Sept-Oct 2011 Newsletter

AAUW – Colorado Springs Branch Newsletter

September/October 2011

Branch Meeting

September 17, 2011

Place:  MacKenzie Place

            1605 Elm Creek View

Time:   11:00 am registration;

lunch served at 11:30 am

Menu:  Salmon, Wild Rice Pilaf

Vegetable Wellington in Puff Pastry

On a bed of creamed spinach

Vegetable Mixture of Zucchini & Asparagus

MacKenzie’s Garden Salad

Dessert:  Pumpkin cheesecake & Apple turnovers

Coffee, Tea, water

Wine (extra)

Cost:   $22.50

Deadline: Tuesday, Sept. 13

Send checks (made out to AAUW) with your choice of either

Salmon or Vegetable Wellington to:

            Jeanne Marsh

            850 Timber Valley Rd.

            Colorado Springs, CO 80919

            719-590-7237

Branch Meeting September 17

Climate Change by Jacquie Ostram

Climate Change – What is it?  What can we expect?  What can we do about it?  Jacquie will explore a summary of scientific data and what the models predict for our future.  Then she will go into ways we can help mitigate our impact on the climate and ways for us to adapt and change our habits.

Jacquie Ostram has an impressive background.  She majored in Mathematics, in Atmospheric Science, as well as Counseling and Human Services. Her work history includes teaching mathematics at PPCC, being a software engineer for Ford Aerospace, HP, Cibar Inc., & El Paso Natural Gas, as well as consulting for the cities of Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs on renewable energy policies.  Her hobbies include being a weather spotter for National Weather Service, home weather research, hiking, cycling, playing the harp, travel, as well as being speaking French Spanish and Japanese.

Directions:   From the intersection of Union/Circle/Fillmore, go west on Fillmore, turn south on T-Gap and immediately turn left on Melissa Dr. into MacKenzie Place complex.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

We're NOT your grandma's AAUW! Someone suggested that could be the theme for the October Branch meeting, but I think it applies to ALL the activities planned for the 2011-2012 year. In this newsletter you will learn about the exciting programs planned for the next two months--and those are just the start. The directories, available at the September Branch meeting, will outline all the opportunities to get involved. This year's program committee, headed up by Jann Nance and Jean Koch, has done an outstanding job. Our web mistress, Su Piercy, is working to update our web page www.aauwcoloradosprings.org and to establish our presence on Facebook. Check it out! See you in September!

Pauleta Terven

All Member Coffee & Branch Meeting

October 8, 2011

Place: Trianon (Ad. Bldg.)

    Colorado Springs School

    21 Broadmoor Avenue

Time: 9:10-9:30 - Register

9:30-10:10 - Coffee &     Conversations

10:10 – Welcome by   President Pauleta

Introduce New & Prospective Members

10:15 – Presentation on Public Policy

10:45 – Interest Groups  10:50-11:30 – Coffee, Conversation, Browse Interest Group Displays

Menu:

Coffees and Teas

Assorted Pastries, Muffins Cheese and Yogurt

Cost: $10.00 for current members. (Write check made out to AAUW)

Free for new and prospective members

Deadline: Send reservations by October 4 to Jeanne Marsh (see below) with your name, check, and name of a prospective member you may have invited.  New members please send your name only and identify yourself as a new member.

Jeanne Marsh

850 Timber Valley Road

Colorado Springs, 80919

(719) 590-7237

ALL MEMBER COFFEE “PLUS”

This will be an exciting “ALL MEMBER” gathering for coffee, friendship, and AAUW information.  We will all welcome our new members and invite prospective members to learn more about AAUW.  Amy Blackwell, State Public Policy Director and National Board Member will be with us and give a Presentation about AAUW’s Mission and Vision at the State and National Level.  All of us (old, new, and prospective members) will enjoy and learn from her presentation. 

Then, Lani Manning, Interest Group coordinator, will give an overview of the many Interest Groups of our local branch.  Each Interest Group is invited to set up a display in the Claremont Room to share information about their group. There will be plenty of time before and after the presentation for conversations with old and new friends and discussions with Interest Groups members.

