Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
June Branch Meeting - Member Highlights
Our June Branch meeting was a time for celebrating our members and our accomplishments!
The 18 members present unanimously elected the following four positions: President: Debra Valencia-Laver, VP Membership: Gail Wakefield, Secretary: Jenny Lapidus, and Finance Officer: DD Patrick. Special guest SLCUSD Board Member Erica Flores Baltodano oversaw the installation of these officers.
Diane Howard announced that Debra was selected as this year's Named Gift Honoree. The Named Gift Honoree was made possible by donations to AAUW Funds in 2024 by the following members: DD Patrick, Delfina Medina, Betty Tuft, Esther Pudlo, Gina Kirk, Mary Jefferson, Pat Gagala, Judy Riener, Maureen Dresp, Shelly Johnson, Susan Updegrove, Theo Jones, and Debra Valencia-Laver. The branch donated an additional $100 last December at the recommendation of the board.
Membership VP Gail Wakefield announced milestone anniversaries for Debra Valencia-Laver (15 years), Diane Reynolds (35 years), DD Patrick (35 years), Susan Updegrove (40 years), Gail Sears (40 years), Sandy Amborn (45 years) and Donna Perales (45 years)!
New member Nancy Pinkel was introduced. Welcome, Nancy!
Our Raffle Winner was Randy Murray!!
Dine Out Update
It was great that so many of our Dine Out Group attended the AAUW Fund Raiser in May at Brooks Burgers. It was a big success and raised needed funds for our scholarships. For our final Dine Out Night for the 2024-2025 year, a group of eleven met at the Japanese Restaurant Kumi Ko located in the Vons Center at 3830 Broad Street on Wednesday, June 18th, at our normal time of 6 pm. We all enjoyed the delicious food and welcomed several new members to the group. We have had a very successful year and look forward to restarting in September.
Dine Out Coordinator
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May Meeting
SLOHS Scholarship Winners
Monday, May 12 at 7 pm via Zoom
We are going to have another great evening talking with the San Luis Obispo High School girls headed for college. This is an amazing time in their lives, and we're so happy to be supporting 10 local students with our scholarships! Please join us by Zoom on Monday, May 12 at 7pm. I have already gotten thank you notes from all the girls. They are headed to amazing colleges, and I can’t wait for you all to hear their stories. Please mark your calendars right away!! Zoom information will follow via email.
DD Patrick
Dining Out
The Dine Out Group met at the Laguna Grill in April and all had an enjoyable dinner. We had four couples and the restaurant gave us the side room, so we were all by ourselves. A lively conversation continued throughout the night.
Our May Dine Out Night will be combined with the Branch's Fund Raiser at Brooks Burgers on May 21st. The restaurant is in the SLO Public Market and has lots of parking. We still need more reservations to make our needed 20 committed participants. Please, if you haven't rsvp'd, please do so now (https://www.groupraise.com/events/302041), so we do not lose this opportunity to raise money for our scholarships. The Dine Out group will meet in June for our final time until September. We take the summer off as so many of you travel.
Our May Dine Out Night will be combined with the Branch's Fund Raiser at Brooks Burgers on May 21st. The restaurant is in the SLO Public Market and has lots of parking. We still need more reservations to make our needed 20 committed participants. Please, if you haven't rsvp'd, please do so now (https://www.groupraise.com/events/302041), so we do not lose this opportunity to raise money for our scholarships. The Dine Out group will meet in June for our final time until September. We take the summer off as so many of you travel.
Esther Pudlo
Dine Out Coordinator
BB&B Book Club
The BB&B group gathers monthly on the second Tuesdays at 12:30 pm, usually in the library room at the Laguna Lake Mobile Estates on Prefumo Canyon Road in SLO. On May 13, Miki Gillman will lead a discussion of James the highly acclaimed book by Percival Everett. James is the last title of our 2024-25 selections. It's a retelling of Huckleberry Finn (and so much more) from the perspective of Huck’s companion called Jim in Mark Twain’s telling.
