2024-03MarchPerspective

March Prospective New Temp

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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
Click HERE to view in browser.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
(see articles below for more information) .

AAUW Petaluma events

Mar. 10 - Sunday, 3-5 p.m. – AAUW Film Festival, SRJC Ellis Auditorium
Apr. 2-3 - AAUW CA Lobby Days

Other AAUW events

March 9 - 1:30 - 3:30 - AAUW Santa Rosa program, "United Against Book Bans," Finley Community Center, Cypress Room

Community events

April 14 - 12:00 - 3:00 - Blue Zones Project Petaluma Kickoff, SRJC Petaluma

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. Bring a mask, so you are prepared if masking is requested.

MARCH PROGRAM
AAUW Petaluma Women's Film Festival

Coming March 10!

As you may know, last year’s “Lunafest” program received enthusiastic reviews.

Our second annual AAUW Petaluma Women’s Film Festival is a two-hour showing of films written and directed by women and includes an in-person appearance by this year’s women’s soccer coach at Sonoma State University.

Date: March 10, 2024

Doors open 2:45 p.m., showtime 3:00 p.m.

Location: Carole L Ellis Auditorium, Santa Rosa Junior College Petaluma Campus

680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma CA 94954

Admission:Tickets are $20 CASH ONLY at the door.

Parking is free

For tickets and more information, go to our link

https://www.aauwpetaluma.com/film-festival.html

This year's films feature women and gender non-conforming athletes and storytellers, including a deaf climber at Joshua Tree, a transwoman competing in the Iditarod, a new mom who is a professional athlete, and North Shore Betty, a 73-year-old fearless and famous bicyclist.

Plan to attend this inspiring and exciting show!

Marlene Abel & Rory Keller, Co-VPs Funds

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Cinnabar Theater
3333 Petaluma Blvd.North
Petaluma, CA 94952

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

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Invisible? No, Invincible!

In the last several months, I attended memorials for two wonderful members of our organization. I came away from both services with a sense that I have so much to learn about and learn from the amazing women of AAUW. I am among a group of women who have faced obstacles big and small and are living a life of purpose and service to family and community.

Many of us being “women of a certain age” were instilled in the virtue of modesty and our talents and accomplishments sometimes go unnoticed, even to each other. And sometimes, we feel invisible and unnoticed and unrecognized for not only who we’ve become but for our accomplishments as well.

Much of the “behind the scenes” work of the Board is invisible to our members.

My Gold Book is dog-eared by the end of the year as I use it routinely to contact members, keep track of programs, and find sections that interest me. However, the Gold Book doesn’t put itself together, print itself, or deliver itself! Shayne Miller has fulfilled those tasks quietly and without fan-fare for a number of years.

Just imagine the meetings, emails, conversations, and texts that it took to locate, contact and organize the 8 speakers and 13 organizations who were involved in our Gun Violence Prevention Program! The program was an outstanding success due to the efforts of Jean Reed, Doris Tolks, and Teresa Barrett as well as other members who volunteered to help. We are certainly more visible to our community due to this program.

I could go on, but I think you get the point! Board members work behind the scenes, often unseen, to keep the “train on the tracks” so that we can come together to fulfill our mission.

I appreciate who we are, our humor, our life experiences, the challenges we have overcome and the quiet, often unnoticed work we do to achieve our full equity for women and girls.

Working together, we are not invisible, we are invincible!

Co-President Stefanie Capps

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

For more information about
Healthy Petaluma District & Foundation,
formerly Petaluma Health Care District,

Click HERE

From your Nominating Committee

Petaluma AAUW is a vibrant, involved, and important member of our community. We present programs of interest to a wide audience, and support our mission statement of education and equity for women and girls in many ways. Our Board is the engine that starts making all this happen, and we couldn’t do all we do without you, our members.

Our slate of officers for next year is shaping up, and I want to say many thanks to all of you who have already stepped forward to take positions. Although most positions are filled, we are still looking for a Co-President to lead the way forward (and have a lot of fun doing it!).

Please contact me if you are interested in helping make sure our Branch remains a viable, integral part of our community. There are many current and past Board members who will help you in this role; the Board truly is a team, and we can’t do it without you!

