Logo: AAUW St. George Utah Branch

We advocate for women and girls.

September 2014

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President's Message

Marianne Sorensen: Co-President, AAUW

Dear AAUW Saint George Branch Members and Friends,

As we approach election season, I want to remind you what AAUW is all about – speaking out about policies that are important to women and girls to help ensure equity.

In order to further the mission of AAUW in our community, we need to be knowledgeable and aware of the status of important issues, especially those involving education, civil rights, economic security for women, and Title IX. (The AAUW website has a great amount of information on all these topics. Check it out.)

I encourage you to wield the power of the purse by supporting political candidates whose positions are in line with your values, and the power of the pen, by making your feelings known through letters to your elected officials or through letters to the editor. In addition, you have the opportunity to submit questions related to the AAUW mission for our upcoming candidates’ forum, which I hope you will attend on October 6.

Let’s make this election season count by participating as informed citizens who have an important mission to advance: making sure all girls and women have a fair chance!

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

Minutes September Meeting

AAUW September 2014 Luncheon Group Shot (01)

Marianne Sorensen, AAUW St. George branch president, called the meeting to order at 11:58 AM.

New members were introduced and welcomed by the membership. Reports on the Reality Stores and the Author’s Event were given by Vicki Jennings and Katy Peterson, chairs of these events. Erin O’Brien moved that the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the AAUW St. George Branch be approved. Dorothy Engelman seconded the motion. Discussion followed with questions answered. The motion passed unanimously.

AAUW St G - New Members welcome at Sept. Lunch

Angela Thoburn and Donna Howell led the branch via table top discussion on what members wanted this branch to be and how to become viable in the community. The results will be presented at a future meeting.

AAUW St G September Luncheon - Kayla's table

The October program will be a Candidates Forum led by Jeanette Johnson. Uppity Women will be Sept. 18 at Entrada Country Club at 5 PM. This will be the final meeting of Uppity Women, unless someone will step up and take it over from Kayla Koeber.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:14 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Kay Ackerman, Co-Secretary

Thank you Rachel Ramsay for taking pictures!

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October Luncheon Prep

Our luncheon program for October will be a Candidates’ Forum to help us understand our potential representatives positions on issues relevant to girls and women. Candidates for four key local positions have been invited, and all have accepted, to take part in a question and answer program moderated by Jeannette Johnson, PhD., our AAUW Legislative, Policy and Advocacy Chair.

We ask you to do two things:

One - show up!!! This is an important year and an important luncheon for us to continue to work to effect change in Southern Utah.

Two - please send any questions you would like the candidates to address to k_koeber@ml.com by September 30. We cannot promise inclusion of your particular query but we will do our best to include the questions on the areas of greatest interest to you.

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Candidates' Forum: A Courteous Conversation

Submitted By: Jeannette Johnson

Women wield considerable power in U.S. politics.

Jeannette JohnsonVoter Education is of major concern to the American Association of University Women. Since AAUW’s founding our members and supporters have spoken out about policies important to women and girls. Without their voices, invaluable legislation would have never been passed. Although women gained the constitutional right to vote nationwide only in 1920, they now constitute an important bloc of voters. That’s why AAUW is dedicated to making sure every woman is registered and has all the information she needs to cast her vote.

To do our part in mobilization and education of voters, we will be hosting some very special guests at our October Candidate’s Forum, all of whom are candidates for public office within Utah and who have kindly consented to share their views on some important issues.

AAUW does not support candidates; we support issues and policies.

Utah House District 74
Dorothy Engelman Democrat HD 74
 
Lowry Snow Republican HD 74

The most important factors in any election at local, state or federal levels are the policies enacted by those elected. How will the elected officials function in office with regard to the very important issues that affect all of us? Therefore, our questions to the candidates will be focused on issues and policies that are of particular interest to AAUW members where our mission is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research and speaks to women’s needs, aspirations, and concerns across the life span.

The work of AAUW builds upon more than 130 years of responsible public participation.

There are many critical issues today that interest us as Americans and also that divide us. We have selected a few that should be of special interest to all of us. We are providing a respectful and considerate environment with all of you as critical thinkers.

