Logo: AAUW St. George Utah Branch

We advocate for women and girls.

August 2014

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President's Message

Marianne Sorensen: Co-President, AAUW Greetings, AAUW Sisters!

Welcome as we get ready to kick off the 2014-15 year with AAUW SAINT GEORGE BRANCH!

Our first luncheon meeting is right around the corner. Mark your calendar for Monday, September 8 and watch for your invitation to come via email on August 21.  It is on the second Monday of September due to Labor Day being on the first Monday of the month. I promise you won’t want to miss this luncheon!

Your Board of Directors has been meeting throughout the summer and working to improve the functions of the Branch as we support the mission of AAUW.

You will continue to experience great luncheon programs this year as you have come to expect. Planning is well underway for a unique author’s event that is sure to sell out, and our traditional February fashion show is scheduled and in the works as well. The planning wheels are also turning for our other regular programs, including Reality Stores, Great Decisions, public policy, scholarships, and eSMART (even though the eSMART season has just wound up with two highly successful summer camps!).

There are many, many opportunities to become involved; please jump right in and find something that interests you, fulfills you, helps you make new friends, and/or gives new meaning to your life. The more you give of yourself, the more you will get back from AAUW.

So what’s new?? AAUW Saint George Branch is now a Utah corporation! As you might recall, in the spring of 2013 the Board of Directors voted to incorporate the Branch as a Utah corporation in order to streamline operations (which had prior to that time been separated into two loosely organized associations – the “regular” branch and a “Ways and Means Committee” which controlled the charitable activities and funds of the branch).

This important step has been accomplished and we are now incorporated and structured to take advantage of the laws that limit liability of corporate officers and members. The organizers of the corporation adopted interim bylaws to govern until the membership could vote on permanent bylaws.

Now, as a new corporation, we need the membership to adopt new bylaws. A vote will be taken at the general membership meeting on Monday, September 8, to amend the bylaws. You will receive official notice at least ten days prior to the meeting, along with a copy of the amended bylaws that the Board of Directors is proposing for approval.

We ask that you read through the amended bylaws prior to the September 8 meeting, and that you support the Board by voting in favor of those amended bylaws. (A two-thirds vote of those present and voting at the meeting is required to amend the bylaws.)

On behalf of the Board, thank you for your support as we transition into a more effective and modern organization.

Marianne Sorensen
President

News / Announcements

Please submit your news by the 7th of the month you want the notice to start. No forms - just send a regular email message with your information in the message itself or as an attached document. Send to: lysa@riverroad-productions.com

A Quest for Community

Welcome back! We look forward to another wonderful program year with you as we kick off the 2014/2015 season with: Our Sisters, Ourselves: A Quest for Community

Please join Co-Presidents Marianne Sorensen and Donna Howell and Program Vice President Angela Thoburn in an interactive discussion of our AAUW Branch who we are as members, where we are as an organization and where we go from here.

discussion of our AAUW Branch who we are as members, where we are as an organization and where we go from here.

After a presentation on our Branch's updated organizational structure, committees, projects and guiding principles developed by the Board we introduce two key questions:

1) What do we want St George AAUW to be?

2) How do we develop a meaningful sense of community?

The mission of AAUW is to help all women and girls have a fair chance in the world. As we work hard to effect change and support others we believe it is critically important to support one another as well.

Your voice, your thoughts and your heart are important as we move forward. Whether you are a 20 day or 20 year member your input matters - we hope to see you there.

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What Does the Hobby Lobby Decision Mean?

Submitted By: Jeannette Johnson

Summary from: www.aauwaction.org:

Jeannette Johnson

According to the Supreme Court, an employee's contraception is her boss's business after all.

In a disappointing 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court sided with two for-profit companies that had challenged the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive coverage requirement, which says that certain preventive health care services like contraception must be covered without copay or cost-sharing. … (the two) claimed that providing certain services in their insurance plans violates their religious freedoms and that they shouldn't have to provide this kind of health coverage for their employees. In return, health advocates argued that corporations don't have religious freedom — and that bosses have no business controlling their employees' access to any contraception.

Imagine...
if an owner of a closely held corporation is against equal pay for women because he believes that disrupts men's superiority in their homes?

The court sided with the businesses, saying that “closely held” corporations cannot be required to provide contraceptive coverage of any kind for their employees. Not only did the Supreme Court get it wrong again, but they also singled out a huge portion of the population — women — for discrimination.

