2022-02 Newsletter

February 2022 Perspective

February 2022 -- Volume 67, No. 6

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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

(see articles below for more information)

Upcoming AAUW Petaluma events

January 31 - Deadline for Named Gift Honoree nominations

February 15 - First Title Niner meeting, 2 p.m.

February 26 - Tri-Branch Zoom program on Girls Garage, 10:30 a.m.

March 22 - March program, "Friendly Cities, Listening Benches, Garden Tour and More", Petaluma Senior Center, 4 p.m.

Upcoming community events

February 2 - Virtual seminar on "Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body" co-sponsored by the Petaluma Library and the Alzheimer's Association, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

March 22 - April 22 - Petaluma Museum exhibit, "Finding Our Roots: Women of Petaluma Flourishing and Blooming over the Years," joint project of the Petaluma Garden Club and the Petaluma Women's Club.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Phone: (707) 763-1515

Fax: (707) 765-0256

Email: info@lacehouselinen.com

AAUW Safe Meeting Guidelines

Follow all state and local guidance. It is expected that anyone who is not fully vaccinated will wear a mask and maintain physical distance at all times.

Stay home if you are feeling sick.
Activities,when possible, may be transitioned outdoors.
If activities are held indoors, distanced seating with adequate space and ventilation should be practiced.
Attendees should have masks ready and, if requested, wear them.
Carpool with vaccinated riders only, masked if requested.

UPCOMING FEBRUARY PROGRAM

Replacing the originally planned in-person Tri-Branch Luncheon

ZOOM PROGRAM ON THE GIRLS GARAGE

Speaker: Kristy Hagares

Saturday, February 26, 2022, 10:30 a.m.

Sign up at www.aauwpetaluma.com

to receive a link to the ZOOM session

The Tri-Branch Luncheon has been changed to a ZOOM session due to COVID. Please plan to join us on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. to get a glimpse into the Girls Garage.

The Girls Garage is a nonprofit design and building program with dedicated workspace for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18. Founded in 2013, Girls Garage is the first-ever design and building workshop for female youth in the United States.

Kristy Higares, Director of Development, is an educator, writer, and arts administrator who’s worked for over twenty years serving schools and communities in Oakland.

She’s inspired by the intersection of arts, education, community, and impact. Her passion and vision have been motivated by her work with Bay Area teens at The Crucible, an industrial art school in West Oakland, where she worked for twelve years.

For more information on this organization, see the following article.

Rory Keller and Stefanie Capps, Program Co-VPs

In their own words...

What is the Girls Garage?

Some background on the Tri-Branch speaker’s organization

What might our world look like if every girl* stormed the aisles of the hardware store and went forth to build the world she wanted to see? How might our conversations in boardrooms, labs, and state buildings go if every woman had experienced her own power through the spark of a welding torch or the buzz of a chainsaw? How might young women cast their first votes if they were certain of their own ability to edit, shape, and improve the world?

Girls Garage, https://girlsgarage.org/, uses the act of design and building—specifically carpentry, welding, architecture, engineering, and activist art—to expand our girls’ sense of power and agency.

In addition to serving and empowering our local community, we are changing the demographic makeup of the industries that create and author the physical world. Our work is rooted in bravery and sisterhood, and we challenge the expectations of what girls can and should do. Together, we are building a more beautiful, inclusive, equitable future.

*”Girls” refers to gender-expansive youth (cis-girls, trans-girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth, gender queer youth, and any girl-identified youth).

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Leah DeBerardinis, D.D.S.

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

President's Message

I enjoy birdwatching and have been joining monthly bird surveys where the number of birds sighted are tallied for a single day each month. For the third month in a row, it was densely foggy at 7 a.m. This makes for poor birding. But it gave me another chance to practice dealing with disappointment.

Recognize how I feel – sad and unsatisfied.
Understand that it’s not me – fog is not something I can control.
Check expectations – yeah, Petaluma mornings are often foggy.
Learn from it and be flexible – after two foggy surveys, this month’s survey was rescheduled.
Look for positives –- my double-booked Thursday was freed up and Friday was clear, a good day of birding!

Giving up the Watch Parties for the Title IX Webinar was another disappointment. The positives:

I was able to give my full focus to the panelists (without the distractions of a hostess – did I forget to dust the top of the TV? Are the brownies burning?), and I can look forward to in-person discussions when we reschedule the Title IX Watch Parties a couple of months from now. I hope that by then that many of you will have signed on as Title Niners (see article below).