In April, the group identified 13 candidate readings for 2025-26*. This month, in addition to discussing James, the group will select nine of the 13 titles for the 2025-26 season. BB&B will resume meeting in September. So watch for notices and/or reach out to Laurie Schneemann.
* The 13 works under consideration for next year are March, by Geraldine Brooks; The Glassblower of Murano, by Marina Fiorato; The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese; Becoming Madam Secretary, by Stephanie Dray; West with Giraffes, by Lynda Rutled; Fresh Water for Flowers, by Valerie Perrin; The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride; Fire in the Canyon: A Novel, by Daniel Gumbiner; The Lost Bookshop, by Evie Woods; The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore; Franklin and Eleanor, An Extraordinary Marriage, by Hazel Rowley; Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America, by Elie Mystal; and The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country, by Helen Russell.
In April, the group identified 13 candidate readings for 2025-26*. This month, in addition to discussing James, the group will select nine of the 13 titles for the 2025-26 season. BB&B will resume meeting in September. So watch for notices and/or reach out to Laurie Schneemann.
* The 13 works under consideration for next year are March, by Geraldine Brooks; The Glassblower of Murano, by Marina Fiorato; The Covenant of Water, by Abraham Verghese; Becoming Madam Secretary, by Stephanie Dray; West with Giraffes, by Lynda Rutled; Fresh Water for Flowers, by Valerie Perrin; The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride; Fire in the Canyon: A Novel, by Daniel Gumbiner; The Lost Bookshop, by Evie Woods; The God of the Woods, by Liz Moore; Franklin and Eleanor, An Extraordinary Marriage, by Hazel Rowley; Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America, by Elie Mystal; and The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country, by Helen Russell.
April Branch Meeting
Saturday, April 12, 2025
10:00 am
St. Peter's Episcopal Church
545 Shasta Avenue, Morro Bay
AAUW Morro Bay Branch welcomes SLO Branch Members to its April General Meeting: Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 10:00 am. Transportation to the meeting place can be arranged.
In Celebration of Spring, you can learn more about cultivating and caring for magnificent orchids.
Entertaining and informative members, Jeff Parham and Ed Lysek, from the Five Cities Orchid Society will lead an engaging discussion about orchids, where you will discover the beauty of these unique flowers and the rewards of cultivating your orchid collection.
The Program Presenters, Branch Members, and Guests will share in a social time with refreshments and beverages following the program.
In Celebration of Spring, you can learn more about cultivating and caring for magnificent orchids.
Entertaining and informative members, Jeff Parham and Ed Lysek, from the Five Cities Orchid Society will lead an engaging discussion about orchids, where you will discover the beauty of these unique flowers and the rewards of cultivating your orchid collection.
The Program Presenters, Branch Members, and Guests will share in a social time with refreshments and beverages following the program.
We will also receive information on the Five Cities Orchid Society. Tickets and updates on the Morro Bay April 27 Annual Garden Tour Fundraiser will be available at the meeting.
The General Morro Bay AAUW Monthly Business meeting begins at 10:50 am.
Please RSVP to Mary Jefferson.
March Meeting Recap - Honoring Women in Education
The 2025 Women's History Month theme was Moving Forward Together: Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.
Nineteen members and guests Zoomed into our March 17 branch meeting to hear Cal Poly student Karina Saldivar and Cal Poly professor Dr. Joni Roberts discuss their research interests and educational journeys.
Karina, the 2024-25 recipient of the Lynn S. Janeway Memorial Scholarship, spoke first. She talked about being a transfer student from Cuesta College. Although she was able to be more active in student life while at the community college, she remains committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion as she completes her degree in Spanish and contemplates continuing on at Cal Poly in education. Her senior project is a short film on maize, exploring the development, domestication, and adaption of this ancient grain through time. After she graduates, she'll travel to Pammukale, a small town in Türkiye where she will reconnect with an older female friend to learn how to cook traditional Turkish food under her expertise. George Janeway commented that Lynn would have been very pleased to know that her scholarship is supporting such a deserving student!
