Full “STEAM” Ahead!

Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics

Now and Into the Future

2015 AAUW Minnesota State Convention

Meet us at the Hormel Historic Home 208 4th Avenue, NW

Austin

April 10 & 11, 2015

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Full STEAM Ahead!

We’re Educating & Empowering

Women and Girls in

Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics

Now and Into the Future

The Austin Branch of the

American Association of University Women

Welcomes you to Austin and the

2015 AAUW Minnesota State Convention

April 10 & 11, 2015

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Full STEAM Ahead!

2015 State Convention Table of Contents

National President’s Letter ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 4

State Presidents’ Welcome and 2015 Report……………………………………………………………. 5

Austin Branch Proclamation……………………………………………………..…………………………………… 6

Convention Program ………………………………………………………………………………….….................. 7

Meet Our Speakers ………………………………………………………………………………….….……………….. 8

Meet Our Workshop Facilitators …………………………………………………………………………………… 10

AAUW Minnesota 2014-2015 State Board, Elected & Appointed Officers …………………….. 12

AAUW Minnesota Standing Committees and Convention Committees………………………….. 13

2015 Convention Local Arrangements …………………………………………………………………………… 14

AAUW College/University Representatives……………………………………………………………………. 13

AAUW Minnesota Past Presidents and Branch Milestones…………………………………………….. 15

Business Meeting Agenda ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 16

Standing Rules of the 86th AAUW State Convention ………………………………………………………. 17

AAUW Minnesota 85th State Convention Minutes 2014 ………………………………………………… 19

AAUW Minnesota Membership Report …………………………………………..…………………………….. 23

AAUW Minnesota Financial Report 2015-2016 …………………………………………...................... 24

AAUW Funds Report 2015 …………………………………………………………………..………………………… 25

Financial Records Review Committee Report …………………………………………..……………………. 26

AAUW Minnesota Proposed Budget 2015-2016 ……………………………………………………………. 27

2015 Nominating Committee Report...…………………………………………………………………………. 28

Public Policy Biennial Action Priorities 2014-2016 …………………………………………………………. 31

Courtesy Resolution………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 32

Public Policy Report …………………………………………………………………………………..………………….. 33

Minnesota Pine Report ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 34

Bylaws Committee Report …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 35

AAUW and Minnesota Women’s Consortium Report ………………………………………………….. 35

Named Gift Honorees ………….....……………………………………………………………………………………. 36

2014-2015 Membership Awards………………………………………………………………….………………… 37

Websites, Blogs, Facebook Pages...…..…………………………………………………………………………….. 38

Program Report and Branch Book Lists 2014-2015..……………………….…….……………………….. 39

Branch Hi-Lights 2014-2015…………………………………………………………………………………………… 42

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February 2015

On behalf of the AAUW Board of Directors, I’d like to thank you for the time, talent, and energy you invest in

AAUW on a daily basis. For 134 years, this organization has relied on the dedication of members like you to

make sure that women and girls have the widest possible access to opportunity. That’s no small task when we

think of all we have faced and still encounter every day!

Spring is always an exciting time of year for AAUW members! In addition to attending state conventions and

helping launch our new research report, Solving the Equation: The Variables for Women’s Success in Engineering

and Computing, this spring finds us participating in the AAUW national election and packing our bags for the

national convention in San Diego! There are so many things to do and ways to shape this wonderful

organization.

One AAUW! That’s the feeling we get when we speak with one another, and that’s the message of this year’s

national presentation. So much goes on under so many roofs, but we really are one AAUW. Whether you’re an

individual member passionate about eradicating the wage gap or a branch of 350 members who want to

introduce more girls to the wonders of a career in computer science—we are all part of that large one AAUW!

We are a single organization, with many moving parts, but one mission … to help women and girls achieve their

career and educational dreams.

The national board and staff of AAUW are proud to take part in your state gatherings as we share and learn

together. We also want to remind you of the many resources available for you in your role as leaders and

members. From our content-rich website, www.aauw.org, to our many member leadership skills trainings and

the phenomenally energizing event that is our national convention, we all work together to make our one

AAUW the cultural climate-changer it has always been.

I hope you have an outstanding meeting, and I look forward to seeing you in person in San Diego. Your passion

and commitment are sure to help our one AAUW remain the leading voice on issues that affect America’s

women and families.

Best wishes,

Patricia Fae Ho

AAUW President

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Welcome to the AAUW Minnesota’s

86th Annual State Convention

On behalf of the AAUW Minnesota Board of Directors and the Austin Branch, I welcome you to our 86th AAUW Minnesota State Convention. Thanks to all of you for your past year’s work on our AAUW Mission: AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. I am constantly reminded, through your newsletters and bulletins, of all that is being done by our branches in their local communities. Just check our website at www.aauwmn.net. Teresa Sagen, our website manager, does a terrific job of keeping us informed about branch activities and events, along with special state, and even national items, important to AAUW Minnesota members. Keep sending your newsletters and bulletins to me and to Teresa! Your AAUW Minnesota State Board consists of a great group of women! We have met in members’ homes (twice) and had one overnight in a Bloomington hotel, which we used for in-depth Convention planning. We do work hard, but we also take time to enjoy getting to know each other. I strongly recommend that YOU consider running for a State Board position! I am delighted to tell you about our 2014-2015 NCCWSL scholarships and Branch Project Awards. AAUW Minnesota will give out ten NCCWSL scholarships, one each to the following branches: Brainerd, Duluth, Ely, Hastings, Northeast Metro, Owatonna, Red Wing Area, Rochester, Saint Cloud Area and Saint Paul. The Ely, Hastings and Willmar branches will receive Branch Project Grants. Check out the details of their projects which will be in the 2015 Summer Pine. If our 2015-2016 Budget is passed at this Convention, there will be eleven NCCWSL scholarships and $2000 in Branch Project Grant money available for our next fiscal year. We continue to represent AAUW in other organizations whose purposes align with those of AAUW. For example, AAUW Minnesota was a founding member of the Minnesota Women’s Consortium (MWC). I continue to represent AAUW on the board of the Consortium. There is a complete report on MWC elsewhere in this convention booklet. Our AAUW members have been active in the Second Annual meeting of the Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Summit, the Coalition for Equal Pay in Minnesota, the Girls Are Not for Sale Campaign, and the Safe Schools for All Coalition. AAUW Minnesota was again a sponsor of “Girls Rock!, The Capitol” which was attended by 103 young women from throughout Minnesota. As the 2015 state legislative session continues, watch for information in the Minnesota Pine, our website, or emails from members of the State Board like Mary Petron, AAUW MN VP Public Policy, about how you can participate to make our legislative priorities a reality. We will again have the “Sticky Notes” available for your questions and comments. Your AAUW Board appreciates hearing from you! Have a Great AAUW Minnesota Convention as we go Full Steam Ahead in Austin! Sharon Bigot, AAUW Minnesota President

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AAUW Minnesota 86th Annual State Convention 2015

Friday, April 10 1:00 to 6:30 p.m. Registration (lobby)

2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Board Meeting

2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Optional Tour/Shopping, Austin Artworks Center, 300 Main Street North

3:30 p.m. Optional Tour, IJ Holton Intermediate School, 1800 4th Avenue SE

5:00 p.m. Social (Cash Bar) & Silent Auction (opens in the Atrium)

6:00 p.m. Dinner

6:30 p.m. Speaker: Kate Farrar, “The Next Generation of Women’s Leadership”

7:30 p.m. Entertainment by the Spamettes

Saturday, April 11

7:30 a.m. Registration (lobby) & Silent Auction (opens in the Atrium)

8:00 a.m. All “Resolutions from the Floor” given to Mary Petron, VP Public Policy

8:15 to 8:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony Pledge of Allegiance Welcome by Sharon Bigot, AAUW Minnesota President Austin AAUW Welcome

8:30 to 9:15 a.m. Keynote: Mark Hopkins, Chief Strategy Officer, AAUW, “One AAUW”

9:15 to 9:30 a.m. Awards

9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Business Meeting

11:00 to 11:15 a.m. Break – time to check out the silent auction items in the Atrium!

11:15 to Noon AAUW National Updates: AAUW Board Members

Noon to 12:15 p.m. Break – time to check out the silent auction items in the Atrium!

12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Lunch & LAF Speaker, Kathy Bull

1:15 to 1:30 p.m. Break – time to check out the silent auction items in the Atrium!

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Breakout Session I

2:30 to 2:40 p.m. Break; Silent auction closes @ 2:39 p.m.

2:40 to 3:40 Breakout Session II

3:40 p.m. Second Business Session, if needed

Full “STEAM” Ahead! Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math

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Kate C. Farrar vice president of AAUW Campus Leadership Programs, manages programs that ensure college women assume leadership roles and acquire the skills they need to succeed in their academic, professional, and personal lives. Prior to assuming her current position, Kate was the associate director of National Programs and Policy at Wider Opportunities for Women, a 2011 WIN Young Woman of Achievement awardee, member of the Center for Progressive Leadership’s 2011 Executive Fellowship, and serves on the board of the

Women under 40 Political Action Committee. Her writing has been featured in the Huffington Post and the Daily Muse. Prior to arriving in Washington, D.C., Kate lobbied the Connecticut state legislature on behalf of nonprofit organizations. She also served as a field organizer in Wisconsin for the 2004 presidential campaign. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Connecticut and a master's in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Kate C. Farrar Featured Speaker

The Next Generation of Women’s Leadership

Mark Hopkins will be presenting highlights of the current and upcoming fiscal years. He is Chief Strategy Officer of AAUW and has responsibility for revenue generation, including membership and fundraising, strategic alliance and collaboration development, and strategic planning along with the other members of the executive staff of AAUW, among other duties. With over 25 years’ experience working for and with non-profit organizations, Mark has been an executive with American Lung Association, Juvenile Diabetes Association, and USO World Headquarters. As a consultant, he has worked with Target Corp, Estee Lauder, Nike, JP Morgan Chase & Company, World Medical Center, and others on innovation development, strategic alliance, and business development projects, as well as strategic philanthropic efforts.

