September Kick-Off Meeting!

Saturday, September 19, 2026     10:00am

Laguna Lake Mobile Estates Annex

1801 Prefumo Canyon Road, SLO

Come to the September meeting to hear from the Tech Trek students who attended camp this summer, either at UCSB or UCSC. We sent four girls to UCSB: Josie Main, Margaux Yanega, River Morrison, and Zoe Healy. Five girls attended camp at UCSC: Daisy Banfield, Pacey Callaway, Abigail Durrant, Addie Waddell, and Olivia Ochoa.

We will also hear from some of the alumnae from our Alumnae group. The Alumnae group (TTAG) has been meeting over the past year with Peggy Papathakis as their AAUW coordinator. Prepare to be impressed!

We could not send as many girls to Tech Trek as we do without the support of many donors. Over the past few years, with the help of member recommendations, we have been able to reach out to local businesses and individuals who have generously sponsored a girl for camp. We would like your help in reaching out to people you know who might be interested and willing to sponsor a girl, or partially sponsor one.

You may know that SLO branch has a generous endowment established by Randy Murray to support Tech Trek. The annual distribution from the endowment provides the foundation for our fundraising, but not the complete amount. While we don’t know the exact amount of a scholarship for 2027, we do know that it was $1,200 per girl for this past year, and we expect it to increase.

Please contact Cindy or Susan if you have suggestions of people to contact and help us reach out to our community for support. Every donation helps, no matter the amount. To make a donation, please make out a check to AAUW - CA - SPF and write TT - SLO in the memo line and get it to Cindy or Susan. Thank you.

And there’s more to celebrate! Each year, the AAUW California Fund Committee honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions in support of the programs and goals of the AAUW Fund and/or AAUW California.

Please join us as we pay tribute to our two honorees for this year and celebrate their dedication and accomplishments.

Cindy Treichler and Susan Updegrove, co-coordinators for Tech Trek

President's Message

Thank you all for supporting me in taking over the reins as President of our AAUW SLO Branch! I am very excited to undertake the many challenges ahead and will do my best to continue and expand on the outstanding work that Debra Valencia-Laver did during her five-year tenure. That work can only be successful with your help and commitment in advancing the AAUW mission.

Merger Update

Our five-member SLO Merger Committee has met twice with the Five Cities/Pismo Beach Merger Committee. During these meetings, we identified four phases that will guide us through the process of exploring and, if approved, completing a merger.

Phase One: Exploration

We are currently in the research and discovery phase. Each branch is preparing a report summarizing its projects, programs, operations, and how the branch functions. Once completed, the reports will be exchanged so that each branch can review and learn more about the other.

Phase Two: Analysis

Each branch will review the other branch’s report and identify questions requiring clarification or additional information. We will also examine the positives and potential challenges of a merger.

Phase Three: Design/Negotiation

If we decide to move forward, this phase will focus on designing how the merged branch will operate. Topics will include Board composition, local scholarships, financial resources and how funds will be distributed, as well as other organizational matters.

Phase Four: Implementation and Integration

Once the merger is approved, the branches will submit the required forms and documentation to AAUW National and AAUW California. The newly merged branch will monitor the integration process, address and resolve issues as they arise, and work to create a strong, unified organizational culture.

Ongoing Approval

Board and branch approval will be sought at appropriate intervals throughout the process. This ensures that members of both branches remain informed and have opportunities to provide input before major decisions are made.

July and August Branch Planning Meetings

Thanks to all of you who attended the two Branch Planning meetings in July and August and shared your ideas! Coming together with creative thoughts and working together to make them happen is at the heart of how we will forge ahead. The new strategic plan is still being finalized and a detailed report will be shared in the near future.

I look forward to seeing everyone at our first meeting of the new 2026–2027 program year!

Regards,
Gail Wakefield
AAUW SLO Branch President

Membership Update

We are starting the 2026-27 year with 51 branch members. (This includes several members whose membership is in a grace period, but we are expecting them to pay their renewal dues.)

During the summer, two members of other local branches joined our branch as dual members: Liz Helgerson who also belongs to Atascadero and Mary Matakovich who also belongs to Five Cities-Pismo Beach. We welcome them and I will share more information about them in the future.