Born in Jamaica, Dr. Joni Roberts worked for a number of years in education before returning to college for her Doctorate in Public Health. Her experiences working with children and their families convinced her that she could be doing something more direct in helping the families address the health inequities that they faced as people of color from marginalized communities. She provided us with many examples of the sexual and reproductive health inequities that Black women face, including women with power and influence such as Beyonce and Venus Williams. At Cal Poly, Dr. Roberts leads the Sexual and Reproductive Health Lab, where she and her team "research ways to improve sexual health education and reduce health disparities. [Their] work aims to provide people with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their health." We also learned that Dr. Roberts loves cooking, especially Jamaican food. We hope to have her back after she returns from her year-long sabbatical in Malawi to share that experience with us and give us some cooking tips, too!
Both speakers were very inspiring, to us and to each other! Thanks go to Patricia Ponce for setting up Joni's presentation, and to Karina and Joni for sharing the work that they are doing!
Nineteen members and guests Zoomed into our March 17 branch meeting to hear Cal Poly student Karina Saldivar and Cal Poly professor Dr. Joni Roberts discuss their research interests and educational journeys.
Karina, the 2024-25 recipient of the Lynn S. Janeway Memorial Scholarship, spoke first. She talked about being a transfer student from Cuesta College. Although she was able to be more active in student life while at the community college, she remains committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion as she completes her degree in Spanish and contemplates continuing on at Cal Poly in education. Her senior project is a short film on maize, exploring the development, domestication, and adaption of this ancient grain through time. After she graduates, she'll travel to Pammukale, a small town in Türkiye where she will reconnect with an older female friend to learn how to cook traditional Turkish food under her expertise. George Janeway commented that Lynn would have been very pleased to know that her scholarship is supporting such a deserving student!
Born in Jamaica, Dr. Joni Roberts worked for a number of years in education before returning to college for her Doctorate in Public Health. Her experiences working with children and their families convinced her that she could be doing something more direct in helping the families address the health inequities that they faced as people of color from marginalized communities. She provided us with many examples of the sexual and reproductive health inequities that Black women face, including women with power and influence such as Beyonce and Venus Williams. At Cal Poly, Dr. Roberts leads the Sexual and Reproductive Health Lab, where she and her team "research ways to improve sexual health education and reduce health disparities. [Their] work aims to provide people with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their health." We also learned that Dr. Roberts loves cooking, especially Jamaican food. We hope to have her back after she returns from her year-long sabbatical in Malawi to share that experience with us and give us some cooking tips, too!
Both speakers were very inspiring, to us and to each other! Thanks go to Patricia Ponce for setting up Joni's presentation, and to Karina and Joni for sharing the work that they are doing!
Dining Out
I want to thank Gail Wakefield for not only taking the reservations for March's Dine Out Night, but also for writing a lovely review (below) of the night, including pictures. For April, we will be eating at Laguna Grill in SLO. It is located in the Laguna Center, next to the taco restaurant, closest to Los Osos Valley Road. We will be meeting there Wednesday, April 16th, at 6 pm. I have made a reservation for the separate side room for 10. You will be able to order at the desk before taking your seat. It will be more casual than previous dine outs, but they have great food! Do email me if you plan to attend. Hope to see many of you then.
Esther Pudlo
Dine Out Leader
If you weren’t at Jimmy D’s Spaghetti Joint on Thursday night, March 20th, then you missed a “buon memento” (good time)! We were greeted by the delicious smells of Italy as well as friendly staff. Some of the dishes we sampled were house-made lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, and pasta alfredo with a side of sausage. Everything was cooked to perfection! The minestrone soup was filled with vegetables and pasta in a rich beef-based tomato broth accompanied by thick slices of house baked bread toasted with garlic butter & parmesan. DELIZIOSO! And don’t forget dessert – Spumoni.
The portions were so generous that some of our more inciteful guests (Laurie and John, Bette and Ernie, Shelly and Gerry) thought to share their dishes and add soup or salad. Thanks to George Janeway for arranging our reservation at Jimmy D’s in Grover Beach. We hope you will join us for the April Dine Out Night!
The portions were so generous that some of our more inciteful guests (Laurie and John, Bette and Ernie, Shelly and Gerry) thought to share their dishes and add soup or salad. Thanks to George Janeway for arranging our reservation at Jimmy D’s in Grover Beach. We hope you will join us for the April Dine Out Night!
