The Allentonian A publication of the American Association of University Women Allentown, PA Branch Breaking through barriers! Susan Nensteil & Karen Peiffer, Co-Presidents February 2015 Vol. 72 Issue 5 Bonnie Keller, Editor Officers: Co-Presidents Susan Nenstiel 610-965-0663 [email protected] Karen Peiffer 610-967-4515 [email protected] Membership Vice President Ginny Delph 610-965-5756 [email protected] Program Vice President (Vacant) Recording Secretary Cathy Kane 610-776-8270 [email protected] Corresponding Secretary Margaret Tyson 610-797-4199 Communications Chair Corinne Emmett 610-782-0268 [email protected] Finance Officer Barb Oursler 610-398-2259 [email protected] Inter-Branch Diversity Meeting March 14 (No Branch Meeting in February) Moravian Theological Seminary 9:30 am – 12:00 pm Inter-branch Diversity Program Far From the Family Tree but Close to Home: What some see as disability, I know as my life Sign in and hospitality at 9:30 am, program at 10 am Join AAUW members from across the Lehigh Valley as they listen to and learn from a diverse panel moderated by Dr. Dana Dunn, Professor of Psychology Moravian College President’s Message I think that we are really and truly into the new year when we begin to write the date correctly without having to pause to remember what year it is. 2015 is now securely registered in my synapses, and the 2015 memory folder has begun to accumulate entries. Our January branch meeting with Linda Robbins’ excellent fact-filled presentation on human trafficking was a warm gathering of friends concentrating on a serious topic. Although there will not be a branch meeting in February, we are planning and organizing for the remainder of this year’s programs and activities and for the 2015-2016 year. The AAUW calendar for March and April is very full. Linda Friscia-Oppe is conducting a $tart$mart workshop at Kutztown University on March 2 that branch members are encouraged to attend. Although the $tart$mart program is aimed primarily at people just beginning a career, the featured skills are relevant to many kinds of strategizing and negotiating. In addition, we can look forward to two significant inter-branch programs in March. You can find details elsewhere in this newsletter about the Inter-branch Diversity Meeting on March 14 and a meeting focusing on economic sufficiency and hunger on March 28. As always, these inter-branch activities offer not only thought-provoking learning opportunities, but also stimulating and enjoyable social experiences. I am hoping to attend both these meetings, and I will be happy to help coordinate ride-sharing. Since 1881, AAUW has been a group of women dedicated to helping other women achieve the benefits of an education and share the fruits of that education. Many of us have stories about the good, sometimes unexpected, friends we have made in and through AAUW, and our individual commitment to AAUW may be as much a celebration of those friendships as it is an endorsement of the AAUW mission. In any case, no matter what holds us together, it is undeniable that our cooperation and identity as a group affords strength to us all. The national AAUW organization seems to be growing and diversifying at a pace that is gratifying to everyone who supports the AAUW mission and goals, but the expectations created by this flowering are sometimes difficult to live up to on a quotidian basis. We want to accomplish so much, and the wish list continues to expand. We want to act locally, regionally, nationally, globally, but our branch is a small group. Although we are encouraged and supported by enthusiastic and dedicated spouses and friends, there are still limits to our time, energy, and resources. These limits can be discouraging. I know that many of you who are reading this are the people who are already giving as much of yourselves as possible. I am not asking you for more, because I don’t want to drain the well of your enthusiasm and goodness. I am asking that you continue in your commitment, and that we join in a renewed effort to communicate our purpose and vision to friends, new and old, who may or may not already be members. We need help to continue our everyday operations as well as our special projects. Please join together as our branch endeavors to secure this help. Karen Peiffer Co-President * No Board Meeting in February, Next meeting TBA Happy Valentine's Day! Even though there is no branch meeting in February, I know that we will be busy with our various book and study groups. March is filled with opportunities to meet with AAUW members and learn a variety of topics. $tart $mart Salary Negotiation Workshop at Kutztown University Sponsored by AAUW's WAGE Project Monday, March 2, 2015, 5pm, on main campus According to AAUW research, just one year after graduation, women earn just 82 percent of what their male counterparts earn, and the gender wage gap widens over the next 10 years. More than 225 campuses throughout the United States have hosted $tart $mart. Before the workshop, only 25 percent of attendees said they were confident that they could negotiate a salary and benefits package. That figure skyrocketed to 91 percent upon completion of the workshop. On March 14, we will gather at Moravian Theological Seminary for our Interbranch Diversity Program. The panel members will discuss how they live with their disabilities. Our branch will help with registration and hospitality. More details in our March newsletter. Save the date for the "A Place at the Table" (hunger in the Lehigh Valley) on March 28. Our annual meeting is re-scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 (see below). We are pleased to have Dr. Kathy Ott as our speaker on "Core Curriculum". This program is a perfect opportunity for you to invite a friend. Susan Nensteil Co-President Economic Sufficiency Meeting, Saturday March 28 “A Place at the Table” This meeting will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 424 Center Street, Bethlehem. Registration will begin at 8:30 AM, and the documentary "A Place At the Table" will shown at 9 AM. Following the film, participants will have the opportunity to play a game exploring the difficulties of feeding a family with food stamps, and a panel including Ann McManus from Second Harvest and Nancy Walters of The Hunger Coalition will discuss the film. Changes to Date for April Branch Meeting Tuesday, April 14 (not Thursday April 16) Lower Macungie Township Community Center. We will hold the ANNUAL Meeting then, at which we will elect officers. Speaker Dr. Kathleen Ott will present "Common Core Curriculum”. More News From the 2014 Used Book Sale Although we still are wrestling with closing the books on the 2014 Used Book Sale, we can announce that we should have at least $15,800 available for Community