june 2013 monthly newsletter http://dawca.aauw.net
TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 2013 M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R H T T P : / / D A W -‐ C A . A A U W . N E T
! ! ! DANVILLE-ALAMO-WALNUT CREEK
INSTALLATION OF EXECUTIVE BOARD
AND
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
MAY 30, 2013
FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: http://daw-ca.aauw.net
If there can be a “Christmas in July,” perhaps there can be a “New Year” in June. Following tradition, a new AAUW board was approved and installed in late spring and united this month for its Dirst planning session, beginning a new year. We thank our outgoing president, Holly Sauer, for her leadership. We welcome our new executive board and appointed board members and thank them for accepting their positions. We appreciate the Installing Committee under the leadership of Martha (Gus) Slavin: Anne Long, Norma Spencer, Jan Hersh, Loretta Lewis, Judy Garrigues, Lynn Goodwin, Dora-‐Thea Porter and Marian Bliss. It was a privilege to have Installing OfDicers, Mary Mix and Marcia Steinhardt, conduct the honors with their creative presentations.
There were many recognized at the Installation: our 9 local scholarship recipients, 50 year members Mimi Knox, Judy Finch, and Barbara Nexsen, as well as signiDicant contributors. The 2013 and 2014 Garden Tour chairs, Mary Holzheimer and Kathy McKnight, received the high honor of Branch Member Recognition for their very successful Mothers’ Day weekend Garden Tour. Danville-‐Alamo-‐Walnut Creek AAUW is outstanding in its fund-‐raising efforts because of all our contributors and volunteers giving time and energy throughout the year. We wish you a good summer and we will see you at the Branch Annual Brunch on Saturday, September 21 at Crow Canyon Country Club. Co-‐Presidents Loretta Altshuler and Karen Large, 2013-‐2014
Sugarloaf Open Spaceby Gayle MuehringDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek branch member
Recognized as one of six nationwide winners of AAUW Art Contest 2013, this image is featured on AAUW note cards.
Message from the Co-Presidents June 2013
Elected Board Officers 2013-2014Elected Board Officers 2013-2014Elected Board Officers 2013-2014
Co-Presidents Loretta Altshuler Karen Large
President Elect Mary Ellen Blake
Co-Vice Presidents Program Mimi Knox Jo-Anne Lyons
Co-Vice Presidents Membership Susan Terzuoli Liz Williams
AAUW Funds Vice President Carol Kennedy
Co-Secretaries Olga Erbe Nell Fraser
Treasurer Joyce Tenney
The Danville-‐Alamo-‐Walnut Creek branch of AAUW recently awarded nine Local Scholarships to women from our area. Funds for these scholarships came from the proceeds of our Holiday Home Tour and quilt drawing. The scholarship recipients were selected based upon their educational goals, scholastic achievements, and community involvement. We are grateful to all who attended the Holiday Home Tour and made these scholarships possible. Our branch is honored to help these young women to continue in their academic careers. The scholarship recipients are as follows:Stephanie Wraith, a 2011 graduate of San Ramon Valley High School, is majoring in Biology with a concentration in Global Health at William and Mary College. She later plans to obtain a Ph.D. and become an Epidemiologist. She was the recipient of the Jane Trittipo Scholarship, targeted for women pursuing a career in science, as well as a recipient of a 2013 Local Scholarship. Nicole Aha, a 2010 graduate of Monte Vista High School, is a junior at UC Davis with a major in Environmental Science and Management. She plans to become an Environmental Consultant. Amelia Arveson, a 2011 graduate of California High School, will begin her junior year at the University of Kansas this fall with a major in Journalism. She has already interned at Diablo Magazine and Pleasanton Magazine.Katie Brandenburg, a 2010 graduate of Monte Vista High School, attends St. Mary’s College, Moraga where she recently completed her junior year abroad in London and Florence with a double major in International Area Studies and History. After graduation she plans to obtain a Masters degree in Art History or Museum Studies. Christine Connolly, a 2010 graduate of Carondelet High School, has completed her third year at the University of Oklahoma and is majoring in Biology. She plans to become a medical doctor. Allison Moeller, a 2010 graduate of Las Lomas High School, is majoring in International Developmental Studies with minors in Spanish and Political Science at UCLA. She plans to work in international non-‐proDit management. Natalie Powell, a 2009 graduate of Northgate High School and of UC Davis in 2012, majored in History and is pursuing a Master of Public Policy Degree at King’s College, London before beginning a career in education policy. Angela Steinhart, a 1991 graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, is pursuing a Masters of Occupational Therapy at SJSU. She plans to work as an occupational therapist. Caitlin Walsh, a 2010 graduate of Monte Vista High School, is a junior at Cal Poly but holds senior standing. She is double majoring in Anthropology and Geography and plans to earn an advanced degree and become an anthropologist.
