Itanyan “To grow by reason”

January 1, 2016Volume 38, Number 4

** Note Changes of location and times** - January Program

Monday, January 11, 2016 White Bear Lake Branch of Ramsey County Libraries

2150 2nd Street White Bear Lake, MN 55110

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (The library closes at 8 p.m.)Promptly at 6:30 while our hostesses for the evening set up snacks,Branch President, Gail Van Horn will start with a brief meeting7:00 – 7:30 Live Webinar with Elizabeth Holden, AAUW GrassrootsAdvocacy Manager7:30 Meeting venue may switch from a Webinar to a Conference Callformat using our cell phones to talk with Elizabeth8:00 Head home - The room MUST be CLEANED UP prior to 8:00

Webinars allow slides to be viewed during the presentation and typedin questions or comments to be sent to the presenter. It is possiblethat the library computer system’s phone can connect with AAUW’sWebinar phone system. We won’t know if the systems connect until afew minutes before 7 p.m. If we can talk with Elizabeth, we will notswitch to a conference call at 7:30. You cannot make it to the library? Call or email Doris by January10th to make arrangements to get in on the Webinar from home viayour phone or computer.

Bad weather?The advantage of a Webinar is the meeting can still take place

if we cannot get to the library due to bad weather or road conditions.You can see and/or listen to the Webinar from your home computer orhear it by phone.

Respectfully submitted,Doris MorrisonOnline Virtual Research Committee

Elizabeth HoldenGrassroots AdvocacyManager at AAUWWashington, District Of ColumbiaPublic Policy

Examples of Technology

How many can you use??Please see nest page for abio on our speakerpictured above.

Introducing: Speaker for January MeetingElizabeth Holden is AAUW’s Grassroots AdvocacyManager. In this role, she helps branches to develop andimplement effective advocacy strategies and overseesAAUW’s GOTV and voter education efforts. Prior tojoining the AAUW staff in October 2015, Elizabethserved as Lobbyist and Policy Associate for theAmerican Association of Law Libraries, where sheworked to facilitate member advocacy on a variety ofaccess to information issues. Elizabeth began her careerat Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) andcompleted fellowships at the Women’s Campaign Fundand NARAL-CT. She lives in Washington, D.C.’sKalorama neighborhood with her husband, Aras.

In the first email correspondence with Ms. Holden shestated,

‘Your request for a speaker on your January webinarwas forwarded to me. I serve as the GrassrootsAdvocacy Manager as part of AAUW’s Public Policyand Government Relations team and would be happy tobrief your members about AAUW’s advocacy work,including opportunities for their involvement. I thinkyour idea to introduce members to the webinartechnology is a great one – AAUW members are reallyable to expand our advocacy reach through technologyand the Internet!”

Elizabeth Holden will provide our branch with awonderful first experience using technology whilediscussing with us the advocacy work she does in DCfor AAUW.

Respectfully submitted,Doris Morrison

Announcing the RESULTSThe 2016 Holiday Auction and Brunch

Proceeds for Auction/Brunch Fundraiser: Income:

Auction $2632 *Donations 100 Brunch 1580

Total $4312 * Donations are $50 to Century College

$30 to EF/LAF $20 undesignated.Expenses:

Hillcrest Golf Course $1945Entertainment

#2095.07

This leaves $2367. as an auction proceeds.We had budgeted $1910 for the auction proceeds,

$180 for auction expenses ($30 for microphone and $150 for

entertainment)The $30. is in the Hillcrest Golf Course expense.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this fundraisera success.

Christine Johnson, Treasurer

Century College held its annual Awartd Banquet onOctober 27. In attendance was out 2015-2016Scolarship winner, Renee Cortez accompanied by hermother, Judy. Renee said that she is thoroughlyenjoying her year at Concordia.

The Scholarship money is allowing her to go toLondon, England, the first of the year for a shortcourse. She also indicated that she has an interest inapplying for NCCWSL.

Submitted by Nancy FitzGerald - pictrured

Pictures by Doris Morrison and Gail VanHorn

Pictures left to right top to bottom

Gail VanHorn in introduced.

Nancy FitzGerald and guests

Jan Femrite, Mary Petron, and Kathy Burleson

Brunch tables and entrance

Gail Van Horn, far right, is joined by all three sisters (fromCalifornia, Minnesota and Texas) and her daughter at thebrunch.

Vernita Kennen arranges and answers questions

EGary LaRue. Rat Pak Entertainment, gets up close andpersonal singing his song of old.