Corey Benjamin, Chair, Nominating Committee

(707) 971-0547

[email protected]

Open Enrollment Election – AAUW

2024 Bylaws amendments to open AAUW membership

to anyone supporting its mission

National AAUW has asked each chapter to publish the following article about the upcoming vote to amend our national AAUW Bylaws, by eliminating the college degree requirement for membership.

Between April 3 and May 15, 2024, AAUW members are being asked to vote on eliminating the college degree requirement for membership in AAUW. The sole requirement for joining AAUW would then become support for our purpose of advancing equity for women and girls. Neither our name nor our mission will change, just the degree barrier to joining us.

As noted on the AAUW

This change will align our membership practices with our purpose and enable us to include members with the diverse backgrounds and perspectives needed to achieve our purpose in today's world.

AAUW's commitment to higher education for women is not changing. Higher education remains one path to eliminating barriers holding women back and helps to enhance leadership skills.

In today's world, professional certifications, career technical training and life experience are additional, alternative paths to obtaining education and skills needed to become leaders and advocates for eliminating discrimination.

Eliminating the degree requirement for members will open more opportunities for us to address the needs of all women.

Open enrollment will facilitate recruiting new members. Most people join because a member invites them. Doing away with the degree requirement eliminates the discomfort and embarrassment that accompanies inquiring whether a person is “eligible” to join.

It is important to vote! We last voted in 2021. Only 25% of the membership voted. Of those who voted, 63% voted yes. A 2/3 majority is needed to approve the changes.

Please make sure your email is registered with AAUW National so you receive the email inviting you to vote electronically. If you have "unsubscribed" to emails from AAUW national, you won't receive an electronic link to vote.

If you are in doubt about whether AAUW National has your email, you can log in to your record in the Membership section of the AAUW website to double check.

For more information on this proposed change, check out the AAUW Website https://www.aauw.org/, and the website of Open Up AAUW https://openupaauw.org/

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

212 2nd Street, Petaluma CA 94952
707-763-2727
petalumacoffee.com

Sheila Bride, Founder and CFO
[email protected]

UPCOMING AAUW SANTA ROSA PROGRAM

UNITED AGAINST BOOK BANS

AAUW Santa Rosa will present “United Against Book Bans” on March 9 from 1:30 to 3:30 at the Finley Community Center in Santa Rosa.

Deborah Doyle, Sonoma County Library Commission, and Leona Judson, League of Women Voters, will lead the conversation. Contact Taryn Young for more information: [email protected]

Jean Reed

AAUW-CA PUBLIC POLICY

The following text comes from an article published in the February issue of AAUW California's Public Policy News. Click HERE to read the full article.

The Role of California School Boards

By Seena Trigas, Member AAUW California Public Policy Committee School Board Project

AAUW California is concerned about the censorship of classroom material, the heightened enforcement of board policies rejecting diversity, and providing discriminatory policies against gay and minority students. This concern now leads me, as a former school board member, high school teacher/department chair and adjunct college professor, to reflect on the role of school boards in California and their limitations.

[...]

In 2023 AB1078 was passed, which requires the California State Department of Education to assess if school boards are in compliance with state laws requiring public schools to provide diverse and comprehensive education. It requires local school districts with insufficient instructional materials to correct this and authorizes the department to purchase (at district expense) adequate curricula if the district restricts students from learning about important topics like racism, sexism, and gender-based marginalization.

AAUW branch members play a critical role in ensuring all California school boards are governed by board members who will follow AB 1078, and who oppose policies that infringe on the civil rights of LGBTQ+ students.

All our members are encouraged to become vigilant observers of their local districts, and to contact your assigned liaison if members are not meeting their obligations under the guidelines outlined above. You can find the reporting form HERE and the contact info for your liaison HERE.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

January Program Follow-up

Normalizing Safety: Gun Violence Prevention a Success

The January program was a great success. Some 200 people attended despite the competition with the Forty Niners. We brought together a diverse community, including more than 12 tables of organizations sharing information: from the Petaluma Police and the Sonoma County Office to Education to Petaluma Blacks for Community Development. Reporters from the Press Democrat and KPIX covered the event.

Our speakers mentioned numerous ways to make us all safer, from proper storage of firearms to police buyback days to the suggestion of a rewrite of the Second Amendment. Instead of feeling despair at the end, there was the understanding that rational community discussion is possible and that we all can make positive changes.

Thanks to all of you who attended, who volunteered, and who supported this event.