Guests are always welcome at our branch meetings where they can learn from our program topic and meet some of our members. Our upcoming September meeting where our Tech Trek girls tell about their summer camp experiences is a good one to bring potential members to. It shows some of the results of our mission in action. Remember that membership is open to anyone who holds an associate’s or equivalent, bachelor’s, or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university. College students are also eligible to join and pay reduced dues. 

If you see a benefit to your membership in the branch and support our mission, why wouldn’t your friends?

Shelly Johnson

Membership VP

AAUW Communications

I often hear from members that they get too many emails from AAUW, so they don’t bother to read them. It may sometimes feel like that, even if it’s not true.

To put things in perspective, this is a summary of the regular email communications you can expect to get as a member of the SLO branch. If you do not receive these, let me know so we can investigate why.

You should receive the following emails monthly.

From the branch: I send an email to members (It comes from my personal email address.) when our branch newsletter has been published. It is available to read online at aauwslo.blogspot.com. My email usually highlights some of the articles or dates in the newsletter (to entice you to read it) and contains updates, if any, to member information.

From AAUW CA: AAUW California (siteadmin@aauw-ca.org) sends the state newsletter California Compass. If you don’t read it when you receive it, you can find the current and prior issues posted on the state’s website aauw-ca.org.

From AAUW National: Our national organization sends a newsletter, Mission & Action, to all members and others. (National also sends other specialized newsletters which you can opt out of receiving. This is done in your member profile after logging in on aauw.org. More details in a future newsletter.)

The branch will also send other emails periodically containing topics such as Zoom information for online meetings and important dates or deadlines to know about between newsletters. Evites for branch meetings will also be sent. (Sender name is usually AAUW SLO BRANCH.)

Branch officers/leaders get an additional monthly newsletter, Board to Board (B2B), from AAUW California. It is posted on the AAUW California website for anyone to read. And certain branch officers get additional monthly updates from AAUW National.

Shelly Johnson
Communications Chair

Cuesta Re-entry Scholarship

As another school year begins we have a new group of students selected for our Cuesta Re-entry Scholarships. These are people who are over the age of 25 and who have had to interrupt their education to deal with family, financial and other challenges.

In future newsletters I will speak more about the students who were chosen. For now, I want to share with the Branch a Thank-you letter I received from one of the students picked this year. She addressed the letter to me, but it is meant for the entire Branch. You can see what a difference AAUW-SLO is making in the lives of those trying to better their situation. It brings me great joy to know that we are positively impacting lives in our community.

Here is the letter:

Hi,

I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for awarding me the $2,000 scholarship. I am so mad at myself for missing the opportunity to tell you in person. Words cannot fully convey how much this generosity means to me and my family.

At 43 years old, I have returned to school during one of the most challenging times of my life. After enduring a difficult divorce, experiencing homelessness, and becoming a single mother with little to no support, there were moments when continuing my education seemed impossible. Yet through every hardship, I held on to the belief that education would provide a path toward a better future for myself and my children.

Receiving this scholarship is more than financial assistance. It is hope. It is encouragement. It is a reminder that there are people who believe in students like me and are willing to invest in our dreams. Your generosity will help relieve some of the financial burden of pursuing my education and allow me to focus more fully on achieving my academic and career goals.

I will never forget this kindness or where I came from. The struggles I have faced have shaped me into a stronger, more resilient person, and they have deepened my appreciation for opportunities such as this one. Your support has given me renewed confidence that I can overcome adversity and create a stable, successful future for my family.

Please know that your investment is making a meaningful difference in my life. I am committed to working hard, succeeding in my studies, and using my education to build a better future. My hope is that one day I can give back to others who find themselves facing challenges similar to those I have overcome.

Thank you for your generosity, your belief in education, and your belief in students like me. I am truly honored to be a recipient of your scholarship and will carry this act of kindness with me for the rest of my life.

