2020-12DecemberPerspective

AAUW Perspective December 2020

December 2020 -- Volume 66, No. 5

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

Upcoming AAUW Petaluma events (see articles below for more information)

Dec. 5 - Holiday Luncheon via Zoom, 12 p.m.

Dec. 15 - Connected-In-Place chat with AAUW friends at 10 a.m.

Events at other AAUW Branches

Jan. 12 and 14 - Headsburg AAUW Forum courses begin

ZOOM events related to AAUW mission (see articles below for more information)

Dec. 2 - Webinar: "Women Rising: Local Leaders Speak Out," 5 p.m.

AAUW Reminder: Virtual Meetings Only

Reminder: AAUW does not sanction in-person meetings at this time or for the foreseeable future.

Holiday Luncheon

Via ZOOM

The ZOOM room will open at 11:45 AM for socializing

Watch for your ZOOM link via Eblast on Friday, December 4

The Holiday Luncheon is always a very special occasion for our Branch and this year is no exception! Even though we will be ZOOMing and not physically together, we can still sip and eat and laugh and chat as we celebrate the season together. Your presence will add to the festivities! We encourage you to dress for the luncheon in your holiday finery and indulge in your favorite snack and beverage or your box lunch (if you ordered by the deadline of November 18) while we listen to our amazing speaker, Leslie Riley.

Leslie has done a little bit of everything! She decided early on to take the road less traveled, which led her to The U.S. Military Academy at West Point after high school. She spent four years there pursuing a degree in Portuguese before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. She spent seven years as an Aviation officer flying CH-47D Chinook helicopters, including tours in Kosovo & South Korea.

After leaving the Army, Leslie worked in a lot of organizations and roles from sales to project management. Some of her unique (and favorite) jobs were as a professional organizer and TV news producer. Eventually she became an internal facilitator where she spent several years working as a trainer, inspirational speaker, and coach before starting her own company, which focuses on inspiring groups and individuals to look for new perspectives when the ones they're stuck in just aren't working anymore. Her passion is bringing innovation to teams in order to help them improve communication and enhance success. Her partial client list includes The World Bank, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Fidelity, Adobe, Disney and many more! She will entertain and enlighten us on choosing a positive perspective while we munch our lunch.

We will have time to visit before and after the meeting in addition to several break-out rooms during the meeting. And there will be door prizes!

Please let us know if you plan on attending by emailing to [email protected]; members who ordered lunch need not RSVP again If you need help navigating ZOOM, please contact [email protected] or at 769-7455 for assistance.

If you ordered a box lunch, your lunch will be delivered to you between 10:30 and 11:30 on Saturday. Hope to see you soon!

Stefanie Capps and Kris U’Ren

Christmas Cheer

At our Holiday Luncheon in past years, we have collected toys and games to be distributed to children by Christmas Cheer. Due to the pandemic, the Christmas Cheer program has been suspended. Instead, we encourage you to check out the Christmas Cheer Facebook page where you can click on “Shop Now”. Donations will be used to purchase gift cards for families, singles, and seniors.

There is also a GoFund Me page at this link.

Thanks to all, Stephanie and Kris

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSERS

212 2nd Street, Petaluma CA 94952

707-763-2727

petalumacoffee.com

Sheila Bride, Founder and CFO

[email protected]

Facebook Reminder

Please follow our AAUW Petaluma Facebook page. You will be automatically updated on events. If you "like" and/or "share" the post, it will go out to a wider audience!

Kris U'Ren.

President's Message

Traditions are one of the things I love about the holidays. This year my family celebrated Thanksgiving – as usual – on Friday! Many years ago, my parents were in Boston with my sister on Thanksgiving Day. But those of us here in California still wanted our family dinner. So we shifted our Thanksgiving meal to the next day, rushing Mother and Daddy back from the airport just in time to eat. And we liked the change! Thursday was a free day – to see a movie or take a walk in a deserted park. It insulated us from the growing craziness of Black Friday. And we had plenty of time to prepare our contribution to a great meal. So a new tradition was created.

