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BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS
M A R C H 2015
The monthly newsletter of
the Ashland, Oregon Branch.
http://ashland-or.aauw.net
Capitol Hill Comes to Ashland
for the March 6th Luncheon
Looking Ahead
Lisa Maatz & Membership mtg.
Board Meeting, Library, 3:30
Mar 6
Mar 30
March Salon
Mar 31
AAUW State Convention
Apr 17-19
In This Issue
Board Notes
2
Presidents’ Message
2
Public Policy
3
Membership News
3
Oregon AAUW News
3
In Our Thoughts
3
AAUW Ashland Scholars
4
$10,000 RCC Endowment
5
Friendship Circles
5
March Salon
5
Interest Groups
6
February Meeting
7
Mission:
AAUW advances equity for women
and girls through advocacy, education,
philanthropy and research.
AAUW’s top policy adviser, Lisa Maatz works to advance AAUW’s priority issues on Capitol
Hill, in the White House, and in coalition with other organizations. She is a sought-after
speaker across the nation and in our nation’s capital, and has a large and devoted following
on Twitter.
We have been working with the National AAUW Organization since last fall and are
pleased to announce she will be our speaker at our branch meeting on Friday, March 6th
from 12noon to 2pm. Instead of meeting at the Masonic we are hosting a luncheon at the
Ashland Springs Hotel and have invited the branch presidents from the south district as well
as our partners from the SOU Foundation and Ashland Chamber of Commerce.
Date: Friday, March 6
Time: 12:00 to 2:00 pm, but come early to socialize.
Place: Ashland Springs Hotel, Ashland
Presidents’ meeting:
Celebrate Our Accomplishments
When: Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 5-7pm
Where: Ashland Masonic Center 570 Clover Lane
Board
Notes
From meeting January 26, 2015
PUBLICITY
In a special meeting held on January 16, the
Board voted to buy space in the Chamber
of Commerce publication, “Living and
Doing Business in Ashland.” Mary Coombs,
Regina Ayars, and Mimi Pippel will create
copy for a 1/6-page ad and an article about
AAUW Ashland.
MARCH 6 BRANCH MEETING
Ashland Springs Hotel, Friday, noon – 2 pm
Lisa Maatz, VP of Government Relations
(lobbyist for AAUW National), will be
the keynote speaker. Ashland members
and the Leadership Teams from AAUW
Oregon and the South District Branches
are invited to attend.
The Branch will not have any associated
2 expenses: Elaine Sweet has offered her guest
room for Lisa’s stay in Ashland. Members
will handle her transportation; no rental car
is required. AAUW National has waived the
speaker fee and they will pay Lisa’s airfare.
Chris Donchin is negotiating OSF tickets so
Lisa can see a play while she is here.
DIRECTORY
Should pictures of the members be added to
the directory next year? Karen Spence and
the Membership Committee will investigate
various options and report to the Board.
SCHOLARSHIPS
No fundraising goal (amount) will be set
for 2015. People should give what they can
and celebrate these amazing women. There
should be no pressure, no guilt. The request
letter will have four giving options this
year: SOU Endowment, SOU Annual, RCC
Endowment, RCC Annual.
Elaine and Dick Sweet have donated the
$10,000 that is required to establish an
Endowment Fund at RCC.
AAUW FUNDS
The committee to select the Named Gift
Honorees will be the Executive Committee
(“Admin Level”) and the Funds Chair (Chris
Donchin). The Branch will re-establish the
Century Club.
recommendations to the Board. These
include Branch mission and focus, pros
and cons of goals, value statement, etc.
(2) The Board modifies/approves the
recommendations. (3) The Membership
votes to accept / reject.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
AAUW BYLAWS
Sandra Coyner reviewed the progress
made last year on the Strategic Plan and
recommended establishing a committee
to complete that plan. Next steps: (1)
The Committee will present their
Should we allow proxy voting for
important Board decisions? This issue will
be added to the Strategic Planning sessions
for further consideration.
