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The Florence Schneider Award
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Pam Shay was honored at the May branch meeting with the annual Florence Schneider award. Florence Schneider, now deceased, was a long-time dedicated member of Ashland AAUW known as an active recruiter and mentor for new members. Pam has served on the board as a member-at-large, as co-president for two years, as a section leader for the 2019 Upscale Sale, and as the current co-chair of this year’s sale. She led our branch to receive national 5-star recognition, organized the 2019 lobby day in Salem, and spearheaded our nomination and succession plans. Pam currently serves as the South District State Representative. Pam clearly exemplifies the values of Florence Schneider’s life, commitment to positive changes to society and equity for women and girls. AAUW Ashland is so very fortunate to have Pam among our members and we all congratulate her on this well-deserved award.
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Membership News
Our membership team is very pleased to announce that we have three new members who recently joined our branch. Please welcome Marge Dwyer, Sheree Sobel, and Dennise Trager.
Marge Dwyer graduated from Loyola, Chicago with a BA in History and Education and worked in the Department of Energy designing educational programs around the sciences.
Sheree Sobel earned a BA in political science from San Jose State University and a teaching credential from National University, CA. Besides serving as a teachers' union president in Arizona, Sheree also was involved in the AAUW Assistance League in San Diego.
Dennise Trager earned a BA in psychology from Wayne State University, Michigan and an MSW from U of Conn, School of Social Work. She currently works in Ashland as a psychotherapist. We look forward to learning more information about these very interesting women in our next newsletter. Again, a very warm welcome to Ashland Branch AAUW.
Each member is encouraged to reach out to women in our community to join our branch. Please share my contact information if you know of someone interested in joining as a new member.
Membership Renewal: It's renewal time! Memberships need to be renewed by June 30. You'll soon receive a letter with your renewal form and an interest survey. Please give the interest survey some thought -- it helps us to know what interests you and how you'd like to participate. Please complete your renewal form and send it back as soon as you can so we can start planning for the exciting year ahead!
Susan Hollandsworth, Membership Chair
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Building Professional Relationships
Jennifer Cavalier, the Wolf-Pizor Family Scholar, SOU Masters of Arts in Teaching
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Jenn Cavalier, 11th grade English Teacher at North Medford High School and current SOU MAT student.
"This year has been a whirlwind. I began teaching Junior English at North Medford High School in September. I can now apply the concepts and strategies learned at SOU in my own classroom. My students have settled into a school routine finally and have settled into post-distance learning education. I am currently teaching The Crucible by Arthur Miller; they continuously surprise me with the connections they can make between the text, history, and current events. I feel lucky to see them grow and learn each day.
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I am beyond excited to graduate with my Master's degree in June. This summer, I plan to teach summer school and participate in a National Writing Project Research Development Retreat. The retreat is a continuation of a grant I am working on through SOU that focuses on students’ questions about the writing process. We will meet over the summer to collaborate. I hope to continue teaching at North Medford next year.
I am so grateful for the people who continue to support me through this season in my life. Thank you for all of your support. The AAUW Ashland scholarship has helped me focus on my studies, teaching, and building professional relationships in the community."
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This year my students read both
"The Crucible" and "Fahrenheit 541",
texts previously challenged in schools
and libraries in the United States.
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Bridging the Gap
Tara Crosswhite, Senior, SOU, Biology major, Honors College and McNair Scholar
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Tara Crosswhite organized an Honors College project with Bureau of Land Management. She and SOU students planted 720 trees in Shady Cove, Oregon, an area that was devastated by a forest fire. Students were amazed at the visual difference their work had on the landscape, and they inquired about additional restoration opportunities. Some networked and now have internships with the BLM.
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"I was uncertain of how I was going to pay for college. Fifth year students at Southern Oregon University (SOU) do not receive merit-based funding, even if they received it for the previous four years. Unless I found a way to pay, I was no longer going to be able to attend my university.
With no other alternative funding options to bridge the financial gap, my AAUW Ashland scholarship made it possible for me to continue my education.
Classes went well and kept me busy. Winter term I was enrolled in advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology, a second sequence of Medical Spanish, and the second sequence of Physics. Spring term I am taking the third sequence of Medical Spanish, third sequence of Physics, and pharmacology.