2013 Local Scholarships Awardedby B. Lynn Goodwin-‐Brown
Pat Snyder MSN, was the speaker at our recent Public Policy program. Pat represents an advocacy group that is pushing for a single-‐ payer plan for universal healthcare at the state level in California.
Below are the highlights of the healthcare law:
The new law affects people under 65 years of age.
The Affordable Healthcare law (ACA) offers coverage to everyone (except undocumented immigrants). It does this through employer coverage, expansion of Medicaid for people below the poverty line (raises the threshold of poverty line), and new state health insurance exchanges. It establishes insurance reform so that no one can be denied coverage for pre-‐existing conditions. It also extends the parents’ beneDits to all children up to 26 years of age.
The new plan offers comprehensive coverage by establishing a national beneDits standard. It allows a choice of 4 different beneDit levels with different levels of cost sharing. Total cost sharing is capped and annual and lifetime limits on beneDits are eliminated.
To make the coverage affordable, the law limits the percentage of income spent on insurance and offers sliding scale subsidies to purchase insurance through the exchanges with incomes up to 400% of the poverty line.
The law eliminates insurance abuses by prohibiting denials and exclusions and discriminatory premium ratings. It increases transparency, accountability and mandates 80% of the premium to go for direct patient care. A new appeals process to challenge claims denials is included in the law.
Medicare, which is essentially a single-‐ payer system, does not change. The law lowers the rate of increases in the reimbursement formula and implements a global cap on spending.
The ACA supports continued research for improvement in the delivery and outcomes of care. It increases prevention and wellness services.
Resources:
1. www.healthreform.kff.org
2. www.coveredcalifornia.com
3. www.ConsumerReports.com
4. www.obamacarefacts.com/affordablecareact-‐summary.php
Public Policy: The Affordable Healthcare Actby Asha Bajaj
Our 13th Annual Garden Tour took place over Mother’s Day weekend and it was a resounding success! Many deserving young women scholars will beneDit from the $19,160 that was raised. We extend heartfelt thanks to the following members and volunteers who stepped forward to make the tour possible:
Linda Reeve purchased, donated and put together all of the lovely drawing items and baskets. Thanks to Linda’s generosity, the drawing raised $2,695.
Dora-Thea Porter created all of the beautiful print media used to advertise the tour, including postcards, Dlyers, posters, and the brochure/ticket that included the easy-‐to-‐follow garden map. Thank you, Tena Gallagher and Connie Cady for setting up the directional signs and balloons at all Dive of our tour homes.
Once again this year, Carol Highton recruited local restaurants that supported the tour by offering special discounts to our guests.
Many thanks are sent to Melanie Wade for keeping our web page up to date and to Roseann Krane and Soni Leighton who supported the tour by publishing our eBlasts to the membership and offering gentle reminders to the co-‐chairs when our Advocate articles were due!
External publicity was handled by the ever-‐efDicient Mary Granzatto, who did an outstanding job of submitting tour articles to various local media outlets. We received quite a few calls thanks to Mary’s articles and postings.