Co-President Jean Reed

Still time for Named Gift Honoree Nominations

Deadline is Monday, January 31

Can you think of someone who deserves recognition for outstanding service to the branch? If so, there’s still time to submit your nomination.

Please note:

Nominations should be in writing.
They should include examples of the individual’s contributions to the branch.
Any outstanding community service and professional activities should also be listed but are secondary in importance.
A past honoree may be nominated.
The nomination letter should be signed by at least one current member.

Nominations must be received by January 31, 2022, either mailed or dropped off at this address.

LaVerne Stout
1181 Schuman Ln.
Petaluma, CA, 94952

LaVerne Stout and Jan Everidge, Funds VPs

Want to print a copy of the Perspective?

The emailed version of our newsletter is easy to read on a computer or phone, but does not print well.

A printable PDF file with the current month's newsletter will be posted in the Newsletters section of our branch website within a few days after the initial version is distributed by email.

Click on the following link to go directly to the printable version:

https://www.aauwpetaluma.com/past-newsletters.html

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

JANUARY PROGRAM FOLLOW-UP

If you missed the Title IX webinar, you can watch it HERE.

Amy G led panelists Elizabeth Kristen, Kim Turner, and Maha Ibrahim in a lively conversation about Title IX, including background information and statistics, the current status, and future hopes.

Our sincere thanks to the team who made this webinar possible – Kris U’Ren, Doris Tolks, Dianne Trumpy, Pam Granger and Stefanie Capps as our ZOOM tech coordinator.

Title IX states:

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Can you help?

Title IX in Action – Become a “Title Niner”

Or, what you didn’t learn at the Title IX Webinar

At the January 22 Title IX webinar, we heard that Title IX needs local action to be implemented effectively. The panelists actually thanked us for the opportunity to talk about Title IX because, they said, too often Title IX is celebrated or bemoaned but nothing is done.

Now it’s our turn to step up and follow through.

The Title IX Committee – also known as the Title Niners – will facilitate the following actions. Since the Watch Parties could not be held, we didn’t get the chance to ask you in person.

We are asking for your help now:

Create a Directory of the Title IX Coordinators for Petaluma area schools. This will assist over-worked school staff in collaborating with one another. We need members to make phone calls and send emails.
Contact our legislators to let them know we expect their support of Title IX. Members will write post cards or use social media. We’ll also visit our local reps.
Reach out to students to share information on their rights under Title IX. Once in-person contact is safe, members will meet with student groups.

On Tuesday February 15 at 2 p.m., we will meet to begin the work.

Please contact Jean Reed (click HERE) to sign on as a Title Niner.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Virtual Event at the Petaluma Library

The Petaluma Library is partnering with the Alzheimer's Association for Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research virtual event on Wednesday, Feb. 2, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

You can find more information and register for the virtual seminar by clicking on the link above.

Rachel Beer
Recreation Supervisor
City of Petaluma | Parks and Recreation

AAUW Petaluma has a new website address:

aauwpetaluma.com

You may not be able to see the changes, but the new platform makes updates easier.

Remember to refresh any bookmarks you have saved. The website is a quick way to find information and to access the Perspective at any time.

Funds Report

ANNUAL NON-EVENT

Be on the lookout for your invitation to Petaluma AAUW's Non-Event. This is an exciting year because we will be honoring AAUW's 140-year anniversary. February is always the kickoff.

This annual fundraiser has been our branch's main way to raise money to support the Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University scholarships as well as the high school and community awards that we present each year.

In the last three Perspectives, we have featured thank you letters from our Sonoma State recipients and how honored and appreciative they were to be able to use our generous scholarships for their education. Through your generous support, our branch will continue to fund these important scholarships.

Donations may be made to our local branch or to the national organization. Please note:

Donations to “AAUW Petaluma” will fund local scholarships. However, they are not tax-deductible, because our branch is not a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Donations to “AAUW” (the national organization) will fund national programs. They are tax deductible and can be made via a check turned in to our branch or online at the national website, www.aauw.org.

Your "invitation" to participate will be in the mail soon.

Thank you, Jan Everidge and LaVerne Stout, Co-VP Funds

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Want to help? PPSC always needs volunteers!