The AAUW Ashland scholarship allowed me to devote more time to my schooling, volunteer projects, and has decreased the stress of picking up more job hours. I am on track to graduate in June of 2022. Outside of my academics my current focus has been preparing my applications for Physician Assistant to schools."
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From the Scholarship Committee
The AAUW Ashland Scholarship Committee reviewed SOU applications. Reviewers included (L-R): Sandy Theis, Priscilla Arnold, Candy Gregos, Erin Finklea, Sheree Sobel, Elaine Sweet, and Suzanne Hering. Co-chairs Wanda Chin and Kate Wolf-Pizor, along with Rebecca Blair and Kathleen Mackris, will join the team for the finalist interviews on  Zoom, hosted by Cristina Sanz, SOU Advancement, Director of Development.
Rogue Community College applications will be read in June 2022 by Peggy Moore, Katharine Lang, Mary Renaud, Sharon Dean, and Sunny Anderson, along with Wanda, Kate, and Elaine.
If you are interested in joining the Scholarship Committee or mentoring a scholarship student, please contact Wanda or Kate.
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Endowment Report: How to Donate
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We are growing our Scholarship Funds!
We welcome donations to our scholarship funds all year. If you’d like to donate, make your check(s) payable to the specific endowment fund you’ve chosen, RCC or SOU.
DO NOT make checks payable to AAUW Ashland.
Click here for sample checks and donation instructions.
Mail contributions to: AAUW Ashland, 2305 Ashland Street, #104-406, Ashland OR 97520
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DID YOU KNOW...
BETTY WILLIAMS, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976. During the Troubles, an intense period of conflict in Northern Ireland, Ms. Williams co-founded a protest movement, Community of Peace People, to mobilize people and demand an end to the violence. She organized a petition to protest the violence. BETTY WILLIAMS died at 76 in 2020, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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 Remember to vote in the primary election on May 17. Primary elections determine which candidates will represent each political party in advance of a general election.
Types of Primary Elections
- Open: A voter can cast their ballot for any party.
- Closed: A voter may only cast their ballots for the party in which they are affiliated.
- Oregon has a closed primary election. The majority of voters in Oregon are unaffiliated, which means they cannot vote in the primary election.
Why Is it Important to Vote in the Primary election?
- Primary elections give you, the voter, the opportunity to decide who from a pool of candidates should ultimately be nominated by your political party to run in the general election. There are 15 Democratic candidates and 19 Republican candidates running for governor in the primary election.
- Primary elections generally attract more partisan voters which is how extreme candidates can end up on the ballot in a general election. Increasing voter participation can help get more moderate candidates nominated.
Ballots will be mailed April 29 through the first part of May. For more information go to the Jackson County Elections Office website. Jackson County Elections Office
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Public Policy Committee
Thanks for the Memories
By Regina Ayars, Public Policy Chair
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I will be resigning as chair of Public Policy effective July 1, 2022. I have been an enthusiastic member of the team since I joined AAUW in 2012. Sandra Coyner was chair at the time and we were meeting at Kathy Brandon’s home. Phyllis Fernlund and I took on co-chairing for several years and then I became solo chair. I enjoyed every project we took on.
Voter Education
Interviewing city council and mayoral candidates each election year
Pay Equity Education
Sponsoring a public forum on the 2017 passage of the Pay Equity Bill
Transparency in Reporting
Advocating for timely and accurate Title IX sexual assault reporting at SOU
Member Education
Inviting elected officials to talk about their legislative priorities
Advocacy for State Legislation
Writing testimonial letters for specific legislation supported by AAUW of Oregon
Lobbying in Salem
Coordinating the AAUW of Oregon Lobby Day in Salem in 2020
Lisa Verner will be assuming the position of chair of Public Policy. Lisa joined Public Policy
last year and quickly got engaged in projects. She will also represent Ashland on the state Public Policy Committee. Lisa is a great addition to the team and will provide leadership going forward.
Many thanks to the women who have been on the Public Policy team over the last twelve years and to those that are currently members; Mary Renaud, Kathy Brandon, Lesley Kaufman, Cathe Ledford, Lisa Verner, Catherine Lutes and new members Sheree Sobel and Marge Dwyer.