Fresh from handling ticket sales from December’s Holiday Home Tour, the dynamic duo of Mary Mix and Marcia Steinhardt pulled double-‐duty by offering to lead ticket sales for the Garden Tour as well. Our ticket chairs interacted with the East Bay Flower Company, who has graciously handled our in-‐person ticket sales for the past few years.Our fundraising tours would not be possible were it not for the wonderful docents who greeted our guests with a smile while keeping a watchful eye over the beautiful gardens that were entrusted to them. A special thank you is sent to our Head
Docents, who were assigned to each garden:
Marsha Anderson, Mary Ellen Blake, Anna Freitas, Roseann Krane, and Chris Winter took care of all the speciDic details on both days of the tour and we appreciate your efforts! Our docents were Loretta Altshuler, Angela Anatasion, Asha Bajaj, Jessica Barrett, Sylvia Benzler, Nancy Bocanegra, Carol Boniglio, Kayrene Braden, Pam Burdusis, Hazel Chappell, Beth Clark, Sharon Cohune, Joan Conley, Fari Falaki, Bette Felton, Ilene Ferguson, Norma George, Nancy Goreth, Mary Granzatto, Robin Halloran, Jo Harberson, Kathy Harkins, Katie Holzheimer, Jarilyn Jennison, Carol Kennedy, Sandy Killoran, Karen Large, Karen Larkin, Soni Leighton, Mala Marcus, Marilyn McCurdy, Laurie Miller, Bev Nidick, Marsha Riley, Caroline Sanchez, Holly Sauer, Judy Simkin, Marjorie Singler, Marcia Steinhardt, Jane Stimpson, Susan Terzuoli, Joyce Tenney, Mary Twist, Melanie Wade, Barbara Welch, Liz Williams and Sharon Zhao.
This year our “Heroes of the Tour” were our shuttle drivers. With happy smiles on their faces and a great deal of patience, they directed parking and drove guests to and from two of our gardens, all the while answering general AAUW and garden-‐speciDic questions. Mary Ellen Blake, Lynn Goodwin, Kathie Hixon, Eric Holzheimer, Katie Holzheimer, Soni Leighton, Ernie Nidick, Kim Sauer, Paul Sauer and Sharon Zhao, we can’t thank you enough!
What’s a garden tour on a warm, spring weekend without some tasty, cool refreshments? We thank Loretta Lewis and Holly Sauer for organizing this effort. Loretta provided a welcoming environment for our guests and Holly organized the refreshment donations. We thank everyone who provided the delicious treats and Arlene Barnett, Beth Clark, Carol Highton, Pat Madsen, Kim Sauer, Barbara Stumpf and Cathy Taughinbaugh for serving as hostesses at the refreshment house.
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Our 13th Annual Garden Tour ~ It’s a Wrap!by Mary Holzheimer
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Memories of our tour are captured forever thanks to the creative talents of Marian Bliss, our ofDicial Tour Photographer. Marian carefully researched each garden, visiting each one during the tour to take some spectacular pictures. Thank you, Marian!
And Dinally, we are indebted to our wonderful Garden Tour homeowners for sharing their beautiful treasures with us: Carol Berkowitz, Jana and Tony Haertl, Karen Levy, Dick and Katie Radler and Kathy and Jonathan Till. Words cannot express our appreciation for your kind hospitality and support!
As we wrap up this year’s tour and begin planning for 2014, we are reminded of our mission to provide academic scholarships for
deserving young women scholars. We are indeed fortunate to have so many supportive members and friends who are willing to share their time and talent to ensure that our mission is carried out. We thank you for making this possible!
Your Garden Tour Co-‐Chairs,
Mary Holzheimer and Kathy McKnight
We are now taking sign-ups for next year’s Garden Tour on May 9 and May 10, 2014. If you’d like to serve as a docent, provide a refreshment, or know a homeowner that has a garden that we could feature on next year’s tour, please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].
We are now taking sign-ups for next year’s Garden Tour on May 9 and 10, 2014
GARDENS
GAZEBO
POOLSIDE PERGOLA
SERENE STEPS
PARKLIKE GROUNDS
MEETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Call now for your free estimate
925-297-4729 Patrick and Iris Stone, Owners
www.MAIDS.com®
Ask about your AAUW discount!
Proud participant of Cleaning for a Reason.