With heartfelt gratitude,
Amy Mayfield

Diane Howard
Chair, Cuesta Re-entry Scholarship Committee

2026 – 2027 Branch Leadership

President                                                 Gail Wakefield
     Parliamentarian                                   Shelly Johnson
     Bylaws                                                Mary Howell 

Programs                                                Debra Valencia-Laver 
                                                                 Shay Blackburn 

Membership                                            Shelly Johnson
                                                                 (Cheryl Vines shadow) 

Finance Officer                                       DD Patrick
                                                                 (Nancy Pinkel shadow)

Secretary                                                 Jenny Lapidus

AAUW Fund                                           Debra Valencia-Laver

SLO Co. IBC Rep.                                   Gail Wakefield

Membership Support:
     Directory                                              Shelly Johnson
     Friendship/Sunshine                            Open
     Hospitality Coordinator                       Open

Communications:
     Email Manager                                     Shelly Johnson
     Evites                                                   Gail Wakefield
     Ads                                                       Open
     Newsletter                                            Erin Egelkrout
     Website Manager                                 Erin Egelkrout
     Publicity/Marketing                             Open
     Social Media                                        Open

                                   Mission-Based Activities and Programs

Adopt-a-Poll                                            Diane Howard
Advocacy/Public Policy                          Debra Valencia-Laver
Tech Trek                                                 Susan Updegrove, Cindy Treichler, Peggy Papathakis
Care & Comfort Gift Bags Project          Mary Howell
High School Scholarships                       DD Patrick
Cuesta College Re-Entry Scholarship     Diane Howard (Coordinator)
Cal Poly Scholarship Committee            Debra Valencia-Laver, Esther Pudlo, Mary Howell
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)       Debra Valencia-Laver
Fundraising Committee                           Branch Board

Cal Poly – AAUW C/U Partnership:
On-Campus C/U Representative             Delfina Medina
Branch C/U Liaisons                               Debra Valencia-Laver, Shelly Johnson 

Elected officers are shown in bold.
If you are interested in filling one of the OPEN positions, please contact Gail Wakefield.

2026-2027 Board Meeting Dates

AAUW Board Meetings are typically held the first Monday of the month at 6:30 pm via Zoom.  All members are invited to attend. Contact Gail Wakefield for the Zoom link. 

September 14, 2026

October 5, 2026

November 2, 2026

December 7, 2026

January 4, 2027

February 1, 2027

March 1, 2027

April 5, 2027

May 3, 2027

June 7, 2027

Gail Wakefield

AAUW Funds

Debra Valencia-Laver, SLO Branch AAUW Funds Liaison 

As our branch's AAUW Funds Liaison, I have been asked to let our members know more about AAUW Funds and to provide information on our branch's goals for the Advancement Star in AAUW's Five-Star program. Gail alerted me to a very informative article by Tobi Balma from the AAUW California Fund Committee, which helps to address the first point and which we have included in this newsletter.

In addition to helping AAUW National remain sustainable, thus allowing the organization to continue to be a leading advocate for educational and employment equity for women and girls, our individual and branch contributions to AAUW Funds in any calendar year allows our branch to designate a Named Gift Honoree for every $750 contributed. This is a very special honor that recognizes a person who has shown dedication to and support of AAUW's mission. While it has been our branch practice to designate no more than two Named Gift Honorees per year if we reach or exceed $1500 in contributions, more gifts to AAUW means more for the general health of the organization. In addition, those who make contributions of $50 or more are recognized with a certificate. 

As a result of our summer planning meetings, we have selected the following for our branch goals towards the Advancement Star in 2026-2027 (We have to meet 3 of 6 set by AAUW National; listed below are the 4 we will be concentrating on.):

• Retain at least 80% of branch membership.
• Raise an average of $30 per member in FY27 towards the Greatest Needs, Defend Higher Education or Public Policy Funds.
• Increase the number of individual donors compared to the previous fiscal year.
• Make a branch contribution to the Greatest Needs, Defend Higher Education, or Public Policy Funds.

We hope to keep all our 47 current members and add more, so please be sure to renew your membership!!