More From Your Presidents
Ashland High School Senior Projects
The Senior Project is an opportunity for students to follow their passions. Students
pick a project that offers an opportunity for “personal growth.” Projects must be a
new learning experience or a significant expansion of a previous experience. What
matters are the “aha ” moments, the new insights, skills and understanding gained
from participation in the project.
This is a self-directed process mentored by an expert. The student is asked to
solve real problems, apply emerging skills to new situations, and to take time for
reflection of their new learning. AAUW branch members can act as part of the
mentor evaluation process by listening to the senior projects before they give
their final presentations. For more info go to http://www.ashland.k12.or.us/Page.
asp?NavID=2205
Lunch Buddies
Once a month, on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Thursday during the school year, AAUW
members have lunch with a girl from grades 2-5 at Helman Elementary School
in the Soroptimist Strong Girls Strong Women Program. Lunch Buddy mentors
come from Soroptimist, AAUW, and women in the community, who have an
interest in supporting the development of young girls. The girls exhibit increased
confidence and delight in the developing relationship with someone who gives
THEM undivided attention for this brief time each month.
We see growth in self-confidence and a broadening of future dreams in girls over
the past 6 years. If you are interested in becoming a woman who wants to make a
difference in the life of a young girl, contact Sara Brown at (541)941-8185 or email
at [email protected].
We do so much cool stuff!
Mimi Pippel and Judy Shih
Public
Policy
The Ashland AAUW Public Policy Team
consists of a group of eleven vibrant women
passionate about addressing the underlying
issues behind gender inequality in our
community and in our world. This year,
the team added three new members to our
ranks, Joan Amaratti, Lyn Gutierrez, and
Amy Sorensen.
Joan began her activism work in college,
volunteering at the women’s resource center
on campus. She has spent the last eight
years working for Planned Parenthood,
recognizing that the key to the advancement
of women is their ability to independently
control their reproduction and removing
the stigma surrounding women’s sexuality.
Lyn’s passion stems from her twenty-five
years of work in the California schools
system. Employed as a school psychologist
and counselor with students in preschool
through grade 12, she was often involved
in crisis situations, including instances of
sexual assault—one as young as 6 years
old. The worst case Lyn ever faced was the
kidnapping, rape, and murder of two teens
and their mother. As a member of this team,
she continues her efforts to prevent such
events from happening to other young girls
and boys.
Amy has considerable experience with
matters of public policy as well. As a native
of the Rogue Valley, she is aware of the
specific challenges faced in Oregon and this
community. She served on public policy
boards at Oregon State University, and has
worked with women’s shelters and resource
centers. She has donated her time as well as
material supplies to these institutions.
Each woman joins the Public Policy
Team for reasons as diverse as their own
experiences, but we all work together for
a common goal of improving the lives and
opportunities of women and girls.
Membership
News
Our first two new members for 2015 are:
Kathleen Mackris graduated from
Chatham College, PA with a degree in
philosophy and political science. She moved
from Oakland, CA to Ashland with her
young family in 1991. She has two sons,
now 26 and 28. After a 20-year career as
independent real estate appraiser, she moved
to a new career with Ashland Community
Hospital Foundation in 2011, a position
she has found challenging and rewarding.
Kathleen loves southern Oregon’s natural
beauty and likes to take advantage of the
many cultural opportunities offered here.
Judy Basker is a native Oregonian (Cavewoman!). She graduated from the University
of San Francisco with a degree in communications and spent most of her career in education administration, most recently as the
Senior Director of Major Gifts at Willamette
University. Judy loves introducing people to
‘the exquisite joy of sharing through philanthropy and charitable contributions. She
returned to southern Oregon about a year
ago and hopes to raise lots of resources for
Rogue Community College.