I doubt that we’ll make a tradition of exchanging Tupperware portions of our holiday meal as we did this year. But the ZOOM scavenger hunt with relatives from across the country was a lot of fun. I can see that becoming a tradition. Looking at this year as an opportunity to build new traditions is a way to temper the disappointments of pandemic restrictions with resiliency and, yes, joy. Have a joyous holiday – and be safe!

Note: Resiliency and Embracing Joy were topics of the TED Talk Section this fall. RSVP to join the Ted Talk group!

Jean Reed, Co-President

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS
In honor of Mrs. Helen M. Loorya

Petaluma Educators Share Views of Schooling During the Pandemic

At our November Branch Meeting, five Petaluma educators weighed in on what it’s like to be an educator during the Pandemic. Catina Haugen, Principal, Valley Vista Elementary, Dr. Mary Reynolds, Principal, Miwok Elementary, Amanda Dowdy, McNear Elementary School, Laura Bradley, Kenilworth Junior High, and Shereen Jackson, Petaluma High.

They spoke of their grief about what is lost when they are on the other side of a computer screen instead of in a classroom with their students. They spoke of their difficulties in juggling their own children’s learning at home while managing a classroom of students on ZOOM. And they shared how things that are easily managed in a classroom become time-consuming and difficult with distance learning. They expressed their concern, that despite their hard work, many students continue to struggle.

The three teachers also talked about the upside of what they believe their students might take away from this very unusual school year. Panelists noted that students are becoming very proficient with technology and are learning how to advocate for themselves.

The two principals, Catina Haugen and Mary Reynolds noted that one surprising outcome is that the youngest students in elementary schools (transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students) seem to be the most resilient and are doing well with distance learning. Catina Haugen and Mary Reynolds also discussed the “mind-boggling complexities” of what will need to be done to keep students and staff safe on campus once the district is able to move to a hybrid model of in-class instruction.

Karen Johnson represented the School Support Committee at the webinar. She shared with attendees the ways in which our branch is collaborating with Petaluma People Services Center (PPSC) to support Petaluma students.

Members are encouraged to consider becoming a mentor through Mentor Me or to consider donating to PPSC’s Childcare Assistance Fund, Mentor Me, or the Financial Aid for Food Fund.

A check can be sent to PPSC at 1500 Petaluma Blvd. S., Petaluma, 94952. Members can indicate AAUW and which fund they would like to support on their check.
Members can also donate online at https://petalumapeople.org/donate/.

A recording of the Educators' program is available via Facebook, AAUW Petaluma, or by clicking here. You will also need to use this password to view the recording: 2^=AK$cm

Stefanie Capps and Kris U'Ren

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSERS

We miss seeing you in the theater!
Check our website for
digital streaming
cinnabartheater.org

NCCWSL UPDATE

Where are They Now?

Each year AAUW-Petaluma chooses one outstanding female student from the Petaluma Campus of SRJC to attend the AAUW conference, National Conference for College Women Student Leaders. To date we have sponsored three students, and Doris Tolks met with them recently to find out what they are doing now. A summary for each follows.

Doris Tolks, SRJC Liaison

Lina (Miguelina) Mendez

Lina graduated from UCLA in June 2020. She’s been working full-time as an account manager at the Employee Justice League group in downtown LA, but she has just accepted a new position as a paralegal at Lipeles Legal group in El Segundo. Because of attending “Start Smart“, she negotiated for a better salary. Currently she is saving money to study for the LSAT and to apply to law school. Lina is a current member of the Petaluma branch of AAUW.

Thank you, Pat Riley, for making that happen!

Leticia Arango Garcia

Leticia is currently a senior at UCLA. She plans to graduate in June 2021. Her major is sociology with a minor in education. She is currently living at home, saving her money, going to school full-time and working full-time in the EOPS (educational opportunity program and services) office, as a program assistant, at Santa Rosa Junior College. The UCLA Underground Scholars Initiative club sent Leticia to Columbia University to a conference called “Beyond Bars”. She really liked the campus and the experience. She would consider attending Columbia University. She said the conference was set up much like NCCWSL. She may take an extra semester at UCLA next fall, and she is considering law school.