SAVE THE DATE, SAVE YOUR BOOKS AND SHHH, HEAR THE MAYORMayor Cindy Silva, second term mayor of Walnut Creek, will be the keynote speaker at our annual membership brunch 9:30 Saturday, September 21 at the Crow Canyon Country Club in Danville. Ms. Silva will speak on women in politics in the East Bay and other topics. She is a member of our own Danville-‐Alamo-‐Walnut Creek branch.Be sure and hold the date and save your books for our Past Presidents' Book Sale which will be held at the venue. Registration information will be available in August.
REMINDERPlease submit expenses for 2012-‐13 Discal year to Melissa Walsh, Treasurer, by June 30, 2013
BRANCH EVENTS 2013-2014BRANCH EVENTS 2013-2014BRANCH EVENTS 2013-2014
DATE EVENT CONTACTSeptember 21, 2013 Annual Branch Brunch & Book Sale, Crow Canyon
Country Club: 9:30 a.m. Speaker, WC Mayor Cindy SilvaMembership Co-VP's: Liz Williams, Susan TerzuoliBook Sale: Bev NidickSpecial Interest Groups: Mary Ellen Blake
October 13, 2013
October 19, 2013
October 24, 2013
AAUW Funds American Fellows Scholars Recipients OaklandAAUW Funds American Fellows Scholars Recipients LuncheonNew Members Welcome
State Event: Program VP's Liaison
State Event: AAUW Funds VP
Membership Co-VP's: Liz Williams, Susan Terzuoli
November 7, 2013(to be confirmed)
Branch Program: Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF)ARF Facility, Walnut Creek
Program Co-VP's: Jo-Anne Lyons, Mimi Knox
December 13 & 14, 2013
Branch Fundraising Event: Holiday Home Tour and Party
Holiday Home Tour Co-ChairsAnna Freitas, Jane Stimpson
January 26, 2014
January 31, 2014
IBC Film "Sexual Assault: Naming the Unnamed Conspirator 2-3:30 p.m. - Lafayette LibraryBranch Program: Criminal ProsecutorDiablo Country Club, Danville
Inter Branch Council for Contra Costa County
Program Co-VP's: Mimi Knox, Jo-Anne Lyons
February 11, 2014 Delta Kappa Gamma Retired TeachersScotts Restaurant Walnut Creek
Pleasant Hill/Martinez and DA-WC Branches: Program Co-VP's Liaison
March 22, 2014Date TBD
Branch: New Member WelcomeBranch Program: Global Climate Policies with Local Results
Membership Co-VP's: Liz Williams, Susan TerzuoliInternational Relations Chair: Marian BlissPublic Policy: Asha Bajaj, Joan Conley
April (first 2 weeks)April 10-13, 2014
Branch Program TBDState Convention Los Angeles
Program Co-VP's: Mimi Knox, Jo-Anne LyonsState AAUW
May 9 & 10, 2014 Branch Fundraising Event:Garden Tour
Garden Tour Co-Chairs:Mary Holzheimer and Kathy McKnight
THANK YOU to our generous local sponsors; Danville Band, Diablo Printing, East Bay Flowers, Fari Falaki (Better Homes) Gagen McCoy (Sarah Nix), Jennifer Krommenhoek (Sotheby's), Omnibus Organizing (Joy Perkins), Spirit Space (Bill Williams), The Maids, The Peasant & The Pear. You have allowed us to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.
As Vice President of AAUW Funds, it is my pleasure to announce that in 2012 the Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUW branch gave a total of $42,020 to AAUW Funds. We were ranked second in California in Funds gifts and third in the state in Per Capita Funds gifts. In addition, in May 2013, our branch completed the $75,000 Tena Gallagher R&P Grant (Fund #4353) which will give fellowships in Research and Projects to many women. Other completed endowments honoring our branch include four in the branch name only, Research and Projects grants honoring Connie Cady, Joan Harberson, Rita Wustner, and Tena Gallagher, an American Fellowship honoring Chris Winter, and an International Fellowship honoring Joan Harberson. Special praise goes to Mary Holzheimer and Kathy McKnight for this year’s outstanding garden tour. Because of their hard work, funds were generated which we were then able to contribute to AAUW Funds. Many thanks go to Linda Reeve for donating the drawing prizes and kudos go to all of our members who worked as docents and did special baking for the tour. This May, our branch donated a total of $16,020 to AAUW Funds as follows: $7020 toward the Tena Gallagher R&P Grant (Fund #43563), and $3,000 each to Legal Advocacy, Leadership, and Public Policy Funds. In addition, special thanks to all our members who sent in donations to association and credited our branch.
