to Deanna Ensley by the end of Sunday, Sept.
20. Call/text (360) 333-0228 or deannaensley@yahoo.com We
must provide a list of attendees to the church for potential contact
tracing. The first 30 people to RSVP
will be allowed to attend. If you find you cannot attend, please cancel with
Deanna so she knows another person can be added.
TOPIC: Itasca Community Education
PRESENTER: Melanie DeBay, Director of Community Education, ISD 318
Melanie DeBay grew
up on the Iron Range where she graduated from Greenway High School. She then
graduated from Bemidji State
University. She has worked with the Grand Rapids Community Education program
since 2017.
Membership Matters
From Marj Lavalier,
Membership Chair
During the Covid-19
pandemic, as we see in the news, the issues that AAUW stands for and fights for
are still at the forefront as equality at work and in society, and the freedom
to be educated. This year we are celebrating the 19th amendment that gave women
the right to vote.
AAUW continues to bring women's issues to the public's attention because we can't trust that a law won't be overturned by the next administration. To do this we need to constantly stand vigil over women's rights. Our membership in AAUW is the best way to help each of us participate in this important work.
President’s Message
We are ready for a
new year of AAUW and we are planning to meet each month. Let's say that is the plan. The programs are
set, but we will be figuring out meals and it may vary month to month.
In September, we
are going to start with a program only and will ask for your feedback at the
meeting as to what you feel comfortable with as far as food, meeting time, etc.
Please bring a pen to fill out the
survey.
Did you have a
deciding factor for attending college? I knew throughout high school that I
would be going on to school, but there was also something else that I saw that
proved that more education is what I wanted. We had a Stokely's bean factory in
my town and for two summers I worked there—either picking out rotten beans or
making boxes in the warehouse. I saw
something else that was a real eye-opener.
There were ladies that worked each summer in the factory and this was a
social activity and money for them ($1.29/hour). I couldn't imagine looking forward
to picking rotten beans off a conveyor belt for two months each summer and
doing it summer after summer. Education
looked even better after that.
When we give the
scholarships to the nontraditional student, she also has a deciding factor
along the way to continue her education. Did you?
This is the 100th anniversary of the
passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women's right to vote. This marked the
largest expansion of democracy in the history of our country. Minnesota was the
15th state to ratify the 19th amendment.
We look forward to
working with the STEM program, awarding scholarships to the nontraditional
student, and also Deanna is working on a couple of special projects through the
state.
The program
committee has the meetings set for the upcoming year. We want to thank the committees for the work
they have done over the summer to prepare for the 2020-21 year.
Looking forward to
a great year!
Cyndy Agle, Co-President
“Your country needs YOU! To register, to VOTE, and
get EVERYONE you know to do so also!”
― Uncle Sam
General
election is coming November 3rd!
You can
make absentee or mail-in ballot requests at www.mnvotes.sos.mn.us or Itasca County Connie Cook, 218-327-2849 or email connie.cook@co.itasca.mn.us
** INTEREST
GROUPS **
Groups that are not currently meeting due to
COVID-19 issues:
*Bridge: Majestic Pines is not available due to visitor restrictions.
*Exploring Our Community: The group did not meet over the summer,
difficult to gather in group and social distance. Watch for activities for the
upcoming year...we will have new events and the adventures will be better than ever!
* Public Policy: KAXE meeting room too small for social distancing.
LITERATURE – Monday group
The group met at Veteran’s Park in early August and had a lovely time. They met again on Monday, August 31, (due to Labor Day holiday) at 10 AM at Veteran’s Park. Sharon Quern led the discussion of The German Girl by Armando Lucas Correa. Bring a chair and coffee. Future outings will be determined by weather!
LITERATURE – Wednesday group
The group will be
meeting at Veteran's Memorial Park on the 2nd Wednesday, September
9. At that time, the four members will
decide how they wish to proceed when they meet. The new contact person is Vicki Holmstrom and we invite you to
join our group. Vicki's contact
information is agiledog5@aol.com
WALKING & TALKING group
The Walking and Talking Group is still on its summer schedule of walking on Wednesdays at 9 AM.