If you missed it – or if you want to hear the speakers again – click HERE and use passcode QLh9..hY to view the recording.

A good Press Democrat article summarized the event with several photos on Monday morning.

Jean Reed and Joan Rooney, Co-VPs Program

Now Let’s Take Action!

But this is only the beginning. The point is to take action. What can you do?

Start by joining an organization that focuses on gun safety. Moms Demand Action has an active chapter in Sonoma County working for gun sense legislation.
Advocate for county-wide safe storage ordinances such as those adopted by Petaluma and Healdsburg. Encourage your school district to pass a resolution to notify parents of the importance of safe storage at home.
Talk about guns. When visiting friends or neighbors ask if firearms in the home are stored safely, unloaded and locked.
Sign up for the Gun Sense Action Network to do phone-banking from home. They provide training to get you started. The script is easy to follow and the DialingHub makes good use of your time.

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

Membership Report

Current membership count: 141

We hope to support a diverse and active AAUW community. Consider bringing a friend to a Section or a general meeting. There are many wonderful opportunities ahead including the March 10 Film Festival

Patti Prichard and MaryAnn Kendall, Membership Co-VPs

FUNDS

FUNDS NON-EVENT STARTS IN LATE FEBRUARY

The annual Funds non-event will be coming to your mail box in late February. Hoping to add a little fun to it, so keep an eye out for your "invitation" to this fundraising effort for our scholarships.

Marlene Abel & Rory Keller. Funds Co-VPs

Finance Report

As of 1/31/24,

Checking account balance: $4,243.80

Savings account balance: $5,616.00

,
Corey Benjamin, Finance VP

New Member Profile: Camile Alpert

When we asked Camile Alpert to provide a short biography this was her wonderful response:

I am a semi-retired teacher living in Penngrove since 2013 with my husband and two cats. I lived and worked in Mexico (Mexico City and Puebla) for nearly 20 years as an ESL/EFL teacher and am currently employed by the Petaluma Adult School as an instructor in the Spanish GED/HiSet program.

When we asked Camile Alpert to provide a short biography this was her wonderful response:

Returning from Mexico in 2000 I began working for the City and County of San Francisco as a Training Officer designing and facilitating different communication and supervisory trainings for City employees. I spend my free time at the gym and reading science fiction/fantasy and historical biographies. Some people I greatly admire include Joseph Campbell, Dr. King, Monty Python, George Harrison and Abraham Lincoln and, of course, my mom and dad.

Please join us in welcoming Camile to our Branch!

Patti Prichard & MaryAnn Kendall, Membership Co-VPS

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

A PODCAST DESIGNED TO GUIDE THOSE DESTINED TO WORK IN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY

Join Amy Gutierrez and Celeste Gehring as they interview women in the sports industry.

LISTEN NOW
www.youtube.com/@girlgigpodcast

FEBRUARY PROGRAM - TRI-BRANCH BRUNCH

The annual Tri-Branch Brunch on February 24 was a rewarding and energizing meeting with members from Petaluma, Marin, and Novato connecting through “speed-networking”, an excellent meal (there were no left-over scones), and a call

to action from speaker Cheryl Paddack of North Marin Community Services. Cheryl's comments on needs and services in Marin County are equally relevant to Petaluma. She challenged us to think about a couple of questions:

What do you think human service non-profits should be prioritizing right now?
How can AAUW and like-organizations join together in advocacy efforts to create needed community change?

Thank you to Marlene Abel for introducing the speaker and to her daughter Lara who works at NMCS and talked about her work with teen services. Also, to Carole Libarle who donated table linens and Dianne Trumpy who did the table decorations – both helping to keep cost of the meal reasonable.

Jean Reed, Co-VP Program

Has your Gold Book information changed?

If your contact information in the Gold Book has changed, please contact Co-VP of Membership MaryAnn Kendall (click HERE) so that our membership database can be updated.

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

REMINDER: The Gold Book, our membership directory, is for use only by the membership and may not be used for recruiting or solicitation.

EQUAL PAY DAY

Each year, this symbolic day is used to raise awareness around the impact of pay inequities. Equal Pay Day 2024 is on March 12 and marks the current state of the gender pay gap: 84% for full-time workers and 78% for all workers (including part-time and seasonal).

