THE TOWN CRIER St. Augustine, Florida – February 2017

http://staugustine-fl.aauw.net/ Find us on Facebook at AAUW St. Augustine

AAUW Mission ~ To Advance Equity for Women and Girls through Advocacy, Education, Philanthropy and Research

Presidents Ponderings Karen Zalkin, Branch President

The day after Inauguration Day women, girls and

their families took to the streets to let the new

President and the country know the issues women

want to resolve. The pink pussy hats dotted the

mall and the country. It makes us proud that

people are taking action.

AAUW is a leading voice for women and girls in this

time when women, girls and their families are

standing up for equal pay, gender equality,

women’s health, education, Title IX and campus

assault, STEM, child care and many other issues.

Members and non-members must continue to use

the Action Network and the 2-Minute Activist to

inform our state and federal legislators about our

opinions.

AAUW each year publishes a significant research

paper. Why So Few (Women in STEM)? has led to

Tech Trek. The Simple Truth, published annually

since and updated one time per year, publishes the

data demonstrating the pay gap. Barriers and Bias:

the status of women in leadership emphasized the

need for AAUW’s program with College/University

Partners, Elect Her. AAUW issues are researched

based.

National AAUW has selected four foci for the next

few years in addition to continuing the scholarship

and fellowship programs. Those foci are pay

equity, research, STEM and campus leadership.

Sonja D. Williams Wowed Us Introduced by her mother, branch member Mildred

Williams, Sonja D. Williams gave a dynamic

presentation about Richard Durham and how his

genius in writing and media was a light shining on

the accomplishments of African Americans. Sonja

Williams’ book, Word Warrior: Richard Durham,

Radio, and Freedom, is her first book and it has

won several awards. Dr. Williams is a professor at

Howard University in the School of Communications.

We are very forunate to have this outstanding speaker

who has received three consecutive George Foster

Peabody Awards for Significant and Meritorious

Achievement.

Tech Trek and STEM Education Nominations for Tech Trek Florida were in the

hands of St. Johns County students and we have

had a wonderful response from students who have

completed applications. The date to return

applications was extended to January 31. Our Tech

Trek committee will be interviewing students and

parents in February. The Branch STEM Chair, will

lead members in reviewing the applications,

student essays and student and parent interviews.

The committee will then rank the girls according to

the rubric provided by Tech Trek -Florida. We hope

to have as many girls attend in 2017 as we did in

2016. A big thank you to all who are participating

in this process.

Tech Trek will be at the adjoining Boca Raton

campuses of Palm Beach State College and Florida

Atlantic University June 11-17.

If you would like to volunteer at Tech Trek in June,

please look at their website for information about

the paid positions and when volunteers are

needed. http://techtrek-fl.aauw.net/

Jean Luoma Scholarship & Diane Boyce

Scholarship Applications Available By Bonnie Battle

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) of St. Augustine is offering two $1000 scholarships for the upcoming 2017 - 2018 academic year. Applicants for these college/university scholarships must be residents of St. Johns County and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. For more information and an application, go to http://staugustine-fl.aauw.net/scholarhip/application. Application Deadline: March 6, 2017. Contact Bonnie Battle if you would like to serve on the scholarship committee.

STEM & Wine Bottle Charms These make wonderful gifts. Available for sale at

the March meeting at special member price of just

$10 for any charm set. There are both beach and

holiday- themed sets. They were also for sale

downtown at the Starving Artist Shop, but sell for

$15 there. All the profits from the charm sale will

go to Tech Trek science camp fund.

Contact Maureen Ballard if you would like to have

STEM charms for yourself or to give as gifts.

Upcoming Branch Meetings We welcome Marjorie Phillips, Coordinator for Interfaith Networking at the NE FL Human Trafficking Coalition to the Thursday, March 9 meeting at 11:30, at Amici Italian Restaurant. Ms. Phillips will be giving an overview of the human trafficking problem in NE Florida. She will discuss the laws that criminalize and how investigations take place and the problems in prosecution. January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The cost is $25 with entrée selection on the reservation form in the newsletter and on the website. This event will be open to the public. Human Trafficking is a priority issue for AAUW-

Florida branches. This means that we are looking for ways to impact this problem.

February 9 Card/Games Party, Glenmoor

Auditorium, 10:30-3:00. This is our major

fundraising event. Get a group together to play

cards, mahjong or other games. We will have

games in a nice setting and the buffet luncheon will

be served in the dining room.

A cash bar will be available. The buffet will include

Lobster Bisque, Tossed Salad, Chicken Marsala,

sliced Beef Tenderloin with Béarnaise Sauce,

Tuscan Asparagus, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes,

Chocolate Raspberry Torte, Rolls/Butter, Coffee

and Iced Tea.

The location has changed from previous years,

although it will be in the World Golf Village

neighborhood. Driving directions will be emailed

to all who have reserved to attend this fun event.

Look for an email from Debbie, or fire up those GPS

devices to Glenmoor Resort Retirement

Community, 235 Towerview Drive, St. Augustine.

Reservation deadline, February 6.

We have some fantastic raffle baskets: $100

money tree, a fabulous chocolate basket, wine

baskets, terrariums and more! Thank you to those

who are creating baskets and those who are

contributing items.

The Card /Games Party raises the funds we use to

do much of the good things that the affiliate does.

If you do not plan to attend, please consider

contributing to the fundraiser by sending a check

to the Director for Finance. The funds we raise will

support the Jean Luoma Scholarship, Tech Trek,

STEM initiatives, AAUW Funds, Legacy Fund and

other ideas to support women and girls.