Brown Bag 'n' Books
Because Gina (and I) will be away in April, we will not have a book discussion. Instead, join the group on Tuesday, April 8, at 12:30 pm to start planning for our 2025-2026 reading!! We will meet in the Library Room at the Laguna Lake Mobile Estates Clubhouse, 1801 Prefumo Canyon Road in SLO.
We read a wide variety of mainly fictional books, so if you have one or more favorite books or some unread books you're curious about, bring your ideas to the group! We are also looking for a coordinator for next year (writes the newsletter articles and sends out reminders)! If you can't be there and are not yet on the book group mailing list, please feel free to email your suggestions to me, and I will be sure to pass them along!
On Tuesday, May 13, at 12:30 pm, we will finish our year of reading with James by Percival Everett. Miki Gillman will lead the discussion. The book group is open to all members!
Debra Valencia-Laver
We read a wide variety of mainly fictional books, so if you have one or more favorite books or some unread books you're curious about, bring your ideas to the group! We are also looking for a coordinator for next year (writes the newsletter articles and sends out reminders)! If you can't be there and are not yet on the book group mailing list, please feel free to email your suggestions to me, and I will be sure to pass them along!
On Tuesday, May 13, at 12:30 pm, we will finish our year of reading with James by Percival Everett. Miki Gillman will lead the discussion. The book group is open to all members!
Debra Valencia-Laver
Dine out to support AAUW SLO Branch
**Save the Date - AAUW SLO Branch Fundraiser**
On Wednesday, May 21st, from 4 pm to 7 pm, the delicious and generous Brooks Burgers (134 Tank Farm Road) is donating back 15% of Dine-In, Takeout, Delivery & Pick up orders to support a great cause -- American Association of University Women (AAUW) SLO Branch!
On behalf of AAUW SLO Branch you’re invited to join us and eat out, not only in support of our organization, but to show one of your San Luis Obispo restaurants some love too! This will also be our May Dine Out event!
We ask that you RSVP here: https://grouprai.se/e302041 (even if you’re not completely sure) so Brooks Burgers knows roughly how many orders to expect & so you have access to all the event details. Donations can also be made (more info to come).
We hope you can make it, and please feel free to forward this invitation to your friends and family. Thanks in advance for your support!
Debra Valencia-Laver, President, AAUW SLO Branch
Esther Pudlo, Coordinator, AAUW SLO Branch, Dine Out Group
CALIFORNIA AAUW ANNUAL EVENT - SATURDAY, APRIL 26TH
Planning for our AAUW Future Starts Now!
Charmen Goehring, President, AAUW California, statepresident@aauw-ca.org
Mark your calendars for the Annual Event on April 26th, starting at 9 am. In addition to the usual awards and updates, we will focus on social change and how we can pivot to ensure our AAUW branches survive. More information will soon be available.
Take the Social Change Ecosystem Quiz to see what role you tend to play in social justice organizations like AAUW. You will have an opportunity to discuss the results during our AAUW California Annual State Meeting on Saturday, April 26th.
Finally, what do Jeanette Rankin (first woman elected to Congress), Shirley Chisholm (first Black woman elected to Congress and first woman to run for President in a major party), Marjorie Child Husted (creator of Betty Crocker), Janet Reno (first woman to serve as U.S. Attorney General), and Nancy Pelosi (first woman elected Speaker of the House) have in common? They were all AAUW members!! We have an incredible history– let’s all help AAUW pivot to a grand future!
March Meeting
Women's History Month Presenter and Topic:
Joni K. Roberts, DrPH
The Evolution of an Intersectional Health Scholar
Monday, March 17, 7pm on Zoom
The 2025 Women's History Month theme is Moving Forward Together: Women Educating & Inspiring Generations. On Monday, March 17, Dr. Joni K. Roberts, Assistant Professor in Cal Poly's Kinesiology and Public Health Department, will present on her background, her research, and her professional journey.
