Grand Rapids Timberline
Volume 49, Issue 8 April, 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.
April 21, 2025
Location: United Methodist Church
Social/Registration: 5:00 - 5:45 PM Dinner 5:45 - 6:30 PM
Menu: Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti, Salad, Brownie
Cost $15
**RSVP to AAUWRSVPGrand Rapids@gmail.com
Monday, April 14, 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: Jan Bilden
Food committee: Pam Friesen, Nancy Raymond, Laurie Clausen
The Spring Banquet will be at Forest Lake on May 19th. Cost is $32.
Dinner choices are:
Fresh Salmon
Beef Tenderloin Tips
Sizzling Smothered Chicken Breast
Business Meeting and Program: 6:30 PM
Program Topic: The Life of a Writer
Local author and historian, Susan Hawkinson, will discuss her novel for upper elementary readers, 'The Adventures of Annie McCallum'. (October 2023)
'The Adventures of Annie McCallum' takes place in 1955 in Woods Lake, a small town in northern Minnesota. Spirited fourth-grader Annie McCallum is determined to change the dress code so that girls can wear pants to school. Annie wants to cartwheel on the playground without showing her underwear and walk to school in cold weather without freezing her legs. She finds surprising allies in her quest, her twin brothers and classmate, Terry McArdle, propose a new school uniform for boys and girls. Fourth- grade teacher Miss Oliver, who introduces Annie to women like Clara Barton and Coco Chanel, encourages Annie to stand up for what she believes in which Annie learns has consequences. The new school uniform units students across the school district and challenges the school board to change the dress code for girls.
President's Message
Hello Friends!
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Many people showed up for the meeting in green!
The nominating committee announced the candidates for two positions. Pam Freizen will be running for VP of Programs. Julie Skallman and Carolyn Chase will be running for Treasurer. Carolyn will work alongside Julie for a while to learn the procedures necessary for a smooth transition. Voting will be held at the April 21st meeting.
Remember, the Hibbing Book Sale is on April 4th, 5th, and 6th. There are thousands of books for sale. Our branch will have our Book Sale at the April 21st meeting. The money for this goes to the scholarship funds.
The Hibbing AAUW Book Sale is:
Friday, April 4th 9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday, April 5th 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday, April 6th 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
The State AAUW Convention will be held in Austin, MN on the 25th and 26th of April. Applications are available. The cost is $125 which is due by March 25th. There is also information available for lodging.
At the April meeting you can start paying yearly 2025 - 2026 dues of $100. This cost includes the National, State and local fees.
Our March meeting was followed by a very informative presentation by Itasca Life Options, ILO. The mission of ILO is to empower and provide opportunities for all ages and all abilities.
Looking forward to seeing all of you at the April 21st meeting.
Susan LaVelle, President
***Travel Treasures
Thank you to everyone who brought items, and those who tried to win them! We added $65 to our Scholarship Fund.
* Karen Karls supported our presenters by donating cookies from the Dragonfly Café: salted caramel chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies.
* Marj Lavalier re-donated a puzzle featuring Kamala Harris.
* Julie Skallman had great adventures and brought jams from Chile Calafate Falkland Island, Diddle Dee jam aboard the Queen Victoria Ship and jams from her cruise around South America on Queen Victoria.
* Jean Hoshal has had a nice winter in Florida and brought a starfish dish.
Thank you all!
Remember our April meeting will be our Book Sale!
Bring books to donate, and money to buy more!!
Proceeds go to our Scholarship Fund.
Unsold books will be donated to Friends of the Library.
Thank you,
Marlys Mestemacher
Jean Gardner
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**INTEREST GROUPS**
***LITERATURE
The AAUW Monday Morning Lit Group will meet on April 7th at 9:30 AM in the private dining room at Majestic Pines. Ellen Edvenson will lead our discussion of POWER AND LIGHT by Will Weaver. (in the early 1930s, a Norwegian immigrant family in North Dakota is broken apart after a violent crime is committed against one of the daughters/sisters. Young and progressive Jenny Hogan steps up and leads the family to its pursuit of Justice.) Coffee will be provided. For more information, contact Nancy Salmi at 218–326–3147 or 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.
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Live life to the fullest...
and focus on the positive!
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Membership Dues for 2025-2026
Our branch will be holding the drawing for a free membership for anyone who has paid their 2025-2026 dues by May 19th at our meeting that evening. I will issue a reimbursement check to the winner at the dinner or by mail the following day.