Amy Granados Dominguez

Amy is our student candidate from last year. NCCWSL was canceled May 2020. We are currently waiting to find out if it will take place May 2021. Amy is currently attending the University of California Berkeley. She spends most of her day zooming. Amy is majoring in social welfare and is considering minoring in public policy. She will continue on for a master’s degree in social work. After graduating she plans to do an internship which will focus on the immigrant community. She looks forward to living on campus. Unfortunately UCB has already confirmed they will be online again spring 2021. She is still a commissioner for the junior status of women in Sonoma County. Amy joined SWAGG (Social Welfare Association for the Greater Good) club for her major. She says it’s hard to meet people on Zoom. She has one class with 200 students. She has been doing a lot of reading. She plans to do a work study job next semester along with her classes.

Note on ZOOM meetings

For security reasons, ZOOM links are not included in the Perspective.

PROGRAMS - The ZOOM link will be sent to all members in an email the day before the event.
SECTIONS - Sections will send the link directly to section members. Be sure to RSVP so that you get the ZOOM link.
NEW MEETINGS – Contact Kathy Schmidt to set up a new ZOOM meeting.
ZOOM BY PHONE – For audio only, call 669-900-9128, enter Meeting ID and Passcode when prompted.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Public Policy

AAUW Public Policy is guided by the AAUW Mission Statement and by the three pillars of our Public Policy Priorities. Check out the Public Policy webpage (click here), which has been updated to make it easier to find information.

Comments on the Election

Local Results

Congratulations to Sonoma County voters for their participation in the election process. Last count, over 90 percent of those registered voted by November 3rd.

Results kept the status quo at the federal and state levels for Petaluma. However, the city will see two new faces in Brian Barnacle and Dennis Pocekay, whom you had a chance to meet at our city council forum in October. Petaluma School Board incumbents were reelected.

AAUW Participation at the National Level

Kudos to eight branch members who participated in the non-partisan AAUW GOTV (get out the vote) campaign by sending a total of over 150 letters to registered women voters in multiple states who perhaps needed a little encouragement to vote.

AAUW members can be proud that this county has elected a woman as Vice President. Take time to read more about this accomplishment and what it means for women by clicking on these article titles: AAUW Statement on the Election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and Celebrating A Series of Firsts.

AAUW joined a coalition of national organizations in making A Joint Appeal to Protect the Rule of Law in the 2020 US Elections to safeguard the election process and support counting of all ballots.

Pam Granger and Jean Reed

An Invitation from Healdsburg Branch

For a number of years, the Healdsburg Branch of AAUW has presented a series of lectures several times each year. (These were originally OLLI courses, and the Branch started their version when the OLLI courses were no longer in Healdsburg.) AAUW Petaluma members and their friends are invited to join in the winter series, presented on Zoom. Both courses in the series have six sessions.

The Transformation of America: A Social and Economic History of the U.S.

Presented by Chris O’Sullivan, PhD
Tuesdays 10-11:45 a.m., Jan 12 – Feb 16, 2020

2. Mexican Immigration to the U.S.: A Bilateral Perspective

Presented by Alex Saragoza, PhD
Thursdays 10-11:45 a.m., Jan 14 – Feb 18, 2020

To learn more or register, click here.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Phone: (707) 763-1515

Fax: (707) 765-0256
Email: [email protected]

NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS.

Membership count as of 11/9/2020 is 137 members. The AAUW Board of Directors voted to increase individual member dues for the next three years. See article in this Perspective.

Tech Trek will be virtual this summer. See article in this Perspective.

AAUW joined a coalition of national organizations in making A Joint Appeal to Protect the Rule of Law in the 2020 US Elections to safeguard the election process and support counting of all ballots.

Secretary Cathy Netz

MEMBERSHIP

Notice of AAUW National Dues Adjustment
from Julia T. Brown, Board Chair

The AAUW National Board of Directors voted to increase Individual National Member dues over the next three years. The decision was a hard one. Board members are proud of our members and grateful for all the work being done even in challenging times. Simply put, this increase is essential for AAUW to continue our mission to achieve gender equity.