Consider:

Meals on Wheels
Petaluma Bounty
Mentor Me
iRIDE Driver
Administrative Support
Disaster Volunteer

Call 1 707 765-8484 or click HERE to volunteer or get more information

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 wide audience!

Kris U'Ren

Survey of Section Interest

A concern has been raised that several popular sections are “at capacity,” making it difficult for new members – as well as members looking for new ways to participate – to become active in small groups. We appreciate that becoming active in a section or two is a great way to make new friends and to share common interests.

The Board has created a small committee to figure out how to address this concern.

Our first step is to figure out what members do want! The committee would like to assess member interest to explore ways to address this issue. We’d like to hear not just from our new members, but any member who would like to participate more in sections. In the past year or two, members have started three new sections based on their interests.

If you have an idea for a new section that you would like to help organize with the assistance of a “section mentor,” please click here and tell us about your idea.

If there are current sections at capacity that have piqued your interest, please click here and tell us which sections we could add with the help of a “section mentor.”

We will let all members know of these new opportunities in the Perspective in the next month or two.

Patty Shribbs, Sections
Stefanie Capps, Programs

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

In honor of Mrs. Helen M. Loorya

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The current fiscal year 2021-2022 membership count is 131.

New members are always welcome! The Petaluma AAUW Membership Application is located in the updated Petaluma Branch website, www.aauwpetaluma.com. Click here to go directly to the page with the application form.

Dee Short, Co-VP Membership-Treasurer

SRJC Petaluma

The Petaluma Campus starts in person classes January 19, 2022. The district has put COVID regulations in place to keep students and staff safe.

Fun Facts About Santa Rosa Junior College:

Santa Rosa and Petaluma Campuses

SRJC continues to be ranked #1 among the 116 California community colleges for scholarships awarded to students.

In 2021, SRJC enrolled approximately 21,000 students each semester.

Most common degrees awarded: Social & Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences,Psychology, Business Administration, Administration of Justice, Communication Studies, Nursing ADN.

Most common certificates earned: Emergency Care for First Responders, Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Nurse Assistant, Child Development Associate Teacher, Corrections Officer, Firefighter Academy.

Doris Tolks, SRJC Liaison

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

We can’t wait to see you back in the theater.

Check our website for show schedules.

cinnabartheater.org

(click HERE)

Financial Report

As of November 30, our branch checking account balance was $4,615.91 and our savings account balance was $5,603.82.

Corey Benjamin, Finance VP

NOTE ABOUT 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 chairs 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.

WANTED: BACKGROUND SUPPORT FOR ZOOM MEETINGS ON REQUEST

Training available.

Contact Stefanie Capps (click HERE) if interested.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Member Concerns

Our heartfelt condolences are sent to Corey Benjamin and her family on the death of her mother, Margery Baur. Many of us remember Marge when she was active in our Petaluma Branch from 1995 to 2001. Older records show she had joined AAUW in 1962 for a few years. Marge was warm, humorous, and adventurous; and here's a little known fact: she was once a Jeopardy winner!

-------------

The Board has approved a $50 donation to the Petaluma branch of the Sonoma County Library in memory of our deceased member, Angela Bellante. Last month's Perspective noted Angela's passing and her contributions to our branch. Our Branch Policies and Procedures note that a memorial gift may be made upon the death of a member. Our Bylaws and Policies can be found on our website under the "About Us+" tab.

Kathy Schmidt

Has your contact information changed?

If your contact information has changed since the Gold Book was published,

Notify Membership VPs
Notify Perspective editors if you would like your updated information to be published in our newsletter

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.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

212 2nd Street, Petaluma CA 94952

707-763-2727

petalumacoffee.com

Sheila Bride, Founder and CFO

sbride@petalumacoffee.com

SECTIONS

Call Patty Shribbs at 769-8961 with general questions or ideas for new sections.
pkshribbs@comcast.net

ZOOM SECTIONS

Caregiver Support Zoom Group
CURRENTLY ON HOLD
Chair: Pat Riley, patrileyyy@gmail.com, 775-8163

Connected in Place Zoom Group

Opportunity to chat and socialize
Meets 1st Tuesday
Date: 02.01.22
Time:10 a.m.
Chair: Jean Reed, jjkreed@gmail.com
RSVP: Jean Reed

TED Talks Discussion Group

Meets quarterly

Date: TBD

Time: 3 p.m.