Checks for $100 written to AAUW maybe turned in at our April or May meetings. Please note DUES on the memo line of the check. You may include the meal cost on a single check by noting DUES + MEAL.
Dues of all continuing members are payable on or before July 1st. They could be sent to me at PO Box 5163, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 if you prefer that to paying at the April or May meeting.
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AAUW Grand Rapids MM Branch General Meeting
Minutes for March 17, 2025
The Grand Rapids Branch of AAUW met at the United Methodist Church on Monday, March 17, for social time, lunch and program. There were 33 attendees including one guest and the two speakers.
President Susan LaVelle opened the business meeting with the reading of the AAUW Mission Statement.
Susan reminded everyone about the Hibbing AAUW Book Sale at the Hibbing Armory April 4th - 6th.
Louise Koglin Fideldy announced that she and Kathleen Spencer, nominating committee members, have found candidates for both our open positions. Pam Freizen will run for Vice President of Programs and Julie Skallman and Karolyn Chase will be running for Treasurer. Carolyn Chase has agreed to work alongside Treasurer Julie Skallman for the next two years. She will then run for the Treasurer's position in 2027. Louise thanked all who thoughtfully considered running for these positions. The election will be at the April meeting.
Both the Program Committee and the Historian Committee are in need of additional members. Let the committee chairs or Susan LaVelle know if you are interested or have questions.
It is not too late to sign up for the State AAUW meeting April 25th and 26th. It will be held at the Hormel Institute in Austin.
We need members to sign up as helpers for our Fall Gathering. Susan has posted a sheet in front of our meeting room. Take a look at it and see how you might help.
Treasures raised $65 for our Scholarship Fund.
Karen Karls introduced our speakers, Lisa Lasson and Sonja Lindgaard. They are the Executive Director and Executive Assistant of Itasca Life Options, ILO. Their very interesting presentation covered the history of people with disabilities, as well as what ILO is doing in our community to empower and provide opportunities for people of all abilities.
Respectfully submitted,
Vicki Holmstrom, Secretary
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Grand Rapids Aauw board meeting minutes
Monday, March 24, 2025 - United Methodist Church
Susan LaVelle, President, called the meeting to order. Additional attendees were Janis Johnson, Karen Karls, Julie Skallman, Marlys Mestemacher and Vicki Holmstrom.
Secretary's Report: Marlys Mestemacher moved the minutes from the previous board meeting be approved as read. Karen Karls seconded the motion. Minutes were approved.
Treasures Report:
* Currently we have 82 members.
* The bank account currently has a balance of $5790 with $4285 available to spend.
* Treasurer Julie Skallman recommended that we keep our dues at $100 despite the $2 increase by National AAUW. Marlys moved that we do this and Karen seconded the motion. The motion was approved. Dues can be paid starting in April.
* We have three members who will be attending the State Meeting. They will be reimbursed the $125 registration fee and mileage, if requested.
Dinner/ood Committee:
Julie reported that Linda Johnson has been having problems with the reservation system. We will need to address these problems once she returns.
Old Business:
* Kathleen Spencer and Louise Koglin Fideldy were appointed to the nominating committee. They found candidates for both our open positions. Pam Friesen will be running for Vice President of Programs. Carolyn Chase will be assisting Julie Skallman as the candidate for Treasurer.
* Northland Gathering: Susan will send 'Save the Date' information to the Presidents of the regional groups. A detailed flyer will be sent out once the program has been set. Susan will establish a committee to deal specifically with the Northland Gathering arrangements.
New Business:
* State Convention is April 25th and 26th. Marlys and Karen put together a basket of items from the Grand Rapids area for an auction item. Susan has taken care of any other items that need to be submitted for the meeting. Susan, Marlys and Janis will be going to the meeting.
Adjournment: Karen Karls moved the meeting be adjourned. Janis Johnson seconded the motion. The next board meeting is scheduled for June 2nd at 9:30 AM at the Methodist Church
Minutes respectfully submitted by
Vicki Holstrom, Secretary
Happy Birthday!!
Ellen Edvenson - April 3
Margaret Barrick - April 4
Patricia 'Pat' Mahoney - April 13
Jean Halvorson - April 15
Emilie Zosada - April 17
Martha Lentz - April 17
Marsha Miller - April 20
Sally Hagman - April 25
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Follow the bunny. He has chocolate. Happy Easter!
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Follow the bunny. He has chocolate. Happy Easter!
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