2024-06JunePerspective

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June 2024 - Volume 72, No. 10

AAUW event

June 15 - June program: All-Member Picnic, noon - 2 pm

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.

JUNE PROGRAM

All-Member Potluck Picnic

at McNear Park

Family and friends are welcome to join us as we celebrate another year of AAUW friends and accomplishments.

When: Sunday, June 15, Noon - 2 p.m. (or however long we want to stay)

Where: McNear Park (11th between F and G Streets)

What to bring:

A dish to share (your choice, with serving utensils)
Your own place setting (plate, cup, cutlery)
Water (in reusable bottle)
Hat, sunscreen, and lawn chair (if you are not a “bench” person)
Membership dues (if you have not yet renewed, this is the time to do it!)
Your favorite reusable or recyclable product for display (see EcoEd article)

Please RSVP by emailing Joanne

Click HERE if you can make it.

Click HERE if you cannot.

Program Co-VPs Jean Reed and Joanne Rooney

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Rumor has it that Patsy Knight can see the future. Ask her a question and she gets out her Magic 8 Ball and answers the question — turns the 8 Ball upside down and the answer magically appears.

Everyone in AAUW has the magical power to create the future for many individuals. Donating to causes makes it possible for girls to attend Tech Trek or NCCWSL and for women to continue their college education program.

Another way to create the future is by volunteering to help at Tech Trek by being a monitor. You can see the joy of future STEM professionals in a classroom setting. The workshops are created by people who love their craft. Tears in my eyes happened when the girls attended a dress rehearsal of a choir of 200 senior citizens performing together with the Santa Rosa Symphony Orchestra. It was powerful because some girls had never been to a live performance at Green Music Center.

Big Ideas are presented and it takes everyone to make it happen. We are the future by our own participation. Our own programs speak for themselves, but we have a mighty plus: we make friends.

Co-President Patsy Knight

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.

We're Digitizing our Archives!

Can You Help?

Next year will be an opportunity to explore and celebrate our past as we look to the future.

A year or two ago, Pat Riley and others formed a committee to gather artifacts (scrapbooks and memorabilia) and found help with digitizing materials through the organization, California Revealed. However, Pat Riley needs help with this process.

If you are interested in working on this project, please contact Pat at [email protected].

Co-President Stefanie Capps

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

MAY PROGRAM REVIEW

Annual Meeting Report

Did you know that the Petaluma Branch Annual Meeting would be full of laughter? Well, you should have been there!

50-year member Shirley Gross told how AAUW helped her adapt to the “cow town” of Petaluma.

Another 50-year member, Ettamarie Peterson, was unable to attend, but has similar memories.

Presidents Stefanie Capps and Patsy Knight entertained us with a new set of “Bookies” to thank members for support during the past year, matching personalities with fictional female characters. Patsy even shared an image of Stef as Emma Peel in her Catsuit!

To install our officers for next year, Doris Tolks presented each of them with a “survival kit”, including, among other essentials, a marble for when they feel they have lost theirs.

There were smiles of appreciation for our Named Gift Honorees.

Current Treasurer Corey Benjamin was described as a “force of nature” for her determination to protect Branch assets and long history of work for AAUW.

Sandy Smethurst’s award was received by her husband Don Duffala as we remembered Sandy’s generosity and commitment to the branch.

Celebration of our branch accomplishments will continue at the June 15 All-Member Picnic. Don’t miss it!

Program Co-VPs Jean Reed and Joanne Rooney

Dear Branch members,

I am honored to be one of your Named Gift Honorees, and thank you seems a small sentiment for such an award. It has been my pleasure to be a member of our Branch for 42 years, and your Finance VP for the last five. Being a member of AAUW Petaluma has gifted me with so many friendships; being part of a larger organization with a mission that benefits so many women and girls is the icing on the cake!

Thank you again! Corey

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 Member Election 2024

The votes have been tallied:

Melissa LaDuke, Dianne Owens, Sona Pancholy, and Christine Schmitz have been elected to serve on the AAUW National Board of Directors.
The open membership initiative did not pass. Changes to AAUW’s bylaws require 2/3 majority (66.6%) to pass. AAUW members voted 65.1% to approve the measure, just shy of passing.

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.

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

In Honor of Mrs. Helen M. Loorya

FUNDS REPORT

Successful 2024 Non-Event

Thanks to the amazing generosity of Petaluma AAUW members, we have an impressive grand total for the Non-Event this year! We finished with a total of $11,810, considerably more than last year's total of $9,080. Every gift matters, of course, large or small, or whether the donation supports college scholarships, attendance at Tech Trek, or the work of National AAUW. Thanks to all who gave!

Here are the final numbers:

Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation- $3,005

Petaluma Educational Foundation- $1,890

Sonoma State University Foundation- $2,390

National AAUW- $1,950

Tech Trek- $550

Petaluma AAUW Funds- $2,025

Grand Total- $11,810

At the Petaluma Community Awards presentation this month, a young student from Casa Grande High School and her father both personally thanked us for the $750 Petaluma AAUW Scholarship which comes from our Connie Mahoney Fund at PEF. As we know, the cost of college continues to rise, both in tuition and fees and in housing costs. It was a wonderful feeling to give this amazing, accomplished future mathematician our support and encouragement. Equally gratifying is our other scholarships for SRJC and SSU students and our gift to National and Petaluma AAUW to support our programs and mission. Thank you to all who participated.