As of the end of July (report date 8/15/26), we have $565 towards our $1410 goal ($30/member). We would need to reach $1500 by the end of December to meet both our membership goal AND our Named Gift Honoree goal (raising the equivalent of 2 gifts). We had 13 individual donors last year. As of the end of July, we had donations from 9 members, so only 5 more donors are needed to reach that goal!! And the board will be watching the overall donation total to determine if branch funds should be sent to National to meet our goals or kept locally to fund branch projects or needs.

If you're wondering how you might help us meet our goals to earn a star AND so we can designate one or two Named Gift Honorees, here are a couple of ideas that other members have shared: 

Make a donation when you renew your membership. As on-line donations need to be made through the AAUW community hub, once you're logged into your membership pages, take a moment to make an additional donation. Your national dues AND your donation to any of the AAUW Funds are fully tax deductible.

Respond to a specific request for funds sent by mail or email. Many of our members look forward to getting their annual AAUW greeting cards and send in a donation in appreciation for the talented artwork that was selected for that year's cards. Others respond to appeals to support specific public policy or education initiatives. 

Throughout the year, I will provide additional information about each fund, as well as our progress towards the Advancement Star!! Please feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions about AAUW Funds.

What is the AAUW FUND?

Tobi Balma, AAUW California Fund Committee 

The National AAUW Fund is actually an umbrella of several funds. Except for the Greatest Needs Fund, monies are restricted to each particular type of fund. Membership dues only account for about 8% of National’s budget, and only about 20% of members contribute to the AAUW Fund. These numbers need to increase to keep AAUW sustainable. 

Because of its importance, AAUW is highlighting donations to the Greatest Needs Fund (which is unrestricted) so we can respond rapidly to emerging issues, support critical programs, and maintain our reputation as a leader in gender equity issues. Contributions are also encouraged to the Defend Higher Education and/or Public Policy Funds, areas of high importance to AAUW members.

There are hundreds of individual endowments that support our grants and fellowships. Only the interest is used to fund recipients, which allows the endowments to last into perpetuity. In previous years, when interest rates were high, one endowment could fund a scholar…not anymore. Today, it takes the interest from multiple endowments to fund one fellow or grant recipient.

There are multiple types of Fellowships and Grants, as well as different award limits. 

For individuals: American Dissertation Fellowship, American Short-Term Publication Grant, American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship, Career Development Grant, International Fellowship (Master's and Doctorate Degree), International Project Grant, International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, and Selected Professions Fellowship.

For Organizations: AAUW Branch Affiliate and State Affiliate Community Action Grants, and Community Action Grants.

Learn more about AAUW Fellowships and Grants HERE. Detailed Information about 2026-2027 Fellowship recipients who are studying in California can be found HERE.

Legislative Agenda Update

During the week of May 11, the Assembly and Senate held appropriations hearings to review bills on the suspense files - those bills that would cost the state at least $50,000 in the Senate and $150,000 in the Assembly. Lawmakers largely halted new spending programs, with both chambers killing roughly a quarter of the bills under consideration.

Unfortunately, 14 of the bills on AAUW California’s Legislative Agenda, including some Watch bills, were held on suspense and are now dead. However, we do have some good news: all three of our A priority bills - AB 1766 (Krell), AB 1845 (Krell), and AB 1876 (Addis) - have passed out of the Assembly and are now in the Senate. 

Also, because several of our priority bills were eliminated, we have taken the opportunity to move a few other bills onto our Legislative Agenda. These include AB 2540 (Stefani), which requires community colleges with student health centers to provide access to medication abortion services, and SB 934 (Wiener), which allows individuals harmed by conversion therapy to have sufficient time to pursue legal action.

Be sure to keep your eye on the Bill Tracker this fall for the most current information. You can learn more about AAUW California's Public Policy priorities and ways to get involved at https://www.aauw-ca.org/public-policy/.

Dine Out

Welcome to a new year of our Monthly Dine Out Activity Group. As the Activity Chair, I will host our September outing. I have picked Vista in Pismo Beach. Previously it was called Steamers. The owners of Rosa's and Ada's Fish House took over the restaurant a few years ago. I recently celebrated George's and my anniversary there, and it was delicious.