The Historic Trianon at the Colorado Springs School will be the beautiful location for this “All Member Coffee Plus.”  This beautiful 22,000 square foot mansion was build by Charles and Virginia Baldwin in 1907 and is a scaled down version of the Grand Trianon at Versailles.  It was purchased by The Colorado Springs School in 1967.  Coffees and teas with assorted pastries and muffins will be served in the Versailles Room.  Interest Group displays will be in the Claremont Room, and the Terrace Room will be the gathering area to meet and greet old, new, and prospective members.  If weather is permitting, we will also enjoy the outside Terrace with the beautiful lawns and mountain vistas.

Directions:  From South Nevada - Go West on Lake Avenue towards the Broadmoor Hotel.  Then turn left (south) as you go through the 2^nd Round About on to Berthe Circle.  Berthe Circle later curves right (west).  Then turn left again on Hutton Lane.  The first right is the entrance to The Colorado Springs School.  The Trianon is the Administration Building facing the entrance. You may park in front and there is more parking on the north side of the building in the gravel lot.  The main entrance is on the East side but the West side entrance has only 3 steps to enter.

Volunteers from AAUW are needed for a variety of tasks to make the day’s events run smoothly: experts in a STEM field to teach a class to the girls; hands to help assemble packets for the girls and for teachers in the days before the event; volunteers to act as guides and “crowd control” the day of the event, to bring the girls to classrooms, direct teachers and chaperones, help with registration or meal service. 

If you have some time to volunteer, for a few hours or for a whole day, to help these young girls gain a new perspective on a career in the sciences, please call Lindy Conter at 594-9443 or email Nora Gledich at noragledich@gmail.com by October 1.

President Pauleta Terven and President-Elect Pam Doane represent us at AAUW National Convention in Washington, D.C.

PUBLIC POLICY CORNER

By Cara Koch, Director of Public Policy

    Are you a Grandmother who is concerned about your grandchildren’s education?

If your grandchildren

-        live in various parts of the country;

-       if they have moved from one area of the country to another

or

-             you have kept up-to-date on the status of education in the US

you are probably aware of the wide variety of educational standards (or lack thereof),

depending on the school district or state in which a school is located.           

AAUW has a unique opportunity to participate in a local effort--part of a national effort--to address current problems with our educational system:

Colorado Springs AAUW members are invited to attend a meeting sponsored by the local League of Women Voters regarding the League’s upcoming study on THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN EDUCATION.  The meeting will be on Saturday, November 19, at Slocum Hall on the Colorado College campus.

As Public Policy Director, I am open to creating a Public Policy Committee that can take an active role with the League as they pursue their study.  The findings of this study will be helpful to AAUW in our advocacy efforts regarding education.

Please call me at 531-6374 if you are interested in attending the November 19^th meeting and/or if you are interested in learning more about the Public Policy Committee.

NOTE:

If you have not paid your AAUW dues for the 2011-2012 year, this is the last newsletter you will receive.  You must be a current member of AAUW to participate in our Interest Groups.

Local Scholarships

Via Treasurer Gay Hatcher your generous Local Scholarship contribution of $2000.00 to Sarah Lang (Nursing), this year’s $1000.00 winner, and to Sarah Gehrke (Chemistry) and Jill Mathena (Education), our $500.00 winners, has been sent to these students’ UCCS accounts. I’m sure that you join me in wishing these intelligent, hard-working, and charming women well in this next academic year.

Now we are looking to the future: Our Local Scholarship applications will be due March 31, 2012, and the forms will be on the non-state scholarship website at UCCS and PPCC as well as our own local AAUW website by the end of November 2011. Meanwhile, our attention is on fund-raising. Thanks to many kind members, more than enough money for one $500.00 scholarship was contributed along with dues. Thanks, I hope, to kind and interested AAUW members and our community, Local Scholarships will receive further contributions from a successful Author’s Day in November.

