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.
October 17 Dinner Program
Location: United Methodist Church
Social/Registration: 5:00-5:45 pm Dinner: 5:45-6:30 PM
Business Meeting: 6:30 pm Program: 7:00 pm
TOPIC: Space Weather and Northern Lights Photography
PRESENTER: Bob Conzemius, Meteorologist
His career in meteorology has included two years as chief meteorologist for KEYC-TV in Mankato, MN, a year of teaching meteorology courses at St. Cloud State University, and a year doing research as a postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University. Outside of the chase season, he works for NextEra Analytics, part of NextEra Energy.
MENU: Dijon Pork, Baked Potato, Dinner Roll, Carrot Cake
Food Chair: Lynette Eck
Food Committee: Karen Wennen, Marge Domish, Margaret Barrick, Helen Albrecht
**RSVP to AAUWRSVPGrandRapids@gmail.com by Mon., Oct. 10.
USED BOOK SALE at our Oct. 17 meeting
Don’t forget to bring some “good reads” for our Used Book Sale scholarship fundraiser. Bring some shopping money too! All proceeds go toward funding annual scholarships for Grand Rapids area students.
Happy Fall to all of our wonderful members!
A big thank you to Myrna Peterson for volunteering to take over the Newsletter Editor role beginning in November. Myrna has graciously offered her services for a two-year term. October's newsletter will be the last for Arlene Wheaton, thank you for all the time you've given as editor. Thank you, Vicki Holmstrom, for a great job getting the member directories printed and distributed.
Join me in welcoming two new members who have joined in the past month, Karlin Allen and Tammy Pluym. Tammy joined in time to get included in our member directory. Please see contact information for Karlin in this newsletter. Just a reminder to add new member contact information to your directory.
Our September meeting was well attended, and we had several guests. Our speaker, Bernadine Joselyn, gave an incredible presentation. We also had a great letter-writing campaign for the SPRUCE project.
You won't want to miss our October meeting. We will have our annual used book sale and bring a first-time, qualified guest for $7.00. We also have Dr. Bob Conzemius (Tornado Bob) presenting Space Weather and Northern Lights Photography.
Looking forward to seeing you at our October meeting.
Laurie Clausen, President
**Email Coordinator needed!
While Myrna Peterson is taking over the newsletter editor role, she needs help with managing our email list in Outlook or Gmail format. We need an Email Coordinator to add new members and delete members who die or don’t renew membership. This person would also assist Myrna with soliciting the monthly newsletter articles and send emails to all members (no writing involved, just forwarding of info others submit) in between newsletters.
To learn more, please contact Arlene Wheaton at 218-232-4989.
School Board and City Council Candidates Forum
From Colleen Nardone
We will be hosting a candidate forum for Grand Rapids City Council candidates and ISD 318 School Board candidates at the community college on Thursday, October 13 at 6:30 pm. This forum will be open to the public.
Members are encouraged to attend and to submit questions. If you have a a question, or questions, to suggest please send them to Colleen Nardone at cbn0609@yahoo.com
AAUW Northland Get Together - Brainerd
If anyone planning to attend the Northland AAUW Get Together in Brainerd on October 8 is interested in carpooling, email Julie Skallman at julie.skallman@gmail.com
Let her know if you prefer to drive or be a passenger. Other attendees from our branch include Cyndy Agle and Arlene Wheaton, plus any who may have registered in the past week or so.
“One of the most courageous things you can do is identify yourself, know who you are, what you believe in and where you want to go.”
― Sheila Murray Bethel
December Christmas Party
From Cyndy Agle
Our annual Christmas party will be held at the Forest Lake Steakhouse on Monday, December 12. Our theme for the silent auction will be “Eat Your Words.” Ideas can range from cookbooks, food, reading materials, a book on travel, foods with words on them, or a salad or cookie cookbook or any foods. It could also be a gift card to a restaurant or SuperOne. Be creative!
From our Member Directory . . . Did you know?
From Cyndy Agle
1. Where can I find our branch officers?
2. Where can I find our blog address?
3. Do we have a "closed Facebook" account?
4. Where can I find past AAUW presidents?
5. Where can I find our mission statement?
6. Names and addresses for MN state government officials?
FIND ANSWERS ON THE LAST PAGE OF THIS NEWSLETTER OR PAGE THROUGH YOUR DIRECTORY.
** INTEREST GROUPS **
*EXPLORING OUR COMMUNITY
The group goes on outings to area organizations and activities. Contact is Cyndy Agle, cyndy.agle@gmail.com
No October outings planned.
*LITERATURE
The Monday Morning Lit Group will meet on Oct. 3 at Majestic Pines in the private dining room at 9:30 am to discuss “Anxious People” by Fredrick Backman. For more information, contact Nancy Salmi @ 218-326-3147 or nsalmi@earthlink.net
*PUBLIC POLICY
Deanna Ensley is trying to organize a new Public Policy group. If you have an interest in a more action-based group, including discussion of what and how we will move forward, please think about letting her know of your interest and wait for more specifics. You can reach Deanna at (360) 333-0228 or at deannaensley@yahoo.com
*WALKING & TALKING
The walking and talking group is back on its cool weather schedule of walking Tuesday afternoons at 1 pm. The group welcomes new members. We walk for about one hour, always outside. The location changes from week to week and members receive an email with the walk location. Members walk when they want or are able; no need to RSVP.
If you are interested in joining, send your email and cell phone number to k.karls@yahoo.com If you've been getting Walk emails but are no longer planning to walk, let Karen know. There are lots of "ghost walkers" on the list.
Sunshine & Caring
By Cyndy Agle
If any member of AAUW needs a bit of sunshine because of illness or a sympathy card, please let me know and I will send a card from AAUW. Contact me at cyndy.agle@gmail.com
MEMBER DIRECTORY QUIZ ANSWERS:
1. page 3, 2. page 5, 3. page 9, 4. page 14, 5. page 15, 6. page 33
AAUW Grand Rapids, MN Branch General Meeting Minutes
September 19, 2022
The Grand Rapids branch met at the United Methodist Church September 19, 2022, for a social hour, dinner and program. Forty members, four guests and the speaker shared dinner before a meeting and program.
President Laurie Clausen opened the meeting and led the group in reading the AAUW Mission Statement. Guests were introduced and welcomed, and new directories were distributed. Nancy Raymond introduced The SPRUCE Project and encouraged members to write to our legislators to continue funding this project’s important work.
Members were reminded that the Scholarship Fundraiser Book Sale will be held at the October meeting, that a fall gathering will be held in Brainerd on October 7 with cost for gas reimbursable. A presentation on Faith Wick dolls will be held on September 26 for the cost of $5. Cathy Davies won The AAUW tote at the silent auction. Travel Treasures and the silent auction earned $52.
The program for the evening was presented by Bernadine Joselyn, former diplomat at the US Embassy in Russia. The program was entitled “Reflections from the Polish-Ukrainian Boarder: Impacts on Women.”
Minutes respectfully submitted,
Dianne Anderson, Secretary
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