With the member-endorsed Public Policy Program as our guide, AAUW uses lobbying and grassroots efforts to push forward policies that break through educational and economic barriers for women. Basic to all of AAUW’s public policy efforts is the understanding that true equity requires a balance between the rights of the individual and the needs of the community.

Utah House District 75
Cheryl Fae Hawker HD 75
Don Ipson Republican HD75

As you listen to the candidates, keep in mind the following principles:

AAUW believes that quality public education is the foundation of a democratic society and the key to economic prosperity and gender equality.

Issues are: equitable climates free of harassment and bullying, academic freedom, civic education, protection from censorship, bias-free education, responsible funding for all levels of education, affordable access to higher education, closing the achievement gap that affects low-income & minority students, promotion of STEM education, comprehensive sex education, enforcement of Title IX, opposition to the use of public funds for nonpublic and charter schools that do not adhere to the same civil rights and accountability standards as required of other public schools.

AAUW promotes the economic, social, and physical well- being of all persons.

Washington County Commission Seat A
Chris White Democrat Washington County Commission Seat A
 
Zachary Renstorm Republican Washington County Commission Seat A

Issues: equitable employment opportunities, reduction of poverty, a livable wage, pay equity, quality affordable dependent care, paid family and medical leave, decent and affordable housing, quality affordable and accessible health care, a clean and healthful environment, a Social Security system that provides inflation-protected, guaranteed lifetime benefits with a progressive benefit formula, spousal and widow benefits, and disability and survivor benefits, oppose any efforts to undermine Medicare and Medicaid.

AAUW believes in the right to privacy, freedom from violence and fear of violence, and choice in the determination of one’s reproductive life, the separation of church and state, a fair, balanced, and independent judiciary, public budgets that balance individual rights and responsibility to the community.

Issues: enforcement of and full access to civil and constitutional rights, including voting rights, increased access to quality, affordable health care and family planning services, including expansion of patients’ rights, support for U.N. programs that address human rights and women’s and girls’ concerns, freedom in the definition of family and a guarantee of civil rights in all family structures.

Washington County Commission Seat B
Paul Van Dam Democrat Washington County Commission Seat B
 
Victor Iverson Republican Washington County Commission Seat B

AAUW supports affirmative action to improve racial, ethnic, and gender diversity and affirms our commitment to passage and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Issues: meaningful campaign finance reform and nonpartisan voter education efforts that will promote equitable political participation and representation in appointed and elected office, support of the arts and humanities, which develop and enhance our pluralistic cultural heritage.

AAUW believes that global interdependence requires national and international policies against human trafficking and that promote peace, justice, human rights, sustainable development, and mutual security for all people.

Issues: support of the civil and human rights of all immigrants, including a fair and just path to legal status, a strengthened United Nations, commitment to the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and international family planning programs that are consistent with AAUW policy.

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Members Matter

AAUW Member Daphne SelbertDaphne Selbert we wish you a belated CONGRATULATIONS on your retirement from Dixie State as Dean/Director of the DSU Library! We hope you're enjoying your new found freedom ..... if you ever get bored, our Branch would welcome your library skills! :-)

Ruthie Allen has had quite a challenging year to date: in January she developed a painful side effect of her chemotherapy called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, and was treated for that. In April her husband Ed had very involved jaw surgery for a cyst. Several complications ensued, including two falls, resulting in back & more facial surgery. Ruthie, with the help of home health staff & friends took over his care at home for the past 5 months. She became an expert in tube feedings and is probably eligible to receive her RN licensure! Ed is gradually improving and at this pointGloria Prahl Ruthie would welcome occasional breaks ­ so if anyone would like to go to lunch or a movie, she would gladly join you!

Gloria Prahl's husband Ken has been discharged from DRMC and is happy to be home with Gloria and their son Rod.

As you all know, longtime and beloved AAUW member Bobbie Sylvester died in August after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. What you may not know is that Ruthie Baker was an amazing life-long friend and support to Bobbie and her husband Ralph. She organized meals and was with Bobbie through all of her trials and tribulations. She truly made a difference in their lives. "Thank you, thank you, thank you from all of us, Ruthie."