California AAUW honors the following women who have donated funds, time, and efforts to AAUW Funds.:
Amicus Leadership Programs: Jo HarbersonAmicus LAF: Charla Gabert, Luisa Hansen LAF: Charla Gabert, Carol Kennedy
Major Donors: Charla Gabert, Jo Harberson, Maryann Hruska, Carol Kennedy, Carla Pancheco, Chris WinterChocolate Club: Sandy Hoffman, Roseann KraneSecond Century Club: Karen Abu-Hamdeh, Lyn GrifRith, Luisa HansenCentury Club: Sue Devoe, Marianne Gagen, Janice Geahry, Carol Highton, Susan Hill, Nancy Lennstrom, Mary Mix, Linda Reeve, Diana Sanderson, Paula Weintraub, Sherry WilcoxsonAAUW Funds: Asha Bajaj, Luisa Hansen, Barbara Nexsen, Charla Gabert, Sharon Ritchey, Leslie Vilhauer, Joann Turner
AAUW Funds Updateby Roseann Krane
Nesting Birdby Martha “Gus” SlavinDanville-Alamo-Walnut Creek branch memberFeatured notecard on Shop AAUW websiteh*p://aauw.source4.com/b2c/
On April 13th, 50 AAUW members attended our International Day presentation on Women’s Issues in Africa. We had 5 wonderful speakers from Cameroon, Kenya, Liberia and Tanzania. We learned what it was like for girls growing up in these countries. It was very informative and sometimes heartbreaking. Thank you to Asha Bajaj, our moderator, and to Sandi Shalon and Bette Felton who also helped plan the discussion. Special thanks also to the 14 members who brought various dishes for our African buffet, to Roseann Krane for planning the menu, and to Carol Highton for being in charge of the lunch. If you would like more information on the issues that the panel brought up, please check the following links:
www.earthassistance.org (Ruth Balsdon – Tanzania) www.harambeechildrensproject.com (Tabitha Konogo – Kenya)www.womentowomensupportgroup.com (Bendu Hunter & Monoh Mayson – Liberia)
AAUW National Book ClubDid you know that AAUW National has a book club? Summer is the perfect time to do more reading and Jind new areas of interest. The book club is called ¡Adelante! Adelante means “move forward, go ahead.” To a Spanish speaker, Adelante is a welcoming word meaning “come in.” The club launched in 1996 and offers a monthly recommendation and discussion, in person, online, and through email.
To learn more about the club: http://www.aauw.org/resource/adelante-‐books-‐of-‐the-‐month-‐2012-‐13/Recommend a book and if it’s selected, you and our branch will be recognized with a gift: http://www.aauw.org/resource/adelante-‐book-‐club-‐recommendation-‐form/To see the Reading List Archive: http://www.aauw.org/resource/adelante-‐book-‐of-‐the-‐month-‐reading-‐list-‐archive/To see books published by AAUW members: http://www.aauw.org/resource/book-‐titles-‐by-‐aauw-‐members/Purchase these books through the Feminist Press and receive 30% off the list price: http://www.aauw.org/resource/the-‐feminist-‐press-‐book-‐list/
INTERNATIONAL DAY: WOMEN’S ISSUES IN AFRICABY ALICIA JONES
Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek AAUWP.O. Box 996Alamo, CA 94507E-mail: [email protected]
J U N E 2 0 1 3 M O N T H L Y E -‐ N E W S L E T T E R H T T P : / / D A W -‐ C A . A A U W . N E TM E L A N I E W A D E , E D I T O R
For August articles send to Editor at info@aauw-‐daw.orgSubmission deadline for August is July 21st SubmissionsSu
THE ADVOCATE