Karen Karls:
“COVID-19 did not stop this group. We
kept on walking and talking, using areas where we could spread out and maintain
safe distances. As the weather got a bit
warmer we brought our lawn chairs and gathered for group conversation. I’m sure folks driving by on CR 76 wondered
what was going on with a group of women sitting 6 feet apart in the corner of
the parking lot. We managed a farewell
gathering for Jean Walthour with safe
treats in the parking lot of Community
Presbyterian Church. The group was over
10 but we figured that if someone complained, they’d blame the Presbyterians.
Summer meant that sitting outside was more comfortable. A couple members invited us to their homes for treats after the walk which was fun. My lawn chair has never had this much use. We continue to walk in areas where we can spread out, walking in twos or threes. We’ve enjoyed flowers in yards, flowers and plants along the trails, and enjoyed the public art. As a person who lives alone, I have really enjoyed this group gathering and the companionship of the AAUW walkers.”
We welcome new members. If you want to be added to the group, send your email address to k.karls@yahoo.com
MN AAUW Board
leadership position
From
Deanna Ensley
I have once again been nominated to be a candidate for Minnesota AAUW VP Programs Chair. I was frankly surprised! It has been a challenge for several reasons due to improper advertisement of Branch Grants last summer and then Covid-19, plus the fact very few branches even apply for the grants.
I have the impression I have been re-nominated due to the success that we had with our state convention in 2019 in anticipation of the next AAUW State Convention hopefully in 2021, which I feel is not likely as planning needs to begin mid-winter and that idea is an unknown possibility at this time.
So I have not accomplished what I should have but am still willing. I have no idea if anyone is running against me. I have been assigned to try to reinvent Branch Grants as a result of Covid-19 and the fact very few branches actually apply. Our Grand Rapids branch hopes to apply for a grant next year. There are several ideas for projects; again, the unknowns of the next months has presented a real challenge for me/us. I hope it will be a community activity to bring awareness to a greater number of women/people.
Food Committee
Chairs have been set for the 2020-2021 meetings but due to COVID-19 it is
still uncertain when we will be able to resume meals.
October - Lynette
Eck November
- Vicki Holmstrom
December - Cyndy
Agle, Janis Johnson January
- Deanna Ensley
February- Karen
Karls March
- Maryls Mestemacher
April - Marj Lavalier May - Jan Hill
AAUW Legacy Circle
Submitted
by Cyndy Agle from national AAUW website
Become
a member of the AAUW Legacy Circle by making a planned gift to AAUW and
affirming your commitment to the future of women and girls. These gifts can be
given to AAUW’s general fund or directed to your preferred program. Planned
gifts expand our program and public policy agenda by providing for future
generations of women and girls. AAUW seeks to increase our long-term financial
resources to help continue our important work. Members of the Legacy Circle
have begun that expansion through their planned gifts. These can be made in the
following ways: by naming AAUW as a beneficiary in your will, trust, life
insurance policy, individual retirement account (IRA) or Charitable Gift
Annuity (CGA). To enroll, visit the AAUW Planned Giving website.
|
Meet a MEMBER |
I have been a member of AAUW for a number
of years, but spent probably my first five as a guest! You may wonder "how
did she do that?" No dues for five years!
But here’s the thing. AAUW stands for the
Association of American University Women and I am not an American citizen and
did not attend an American University, and believed I could not be an
"official" member.
Education: For those of you who remember Nancy Hickman, a lovely lady, who insisted I always come as her guest, so I did but finally in front of the whole room, then President Sandra Nyvall said "Juliet, unless you pay your dues tonight, you can no longer attend AAUW!"
