2022-03 Newsletter

AAUW Petaluma newsletter, March 2022

March 2022 -- Volume 67, No. 7

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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

(see articles below for more information)

Upcoming AAUW Petaluma events

February 28 - Last day to register for Lobby Week

March 16 - Title Niner meeting, 1:30 p.m. at Jean Read's house

March 19 - AAUW Petaluma watch parties during Santa Clara County Interbranch Council's Title IX 50th Anniversary virtual event, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

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

April 7 - A Night at the Cinnabar Theater Fundraiser, Three Tall Women, 7:30 p.m.

Other upcoming AAUW events

March 18 & 19 - AAUW Healdsburg fundraiser: Sneak peek at the not-yet-opened Madrone Hotel, including a wine & hors d'oeuvres reception, 3:30 - 6:30 pm.

April 11 - 15 - AAUW Lobby Week

Upcoming community events

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

Leah DeBerardinis, D.D.S.

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

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.

MARCH PROGRAM

Age-Friendly Cities, Listening Benches,

Garden Tour, and More!

Join Us at the Petaluma Senior Center
211 Novak Drive
Tuesday, March 22 at 4 p.m.

Our first in-person program since December!

Masks required!

Rachel Beer, Recreation Supervisor of Parks and Recreation, will be our host for the day.

We will learn all about programs offered at the Senior Center that are a fit for you! Want to try Line Dancing? Maybe Knitting, Bridge, or Caregivers Support.
There are two new projects sure to be of interest: Listening Benches and Chess Tables.
Kris Rebillot will talk about Age-Friendly Petaluma and what that means to you.

AND...
The Petaluma Garden Club will provide a tour of the gardens!

Refreshments will be served. Invite a friend!

Read the Senior Center's February Newsletter here: https://cityofpetaluma.org/documents/senior-center-newsletter-february-2022/

The Petaluma Senior Center is located across the pond from Lucchesi Community Center (211 Novak Drive)

Stefanie Capps and Rory Keller, Program VPs

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

President's Message

In a previous discussion of all the different meeting types we have had during the past two years, I said that ”The Virus will decide what we do next.” It looks like the situation is improving, and we will soon be able to have more in-person meetings.

Our March general meeting will be held at the Senior Center and feature a talk on “Age-Friendly Cities, Listening Benches, Garden Tour, and More" We will also tour the facility and its lovely gardens, a project of the Petaluma Garden Club.

When you read this, the Tri-Branch Brunch Without the Brunch will be over. It almost didn’t happen at all. When the Novato Branch found that the brunch venue was closed, they were ready to cancel the excellent speakers from Girls Garage. Marin Branch came to the rescue and set up a webinar for us. Once again ZOOM saved the day, as it has done many times for our Branch.

Our recent webinar on Title IX gave us much to think about, and now we have a chance to learn more. The Santa Clara Branch is sharing their webinar on March19 with us. In addition, Co-president Jean Reed is organizing a Title Niners group for those who want to act on what we have learned.

More good news – the Art and History Section is starting up again with an outdoor activity in April. It looks like we will be having more and more “normal” activities as we learn to live with The Virus.

Many thanks to all our fabulous organizers and leaders!

Co-President Anne Taylor

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

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

The Nominating Committee presents the following slate for the AAUW Petaluma Branch for 2022-2023. Voting will take place at an April branch program/meeting.

Co-Presidents - Anne Taylor and Stefanie Capps
Co-VPs Programs - Jean Read and Rory Keller
Co-VPs Funds - Jan Everidge and Marlene Abel
Treasurer - Corey Benjamin
Co-VPs Membership - Pat Riley and Dee Short
Secretary - Pat Hanson

In addition to these elected positions, a number of committee chairs are also on the board.

Two new positions have also been created:

ZOOM "expert" - Patti Prichard
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Chair (DEI) – This position is open. Supports branches to increase their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). An emphasis is on increasing DEI awareness, engagement of branch members in DEI activities, and connecting with other organizations that promote DEI.
If you are interested in learning more about this DEI position, please get in touch with Jean Reed, jjkreed@gmail.com.

