July/August 2023

Volume 41 Issue 7

UPCOMING EVENTS

July 4th Parade

Look for our AAUW entry in the Morgan Hill 4th of July Parade.

We'll be celebrating the star spangled women who have contributed to making America a better place - many of them AAUW members themselves!

If you would like to be a part of our float, email Suman and Krisse at parade@aauwmh.org.

July 15th Board Retreat

Join us as we plan for the 2023-2024 year at the annual Board Retreat on July 15 at Guild Mortgage.

Board members will set goals using our strategic plan and by analyzing the branch feedback survey. All members are welcome to participate.

Please RSVP to Suman, president@aauwmh.org, by July 12.

July 19th Wine and Whine

Join us this summer for fun, casual gatherings.

5:30 – 7:00 pm at two downtown locations. Cheers!

July 19 Bubbles and Brew

August 16 Craft Roots

RSVP to Cindy Adams

August 3rd New Member Meetup

The Membership and Leadership teams are preparing for the New Member Meet-Up on Thursday, August 3, at Guild Mortgage.

This event, held at the beginning of each AAUW year, encourages new members to network together and to learn about many of the Branch opportunities for involvement.

If you have joined in the last couple of years, watch for your special invitation!

August 22nd Morgan Hill Women's Week Program

Details about this program will be in August weekly emails.

PRESIDENT'S MESSSAGE

As Suman Ganapathy begins her second year as branch president, she looks back at the past year and ahead to the start of a new AAUW year.

Read message

BRANCH BUSINESS

We Welcome New Members

We Welcome Four More New Members:

Susan Gabbard, Karen George, Lisa Rick, and Michelle Stiefel.

Branch membership is now up to 191!

New member bios

2023-2024 Membership Renewals

Membership renewal dates are now determined by when a member joined AAUW, so there are currently seven different dates!

Sherrie Wren is contacting each member individually to remind them when it is time to renew. Most memberships expired June 30th, so if you have heard from Sherrie but have not yet renewed, please do so now.

Contact Sherrie for help.

2023-2024 Program Preview

The program committee is delighted to welcome Doris Fredricks as Co-VP, joining Nancy Altman.

A full slate of programs is planned for the upcoming year, including financial literacy, women's health, Sue's Story (one member's battle with Lewy body dementia), and presentations related to Climate Education and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

We look forward to seeing everyone at these events.

2023 Wildflower Run Final Report

Sandy Stoob registered 1200 participants, the most ever!
Run treasurer Peggy Martin reported gross income of $46,179 from registrations.
Corporate sponsors led by Amy Whelan brought in $32,100, a new record.
Members donated $17,029 to the Wildflower Fund campaign, chaired by Carol O’Hare.
Co-directors Joy Safakish and Janet Wright coordinated the run.

After all expenses, including one-time costs, the net amount from the 2023 WFR available to support branch projects is more than $61,000.

The next WFR is March 24, 2024.

Interest Group: Writers Workshop

Wednesday Writers Workshop, which went dark during the pandemic, is re-forming this summer/fall with the goal of establishing a space for writers to share their fiction/nonfiction and get some critique/feedback from our fellow writers.

We'll probably look to meet once or twice a month for a couple of hours, sometimes writing to a prompt.

Contact Susan Rife

CONNECTING WITH OUR MEMBERS

Spring Showers Bring May Flowers and the AAUW Luncheon

A lovely garden party at the home of Tessy Albin was well attended on May 6, despite a few sprinkles of rain.

We enjoyed delicious food; Marian Sacco announced the 2023 AAUW Honorees; newly elected officers were installed; and Barbara Palmer shared why she has become a member of the AAUW National Legacy Circle.

2023 AAUW Honorees

Four members were selected as 2023 AAUW Honorees for outstanding service to the branch and the community: Krisse Boursier, Bobbie Erb, Sherrie Wren, and Virginia Turner (member of Saratoga AAUW).

Read about the 2023 AAUW Honorees and why they were selected for this award.

Kathy Hansell is finally recovering at home after being hospitalized with pneumonia and spending a month in rehab.

On a more upbeat note, Kathy and her husband John celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on July 12.

Barbara Palmer recently spent five days in Amelia Island, Florida, celebrating 75th birthdays with college friends.

Lots of fun, laughter, food, cocktails, chatting and renewing 53 years of priceless friendship.

Susan Rife and husband Steve Kreidler traveled to Tasmania, the island state off the southern tip of Australia, in April, joined by daughter Christina, who lives in Melbourne. They visited Cradle Mountain and Freycinet National Parks and the lively cities of Launceston and Hobart.

Alissa Crispin’s painting of a pink hibiscus flower won second place (red ribbon) in its category at the San Mateo County Fair in June.

Evening Book Group met at Elsa Walton’s beautiful new patio on a chilly June night.

New Morgan Hill gateway signs, part of the Leadership Morgan Hill 2022 class project, have been installed and were officially received by the city in early June.

Tammy Parker, a class member, was sponsored by AAUW MH. Other branch members also participated in the LMH class: Amina Khemici, Katie Khera, Amy Martinez, and Harpreet Vittal.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 LMH class. If you are interested in learning about the branch LMH scholarship, contact Marian Sacco

GIVING BACK

Annual Tech Trek Ice Cream Social

Tech Trek campers and their parents gathered at the AAUW San Jose Headquarters for the Tech Trek Ice Cream Social, an annal event designed to foster connections among the girls and provide information about the upcoming camps.

Read about “snowball launchers” and this fun event and HERE.

Community Action Grants

AAUW MH supports local charitable organizations with Community Action Grants with funding for a program or activity that aligns with AAUW’s mission.

This year nine grants were awarded. Read about two of them: PA Walsh Elementary School Mini Mermaids Running Club and the Senior Advisory Committee’s Health and Wellness Fair.

Scholarships Awarded

Stacy Moeder, Scholarship Coordinator

Thanks to the success of the Wildflower Run fundraising and generous donations, we were able to award a total of $35,3000 for scholarships and grants in the upcoming year.

These include scholarships for high school seniors, women working on a STEM degree, or re-entering school after a break. Grants were also awarded to previous scholarships.

Our scholarship recipients are a talented, diverse group, both in their majors and choice of colleges. Congratulations to all for their hard work and determination!

Read about all the Local Scholarship and Grants.

What is NCCWSL?

Read about this AAUW program at the University of Maryland that was attended by Chinazom Ofobuki, a student at Gavilan College and supported by AAUW MH.