Topic: TBD

Co-Chairs: Stefanie Capps stefaniecapps@gmail.com and

MaryAnn Kendall, Mkendall413@gmail.com
RSVP: Stefanie

Evening Modern Literature Group

Meets 1st Mondays
Date: 02.07.22
Time: 7:30 pm (Meet & Greet 7:15)
Book: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
Co-Chairs: Patricia Souza, souzapellow@comcast.net and Patti Prichard, pattiparichard@comcast.net
RSVP with Patti Schofler, patti.schofler@gmail.com

Morning Modern Literature Group
Meets 2nd Tuesdays
Date: 02.08.22
Time: 10 a.m. (Meet & Greet 9:45 am)
Book: The Overstory by Richard Powers
Co-Chairs: Anne Trujillo actrujillo1920@comcast.net and Maureen Sheridan Scott scottmcs@sonic.net
RSVP: with Patricia Souza, souzapellow@comcast.net

Dining Section “Eclectic Gourmet”
(Zoom Cocktail Hours to be substituted until further notice)

Please contact Anne Taylor if interested.
Chair: Anne Taylor,: Aktaylor44@att.net or 774-6586

GROUPS MEETING FACE 2 FACE

(with Covid guidelines in place)

Walking Group - Fridays after work

Meets most Fridays
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Chair: Contact Rory Keller at rory@sonic.net or 763-2072

Hiking Group

Chair: Anna Taylor, htaylor999@aol.com. 763-7952
Hikes are starting up again! Anna offers several dates for hikers to choose from. Contact her if interested.

Please note: We have volunteers to help with mentoring if anyone wishes to start a new section!

GROUPS MEETING FACE 2 FACE

(with Covid guidelines in place) (continued)

Art and History
No Event Scheduled This Month
Chair: MaryAnn Kendall mkendall413@gmail.com, 318-7050

Garden Club
Date, TBD
Co-Chairs: Diana Brown, dianarhea60@yahoo.com, 774-4968 and
Patricia Souza, souzapellow@comcast.net, 762-4173

Wednesday Bridge Group (first Wed.)

Meets 1st Wednesday

Time and Place: TBD

Chair Diana Brown, dianarhea60@yahoo.com

Please contact Diana with any questions

Thursday Bridge Group (3rd Thursday)

Time: 1 or 7 p.m.

Date and Place: TBD
Chair: Jane Jernigan, 778-0543, jjernigan01@yahoo.com.

Please contact Jane with any questions

Craft Group - MAKE IT
Chair: Kris U’Ren, kuren1@comcast.net, 763-2529
Project for February in the works.

Contact Kris if interested

GROUPS AT CAPACITY

Travel Section (meeting every other month on first Mondays via ZOOM)
Topic: TBD
Time:11 a.m.
Co-Chairs: Wendy Porter, 795-9354, wendyporter14@gmail.com
Cathy Burton, 763-9082, aauw@catherineburton.com
RSVP with Wendy

Saturday Night Drama
Meets second Saturday
Date: 02.12.22
Time:7 p.m.
Place: ZOOM
Play: TBD
Chair: Kay Hardy, kaynh@yahoo.com or 981-7171

Out to Lunch Bunch
Meets second Tuesdays
Co chairs: Jan Everidge, janeveridge@yahoo.com and
Wendy Porter, wendyporter14@gmail.com

Crafts Section

Meets first Wednesdays

Time: 10 a.m.

Chair: Corey Benjamin

EXECUTIVE BOARD

ELECTED OFFICERS
Co-Presidents: Anne Taylor and Jean Reed
Co-VPs, Program: Rory Keller and Stefanie Capps
Co-VPs, Membership: Pat Riley and Dee Short (Membership Treasurer)
Co-VPs, Funds: Jan Everidge and LaVerne Stout
Vice President, Finance: Corey Benjamin
Secretary: Open

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: Kris U'Ren

Tech Trek Coordinator: Michele Meyer

APPOINTED OFFICERS, MEMBERSHIP
Database: Rory Keller
Membership Concerns: Kathy Schmidt
New Members: Patricia Souza, Dea Steigner

APPOINTED OFFICERS, COMMUNICATION

Facebook: Kris U'Ren

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

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

Our web page is:

www.aauwpetaluma.com

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

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