Mark Hopkins Keynote Speaker

One AAUW

For 21 years, Kathy Bull served as the head coach for the women’s tennis team at Ball State University in Indiana. There she advocated for Title IX and mentored young women coaches. But midseason in 2009, the university abruptly fired Bull, allegedly for NCAA violations. Bull, however, claimed she was fired in retaliation for speaking out in favor of gender equity in the school’s athletic department — and she promptly filed suit under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. In July 2013, Bull — who received case support from AAUW’s

Legal Advocacy Fund — settled her lawsuit with Ball State and was awarded more than $700,000 in cash and benefits, an outcome she couldn’t have attained without LAF and its passionate donors. “When AAUW came on

board, I was at my breaking point,” explains Bull. “AAUW brought not only much-needed fiscal support but also the emotional support I needed. All of a sudden this wasn’t just my battle; women all over the country were behind me.”

Kathy Bull LAF Speaker

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Breakout Sessions

1. SPARKING A SCIENTIFIC INTEREST IN OUR YOUTH Science Fair Mentoring will be presented by Catherine Haslag, Chemistry Professor, Riverland Community College and Austin Branch member.

2. HOW TO CREATE AN AWARD-WINNING STEAM SCHOOL (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Jean McDermott, I.J. Holton Intermediate School Principal, will present this session.

3. PAYING IT FORWARD Want to help the next generation of AAUW members get launched as leaders of equity work? Peg Lonnquist, Women’s Center Director and AAUW of Minnesota State Board member and Joelle Stangler, University of Minnesota Student Association President, will present this session.

4. AAUW TOWN HALL FORUM Join the Q & A with Mark Hopkins, Chief Strategy Officer of AAUW and Kate Farrar, Vice President of AAUW Campus Leadership Programs.

Entertainment by

The SPAMETTES

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Entertainment by

The SPAMETTES

Jean McDermott

Workshop Presenter

A native of Austin, MN, Jean received her BS in Elementary Education from Bemidji State University. She received her middle school endorsement from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, MN. She taught middle school math in Roseville, MN for 11 years and middle school math, science, and health in Austin, MN for 9 years. Jean completed her MA in Education at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN with a capstone project on Service Learning. She earned her K–12 principal licensure from Winona State University. Jean has served as principal at Ellis Middle School, Neveln Elementary, Woodson Kindergarten Center and now the newly opened I.J. Holton Intermediate School all in Austin, MN during the past 15 years. She has provided leadership in a number of school initiatives including the re-organization and opening of a district all-day every-day Kindergarten Center, Reading First, and the construction and programming of a STEAM Intermediate School which opened for students in September 2013.

Catherine Haslag

Workshop Presenter

Originally from Missouri, Catherine holds a B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry from Missouri State University. She has been working in the educational field for over 15 years as a tutor, mentor, and faculty. After working 6 years in the environmental field, Catherine decided to re-enter the educational field full-time and accepted a position as a chemistry faculty at Riverland Community College, where she currently teaches. Catherine joined AAUW in 2013 and currently serves as a Program Vice-President for the Austin chapter. She lives in Austin with her partner and his three daughters.

Peg Lonnquist

Workshop Presenter

Want to help the next generation of AAUW members get launched as leaders of equity work? Join us for an informal discussion of current efforts and next steps for college/university chapters in Minnesota. This session will be co-lead by Peg Lonnquist, Women's Center Director and AAUW of Minnesota State Board member and Joelle Stangler, Minnesota Student Association President, University of Minnesota.

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AAUW MINNESOTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014 — 2015

Elected Officers President Sharon Bigot – Minneapolis 612-378-2783 aebskfb@comcast.net

Vice President Program Rose Cyert – Winona 507-454-3555 zom55@charter.net

Vice President Membership Peg Lonnquist 612-625-6039 pegquist@umn.edu

Vice President Public Policy Mary Petron – Hibbing 218-263-9497 mcpetron824@gmail.com

Vice President AAUW Funds Jan Paulsen – Minneapolis 763-529-1986 jlpaulsen@aol.com

Treasurer Carol Sheggeby – St. Paul 651-454-7448 csheggeby@gmail.com

Secretary/Historian Lisa West – Hastings 651-587-8272 lisa.west@co.dakota.mn.us

College/University Rep Vacant

Appointed Officers Finance Chair Mary Jo Dickinson – Metro West 952-933-6591 mjdickinson2@aol.com

Pine Editor Gail Glashan – Hastings 651-437-6356 gwglashan@gmail.com

Administrative Assistant Carrie D’Andrea – Minneapolis 952-835-5890 cadandrea@comcast.net

Off-Board Positions Bylaws Sheila Lind – Minneapolis 952-926-8279 lind@visi.com

Website Contact Teresa Sagen – Ely 218-365-6461 tksagen@frontiernet.net

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AAUW MINNESOTA STANDING COMMITTEES 2014-2015

Nominating Committee Financial Review Committee 2014 Chair, Teresa Sagen—Ely Chair, Jan Bensen—St. Cloud Rose Cyert---Winona Diane Hellie—Rochester Mary Jo Dickinson—Metro West Mary Farmer—Brainerd Beth Nienow—Rochester Doris Morrison—Northeast Metro Alternate, Sharon Bigot—Minneapolis Finance Committee Bylaws Committee Chair, Mary Jo Dickinson---Metro West Chair, Sheila Lind--Minneapolis Carol Sheggeby—St. Paul Carol James--Northfield Rose Cyert—Winona Barb Link—Minneapolis, Metro West Peg Lonnquist—Minneapolis Phyllis Olson--Ely Carrie D’Ándrea—Minneapolis

2015 AAUW STATE CONVENTION COMMITTEES

Credentials Committee Chair, Carrie D'Andrea--Minneapolis Jill Maxfield--Austin Ginny Craig--Minneapolis Convention Standing Rules Committee Chair, Julie Ollila--Minneapolis Janet Morgen--Minneapolis Pat Scott--Brainerd Convention Minutes Condensing Committee Chair, Lisa West--Hastings Rose Cyert--Winona Gail Glashan--Hastings Resolutions Committee Chair, Mary Petron--Hibbing Char Kahler--Fairmont Marilyn Rossman--Grand Rapids Convention Parliamentarian Barb Link--Minneapolis and Metro West

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2015 Convention Local Arrangements

Co-Chairs: Marijo Alexander and Sue Grove Registration: Jill Maxfield Booklet: Marijo Alexander and Sue Grove Evaluations: Marijo Alexander and Sue Grove Finances: Nicole Cizik AAUW Silent Auction: Jan Paulsen and DeDaRae Graber Convention Photographer: Vern Grove Convention Timer: Courtney Wyant Convention Tellers: Peggy Benzkofer & Carolyn Bogott Convention Pages: Sandy Folk and Dorothy Krob

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Minnesota AAUW College/University Representatives 2014-2015

Augsburg College Lory Peterson Bemidji State University Angela Fournier afournier@bemidjistate.edu Carla Norris-Raynbird cnorrisraynbird@bemidjistate.edu Carleton College Kathy Evertz kevertz@carleton.edu Central Lakes College Kari Christiansen kchristi@clcmn.edu College of St. Benedict Mary Geller mgeller@csbsju.edu Mary Harlander-Locke mhlocke@csbsju.edu Concordia College Rebecca Amundsen amundsen@cord.edu Lisa Sethre-Hofstad sethre@cord.edu Gustavus Adolphus College Paula O’Loughlin poloughl@gustavus.edu Jones Van Hecke jvanheck@gustavus.edu Hamline University Kristin Mapel Bloomberg kbloomberg@hamline.edu Veeno Deo vdeo@hamline.edu Minnesota State University, Mankato Kristin Scott Kristin.scott@mnsu.edu Vicki Hanson vicki.hanson@mnsu.edu

Minnesota West Community & Technical College Lori Voss lori.voss@mnwest.edu Ridgewater College Vicki Melbye vicki.melbye@ridgewater.edu Douglas Allen douglas.allen@ridgewater.edu Riverland Community College Mary Kay Wilson marykay.wilson@riverland.edu Marijo Alexander marijo.alexander@riverland.edu St. Cloud State University Lalita Subrahmanyan lsubrahmanyan@stcloudstate.edu Joanna Pucel jkpucel@stcloudstate.edu St. Olaf College Marci Sortor sortor@stolaf.edu Rosalyn Raton-Neeb eatonnee@stolaf.edu South Central College Anade Long-Jacobs Anade.long@southcentral.edu University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Peg Lonnquist pegquist@umn.edu Debra Fitzpatrick dfitzpatrick@umn.edu Vermillion Community College Chris Braun c.braun@vcc.edu Winona State University Darrell Downs ddowns@winona.edu

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Past AAUW Minnesota Presidents

1923-25 Mrs. F.G. Atkinson (Rood) 1970-72 Alberta McNeal 1925-27 Mrs. James King 1972-74 Eleanor Sulerud 1927-29 Mrs. James Richardson McNeal 1974-76 Enid Swanson 1929-31 Mrs. Schuler Woodhull 1976-78 Martha Ward 1931-33 Mrs. H.F. Heimholtz 1978-80 Nancy Selby 1933-36 Mrs. H.K. Painter 1980-82 Helen Rudie 1936-38 Mrs. John McCrory 1982-84 Joann Paden 1938-40 Mrs. Harry Kavel 1984-86 Susan Lemke 1940-42 Mrs. Warren Wilson 1986-88 Jane Maddy 1942-44 Mrs. Frederic Weld 1988-90 Barbara Halweg 1944-46 Mrs. Willard Matter 1990-92 Kay Cooper 1946-48 Mrs. Lawrence Steefel 1992-94 Alice Ellis 1948-50 Mrs. Frank O. Jones 1994-96 Nancy Rustad 1950-54 Mrs. Florence Schneider 1996-98 Barb Link 1954-56 Mrs. Emil Koski 1998-00 Linda Thielbar 1956-58 Mrs. A.J. Cole 2000-02 Sharon Finch 1958-60 Mrs. E.R. Komarek 2002-04 Terri Griffiths 1960-62 Phyllis Gausman 2004-06 Pat Sween 1962-64 Dode Wonson 2006-08 Beverly Crute 1964-66 Betty Christian 2008-10 Mary Parcheta/Karen Kirkwood 1966-68 Gladys Swanson 2010-12 Carol Sheggeby 1968-70 Charlotte Reeve 2012-14 Caroline Owens/Teresa Sagen

Branch Milestones/Anniversaries in 2015

Dates taken from 2014-15 State Directory Information

Alexandria Area 30 years Fairmont 95 years Faribault 90 years Minneapolis 110 years Moorhead (Fargo/Moorhead) 85 years Virginia Area 55 years

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AAUW MINNESOTA 86th ANNUAL STATE CONVENTION, 2015

BUSINESS SESSION April 11 9:30 – 11:00 AM

Call to Order Recognition of Past State Presidents and State Board Members Recognition of Branches, College and University Representatives and National Members Credentials Report Adoption of Convention Standing Rules Adoption of Consent Agenda 1. Business Agenda 2. Appointments Timekeeper, Tellers, Pages, Minutes Condensing Committee 3. AAUW Minnesota 2014 State Convention Minutes State Reports Treasurer’s Report AAUW Funds Report and Designation of Funds New Business Report of the 2013-14 Financial Records Review Committee 2015-2016 Budget Report of Nominating Committee & Introduction of Candidates Nominations and Election of Officers Public Policy Biennial Action Priorities for 2014-2016 Resolutions Additional Business Items Recognition of Outgoing State Board Members Introduction of 2015-2016 State Board 2016 Minnesota State Convention Invitation Adjournment

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STANDING RULES OF THE 86th AAUW MINNESOTA CONVENTION

1. For admission to the assembly hall, each member shall be required to wear the badge

issued by the credentials committee upon registration. While in the assembly hall, delegates shall at all times wear their badges. Only the votes of those delegates wearing badges shall be counted.

