Grand Rapids Timberline
Volume 49, Issue 7 March, 2025
NEWS FOR AND ABOUT
AAUW GRAND RAPIDS
BRANCH MEMBERS
EDITOR; Myrna Peterson
myrnakay67@gmail.com
218-301-6028
MISSION: AAUW advances gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy.
March 17, 2025
Location: United Methodist Church
Social/Registration: 5:00 - 5:45 PM Dinner 5:45 - 6:30 PM
Menu: Pork Chops in Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Eclair Cake
Cost $15
**RSVP to AAUWRSVPGrand Rapids@gmail.com
Monday, March 10, 2025
If you have a concern on your reservation, you can either use the reservation link or contact Linda Johnson directly at lindajohnsonj@q.com or 218–259–2305. Linda is our reservation expert, and she checks the reservation emails daily.
Food chair: Marlys Mestemacher
Food committee: Sue Koprowski, Marge Domish, Sue Mattson
Business Meeting and Program: 6:30 PM
Program Topic: Itasca Life Options: The Gift of Inclusion - Why Every Moment Matters
The mission is to empower and provide opportunities to people of all abilities. Goal is to provide services that help to develop and maintain vocational skills, increase participation in community life and engage individuals in proactive and satisfying activities of their own choosing own choosing.
Presenters: Lisa Lasson and Sonja Lindgaard, Director and Assistant Director ILO
Lisa Lasson has served as Executive Director over nine years. She graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree and Applied Psychology. With nearly 30 years experience in Residential and Support Services. Lisa brings her knowledge and passion to creating meaningful programming and opportunities for participants in ILO.
Sonia Lindgaard graduated from Bethel University with a BA in Communication and Leadership Studies. She has worked in the nonprofit world since 2009 and joined ILO in 2022 as the Executive Assistant.
President's Message
Hello Friends!
Even though it has been really cool, it was a nice turn out for our luncheon meeting on February 17, 2025.
The nominating committee, consisting of Kathleen Spencer and Louise Koglin Fideldy, was announced. There are two positions open on the Board. The Program Committee is looking for a chairperson. Also this committee is always looking for new members. The Treasurer position is looking for someone who would work with Julie Skallman to learn the bookkeeping, then when Julie's position ends this person would step in.
As President, I shared the Five Star Achievement that Branch was awarded. The Five Star Program is designed to honor branches that their work with AAUW's strategic priorities in areas such as; Advancement, Public Policies, Advocacy, Programming, Communications and External Relations. In 2024, our Branch received a star for Membership. For 2025, we achieved a star for Communications and External Relations.
The flyers are out for the AAUW Book Sale that is held in Hibbing each year.
You can drop off used books at the Hibbing Armory
from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM on:
March 10 - 14, 17 - 21 and 24 - 28.
Please bring your books inside.
They do not take old textbooks, cassettes, VHS tapes,
encyclopedia or magazines (crafts).
They do take puzzles, DVDs and CDs.
The AAUW Book Sale is
Friday, April 4, 9:30 AM to 8 PM
Saturday, April 5, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Sunday, April 6, 9:30 AM to 2 PM
Please be aware that the State Convention will be held in Austin, MN on April 25th and 26th. You are encouraged to join the carpooling to get there. You can contact Susan LaVelle at 763–691–3335 for information.
Another reminder, Grand Rapids will be hosting the Regional Northland Gathering on October 4, 2025, at the United Methodist Church. The theme is going to be 'Cultivating Hope Through History'. We need to come up with the name for the gathering and will need volunteers that day.
Susan LaVelle, President
*******************************************
***Travel Treasures
It may be cold outside, but all of you gave very warmly and we added $69 to our Scholarship Fund. Thank you!
* Ellen Edvenson shared beautiful items from her cousin's trip to the British Isles; Tea Towels from Bath, England, and from Fowey, England, and an Art Card from the Cotswold in England.
* Susan LaVelle brought Georgia Peach Cookies for her trip to Savannah, Georgia.
* Marlys Mestemacher travel to Mora, Minnesota, for Coffee from her granddaughter's fundraiser.
The Hibbing AAUW is sponsoring their annual book sale, with over 80,000 books!
Stay warm!
Marlys Mestemacher
Jean Gardner
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
'Never iron a 4-leaf clover...
you don't want to press your luck!'