I replied, quite embarrassed that: A. I
wasn't an American! and B. I had never attended an American University. For
those who remember, Sandra, she was never at a loss for words but she was
totally flabbergasted! “So, Juliet? Did you attend any school?” I replied that
indeed I had earned a teaching degree from Bathurst Teacher's College in N S W
Australia. Wow, was I in the good books now, as some years earlier, her
husband, Bob, a botanist and plant expert, took a sabbatical in Orange, N S W,
about an hour from Bathurst, and Sandra had, of course, gone too and was very
familiar with my educational community!
I was IN! I was a member! I belonged to AAUW! So for five years I “illegally” attended meetings, joined the hiking group, and learned what an awesome band of women pass through these prestigious ranks. Thanks for welcoming me all those years ago!
Family/Personal: How I ended up at the end of the world with two teenage daughters and a husband from Kansas City is a story for another day…just know I met my husband-to-be in Kathmandu, Nepal, under the snow-capped escarpments of Mt. Everest, traveled with him on a bus across Asia , hitchhiked around Great Britain with him…and said goodbye!
The rest is history, but from all my overseas adventures I had made a promise to my father, a philatelist (a man mad about collecting stamps from every country on the planet!) so I wrote and wrote and wrote some more and that's what as the Sunshine and Caring member of AAUW I do on a constant basis.
Personal Interests: Know that whether
I am in Grand Rapids, Cuba (where Cyndy can testify that a postcard takes six
months to turn up), any location basically anywhere in the world, depending on
the postal system of that particular place, you will receive a card!
I love the written word, despite the convenience of technology, and know how much people appreciate the time to find the right card to fit whatever situation one is facing...joy, hope, loss, new family member, new home, retirement, just a friendly hello...to hold that card in one's hand and know someone cared " to send the very best" I stole that quote from Hallmark 👑 in Kansas City ,my husband's hometown and the mighty Kansas City Chiefs .
Heaven help me if the Chiefs, after 50 long years, hadn't won their second Super Bowl in January 2020! I would be writing compassionate cards to him for months, and with such a cramped hand no one else would be receiving anything!
AAUW interests: I’m the Sunshine & Caring chair who delights in sending cards to our members experiencing illness or tough times. Contact me anytime at kcjones50@yahoo.com or text 218-259-0454 and let me know how I can help. Cheers AAUW for hanging in there and allowing this Aussie in.
2020
Census survey response is vital
From Deanna Ensley
If you have not already responded by mail, you
can complete the Census survey at www.2020census.gov I have
been trained and I am working minimally for the Census as my regular job takes
up to 50 hours per week. Door to door for the Census is no picnic. I live out
of Grand Rapids on Pokegama, Wendigo Arm, so I have been given rural
fire/emergency property addresses in my immediate area.
So far the reason there has been minimal
response from these addresses it seems due to the fact the addresses are old,
or vacant lots, addresses that do not exist, long driveways with no way to know
what is at the end or if there is turn-around area, no parking available on the
shoulders of the road or are seasonal homes. No allowance for that in the
assignments and makes the strict Census training objectives VERY frustrating.
I had been looking forward to this opportunity
for years. Now I find it very difficult as this federal administration does not
even address all the possible results of visiting property rurally. Glad I will
be too old to look forward to 2030!
Anyway please may sure you participate! The
information is very important for the future of federal voting districts and
funding for many public services and facilities. I have been concerned that the
Census work on the street is very strict due to the person running the
government and his paranoia for “fake” news.
I have taken on an international exchange
student and in addition to the 45-50 hours I work regularly each week I have to
take Marie to and from school at ICC each day, so I have given up the Census
work in frustration.
Mikinaak Park in Ball Club
From Deanna Ensley
This is a
project I have worked on for 3.5 years with the Circle of Healing and it is
coming to reality in this next month. I know there are a few in our branch
who have contributed—thank you. We have raised $205,000 and
have developed a fantastic relationship with the youth of the Leech
Lake/Ball Club area by going to them to help us design this area, demonstrate
our sincerity in raising the funds and it has developed some new tribal/youth
leaders for Itasca County! Here is an interesting report on the park
for Minnesota Native News by Leah Lemm, broadcast recently on KAXE.
