NEWS FOR AND ABOUT
AAUW GRAND RAPIDS
BRANCH
MEMBERS
EDITOR: Arlene Wheaton,
(218) 232-4989
MISSION: AAUW advances gender equity for women and girls through research education and advocacy.
Location: Forest Lake Restaurant
Social & Registration:
Speaker: Pedro Oviedo, Itasca Symphony Strings Instructor & Violist
Pedro Oviedo is a Paraguayan Violist and Orchestra Conductor with vast experience in music education and string pedagogy. Currently serving as principal viola at Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program, with the retirement of Keith Swanson, he will assume to role of artistic director of the Orchestra in June for the 2022-23 concert season.
As a violist, he has collaborated with a number of professional orchestras, Uninorte Symphony Orchestra (Paraguay) as Principal Viola, National Symphony Orchestra of Paraguay, Asuncion City Symphony (Paraguay), Centro de Conocimiento Symphony (Argentina), Orchestra Crescendo (Germany), Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Ohio Light Opera, and the Itasca Symphony Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, Oviedo is a prize winner of a number of competitions.
Menu: Three entrée choices: Chicken Caprese over Rice Pilaf, Shrimp
Scampi over Linguini Noodles, or Tenderloin Beef Tips over Rice; Caesar salad,
bread & dessert
Cost: $27.00
Food Chair: Jan Hill
**RSVP to AAUWRSVPGrandRapids@gmail.com by Monday, May 9.
**AAUW annual dues renewal!
From Julie Skallman, Treasurer
Please pay your dues for our 2022-23 program year either in person at our May 16 meeting or via mail.
Dues for the budget year beginning on July 1 have been set at $90. The
nationa444444444l portion increased by $5 for this fiscal year to $67; state dues remain
at $9; and local branch dues remain at $14. Please send your $90 check written
to AAUW to me at Julie Skallman, PO Box 5163, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, and
I will register/renew you through the national online system. NOTE: If you
pay your dues before or at our May 16 meeting you will be entered in the drawing
for a refund of your membership dues.
Note that $64 of the $90 is tax deductible. While Lifetime members are exempt
from dues, they may choose to pay local dues. Those dual members whose primary
branch is NOT Grand Rapids pay only the $14 local dues. Their national and
state dues are collected by their primary branch.
We have 26 members who have already given me their $90. I believe it demonstrates their strong commitment to the mission of our organization. That same commitment shows up every time they purchase a book, donate to our holiday fundraiser, or buy a chance at the travel treasures raffle. I am proud to belong to an organization that believes so strongly in supporting the next generation of women in their educational goals.
President’s Message
Dear Grand Rapids AAUW Branch Members,
Happy May! We have had quite the
"spring" and we wonder when we will see May flowers.
Another program year is coming to a close, and we
found that we were so glad to meet in person and see AAUW members that we have
known for years and to meet new members.
We are very happy to have Laurie Clausen as our
new president for 2022-23. Welcome to
our new membership director, Janis Johnson, who is an 8-year member. Thank you
to Dianne Anderson who will continue for a second term as secretary. Jan Bilden
and Kathy Spencer will co-chair the Program Committee, and they already have
ideas! We appreciate your time, ideas and talents to keep our organization moving
forward.
Many exciting things are coming up that can be
found in this newsletter.
·
Drawing for a
free membership at the May meeting for all who have paid their dues by May 16
(or at the May meeting)
·
May 16 end-of-year
dinner at Forest Lake Restaurant
·
Scholarship
winners announced at our May meeting
We are the only branch in Minnesota that meets
during the summer. We have a summer meeting on Monday, June 13, at 10:00 am, a
tour of the new Grand Rapids Firehall. This should be a fun event. All are
welcome.
Thank you,
Cyndy Agle, Co-President
SUMMER 2022
PROGRAMS
Monday,
June 13, Grand Rapids Fire Hall Tour
We will be touring the new Grand Rapids Fire Hall located at 104 SE 11th Street for our June program. The new hall,4 with several updates designed to improve safety for the Fire Department and the surrounding community, opened on June 1, 2021. The new building allows the fire department to store all their equipment on site and offers drive-through garage bays that allow trucks to enter and leave the facility quickly and safely.
The tour will begin at 10:00 am on Monday, June 13. Please park on the west side of the building. No need to RSVP.
JULY program to be decided.
