2023-05MayPerspective

May 2023 Petaluma Perspective

May 2023 - Volume 70, No. 9

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CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS

(see articles below for more information)

Upcoming AAUW Petaluma events

May 7 - New Members celebration, Pat Riley's house
May 21 - Board Installation and Named Gift Honoree, Luccesi Community Center,
2-3 p.m.
June 11 - All-Member Picnic, potluck at McNear Park, noon - 2 p.m.

Other AAUW Events

April 5 - May 15 - AAUW National election period (online voting is encouraged)
April 22 - May 13 - AAUW CA election period (online voting is encouraged)

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

MAY PROGRAM

Come and Celebrate!

Board Installation

Named Gift Honoree Announcement

and More!

When: Sunday, May 21, 2023, 2 – 3 p.m.
Where: Lucchesi Community Center, 320 N. Mc Dowell Boulevard

It has been an amazingly busy year for the branch with programs from picnics to a film festival, from learning to playing, lots of active sections, and a new member roster to make us all proud! .

Come and meet the new board, honor our award recipients, and generally have a good time.

June Program

Summer Fun: Potluck at McNear Park

June 11, Noon to 2 p.m.

Fast becoming an annual tradition, AAUW Petaluma will celebrate summer and the past year with a potluck. Bring your family and friends and be prepared to meet new and old friends, socialize, and enjoy a day in the park.

President's Message

As this AAUW year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the accomplishments of this awesome group of women and the fun I have had as your co-president.

Our VPs of Membership, Program and Funds have done so much to move our branch forward after coming out of pandemic restrictions.

Programs VPs Jean Reed and Rory Keller got us off to a great start with programs on the hot button issues of reproductive and voting rights. And on a lighter note, they offered us an opportunity to participate in making our own Day of the Dead display at the Petaluma Art Center which connected us to other groups while giving us greater visibility in the community.

Programs worked with Funds VPs Jan Everidge and Marlene Abel to create our Lunafest Film Festival this spring raising over $3,000 to support our scholarships.

Membership VPs Pat Riley and Dee Short did an amazing job enrolling 25 new members. Pat also worked tirelessly on Lunafest while Dee managed to get us all enrolled despite an array of difficulties with National’s new membership portal.

And what makes these successes possible? In many cases, it’s our members working “behind the scenes” to create a web of support to keep us connected, and informed. While there are so many members that contribute to our success, I would like to shine a spotlight on our communications team.

Barbara Guggemos and Sandy Smethurst produce a colorful, readable, well-edited newsletter each and every month – even through the holidays!
Shayne Miller tackles the thorny issues of getting our beloved Gold Book out in a timely way. By the end of the year, mine is dog-eared from use!
Dorothy Suarez rounded up lots of sponsors to help with the costs of publishing the Gold Book.
Rory Keller and Ray Hendess do an excellent job of keeping us connected and informed between newsletters with eblasts and the website.
Patricia Souza kept the wider community informed of our events.
Patti Prichard and Mary Ann Kendall, our zoom masters, were always available to set up our virtual meetings.
Kris U’Ren kept us visible and connected to the wider community on Facebook and Instragram.

I invite you to attend our general meeting Sunday, May 21 and the all-member picnic, Sunday, June 11. Both events offer an opportunity to recognize our accomplishments and celebrate a very successful year.

Co-President Stefanie Capps

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Does your Gold Book information need to be updated?

If you need to make any changes, notify Co-VP of Membership Dee Short (click HERE) so that your contact information can be updated in our membership database.

Would you like your updated contact information to be published in the newsletter?
If so, contact co-editors Sandy Smethurst (click HERE) and/or Barbara Guggemos (click HERE).

Elected and Appointed Officers for 2023-2024

The branch election on April 17 and 18 resulted in a unanimous decision in favor of the proposed slate for the Executive Board. Thanks to all who voted on those two days, 58 members voted.

There is still an open position. We need a ZOOM coordinator! Maybe it is the right time for you to join the team? Contact Stefanie Capps if you want more information.

The Board Installation will take place at the general meeting on May 21 (see above).