Judy spent a year in Florence, Italy, which
resulted in a passion for art. She also enjoys
music, theater and dance. She is an animal
lover and currently has two sweet Shih Tzus,
Bubby and Denzel, who enjoy watching
Seahawks games with her.
A warm welcome to you both, Kathleen
and Judy!
In Our Thoughts
I have sent these cards from our Branch:
• Linda Moreland, who has had a hip
replacement.
• Pat & Richard Brewer, wishing him
continued health improvement
following heart surgery.
Oregon
News
“Soaring to New Heights”
AAUW State
Convention,
April 17–19, 2015:
Eagle Crest Resort, near Redmond
Workshops include:
•
Strategies for Making a University
Partnership”
•
Re-Integrating Victims’ Voices into
Justice”
•
and a play: “Breaking Barriers II – The
Suffragist Movement”
•
Plus you’ll be there when our own
Phyllis Fernlund is elected to the South
District Team.
•
Eagle Crest Resort: hiking/biking,
gorgeous mountains (taller than ours!),
river rafting, pools, hot tubs, tennis,
raquetball, pickle-ball—www.eaglecrest.com
Visit the cute town of Sisters. Bring your
hiking boots and golf clubs. Go to: http://
aauw-or.aauw.net and then click on “Spring
2015 Oregon News.”
AAUW National Convention:
June 18–21
in San Diego.
Go to
convention.AAUW.org
for more information.
Via e-mail, I’ve sent words of
encouragement to two former members:
• Marcia Lamb, who has just been
accepted into a clinical trial to
continue her battle with liver cancer.
• Georgette Clegg, who is being tested
again to monitor her lungs in hopes
that the cancer has not returned.
GOOD NEWS from Georgette--no signs of cancer! Yea!
—Rosemary Adalian, Contact Secretary
3
AAUW Ashland
Scholars 2014-15
I Believe: Amanda Denbeck AAUW Design for Success
Against all odds, Amanda Denbeck is breaking through a predominantly
man’s world in the technology work. She was recently appointed a
systems engineer at the prestigious Oregon Shakespeare Festival where
she may be setting up an international Skype call; cleaning up computer
virus to creating a design for the Martin Luther King Day celebration.
She told us in her June 2014 letter, “Being at OSF I have experienced
Amanda Denbeck
learning, culture, and diversity--I really love working here.” Before taking
on this full-time OSF job Amanda was supporting herself with sometimes three jobs. Now
she’s juggling a full-time job as a full-time SOU senior.
Amanda, one of 2014 AAUW Scholars came to tell us her personal story at the AAUW
Ashland February meeting. As a high school student she already realized that she needed
to get away from her challenging home circumstances. Thanks to her uncle and aunt she
was able to move to Ashland and enroll at SOU, and learn to find a different future. She is
a Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement
Program Scholar, granted to individuals who demonstrate
strong academic potential for graduate studies.
Along with taking full course loads and working, Amanda
lead and founded the Emerging Media Conference,
4 a week-long digital media convention set up at SOU
and held in conjunction with the Ashland Chamber of
Commerce’s Ashland Innovators Conference. This year
she is working on this event again.
As a student in Graphic Design and Emerging Media
and Digital Art, Amanda, with the assistance of the
AAUW scholarship, has been able to purchase costly
materials to create and experiment with new work. She
is ecstatic to anticipate graduation in June 2015 with two
degrees: Bachelor of Science in Emerging Media and
Digital Arts, and Bachelor of Fine Arts accompanied by
OSF’s “Martin Luther King, Jr. I Believe”
a double minor in Art History and Film, Television, and
design by Amanda Denbeck
Convergent Media. She said, “I will be the first of her
family to graduate with an advanced degree.” Thanks in part to the AAUW scholarship;
she is even more relieved to not carry any debt after graduation!
“The AAUW scholarship is going to be a humongous help and I couldn’t have asked for a
better group to know,” she wrote in June 2014.