2. When a delegate leaves the assembly room, no other person is authorized to act in the

delegate’s place until that delegate reports departure to the credentials committee. The

credentials committee will designate a duly registered alternate to replace the departing delegate and transfer the departing delegate’s voting card to the alternate confirmed as a replacement for the departing delegate. If the departed delegate returns to the assembly room, the same procedure shall be followed. A short leave (e.g., restroom or phone for example) is not considered departing.

3. The president may present a consent agenda at the beginning of the business meeting.

Upon the request of any one delegate, items may be removed from the consent agenda. Items not removed may be adopted by general consent without debate. Removed items may be taken up either immediately after the consent agenda or placed later on the agenda at the discretion of the assembly.

4. Communication to the platform shall be in writing and transmitted by the pages only. 5. Voting cards will be used in all meetings. For the initial vote, voters will raise voting

cards while remaining seated. The presiding officer will direct other voting procedures (such as a standing or counted vote) as necessary for verification of results. If unable to stand, raising a hand shall be considered the same as standing.

6. No one shall be permitted to enter or leave the assembly hall during a vote. The doors

shall be closed with the exception of a designated emergency exit. 7. Anyone requesting the floor shall address the chair from a convention microphone and

upon chair recognition shall state name, branch and/or convention status. 8. Motions must be made in writing on triplicate forms provided. Two copies of the written

motion are handed to a page who will immediately hand one copy to the chair and one to the secretary. The remaining copy is kept by the delegate making the motion.

9. Resolutions may be presented from the floor. The presenter must be prepared to share the

wording of the proposed resolution by distributing printed copies to all delegates or projecting it on a screen. The Chair of the Resolutions Committee will take responsibility for projecting resolutions received prior to 8:00 AM on the day of the convention business meeting. A 2/3 approval is required for the resolution to be brought forward for discussion and a ¾ approval is required for adoption.

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10. Only duly accredited delegates* shall be entitled to make motions and vote. Alternate

delegates and non-delegate members may not make motions, second motions, or vote; but they may speak to a motion.

11. A maximum of two minutes shall be allowed each speaker to a motion. If the speaker has

not finished a sentence when time is called by the appointed timekeeper, the speaker will be allowed to complete the sentence.

12. No one will speak twice to the same motion until everyone else who desires to speak on the motion has been heard, provided that the time limit allowed for the particular item of business on the floor has not been exceeded. The chair may establish a time limit for debate for each item, subject to approval of the delegates. The parliamentary rules of debate will apply by allowing pro and con speakers to be recognized alternately, insofar as practical.

13. Tellers shall be appointed at the beginning of the convention by the chair and shall assist

in counting the votes when requested to do so. * The terms “accredited delegates” or “delegates” in this and subsequent rules include 1)

registered branch delegates as certified by branch presidents, 2) members of the state board of directors and chairs of state committees, 3) college/university representatives, 4) any member(s)-at-large appointed by the State President, 5) and past state presidents who are currently members of AAUW-Minnesota.

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AAUW MINNESOTA 85th ANNUAL STATE CONVENTION

April 11 and 12, 2014 Gale Mansion, Minneapolis, MN

Convention convened at 6:30 p.m., April 11 President Teresa Sagen welcomed convention attendees on behalf of the board to our 85th State Convention. She thanked the Minneapolis Branch and Convention Co-chairs, Sharon Bigot and Carrie D’Andrea, for their time and efforts to make this convention a success. President Caroline Owens introduced special guests Pam Thiel and David Kirkwood, AAUW Board of Directors members, Catherine Hill, AAUW Director of Research, and Ruth Bachman, evening speaker. Ginny Craig, President, Minneapolis Branch, was introduced. She welcomed attendees to convention. Following dinner Mikel Clifford, member of the Selection Committee for the Young Women for Equity Award introduced Camryn Nelson, who was nominated by the Red Wing Branch, and presented to her the Young Women for Equity Award and a $250 check. Mikel also announced that Rosalyn Nelson, nominated by the Ely Branch, received an honorable mention and a $50 check. Teresa thanked members of selection committee, Judy Urban, Chair, Mikel Clifford, Nancy Creighton, Carol Sheggeby, and Diane Hellie. Shari Parsons from Minneapolis Branch introduced speaker, Ruth Bachman, who gave an inspiring talk about accepting and dealing with change in our lives. Following her presentation, convention was adjourned for evening. BUSINESS SESSION Convention reconvened at 8:15 a.m. April 12 Flag ceremony was performed by Junior Girl Scout Troop 43000 from the Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys Council. This troop of Girl Scouts from Elgin was featured in the winter issue of the Pine in an article titled “Pinky Promises to Stop Bullying,” for which they earned their Agent of Change Junior Journey Award. Sharon Bigot, AAUW MN president-elect introduced our Keynote speaker, Catherine Hill, AAUW Director of Research, and author of several recent AAUW reports. Dr. Hill spoke of the long history of research in AAUW and discussed various research activities and our success with them. Awards: AAUW Funds and membership awards Funds awards for Top Ten Branches total giving, Top Ten per capita giving, and Named Grant honorees awards were announced. Membership awards were given for 5 member increase per year and branches with 10% or more increase. (Pages 22 and 34 in Convention book). Business Session called to order at 9:30 a.m. Past State Presidents Kay Cooper, Nancy Rustad, Barb Link, Pat Sween, Beverly Crute, Karen Kirkwood, and Carol Sheggeby were recognized. Alice Ellis, Joann Paden, Helen Rudie, Susan

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Lemke, and Sharon Finch sent greetings. The State Board acknowledged the leadership of this outstanding group of women with a special $300 contribution to AAUW Funds honoring Minnesota Past Presidents. Fifty year members were asked to stand and be recognized. Current board members were introduced: Sharon Bigot, President Elect; Rose Cyert, VP Program; Mary Petron, VP Public Policy; Jan Paulsen, VP AAUW Funds; Carrie D’Andrea, VP Membership;

Carol Sheggeby, Treasurer; Alice Laudon, Secretary/Historian; Mary Jo Dickinson, Finance Chair; Gail Glashan, Pine Editor; Lucy Diesslin, Administrative Assistant; Joanna Pucel, C/U Representative. Off-board Position, Barb Link, State Bylaws Chair. College/University Representatives were asked to stand and give the college they represented: Present were Joanna Pucel, St. Cloud State University, and Kristin Scott, MN State University. Credentials report presented by Administrative Assistant Lucy Diesslin. 12 State Board members, 0 College/University representatives, 102 seated delegates, 6 past state presidents. Total voting delegates: 120. 53 nonvoting attendees and 3 registered visitors. Total attendance 176. Motion: Lucy moved for the adoption of the Credentials Report: Motion adopted. Chris Koentopp, Chair of the Convention Standing Rules Committee, presented the Convention Standing Rules (page 16) Motion: Chris moved for the adoption of the Convention Standing Rules. Motion adopted. Consent agenda (Business Agenda, Convention Appointments, AAUW MN 2013 State Convention Minutes)(page 11). Motion: Pat Sween moved to adopt consent agenda. Motion seconded. Motion adopted. State Reports Treasurer report (page 23) Carol Sheggeby presented report for fiscal year July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. End of year balances: Checking $15,549.45, Money Market $32,762.19, Invesco Short Term bond Fund $10,334.24. Report placed on file. AAUW Funds (Page 24) Jan Paulsen presented the AAUW Funds Report. Total 2013 giving, $55,241.56. Distribution: AAUW Funds $7,119.62, LAF $14,091.12, Ed. Opportunities Fund $26,205.32, Public Policy Fund $2,228, Eleanor Roosevelt Fund $3,145, Leadership Programs Fund $2,452.50. Motion: Jan moved for the adoption of the 2013 AAUW Funds report. Motion seconded. Motion adopted. New Business Report of the 2012-13 Financial Records Review Committee (Page 25) Jan Bensen reported records in good order. Motion: Jan Benson moved for the adoption of the 2012-2013 Financial Records Review Committee Report. Motion adopted. Committee consisted of Jan Benson, Chair, and members Mary Framer and Doris Morrison. Proposed State budget: Mary Jo Dickinson (page 26)