Dale and I recently participated in a tour of the“new” White Bear Public Library, a part of theRamsey County Library system. It was veryinformative, including the long history of a library inthe city from the first Carnegie library to the currentupdated one. We saw the new fireplace area, themany computers (even laptops for borrowing whilein the library), conference rooms, meeting rooms,and areas for children and teens. We even foundcoffee available for purchase!

The highlight of the tour for us was learning that thegarden in the northwest corner of the building isnamed the “Nancy J. Hendrickson Garden”. Thisdesignation was given not only because of fundingprovided by Nancy but also because of her years ofvolunteer gardening at the library. That gardeninghelp was in addition to her many volunteer hours inshelving, reserves, and all that library volunteers areasked to do.

We know it’s winter now and the garden is “resting”but when spring returns, make a special stop in the

northwest corner - - where the two children arereading on the bench with the dog nearby. Thegarden near the windows there, rich in plants thatattract butterflies, will invite you to sit outside andread a bit, too. And you can thank Nancy for hercontribution to our community in a very unique andspecial way. - - - Vernita Kennen

Renovated White Bear Lake Public Library

– and our Nancy Hendrickson

Technology Upcoming Upcoming Programs 2016 February 8 Valentine’s Tea at Location TBD possible option: Design in Mind

March 14 “Read My Pins” by Madeline Albright - women, politics, and pins and brooches

April 11 Screening of FEMME: Documentary: A Celebration of Women Around the World

May 9 Human Trafficking: Speaker to be determined

June 8 Salad Supper at Christine Johnson’s home

RCL - White Bear Lake County Taken from website: http://www.rclreads.org/about/locations/rcl-white-bear-lake

Re: Nancy Hendrickson Our working rules read: In the event of the death of a branch member, amemorial in the amount of $25. shall betransferred from our branch budget to the EducationFoundation(EF) or Legal Advocacy Fund(LAF)in the deceased person's name with the option given tofriends and families to add to the amount.

Nancy was very interested in the Education of womenand girls. Our contribution will be to theEducation Fund.

If anyone would like to contribute, you can send yourcontribution directly to:

National, designated Memorium Nancy Hendricksonfrom our Branch

or you can do a check toNE Metro AAUW and in Memo line put Nancy's nameand send or give to Christine Johnson, BranchTreasurer.

Submitted by,

Christine Johnson, Branch Treasurer

MINUTES FOR BRANCH MEETINGNE METRO AAUWMonday November 9, 2015St Stephen Lutheran Church

Before the meeting started members spent a veryrelaxing time coloring. Many brought crayons ormarkers and sheets of various designs to color inaddition to those that were provided by ChrisKoentopp.

Presidents ReportGail called the meeting to order at 7:50 PM. Sheannounced that Chris Koentopp was unable to attenddue to health problems and will need to take asabbatical. There is a change in location of the nextBook Club meeting which will be announced soon.

ProgramDoris will make plans for the January meeting as thelisted subject may not be feasible at this time.

She also spoke about the “Online/Virtual ResearchCommittee” meeting report. (go to http://nemetro-mn.aauw.net to read the report). She feels it is veryimportant that we, as AAUW members, becomeeducated in the use of technology. The Committee islooking to have an on-line virtual Branch that wouldallow members to join in on our meetings fromhome.

The Committee requested approval of theirrecommendations as printed in the October 15, 2015Itanyan with the amended wording in C to bechanged to: We explore. Vernita moved thatRecommendations A. B and C be accepted asamended. The motion passed.

The status of the technology grant application fromthe State for a teleconference phone has been tableduntil Chris returns.

MembershipGail distributed additions and corrections to theDirectory.

Secretary’s ReportThe minutes of the October 12, 2015 minutes wereapproved as published.

Treasurer’s ReportChristine reported the following: Savings $4075.47;Checking $1073.59; Activity $50 check fromOctober program.

Itanyan Editor/Webmaster ReportDoris suggested that the Itanyan need not bepublished 2 weeks ahead of the meeting as email isin use. The Branch feels that being published by thefirst of the month is sufficient. However, articles arestill due to Chris by the 20th of the month.

Doris said that the Itanyan is beautiful but wondersif art that doesn’t pertain to our Branch is needed.

Century College Liaison ReportNancy reported on the Century College ScholarshipBanquet on October 27 which she attended alongwith the 2015-16 Scholarship winner Renee Cortezand her mother, Ruth.

