Grand Rapids Timberline
AAUW GRAND RAPIDS
BRANCH
MEMBERS
EDITOR: Arlene Wheaton, Volume 45, Issue 6 February 2021
(218) 232-4989
President’s Message
Hello Members,
Happy Valentine’s Day!
On Jan. 29, I received my first Moderna Covid shot. No big deal as far as a shot goes. A slightly sore arm, a date for the second shot and the possibility of a flight to somewhere out of Northern Minnesota before another year passes. Not sure if my job or my age increased my opportunity. I have a link for appointments that may work for you if you are interested. You have to have Google Chrome on your computer, iPad or phone I was told.
Julie Skallman is working on an organized gathering via Zoom on Monday, February 15. See the article below. Thanks for the great turn out for our Jan. 18th virtual program.
There are no more exact details of how the viewing of the AAUW Minneapolis-Live Monday Zoom and/ or stored meetings will work. We do hope we will be set up to take advantage of this situation by March, there are logistics to settle and some advertisement of the offering to get out.
We have planned a statewide meeting set for Saturday, May 8, 2021, virtually via Zoom. We will have news, business and a speaker - a much slimmed down event from our regular convention. More details will follow by March 1 for legal reasons.
Our 2022 MN State Convention in St. Cloud will be in full planning mode before too long. It will be a welcome event and St. Cloud has many interesting ideas and plans. I will be working on that as State VP of Programs.
Speaking of that no other person stepped up to run/to be considered for the board position I currently fill so it seems I will be on the state board into 2023. Many board members remain for years due to lack of competition. Wonder how that will be for me?
Take care, be
safe,
Deanna Ensley, Co-President
Grand Rapids AAUW, VP Programs AAUW MN
“It’s funny how, when things seem the darkest,
moments of beauty present themselves in the most unexpected places.”
― Karen Marie
Moning
February 15 Virtual Branch Meeting
Location: Offered
via Zoom from the Methodist Church
Time: 3:00 pm
After a short business meeting, we will watch the 15-minute video prepared by an attendee of the most recent National Conference for Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL). See more information at NCCWSL – AAUW : Empowering Women Since 1881
It has been some time since our branch sponsored a young woman’s attendance for this leadership development conference, which includes two days of leadership training, inspiration and networking. This video and discussion will help us consider the value in supporting a future attendee.
If you prefer to watch the video in advance of
the discussion, go to https://youtu.be/yHl_RTqALG4
After the close of our formal meeting, Justine at the Methodist Church will leave the Zoom link open for us to have time to visit and reconnect with each other. Be ready to share what you have been doing to stay positive in this challenging time.
Join Feb. 15,
3:00 pm Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93948127220?pwd=UjJvWEZEZkpEU2pFaGp6bnFOUThPdz09
Meeting ID: 939
4812 7220
Passcode: 635860
Call in option: 312-626-6799
This Zoom meeting invitation will also be emailed out a few days before the meeting.
Welcome to new member, Danielle Witherill!
Danielle Witherill, Edward Jones financial advisor, has joined our branch. She is
featured in the Jan. 31st issue of the Grand Rapids Herald Review,
p 2F, in the Chamber’s Business Spotlight.
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Myrna Kay
(Olson) Peterson
5-year member of AAUW
Hi, I am Myrna and I'm happy to say: “I am scheduled to receive the COVID-19 vaccine!”
AAUW: I have been a member of AAUW for five years. However, I did not attend many meetings in the last 2 years because of medical issues causing bedrest for 1 1/2 years starting in September 2018. Then by my recovery in August 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic set in so none of us could attend. I love the quality programming AAUW provides and their strong advocacy for equality and the advancement of women.
Growing up: I was #10 of 11 children born and raised on the farm in Southeastern Iowa. My dad was superintendent of our local school and retired after 17 years to move our family to the farm. My parents had strong priorities of Faith, Family, Education and a strong work ethic laced with positivity.
Career: I graduated
from Luther College, majoring in Elementary and Physical Education. My Master’s
in Educational Technology was from Bemidji State. I began teaching
in 1971 and taught:
§ 4th grade at
South Washington County School District;
§ Mentally challenged teenage boys at the Brainerd State Hospital;
§ 6th grade in Blackduck and coached three high school sports;
§ Multiple grade levels in Deer River and coached two elementary and high school sports; and Computer skills to students in preschool through college educators.
I served as Chapter I and Technology Coordinator in the Deer River Elementary Schools.
Personal: My public school and college-level teaching career of 24 years was cut short by a devastating auto accident being diagnosed a quadriplegic with an incomplete fracture, C-3, C-4. That accident on June 21, 1995, changed my life and my focus, due to chronic pain and mobility challenges. I was a single mom with four teenagers at the time of my accident. It has been 25 years and 32 surgeries since then. I have four adult children, three of them are in the Education field and one in Technology. I have been blessed with eight grandchildren, ranging from a high school senior to four months old.