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Mary Jo Dickinson, by the direction of the Finance Committee and the State Board of Directors, moved the adoption of the proposed 2014-2015 AAUW Minnesota State Budget as printed in the convention booklet. Motion passed and budget adopted. Report of Nominating Committee and Introduction of Candidates (page 27) Roger Sween, Chair of Nominating Committee, introduced the nominees for office: Peg Lonnquist, Minneapolis, VP membership; Jan Paulsen, Minneapolis, AAUW Funds; Lisa West, Hastings, secretary/historian. Teresa Sagen, Ely, and Beth Nienow, Rochester, Nominating Committee. Vacancies remain on the Nominating Committee. Call for nominations from the floor. There were none and nominations closed and election proceeded. Motion: Sue Grove moved that the Secretary cast an elective ballot for the nominees for office as presented. Motion seconded. Motion passed. Alice Laudon, Secretary, cast the elective ballot for Peg Lonnquist as Vice President Membership, Jan Paulsen as Vice President of AAUW Funds, Lisa West as Secretary/Historian, and Teresa Sagen and Beth Nienow for Nominating Committee. Public Policy Biennial Action Priorities for 2014-2016 (page 28) Mary Petron presented the Public Policy report. Priorities were: to support the elimination of wage discrimination and achievement of pay equity for all women, to help support and solve issues on human trafficking for women and girls, and, to support protection for students from bullying and harassment. Motion: Mary Petron moved for the acceptance of the Biennial Action Priorities. Motion seconded. Motion: Cathy Bernard, Owatonna, moved to amend the Action Priorities by elimination of the words “for women and girls” in the second Priority. Motion seconded. Discussion followed, vote taken. Motion: passed. Motion: Motion to accept the Biennial Action Priorities as amended passed. Motion to approve the adoption of resolution in Convention Booklet (Page 29). Courtesy Resolution – AAUW Minnesota Convention. Motion: Mary Petron, by direction of the Resolutions Committee, moved for the adoption of Resolution #1 as printed in the Convention Booklet. Motion: Resolution passed. Call for resolutions from the floor Catherine McDonald, Hibbing Branch, asked for convention to hear resolution to support of Safe and Supportive Schools in Minnesota. Seconded by Roger Sween. Vote called whether to hear resolution. Vote passed to hear resolution. Resolution displayed on screen and read. Resolution in Support of Safe and Supportive Schools in Minnesota Be it resolved, that AAUW Minnesota will promote a safe and supportive environment for all students in Minnesota. IMPLEMENTATION AAUW Minnesota will encourage all AAUW branches and individual members across the state to become informed about the provisions in the Safe and Supportive Schools Act. AAUW Minnesota will encourage members to learn about bullying, harassment and intimidation in their local school districts, and learn what intervention and preventative actions are currently in place. The members of the AAUW Minnesota Board will provide branches with ideas and action steps to raise awareness in the communities about bullying, and also for achieving a safe and supportive environment in schools.

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Vote called to adopt the resolution. Resolution adopted. Additional Business Roger Sween, Chair Nominating Committee, was recognized and requested that anyone who wants to know more about what Nominating Committee is to please contact him. The following outgoing State Board Members were recognized and thanked: Alice Laudon, Carrie D’Andrea, Lucy Diesslen, and Joanna Pucel. State Board Members for 2014-2015 were introduced. They are: Sharon Bigot, President; Rose Cyert, VP Program; Peg Lonnquist, VP Membership; Mary Petron, VP Public Policy; Jan Paulsen, VP Funds; Carol Sheggeby, Treasurer; Lisa West, Secretary/Historian; Mary Jo Dickinson, Finance Chair; Gail Glashan, Pine Editor; and Carrie D’Andrea, Administrative Assistance Sue Grove, Austin Branch, issued an invitation to attend the 86th State Convention in Austin, Minnesota, on April 10 and 11, 2015. Members invited to join Pam Thiel, National AAUW Director at 11:15 in Presidents’ Dining Room

for AAUW updates and questions. Attendees also reminded that Susan Burke, LAF Speaker, will talk after lunch. Adjournment 10:45 a.m. Alice Laudon Secretary 4/27/2014

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AAUW MINNESOTA

FEBRUARY 1 MEMBERSHIP

Branch 2/01/2013 2/01/2014 2/1/2015 One Year % Rate of Change

Albert Lea 32 34 31 -8.82

Alexandria Area 9 10 9 -10

Austin 61 71 70 -1.41

Blooming Prairie 18 18 17 -5.56

Brainerd 30 30 32 6.67

Duluth Inc. 71 73 76 4.11

Ely 47 46 41 -10.87

Fairmont 30 24 19 -20.83

Faribault 39 37 39 5.41

Fergus Falls 36 41 45 9.76

Grand Rapids 91 93 86 -7.53

Hastings 106 99 93 -6.06

Hibbing 87 77 59 -23.38

Hutchinson 14 15 14 -6.67

Mankato 22 23 18 -21.74

Metro West 50 45 43 -4.44

Minneapolis 399 381 364 -4.46

Moorehead 9 7 6 -14.29

Northeast Metro 28 27 28 3.70

Northfield 48 52 49 -5.77

Owatonna 61 59 60 1.69

Redwing Area 59 63 64 1.59

Rochester 129 122 116 -4.92

St. Cloud Area 48 53 49 -7.55

St. Croix Valley 41 37 36 -2.70

St. Paul 335 359 397 10.58

Thief River Falls 25 21 23 9.52

Virginia Area 14 12 13 8.33

Willmar 40 41 40 -2.44

Winona 35 28 37 32.14

State Totals 2,014 1,998 1,974 -1.20

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AAUW FINANCIAL REPORT 2013 - 2014 AAUW Minnesota Fiscal year July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014 Cash Basis Add (Subtract) items received/expended FY2014-15 1-4 Qtrs Actual FY 2013-14

Budget Income Refund of Convention Advance none made 1,000.00 Convention Profit 1,146.00 1,146.00 2,000.00 Membership Dues 15,487.00 15,487.00 17,000.00 Advance Member Dues for 14-15 264.50 Interest/Dividend Income 15.61 15.61 200.00 Total Income 16,648.61 264.50 16,648.61 20,200

.00 Expenses 10 Association Convention - - State Convention 21 Host Branch Advance 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.

00 22 Pre-Planning Expenses - 200.00 23 Board Expenses 1,311.12 1,311.12 1,900.

00 24 Program/Leader on Loan 150.00 150.00 500.00 25 Program Development - 800.00 26 Parliamentarian 75.00 75.00 400.00 27 Award Recipient Costs/Gifts 660.72 660.72 600.00 State Convention Total 3,196.84 5,400.00 Board of Directors 40A Mileage 1,717.35 1,717.35 1,600.

00 40B Meals 677.48 677.48 1,500.

00 40C Lodging/Meeting Room 685.03 685.03 1,000.

00 43 Financial Records Review 133.00 133.00 300.00 44 Fidelity Bond (3 yr) 435.00 435.00 250.00 45 State Leader on Loan 187.00 187.00 600.00 46 President's Fund - - 200.00 47 Finance Committee - - 100.00 48 Web Site 270.42 270.42 - Total Board of Directors 4,105.28 5,550.00 Administration 50 Postage 239.17 239.17 300.00 51 Copying/Printing 680.18 680.18 500.00 52 Phone 15.84 15.84 - 53 Supplies/Stationery 156.72 156.72 200.00 54 Assumed Named Certificate

(Placed in Reserve) - - -

55 AAUW Funds Fundraising - - 100.00 Administration Total 1,091.91 1,100.00 Other Expenses 60 Minnesota Pine 2,025.04 2,025.04 3,500.

00 70 Coalitions 682.00 682.00 700.00 75 Donation to AAUW Funds - 100.00 80 Visability/Marketing 500.00 500.00 800.00 90 Board to Branch Connection - 50.00 100 Special Events, Board Approved - 100.00 110 Public Policy, Activities Only - 150.00 120 College/University (C/U) Development - 100.00 130 Nominating Committee - 25.00 150 Resolutions Committee - 25.00 800 Leadership Training Institute

(NCCWSL) 5,500.00 5,500.00 5,000.

00 Other Expenses Total 8,707.04 10,550.00 TOTAL EXPENSES 17,101.07 22,600.00 NET (452.46) (2,400.00) CHECKING BALANCE 6/30/14 16,722.00 EDWARD JONES 6/30/2014 MONEY MARKET FUND 43,147.81 Total 59,869.81 RESERVE REQUIREMENTS $25,000.00

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AAUW FUNDS REPORT

Minnesota Branch Gifts in 2014

Branch Name Total Branch Gifts Top Ten Branches – Total Gifts AAUW at 3M Center $ 60.00 Albert Lea (6001) 580.00 Minneapolis $11,756.00 Alexandria Area (6060) 60.00 St. Paul 6,747.00 Austin (6003) 400.00 St. Cloud Area 5,230.00 Brainerd (6043) 95.00 Red Wing Area 4,484.50 Duluth (6008) 1,810.00 Rochester 3,594.75 Ely (6009) 1,175.00 Owatonna 3,090.00 Fairmont (6010) 1,460.00 Hibbing 2,590.00 Faribault (6011) 2,251.00 Faribault 2,251.00 Fergus Falls (6012) 235.00 Duluth 1,810.00 Grand Rapids (6013) 1,429.00 St. Croix Valley 1,760.00 Hastings (6049) 1,450.00 Hibbing (6014) 2,590.00 Mankato (6017) 170.00 Top Ten Branches –Per Capita Metro West (6050) 1,207.03 St. Cloud Area $111.28 Minneapolis (6019) 11,756.00 Fargo/Moorhead 108.75 MN Community & State 300.00 Fairmont 85.88 Moorhead (6021) 870.00 Red Wing Area 66.93 Northeast Metro (6056) 775.00 Faribault 54.90 Northfield (6025) 1,585.00 Owatonna 50.66 Owatonna (6027) 3,090.00 St. Croix Valley 50.29 Red Wing Area (6029) 4,484.50 Hibbing 43.17 Rochester (6031) 3,594.75 Willmar 39.32 St. Cloud Area (6032) 5,230.00 Northfield 35.22 St. Croix Valley (6033) 1,760.00 St. Paul (6035) 6,747.00 Distribution of 2014 Gifts Thief River Falls (6055) 55.00 AAUW Funds (9110) $ 17,978.75 Willmar (6039) 1,612.00 Legal Advocacy Fund 11,144.75 Winona (6041) 365.00 Ed. Opportunities Fund 20,517.78 Public Policy Fund 1,645.00 Eleanor Roosevelt Fund 3,980.00 Leadership Programs Fund 1,930.00 Minnesota Total $57,196.28 Total $57,196.28 Janice Paulsen MN AAUW Funds VP JLPaulsen@aol.com 763-529-1986

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2013-14 Financial Review Committee Report for 2015 Convention Handbook

Jan Bensen- Chair Sharon Bigot- State President, Carol Sheggeby- State Treasurer, and Diane Hellie- past State Treasurer August 2014 The Committee reviewed the 2013 Financial Review meeting minutes and recommendations. All recommendations had been implemented. The documents for review were: the 2013-14 budget vs actual, check registers, monthly account balance reconciliation, checking and investment accounts, checking transactions from 7/1/13 to June 30/14, cash flow 7/1/13-6/30/14. The Committee reviewed the 2013-14 State Board minutes to verify that any item approved for payment had been paid. The Committee reviewed investment account balances. Recommendations were made for changes in 2014-15. The committee found the state financial records in good order. Respectfully submitted, Jan Bensen Financial Review Chair