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
**INTEREST GROUPS**
***LITERATURE
The Monday Morning Lit Group will meet on March 3 at 9:30 AM in the private dining room at Majestic Pines. Susan LaVelle will lead our discussion of Margaret Atwood's THE HANDMAID'S TALE, which has been banned in some local communities within the United States and other parts of the world. A futuristic, dystopian novel published in 1985, the book is set in a near-future New England totalitarian and patriarchal society based upon a Christian belief that divine law should govern society – especially Old Testament judicial laws. This Republic of Gilead was created after the overdraw of the Government of the United States and the story is told by one of the Handmaids, young women who were forcibly assigned to produce children for the Commanders, the ruling class in Gilead. Coffee will be provided. For more information, contact Nancy Salmi at 218–326–3147 or at nsalmi@earthlink.net.
***WALKING & TALKING
The group is on its fall/winter schedule of walking on Tuesday afternoons at 1 PM. The locations change from week to week but are generally in the Grand Rapids area. We walk for about one hour and then may gather for coffee. We are hardy women and always walk outside, but we are not Speed Walker so you can set your own pace. Group members receive a notification of the location of the walk. Members what when they no need for RSVPs. If the walk is canceled for any reason (potential weather threat) you will be notified. The group welcomes new members interested in walking. Send your name, email address and cell phone number to Karen at k.karls@yahoo.com.
***SUNSHINE & CARING
If any member of AAUW needs a bit of sunshine because of illness or a sympathy card, please let Nancy Raymond know, she is our SUNSHINE & CARING contact. She will send a card from Aauw. you can email her at nmraymond14@gmail.com.
*****************************************************
The state meeting will be held on April 25 & 26 in Austin, MN.
*****************************************************
AAUW Minnesota has 25 Branches and 1700 Members!!
We urge our members to participate in activities and special interest groups,
but it is not required.
Do you know someone who is interested in joining us?
Invite them to a meeting or contact our Membership Chair,
Janis Johnson at janiskjohnson@yahoo.com
===================================
Historian Committee Opening
Our Grand Rapids chapter maintains records of all our meetings. Included for each month are a copy of the Herald Review article announcing the meeting, photos of the speaker, anything else of interest and any handout provided by the speaker. In the past, two or three members have participated in this endeavor. Right now, Karen Wennen, the committee chair, is the only member, and she would love to have some help. So, if you are someone who enjoys taking photos or scrapbooking and would like to help, give her a call or send her an email.
===================================
AAUW Grand Rapids MN General Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2025
The Grand Rapids Branch of AAUW met at the United Methodist Church on Monday, February 17, for social time, lunch and program. There were 30 attendees.
President Susan LaVelle opened the business meeting with the reading of the AAUW Mission Statement.
Nancy Raymond announced that Juliet Jones is recovering in the Grand Village Lodge from hip surgery following a fall.
Susan LaVelle reminded us of the AAUW book sale. That book sale will be held April 4-6 at the Hibbing Armory. They will accept books from us but they need to be received between March 10 and March 28.
Susan announced that we received a Star for Communications and External Relations from AAUW National's 5 Star Program.
Kathleen Spencer and Louise Koglin Fideldy are the nominating committee members for our upcoming election. Positions needing filling are VP of Programs and a Treasurer co-chair/mentee. More details on these positions can be found in last month's minutes which are in February Timberline. Let a nominating committee know if you are interested or have questions about these positions. The election will be held at the April meeting.
If members have ideas for good spots to visit in Grand Rapids for people coming for the Fall Gathering, let board members know. These will be listed in our 'Save the Date' information that goes out to the other AAUW chapters.
The State AAUW meeting will be April 25 and 26 in Austin, MM. The theme for the meeting is 'Cultivating Hope Through History'16. Please let Susan LaVelle know if you would like to attend. Carpools are being arranged.
A request was made to have a Grand Rapids Herald Review article announcing our meeting included in the Timberline. It sounds like this is doable.
Travel Treasures raise $69 for our Scholarship Funds.
Janis Johnson introduced our speaker, Tiffany Schleppegrell, the Executive Director of Project Care Free Clinic. Pamela Dowell, Site Coordinator for Grand Rapids, was also present to add local color.
Respectfully submitted,
Vicki Holmstrom, Secretary
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Happy Birtday!!
Happy Birtday!!
Jan Mary Hill - March 4
Kathy Pliska - March 8
Carolyn Gaarder - March 8
Susan LaVelle - March 14
Vicki Holstrom - March 21
Alexandra Mack - March 21
Barbara Duffy - March 25
Norma Eppinga - March 27
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No comments:
Post a Comment