Awards from the book sale proceeds. Congratulations once again to all those who worked so very hard to make the sale a success. Community Awards Applications Applications for the 2015 Community Awards can be found on the AAUW Allentown Branch Website. Applications along with references are to be mailed to Peg Tyson by February 17th. Lets Read Math Jan Seaman [email protected] Activities in schools continue through the winter. Most recently the group visited 2nd grade classes at Donegan School in Fountain Hill. Contact Jan Seaman – [email protected] Public Policy Lesley Lojko, Public Policy Chair Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act ends for this year on February 15. If you or someone you know is uninsured this is a good time to enroll. They have taken most of the bugs out of the system. The ACA has written into it preventative care for women and girls, some of it which is covered and with no co-pay. I hope those of you had fun playing Bingo during the President’s SOTU speech and finding the words and phrases that are important to women in girls that he intends to work on in the coming year. At this writing I don’t have the tally of my sheet, but I’m looking forward to hearing what he has to say. The night of the 13th of January I participated in a live nationwide conference call conducted by the AAUW national public policy chair, Deborah Swerdlow. It was a great experience listening to the roll call of Public Policy chairs from just about every state and then the very concise instructions on how to go about organizing an in-district meeting with our State and Federal senators and representatives. Deborah suggested that this February would be a good time to meet with the newly elected folks as well as long time members because they are home for a recess. “John Boehner doesn’t like cake!” The highlight, for me, was when the Public Policy chair from John Boehner’s Ohio district spoke up and related how her branch had tried many times in many ways to contact him when he’s home on recess, but to no avail. They even baked him a CAKE to deliver in person, to talk to him about our concerns, but he still remained unavailable. There are 63 new members in the House in Washington, however our 15th district Rep. is Charlie Dent who has been there for five terms. The only person who is new in our area is Ryan Costello who represents the 6th District. He took over that District when Jim Gerlach stepped down. Some of you may have State Reps and State Senators who are new to your district but are not new to the job. Our Lehigh Valley has been reconfigured so that if Bob Mensch was your State Senator, Lisa Boscola may be yours now. She is mine here in Emmaus. We no longer are represented by Ryan MacKenzie in our little neck of the woods and now are represented by Justin Simmons. All these folks are experienced lawmakers, however they are new to our area. So far they have made contact with us to let us know they are available. ***Elsewhere in the newsletter is listing of the old and new Government Officials and their contact information. I have found most to be very responsive when I have emailed them, some more so than others. Branch Mission Project Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley Once again the Allentown Branch will be collecting items for Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley whose mission is to eliminate domestic violence in the Lehigh Valley through empowerment, education and engagement. Turning Point works tirelessly each and every day in our community to achieve their goals. We can help by selecting needed items from their Wish List. Please, all items must be new.  Pillows Diapers and Baby Formula  Cleaning supplies Laundry detergent – High Efficiency  Twin sized blankets Bed linens, Liquid hand soap  Toiletries – not travel size new baking dishes & cookie sheets  Batteries, Flashlights Gently used or new pots & pans  $3 All Day bus Passes Gift cards: grocery stores/ Walmart/Target/ pharmacies/Wawa (Gift cards empower clients by providing financial assistance while still giving them choices.) Items will be collected for a late February delivery to Turning Point. Items may be given to board members or to Peggy Tyson and Linda Roosa co-chairs of this project. __________________________________________________________________________________ Branch Notes Condolences to the family of Jean Thornburg, a longtime AAUW member who recently passed away. Study/Interest Groups Career Women’s Study Group Barbara Ashley (610-391-1217) Thursday, February 12, Time: To be announced The group is planning on going to a movie. Details to come by Career Women’s email list or you may contact Barbara Ashley if you are interested. Literature of the Past and Present Leader: Annette Bonstedt (610-395-5974) Thursday, February 19, 12:30 PM Muhlenberg College Trexler Library, Fulford Room (Level A) Hostess: Lesley Lojko ph. 610-965-6337 Reviewer: Annette Bonstedt Book: “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver New members are welcome. Please call Lesley if attending. Recent Literature Leader: Karen Kneifel (610-433-7288) Thursday, February 12, 2015, 12:30 PM Hostess & Reviewer: Karen Kneifel, 2120 Greenwood Road, Allentown, PA 18103 Book: “The Lowland” by Jhumpa Lahri Please call if NOT attending. New members welcome. Women’s Lit Leader: Peggy Tyson (610-797-4199) Monday, February 16, 7 pm Hostess: Mary Jane Figuli, 4526 Keene Street, Center Valley, PA ph. 610-791-2920 Book: “The Aviator’s Wife” by Melanie Benjamin New members are welcome. Please call hostess if attending. Diversity, Deeds, and Dialogue Study Group Chair Ruth Skoglund (610-509-9263) 4th Wednesday in members’ homes, 7 pm Please call chair for more information and if interested in attending. The Allentonian Please submit news and announcements to the Editor, Bonnie Keller at [email protected] Deadline February 15th for March issue Allentown Branch Website: http://allentown-pa.aauw.net Check the website for updated information and to read The Allentonian online. Allentown Branch email address is: [email protected] National Website: AAUW.org State Website: AAUWPA.org AAUW Member helpline: 800-326-AAUW AAUW MISSION STATEMENT AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. AAUW DIVERSITY STATEMENT In principle and in practice, AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class. AAUW LAF/EF AAUW LEGAL ADVOCACY FUND provides funding and a support system for women seeking judicial redress for sexual discrimination. AAUW EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION provides funds to advance education, research, and self-development for women and to foster equity and positive societal change. Bonnie Keller AAUW – Allentown Branch 2413 Kris Drive Allentown PA 18104-1209