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2015-2016 AAUW MINNESOTA BUDGET Income

Dues $16,000.00 State Convention Profit $ 2,000.00 Return Host Advance $ 1,000.00 Interest/Dividend Income $ 50.00 Over Payment Going to College & Other $ 0.00

Income Total $19,050.00

Expense 10 Association Convention $ 0.00 State Convention 21 Host Branch Advance $ 1,000.00 22 Pre-Planning Expenses $ 200.00 23 Board Expenses $ 1,900.00 24 Program/Leader on Loan $ 400.00 25 Program Development $ 500.00 26 Parliamentarian $ 400.00 27 Award Recipient Costs/Gifts $ 500.00

State Convention Total $ 4,900.00

Board of Directors 40A Mileage $ 1,000.00 40B Meals $ 1,500.00 40C Lodging/Meeting Room $ 1,700.00 43 Financial Records Review $ 250.00 44 Fidelity Bond (3 yr) $ 0.00 45 State Leader on Loan $ 400.00 46 President’s Fund $ 150.00 47 Finance Committee $ 50.00 48 Web Site $ 150.00

Board of Directors Total $ 5,200.00

Administration 50 Postage $ 320.00 51 Copying/Printing $ 400.00 52 Phone $ 15.00 53 Supplies $ 200.00 54 Assumed Name Certificate $ 0.00 55 AAUW Funds Fundraising $ 100.00 Administration Total $ 1,035.00

Other Expenses 60 Minnesota Pine $ 2,000.00 70 Coalitions $ 700.00 75 Donation to AAUW Funds $ 300.00 80 Visability/Community Involvement $ 1,500.00 90 Board to Branch Connection $ 50.00 100 Special Events, Board Approved $ 100.00 110 Public Policy $ 100.00 120 College University (C/U) Development $ 100.00 130 Nominating Committee $ 25.00 150 Resolutions Committee $ 25.00 600 NCCWSL Scholarship $ 0.00 700 Branch Projects Grants $ 2,000.00 Other Expenses Total $ 6,900.00 EXPENSES TOTAL $18,035.00

Net Ordinary Income (Income- expenses) $ 1,015.00

OTHER DISBURSEMENTS 900 Planned Transfer from Reserves $ 4,485.00 800 Leadership Training Inst(NCCWSL) Expense $ 5,500.00

NET $ 0.00

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NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

The Nominating Committee presents the following candidates for election at the 2015 AAUW Minnesota State Convention in Austin: JAN BENSEN President-Elect 2015-2016 Jan is a very active member of St. Cloud Area Branch since 1979 and brings outstanding leadership skills, having served as Branch President and in leadership positions in the Girl Scouts and in her professional life. Jan looks forward to advocating “for the activist political and social goals” of

AAUW. She is currently the Branch Women’s Summit Liaison that includes 30 organizations in St.

Cloud that focus on empowering and improving the lives of women. Jan is a regular attendee at MN State Conventions and National Conventions. She has served on the AAUW MN Financial Records Review Committee since 2012 and as Chair of the Committee in 2013 and 2014. Jan has an undergraduate degree from Macalester College in Psychology and Education and a MS Degree in Linguistics from St. Cloud State University. Jan’s educational pursuits have continued with

her accomplishments as a Certified Financial Planner, an Accredited Asset Management Specialist and an Accredited Investment Fiduciary. Since 2001, she has been Financial Advisor, First Vice President of RBC Wealth Management and is an active and highly respected and recognized member of Women’s Association of Financial Advisors. Prior to professional experiences in the financial

field, Jan was an educator in the St. Cloud and St. Paul Schools. Jan is known by many AAUW members for her work with Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines and the Girl Scouts Land of Lakes Council. She has also been active in the community by participating in St. Cloud Area Zonta International, serving on the library board, and serving on the St. Cloud State University Herberger School of Business Advisory Board. MARY ANN LUCAS-HOAX V.P. Program 2015-2017 Mary Ann is a member of the Duluth Branch and has served two terms as Branch President and is currently Program Chair and Chair of the Duluth Steering Committee for State Convention. She has previously served on State Committees, such as the Nominating Committee. She continues to be an avid supporter of AAUW and a long-time attendee at both State and National Conventions. Mary Ann’s educational experience includes a BS in Education from University of Minnesota and a

MA and EdS from University of Wisconsin, Superior in Educational Administration. She also has a CAS from Harvard in Administration, Planning and Social Policy. Mary Ann’s professional

experience is extensive and includes K-12 Teacher, K-8 Principal, Supervisor of Certified Personnel, Affirmative Action Officer and Director of Curriculum and Staff Development. Mary Ann continues to participate in the community through Boys and Girls Club, Girl Scouts, City of Duluth Public Library Board and the Women’s Commission. Her interests are also reflected in her

service on the Duluth Cancer Society Board, the Hartley Nature Center Board and the Duluth Ballet Board.

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MARY PETRON V.P. Public Policy 2015-2017 Mary is nominated for a second term as AAUW MN VP Public Policy. As Public Policy VP, Mary worked with AAUW staff to identify descriptors to track bills introduced in the Minnesota Legislature relevant to the AAUW Mission. She is a member of the Hibbing Branch and has served as President, VP Membership and VP Program. Mary is a graduate of Bemidji State University and has taught Kindergarten in Chisholm for 24 years. Mary remains active in the community with her involvement as a Girl Scout and 4-H leader for over 25 years and active participation in Alpha Delta Kappa in Hibbing and the ADK State Board as chaplain, historian, and secretary. CAROL SHEGGEBY Treasurer 2015-2017 Carol is nominated for a second term as AAUW MN Treasurer. After serving as State President from 2010-2012, she has continued to contribute her time and experience as a State Board member and an active participate in the St. Paul Branch as past president, treasurer and currently as Finance Chair and Newsletter Editor. Carol previously lived and worked in Hastings, where she began her AAUW membership. Carol began her professional career as a 3-year R. N. She has a BA at Metro State and a Master’s

Degree in Liberal Studies, Writing, from Hamline. For many years, Carol owned and operated a small business in Hastings. ROSE CYERT Nominating Committee 2015-2016 Rose is nominated for a second year member of the AAUW MN Nominating Committee. She is completing her second term AAUW MN V.P. Program. As a State Board member. Rose worked to further the AAUW mission in convention planning and her work with Branches. Rose has been a member of the Winona Branch since 1991 and has served as President and AAUW Fund Chair. Rose is an active in the community, especially with her dedication to Girl Scouts. She currently serves on the Juliette Gordon Low Society Committee to support Girl Scout programs. She also volunteers for her church, takes piano lessons, knits and enjoys reading and retirement. As a Nominating Committee member, Rose’s goal is to continue recruitment of State Board candidates to insure representation for all geographic areas of AAUW Minnesota.

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BETH NIENOW Nominating Committee 2015-2016 Beth is nominated for her second year on the AAUW MN Nominating Committee. She has served the Rochester Branch in several positions and is currently completing her second term as Branch President. Beth was Co-chair of the 2013 AAUW Minnesota State Convention. Beth received a BA in English from Hamline University, a MA in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a MA in English from Minnesota State University-Mankato, and is ABD at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She is a reference librarian at Rochester Public

Library and has worked in public and academic libraries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Tennessee. SHANNON SAVICK Nominating Committee 2015-2016 Shannon is a member of the Albert Lea Branch. She is a Minnesota native and attended Minnesota State University, Mankato where she received a BS in Math and Physics. Shannon also received a MBA from Clark University in Massachusetts. Most of Shannon’s professional career was spent with Digital Equipment Company (DEC), a

computer company. Eventually, she was the Manufacturing Account Manager for DuPont, DEC’s

largest manufacturing account and DEC’s only woman manufacturing account manager. Shannon

successfully represented District 27A as a Minnesota House Representative, 2013-2014. She was recognized by the League of Greater Minnesota Cities for her work on economic development policy and was awarded their legislative distinction award. VERONICA JOHNSON Nominating Committee Alternate 2015-2016 Veronica has belonged to AAUW over 30 years and has been a member of various AAUW Board of Directors for 25 of those years. She is a member of the Minneapolis Branch and serves on various committees and on the Gale Mansion Board. Veronica joined AAUW in Lexington, Kentucky in 1983, and has participated in AAUW in North Dakota, California and Texas as a board member and in various positions, including branch president and as LAF VP for AAUW Texas. Nationally, Veronica served as Co-Chair of the 2003 local arrangements for the Association Convention, was a member of the 2005 Association Convention Procedure Committee, and Chair of the Association Convention Procedure Committee in 2007. A native Minnesotan, Veronica attended the University of Minnesota where she received her BS Degree. She received HR Certification from University of Texas. Professionally, Veronica was Program Director at YWCA prior to her lengthy and successful career with IBM in various management positions. Veronica continues to contribute to the community through League of Women Voters, Columbia Heights Sister City, as a volunteer with senior program in Columbia Heights, and UMN student events. She is also on the UMN College of Education and Human Development Dean’s Board.

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Minnesota State 2014 – 2016 Biennial Action Priorities

To support issues eliminating wage discrimination and achieving pay equity for all women: To require employers to provide equal pay for work of equal value To issue guidance on the permissibility of gender-based affirmative action To ban retaliation for women working in female-dominated jobs equivalent to jobs traditionally dominated by men Require employers to file wage information with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Eliminate the “gag” rule on wage disclosure Prohibit employers from reducing wages to comply with pay equity requirements

To help support and solve issues on human trafficking for women and girls: To support all Safe Harbor legislation Forge crucial relationships with organizations with victim service providers, law enforcement, health care and nonprofit sectors To support bipartisan legislation to take “safe Harbor” nationwide

To support protection for students from bullying and harassment: To support a comprehensive law to address bullying and harassment To encourage all school districts to enact Safe Schools or PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) state wide Endorse school districts using Safe School or PBIS programs Recognize the Leaders in Action Program and the Mentors in Action Program

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Courtesy Resolution – AAUW Minnesota Convention 2015

WHEREAS the members of AAUW Minnesota assembled in the 86th Annual Convention at The Historic Hormel Home in Austin, Minnesota, April 10-11, 2015, are provided an informative and inspiring meeting arranged by the Austin Branch,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we extend our sincere appreciation to the members of the Austin Branch who have contributed their time and expertise, especially to President Carla Anderson-Dickmann and Convention Co-Chairs Sue Grove and Marijo Alexander; to speakers Kate Farrar, AAUW Vice President of Campus Leadership Programs and Mark Hopkins, AAUW Chief Strategy Officer; Legal Advocacy plaintiff Kathy Bull; and workshop presenters, Professor Catherine Haslag, Director Peg Lonnquist and Principal Jean McDermott.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we extend our appreciation to AAUW Minnesota Vice President for Program Rose Cyert who is completing her term of office on the State Board of Directors.