This date is based on the latest U.S. Census figures showing that the average woman who works full time is paid on average just 84 percent of the typical man’s pay. Started by the National Committee on Pay Equity in 1996, the goal of Equal Pay Day is to raise awareness about the gender wage gap. Because the pay gap varies significantly among different communities, particularly for women of color, other Equal Pay Days reflect that fact that many women must work far longer into the year to catch up to men.

Asian America, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Women Equal Pay Day – April 5
Black Women’s Equal Pay Day – July 27
Moms’ Equal Pay Day – August 15
Latina’s Equal Pay Day – October 5
Native Women’s Equal Pay Day – November 30

SECTION NEWS - NEW MEMBERS SECTION

AAUW NEW MEMBERS COFFEE

Thursday, March 28 10:00-11:30

Riverfront Cafe

Coffee, conversation, and great company. A chance for our new members to meet one another, and for all branch members to welcome them to the Petaluma branch of AAUW

This will be a regular gathering on the 4th Thursday of every month from 10:00 to 11:30 at Riverfront Cafe. Join in if you're available and no need to RSVP. Looking forward to seeing you!

Hilary Blyth

Proposed New Climate Action Study Section(CASS)

We are proposing a monthly meeting with mini-homework of listening to a podcast or reading an article to discuss. We expect that discussion would suggest next topics and actions for the following month. Leadership would rotate between members of the group

Our first meeting would be at the home of Suzanne Clarke, 215 5th Street, on Sunday, March 24th, at 4:30 pm to enjoy Happy Hour and view the film, Need to Grow, and talk about how the new AAUW section might work.

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

BLUE ZONES PROJECT KICKS OFF APRIL 14 AT SRJC-Petaluma

We learned about the Blue Zones Project at our Holiday Luncheon. Now we have an opportunity to participate! It starts April 14th from 12 pm - 3 pm for a free community event. Learn how Petaluma is working toward becoming a Blue Zones Community and get inspired to improve your health and well-being in the places where you work, live, learn, and play. There will be fun activities, great tastes, music, art, movement, lessons, and connection.

Doris Tolks, SRJC Liaison

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

In Honor of Mrs. Helen M. Loorya

SECTION HIGHLIGHT

Art & History at Marin Museum

Many thanks to MaryAnn Kendall for organizing yesterday's outing to the Marin Museum of Contemporary Art. We were all fascinated by artist Gertrud Parker's use of "gut" as a foundation for much of her artwork. Who knew it could end up looking like stained glass? Lunch afterwards provided a fun opportunity for reflection and conversation.

Our March outing Friday, March 15th will be to the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art ( 5200 Carneros Highway. Napa ). See Sections for more information.

Section Leaders Melanie Donohoe and Cathy Netz

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 Zoom Coordinator 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.

SECTION HIGHLIGHT

LUNCH BUNCH

AT LEMONGRASS THAI

The Wednesday Lunch Bunch met at Lemongrass Thai on Feb. 7, and the Thursday group met at Hank's Pizza on Feb. 1.

Jan Everidge, Co-chair

A Note about the Evening Book Group

The Modern Literature section (4th Monday, 7PM) is missing some names on the mailing list that should be there. Please accept our apologies. If you want to be in that group, and have not received information about the most recent meetings, please let us know. If you are a new member, you are welcome too, as well as any existing members who would like to give it a try. The list of books for this year can be found at this link.
Thanks, Rory Keller and Patricia Souza.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

Phone: (707) 763-1515
Fax: (707) 765-0256
Email: [email protected]

SECTIONS

Call Patty Shribbs at (707) 769-8961 with general questions or ideas for new sections.
[email protected]

ACTIVE ZOOM SECTIONS

TED Talks Discussion Group
Open to everyone
Meets 3rd Tuesday, (every other month)
Date: No TED Talk in March
Stefanie Capps, [email protected]

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

BRIDGE SECTIONS

Wednesday Bridge Group (beginners welcome)
Meets 1st Wednesday
Date: 3.06.24
Place: TBD
Chair Diana Brown, [email protected]
(707) 774-4968

Thursday Bridge Group
Meets 3rd Thursday at 1 or 7 p.m.
Date: 3.21.24
Place: TBD
Chair: Jane Jernigan, [email protected],
(707) 778-0543