As the kick-off to our AAUW scholarship campaign, Amanda demonstrated in her talk
and photos that our AAUW Scholars already are leaders in our community. Her design of
“I Believe” for OSF’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has a poignant meaning for all of us.
--Wanda Chin, Co-Chair Scholarship Committee
Holly Kirkpatrick: Full-time Mom,
Student, Artist, and Educator
Holly had a midprogram review
in January 2015.
She presented her
portfolio and rough
draft of her thesis
to the Art faculty
for preliminary
Holly Kirkpatrick
critique. She
continues to take courses in two studio
areas (Printmaking and Sculpture), as well
as Art History courses toward a minor. Like
many of our AAUW Scholars, Holly juggles
several jobs along with a full course load. As
a mother and wife, she manages to handle
her home and son’s schedule of activities.
She wrote about her progress:
“In September, I began my final year at
SOU. The last few terms of the Bachelor
of Fine Arts program are devoted to thesis
writing and my capstone exhibition, which
will take place in the spring.
“I continue to work at the Schneider
Museum of Art where I have served as the
Coordinator of Education Outreach for
the past three years. I co-teach a five-week
docent training course, organize docentled field trips, facilitate public tours, and
coordinate community arts education
events. My second job is Studio Assistant in
the Printmaking Studio on campus. For a
few hours each week, I maintain the studio
and equipment, run errands, prepare for
demos, and act as a teaching assistant for
Printmaking courses.
“As I work toward graduation this spring,
I keep the ladies of AAUW in mind and
am grateful for your support. I intend to
work towards a graduate degree, and your
generosity allows me to leave undergraduate
with less debt and more opportunity. Thank
you, AAUW!”
A Sweet Gift:
RCC & New AAUW Endowment Fund
Friendship
Circles
Elaine and Dick Sweet have made a $10,000
gift to initiate an AAUW Endowment at
Rogue Community College (RCC). The
Sweets both believe that education is a huge
benefit to a happy and fulfilled life.
Our new method
of getting to know
one another, through
Friendship Circles, seems to have made a
very positive impact on those participating.
I keep hearing our AAUW members
mention how much fun it is to hear about
another member’s life. Next year we will
reform the circles and each person will be
assigned to a group with six new people
to become friends with. If you didn’t sign
up this year, talk to a member who is
participating and make plans to join in next
year. It is so easy and lots of fun.
Elaine, as a former Scholarship Committee
chair, watched the AAUW Endowment
grow at SOU and realized that a similar
fund could be set up at RCC to benefit
the well-deserving students there. In Fall
2014 Christine Fernlund, Wanda Chin and
Elaine met with Judy Basker, director of the
RCC Foundation to learn how to establish
an endowment at
the school. It began
“AAUW members to look like a twogive from their
year process.
hearts…”
With their generous
gift, the Sweets have
fast-tracked an AAUW goal to raise funds
for an endowment at RCC. The Sweets
decided to gift the initial $10,000 to get the
fund started, knowing that AAUW members
would honor the Endowment by continuing
to give and grow the fund into the future.
Elaine said, “AAUW members give from
their hearts, and will make sure this fund for
scholarships grows over time.”
Charitable Partners
These three members have pledged to
make a donation to the AAUW/SOU
Scholarship Fund every time an AAUW
member uses their services or refers
someone who uses their services.
Julie Downey, Broker Gateway Real Estate 541 261 -7939
www.gateway-realestate.com/julie-downey
—Elaine Sweet
Elaine and Dick Sweet
All future donations to the Endowment
Fund at RCC will now go toward growing
the principal, generating earnings, and
increasing the monies available for annual
scholarship awards at RCC.
Thank you, Elaine and Dick! AAUW
Ashland is ready to donate and grow our
endowment at RCC.
