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. 

 

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.

President's Message

Happy, happy Spring! May your gardens flourish and your allergies be manageable! To celebrate spring, we have a joint meeting with the Morro Bay branch planned. On Saturday, April 12, hear speakers from the Five Cities Orchid Society talk about the care of orchids. In the past, they've brought samples for the attendees. Morro Bay will also have some goodies to eat! Please see the story in the newsletter and remember to RSVP so they can plan accordingly! I hope you can make it! Gail Wakefield will also be sending an Evite as a reminder and to see if anyone needs a ride; please don't hesitate to ask! Thank you to Mary Jefferson, Morro Bay AAUW President and a dual member with our branch, for inviting us to join them!

April is Sexual Assault Awareness/Action Month (SAAM). A few of us will be tabling at Cal Poly on Wednesday, April 30 from 11 am - 1 pm to commemorate Denim Day. We can always use a few more volunteers to meet and talk with students, faculty, and staff. Gail will be sending an Evite request.

"Each year during SAAM, Cal Poly Safer participates in Denim Day, a national day of action focused on speaking out against sexual assault and victim blaming.

Denim Day grew out of a 1998 Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction because the survivor wore tight jeans. Enraged by the verdict, the women in the Italian Parliament launched into action and protested by wearing jeans to work. This motivated and emboldened the California Senate and Assembly to do the same. People all over the world were outraged, and wearing jeans became an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes and myths surrounding sexual assault."

There are also a couple of other SAAM events at Cal Poly that may be of interest:

Take Back the Night - Thursday, April 24th, 5:00 pm in UU Plaza

• Join Safer for its annual capstone event! They'll have speakers, a resource fair, and a march designed to break the silence that so often surrounds sexual assault.

SAAM Symposium - Tuesday, April 29th, 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Chumash Auditorium 

• Multiple tracks, student and faculty presentations, and lots of opportunities to engage with our community around the issue of gender and power-based violence.

For more information and to see the full schedule of events, see https://safer.calpoly.edu/saam

They say April showers bring May flowers. While you will hear more about these branch items over the next few weeks, I do want to emphasize two things that will be coming into bloom in May!

First, May is the month when we finalize our branch nominations for our 2025-2026 branch leadership. We have several elected positions: President, Finance Officer (Treasurer), Secretary, and Vice Presidents of Programs and Membership, as well as a number of other ways to get or remain involved with the branch. We'll be sending out feelers over the next several weeks to gauge interest. There are numerous ways to be involved, including splitting responsibilities. After all, many hands make light work, so please don't hesitate to say YES!

Second, we are having a May fundraiser at Brooks Burgers on Wednesday, May 21 from 4 pm to 7 pm. This will also be the Dine Out venue for the month of May. Be sure to read the story in this month's newsletter and mark your calendar! Food can be ordered for eat in, take out, or delivery, with 15% of the profits coming to us to support our various scholarship programs. And the fundraiser is not limited to members. Share the info with your family and friends!! Again, more info to come!

Before I sign off, I want to thank again our amazing speakers from the March branch meeting. As you'll read in the newsletter, Cal Poly student and Lynn S. Janeway Memorial Scholarship recipient Karina Saldivar and Dr. Joni Roberts, Assistant Professor in the Kinesiology and Public Health Department at Cal Poly, were impressive and inspirational. We wish them all the best in their career and educational pursuits!

Finally, as we contemplate the chaos of current events, let me leave you with this hope-filled quote:

       To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. – Audrey Hepburn

Debra Valencia-Laver
President

Tech Trek

We had ten applicants for our eight spaces at Tech Trek this coming summer and interviews for selection happened on April 5th. We will share the names of the selected campers next month.

This month I would like to share below an update about a former Tech Trek camper - Kelso Harper. She is the granddaughter of a former member - Meredith Whittaker. This is from an article in the Community Foundation newsletter, as Kelso received a scholarship from that group to help fund her college education.

Susan Updegrove,
Tech Trek Coordinator

We are thrilled to celebrate the inspiring journey of Kelso Harper, the 2014 recipient of the Kelly McAdams Memorial Scholarship. Thanks to this scholarship, Kelso pursued their education at MIT without the burden of debt, earning a degree in science writing alongside their chemistry studies at Johns Hopkins University.

Now an accomplished scientist reporter and multimedia producer, Kelso is a host at Scientific American. They’ve made waves by launching and leading the magazine’s TikTok presence since August 2023, revolutionizing their vertical video content. Beyond Scientific American, Kelso’s impressive portfolio includes work with WIRED, Science, Popular Mechanics, Retro Report, and TED-Ed.