Justice Samuel Alito did not limit the court’s ruling to (just a few) forms of contraception only. Thus, companies can refuse to cover ALL forms of birth control if they choose to do so — we'll see how it plays out.

In addition, the reasoning behind the court's decision creates a slippery slope by which corporations can challenge other medical procedures or medicines in the future. As the New York Times noted, the Hobby Lobby ruling may extend beyond health care, "open[ing] the door to many challenges from corporations over laws that they claim violate their religious liberty." Imagine if an owner of a closely held corporation is against equal pay for women because he believes that disrupts men's superiority in their homes?

In today’s status quo, where healthcare coverage is overwhelmingly tied to employment status, allowing an employer to refuse to cover certain forms of contraception will reduce women's access to these health services. With nine out of 10 corporations classified as closely held, this decision has the potential to affect millions of women employees.

Women already have less disposable income to spend on health care services because of the gender pay gap, and college-educated women are especially burdened by high levels of student loan debt. Moreover, the impact of the Hobby Lobby decision is expected to fall more heavily on low-income women — whose access to health care is typically limited to begin with — and black women, who make up almost 16 percent of minimum-wage women workers. …For many workers, not covering the cost of that contraception can amount to not allowing employees to use this basic health care service as they and their doctors see fit.

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the Supreme Court’s ruling, we can all agree that this decision and other Supreme Court decisions issued throughout our nation’s history can have a great effect on our lives. Nominating and confirming Supreme Court justices is just one important example of the responsibilities that our elected officials have, and we urge everyone to cast an informed vote. Make sure you’re registered to vote at www.aauwaction.org  and that you get to the polls in November.

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eSmart Camp for Girls

AAUW St. G eSMART 2014 Girls checking out equipment that removes the chip from cell phones for when evidence is hidden behind a password.

Red and Yellow teams checking out equipment that removes the chip from cell phones for when evidence is hidden behind a password.

Once again, we had a superb Core Team, fabulous staff of workshop instructors, outstanding counselors, and wonderful volunteers. Despite a few (not too unusual) bumps along the way, we consider this another smashing success!

I have not finished compiling the stats for this camp, but should bGloria Prahle able to provide a complete report by the September AAUW meeting.

I would like to thank board members Donna Howell and Lysa McCarroll for attending the last closing ceremony. A big thank you ad should appear in Friday, August 15 Where It’s At section of The Spectrum. I need to express my thanks to all AAUW members who provided support as volunteers, financially, or just a positive verbal expression of encouragement.

Gloria and Team

2013-14 eSMART Core Team
Linda Adams Erin O’Brien
Lisa Bratten Janet O’Riley
Rosemary Hargrove Gloria Prahl
Donna Howell Rachel Ramsay
Vicki Jennings Christina Schultz
Dawn McLain Pamela Wootten

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Thank You Dawn McLain!!

We would like to acknowledge the many contributions Dawn McLain has made to AAUW. No, she is not leaving us, just spending a bit less time serving the branch. Her business, Write It Up! and her involvement as Co-Chair of the Southern Utah Nonprofits Association are currently demanding more of her time, so she is "cutting back" some while remaining in place as the websiteDawn McLain member extrordianaire - Thank You Dawn! administrator for the branch.

In the past few years Dawn has served on the branch's Board of Directors as publicity chair. She was very instrumental in modernizing the branch's communications. Dawn donated many hours researching, implementing and maintaining our website. She also helped put into operation our ability to make luncheon reservations online. Her advice has always been of great value to the Board of Directors and it's counting on being able to call on her for assistance in the future.

As the same time Dawn has served on the eSMART Core Team, donating hundreds of hours to publicity and establishing a website for the LoveUtahGiveUtah state-wide fundraiser. She has helped with the fashion show doing publicity and modeling. Last year she encouraged audience members to donate $300 each to support the full cost of a girl to attend camp resulting in thousands of dollars in additional income to the eSMART program. Dawn was instrumental in obtaining a Gannett Grant (through The Spectrum). She has found the best prices for the logo items we provide for the girls in camp. She is a cherished eSMART advisor.

We all owe her a big: Thank you, Dawn! We appreciate you.

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Members Matter

Barbara Brahm - The Hat LadyBarbara Brahm is back in St. George, from her lengthy stays in the hospital & skilled nursing facility in California! Barbara is currently recuperating at: Coral Desert Rehabilitation, Room 2230 1490 E. Foremaster, St. Gerge, Utah 84770, Tel. 674-5195. She is VERY bored, and would welcome visitors! Please call first. Barbara’s surgery has alleviated some of her tremors; and for now she needs to use a wheel chair to get around; but is doing much better---Uppity Women reign!