Rory Keller & Marlene Abel, Co-VPs Funds

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

Current membership count:145

At our May 19 meeting special recognition was given to Shirley Gross and Ettamarie Peterson who have been members since 1974. National AAUW honored the two women for their strong commitment to education and equity for women and girls through 50 years of membership in AAUW. Shirley and Ettamarie join 13 other members who have a lifetime complimentary national membership. Congratulations!

Ettamarie was unable to attend the May meeting, but later fondly reminisced about how she joined AAUW soon after moving to Petaluma 52 years ago and how she and other young mothers used to gather in their living rooms to draw support from one another.

Patti Prichard and Mary Ann Kendall, Membership Co-VPs

FUNDS REPORT

Final Financial Report on This Year's Film Fest

The reimburseables for this year's film fest are submitted and paid. We can report that we made a profit of $2393. The actual costs varied a little from last year. Our new film company, No Man's Land, cost more than we spent on films last year. We built a custom package for $650 with NML's films, while last year the Luna Bar Company gave us a free first year for their standard package. Our ticketing company, Zeffy, came at no cost to us. We spent far less on publicity as we did more of the work ourselves, using some of No Man's Land''s materials. The auditorium rental was less because we only had one police officer on duty and the SRJC staff did less set-up for us. The increased costs and increased savings tended to offset each other.

While the Film Fest was a fundraiser for us, it offered other important benefits. It was wonderful publicity for Petaluma AAUW in getting our name out in the public view for offering thoughtful films on gender and LGBTQ issues. It was an event that involved our Petaluma community. It offered all of us a chance to see and think about challenges faced by others that are often less visible. What are the challenges of growing up deaf, or combining motherhood with being a professional athlete, or of pursuing active sports into one's seventies? I'm sure many of us who attended the Film Fest have strong memories of the stories.

Many thanks to everyone who attended, who encouraged family and friends to buy tickets, and who volunteered at the event. It was a group effort.

Funds Co-VPs Marlene Abel and Rory Keller

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

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

Finance Report

As of 4/30/2024, the checking account balance was $4,798.95 and the savings account balance was $5,617.39.

Corey Benjamin, Finance VP

AAUW Community Achievement Award Winner

Every year our Petaluma AAUW branch awards a community achievement award to an outstanding high school senior, and the Funds V-Ps have the honor of presenting this award.

This year's honoree was Taylor Beaube of Casa Grande High School. Taylor took honors, Advanced Placement and JC classes at Casa and will attend UC Berkeley in the fall with a major in mathematics. Outside of school she is a competitive dancer and volunteers every weekend in the Santa Rosa Food Distribution program. We both enjoyed meeting her.

Attending the awards ceremony was a heartwarming experience for both of us to see so many truly amazing high school seniors. Next year we will publicize the event in The Perspective so that other members can also be encouraged in seeing today's youth and hearing their dreams for the future and present achievements.

Marlene Abel and Rory Keller, Funds Co-VPs

Rory Keller and Marlene Abel (seated far right) presented a Community Achievement Award to our branch's honoree, Taylor Beaube (second row, 4th from left)

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

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)

SSU News

SSU launched a new program to provide diverse credentialed special education teachers with the SEEDS program (Seawolves to Education Specialists). In 2023, the Education Dept. received a $1million grant for the program. It provides special training and financial support to candidates in the program.

Also in the works - a student exchange with Tunghai University in Taiwan (SSU President Mike Lee’s alma mater!)

SSU Liaison Kris U'Ren

2024 Sonoma County School Board Candidate Information Session

In advance of the November 5 election, the Sonoma County Office of Education will host a free information session on Thursday, June 27, from 5:30pm to 7pm for any community members interested in running for their local school boards. REGISTER HERE.

Attendees will learn firsthand what it is like to serve on a school board from a panel of current board members who span the county and possess a spectrum of insight. In addition to the panel discussion, audience members will have an opportunity to hear from the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters about important candidate deadlines and requirements. Light refreshments will be available.

Registration Deadline: June 19, 2024

Member Concerns

A supportive member of the Petaluma Branch since 1977 and a CPA in Petaluma, Liz Marquardt passed away on May 2, 2024. She was a founding member of Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF), served on the Petaluma Board of Education for 20+ years, and was active in Rotary and the Soroptomists. A founding member of M Cubed Investment Group (a section in our Petaluma branch until personal investment groups could not be a part of AAUW), she continued as an M Cubed member (still comprised of AAUW members) until the day she died. Community service was in her DNA and she imparted that to her daughters, Christie and Carolyn. We were blessed with her wit and deft organization and she will be missed.