Although American Association of University Women has “branch”ed out to give different kinds of support to women and girls, a central part of our mission has always been to help women achieve a higher education. National does a terrific job of awarding $3.6 million in 230 fellowships and grants to women and non-profit organizations. These fall under the American Fellowships (including the Judith F. Sanderson Fellowship), Career Development Grants, Community Action Grants, International Fellowships, and Selected Professions Fellowships. Last year American Fellowships gave fellowships and grants to about 5% of their applicants in the form of dissertation fellowships, post-doctoral fellowships, and publication grants for an average award of a bit under $19,000. International Fellowships gave awards to about 3% of their applicants for an average of a bit over $19,000. Selected Professions Fellowships are given at various stages of graduate training in designated fields in which there are few women, namely, architecture, computer and information sciences, engineering, mathematics, and statistics, and were awarded to 29% of the applicants. Undergraduates are not eligible for any of these awards given by the Educational Foundation of AAUW-National, and so I feel that our branch can support the AAUW mission of helping women achieve a higher education by extending our support to local undergraduate women at UCCS and PPCC. Both tiers—national AAUW fellowships and grants AND Local Scholarships—certainly deserve any contributions that you can afford to make. They/we do good work!

Joann Oh, Local Scholarship Chair

MEMBERS, YOU CAN HELP!

If you currently receive this newsletter in print form, please consider switching to the electronic version. An advantage to you is that it will arrive as soon as it's created. An advantage to everyone is that it will save on printing and mailing expenses and the time required to deliver the copy to the printer, pick up the completed newsletters from the printer, and folding, stamping and mailing of the newsletters. It's easy to make the change. Just e-mail junehallenbeck@comcast.net with your request and your e-mail address. If you have concerns about how to open or print the newsletter, help is available. Please give it a try. You can switch back if you don't like the electronic version.

Great Decisions Needs YOU!

Please consider stepping up to chair this very popular interest group that meets twice a month, Feb. thru May.  You need not be a foreign policy expert.  The only requirement is a willingness to do a bit of coordinating.  Secure a venue, order books, pop in the DVD – what could be easier?  Before Feb. rolls around, you’ll still have time for that fall trip to Europe and winter golf in AZ.  Call me for details before I call you!

Lani Manning, Interest Group Coordinator

719 213-3142

lani.manning@remax.ne

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

Welcome Our New Members

Miriam G. dePlomb  (Gene Yelken)
2763 Fawn Grove Ct 80906 B'day: 8/10
Phone: 226-0304

Email: GDYMLG@Q.com

Miriam received her BA (Liberal Arts & Education) from the University of Chicago, her MA (Education) from San Diego State University and her MS (Library Science) from USC in Los Angeles. She is a retired elementary teacher and school librarian. She volunteers at the La Jolla Music Society and the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. She also belongs to PILLAR, Cheyenne Mountain Newcomers and the Colorado Springs Chorale. Miriam is interested in Arts & Entertainment, Dining & Food, Hiking, History, Literature and Politics.

Charlotte R. Gagne (Remi)

12620 Bridle Bit Road CS/CO 80908-3233

Phone: 641-7570    B'day: 4/25

Email: chargagne@q.com

Charlotte obtained her BS in Home Economics Education from CalPoly in San Luis Obispo, CA. This was followed with her Secondary Education teaching credential from Cal State University in San Jose, CA. She followed this up with an MA in Marriage, Family & Child Counseling from University of Santa Clara in Santa Clara, CA. Finally, she has a MA in Special Ed from UCCS. She is a retired teacher (District 20). She volunteers for OWVPPR and was Precinct chair for the Democratic Party in 2008. She is a member of LWVPP and Artemis. She was a member of AAUW (CS) during the 80's. She is interested in Arts & Entertainment, Dining & Food, Hiking, Travel and Book Club. She is willing to assist with Hospitality and Scholarship.

Sandra Johannsen
5227 Bancroft Heights 80906 B'day: 3/19
Phone: 538-4418   Cell: 964-0958

Email: sandyfigarola@hotmail.com

Sandy graduated from Salve Regina College in Newport, RI with a BS/BSN, added a M.Ed in SPED from University of Virginia. She works as a marriage/family/child therapist and grief/crisis counselor. She is a member of DAMFT and AAMFT. She is interested in Arts & Entertainment, Hiking and Travel. She is willing to assist with Community and Scholarship committees.