This year, Kelso returned to inspire, as a featured speaker, at our 2025 scholarship evaluator kick-off meeting. A true science enthusiast, they exemplify the transformative power of scholarships and the lasting impact of supporting passionate individuals!

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!

Women's Legacy Fund Thank You

 

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!

Morro Bay Garden Tour

 

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

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!

AAUW ANNUAL REPORT NOW AVAILABLE!

Why AAUW is Relevant
Michelle Baer and Donna Holmes, Directors, Communication Committee Co-chairs, communications@aauw-ca.org

Have you stopped to review all AAUW accomplishes even in present-day circumstances?

Here are some highlights from, first, the national level, then state and local:

• 6.3 million dollars went to 285 AAUW Fellows and Community Organizations
• 6157 women received Work Smart, Money Smart, and Start Smart training
• 500 college women went to NCCWSL
• 47,000 messages were sent to our elected officials via the 2-minute activist

        Learn more from the 2024 Annual Report.

• Speech Trek – working with high school students to deliver a speech on a selected timely topic
• Tech Trek has sent more than 15,000 girls, entering 8th grade, to STEM camps throughout California since 1998. Virtual camps were added during the pandemic. and now both options are offered! Be inspired at their revamped website: TECH TREK.
• Branches provide thousands of local scholarships for women pursuing their first 4-year degree.
• A focus on DEI makes the world a better, more welcoming place.
• Too many local programs to list here; check out Branch Brag on the AAUW California website

So, keep strong and carry on!

PUBLIC POLICY NEWS - APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH

Implementation of PROJECT 2025
Amy Hom and Melissa Maceyko, Directors, Public Policy Committee Co-chairs, publicpolicy@aauw-ca.org

Our core values are under attack. Take action now. 

As Co-Directors Amy Hom and Missy Maceyko outlined in a webinar in October 2024, the objectives of Project 2025 directly counter the Public Policy Priorities of AAUW California. With federal policy pronouncements and changes continuing to take place at a head-spinning pace, it is clear that changes are underway to make Project 2025 become reality (track implementation HERE). To respond to the attack on the people and issues we care about and to fulfill the mission of our organization, “to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research,” we will continue to compile resources to help you take action to fight back. This is a critical moment, as the changes that are being implemented may have long-lasting impacts, locally and globally.

Even as we are asking you to act, we want to remind you that your well-being is important. With an uptick in policies and enforcement actions that run counter to our core values, you may be feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, fearful, or anxious. Action is important, but self-care is also a political act. Be gentle with yourself and acknowledge your efforts.

We also encourage you to check out this guide on how to read the news more strategically to still be able to follow events while preventing burnout and protecting your mental health.

You should also consider staying connected with AAUW members and with those outside of AAUW who are engaged in efforts to push back. To this end, here are some examples of individuals, groups, and organizations that are pushing back in different ways:

• direct refusal to comply, via mass resignation,
• showing up in person not only to protest but also to support, including showing love for beleaguered federal workers at USAID,
• initiating and sustaining legal challenges.

AAUW California is building out our own action-items database, which was released to the California Leadership Team to review in March and which will go live for you in April.

Regardless, we will continue to provide a short list of targeted resources each month.

We ask you to take action by choosing one self-focused, one other-focused, and one political-focused item from the list below. This month the topic area is:

TAKE ACTION: SEXUAL ASSAULT VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Self-Focused: Education

• learn more about the organizations country-wide that are on the front lines of dealing with sexual assault violence
• read through the resources provided by the Domestic Violence Awareness Project and the CDC.

Other-Focused: Education & Connection

• whatever you take away from your homework in self-education--be sure to tell one friend about what you learned. You can do this over lunch.
• work with others to organize an event to raise awareness and dispel myths around gender-based and sexual assault violence in your community.

Politically Focused: Outreach to Senators

• Use 5-calls to reach out to federal legislators to oppose the abolition of the Department of Education, which will impact enforcement of existing sexual and gender-based violence protections under Title IX.
• text SIGN PNNWWO to 50409 to contact legislators, urging them to back efforts to get money flowing to relevant organizations and programs to raise awareness about and prevent sexual assault violence (e.g. Department of Justice, Office of Violence Against Women). See the article (HERE) “Prepare for Sexual Assault Prevention Month in April” for additional agencies.

April Birthdays

Elise Patrick Beem  April 5th

Shay Blackburn       April 21st

Beverly Cohen         April 23rd

Dana Easton            April 11th

Betty Tuft                April 18th

Pegi Vaudrey           April 2nd