Legal Advocacy / AAUW Funds ReportThe AAUW Funds report given by Doris is asfollows: $45.00 from Branch-Convention; $80.00from Anonymous Branch members: total $125.00

Holiday Auction and BrunchDoris reported that a Mimosa with a variety ofembellishments at the cost of $8.40 (incl tax and tip)will be the signature drink. She passed around asign-up sheet for help at the Brunch.

HospitalityVolunteers are posted on the website. One morevolunteer is needed for March to help Gail.

Unfinished BusinessNancy FitzGerald read the thank you letter fromRenee Cortez.

After a discussion on how our monies should bespent, Vernita moved that the Branch approve of$750 to continue the Scholarship for 2016-17.Seconded by LouAnn. The motion passed 8-2.

AdjournmentThe meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted,Nancy FitzGeraldSubstitute Secretary

Our branch faces a crossroads regarding its direction.This year’s Holiday Brunch and Auction reached alevel of success unseen in recent years, but no one hassigned up to lead it for 2016. Anyone who may beinterested in helping run the event next year is urgedto volunteer immediately. Your help will be greatlyappreciated! Proceeds from our only fundraiser havebeen crucial for continuation of our scholarshipprogram, which has received a huge boost from asubstantial amount of funds recently bequeathed to usby longtime member Nancy Hendrickson Willroth.

Nancy died November 24 of an autoimmune diseasethat attacked her kidneys. She believed in our AAUWmission of education so strongly that she listed ourbranch as a beneficiary of a portion of her MinnesotaState Retirement Fund account, accumulated from alifetime of employment with the state Department ofEmployment and Economic Opportunity. Herhusband, Duane, specified that she intended for hergift to be used for our ongoing scholarship program atCentury College.

She served as branch co-president with Clara Grayfrom 2003 to 2005. Nancy and Duane participated inGourmet Club for many years, planning recipes and

attending and hosting dinners in their home. Mostrecently she shared her gardening expertise bypresenting the program, “Getting Ready for SpringGardening” on May 9, 2015. She will be missed bothby longtime members and newer ones such as me, towhom she extended her friendliness.

I hope you enjoyed this year’s Holiday Brunch andAuction in December. I was thrilled because mydaughter Amanda and all three of my sisters attendedtogether for the first time! I invited Sandy from Dallasto fly here for the event, and then Nancy from the SanFrancisco area (Marin County Branch AAUW) andJudy from Elk River decided to join us.

Book Club is planning an extra “field trip” duringJanuary. In addition to their regular meeting, set forMon. Jan. 25 at the home of Chris Koentopp,members have been invited to former memberJeannine Bohlmeyer’s residence on Sat., Jan. 9 for ageneral discussion of books. It will be great toreconnect with her!

President

Gail Van Horm

A Very Big to all Auction Volunteers!

Thank you to all the Holiday Auction volunteers, ESPECIALLY

LouAnn Hoppe for being Emcee,Nancy Fitzgerald for greeting everyone and handing out the name tags,Joni Henry, Clara Gray and Clara's daughter Katie for creating our pretty name tags,Jan Femrite and Joan Macheledt, our runners, for getting items to members and guests,Joyce Anderson who seeing we needed help, very kindly stepping in to help people get auctionitems set up

Jennifer, Linda Ruggles daughter, for once again helping set up, distribute items and clean up,Christine Johnson for managing all of the money and banking tasks.

From:Doris Morrison & Linda RugglesHoliday Auction Co-chairs

By Gail Van Horn

St. CroixValley

Our closest branch neighbor is the Stillwater-based St.Croix Valley Branch. The branch began in 1947 andhas 36 members from Stillwater, Afton, Woodbury,Lake Elmo and Hudson, WI. This makes it the 18th insize of Minnesota’s 30 branches.

Margaret Boettcher of Stillwater, current St. CroixValley Branch president, was unavailable when Iresearched this article, so the group’s webmaster(there is no newsletter), Pam Johnson of Stillwater,agreed to meet with me. She served as president from2004-06, and has served as Program Committee chair,treasurer and Scholarship Committee chair. She alsoserved Minnesota AAUW for three years as state

treasurer and financechair. She holds dualmembership with the St.Paul Branch.

Professionally, she hasbeen employed asfundraiser and grantwriter for the WashingtonCounty 4-H, and hasworked for Imation, IBMand John Deere invarious test andmanufacturing engineerpositions. She holdsbachelor’s degrees inindustrial managementand German from PurdueUniversity, where she

studied German at the University of Hamburg duringher junior year abroad.