Heartfelt condolences go out to Sandy O'Hare whose husband, Jim, died on May 3, 2024. Commander S. James O'Hare, SC, USN was awarded numerous medals and commendations throughout his career in the US Navy, and was an instructor at SRJC and Golden Gate University.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Joann Stimson who passed away March 12, 2024. Joann was a "Founding Mother" of our Petaluma AAUW branch in 1955 and later served as President. She was active in a variety of sections and board positions in the early days and became an Honorary Life Member. Here's the link to her obituary:

Kathy Schmidt, Member Concerns

SINCERE THANKS TO OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS

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

Click HERE

GARDEN SECTION NEWS

JUNE IN THE GARDEN

Pat Hansen invites the Garden Section to visit her garden on June 12 at 2 pm. She has plants to share. Bring your cuttings, questions and a trowel.

Please RSVP to Pat at [email protected]

If you would like to join the Garden Section, please contact Patricia at [email protected].

Patricia Souza

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.

New EcoEd Section

How I found my cornstarch toothpaste

Have you ever wanted to recycle your toothpaste tube? This won't be a problem if you replace your conventional toothpaste with tooth tablets.

During discussion at the new EcoEd Section, we found that many of us have favorite eco-conscious products.

Won’t you join us by bringing your favorite reusable or recyclable product for display at the EcoEd table at the June picnic. Please include your story about where you found the item and what you like about it. On the leftt is an example from Dorothy Kennedy..

EcoEd was approved as a section at the May board meeting. EcoEd meets the second Tuesday of most months at 3 pm.

On June 11th EcoEd will meet at the home of Cathy Netz. Each member will bring a product or products that they use that are eco conscious, along with a brief description of why they like the product and where to obtain it. We will plan a display to be used at the picnic on June 15^th.

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

Sheila Bride, Founder and CFO
[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: TBD

Time: 4 p.m.

Host: Stefanie

Topic: TBD

Chair: Stefanie Capps, [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: 6.05.24
Place: TBD
Chair Norma Walsh [email protected]
(707) 766-6014

Thursday Bridge Group
Meets 3rd Thursday at 1 or 7 p.m.
Date: 6.20.24
Place: TBD
Chair: Jane Jernigan, [email protected],
(707) 778-0543

Friday Bridge Group
Meets 2nd Friday
Date: 6.14.24
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: 6.6.24
Time: 11:45
Place: Pub Republic, 3120 Lakeville Hwy

Wednesday group meets 2nd Wednesday

Date: 6.12.24

Time: 11:45

Place: Chan Chao Thai Restaurant,
610 Petaluma Blvd N.

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

LITERATURE SECTIONS

Evening Modern Literature Group
Meets 4th Monday
Date: 6.24.24
Place: Home of Cherry Baumann

Time: 7:00 p.m.
Book: Strange Flowers by Donal Ryan
Host: Cherry
Co-Chairs::Patricia Souza, [email protected] and Rory Keller, [email protected]
RSVP with Cherry, [email protected]

Morning Modern Literature Group
Meets 2nd Tuesday
Date: 6.11.24

Time: 10 a.m.
Place: Home of Anne Trujillo

Organizational Meeting
Host: Anne

Chair: Anne Trujillo [email protected]t
RSVP: Anne

WALKING SECTION

Friday Afternoon Walking Group

Meets most Fridays
Time: 4:30 p.m.

Rory Keller, [email protected] or

(707) 763-2072

MISCELLANEOUS OTHER SECTIONS

NEW SECTION FORMING

EcoEd (see article)

Meets 2nd Tuesdays at 3 pm

Date: 6.11.24

RSVP required
Cathy Netz: [email protected]

Art and History

Meets 3rd Fridays

De Young Museum, Fashioning San Francisco

Meeting place: Wilsey Court at the ground entrance of the museum

Date: 6.21.24

Time: 10:30 am

Carpool: Meet at Target in Petaluma

Time: No later than 8:15 am

Cost: $15 for seniors (may bring a friend if a member)

Host: Shelley Ford

Chairs: Rev. Melanie Donahoe, [email protected], and

Cathy Netz, [email protected]

RSVP with Cathy if you are carpooling from Target and/or staying for lunch

Garden Club

June in the Garden (plants to share, bring cuttings, questions, and trowel)

Date: 6.12.24 (Wed)

Time: 2 pm

Please contact Patricia if interested in joining the Garden Club section

Co-Chairs: Diana Brown [email protected],

(707) 774-4968, and Patricia Souza,
[email protected],

(707) 921-8499

MAKE IT Crafts Group

Date: TBD

Contact Kris for more information.

Chair: Kris U'Ren.[email protected]

Title Niners
Meets 3rd Wednesday (Postcarding)

Date: 6.19.24
Contact: Jean Reed, [email protected]

New Members Section

NEW! Meets 4th Thursday

We encourage all branch members to join in and welcome our new members!

Date: 6.20.24

Time: 10-11:30

Place : River Front Cafe, 224 B St. Petaluma

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]
Cathy Burton, (707) 763-9082,
[email protected]
RSVP with Wendy

Saturday Night Drama
Temporarily at capacity, sub list available
Meets second Saturday
Date: 6.08.24
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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