Friday Bridge Group
Meets 2nd Friday
Date: 3.08.24
Place: TBD
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: 3.07.24
Time: 11:45
Place: Mi Pueblo, 800 Petaluma Blvd. N
Wednesday group meets 2nd Wednesday (NO Wed. group this month)
Co-chairs, Jan Everidge, [email protected] and Laverne Stout, [email protected]

LITERATURE SECTIONS

Evening Modern Literature Group

Date: 3.25.24
Place: Home of Anne Taylor
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Book: Oh William! and Lucy by the Sea by Elizabeth Strout
Host: Anne Taylor
Co-Chairs::Patricia Souza, [email protected] and Rory Keller, [email protected]
RSVP with Anne: [email protected]

Morning Modern Literature Group
Meets 2nd Tuesday
Date: 3.12.24
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: Home of Charlene Nugent
Book: West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Chair: Anne Trujillo [email protected]t
RSVP: Charlene: [email protected]

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

WALKING SECTION

Friday Afternoon Walking Group
Meets most Fridays
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Chair: Rory Keller, [email protected] or
(707) 763-2072

MISCELLANEOUS SECTIONS

Art and History
Place: di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art,
5200Carneros Hwy, Napa
Date: 3.15.24

Cost:: $30 for docent-led tour
Time: TBD

Chairs: Rev. Melanie Donahoe, [email protected], and
Cathy Netz, [email protected]
RSVP with Norma Jean Walsh, [email protected]

Garden Club
Propagation Party at Diane Trumpy's home (cancelled if raining)

Date: Wed., March 13

bring your lunch.

Bring small containers, soil, snips, trowel, and plants to share.
Co-Chairs:
Diana Brown, [email protected],
(707) 774-4968 and
Patricia Souza, [email protected],
(707) 921-8499

MAKE IT Crafts Group
Small weaving project
Date: Thursday, 3.14.24
Time: 10:00
Organizer: Kris U'Ren (rsvp to Kris.)
Chair: Kris U'ren, [email protected]

Title Niners
Meets 3rd Wednesday
Date: 3.20.24
Contact: Jean Reed, [email protected]

New Members Section
NEW! Meets 4th Thursday

Date: 3.28.24
Time: 10:00-11:30
Place: Riverfront Cafe
Chair: Jan Everidge, [email protected]

GROUPS AT CAPACITY with waiting lists or sub lists available

Travel Section
Meets every other month on first Monday via ZOOM (waiting list available)
Topic: TBD
Time:11 a.m.
Co-Chairs: Wendy Porter, (707) 795-9354, [email protected] and
Cathy Burton, (707) 763-9082, [email protected]
RSVP with Wendy

Saturday Night Drama (Temporarily at capacity, sub list available)
Meets second Saturday
Date:2.09.24
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: ZOOM
Play: TBD
Chair: Kay Hardy, [email protected] or
(707) 981-7171

Craft Section: Cardworthy
Substitute List available
Meets first Wednesday
Chair: Corey Benjamin, [email protected]

EXECUTIVE BOARD

ELECTED OFFICERS
Co-Presidents: Stefanie Capps and Patsy Knight
Co-VPs, Programs: Jean Reed and Joanne Rooney
Co-VPs, Membership: Patti Pritchard and MaryAnn Kendall (Membership Treasurer)
Co-VPs, Funds: Marlene Abel and Rory Keller
Vice President, Finance: Corey Benjamin
Secretary: Pat Hanson

APPOINTED OFFICERS, GENERAL
DEI Coordinator: Kathleen VonRaesfeld
Hospitality: Michele Meyer and Noellene Sommer
Parliamentarian: Barbara Guggemos
Public Policy; Pam Granger
Sections Coordinator: Patty Shribbs
SRJC Liaison: Doris Tolks
SSU Liaison: Kris U'Ren
Tech Trek Coordinators: Dorothy Suarez and Hilary Blyth

APPOINTED OFFICERS, MEMBERSHIP
Database: Rory Keller
Member Concerns: Kathy Schmidt
New Members: Jan Everidge

APPOINTED OFFICERS, COMMUNICATION
Facebook/Instagram: Kris U'Ren
Gold Book Editor: Shayne Miller
Perspective Editors: Barbara Guggemos and Anne Taylor
Publications Sponsors: Dorothy Suarez
Publicity: Patricia Souza
Webmaster: Ray Hendess
Zoom Coordinator: Kathy Schmidt

AAUW Petaluma

210 West St, 94952, Petaluma

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