Most nonprofits adjust their dues annually or every other year to keep pace with inflation and rising expenses. Through prudent budgetary management and by reducing costs and full-time staff, AAUW National has been able to keep its dues stable for the past three years.

The increase is $3 to $5 per year over the next three years. Current life members will not be affected by this change. New life memberships acquired after July 1, 2021, will reflect the higher dues amounts. College and university membership fees will remain unchanged. All but $3 of your annual dues remains tax deductible.

Dee Short, Co-VP Membership-Treasurer

Finance Report

As of October 31, 2020, the Branch checking account balance was $5,527.26, and the Branch savings account balance was $5,597.76.

Corey Benjamin, VP Finance

NEW TECH TREK & STEM ALTERNATIVES!

STEM related - Hope you saw the e-blast with information on the free webinar series for any high school girl. This webinar series introduces women working in STEM fields to high school girls, who at this stage of their lives are making choices about high school coursework, in preparation for potential college majors and STEM careers. The presenters share their education and career paths, discuss their actual job activities, and provide tips for getting college internships and jobs after college. Your help in sharing this with relatives and friends with high school girls would be appreciated. To learn more and register click here.

2021 Tech Trek experience - A state-wide virtual summer program was approved to replace our residential in-person camps for a second summer. All camps will use a proven, fun, interactive platform from UCSD.
Most importantly, a virtual camp will provide a safe environment for all participants and ensures California Tech Trek does not go dark for two years.

Opportunities to Join Virtual Tech Trek - There will be a variety of roles that branch members, former dorm moms, counselors, and others can fill to participate in and support a successful 2021 virtual camp season. Watch for upcoming communications to volunteer.

During camp, “Build coaches” will focus on guiding technology learning during the core course and should be familiar with or open to learning simple wiring and coding. “Social coaches” will focus on administrative tracking and social learning during both the core course and afternoon or evening workshops. Training will be provided for all roles.

Please think about volunteering as a coach.

California AAUW’s Goal: Return to the residential camp model when the time is right.

Michele Meyer, Tech Trek Coordinator

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Leah DeBerardinis, D.D.S.

511 Hayes Lane
Petaluma, CA 94952 hillcrestdentalgroup.net
(707) 763-2654

CAMPUS LIAISON

SRJC Continues to Stand Out

The Mahoney library just received a national award, “Excellence in Academic Library”. The library has 3,971 eBooks
The new chemistry building will offer selective in person lab classes in Spring 2021. And for just $25,000, you could name it after yourself or a loved one!
The Petaluma campus enrollment is 6,400 students each year which is larger than 12 other California community colleges.
There are 42 full-time and 140 part-time faculty, a 25:1 teaching ratio. The campus will remain mostly online through Spring 2021.

Doris Tolks, SRJC Petatuma Campus Liaison

Gold Book Notes

Has your address or phone number changed since the Gold Book came out?

Be sure to notify Co-VP of Membership Dee Short (click here for her email address), so that your contact information can be updated in the membership database.
If you would like, we can publish your new address and/or phone number here in the Perspective, so that fellow members can manually update their Gold Books. Contact a newsletter co-editor: Anne Taylor (click here), Sandy Smethurst (click here) or Barbara Guggemos (click here),

Please be reminded that our branch directory is for use by AAUW members only and may not be used for recruiting or solicitation for other purposes.

LOCAL EVENT RELATED TO THE AAUW MISSION

Women Rising: Local Leaders Speak Out

Webinar on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.

Explore issues of justice, equity, empowerment, and leadership in conjunction with the Schulz Museum’s exhibition Lucy! Fussbudget to Feminist.

Register by calling (707) 284-1272 or click here to register online.

Registration closes at midnight (PT) on December 1.
A Zoom link will be emailed three days before event.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR PERSPECTIVE SPONSORS

We miss seeing you in the theater!