--Christine Fernlund
Liz Murphy, CFP MBA/Financial
Advisor
Raymond James Financial Services
541-779-9907
[email protected]
raymondjames.com/lizmurphy
Sara Walker, Broker
Patricia Sprague Real Estate
541-951-5454
[email protected]
www.hatsoff2u.com
Announcing the
Next Salon
The salons are BY members, FOR members,
ABOUT members. The focus of our next
salon is on two of our members who are
very involved with the Ashland Community
Hospital Foundation. Janet Troy is the
executive director of the ACH Foundation
and Liz Murphy is the president of the ACH
Foundation Board of Directors. They are
teaming up to discuss BETTER HEALTH
THROUGH PHILANTHROPY.
Janet and Liz will tell us the present state
and future plans of the Asante Ashland
Community Hospital and the Ashland
Community Hospital Foundation with
a focus on women’s health. The date is
Tuesday, March 31 at Chris Donchin’s from
4–5:30ish. Make your reservation through
Karen Spence. There is a $10 donation for
each reservation, which goes to AAUW
Funds for AAUW’s national and state
philanthropic programs.
Space is limited! Tea and wine and light fare
are served.
—Chris Donchin and Karen Spence
5
Interest
Groups
Call or e-mail the Coordinator to join a
group. For contact info, please see your
AAUW Ashland Directory. Arts and Language
MUSICALS: We will meet at Ed Perkins’ at
4:30 March 16th and see “American in Paris
with Gene Kelly.” Bring goodies to share.
Coordinator: Diane Novak
OPERA GROUP: Opera meets at 4:00 pm
on the fourth Monday of each month, at
the home of Ed Perkins. Our next meeting
is March 23rd. Join us to watch an opera
DVD and share hearty appetizers and wine.
The opera will be announced via email. For
further information, contact coordinator:
Nancy Kramarenko.
PLAY READING: March Play Reading will
continue “Long Days Journey into Night”
6 at 4 pm, Friday, March 27 at Annette Lewis’
home. Coordinators: Annette Lewis and
Carolyn Peake
SHAKESPEARE AT OSF: March meetings
will be the 11th and 25th and we will be
reading “Anthony and Cleopatra” at Annette’s
home beginning at 12:30. Coordinators:
Annette Lewis and Carolyn Peake
Book Groups
ADELANTE! Online book group
sponsored by AAUW. Go to www.aauw/
org/resource/adelante-book-list. March’s
book for Women’s History Month is “My
Beloved World” by Sonia Sotomayor,
the first Hispanic person and the third
woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme
Court. Now, with a candor and intimacy
never undertaken by a sitting justice, she
recounts her life from a Bronx housing
project to the federal bench, a journey that
offers an inspiring testament to her own
extraordinary determination and the power
of believing in oneself.
BRAIN BOOKS: Meets March 24 at
1:30 in Ashland Library to discuss Paul
Krugman’s “End this Depression NOW!”
(paperback with new preface, 2013).
Coordinator: Sandra Coyner.
DAY BOOK GROUP: will meet
Wednesday, March 18 at 1 pm at the home
of Chris Donchin to discuss “Broken for
You” by Stephanie Kallos. Coordinator:
Laurie Carter
EVENING BOOKS: Our regular meeting
is on the 2nd Monday at 7 pm. On March 9
we will meet at the home of Margaret Dole.
She will also lead our discussion of “The
Lowland” by Jhumpa Lahiri. Also, we will
be choosing books for the months of June
through September, so bring a favorite novel
to recommend to the group.
times a year. Coordinators: Sunny Anderson
and Elaine Sweet
POTLUCK GROUP: Please join us in the
next Pot Luck Dinner on Wednesday, March
18th at 6 Ppm. Bring something you love
to eat to share with the group. The Sweet’s
home will be the dinner site so plan to
come! The address: 150 Manzanita St. We
always have such a good time dining and
chatting. Be sure to bring a bottle of wine
along. It is VERY important that you RSVP
so we have enough seats for everyone. RSVP
to Elaine. . Coordinator: Elaine Sweet
Please note that our April meeting date
has been changed from April 13 to the
20th to accommodate those who want to
attend a special OSF volunteer meeting.