Executive Board
Co-Presidents: Stefanie Capps, Patsy Knight
Co-VPs Programs: Jean Reed, Joanne Rooney
Co-VPs Funds: Marlene Abel, Rory Keller
Co-VPs Membership: Alison Williams, Mary Ann Kendall
Treasurer: Corey Benjamin
Secretary: Pat Hanson

Appointed Officers, General:
Hospitality Committee: Michele Meyer, Patti Prichard
Parliamentarian: Barbara Guggemos
Public Policy: Pam Granger
DEI Coordinator: Kathleen Von Raesfeld
Sections Coordinator: Patty Shribbs
SRJC Liaison: Doris Tolks
SSU Liaison: Kris U’Ren
Tech Trek Coordinators: Dorothy Suarez, Hilary Blyth

Appointed Officers, Membership
Database: Rory Keller
Membership Concerns: Kathy Schmidt
New Members: Jan Everidge

Appointed Officers, Communication
Facebook/Social Media: Kris U’Ren
Gold Book Editor: Shayne Miller
Perspective Editors: Barbara Guggemos, Sandy Smethurst, Anne Taylor
Publications Sponsors: Dorothy Suarez
Publicity: Patricia Souza
Webmaster: Ray Hendess
Zoom Coordinators: Vacant

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

Welcome New Member and . . .

. . .welcome back returning member Roberta Davis. In addition to Roberta, we have a new member Jan Lee. We hope to see you all in person at our Summer Picnic in June.

Pat Riley, Co-VP Membership

Jan Lee also joined AAUW Petaluma recently. She is an RN who graduated Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing. She brings a rich history of volunteer affiliations: Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN); Petaluma Arts Association; American Cancer Society; 20 years volunteering at a soup kitchen; Rebuilding Together; and the Sonoma Volunteer Bureau. She is also currently affiliated with Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association. At Christmas time you would find Jan randomly volunteering for assignments. Not surprisingly, Jan has a varied list of hobbies and interests: reading, theater, music, bridge, and art (painting, gourds, dry felting). We look forward to meeting Jan in person.

FUNDS REPORT

Your Funds Co-chairs are busy with several year end projects:

The Non-Event ended on April 30. We have enjoyed a generous response from our members to date, with over 60 members donating funds and over $7,000 raised for scholarship funds for high school seniors and students at SSU and SRJC and for general support of our branch and the National AAUW.

We are very excited about the May 21 Branch Meeting, where we will announce this year’s Named Gift Honoree. As described by AAUW National, "Being designated as a branch Named Gift Honoree is a very special honor in AAUW. The award is reserved for members who have made extraordinary gifts of time and hard work to the branch and AAUW. And the award signifies that branch members contributed a total of at least $750 to AAUW National Fund.” The Funds’ Co-chairs appreciate the time and care given by members of the Selection Committee who helped us make the decision: Rory Keller, Jean Reed, and Norma Jean Walsh.

Finally, we will soon write large checks in celebration of our fund raising efforts. According to Petaluma Branch Policies, only up to $3,000 may be kept in the Funds Checking account for seed money for next year’s funds' events. Any remaining monies shall be divided in the following manner:

50% to national AAUW
25% to SRJC
25% to SSU

We will likely have around $4,000 to distribute at our fiscal year’s end. It is rewarding to support both the National Organization and our local colleges.

Thank you Branch members for your ongoing support of the educational dreams of deserving women.

Marlene Abel and Jan Everidge, Funds VPs

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

In Honor of Mrs. Helen M. Loorya

PROGRAM FOLLOW-UP

LGBTQIA+ Conversation:

Compassion Before Comprehension

Last month we had a chance to continue our learning journey on how to be good allies for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Drew Crawford (he/they), Program Coordinator at Positive Images, shared a series of informational slides and personal comments in multiple areas, from definitions to resources for support to mental health challenges.

I was moved to learn that while youth are ever more able to self-define their gender identities, some elders find it necessary to go back “into the closet” to receive services. Let’s take the path suggested by artist Alok Vaid-Menon who reminds us: “We can have compassion before comprehension."

Jean Reed, Co-VP Program

FINANCE REPORT

Checking account, 3/31/2023: $4999.75

Savings account, 3/31/2023: $5,611.29

Corey Benjamin, VP Finance

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The current fiscal year 2022-2023 membership count is 144.

New members are always welcome! The Petaluma AAUW Membership Application is located in the Petaluma Branch website, www.aauwpetaluma.com.

Dee Short, Co-VP Membership-Treasurer

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Facebook / Instagram Reminder

Our January Title IX panelists suggested that our Branch needed to go where young people live.

We now have an Instagram Page! It is easy to start a personal Instagram account, just download the app. You don’t have to post, just follow other accounts especially ours - aauw.petaluma

We need members to follow both our Instagram and Facebook page! Share the info with others

Kris U'Ren, Social Media Chair

Art and History April Event

Petaluma River Park Walk

Nearly 40 people attended a walk around the new Petaluma River Park to learn about its development over the next few years. In line with the River Park’s founders’ mission--people, art, and nature--exciting prospects of a natural space interspersed with art works is the future hope for downtown Petaluma. Marge Limbert (right), AAUW member and Development Director for the Petaluma River Park, led the tour and gave us a better understanding of what is in the works and how this park relates to the city-owned park (Steamer Landing) abutting the new park. Wildflowers, striking vistas, and a vernal pool that filled with water for the first time in 2 years added to the afternoon.