Our Dine Out nights are always on the third Wednesday of the month, and for September it falls on September 16th. We will meet at Vista at 6 pm. I will make the reservation for 10, but I can always change it based on the number of reservations I have received. Previously, when I questioned them about accepting reservations, they do, and they informed me they would provide separate checks. I will update those who have rsvp'd  that they would be attending if that has changed. 

Do email me if you plan to attend by Monday, September 14th, as I will need to inform them of our actual numbers. Vista is right off Highway 101 at the exit that states Pismo Beach. After the stop sign, go straight, and it is right on the right. You can't miss their big sign. 

Last year, I had a sign-up sheet at our first dinner for members of our group to sign up for a month to host during the year. I always do September and December, but all other months, hopefully, will be hosted by one of you. As host, you would select a favorite restaurant of yours, reserve the night, and then email the information. I will write the newsletter article for you. Questions about this, do email me.

I hope you will continue to join us for these dinners, and do ask other members of AAUW to join you for the evening. 

Esther Pudlo
Dine Out Co-Ordinator

Bridge: Ladies 2nd Friday and Couples Round Robin

Welcome Social Bridge Players. 

Ladies' bridge meets the second Friday of each month. We have 2 tables with 8 players, and substitutes are often needed.

Couples Round Robin teams have already been established, and we will begin playing next month. Scores are kept, and winning teams are recognized at the end of the year party in June. We often need a substitute and are looking for regular players to join us in the future.

If you would like more information about either of these groups, please contact Judy Riener. 

BBnB Reading Group

Welcome to September, AAUW readers!

You are invited to attend the September 8, 2026, meeting of our Brown Bag 'n' Books reading group. We gather at 12:30 PM on the second Tuesday, with our brown bag lunches or snacks and beverage.

Join us in the annex library at Laguna Lake Mobile Estates at 1801 Prefumo Canyon Road in San Luis Obispo, with your 500-word essay on "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" and your reading list of the summer, with title, author, and a short synopsis of each book. Bring along your copy of our book to be discussed, Theo of Golden, and pertinent notes that you may have written about the book. 

Nancy Page, Group Coordinator 

Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi, published 2025. 400 pages

One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the small Southern city of Golden. He doesn’t explain much about where he came from or why he’s there—but when he visits the local coffeehouse, where pencil portraits of the people of Golden hang on the walls, he begins purchasing them, one at a time, and giving each portrait to the person depicted. In exchange, he asks only for the person’s story. And so, portrait by portrait, person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are profoundly altered.

A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness and wonder. 

Allen Levi

Author and musician Allen Levi was born in 1956. The exact month and day of his birth are not publicly published. He was born in Bay Minette, Alabama, and raised in Columbus, Georgia.

Allen attended University of Georgia for degrees in English and Law and worked as an attorney from 1980 to 1990. He left law practice for two years in 1990, moved to Scotland, and, while there, received a degree in Scottish fiction from the University of Edinburgh. He returned home, resumed law practice for three years, and finally ventured into vocational music in 1996.

Since then, he has worked as a traveling musician, sharing his whimsical, thought-provoking brand of songwriting and storytelling to audiences across the U.S. He has over twenty albums to his credit, as well as hundreds of other unpublished songs.

In 2014, he published The Last Sweet Mile, a memoir of the close friendship he shared with his brother, Gary, who died in 2012. He also wrote and published a children’s book, Oliviatown, adapted from a song of the same title.

Allen published his first novel, Theo of Golden, in 2023 and is currently working on its sequel, Ellen of Golden.

When not reading or writing, Allen cares for family acreage where he lives with his father, spends time with family nearby, keeps a full schedule of involvement in the small community around him, and dreams of being an artist someday.

AAUW Mission Statement

To advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.

Newsletter Articles

Newsletter Editor: Erin Egelkrout. Email articles to aauwslonews@gmail.com. Deadline for articles is the 23rd of the month.

September Birthdays

Barbara Ciesielski - September 3rd

Nancy Page - September 8th

Gina Kirk - September 15th

Cindy Treichler - September 20th

Carol Schmidt - September 26th

Diana Kaiser - September 28th

Peggy Papathakis - September 29th

DD Patrick - September 29th