We will meet at Jean Conger’s to discuss
“Fingersmith” by Sarah Waters. Ashland
AAUW members are always welcome to
join us. Coordinators: Sara Walker and
Linda Lipkind
AFTERNOON BOARD GAMES: will
meet 3-5 pm March 19 at the home of Fran
Adams RSVP to Fran Adams. Coordinator:
Fran Adams
NONFICTION BOOK GROUP: We meet
on the 1st Wednesday at 1 pm. Our March
4 book is “George Washington’s Secret Six:
the Spy Ring That Saved the American
Revolution” by Brian Kilmeade and Don
Yaeger. We are meeting at the home of
Marie Radke, with discussion led by Jan
Evans. For our April 1 meeting at the home
of Gretchen King, we are reading “Twilight
People: One Man’s Journey to Find His
Roots” by David Houze, discussion led by
Diana Quirk. All Ashland AAUW members
are welcome to join the group. Coordinator:
Linda Lipkind
CRAFTAHOLICS: Bring your projects
to work on—any type of portable, selfcontained handwork (knitting, crocheting,
beading, etc). We will meet at Gayle’s
house on Wednesday, March 4 from 7 to 9
pm. RSVP to Gayle by Tuesday, March 3.
Coordinator: Gayle Turner
THURSDAY EVENING: Our March 12
book is “Sweet Tooth” by Ian McEwan
at home of Chris Donchin. Coordinator:
Jean Conger
Dining, Crafts. Games and More
GOURMET DINING GROUP: Enjoy
delicious dishes and themed menus at a
lively gathering at an AUUW member’s
home. The host prepares the menu
and sends out recipes and/or cooking
assignments to participants. A great way
to get to know other members. Meets three
BOARD GAMES: will meet 7-9 pm March
3rd at the home of Christy Austermann.
RSVP to Fran Adams. Coordinator: Fran
Adams
GENEALOGY: Our next meeting will be
on the 4th Thursday, March 26, 1-3 pm,
at the Jackson County Genealogy Library,
3405 S. Pacific Hwy. Any Ashland AAUW
member interested in family research
(beginning or advanced) who would like
to share family stories, discoveries, and tips
with the group is welcome. Coordinators:
Linda Lipkind & Sara Weber
KNITTERS AND STITCHERS
Coordinators: Michaela Rae and Peggy
Audibert
February Meeting
Ashland Vision
Photographs by Linda Lipkind.
is a monthly newsletter of the Ashland,
Oregon, Branch of AAUW
Vol. 29, No. 6 — March 2015
Co Presidents:
Mimi Pippel and Judy Shih
Financial Officer:
Christine Fernlund
Guest speaker is Susan Moen,
Director of SART (Jackson County
Sexual Assault Response Team)
Recording Secretaries:
Peggy Moore and Christine Fernlund
Membership Chair:
Karen Spence
Public Policy Chairs:
Regina Ayars and Phyllis Fernlund
Contact Secretary:
Rosemary Adalian
Newsletter Team
Editors:
Pat Brewer, Rae Otto
Suzanne Duncan and Judy Shih chat
with presenter, Susan Moen of SART
Layout:
Chris Licata
Photographer:
Alice Mallory
Readers:
Karen Leng, Alice Mallory
Newsletter deadline is the 15th of the month.
Photos of interest group activities are welcome.
AAUW Ashland Website:
http://ashland-or.aauw.net
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.
Liz Guiterrez
Wanda Chen Scholarship Co Chair
at our February meeting
Carol Madden
Amanda Denbeck
Pam Haunschild gathering
people for Crafting Your Heart
Sara Weber, Iris Milan, Pam Haunschild, Carryl Breon, Liz Murphy
7