My background in technology, love of life, faith and perseverance has allowed me to continue learning and teaching in my community. I am very involved in many volunteer services groups, including:
§ Member of Lutheran Outdoor Ministry National Task Force for Inclusion
and Accessibility
§ Member of the Executive Committee of the Minnesota Council on
Disability
§ Member of the Minnesota Governor's Council on Connected and Automated
Vehicles
§ Member of the Grand Rapids Reif Arts Council Board of Directors
§ Member of the Minnesota Autonomous Vehicle Equity Task Force
§ Recipient of the 2019 Minnesota AARP Andrus Award for Community
Service
§ Member of Minnesota Diversified Industry, MDI, Resource Development
Committee
§ Chair of Mobility Mania - Accessibility for All
§ Member of Itasca Community Public Television Board
§ Member of Kiwanis
§ Member of the Grand Rapids City Council Appointed Arts and Culture
Commission
§ Member of the Itasca Orchestra and Strings Board
§ Member of the Patient and Family Advocate Committee for Grand Itasca
Clinic and Hospital
§ Chair of our Leadership Visioning Team at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
§ Leader in Youth Ministry at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
§ Member of American Association of University Women, AAUW
§ Member of North Star Women’s Club, GR NSWC
§ Volunteer in School Districts #317 and #318
§ Member of Circle of Healing, CofH, Indigenous Diversity Advocate
§ Member of Community Action Team, CAT, People of Color Advocate
MEMBER MESSAGES
What we are doing and reading
From Nancy Salmi:
The Monday Morning Lit Group is still on hiatus, pending new COVID developments. I just finished the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. It was recommended by other members of our lit group. It is a searing and illuminating look at the unspoken and unrecognized caste system, based upon race, that shaped and continues to shape the daily lives of all Americans. I highly recommend it.
From Nancy Raymond:
“Greetings from Green Valley, AZ. Life is good here and I'm just getting off my self-quarantine. Every day I try to enjoy a one-hour walk in nature. When I read last month's newsletter, I realized I had never bought that full-size tube of toothpaste requested by Support Within Reach. I immediately went out to Target before I left for AZ and bought every item on their list and dropped it off at the bin in St. Joe's entry. I can fortunately afford more than a tube of toothpaste and am grateful the newsletter reminded me of their need.”
From Juliet
Jones:
For those who are members of the YMCA, the Y is back on track with all classes going. Members just need to register and sign up for the classes they want.
Things to do to lift your spirits:
- Take
lunch/dinner to a friend, who for whatever reason does not go out in this
uncertain world…add some fresh flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine and
stay, if it's OK, and catch up...so worthwhile!
- Send a
card, email, phone a friend...we all need socialization and knowing
someone cares.
- Take a walk, feed the birds, look up at the night skies...treat every day as a gift.
Some great
READS:
- The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charles Maskey…20 minutes that will
just change your life around written in black cursive ink, and his own illustrations—poignant,
moving and so what we need right now.
- For a tougher read The Alice
Network by Kate Quinn is a heart-wrenching read, but so
enlightening.
- The Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel is another gut wrencher, but so insightful.
- Joey, The Story of Joe Biden by Jill Biden, First Lady
- The Magic of Me..My Magical Words by Becky Cummings. Teach children to say and believe.
- Maybe by Kobi Yamanda, a story about the endless potential of us.
- Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris, niece of Vice President Kamala Harris.
- The Rent Collector by Camron Wright. a beautifully told story about the perseverance of the human spirit.
- The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell, a beautifully captivating story of wartime tenacity and tenderness.
From Arlene
Wheaton:
My niece shared an
invitation to send a Valentine’s card to her son’s kindergarten class. The
teacher is hoping to get cards sent from lot of different places and then
create a map for the students of the card locations—a fun geography lesson.
They can’t have a party this year so she’s wanting to do something special.
So, this motivated me to do something special too. I made some homemade Valentine’s cards for family members, locating photos, printing them and cutting them into heart shapes and pasting them on blank white cards. It made me feel like a kid again getting my fingers all sticky with glue. What better way to brighten someone’s day…who doesn’t like to get a greeting card in the mail!
Book recommendation: What is a Girl Worth? by Rachel
Denhollander. This is the story of sexual abuse of young girls by the USA
Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar, on staff at Michigan State University. At age
15, Rachel first reported her abuse to a gymnastics coach who refused to take
her complaint any further. Then 15 years later after seeing an article about
Nassar and abuse allegations from another gymnast, she was one of the first
victims to speak up publicly and was quite active in testifying for his trial and
doing lots of media interviews to ensure that he was stopped, and that the
University of Michigan was called to account for covering up the abuse that
lasted for many years—1992 to 2015.
** INTEREST GROUPS **
Groups that are not currently meeting due to
COVID-19 issues:
*Bridge: Group is on hiatus.
*Exploring Our Community: When we can safely gather again, watch for
activities for the upcoming year...we will have new events and the adventures
will be better than ever! Contact is Juliet Jones, kcjones50@yahoo.com or 327-2696.
* Public Policy: KAXE meeting room too small for social distancing.
LITERATURE –
Monday group
On hiatus for now. Contact is Nancy Salmi, 218-326-3147 or nsalmi@earthlink.net
LITERATURE –
Wednesday group
On hiatus for now. Contact is Vicki Holmstrom,
agiledog5@aol.com or 245-2294.
Walking & Talking group
We walk Tuesday afternoons at 1 PM. The locations
change from week to week but will be in the Grand Rapids area. We walk in
places that allow us to walk together but maintain safe distancing. Winter does
add the challenge of snow and ice since we always walk outside. The group is
open to new members interested in walking. If you’d like to join us, send your
email and cell number to Karen Karls at k.karls@yahoo.com You will receive an email with the weekly walk location.
Members walk when they can or want to; no need to RSVP. We generally walk for about one hour. If the weather is really dreadful, we may cancel and we’ll let you know. However, we are a hardy group of women who value the fresh air and exercise as well as the companionship.
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