Bonnie Kittel
3841 Pearl Drive, 80918  B'day: 8/3
Phone: 528-1242  Cell: 338-4023

bmkittel@comcast.net
Bonnie is a retired 4th grade teacher and a CSFAC Docent. She graduated from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and Lesley College in Cambridge MA. She is interested in Arts & Entertainment, Hiking and Travel, along with CO history.

Ruth Tarcza
7055 Cotton Dr. 80923  B'day: 3/3
Phone: 597-7064  Cell: 233-3499
Email: ruth_tarcza@comcast.net

Ruth is semi-retired, volunteers at Women's Ministry-Church; Mentoz and Liza's Place. She's also a member of Pikes Peak Over The Hill Gang. She is a University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI) grad in Business & Retailing. She received her M.Ed from the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN). Ruth is interested in Arts & Entertainment, Dining & Food, Hiking, Literature, Technology, Travel, other cultures, gardening and interior design- WHEW! Ruth is going to be one, busy lady!

Ann Lee Washburn

2210 W. Pikes Peak Ave, CS/CO 80904

Cell: 941-524-2253   B'day: 4/9

ANNLEEWASHBURN@hotmail.com

Ann is now retired. She received her BS in Home Ec from Purdue University in Lafayette IN. She then received a certificate in Physical Therapy from University of Southern California in Los Angeles CA. She is a member of AAUW (Manatee Branch in Florida). Ann is a friend of Arline Granberg She is interested in Arts & Entertainment, Dining & Food, Hiking, History, Literature and Travel.

Monday:        HARDY HIKERS: C: Charla Dowds, 574-7568

5          No Hike

            12        Hike Mt. Rosa.  Call Jann Nance, 5286443

            19        Hike Palmer Reservoir.  Call Michele Strub, 481-0408

            26        Hike Lost Creek Wilderness.  Call Cara Koch, 531-6374

Tuesday

6          COMPUTER GROUP II:  9:30 a.m. C: Barbara Dieter.    H: Betty Peterson, 2705 Ridgecrest Ct., 599 -937.

13        POTPOURRI BOOK GROUP: 1:00 p.m. C: Darlene Aspedon, 471-7192. H: Jeanne Marsh.  B: Too Deep for Tears – Kathryn Davis.  DL: Shirley Semonchik

            DINNER BOOK CLUB: C: Kay Atteberry, 599-3187, kayatteberry@aol.com.  Dinner at P J's Bistro, 819 Manitou Ave. 685-9494 at 5:45 p.m. B: The Zoo Keeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman.   RSVP Kay Atteberry. 599-3187 or kayatteberry@aol.com

27        UFO’S (UNFINISHED OBJECTS): 1:00 p.m. C: Wynn Weidner, 598-5259, wynnweidner@q.com.  H: Susan Sommerfield, 613 Del Norte St, Fountain, 390-2955, gg04nrkm@juno.com.

Wednesday:

            AMIABLE AMBLERS: C: Kay Atteberry, 599-3187.

7          Hike the Springs of Manitou Springs. We will walk around the city sampling the springs.  Meet at Safeway West Colorado at 9:00 a.m.  Lunch at Adam’s Mountain Café. Call Linda Shane, 355-9287

28        Hike Mueller State Park.  Meet at Safeway W, Colorado at 9:00 a.m. to carpool.  Lunch in Woodland Park TBA. Call June Hallenbeck, 598-2979

14        SOUTHWEST STUDIES: 2:00 p.m. C: Jean Reynolds, 598-1784. H: Kim Reid, 13736 Paradise Villas Grove.  Topic: Maria the Potter. Presenter: Shirley Kielcheski.

21    LUNCHEON NOVEL I: 11:45 a.m.  Co-chairs:  Mary Eiber, 597-1730 & Georgina Burns, 598-7773. H: Nadine McCarter, 473-0164. Co-H: Diane Swaim, 599-8876. B: Each member is to select a book by Janet Evanovich and present a brief synopsis of the book.  Further discussion will follow.

      AFTERNOON READERS: 1:30 p.m. C: Joyce Johnson, joycejohnson@msn.com . H/DL: Michele Strub, 15625 Falcon Ridge Ct.  B: How to Bake a Perfect Life – Barbara O’Neal.