The cost of the Card / Games Party will vary with

how you reserve and pay for your seat at the

gaming table. We are using Whoozin.com in

conjunction with Stripe to take both credit card

payments with their added on service fee and

Whoozin to electronically reserve pay by check

with its reduced service fee. Of course, you can

write a check and send to Peggy for the lowest

possible price. The included service fee for credit

card payment, the most expensive way to pay, is

only $32.39. http://whoozin.com/97A-9PJ-K3XM

Calendar of Events Affiliate Events ~ Need addresses or phone numbers? Call

Anne Laure Wagner, Co-Director for Membership, 904 679-4320.

February 9 Card/Games Party Luncheon Fundraiser,

Thursday, 10:30 – 3:00, $30. Glenmoor Resort

Retirement Community, 235 Towerview Drive, St.

Augustine. Reservation deadline, February 6.

February 11 Page Turners Book Club, contact Cathy.

The Stargazer’s Sister by Carrie Brown.

February 16 AAUW St. Augustine Branch Board

Meeting, 12:00 Corazon Cinema and Café, date and

time to be announced. Attend and become involved in

leadership.

February 22 Lunch Bunch, Wednesday, 1:00, Corner

Sushi Restaurant, 2443 Dixie Highway. Contact Debbie

Brinsfield.

February 22 Literature Study Book Club, Le Pavillon

Restaurant, 11:30. Standing Alone by Asra Nomani.

Contact Judy.

February 23 Great Decisions, Thursday, 3:30, Anne‘s

home. This is the first session of the new book. Contact

Anne prior to meeting.

March 7 EWLI International Women’s Day Dinner, 5:00,

Marsh Creek Country Clubhouse. Contact Anne for

information about attending.

March 8 International Women’s Day. Theme: Be Bold

for Change

March 9 Branch meeting: Human Trafficking with

Marjorie Phillips, Amici Italian Restaurant, 11:30.

Deadline for reservations March 2.

March 14 - 15 AAUW Florida Lobby Days in Tallahassee.

Contact Gerry to carpool.

March 14 Rally for Equal Pay for Equal Work 12:00 4th

floor Rotunda in front of Senate Chambers. Sponsored

by Sen. Linda Stewart, Rep. Lori Berman and House

Democratic Leader Janet Cruz. To carpool, contact

Gerry.

March 28 Equal Pay Day Lunch & Learn, 12:00, $20.

Join AAUW Jacksonville Branch and other organizations

at The Garden Club of Jacksonville, 1005 Riverside Ave.,

Jacksonville. Contact Gerry for more info.

April 2-3 AAUW Florida Leadership Conference, Hyatt

Regency Hotel, Sarasota. More info coming soon.

Contact Karen if you want to carpool.

April 13 Annual Branch Meeting: Dorothy H. Israel,

“Reflections”, Amici Italian Restaurant, 11:30.

June 14-17 AAUW National Convention, Washington,

DC, “Leadership for Women by Women”. aauw.org

Helen Gordon Davis Fair Pay Act Senator Linda Stewart, House Democratic Leader Janet

Cruz and Representative Lori Berman proposed Senate

Bill 410 and House Bill 319, jointly named the Helen

Gordon Davis Fair Pay Act, to close the gender pay gap

in Florida. It will update and clarify current law on

paying workers differently based on sex or gender

identify. Women in Florida earn 87 cents less than men

in similar positions on average. Pay equity has made

little progress over the past years. While Florida’s wage

gap is smaller than the national pay gap which is 80

cents, we still have work to do. Remember that the gap

is quite significant for minority women.

In a press release from Senator Stewart,

Representatives Cruz and Berman, they quote national

AAUW research that women in Florida over a lifetime of

work (47 years), “the total estimated loss of earnings

…compared to men is $700,000 for a high school

graduate, $1.2 million for college graduate and $2

million for a professional school graduate.”

Let’s support the Helen Gordon Davis Fair Pay Act by

attending the rally on March 14. Contact Gerry if you

are interested.

New Members

A new member joined the Branch at the January meeting. Please welcome her.

Membership Discounts for half year

Last month’s newsletter did not take into account the half year reduction in state dues so the full amount has changed.

AAUW national offers a discount for half year national dues memberships that are joined from January 1 to March 15. National dues are reduced by half which results in a national membership of $24.50 which combines with $6 for AAUW –FL dues and $14 branch dues for a total of $44.50.

We will combine the half year dues reduction with Shape the Future reduction to reduce the national dues by another 50% to $12.25, which results in a total dues $32.25. Shape the Future discount only happens at an AAUW public meeting which will include our January, February and March meetings.

If you have a friend who is interested in AAUW, please invite them to one of our winter meetings.

National Election of Board of Directors You will be voting by email. You will need your

AAUW membership number. It is located in the

Directory. For those members who have joined

since the Directory was published, please contact a

Co-Director for Membership to get your

membership number.

Reservations Please remember that you are financially responsible for all reservations you make. If you have been included in the meal count and don’t attend, the affiliate is charged for your meal. It is unfair to expect others to pay with their dues for your meal. Call Peggy to inquire if we can add a meal past the deadline.

Nominating Committee The Annual Branch Meeting will be on April 13. We

will hear reports from our current officers, hold the

election of new officers, hear from Dorothy (Deeh)

Israel, and participate in PEARL, a fun activity.

Branch membership will elect the President,

Director for Program and Secretary at this meeting.

We will elect Director for Membership and Director

for Finance in 2018. New officers will take office

on July 1 but they will be inducted at the May 11

meeting.

Candidates for will be announced 30 days prior to

the meeting on April 13. The nominating

committee is composed of at least one Board

member and members from the membership. The

nominating committee consists of Anne, Cathy and

Kathy. The board is a great group of women who

are very supportive and fun to be with. Please

consider volunteering for a position by calling one

of the nominating committee members. You can

make a big impact!