Bobbie Sylvester is in Kolob Care and Rehab, 178 S. 1200 East Saint George, Utah 84790, (435) 688-1207. She welcomes visitors but please call first. A card would also be appreciated.

If you know of a member or their family who could use a reminder that we care, please contact Lesley McPeek at lh.mcpeek@gmail.com, or Lolita Hagio, at hagio@sunrivertoday.com, so they can send them a WRITTEN message of support on behalf of our group.

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It Only Takes An Evening

Author/Speaker Jennifer Jordan. Photo courtesy of Nicole Morgenthau To Change a Life Forever!

You are invited to enjoy an evening of inspiration, while raising funds to enable change through education for women and girls, as we hear from author and documentary film maker Jennifer Jordan.

Our annual scholarship fundraising event will be held on November 1 from 6:00-9:00 at Fibonacci Art Gallery.

Jennifer Jordan of Salt Lake City, author of two award-winning books on K2, described as the “Savage Mountain,” will be our featured speaker. (Check out her website: www.jenniferjordan.net). Tickets are $75 each for a wonderful evening in a beautiful setting which will include heavySavage Summit by Jennifer Jordan The true stories of the first five women who climbed K2 appetizers, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, coffee and desert. Exciting items will be auctioned as well.

Every dollar given will assist the students and also our community at large. The recipients of our scholarships are women who live in our community and want to return to school to finish their education, along with girls who are graduating from Mill Creek Alternative High School. All scholarships are in partnership with Dixie State University, keeping with our mission of advocating for women and girls in Utah and supporting education in our community.

For more information contact Katy Peterson, AAUW Scholarship Committee co-chair - katypeterson3@gmail; 435-668-1538. Click here to purchase tickets online.

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Help Wanted

You can still volunteer for AAUW committees, events, various jobs even if you can NOT make a long term commitment or regular meetings. Your knowledge, expertise and help is appreciated! And will be put to good use. Contact the committees, events or other opportunities that interest you.

Publicist

Join our Communications team! PR/Marketing background would be great! Bonus if you have any online experience, i.e.: html/css coding, email marketing, social media. Please contact Lysa McCarroll

Author's Event

This event is coming up at 90 miles an hour and help is needed! Please contact Katy Peterson, 435-668-1538, for specifics.

Reality Store

Volunteers Needed for the 2014 Reality Store Committee! Vicki Jennings: den_vic@infowest.com is coordinating AAUW volunteers.

The Utah Business Women’s Reality Store Program provides a unique opportunity for 9th graders to learn about the challenges of budgeting in real life. Each student, prior to their participation in the Reality Store is randomly given an occupation and a monthly salary. They are also randomly assigned a family status (married/single; children); and are given a form on which their record their budget. Based on their monthly income students choose among options for housing, transportation, insurance, food, clothing, daycare (if needed) etc. They also visit the Finger of Fate station to experience life’s unexpected events.

Volunteers staff the various stations where the students visit to select options within their budget. The program has been scheduled at the following schools on the date listed. The program runs for the entire day 8:00 am – 3:00 pm and lunch is provided for volunteers. Shifts include 8:00 – 3:00 or half day 8:00 – 11:30 and 11:30 – 3:00.

Snow Canyon Middle School
October 29, 2014 - Wednesday
1215 North Lava Flow Drive
St. George UT 84770

Pine View Middle School
November 12, 2014 - Wednesday
2145 East 130 North
St. George UT 84790

Hurricane Middle School
November 13, 2014 - Thursday
395 North 200 West
Hurricane UT 84737

Dixie Middle School
November 19, 2014 - Wednesday
825 South 100 East
St. George UT 84770

Desert Hills Middle School
November 20, 2014 - Thursday
936 East Desert Hills Drive
St. George UT 84790

If needed, training sessions will be scheduled in October. Please contact Vicki Jennings: den_vic@infowest.com  

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EVENTS CALENDAR

Calendar items will run until the event has occurred. Please submit your event by the 7th of the month you want the notice to start. No forms - just send a regular email message with your information in the message itself or as an attached document. Send to: lysa@riverroad-productions.com

September 8, 2014

 

Member Luncheon

Date Monday, September 8 2014
Time 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where Courtyard by Marriott
185 S 1470 E,
St. George, UT 84790.
Cost $16 per person, Paid Reservation Required

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November 1, 2014

 

2014 Author's Event - Jennifer Jordan

Date Saturday, November 1, 2014
Time 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Where Fibonacci Art Gallery
1495 S. Black Ridge Dr.
St. George, Utah 84770
435-656-3377
Cost $75 per person Purchase now online
Contact Katy Peterson: katypeterson3@gmail; 435-668-1538

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IN THIS ISSUE

President's Message

We're Getting Ready

News / Announcements

A Quest for Community

What Does the Hobby Lobby Decision Mean?

eSmart Camp for Girls

Thank You Dawn McLain!