28    LUNCHEON NOVEL TOO:  12:00 p.m. C: Judie Werschky, 632-9989, judiewer@aol.com.  H/DL: Kathy McBride, 7025 Raven Hills Pl., 598-4654, mcbrik@earthlink.net. Co-H: Vicky Collier, 597-5220, vrcollier@earethlink.net.  B: April 1865– Winik (non-fiction) (Note date change)

CHOCOLATE LOVERS: Co-chairs: Ellie Solomon - 630-7465, elron3@msn.com & Sally Mathewson -473-0228, mathewson3@juno.com. No Meeting this month.

Thursday:

8          THURSDAY BRIDGE GROUP: 10:00 a.m. C: Ilene Steinkruger, 332-8613. H: Cyndy Estes at the La Posada Club House.  AAUW members interested in becoming bridge substitutes, call or email Ilene: ijas@comcast.net.

MAH JONGG: 1 p.m., Patty Jewett Clubhouse, C: Jan McKenzie, 597-7161, janzie@att.net 

15        COMPUTER GROUP: 9:30 a.m. C: Aileen Maley, 227-0759, H: Susan Sommerfield, 613 Dell Norte, Fountain, CO, 80817, 390-2955. gg04nrkm@juno.com

FILM GROUP: 1:00 p.m. East Library. C: Marti Ficklin, 337-2129, martifick@hotmail.com and Jean Reynolds, 598-1784, jreyno1932@aol.com. H: TBA.   Members view and discuss arts, foreign and independent films.

            MAH JONGG: 1 p.m., Patty Jewett Clubhouse, C: Jan McKenzie, 597-07161, janzie@att.net 

Friday:

2          EXPLORING LIVES AND CULTURES:  10:00a.m., East Library.  C: Jan McKenzie,  597-7161 or janzie@att.net .  Just Like Us: The True Story of Four Mexican Girls Coming of Age in America by Helen Thorp

16        LOCAL HISTORY: C: Darlene Aspedon, 471-7192. Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp south of Divide. History, tour and lunch ($7.25).  Bring $6.00 for your driver and any amount you might like to donate to the camp.  Try to have 5 and 1 dollar bills, please.  Park in the north or northeast of the parking lot for Walgreens, 3143 W. Colorado.  Please be there in time to leave PROMPTLY at 9 a.m.  For reservations call or email Barbara Kafka, 574-0506, franticfrancis@msn.com on or before Sept. 8^th if you plan to stay for lunch.  You may call by the 14^th if only going for the program.  Thank you.

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME IN COMPUTER INTEREST GROUP

Are you technology challenged or technology savvy? In either case, there's a place for you in the computer interest group. We meet on the 3rd Thursday at 9:30 for about two hours. We share our successes and failures and sometimes present a new website or helpful software. All kinds of technology are covered, including iPods and TVs. One time we learned how to use our new Xfinity On Demand feature! If you'd like to try us out, contact chairman Aileen Maley, amaley555@msn.com.

Note:  The AAUW Bridge Group that meets on the 2^nd Thursday of the month from 10:00 am. to 2:00 p.m. is looking for more substitutes.  If you are interested, contact Ilene Steinkruger at 332-8613 or ijas@comcast.net.

Monday:        HARDY HIKERS: C: Charla Dowds, 574-7568

3          Hike Mueller State Park.  Call Janet Condit, 277-7590

            10        Hike Newlin Creek.  Call Charla Dowds, 574-7568

            17        Hike Palmer Lake/Greenland Spur to 105.  Call Ruth Levy, 488-2355

            24        Hike Talon Trail (Cheyenne Mt. State Park).  Call Jean Koch, 540-9289

            31        Planning Meeting/Pulpit Rock.  Call Jann Nance, 528-6443

Tuesday:

4          COMPUTER GROUP II:  9:30 a.m. C: Barbara Dieter.  H: Berneice Yoder, 3915 N Midsummer Lane, 380 9110.

11        POTPOURRI BOOK GROUP: 1:00 p.m. C: Aspedon, 471-7192.  H: Kathy Kreps  B: Room – Emma Donoghue.  DL: Kathy Kreps