Ralph Sylvester (656-0414) can still use our support - especially the homemade kind!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

We really feel that staying in touch and supporting our members at all times is an important part of our AAUW sisterhood. We look forward to monthly updates in our "Members Matter" column, but we also want to emphasize that we value your privacy and will not "publish" anything without your okay.

To that end, if you have news, good or not-so-good, about a member, please ask her if it is okay to inform other members through the newsletter. If not, that's perfectly okay, and we will just send her a private note.

Thank you,

Lolita Hagio (hagio@sunrivertoday.com) phone: 652-3012
Lesley McPeek ( lh.mcpeek@gmail.com) phone: 674-9493

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Special Interest Groups

At the September luncheon 14 small interest groups were identified - and many of you signed up for at least one of these groups:

  • Bridge
  • Book Club
  • Tennis and/or Golf
  • Music Appreciation & Music Therapy
  • Water Sanitation Issues
  • Hiking
  • Gardening
  • AAUW Mission Related Issues
  • Walking
  • Mentoring
  • Meet and Eat
  • Scrapbooking
  • Great Decisions
  • Photography

What we need now is a Group Leader. A person (or persons) willing to be the contact for the group to get them going. Please let Angela Thoburn know if you are willing to do this. We will have the sign up sheets out again at the October luncheon. Or you can send your name, contact information and group interests to angelathoburn@gmail.com.

When it becomes available we will put out an email with a list of groups that have a contact person and who that person is.

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Author's Event

2014 Author's Event Poster: Jennifer Jordan

Thank you Dawn McClain for this fabulous poster...and this is only half of it!

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 of Salt Lake City. Author/Speaker Jennifer Jordan. Photo courtesy of Nicole MorgenthauJordan is the author of two award-winning books on K2, described as the “Savage Mountain.”

All money raised will assist the students and 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.

Jennifer Jordan will be speaking at Fibonacci Art Gallery on November 1 from 6:00-9:00pm. Tickets are $75 each and include heavy appetizers, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, coffee and desert.

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 Still 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! Journalism / English / 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

Photographer(s)

If you are willing to take pictures at AAUW events -- particularly luncheons -- please do so! You do not have to do any kind of editing to them -- just take them and send them to Lysa McCarroll

Author's Event

This event is coming up at 110 miles an hour and help is needed! Specifically: securing auction items, ticket sales, poster distribution. 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

October 6, 2014

 

Member Luncheon

Date Monday, October 6 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

Purse Power

News / Announcements

Minutes for September Meeting

Get Ready for the Candidate Forum

A Courteous Conversation

Members Matter

Special Interest Groups

Author's Event

Help Wanted

Events Calendar

Uppity Women

September Luncheon

2014  Author's Event

Etcetera

Luncheon Schedule

Board Meetings

Branch Contacts

Your Support Team

Quickies

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-VP Finance AAUW St George Branch

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:

Uppity Women
Curtain Call!!

aka Kayla's "Retirement" Party

Join us for the final hurrah of the current run of Uppity Women.

Sometimes it’s just time to make space for something new

Can’t wait to see what new production fills the space!

Thursday, September 18th
5pm – ish

No host cash bar

Entrada Country Club: enter from the Snow Canyon gate and tell the nice guard you are an Uppity Broad.

It’s been a pleasure meeting, mingling and making merry with you.

Forever Uppity… Kayla

 RSVP only if you feel like it or to tell me what’s new? K_koeber@ml.com

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Good Stuff

Jen Brecker "Never Say Can't"

Never Say Can't

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AAUW In the News

The Spectrum

Womens Group Plans Candidate Forum

KCSG

Local candidates invited to courteous discussion

St. George News

Author's Event with Jennifer Jordan

 

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Quickies

How great was that being served at the luncheon? Ten thumbs up at at least one table! Good job Program chairs!


The Erin Kimball Foundation is looking for board members with a commitment and passion for assisting survivors of domestic violence to gain the education, skills and income to lead healthy, self-directed lives. If interested, please contact Sue Kimball at:
435-231-9536 or sue.erinkimball@gmail.com

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"The two most important dates in a woman's life: the day she is born and the day she finds out why."
Diane Dixon Tempest

Mother of Terry Tempest Williams

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