NEWS FOR
AND ABOUT
AAUW GRAND RAPIDS
BRANCH
MEMBERS
Volume 46, Issue 10 Summer 2022
EDITOR: Arlene Wheaton,
218) 232-4989
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, 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 Mon, June 13. Please park on the west side of the building. No need to RSVP.
Monday, August 22: Potluck
Cathy Davies has graciously agreed to host our summer potluck at her home on 35508 McAvity Lake Road, near Deer Lake north of Grand Rapids. Come at 4:00 pm and bring an entrée, salad, side dish or dessert. Directions to come later via email.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
From Marj Lavalier, Membership Chair
It is time to pay your AAUW dues. Yeah! The dues for our 2022-23 program year are $90, which breaks into $67 for national, $9 for state and $14 for local dues. Most of our members have paid, but for those of you who have not, this is a reminder to send your dues to Julie Skallman, P O Box 5163, Grand Rapids, MN, 55744 as soon as possible before the beginning of the new program year on July 1.
The drawing winner for the blue AAUW tote bag was Helen Ahlbrecht;
and the winner of the free 2022-23 membership dues is Janis Johnson.
Congratulations to you both.
May you all have a very safe and enjoyable summer.
President’s Message
What a busy four years this
has been! The first year in 2018 started with our "Fall
Gathering" at the Keisler House for the six branches in our region
including Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, Brainerd and Virginia. We had 85 attend the
gathering.
In April 2019, we hosted the Minnesota AAUW state convention for all 29
branches at Timberlake Lodge, which was a two-day event attended by 148.
(Deanna and I talked and planned daily.) We had 45 of our members participate
and help with the convention.
We have had exceptional speakers, given scholarships and socialized with
our members. With Covid we were challenged, and our goal was to keep in touch
with our members and do what we could do to keep in touch whether it was Zoom
meetings or being on Zoom with speakers from the Minneapolis AAUW on Mondays.
A thank you to Marj Lavalier who is going off the board after being
Membership vice president for two terms and previously our president. She is so
involved and will always step into help whenever needed. She has had a significant
impact on our organization. We will continue to see Marj in other roles.
The majority of our members have renewed with their annual dues payment, and if
you have not renewed, please send your dues to Julie Skallman. See Julie’s
address in Marj’s article.
We have several summer programs set up. We are the only AAUW branch in Minnesota that meets during the summer.
I have very much enjoyed my four
years as co-president. It has been rewarding to work with and get to know
our amazing members and to help plan events that will help raise money for
scholarships and the STEM program.
I look forward to seeing you
at our summer programs.
Cyndy Agle, Co-President
AAUW Scholarship recipients
From
Helen Albrecht and Kathleen Spencer
In May 2022, our AAUW branch gave two scholarships for $1,000 each to two local women.
Jamie Drewlow, from Nashwauk, is the AAUW Anniversary Scholarship
recipient. She graduated from Deer River High School in 2007. Jamie’s plan is
to attend Southwest Minnesota State University, where she has been accepted.
Her major is Social Work with a future goal to pursue a master’s degree.
Cassandra Harvey, from Grand Rapids, is the 2022 Itasca Community College Scholarship recipient. Cassandra plans to study Practical Nursing at ICC.
Cassandra shared these
thoughts in her thank-you letter:
“Because of your
generosity, I am allowed to further my education and become a Licensed
Practical Nurse, and maybe even a Registered Nurse one day. In the Fall, I will
be attending Itasca Community College to start the LPN program after being a
Certified Nursing Assistant for 2.5 years. I have chosen this career path
because I have always been a person who gets immense joy out of caring for
people, and with this scholarship, I will be able to advance my career with
less financial burden.
Also, with this scholarship, I can afford to work minimal hours and still have enough time for my two children, 8 and 9. Thank you for the opportunity you have given me, and I hope one day I will be able to pay it forward.”
Travel
Treasures, Scholarship Support
From Norma Epping and Marlys Mestemacher
At our May meeting, Anita Firman generously donated profits from her beautiful handmade earrings for our scholarship fund. We also raised $37 from our Travel Treasures. Thank you to all.
Don't forget to start collecting your Travel Treasures for our fall meetings. Have a great summer!
** 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.
Contact is Cyndy Agle, cyndy.agle@gmail.com
Enjoy a morning learning how to ring handbells and chimes under the direction of Sarah Mason at St. Andrews, Fri., June 24, 9 am – 12 pm. Novices through experienced are welcome to learn new skills, get a refresher in technique and to have fun making music together. The coffee will be on at 8:30 am. Contact Jan Bilden at jpbilden@gmail.com to sign up or with questions.
*LITERATURE – Monday group
The group will
meet on June 6 at 9:30 am in room 121 at Zion Lutheran Church to discuss
A. J. Baime’s Accidental President:
Harry S. Truman and the Four Months that Changed the World. Our book for
June 27th is Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage by Anne Lamont.
On August 1st, we will discuss The Sentence by Louise Erdrich and on
August 29th Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter. Please bring your own beverage. For more
information, contact Nancy Salmi, 326-3147 or nsalmi@earthlink.net
*LITERATURE
– Wednesday group
The Wednesday Literature Group has decided to disband due to decreasing attendance. The last meeting was held on May 11.
*Walking & Talking group
We are walking Wednesdays at 9 am. The location of the walk is planned week to week and the group is notified via email. We welcome new walkers to join us whenever they can.
We generally walk for about an hour. Walkers of all levels are welcome but know that talking is part of the experience. We are not a race-walking group. The walks are generally in the Grand Rapids area, but we have taken road trips to other parts of Itasca County.
The group used to go out for coffee after the walk; Covid-19 led to some changes. We brought lawn chairs and gathered in parking lots at safe distances, of course. This summer post-walk gathering will be up to the group.
If you want to be added to the group, send your email and cell number to Karen Karls at k.karls@yahoo.com
Chanhassen Dinner Theater outing – Twin Cities
From Ellen Edvenson
Anyone up for a trip to see “Footloose!” at Chanhassen Dinner Theater in Chaska (western suburb of Twin Cities) in September? Do you love the music and dancing from the 1984 movie? An overnight stay at AmericInn Hotel in Chanhassen is within walking distance of theater. Group rates apply for double queen bed occupancy. Theater performances are T/W/Th evenings, Fri/Sat/Sun evenings, and Wed/Sat matinee. Group rates for seniors and adults range from $67 to $107. Meal, gratuities, tickets and taxes included in prices. Performances run until September 24! The Chanhassen area is fun. Eden Prairie Shopping Center a short drive away; University of Minnesota Arboretum is very close; and a variety of restaurants and small shops are available. September seems a long way off, but if this fun trip interests you, I will gladly put together a plan! Those interested may email Ellen Edvenson, edvensonellen@gmail.com
“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions
that can change your life forever.”
― Keri Russell
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
