As the temperatures drop we find ourselves looking forward to indoor activities and gatherings, including our AAUW branch programs, book group meetings, bridge games, dining out with AAUW evening rapport, and other AAUW events.
For information about AAUW activities throughout the state, watch for the AAUW Minnesota Pine to be delivered to your email or home address if you don’t use email. This year, all 3 issues (Fall, Winter, and Summer) of the Pine will be delivered via email when possible instead of only the Fall and Summer Issues. The AAUW Minnesota board estimates the savings gained from not using the USPS to mail the Winter issue to be in excess of $1000 of the money saved to offer grants to branches to be used for projects.
At some time our branch may make a similar decision about sending our our newsletter via email. This is a decision our board has been considering for some time. I know that many of us like receiving a paper newsletter in our mail but an electronic version could be just as convenient. If you have strong feelings one way or the other, let me or our Highlights editor, Barb Knutsen, know.
Looking forward to Spring, mark your calendars for the 2015 AAUW Minnesota Convention, April 10-11, 2015 at the Historic Hormel House in Austin. The theme of the convention is “Full Steam Ahead! Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math Now and Into the Future.” I especially like the idea of adding Arts to the important STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) that we encourage girls and young women to pursue. As in the past, awards for “young women for equity” will be presented. If you know of a young person up to age 25 who has been involved in an event or project promoting equity, consider nominating her.
Please add Marilyn Morem to the list of Rochester branch members who have held positions on the AAUW Minnesota board. Marilyn served 2 terms as Vice President for Public Policy, 1997-2001. I’m so grateful to all of our members who have been active in our branch and beyond and continue to hold leadership positions within our organization and who are examples for others who want to become more involved.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in October in Oronoco!
Beth Nienow, President
AAUW Rochester President's blog 