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2015 MN PUBLIC POLICY REPORT

Public Policy is an exciting and constantly changing arena supported by AAUW members who work endlessly to change international, national and state policies for the betterment of women and girls. AAUW and Public Policy look to the future to address the needs, aspirations, and concerns of women and girls across the life span. AAUW is committed to work in partnership with diverse allies and coalitions to break through barriers. Nationally Despite prevailing stereotypes, minimum wage earners are not mostly teenagers working part time for spending money. The average worker who would be affected by a wage increase is 35 years old and responsible for half of a family’s income. About 7.4 million are parents. Fifty-five percent are women – that’s

about 15.5 million women. Thirty-one percent of these women have children. It’s no secret that the gender

pay gap remains a serious problem: Women still are just paid just 78 cents for every dollar that men are paid. “Our society does not properly value the work that women do – even when it as crucial as caring for loved ones,” explains Harriet Bradley, who advocates for the rights of working women and their

families. Lisa Maatz, AAUW Vice President of Government Relations, says, “The minimum wage has been

stuck at the same rate for too long. You could nothing but work and still live in poverty. That’s not right. It doesn’t have to be that way.” (AAUW Outlook, Winter 2015, Article entitled Work Full Time, Live in Poverty) Minnesota CQ State Tracker allows the AAUW staff in Washington, D.C. to work with our state leaders to track legislation that affects our AAUW Priorities. We have created a CQ State Tracker profile our state, which includes a set of key words, committees, and legislators that will be used in automatic searches of state bills. The searches will generate email alerts when state legislation containing one of our key words is introduced, is being heard in committee, or is ready for a floor vote. AAUW MN 2014 - 2016 Public Policy is focusing Human Trafficking, Safe and Supportive Schools, Equal Pay, and Women’s Economic Security

Act. We are members of the Women’s Economic Security Coalition, Minnesota Girls Are Not For Sale, Safe and Supportive Schools Coalition. AAUW Minnesota was a sponsor for Girls Rock! the Capitol and the Safe Schools Youth Summit and Rally. A list of 2013-2015 AAUW Public Policies and Priorities may be found at aauw.org. The brochure is detailed and aligned with our mission. Our Association also provides extensive resources in kits, Washington Updates, Action Alerts/Two-Minute Activist, and research. How can you help? Sign up for Washington Update and Action Alerts/Two-Minute Activist and become strong, vigilant and active women by making your voice be heard. Mary Petron AAUW MN Public Policy VP

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AAUW Minnesota Pine Newsletter Report 2015

The AAUW of Minnesota Pine is the state newsletter published three times a year, winter, summer, and fall. Articles and pictures are

submitted for publication in the Pine by state board members and by Minnesota branches. All members and branches are encouraged to

submit stories of current interest, branch events, and ways we share our common mission: advancing equity for women and girls through

advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.

Each issue of the Pine is posted on our AAUW of Minnesota website:

http://aauw-mn.aauw.net.

When a new issue of the Pine is posted on our website, an email is sent to all AAUW of Minnesota members. This email ‘Blurb’

announces that a new issue of the Pine is posted on the website, along with the link.

Members without email addresses receive a Pine newsletter in the mail.

In response to member feedback at last year’s state convention, the AAUW of Minnesota board voted to send all issues of the Pine

electronically. Sending the Pine electronically provides members with the timeliest information, as well as eliminating the costly process of

printing and mailing! The cost savings has enabled the board to offer Branch Project Grants! Please help spread the word that the Pine is

now sent electronically. We definitely want our newsletter information to reach all members!

Thank you for keeping your email address up to date. The email and postal address database used is from AAUW National. Your

registered email address and postal address is made available to me solely for the purpose of sending the AAUW MN newsletter. Your

local AAUW branch treasurer, can update your current information with AAUW National, or you may update your own account. You

will need your member number, which can be found on the AAUW Outlook magazine, above your name on the address label. Go to

http://www.aauw.org and then look for Login at the top of the page.

Thank you for being an AAUW member!

AAUW of Minnesota members are enthusiastically and tirelessly building a better future

for women and girls—we have a rich history and future together!

Gail Glashan, Pine Editor

gwglashan@gmail.com

Pine Deep Roots–Strong Branches

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AAUW MN Bylaws Committee report for Convention booklet 2015

At the request of the MN State board, the bylaws committee developed new wording for credit card policy and procedure in the Standing Rules to align with current practice. The board approved the measure on October 25, 2014 at the AAUW MN Board meeting.

Committee: Carol James, Barb Link, Phyllis Olson and Sheila Lind, chair

AAUW Minnesota and the Minnesota Women’s Consortium: Working Together Sharon Bigot, AAUW Minnesota President and Representative to the Minnesota Women’s Consortium Board In the early months of 2015, AAUW Minnesota joined the Minnesota Women’s Consortium (MWC)

in two major public policy and advocacy events: Girls Rock! the Capitol and the Second Minnesota Coalition for Women’s Economic Security Summit. AAUW Minnesota was one of the sponsors for the 2015 Girls Rock! the Capitol event which took place on February 21 at the State Capitol in Saint Paul. One hundred three girls, ages 13-18, came from across the state for leadership and policy workshops, mock elections, a mock committee hearing and visiting with elected officials. This is the 13th year the MWC has hosted this program which introduces girls and young women to the world of government and advocacy. The Second Minnesota Women’s Economic Security Summit was held on January 29 in Saint Paul and was well attended by women and state legislators. The MWC was again involved in the planning of the Summit. For a more complete discussion of this, see your Winter 2015 edition of the AAUW of Minnesota Pine. The MWC continues to be the hub for information, sending out action alerts and pulling together coalition meetings when necessary. AAUW Minnesota has joined this coalition and through the MWC, will keep our members informed of needed public policy and advocacy actions in regard to our 2015 state legislative session. For further information on the Minnesota Women’s Consortium, including how to register girls in

your community for 2016 Girls Rock and how to become a MWC member, please visit their website www.mnwomen.org

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2014 Named Gift Honorees (Requires $750 per honoree for the Jane Skinner American Fellowship

or the MN Past Presidents American Fellowship)

Duluth Rose Drewes Mary Bowker Hibbing Pat Mattson Minneapolis Ellen Hughes Mae Lou Thompson Elaine Braun Sylvia Thompson Northfield Patricia Kriesel Owatonna Trudy Severson Red Wing Area Shannon Sullivan-Hanson Ann-Marie Rose Rochester Ardis Jenkins Joyce Wenz St. Cloud Area Jan Bensen Barbara Bloomer Mary Lou Lenz Joanna Pucel Marcia Summers Mary Margaret White-Levilain Metro West Donna Nix

Incomplete Minnesota Endowments #4203 Jane Skinner American Fellowship ($71,057.85) has until 2021 to reach $100,000. #4326 Minnesota Past Presidents American Fellowship ($107,407.60) has until 2023 to reach $200,000.

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AAUW MINNESOTA BRANCH MEMBERSHIP AWARDS 2015

February 1, 2014 - January 31, 2015

Branches with a membership increase of 10% or more

AAUW-Fergus Falls AAUW-St. Paul AAUW-Thief River Falls AAUW-Winona

Branches with a membership increase of five or more

AAUW-Austin AAUW-Brainerd AAUW-Duluth Inc. AAUW-Fairbault AAUW-Fergus Falls AAUW-Grand Rapids AAUW-Hastings AAUW-Minneapolis AAUW-Owatonna AAUW-Red Wing Area AAUW-St. Paul AAUW-Wilmar AAUW-Winona

Branches with a membership increase of over 25% over 3 years (2012-2015)

AAUW-Fergus Falls AAUW-Northfield AAUW-Red Wing

AAUW Minnesota State Awards for 2014-2015

NCCWSL $500 Scholarships: One Scholarship for each of the ten following branches: Brainerd, Duluth, Ely, Hastings, Northeast Metro, Owatonna, Red Wing Area, Rochester, Saint Cloud Area and Saint Paul Branch Project Grants: Ely ($300), Hastings ($100), and Willmar ($422)

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Minnesota AAUW Websites and Blogs – 2015

AAUW Minnesota – www.aauwmn.net Facebook: AAUW Minnesota Austin – http://austin-mn.aauw.net Facebook: AAUW – Austin, MN Blooming Prairie – aauwbp.wordpress.com Duluth – https://sites.google.com/site/duluthbranchaauw/home Fergus Falls – www.ffaauw.blogspot.com Facebook: Fergus Falls AAUW Email: ffaauw@yahoo.com Grand Rapids – grandrapidsaauw.blogspot.com Mankato – www.aauwmankato.org Metro West – metrowestaauw.blogspot.com Minneapolis – http://minneapolis-mn.aauw.net Facebook: AAUW Minneapolis Moorhead/Fargo – http://moorhead-mn.aauw.net Northeast Metro – http://nemetro-mn.aauw.net Owatonna – http://owatonna-mn.aauw.net Red Wing Area – www.rwab-aauw.org Rochester – www.aauwrochmn.org Facebook: AAUW Rochester Minnesota Twitter: aauwrochmn Saint Cloud Area – http://stcloud-mn.aauw.net Facebook: St. Cloud Area AAUW St. Croix Valley – http:/stcroixvalley-mn.aauw.net Saint Paul – www.aauwstpaul.org Facebook: AAUW St. Paul

AAUW MN and many Minnesota branches are using Site-Resources at AAUW for their website support. If your branch is considering starting a website or updating the one you have, you might consider using the Site-Resources option as it is free with excellent support. A branch can then maintain its website or, for a small fee, hire Site-Resources’ staff to maintain the site (the branch can

simply submit materials to upload to the website).

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AAUW Minnesota Program Report

I will be completing my second term of the AAUW State Board and want to briefly share my experience. First, the time I’ve spent working on the State Board has been very rewarding. I have

worked with three sets of presidents. All four women have brought their expertise and have changed the ways MN AAUW State Board accomplish their work. Believe me your State Board works very hard and is very efficient in getting tasks done.