Vernal pool and view of Petaluma to the north

Some of the almost 40 park walk participants

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

212 2nd Street, Petaluma CA 94952

707-763-2727

petalumacoffee.com

Sheila Bride, Founder and CFO

[email protected]

MEMBER CONCERNS

Our collective healing thoughts go out to Cathy Netz who is recovering at home from a fracture.

We continue to include Dee Short in our wishes for her healthy heart journey; she thanks us for caring.

Heartfelt condolences go out to Adrienne Kulasingam, a newer member of our branch, on the death of her father, Ed. Mr Kavanaugh was a former principal at St. Vincent's High School and will be greatly missed.

Kathy Schmidt.

TECH TREK NEWS

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR TECH TREK CAMP AT SSU

As noted in earlier newsletters, Tech Trek will host two camps at SSU this summer (June 18-24) & July 24-28). Petaluma will help with volunteers to staff the first camp, June 18-24.

If any of you can help out in any way, please contact Diane Coventry [email protected], or me [email protected] and I will forward your interest in volunteering.

Michele Meyer, Tech Trek Coordinator

AAUW on YouTube

Did you know that you can access webinars presented by AAUW CA on YouTube?

Just go HERE and click on “Subscribe.”

You can drop in to hear 35 AAUW Fellows give quick descriptions of their post-graduate work, learn how to use Instagram, catch up on AAUW positions, and more.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Cinnabar Theater

3333 Petaluma Blvd.North

Petaluma, CA 94952

Check our website for show schedules.
cinnabartheater.org
(click HERE)

SECTION NEWS

Garden Section in May – A Full Month of Fun Events

Pat Hansen is involved with the Sunrise Rotary Club milkweed project to develop a milkweed corridor between Sonoma County and the coast, where the monarch butterflies overwinter. She has a great idea to provide an opportunity for us to learn about up-potting and the milkweed project as we provide some assistance with the plants.
Friday, May 5 at 11 a.m. - We’ll work for an hour and then she will provide a delicious lunch for us.
Please RSVP to Pat at [email protected]
Karen Johnson has invited us for coffee and a chat in her beautiful garden. Thursday, May 11 at 10 a.m.
Respond to Karen at [email protected]
Anne Taylor suggests Garden Section members might want to attend the Art and History outing to Western Hills Garden on Friday, May 19.
If interested, contact A & H section leader MaryAnn Kendall at [email protected]

Patricia Souza, Garden Section Leader.

SECTION NEWS

ART & HISTORY

Please save these dates:

5.19.23 Western Hills Garden, organizer: Anne Taylor

6.16.23 Murals at St Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Cathedral,

organizer: Esther Schau

New section leader needed

Since I will be part of the AAUW Petaluma membership team for 2023-2024 I will no longer be available to lead this section. So we will need a new coordinator starting July 1st.

Interested? Contact me at [email protected]

Section Leader MaryAnn Kendall

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Leah DeBerardinis, D.D.S.

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

Section Spotlight

JOINT MEETING OF THE GARDEN CLUB AND MAKE IT! SECTION

On May 19, members of the Garden Club and Make It! section met on the back patio of Patricia Souza's house, where Patricia showed everyone how to make seed bombs, seed strips for planting rows of vegetables, and butterfly resting places

Construction of Seed Bombs

After forming clay into little bowls, members added seeds and potting soil, pinched the bowls closed, rolled them into little balls,and then rolled the balls in potting soil or compost to cover the outside.

Photos provided by Kris U'ren

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 Patti Prichard o set up a new ZOOM meeting.
ZOOM BY PHONE – For audio only, call 669-900-9128, enter Meeting ID and Passcode when prompted.

ZOOM Coordinators

Do you need assistance setting up a hybrid meeting or do you have technical concerns? Click HERE to contact Patti Prichard.
Do you want to use our branch's Zoom account for a meeting and need to be added to the Zoom schedule? Click HERE to contact MaryAnn Kendall.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Phone: (707) 763-1515

Fax: (707) 765-0256

Email: [email protected]

SECTIONS

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

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

ACTIVE ZOOM SECTIONS

Ted Talk Discussion Group

Open to everyone

Meets 3rd Tuesday, as possible (every other month)

Date:TBD
Time: TBD
Topic: TBD

Host: Kris U’Ren

Co-Chairs: Stefanie Capps [email protected] and

MaryAnn Kendall, [email protected]

Evening Modern Literature

ZOOM option or in-person

See Face 2 Face entry below for current meeting information

GROUPS MEETING FACE 2 FACE
(with Covid guidelines in place)

BRIDGE SECTIONS

Wednesday Bridge Group (beginners welcome)
Meets 1st Wednesday
Date: 05.03.23
Place: TBD
Chair Diana Brown, [email protected]
(707) 774-4968

Thursday Bridge Group
Meets 3rd Thursday at 1 or 7 p.m.
Date: 05.18.23
Place: TBD
Chair: Jane Jernigan, [email protected], (707) 778-0543, [email protected].