Joni K. Roberts, Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) and Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®), is an early-stage investigator who sits at the intersection of being Black, an immigrant, and a Caribbean woman. The experiences of her intersectionality propelled her to gain training as a health educator to address the health inequities of marginalized communities by leveraging both research and practice to bring about change. Her research involves projects that examine how various social determinants affect health and identify structural solutions to address health inequities.
Her research on health disparities and women’s health lends itself to understanding the interplay between sexual health, sex as exercise, and obesity intervention goals and sets the path to transformational practices in weight management care on behavior and its impact on obesity outcomes. This is ultimately useful for addressing obesity inequities, particularly among minoritized women and marginalized populations, focusing on Black and Hispanic populations.
Zoom information will be sent via email the weekend prior to the meeting. Please join us for this inspiring and informative presentation!
Dining Out
I was sorry to miss March's Dine Out Night at Alex's in Pismo Beach.
Shelly was nice enough to send me a lovely review of the evening. This
is what she emailed me: "Things went well at Dine Out on the 19th. All 8
of us showed up and had plenty to eat. Some couples shared their half
rack of ribs, and everyone else had lots of food to take home. There was
an extensive menu, and we all had different kinds of things. The place
was a bit noisy, so we ended up having two conversations most of the time -
one at each end of the table. The bigger the group is the more likely
that is to happen." George and I will have to try it in the coming
weeks.
In March, I will be on my Mississippi cruise and will
be gone for our Dine Out Night. I am so happy that George Janeway
volunteered to handle our March event. It will be at Jimmy D's Spaghetti
Joint. Due to the restaurant being closed on Wednesdays, George made
the reservation for THURSDAY, MARCH 20th, at our usual time of 6 PM.
Please note the day change. George reserved for 8 in the back, but this
can be altered, if necessary. They will take separate checks, which is
great! The address is 1301 West Grand Ave in Grover Beach. You can check
their web page for their menu. It should be very tasty. I believe the
owner used to own an Italian restaurant where the Court Street complex is
now, and the food was excellent. As I won't be in town. please email
Gail Wakefield if you plan to attend. If you need a ride, please let Gail know, and she can set it up. Please
let her know by Monday, the 17th, if you plan to attend, so the
restaurant will know how many are coming.
I will be back on March
23rd, and so I will be able to set up the April Dine Out Night. If you
have a restaurant you would like the group to go to, do email me with
your suggestions.
Dine Out Leader
Brown Bags 'N' Books
This group gathers monthly, September through May on second Tuesdays at 12:30 pm. On March 11, Mary Jefferson will lead a discussion of Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano. We meet in the library room at the Laguna Lake Mobile Estates on Prefumo Canyon Road in SLO.
Questions? Reach out to Gina Kirk
February Branch Meeting:
Meet our Cuesta and Cal Poly College Scholarship Recipients!
When: Monday, February 10th, 7:00 PM via Zoom
(Zoom link will be sent via separate email)
Cuesta Re-Entry Scholarship winners April Arnold, Tanner Fry, and Jenna Hufford and Karina Saldivar, the 2024-25 awardee of the AAUW SLO Branch Lynn S. Janeway Memorial Scholarship, will talk about and answer your questions about their academic and career goals.
All have already expressed deep appreciation for the opportunities that these scholarships have provided for them.
Please attend to show your support and see our efforts as a branch at work in transforming lives.
Remembering Shirley Erickson
Please join us for a celebration of Shirley Erickson’s life.
Her Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, February 22, at:
First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo
981 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
The church is at the corner of Marsh and Morro Streets, kitty-corner from Barnes and Noble. Parking is available across the street from the church, at Pacific Premier Bank. There is also a parking garage at 871 Marsh Street, in the block before the church, between cross streets Chorro and Morro (the garage entrance is on the right, before reaching the post office).
A reception with refreshments will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the church, FPC SLO, are appreciated.
Please let us know if young children are coming, so that childcare can be provided.
Please RSVP to: llericksson@gmail.com and mindymmt@gmail.com
If anyone would like to help by baking some cookies for the reception following the service, please let DD know. You can drop them at her house, and she can get them over to the church the day before so they can be plated.
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