The State Board is very thoughtful as they make monetary decisions. Your dues to AAUW MN are the operating budget for the state. These monies are used to support young women attending NCCWSL/National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, publishing the “Pine”,

maintaining an AAUW MN website, memberships in other organizations whose mission aligns with AAUW, partnering with other organizations, such as, Minnesota Women’s Consortium, Women

Candidate Development Coalition, Teenwise Minnesota, Minnesota Girls Are Not For Sale, Advocates for Human Rights-International Women’s Day Event and Pay Equity Coalition of

Minnesota, to provide events/programs that promote equity for women and girls and our annual state conventions. Indeed your dues are being used wisely and continue to promote our mission, “AAUW

advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research”.

Being Program VP I realize how committed branches are to the mission. How self-sufficient branch program chairs are in providing mission based programs and how giving branch program chairs are of their time. Truly these branch members are “Treasures”!

Finally, my position on the State Board has been painless and so rewarding. If you are asked to fill a State Board position, don’t be afraid to say yes. You will be working with a great group of women.

It has been an honor to serve these past four years.

Book List 2015

A Boy from C-11 by H. Ronglien A Fighting Chance by Elizabeth Warren A Girl in the Dumpster by Jack Apfel All-Girl Filling Stations’ Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg All Passion Spent by V. Sackville-West All the Light we cannot see by A. Doerr And the Mountains Echoed by K. Hosseini Appetite for America: Fred Harvey by S. Fried Astrid and Veronika by Linda Olsson Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys Big Wheat by A. Thompson Bitter Brew: Anheuser-Busch by W. Knoedelsed The Book Thief by M. Zusak Broken for you by Stehanie Kallos The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout

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Cartographer of No Man's Land by Penny Duffy Conquering the Odds (somalia) Dearie: the remarkable Life of Julia Child by Spitz The Dance Boots by Linda Legarde Grover The Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King The Emigrants by V. Moberg Empty Mansions by Paul Clark Newell Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver The Girls of Atomic City by Dense Kierman Her Honor: Rosalie Wahl by Sturdevant House Girl by Tara Conklin Hummingbird’s Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea I am Malawa The Interestings: A Novel by M. Wolitzer I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Letter to My Daughter by the late Maya Angelou The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: The Untold Story by Barbara Learning Jewelweed by D. Rhodes Just a little run around the world by Rosie S Pope The Kitchen Wife by Kathleen Grissom The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters Lots of Cake, Plenty of Candles by Anna Quindlen Love in the Time of Cholera by Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez Loving Frank by Nancy Horan Lyndon Johnson by Doris Kearns Goodwin Malala by Malala Yousafzai - Minnesota Madams by Penny Petersen Minnesota’s Oldest Murder Mystery by Gary Brueggemann Modoc by Ralph Helfer A Mountain of Crumbs: A Memoir by E. Gorokhova Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor My Song: a memoir by Harry Bellefonte One Summer: America 1927 by B. Bryson Orange is the New Black by P. Kerman Ordinary Grace by W.K. Krueger Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline Out Stealing Horses by P. Petterson Over the earth I come by D. Schultz The Paris Wife by Paula McLain The Path Between Us by David McCullough Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver Reluctant Genius by Charlotte Gray Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

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Round House by Louise Erdrich Sally Ride: First American Woman in Space by Kim Ann Zimmermann Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer Steve Jobs by W. Issacson Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg The Bookman's Tale by C. Lovett The Boys in the boat by Daniel Brown The Burgess Boys by E. Strout The Curse of the Jade Lily by David Housewright The Fault in Our Stars by John Greene The Feast of Love by Charles Baxter The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton The Girl Who Sang to the Buffalo by Kent Nerburn The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri The Personal History of Rachel Dupree by Ann Weisgarber The Riddle of the Labyrinth by Margaret Fox The Signature of all things by E. Gilbert The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry by G. Zevin The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by R Joyce Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner This House is Haunted by John Boyne This is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann Three Books of England Travels by Susan Allen Toth Tivolem by Victor Rangel-Ribeiro Transatlantic by C. McCann The Turn of the Screw by Henry James Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan Vacationland by Sarah Stonich The War Brides by H. Bryan Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple Winter Wheat by M. Walker We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo Wolf Willow by Wallace Stegner

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Branch Hi-Lights 2015

Austin Austin Branch continues to have many exciting programs and small group activities, but this year, we wish to highlight a new project for us: The Science Fair Mentoring Project. Austin Branch member, Catherine Haslag, observed when judging at the elementary school science fair that some projects indicated the student required adult consultation in order to better present and explain their experiments. As a science enthusiast and Riverland Community College chemistry faculty, she wanted to help meet this need. She approached our AAUW branch for support in developing a way to help those children. With a steering committee of two branch members and two general community members, she led the planning and implementation of this project. The committee identified economic, educational, and social barriers that students may need to overcome in order to successfully participate in the science fair. The focus was on two elementary schools with the most economic and ethnic diversity in the community. These students were identified as most likely to encounter barriers that would prevent them from successfully participating in the science fair. Catherine and the steering committee made presentations and contacts with a wide variety of community organizations and businesses for financial donations as well as for volunteers to mentor students. The Austin Public School’s Gifted and Talented Coordinator, David Wolff, who directs the science fair, and the principals and teachers at the two schools were enlisted as enthusiastic partners in this effort. The project began with a kick-off activity at Riverland Community College. A total of 290 students (all of the 3rd and 4th graders) traveled to the college science laboratories, where college teaching faculty led hands-on activities grounded in the scientific method. Students then signed up at their school to participate in the after-school mentoring project. One hundred and one students participated in after school work sessions with volunteer mentors twice each week for three months where students designed and completed their science fair entries. All project supplies were provided to the students by this program. Fifty plus adults assisted with the kick-off activities, thirty-six volunteers were involved as mentors, and more than twenty others supported in other ways, including promoting, funding, and organizing. AAUW members mentored, acted as Site Hosts, provided donations of money and supplies, and shopped for supplies for the experiments. After the science fair, celebrations were held at both schools for the students, which included refreshments, prizes, and a demonstration, by the I.J. Holton School’s robotics teams who had placed in a state level competition. The students who participated in this project were exposed to science in a way they may have never been before and were allowed to explore opportunities they didn’t know existed for their future. Most of all, these students had an opportunity to build a positive relationship with an adult. Any child can benefit greatly from that alone.

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Blooming Prairie We have had some excellent, top notch programs this past year, in addition to, our annual Village Affair in October which was bigger and better than ever. Some of our favorite programs were: What you need to know about eating disorders with Dr. Marci Theisen, licensed clinical psychologist The Greenhouse Effect: A Primer on Local Agriculture with Gretchen Bolt, owner-operator of Hilltop Greenhouse White Elephant Auction: money donated to Womens' Shelters in Owatonna, MN. Book Discussions: My Antonia and I am Malala What's in a Can on the Grocery Shelf with Deb Wurst, Senior Foods Scientist at Hormel Foods The Changing Face of the Judiciary with Hon. Renee Worke, Judge, Minnesota Court of Appeals Our last program for the year will be a mystery dinner. Mary Malherek and Marilyn Meshke, Co-Presidents Brainerd On Saturday, September 13, the Brainerd branch sponsored the Northland Get Together at the Northland Arboretum. Forty women from all over the state participated in the day, which included a walk in the woods and presentations on Monarch butterflies and back yard gardening. Our other big bash was our major fundraiser, the Brain Buster trivia contest, on Saturday, January 17. This year we had more room for the 20 teams, in our new venue, the fellowship room at First Lutheran Church in Brainerd. There was a prize for the best costume as well as the best answers. The event brought in $1612.00. $342.75 was collected from LAF from donations and selling pre-owned paperbacks. The topics of general membership meetings included Cyber-Bullying, the Northern Lights Singing for our Christmas Party, and Tools to Express Ourselves to Decision Makers. We will have discussed 5 books between July 14 and April 13. The books were The Long-shining Waters by Danielle Sosin, Orphan Train by Christina Baker-Kline, The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian, The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman, and The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang.

Brainerd Branch Visits Central Lakes College AAUW Brainerd Branch members chat with a student at Welcome Day on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. The purpose of the day at the college is to acquaint students with local organizations and services they might like to know about.

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Duluth The Garden Party starts our new program year in September. We introduce our scholarship winners, have information about our Focus Groups, and high light some of the future programs. We enjoy a pot luck dinner with members and the guests they invite that may be potential members. We identify a date for orientation of new members so they are aware of the mission and activities of AAUW. We assign a mentor to each new member so that we get new members involved right away. Collaboration played an important role in our programing this year. In September, we participated in a joint meeting of the Northern Minnesota Branches of AAUW. The meetings are rotated among the Branches and we have the opportunity to share programs and ideas with each other. We have worked with the League of Women Voters in co-hosting a hot topic event on the Women's Economic Security Event; we coordinated an event with the Duluth Play House looking at the role women have played in the founding of the Playhouse. We are working on a college collaborative in presenting the workshop on "Start Smart-Teaching College Women Negotiation Skills". In addition, our Branch will be doing on a presentation on AAUW to the students in the Women Studies program. We also have worked with Life House, a program for homeless youth, to inform our members of the number and needs of homeless youth in the community. We have continued our program of looking at women in occupations in which they are underrepresented. This year we will identify some of the factors of why it has taken 144 years for a female to be promoted to the number two spot of Deputy Chief. In 2014 , "Created Here: Meet the Artist" was developed by Branch members as a way to honor local female artists and fund raise for AAUW funds and scholarships to support women seeking graduate degrees. Each year produces a unique program. Artists from various expressions, such as poets, non-fiction and fiction authors, musicians, visual artists, as well as theatrical actors and directors, have donated their time and talent to delight a consistently larger audience. Ely The Ely Branch has had another busy year with AAUW mission based programs. Our STEM committee put on an educational and fun event for the young women of Ely and the surrounding area. We actively promoted NCCWSL at the local community college campus and sent a deserving young woman in 2014. The branch once again co-sponsored a mayoral candidate forum for the community. The Pay Equity event we organize continues to be an effective way to share information about the pay gap women experience. The Sex Trafficking program was organized by AAUW with another community based group and presented at the college. It was well attended by AAUW and the community at large. Laura Moberly, President Faribault The Faribault Branch celebrated its 90th anniversary on Feb. 23with a special board meeting. Its first meeting was held on Feb. 25, 1925. Plans are being made for a “party” for all members in May, to be

held in Faribault’s Historic Hutchinson House.