Check our website for

digital streaming.

cinnabartheater.org

SECTIONS

Call Patty Shribbs at 769-8961
with general questions or
ideas for new sections.
[email protected]

ACTIVE ZOOM SECTIONS

NEW! CONNECTED IN PLACE GROUP
Opportunity to chat and socialize
Meets 1st Tuesdays (except this month)
Date: 12.15.20 (3rd Tuesday this month)

Time: 10 a.m.
Chair:Jean Reed, [email protected]
RSVP with Jean

NEW! TED TALKS DISCUSSION GROUP
Meets 3rd Tuesdays
(No meeting in December)
Co-Chairs: Stefanie Capps [email protected]
Mary Ann Kendall, [email protected]
RSVP with Stefanie Capps.

NEW! TRAVEL SECTION (meeting every other month on first Mondays via ZOOM)
Date:Monday 12.07.20
Time: 11 a.m.

Program: Traveling in France
Co-Chairs: Wendy Porter, 795-9354, [email protected]
Cathy Burton, 763-9082, [email protected]
RSVP with Wendy

Saturday Night Drama Reading

Open only to those members who participated in the spring ZOOM mtgs.

(Only 10 books are given to us each month.
If a second group wishes to gather with the same plays, please let Patty Shribbs or Kay know.}
Meets second Saturdays

Date: Saturday, 12.12.20
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: ZOOM
Play: Enchanted April by Matthew Barber
Chair: Kay Hardy, [email protected] or 981-7171

Evening Modern Literature
Meets 4th Mondays
Date: 12.07.20 (first Monday)
Time: 7:15 pm (Meet & Greet) before discussion at 7:30
Place: ZOOM with Barbara Ryan
Book: The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
Chair: [email protected] or 781-3722
RSVP: with Barbara Ryan, [email protected]

Morning Modern Literature Group
Second Tuesdays
Date: 12.08.20
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: ZOOM
Book: Persuasion by Jane Austen
Co-Chairs: Anne Trujillo or Maureen Sheridan Scott
([email protected] or [email protected])
RSVP: with AnneTrujillo, [email protected]

Dining Section “Eclectic Gourmet”
(ZOOM Cocktail Hours to be substituted)
Please contact Anne if interested.
Chair: Anne Taylor,: [email protected] or 774-6586

Walking Group- Fridays after work
Meets most Fridays
Time: Weekly Walking Challenges posted by email
Chair: Contact Rory Keller, [email protected] or 763-2072

Craft Group (at capacity)

SECTIONS ON HOLD DUE TO COVID OUT TO LUNCH BUNCH

DINING GROUPS

ART AND HISTORY
NEW AND PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS
HIKING GROUP
GARDEN SECTION
BRIDGE SECTIONS

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

E x e c u t i v e B o a r d

ELECTED OFFICERS
Co-Presidents: Rory Keller and Jean Reed
Co-VPs, Program: Kris U'Ren and Stefanie Capps
Co-VPs, Membership: Pat Riley and Dee Short (Membership Treasurer)
Co-VPs, Funds: Sandy Benson and Karen Johnson
Vice President, Finance: Cory Benjamin
Secretary: Cathy Netz

APPOINTED OFFICERS, GENERAL

Hospitality: Norma Jean Walsh

Institutional Memory: Pam Granger

Parliamentarian: Barbara Guggemos

Public Policy; Pam Granger
Sections Coordinator: Patty Shribbs

SRJC Liaison: Doris Tolks

SSU Liaison: Patricia Webb

Tech Trek Coordinator: Michele Meyer

APPOINTED OFICERS, MEMBERSHIP
Database: Rory Keller
Membership Concerns: Kathy Schmidt
New Members: Patricia Souza

APPOINTED OFFICERS, COMMUNICATION

Facebook: Kris U'Ren

Gold Book Editor: Shayne Miller
Perspective Co-Editors: Anne Taylor, Barbara Guggemos, Sandy Smethurst
Publications Sponsors: Barbara Madick

Publicity: Stefanie Capps
Social Media: Stefanie Capps
Webmaster: Ray Hendess

Our web page is:

www.aauwpetaluma.us

Our mailing address is:
AAUW
P.O. Box 7054
Petaluma, CA 94955-7054