Branch member Nancy Rustad of Afton is a pastnational AAUW president and current board memberat Solid Ground shelter, which Northeast MetroBranch has supported.

Interest groups include a Gourmet Group, which hasmet four times a year at members’ homes since 1990;

Movie Group, which meets every month year-roundin members’ homes followed by a facilitateddiscussion and preceded by an optional social hour;and Adopt-A-Highway. Twice a year St. Croix ValleyAAUW picks up trash along a three-mile stretch ofOsgood Avenue in Oak Park Heights, and hasprovided this community service since before 1990.

The branch meets for social time at 6 p.m., businessmeeting at 6:30 and speaker at 7 at First UnitedMethodist Church in Stillwater.

The St. Croix Valley Branch was instrumental inmaking Stillwater the antique store hub that it istoday. For 20 years, the branch sponsored “TheAntiques Show,” held at the National Guard Armory.“We brought in antiques dealers, provided lunch andran the show by ourselves,” Johnson said. “Allmembers were expected to participate.” She notedthat this was before development of the current PublicBroadcasting television show, “Antiques Roadshow”and before Stillwater had such shops.

Other fundraisers of the past include a silent serviceauction where members offered home-cooked meals,gardening assistance and other expertise; and a winetasting event that the group held for five years. St.Croix Valley branch has a history of awardingscholarships to area high school seniors (currentlyStillwater High School) and providing scholarshipsfor the National Conference for College WomenStudent Leaders (NCCWSL).

Johnson said that the branch recently discontinued itsonly fundraiser and has not replaced it, putting thefuture of their scholarship program in jeopardy. “Ithink we would have greater impact by directing ourmoney toward sponsorship of public radio and TVshows related to AAUW causes,” she said. “If wejoined with other Twin Cities or branches statewide,we could get our name out there.”

This year’s programs include “It’s Not Your Mother’sor Father’s Workplace Anymore, a riverboat tour ofthe new St. Croix Crossing bridge, a pizza and saladdinner with conversation about AAUW, “The LittleFree Library Story,” a holiday gathering and tour ofRivertown Inn bed-and-breakfast, “Minnesota PayEquity Updates,” “How to Write Your Life Stories,”“Books are Us,” “Current Issues in Climate Change”and the St Croix River Water Monitor Program.

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LAF Express - From aauw.orgLAF Plaintiff Aileen Rizo Wins Right to Proceed to TrialLAF-supported plaintiff Aileen Rizo’s case has survived summary judgment to move ahead to trial.Rizo v. Fresno County Office of Education highlights a significant underlying factor that contributes tothe wage gap: employers’ practice of relying on an employee’s prior salary history to set new salarylevels. AAUW is proud to support the case through our Legal Advocacy Fund. The trial is scheduled tobegin in January. Read more about Rizo’s case on the LAF page and stay tuned to LAF Express formore information.

Congratulations to Our Newest Title IX Champions!Our Title IX Champion award continues to thrive, and we’re thrilled to announce several brand-newchampions! Check out our awards page to read their stories and be inspired by their work. We acceptTitle IX Champion nominations year-round. Nominate an AAUW branch or member to be a Title IXChampion by sending a brief summary of the nominee’s Title IX work and a picture of the nominee orTitle IX event to laf@aauw.org. Title IX Champions receive an e-award to display on their branch’swebsite, and their stories will be posted on the AAUW Title IX Champions page. Nominate achampion by February 26 for our next round of awards!

Keep AAUW on Your Giving ListAAUW members and supporters do so much to keep AAUW strong. As 2016 approaches, take astand with AAUW to empower women and girls. This giving season, the Mooneen Lecce Giving Circlewill graciously match all donations to AAUW, dollar for dollar, up to $40,000. Learn what your gift cando and help AAUW balance the scales of justice with a tax-deductible donation.

Happy holidays!

Book Club members brunched on food described in John Grisham's "A Painted House" on December28 at the home of Linda Ruggles. Breakfast for characters in the book consisted of eggs

gathered from their farm in fictional Black Oak, Arkansas, along with biscuitsand ham.

1. Clara Gray, Linda Ruggles and Lou Ann Hoppe partake in the farm food.2. Chris Koentopp and Joni Henry view the smaller of two Christmas trees in the Ruggles home.3. Frost designs provide natural decoration on the three-season porch.4. Showmen guard the patio door.