Nominating Committee

Cherry Baumann, Linda Ginsberg, Rory Keller, Jean Reed, Anne Taylor.

April Program - Save the Date!

A Night at the Theater Fundraiser
Three Tall Women

Thursday, April 7 at 7:30 PM
Cinnabar Theater

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

View this virtual event with a small group of friends

Join a Petaluma AAUW Watch Party!

Santa Clara Interbranch Council's Title IX program

50 Year Anniversary of Title IX:

What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

Saturday, March 19, noon - 1 p.m.

Click here to register for this online event

on the Eventbrite website

Many women are unaware of Title IX, or are only aware of its effect on school sports, but there is much more to learn to protect women and girls’ access to equal education. Continue the conversation started at our January Title IX webinar; or, if you missed it, here is an opportunity to catch up.

Party Time: Popcorn, Brownies and Program

For more fun, join a “watch party” to view the March 19 program together.

We will meet in members’ homes with no more than six people in each group.
Vaccination and RSVP required.
The location of your group will be sent to you a few days before the event.
Sign up using the form on our website or contact Jean Reed.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because you got the same invitation back in January! The COVID surge forced us to postpone the January plans. This month we have a second chance. Bring a bag lunch or settle for munchies we provide!

Celebrate 50 years of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act passed in June of 1972. The event will describe how each gender must be given equal rights to educational programs, activities, and financial assistance where federal aid is accepted.

Learn how Title IX has evolved over the last 50 years, including LGBTQ students, and what is still a “work in progress”. Event includes discussions of sexual harassment, violence, and coercion as well as equality in Athletics

Act using resources and strategies that direct on how to recognize sex-based discrimination in educational centers especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) based programs. Learn who is the correct resource to consult for help.

Panelists:

Danielle Slaton, Olympic medalist and Earthquake television analyst (Moderator)
Marlene Bjornsrud, Cofounder of Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI) and former General Manager of San Jose CyberRays
Dr. Akhila Carter-Francique, SJSU Associate Professor of African-American Studies and Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Sports, Society and Social Change
Lucy Jane Bledsoe, Title IX activist and author of ‘No Stopping Us Now.”
Jess Eagle, Maha Ibrahim and Rebecca Sheff, of Equal Rights Advocates, advocates for justice to protect and advance rights and opportunities for women, girls, and people of all gender identities through groundbreaking legal cases and bold legislation.

Jean Reed

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

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.

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.

BRANCH SUPPORT OF TITLE IX

Who’s up for SSU Softball?

As part of our support of Title IX some of us are making an effort to attend more Women’s/Girls’ sporting events!

Several members attended SSU Women’s Basketball in February. Let’s plan to attend SSU Softball on March 12!

Also, check our SRJC’s sports schedules! AND our branch sponsors a Petaluma Girls Softball team! Get out to a game!

If you need more info on attending the double-header (12:00 and 2:00) with SSU vs CSU Monterey Bay on Saturday, March 12, contact Kris U’Ren kuren1@comcast.net

Next Title Niner meeting: Wed., March 16, 1:30 p.m., at Jean Reed's house.

Title Niner Group

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

In honor of Mrs. Helen M. Loorya

Funds Report

THE NON-EVENT FUNDRAISER IS STILL ON!

The Non-Event Fundraiser ends March 31. Please consider donatiing either toward local scholarships to Sonoma State University (SSU) and Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) or to National AAUW Funds programs that count toward our branch's Named Gift Honorees or that support other national programs.

How to Participate in the Non-Event

A fundraising letter was mailed to you in early February, inviting you to write a check designating where you want your support to go. Please help by using the enclosed envelope addressed to Jan Everidge.

What an easy way to support all our scholarships and programs!