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Branch members began the program year by participating in the citywide International Festival, held at the end of August in Faribault’s Central Park. Members offered activities for children focused on

the diversity of cultures that makeup the city’s population. In October, branch members organized and held three public candidates’ forums for different local and state races. Special program held during the year included: one on fetal alcohol syndrome’s effect on the

community, a presentation by local women farmers from the Singing Hills Goat Farm and Simple Harvest Farm, and the showing of the movie, “Invisible War”, a documentary on women in the

military and the sexual harassment they face. Local American Legion Auxiliary members and the public were invited to the showing. Following that program, the DVD of “Invisible War” was

donated to the local public library in honor of Women In History Month. Volunteer writers from the branch also wrote Women in History Month articles, which were published in March in the local newspaper. The theme of the articles was “Women in Minnesota History” during the formative years of the Faribault Branch – the 1920s and 1930s. The branch also held a Halloween breakfast to raise funds for scholarships for women. It will hold its annual used-books sale at the end of April to raise additional funds. Besides contributing to national AAUW funds for fellowships and scholarships for women, the branch presented two $1,000 scholarships to help local women finish their undergraduate or master’s degrees and funded a $1,000 scholarship for a woman attending Faribault’s South Central College. Pauline Schreiber Co-Program Chair Hastings Two Favorite Guest Speakers: When we surveyed our branch members regarding program topics, there was a high interest in women and finance. Our October speaker, Suzann K. Brown, spoke to us on Retirement—Time of Transition. She discussed how women can not only survive retirement but also prepare for it and reap the benefits of their preparation! Suzann K. Brown is a wealth management advisor for The Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank. She has worked in banking and financial services since 1981. In 2008, Finance and Commerce recognized her as one of the “Top Women in Finance”. Currently, Suzann

serves as a non-compensated director of the “Everybody Wins! Minnesota”. She also serves on The Minneapolis Foundations Professional Advisors Committee, St. Croix Valley Foundation Finance and Investment Committee, and the Art Reach St. Croix Board. Suzann is a graduate of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Our November speaker was Hastings resident David Page, an English and journalism instructor at Inver Hills Community College. His topic was F. Scott Fitzgerald and James J. Hill: The Ties between St. Paul’s Literary and Entrepreneurial Lions. He talked about the “poor little outsider” myth. David’s passion and enthusiasm for Fitzgerald brought

the author to life for our members. David is an internationally recognized expert and lecturer on F. Scott Fitzgerald, his life and his works. He has been a featured speaker at, and the organizer of, national and international conferences on F. Scott Fitzgerald. He is a current board member of “F.

Scott Fitzgerald in St. Paul”, a non-profit dedicated to promoting Fitzgerald’s life and work in St.

Paul. David wrote the text for the Fitzgerald in St. Paul Walking Tour brochure and the introduction to “The Thoughtbook of F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Secret Boyhood Diary”. Patricia Schultz and Ann Skoglund, Co-Program Chairs

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Mankato This year our Branch has had many ups and downs. We started out our year with hardships and sadness within our branch families. Our President became ill and is recuperating. We also lost one of our pillar members. We started out our year hearing from a female entrepreneur that owns and operates an Eco Friendly Mini Golf Course. We moved on with a report from our Mankato STEM Team on their recent International Presentation in Chicago at the Chicago Ice Conference. President Mastin heads up our Mankato STEM Team and promotes the STEM projects nationally and internationally. Our branch has been very busy within the community, including our annual Book Fair at Barnes & Noble and Herberger’s Community Days event. We are looking forward to hearing

from Mrs Minnesota, she will be telling us about her venture in becoming Mrs. Minnesota and her weight loss business. We are looking forward to our spring events and looking forward to awarding our annual scholarship. Respectfully submitted by, Acting Co-President Mary Mastin Northfield The Northfield Branch Programs for 2014-2015 were focused on both issues concerning the issues of equity for women and girls as well as some other topics near and dear to our membership. Programs that bring home the struggles and triumphs of women in our world led us through the topics of human trafficking, women in agriculture in poor countries, and the women’s economic security act. On the

positive side we heard from a branch member/artist about her sabbatical experience painting interpretations of the southern culture, a young mother who is also a visiting professor of Chinese literature at St. Olaf, and an informative presentation about a summer mathematics program for women undergraduates at Carleton College. We again have continued our support for Hope Center and Ruth’s House by donating items needed by the victims of sexual and domestic violence that are

served by these facilities in our county. On Valentine’s Day, our branch met to discuss books that had been chosen by our three book clubs. Members were encouraged to choose one of the books and after our lunch we gathered into small discussion groups to have a relaxing “book talk”! Members liked the idea of choices and it also

promoted fellowship among our members as we enjoyed the time to get to know one another over a book. Our annual Tri-Branch Luncheon will be held in April. Each year members of the Owatonna, Faribault, and Northfield branches join for a luncheon and special presentation to the group. This year Northfield will be hosting and our speaker, Riki Kolbl Nelson, will highlight her “70X70”

benefit art sale last year. Her sales proceeds went directly to the Orphan Sponsorship International to help fund education for girls in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and India. Being an accomplished artist, she had 70 paintings on display at the Carleton Weitz Center to honor her 70th birthday. What an idea! This inspirational story again stirs us to work harder for equity and support for women and girls across the globe. Myrna Luehmann, President Owatonna Owatonna Branch provided another series of educational and thought provoking programs for its members. Inspired by a breakout session from last year’s state convention, program planners felt that

many of our members are interested in and/or involved in caregiving. Kari Berit, Northfield, author

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of The Unexpected Caregiver, travels around the country raising awareness of family caregiving and aging that touches all of our lives. She provided insights into these topics and answered many specific questions for her community-wide audience. In another program open to the public, AAUW teamed with several other local organizations to bring Barbara Porwit, artist, and Katy Tessman Stanoch, author, to Owatonna to celebrate cancer survivors as superheroes. Barbara, founder of the Breast Cancer Superhero Portrait Project, is recognized nationwide for creating large-scale, full-color oil portraits of women as their superhero of choice. Later this year she will share this work through an exhibit at the Owatonna Hospital. Katy Tessman Stanoch, one of Barbara’s superheroes, wrote Our Mama Is A Beautiful Garden to explain her battle with breast cancer to her young sons. She shared her journey and her book with us. We continued our successful annual fund raising activity, Taste of Steele County, in September. This event showcases area restaurants and food businesses and enables us to fund our five scholarships and three camperships. Our branch members also learned about the science of climate change; and finally we visited the Hormel Institute where we learned of the amazing research being conducted there. In addition, two book clubs meet monthly to discuss a variety of fiction and nonfiction works. Rochester This year the Rochester branch has enjoyed many interesting programs presented by women leaders including the Safe Harbor for sex trafficking regional navigator; Rochester school district’s

homeless student-in-transition coordinator, and the woman CEO of a regional energy cooperative. Our fund-raising efforts have benefited the Rochester Community and Technical College Foundation’s Beat the Odds scholarship program, the Imagination Library, the Rochester

Women Magazine's Extraordinary Women awards, and local literacy programs as well as AAUW’s

educational and legal advocacy funds. Our interest groups including several book groups, Foreign Policy, bridge, and social groups are going strong. We look forward to increasing our membership and equally informative and enlightening programs in the coming years. Beth Nienow, President St. Cloud In October 2014, a member held a luncheon to raise money for local arts groups. Members have graciously held this luncheon for many years, but 2014 was by far the most successful. Over $1200 was raised and dispensed to 5 groups: Paramount Arts Reserve Trust, Visual Arts MN’s Ellingson

award (Ellingson was a SCSU Art Department faculty member and artist in whose name a high school art competition is held every year and money is given to the winners of a juried art contest), Hillside GED Project, United Arts of Central, MN, and Clara’s House (an in-patient mental health program providing therapy for young children). In January 2015, we awarded our annual $1500 grant to a local organization that fosters our objectives of improving the lives of women and girls through education, advocacy and research. This year it went to Perserveranca, to provide women of color the opportunity to further develop in their respective careers via workshops, training and other activities. Last year’s recipient was Big

Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. Our branch will be sending 3 students to the NCCWSL leadership conference this spring. Our branch has established NCCWSL funding in honor of a long time member, June Goemer, a faculty member who was renowned for her support for women’s education.

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Our branch donated enough funds in 2014 to the MN Past Presidents American Fellowship that we will have six members who will receive the Honorary Named Gifts award at the spring 2015 convention. We also continue to have an active book club, AAUW’s Afternoon Literature Group, made up of 17

members who gain important knowledge about women’s issues such as the exploitation of teenage

girls through luring them into prostitution. This topic was addressed in the book Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd. Willmar To kick off the current AAUW program year Dave and Karen Kirkwood presented an overview of AAUW. Scott Antilla and Mona Carloni of Harmony Works, Inc., a non-profit organization in the Twin Cities, were invited to speak about lessons learned through a number of cross-cultural communication workshops in Willmar, particularly with women of Somali background. Over the last two years members of our group have also been asked to speak about their own cross-cultural experiences, from the perils of border crossings in Arizona, to new educational approaches in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga, to the upcoming talk this spring about travel to Russia. In April the members also look forward to hearing about the first year of the newly established DREAM Technical Academy in Willmar, a charter school with an emphasis on STEM training. A new project for AAUW Willmar this year was the CAMPUS ACTION PROJECT at Ridgewater Community and Technical College. For many years a successful mentoring relationship has been established with the Prairie Lakes Group Home for Girls to encourage these girls to complete their high school education and strive to go on for higher education. This ever-changing group participates in all AAUW programs and a special Christmas party is hosted for them each year. This year three AAUW members initiated a special day for them to learn more about degrees offered at Ridgewater College. On February 11 they enjoyed a “taste of college” including a tour of the Cosmetology

Department, where everyone received a complimentary manicure, and the Food Service and Catering Department, where they enjoyed a lunch hosted by the AAUW. They also met with the College’s

career counselor, who assisted them to take an online Career Interest Survey. The girls expressed their great appreciation for the day and the on-going encouragement of the AAUW members. The AAUW members hope this will be just the first of many opportunities for these girls to explore higher education options available to them. Future possibilities include programs to learn more about Vet Tech, Photography, Nursing, and STEM careers. Marsha Milani, Program Chair A message from VP Program I would like to thank the branches who took the time to submit “HI-Lights” of their year to share with

other branches in Minnesota. If these branches are indicative of happenings throughout the state, AAUW is strong and vibrant! Know that your time and commitment is appreciated!