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Vote in our AAUW National Election
AAUW National encourages you to vote to elect members to the AAUW National Board of Directors and to weigh in on changes to the bylaws that would streamline the nomination process and ballot submission. Voting closes on Monday, May 16, 2022, at 5 pm ET.
You should have received an email on April 6 from Shannon Wolfe including your unique Member ID and Voter PIN, and instructions on how to vote online.
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What's Happening at the State AAUW?
Oregon State Conference Report
Pam Shay, Southern District Director and Member of Ashland Branch
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The annual 2022 AAUW Oregon State Conference proceeded in early April seamlessly because of the planning and expert work of state board members like Pat Squire, Nancy Brown, and Trish Garner.
It had been an initial disappointment that the in-person meeting was “Covid-cancelled” and the state board had to pivot to three days of Zooming, but member attendees adjusted well. During the course of the conference, from April 7 to 9, at any given time, 65 to over 100 members were in attendance.
In addition to the annual business meeting---expertly run by outgoing co-presidents Sue Klumph and Pat Lehman--- programming focused on the importance of making connections and the need for healing in our post-pandemic world. Presentations included an excellent talk on “Aging Gracefully” by Dr. Neesha Patel and a meaningful keynote from the Honorable Pam Marsh. Socializing was also scheduled right in!
Next year the conference will be in our hometown of Ashland at the Ashland Hills Hotel. We look forward to seeing every branch member in attendance. We will need all our members to assist with the smooth running of events and to welcome our Oregon AAUW colleagues with a friendly Ashland embrace. More information will be forthcoming as next year unfolds.
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Title IX turns 50 on June 23
I’d like to issue a challenge to all Oregon members to donate at least $50 to AAUW Funds to honor this historic anniversary! Here’s how:
- Write your check to AAUW Greatest Needs - #9110.
- Note on the check memo line “Title IX 50 yrs.”
- Send your check to our Branch Funds Chair, Bessie Azari.
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Interest Groups
Our Branch is proud to sponsor a variety of interest groups to help our members learn, have fun, and enjoy each other's company. Go to our website for a complete description of each group. Interest Groups If you have an idea for a new interest group, contact the Interest Group Coordinator, Peggy Audibert.
Contact the group coordinator for more information: Peggy Audibert | Sandra Coyner | Gretchen King | Linda Lipkind | Diane Novak | Colleen Patrick-Riley | Esther Stone | Shannon Stuver | Sylvie Whitman
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Pictures from the April Branch Meeting
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BOARD NOTES:
The full minutes are posted on our website. READ MORE |
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Stay in the Loop!
Don't miss out on AAUW Ashland news and events! Add our Branch email to your address book to assure that our emails don't go to your spam or promotions file.
ashlandaauw97520@gmail.com
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Charitable Partners
These two members have pledged to make a donation to either the AAUW/SOU or AAUW/RCC Scholarship Fund every time an AAUW member uses their services or refers someone who uses their services. We thank them for their generosity and dedication to AAUW.
Liz Murphy,
CFP MBA/Financial Advisor
Raymond James Financial Services
541-779-9907
Liz.Murphy@RaymondJames.com
raymondjames.com/lizmurphy
Sara Walker,
Broker
Patricia Sprague Real Estate
541-951-5454
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Ashland Vision
is a monthly newsletter of the
Ashland, Oregon, Branch of AAUW
Vol. 36, No. 8 — Summer 2022
Newsletter Team
Editors: Ellen Fowler,
Gail Engblom, Elaine Sweet, & Penny Little
Photographers: Members at large.
(Photos taken by members at branch meetings, interest group or other activities are welcome. Please submit photos for consideration to one of the newsletter editors.)
Readers: Patricia Brewer, Alice Mallory,
Rae Otto, Sylvie Whitman
Newsletter deadline is the15th of the month.
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.
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June Birthdays———————————
July Birthdays———————————
August Birthdays——————————
As I write this, it is snowing outside. It will stop soon, but the mountains are covered in a blanket of white and all is peaceful. Hopefully, more rain will fall and we will not be in such severe drought conditions.