            DINNER BOOK CLUB: C: Kay Atteberry, 599-3187, kayatteberry@aol.com.  Dinner at Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano 1805 Briargate Pkwy. 262-9500.  B: The Hunger Games (Book I) by Suzanne Collins (All Pikes Peak Reads).  RSVP Kay Atteberry. 599-3187 or kayatteberry@aol.com

25        UFO’S (UNFINISHED OBJECTS): 1:00 p.m. C: Wynn Weidner, 598-5259, wynnweidner@q.com.  H: Jan McKenzie, 2908 Enchanted Circle W., 597-7161, janzie18@msn.com.

Wednesday:

            AMIABLE AMBLERS: C: Kay Atteberry, 599-3187.

5          Hike TBA after August planning meeting.

26        Hike TBA after August planning meeting.

12        SOUTHWEST STUDIES: 2:00 p.m. C: Jean Reynolds, 598-1784. H: Vicky Collier, 3550 David Lane. Topic: Bandelier. Presenter: Vicky Collier

19    LUNCHEON NOVEL I: 11:45 a.m.  Co-chairs:  Mary Eiber, 597-1730 & Georgina Burns, 598-7773 H: Ellie Solomon 630-7465. Co-H: Sally Mathewson 473-0228 Book: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. DL:TBD

LUNCHEON NOVEL TOO:  12:00 p.m. C: Judie Werschky, 632-9989, judiewer@aol.com..  H/DL:  Mary Wood, 220 Raven Hills Rd, 593-7948, gregoryandmary@gmail.com.  Co-H: Kathy McBride, 598-4654, mcbrik@earthlink.net.  B: Luncheon of the Boating Party – Vreeland.

      AFTERNOON READERS: 1:30 p.m. C: Joyce Johnson, joycejohnson@msn.com . H/DL: Darlene Aspedon, 43 W. Boulder..  B: Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Commanches – S.G. Gwunne.

26        CHOCOLATE LOVERS: 3:00 pm Co-chairs: Ellie Solomon - 630-7465, elron3@msn.com & Sally Mathewson - 473-0228, mathewson3@juno.com Hostess: Gini Simonson, 1525 Woodrose Ct. Come enjoy afternoon tea and chocolate. Please RSVP to Gini, 481-8843, gini.jim@comcast.net

Thursday:

13        THURSDAY BRIDGE GROUP: 10:00 a.m. C: Ilene Steinkruger, 332-8613. H: Ilene Steinkruger, 2265 Mesa Rd., 332-8613, ijas@comcast.net.  AAUW members interested in becoming bridge substitutes, call or email Ilene: ijas@comcast.net.

MAH JONGG: 1 p.m., Patty Jewett Clubhouse, C: Jan McKenzie, 597-7161, janzie@att.net 

20        COMPUTER GROUP: 9:30 a.m. C: Aileen Maley, 227-0759. TBA

FILM GROUP: 1:00 p.m. East Library. C: Marti Ficklin, 337-2129, martifick@hotmail.com and Jean Reynolds, 598-1784, jreyno1932@aol.com. H: Joan Capesius, 576-2621.  Members view and discuss arts, foreign and independent films.

            MAH JONGG: 1 p.m., Patty Jewett Clubhouse, C: Jan McKenzie, 597-07161, janzie@att.net 

Friday:

7          EXPLORING LIVES AND CULTURES:  10:00a.m., East Library  C: Jan McKenzie,  597-7161 or janzie@att.net  Book to be determined

21        LOCAL HISTORY: C: Darlene Aspedon, 471-7192. Woodpecker Hill section of Greenwood Cemetery in Canon City where former prisoners are buried.  Also in this cemetery is the grave of James Peabody, governor during the Colorado Labor War of 1903-4.  Tom Monaco, Canon City resident, will tell us stories about these people and others buried there as we tour the cemetery.  Lunch is optional at Le Petit Chablis.  Meet in the parking lot east of Sears Southgate in time to leave there PROMPTLY at 9 a.m.  Call Darlene Aspedon, 471-7192 or Shirley Semonchik, 471-4747.