"The park they envisioned, designed, and planned, was set for a
grand opening early July but, like many projects during this time, it’s been
delayed. However, the effort to build the park—that centers culture and
inclusion – is still going as strong as ever. It started three years ago and we
started having these meetings called Circles of Healing meetings, and we just
started off with the drawings and what we want to do the park to look like and
the main shape, we started looking through catalogs of equipment and putting it
and choosing equipment to go in there,” said Taylor O’Shea.
Taylor and her friends Krissalyn Dahl, and Teona Bibeau are 13-14
year-olds who’ve been friends for years and have also shared in helping bring
the dream of a new park to life for their community in Ball Club. These three
friends are a part of a community of people who helped brainstorm and design
the up and coming Ball Club Park. Three things come to mind when I hear them
speak: Community, Culture and Friendship. In early June, work began on the park
grounds, and Teona Bibeau and friends were ready to talk.
“We just had groundbreaking a few days ago where we blessed the area
that the parks going to go and just for like a smooth, like put together and
everything and now it’s happening and they got the cement down and we got the
equipment. So I’m very excited,” said Teona Bibeau.
They all agree the old park needed to go. “There was three really old
pieces of equipment. The park wasn’t fun growing up because it could be really
fun if you had the right imagination,” said Krissalyn Dahl. “There was like
graffiti on it and stuff like that. There was a broken swing.” But for the three friends, there’s not much
focus on the newness, but instead the meaning behind it.
“We want to put a lot of Ojibwe into the park, like the language itself,
just so like kids can learn while they’re playing because like we’re having
fun, but at the same time you want to teach them about their culture,” said
Dahl. And culture is foundational and is represented in the design. Artist
Wesley May, citizen of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, has been working
with the youth to create meaningful imagery, including a seven teachings mural.
Another touchstone to the park is that when you look at the park from above the
whole layout takes the shape of a Mikinaak, or “turtle.”
“A lot of the things that we chose had a certain significance to our
culture. So for example, the park is actually in the shape of a turtle, which
in our culture means like represents wisdom and in a certain story the turtle
actually sacrifices himself so that the earth can rest upon his back. So it’s
kind of like symbolizing that in a way,” said Dahl. Included in the park is
playground equipment, a basketball court, picnic pavilion, fire pit and chill
spot. But one aspect sticks out. “I think one thing that really like it makes
me happy about the park is that it’s accessible for Taylor, because Taylor and
Krissalyn one of my best friends. I think it’s awesome,” said Teona Bibeau.
While talking to the group, I can hear that their friendship is part of what
helped design the park. They’ve been determined to make sure the park is built
for everyone. So while adding items to the list, they’ve made sure the picnic
tables, pathways, and playground equipment are accessible.
“I’m in a wheelchair and they’re going to have it’s something called a
We-Go-Round and it’s like a Merry-Go-Round, but you can pull your wheelchair up
on it and then you just park your wheelchair and you can go around on the
wheel, go around. And instead of like wood chips or sand, we’re going to have
like squishy kind of terrain. So you don’t get stuck. So yeah, it’s for all
abilities and ages and it’s going to be really exciting,” said Taylor O’Shea. When
everyone can have fun, it just makes it more fun for all. “It’s special to me
for you much. Cause like the accessibility and I’ll be able to go on it with my
little cousins if I’m watching them and my little cousins and Krissalyn and
Teona. And so it’ll just be a really great experience,” said O’Shea.
Photos and updates can be found on the group at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation website. Here is the diagram of just the playground. Mikinaak Park in Ojibwe: mikinaak is snapping turtle.
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
NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION www.aauw.org
AAUW MINNESOTA www.aauwmn.net