Friday Bridge Group
Meets 2nd Friday
Date: 05.12.23

Place: TBD
Time: 1 p.m.
Chair: Claire Pass, [email protected],
(707) 763-9075

DINING SECTIONS

Eclectic Gourmet
Please contact Anne Taylor if interested.
Chair: Anne Taylor, [email protected] or (707) 774-6586

Out to Lunch Bunch

Thursday group meets 1st Thursday

Date: 05.04.23
Time: 11:45 a.m.
Place: Quiote (121 Kentucky St.)

Wednesday group meets 2nd Wednesday

Date 05.10.23

Time: 11:45 a.m.

Place: Urban Deli (151 Petaluma Blvd. S.)

Co-chairs: Jan Everidge, [email protected] and Laverne Stout, [email protected]

LITERATURE SECTIONS

Evening Modern Literature Group

ZOOM at this time
Meets: 4th Monday
Date: 05.22.23

Place: TBD

Time: 7 p.m. (Meet & Greet at 6:45)
Book: : American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Hosts: Cherry Baumann

RSVP: Cherry Baumann, [email protected]

Co-Chairs: Patricia Souza, [email protected] and Patti Prichard, [email protected]

Morning Modern Literature Group
Meets 2nd Tuesday
Date: 05.09.23
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: Home of Alison Hart
Book: The Maid by Nita Prose
RSVP: Alison, [email protected]
Co-Chairs: Anne Trujillo [email protected] and Maureen Sheridan Scott [email protected]

WALKING SECTIONS

Friday Afternoon Walking Group
Meets most Fridays

Time: 4:30 p.m.
Chair: Contact Rory Keller at [email protected] or (707) 763-2072

Hiking Group
Anna Taylor offers several dates for hikers to choose from. Contact her if interested.
Next Hike Date: TBD
Time: 9:15 a.m.
Place: 124 Howard St. (gather for carpool)
Chair: Anna Taylor, [email protected]. (707) 763-7952

MISCELLANEOUS OTHER SECTIONS

Art and History
Meets 3rd Fridays

Place: Western Hills Garden

16250 Coleman Valley Rd., Occidental

Date: 05.19.23
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Docent led tour: Cost $20 (pay to Anne Taylor)
Carpool: 9:20 a.m., meet at Target parking lot (left side)
Organizer: MaryAnn Kendall

Chair: MaryAnn Kendall [email protected], (707) 318-7050

Garden Club

Date: TBD

Co-Chairs: Diana Brown, [email protected], (707) 774-4968 and

Patricia Souza, [email protected], (707) 921-8499

MAKE IT! Crafts Group

Date: No activity in May

Chair: Kris U’ren, [email protected].

Title Niners

Take action to support legislation
Meets 3rd Wednesday
Date: TBD

Time: TBD
Contact: Jean Reed, [email protected]

New Members Section --Celebration

Date: 5.07.23
Time: 2-5 p.m.
Place: Pat Riley’s Home
Please RSVP to Pat Riley

Chair: Pat Riley, [email protected]

GROUPS AT CAPACITY

Travel Section

Meets every other month on first Monday via ZOOM
Topic: TBD
Time: 11 a.m.

RSVP with Wendy
Co-Chairs: Wendy Porter, (707) 795-9354, [email protected]
Cathy Burton, (707) 763-9082, [email protected]

Saturday Night Drama (Temporarily at capacity)

Meets second Saturday
Date: 04.08.23
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: ZOOM
Play: TBD
Chair: Kay Hardy, [email protected] or
(707) 981-7171

Craft Section: Cardworthy
Waiting list available
Meets first Wednesdays
Chair: Corey Benjamin, [email protected]

EXECUTIVE BOARD

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

APPOINTED OFFICERS, GENERAL

DEI Coordinator: Kathleen VonRaesfeld

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

Zoom Team: Patti Prichard and MaryAnn Kendall

APPOINTED OFFICERS, MEMBERSHIP
Database: Rory Keller
Member Concerns: Kathy Schmidt
New Members: Pat Riley

APPOINTED OFFICERS, COMMUNICATION

Facebook/Instagram: Kris U'Ren

Gold Book Editor: Shayne Miller
Perspective Editors: Sandy Smethurst and Barbara Guggemos
Publications Sponsors: Dorothy Suarez

Publicity: Patricia Souza
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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