Monday, August 22, Potluck
Cathy Davies has graciously agreed to host our summer potluck at her home on McAvity Lake, near Deer Lake north of Grand Rapids. Directions to come later via email.
MEMBERSHIP
NEWS
From
Marj Lavalier, Membership Chair
Welcome
to two new members who joined our Branch in April!
1) Barbara Duffy, recruited by Jean Hoshal
2) Terri Friesen, recruited by Pam Friesen
At our May 16th dinner meeting, in addition to a drawing for a free membership from the names of those who have paid their dues for the coming year, we will also have a drawing for a free AAUW tote, which was part of the fundraiser for the State AAUW annual meeting.
"Think
of what a better world it would be if we all-the whole world-had cookies and
milk about 3 o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankets for a
nap. Or if we had a basic policy in our
nations to always put things back where we found them and cleaned up our own
messes. And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into
the world, it is better to hold hands and stick together."
-
Robert
Fulghum
“Each
time a woman stands up for herself,
she stands up for all women.”
― Maya
Angelou, Poet
|
|
Meet a MEMBER
Judith Mullins Gorham
First-year member of AAUW
Pokegama Lake is my comfort zone. My parents bought the
first cottage in 1940 and the one next door in 1946. I inherited the 1946
cottage when Mother died. My late husband, Willett, and now just me, have made
the cottage our summer home since 2003.
I grew up in Coleraine and am a proud graduate of Greenway High School. I graduated from Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a major in Biology and secondary education certification. I earned a Master's degree in Community Education from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
My first job was as a surgical technician in the animal lab at Rush Presbyterian St Luke's Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. After meeting Willett in Chicago and getting married, I taught at Evanston High School, Evanston, Illinois. A job change for my husband and two daughters kept me home for several years. We moved to Muskegon, Michigan, and with two daughters in school, I worked for Muskegon Adult Education. This transferred to teaching Science at Muskegon High School.
When both Willett and I retired, we spent winters in Tucson, Arizona, and summers at the cottage. My line: "I was a sunbird not a snowbird". Arizona heat and I are not compatible! Now I divide the winters between my daughters. Sandy is in La Crescent, Minnesota, and Sue is in Freeport, Maine.
My interests through the years have varied. Currently, my seven grandchildren and one and a half great grandsons take top priority. Gardening, golf and watching the boats go by also fill my days.
I will participate in the meetings and the Monday Book Club when I am in Grand Rapids. I look forward to getting to know all of you as the days go forward.
** INTEREST GROUPS **
*BRIDGE
Day/Time/Location TBD. Group meets year-round. If interested in playing
Bridge, contact Dianne Anderson, 218-327-2651 or 515-450-9252.
*Exploring
Our Community
This group goes on outings to area organizations, typically gathering for a meal. Upcoming outings will be planned for late April, May and June. Contacts are Cyndy Agle, cyndy.agle@gmail.com and Juliet Jones, kcjones50@yahoo.com
Fri, May 13: Road
trip to Cross Lake, Noon lunch & shopping
Carpool or drive individually. If carpooling, meet at Community Presbyterian Church at 10:30 am. We will enjoy lunch at the Moonlite Bay Café, 37627 County Rd 66, 218-692-3575. Reservations are needed for lunch. Shopping opportunities available on your own or as a group. There is a great campground with walks down to the lake, a very cook florist, Lake & Co., Lundgren’s Woolens and a small shopping square with some cute boutiques. Cross Lake is about 60 mi. from Grand Rapids. RSVP to Juliet Jones, kcjones50@yahoo.com by Fri, May 6.
*LITERATURE
– Monday group
The group will
meet on May 2 at 9:30 am in room 121 at Zion Lutheran Church. We will discuss MOLOKA’I
by Alan Brennert. Please bring your own beverage. For more information,
contact Nancy Salmi, 326-3147 or nsalmi@earthlink.net
*LITERATURE
– Wednesday group
The group will meet on May 11,10:30 am, in Room 121 at Zion Lutheran Church, to discuss Going There by Katie Couric. Masks are recommended by the church but not required. For more information, contact Vicki Holmstrom at agiledog5@aol.com or 218-245-2294. This group does not meet during the summer.
*Walking & Talking group
We are still on our winter schedule of walking on Tuesdays at 1 pm. On June 1 the group switches to the summer schedule of Wednesdays at 1 pm. The locations change from week to week but will be in the Grand Rapids area. The group is open to new members interested in walking. If you would 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 very 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