Members Matter

It Only Takes An Evening

Help Wanted

Events Calendar

Uppity Women

September Luncheon

2014  Author's Event

Etcetera

Luncheon Schedule

Board Meetings

Branch Contacts

Your Support Team

Good Stuff

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

Please submit news, information, committee updates, etc. no later than the 7th of the month to be included in that month's newsletter.

 No forms - just send a regular email message with your item in the message itself or as an attached document.

Email to:
Lysa McCarroll

MEMBER LUNCH

The St. George Branch Program and Membership Meeting Luncheons are held on the first or second Monday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott, located at 185 S 1470 E, St. George, UT 84790.

Lunch is $16.00 per plate and features educational speakers that are of interest to our membership.


11:00 a.m.
Doors Open

 11:30 a.m.
Lunch is Served

 11:45 a.m.
Meeting Begins

12:00 p.m.
Program Starts

1:00 p.m.
Luncheon Over


September 8, 2014

October 6, 2014

November 10. 2014

December 1, 2014

January 5, 2015

February 2, 2015

March 2, 2015

April 6, 2015
(Annual Meeting at new Promise Church)

May 4, 2015
(Scholarships)

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED

Click here to reserve online.

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BOARD MEETINGS

Board Meetings are held at Jones-Waldo and start promptly ;-) at 4 p.m.

September 15, 2014

October 13, 2014

November 17, 2014

December 8, 2014

January 12, 2015

February 9, 2015

March 9, 2015

April 13, 2015

May 11, 2015

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CONTACTS

ELECTED OFFICERS

President

Marianne Sorensen: Co-President, AAUW

Marianne Sorensen

Vice President

Donna Howell, AAUW Co-VP Finance

Donna Howell

Co-Vice Presidents Programs

Kayla Koeber, AAUW Program Co-Chair

Kayla Koeber

Angela Thoburn AAUW Program Co-Chair

Angela Thoburn

Co-Vice Presidents Membership

Joyce Spinelli, Co-Chair Membership Committee

Joyce Spinelli

Lynne Carlquist

Co-Vice Presidents Finance

Bonnie Boling
 

Mary Hatch

Co-Secretaries


Vicky Jennings
 

Kay Ackerman
 

APPOINTED OFFICERS

VP Communications

Lysa McCarroll

Past President/
Scholarship Committee Chair

Ruthie Allen: Co-President, AAUW

Ruth Allen

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WHO TO CONTACT IF...

You have questions about the website:
Dawn McLain

You have troubles registering for luncheons, and other tech-related questions:
Lysa McCarroll

Your contact information changes:
Joyce Spinelli

You need to register for a luncheon but the deadline has passed:
Bonnie Boling

You would like to submit an item for the newsletter:
Lysa McCarroll

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Uppity Women

You are invited to

Back to School Night

Thursday, August 21st
5pm – ish

Entrada Country Club: enter from the Snow Canyon gate.

Please join us for an in depth look at Uppity U’s 2014/2015 course offerings in the advanced M.U* degree program:

REQUIRED COURSES

Socially shallow studies
Calculate, my *ss
Sigh-cology 101
Eeek! onomics
(pardon my) French

ELECTIVES

Cackling for crones
Grin and tonic
Study A Broad
Advanced whine-making P.E.-zier

*Master of the Universe

Hope to see you there!

RSVP to Kayla at kaylakoeber@infowest.com 

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Good Stuff

"This song is dedicated to the one I love...."

Puppy composer

Puppy Composer

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AAUW In the News

St. George News

Summer eSmart Camp makes girls ‘detectives of the past,’ exploring archaeology

Southern Utah News

'Detectives of the Past' conduct workshop with eSMART Summer Camp for girls

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Random shots from eSmart camp


 

"It's better to be a corporation today than to be a woman in front of the Supreme Court. I think that the Hobby Lobby decision is just the beginning of giving corporations free license to obey those rules and laws that they agree with, and not ones that they don't."
Cecile Richards

President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund

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