AAUW Grand Rapids MN

  

Grand Rapids Timberline

NEWS FOR AND ABOUT

AAUW GRAND RAPIDS

BRANCH MEMBERS

 

EDITOR: Arlene Wheaton,          Volume 45, Issue 7            March 2021

Arlene@honeybearwoods.com 

(218) 232-4989

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President’s Message

 Hello,

 I received my second shot day before yesterday and I was a bit fatigued yesterday but seem fine this morning. Good luck to all who are trying to get the Covid vaccine. Interesting how often I am hearing from people in a variety of ages from 18 to 64, who are not planning on getting the vaccine, at least not at this time. Many people I know have been held at bay to see their grandchildren and other family members so are eager to get it, and then at the opposite end of the spectrum—people who seem to fear the vaccine.

 In discussion, I have brought up to the younger people especially that when we were kids there was not really an option whether you received vaccines for polio, measles, mumps, etc. We were just lined up at school and received vaccines. I do not know of any devastated results from those vaccines among people my around my age and older. We certainly have had very little polio. Maybe some younger people who knew what polio was or knew people who had polio, which we often did, would see things differently? Although, as with the Covid virus, some people do not believe in it until it strikes them.

 I believe I had Covid exactly a year ago; I had no test and there was no virus known in Itasca County. I traveled with three other adults from this area and we were in four airports during our travels seven days earlier. We all had similar symptoms, and none of us became critically ill. One person did see a doctor. Anyway, I rarely get sick, but this was sick as I have been except it almost matched Lyme Disease.

 I hope everyone has received their email for the AAUW Minneapolis Branch Monday Zoom meetings. If not, please contact Cyndy Agle or me. The email that Cyndy Harrison from the AAUW MN State Board sent out was developed by Minneapolis Branch President, Diane Boruff and me. The email is very thorough and seems to work very well. I hope many of you are able to enjoy the presentations over the next two and a half months!

 The AAUW Minnesota 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting, Saturday, May 1, 2021 (time TBA but likely midday, 11am to 1pm) is coming up, and the AAUW State Board is working on it and meeting every two weeks via Zoom to get it organized. Kim Churches, Chief Executive Officer of AAUW, will speak around midday during the meeting. I will have more exact information in April, and information will be sent out prior to the meeting again by Cyndy Harrison. I do not know the form of the email, but it should have to Zoom link and agenda.

 It is time for AAUW Grand Rapids Board nominations. We are seeking a Branch Treasurer and Program Committee Chair or Co-chairs. Covid has made these board positions quite different; it ironically has given these board positions a better opportunity to break into, update, exchange information and definitely made it quite easy to slip into if you have any interest in becoming a member of our Board. These positions are not very demanding—board meetings prior to Covid were monthly to every other month; there is minimum work at this time as we are just not being that active due to social distancing requirements. You will receive assistance in whatever way you may need in accomplishing the tasks. I am asking you to consider helping our Board, especially if you have not in the past or if it has been some time since you were on the Board.

 Take care,

Deanna Ray Ensley, Co-President Grand Rapids AAUW, VP Programs AAUW MN

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“Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”

 

―  Geena Dunne, Australian feminist writer

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MEMBERSHIP CORNER

IT IS SPRING, TIME TO PLANT YOUR GARDEN OF DAILY LIVING.

Plant three rows of peas: 1. peace of mind, 2. peace of heart, 3. peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash: 1. squash gossip, 2. squash indifference, 3. squash grumbling, and 4. squash selfishness.

Plant four rows of lettuce: 1. lettuce be kind, 2. lettuce be patient, 3. lettuce really love one another, and 4. let us be faithful.

No garden is complete without turnips. So, three rows of turnips. 1. turnup for meetings, 2. turnup for service, and 3. turnup to help one another.

To complete our garden we must have thyme. 1. time for each other, 2. time for family, and 3. time for friends.

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love.

You reap what you sow. 

Meet a MEMBER

Cheryl Vogel
7-year member of AAUW

 I moved to Grand Rapids after the death of my husband of 39 years.  My friend and co-member, Jean Halverson recommended AAUW as a good place to meet interesting, productive women. 

Career:  I was a nurse anesthetist for 10 years (3 years nurses’ training and 2 years anesthesia training).  My specialty was open heart anesthesia. I went back to school to get my undergraduate degree from the U of M.  I then went into management:  Chief Nurse Anesthetist and Director of Perioperative Services at Methodist Hospital. 

 I went back to school for my graduate degree at St. Mary’s of Minnesota. Then I worked as a Senior Evaluation Specialist in the Tachycardia division of Medtronic coordinating studies regarding internal defibrillators, but that role was too distant from healthcare to keep my interest.  I went on to work as the Director of Perioperative Services at the University Hospital, and then at Fairview-University Hospital; Administrator, Patient Care Services at Allina Cambridge Medical Center; and V.P. of Patient Care Services at Allina Mercy Medical Center.

 During this time, I was also a realtor, Vice President and co-owner of R.P. Vogel and Company. My husband and I invested first in apartment buildings and eventually in vacation properties (Cable and Bayfield areas of Wisconsin).

AAUW:  I have always tried to support growth and further education of the people who worked with or reported to me. Since a large portion of those employees were women, AAUW’s purpose and philosophy appealed to me.  I became the organization’s Treasurer in 2014. 

Volunteer activities: I am Secretary of our homeowners’ association.  I have volunteered at the local food shelf and animal rescue and recently set up the books for Great Tails Animal Rescue, which replaced the recently closed animal shelter.

I have enjoyed my membership and meeting such a vibrant group of women.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

May 1:  AAUW State Convention via Zoom

Oct. 2:  AAUW Fall Gathering in Brainerd  
Note: It was held it in Grand Rapids in Fall 2018. The six northern branches of Ely, Duluth, Hibbing, Virginia, Brainerd and Grand Rapids make up the Northern Conference.

** 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: Not meeting at this time.

LITERATURE – Monday group

On hiatus for now, but possibly resuming meeting in person in late spring or summer. Contact is Nancy Salmi, 218-326-3147 or nsalmi@earthlink.net

LITERATURE – Wednesday group

Not meeting at this time. 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.

AAUW Grand Rapids Branch General Meeting Minutes
February 15, 2021

Deanna Ensley, branch co-president, presided over the meeting.  Fourteen members attended via Zoom. Justine Williams provided technical support.

The need to revise meeting programs to adapt to the Zoom environment was again discussed, and it was determined that the March monthly meeting would be replaced with Zoom program options provided by AAUW’s Minneapolis branch. The Minneapolis branch will provide three one-hour long programs on various topics each Monday in March.  Invitations and links will be emailed to members should they be interested.

In addition to programming issues, a video presentation introduced AAUW’s National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL). The video was prepared by a 2019 attendee and provided an excellent introduction to the conference and its goals and opportunities for young women interested in leadership. Branches are encouraged to recruit potential attendees and possibly assist with scholarships. This year’s conference is being held virtually, due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, it is hoped the 2022 conference will be an in-person event. Meeting attendees were positive about recruiting a candidate for 2022.

Minutes respectfully submitted,
Dianne Anderson, Secretary

Did you know that our branch has a BLOG?

http://grandrapidsaauw.blogspot.com/ The address is on page 5 of our directory. Did you know that you can access current and previous months newsletters here?  Member Myrna Peterson keeps our blog up to date for us. Check out our blog!

Legacy Circle: Make a Planned Gift

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.

For more information go to https://ww3.aauw.org/resource/aauw-legacy-circle/

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