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

PUBLIC POLICY

WOMEN'S EQUAL PAY DAY

March 15, 2022 is Women’s Equal Pay Day which marks the day into the year when a woman, on average, finally earns what a man did in 2021. That’s 15 months. Or, if you look at a typical 9:00-5:00 work day, women start working without pay at 2:40 p.m.

Money is power, and women will never be equal to men until they achieve full parity in earnings and wealth. Women working full time in the U.S. are still paid just 83 cents to every dollar earned by men — and the consequences of this gap affect women throughout their lives. The pay gap even follows women into retirement: As a result of lower lifetime earnings, they receive less in Social Security and pensions. In terms of overall retirement income, women have only 70% of what men do. At the current rate of change, we won’t achieve pay equality until 2111.

Download The Simple Truth, AAUW’s research The Simple Truth about the Pay Gap (aauw.org) https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/simple-truth/ - click here.
Pay equity will remain an AAUW priority until the gap is fully eliminated.

Pam Granger, Public Policy Chair

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

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)

AAUW Healdsburg's Spring Fundraiser

Hors d'oeuvres and wine reception

followed by a tour of the

not-yet-opened Madrona Hotel

AAUW Healdsburg is inviting members of nearby AAUW branches to "grab a friend and go to Healdsburg" for a sneak peek at the not-yet-opened hotel, "The Madrona."

Tickets for the reception and tour on Saturday are sold out, but tickets for Friday, March 18, 2022 are still available as of the publication date of the March Perspective.

Time: 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Location: The Madrona, 1001 West Side Rd. Healdsburg, CA 95448
Ticket Cost: $125 per person

To sign up for this event, go to https://healdsburg-ca.aauw.net/

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

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.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The current fiscal year 2021-2022 membership count is 130.

It’s not quite time to renew your membership dues but just a heads-up that AAUW National dues will increase $5 to $67 for fiscal year 2022-2023, out of which $64 will be tax-deductible. California state dues, $20, and the Petaluma branch dues, $18, will remain the same. The state and branch dues are not tax-deductible. The total will be $105.

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

Financial Report

As of January 31, our branch checking account balance was $4,462.60 and our savings account balance was $5,604.77.

Corey Benjamin, Finance VP

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

Member Concerns

In January, AAUW Petaluma's board voted to donate $50 to the Petaluma branch of the Sonoma County Library in memory of member Angela Bellante, who passed away in December 2021. Member Concerns Chair Kathy Schmidt delivered the donation. The library will notify Angela's family and, as in the past, will attach book plates acknowledging the donation.

Kathy Schmidt, Member Concerns

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

Phone: (707) 763-1515

Fax: (707) 765-0256

Email: info@lacehouselinen.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: 03.01.22
Time:10 a.m.
Chair: Jean Reed, jjkreed@gmail.com
RSVP: Jean Reed

TED Talks Discussion Group

Meets quarterly

Date: 03.15.22

Time: 3 p.m.

Topic: Gratitude (host is Pat Riley

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

MaryAnn Kendall, Mkendall413@gmail.com
RSVP: Stefanie

Evening Modern Literature Group

Meets 1st Mondays
Date: 03.07.22
Time: 7 p.m.. (Meet & Greet 6:45)
Book: Monuments Men by Robert Edsel
Co-Chairs: Patricia Souza, souzapellow@comcast.net and Patti Prichard, pattiparichard@comcast.net
RSVP: with Sandy Smethurst sandyksm@sonic.net

Morning Modern Literature Group
Meets 2nd Tuesdays
Date: 03.08.22
Time: 10 a.m. (Meet & Greet 9:45 am)
Book: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Co-Chairs: Anne Trujillo actrujillo1920@comcast.net and Maureen Sheridan Scott scottmcs@sonic.net
RSVP: with Stefanie Capps stefaniecapps@gmail.com

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 (continued) (with Covid guidelines in place)

Art and History
No Event Scheduled in March. An outing is being scheduled in April.
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

Bridge Section: There are currently two groups meeting monthl

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

Time, place, craft: TBD

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
Member 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