If you are interested in becoming a member or if you are not a member, but would like to attend a program or activity, please send an email to – Judy at JudyKropp40@gmail.com with your name and phone number and whether you hold an associates degree or higher. Upon receipt of this information, you will be provided the address of the meeting.

2024

With the political divide growing ever wider, individuals are finding it almost impossible to have civil conversations between people with whom they have different opinions and beliefs.  Yet there is an organization, which is committed to making this happen.  In 2016 a grassroots organization named Braver Angels formed with the aim of building respect and kinship across the divide.  On Thursday, January 18^th two members of the organization – Paul Norris and Maxim Schrogin will demonstrate how this can happen in a Zoom presentation to our branch.  Norris, a psychotherapist, is the conservative of this duo while Schrogin, a community organizer, is the liberal. In addition to giving an actual demonstration to us, Norris and Schrogin will talk about the LAPP model as a technique we can use to facilitate civil discussions.  LAPP is an acronym, which stands for listen, acknowledge, pivot, and perspective.

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2023

Oakdale Rescue Mission – Pamela Kelly, Thursday, December 14th, 7:00 P.M.

Socks, winter gloves, beanies, heavy duty backpacks, gift cards for Starbucks or Jack in the Box are all items individuals can donate to the Oakdale Rescue Mission to help support their clients. These articles are welcome year round, but are appreciated even more when the holidays roll around. Who are the clients of the Oakdale Rescue Mission you may wonder? According to Pamela Kelly, one of the Mission’s founders and longtime volunteer and board director, the clients primarily are homeless individuals or those at risk of being homeless, but they also include families who are concerned about their child, grandchild, spouse or parent who might be living on the street or in the park or in their car. On Thursday, December 14th Ms. Kelly will talk to our Branch about the Oakdale Rescue Mission, it’s work, goals and needs and how individuals and groups can assist it or get involved. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation such as items mentioned above.

Pamela Kelly has lived in Oakdale for 20 years.  Her experience as an Oakdale Police volunteer for twelve years led to the founding of the Oakdale Rescue Mission. She states: “ This experience has contributed to our homeless outreach efforts being different than many homeless advocates – we care as much about our Oakdale community as we do about the homeless.  My personal desire and ORM’s vision is to benefit every aspect of our community.”

Ms. Kelly has been in education and related social services for over 40 years, during which time she was both a teacher to children and adults and director/administrator of programs. Before her retirement in 2010, she worked for San Joaquin County Office of Education for over 12 years, as the Admissions and Records Coordinator and adjunct faculty for Teachers College of San Joaquin. Her education includes: an associate’s degree in early childhood education; a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science; and a master’s degree in human development.

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Ari Kenney – A Conversation on LGBTQ+ Allyship, Thursday, November 9th, 7:00 P.M.

“After a period of inner turmoil, when I finally knew and accepted my own capital T truth, I’m non-binary and my name is Ari, I didn’t tell anybody for a long time “- Ari Kenney

Ari Kenney (they/them) is a consumer researcher with E&J Gallo Winery who has dedicated their career to communicating action-inspiring empathy.  Ari shares both fact-based and first-hand experiences about the nuances of gender and sexuality and how to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.  They strive to create a more understanding world by providing a non-judgmental safe space for candid conversations and education.

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Planned Parenthood and Reproductive Rights – Post-Dobbs Impact, Thursday, October 26th, 6:30 P.M.

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Time to Reconnect, Saturday, September 16th, 10:00 A.M.

A light lunch will be served following the meeting. Cost is $14.00.  Members, guests and prospective members attending can call (209) 847-0271 or email tcjake15@gmail.com for location details or other information.

Time to Reflect, Celebrate and Honor, Saturday, May 6th, 10:00 A.M.

As is our tradition, we will wrap up our AAUW year by meeting and honoring our Scholarship recipients, our NCCWSL delegate, unveiling our Named Gift honoree and installing officers for next year.  This year’s four-year scholarship recipient is Emilee A. and our two-year recipient is Molly T.  Emilee is graduating from Oakdale High School; Molly from Escalon High School.  Emilee’s goal is to become a civil engineer, while Molly has set her sights on working in Ag commodity trading or Ag marketing.

Our speaker will be Esmeralda Salcedo, our NCCWSL recipient who will be off to attend the three day AAUW National Conference for College Women Student Leaders in Maryland at the end of the month.  Esmeralda shares this with us:  “I am currently in my third year as an undergraduate student, and I am passionately pursuing my academic and personal growth. One of the silver linings of the pandemic was the opportunity it gave me to reflect on my goals and take proactive steps towards achieving them. I am committed to pushing myself to new heights and embracing the challenges and opportunities that come my way.”

The Imagination Library of Stanislaus County –  Sue Rich, Thursday, April 13, 7:00 P.M.

Come learn about the activities of the Imagination Library of Stanislaus County at our April 13^th meeting. Before retiring Susan Rich, Assistant Superintendent of the Stanislaus County Office of Education and long time educator, took on the challenge of helping to grow the Imagination Library of Stanislaus County, an affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Its goal is to inspire a love of reading by gifting books free of charge to children from birth to age five. Rich will talk about her work with the local organization as well as inform those present as to how they can help support the initiative.

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“More Than Words” – Marg Jackson, Saturday, March 11, 10:00 A.M.

Longtime Oakdale Leader editor Marg Jackson will be our guest speaker on Saturday, March 11. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. at the Escalon Branch Library, 1540 Second St., Escalon. She will trace her journey in journalism, from writing for her college newspaper to learning on the job as a stringer at a radio station, to the cross country move that brought her to California.”

Making the move from rural upstate New York to relocate to Oakdale nearly 30 years ago, Jackson first started as the editor for The Riverbank News, later moving to serve in that capacity for The Escalon Times. She later became assistant editor for The Oakdale Leader while still serving as editor in Escalon and, today, oversees the editorial content for all three newspapers. She also contributes regularly to the 209 Magazine and helps coordinate a variety of special sections through the papers, including the annual Women in Business publication.

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“What is the Farm Bureau and What are They Up To? Anna Genasci, Thursday, February 9, 6:00 P.M.

Agriculture is the leading industry in Stanislaus County and the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, established in 1914, has maintained a mission to serve and support local agriculturalists ever since.  But how much do Stanislaus County residents know about this industry and organization that supports it?  Anna Genasci, the Director of Communication and Education at the Stanislaus Farm Bureau and host of their Farm Bureau Foodies program on Facebook wants to make sure that members and guests of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon Branch know what the Farm Bureau is and what they are up to.  To this end she will speak to us at our February 9^th dinner meeting.  Before becoming the Bureau’s Director of Communication and Education, Genasci worked at Foster Farms in live production, then pursued and received certification from the Department of Pesticide Regulation.  She became a pesticide inspector for Stanislaus County and is often a frequent guest speaker to ag students at MJC.  She majored in Animal Science at Modesto Junior College and received her Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Chico in Agricultural Communications.  Genasci and her family now reside in Oakdale.

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“Safeguarding Reproductive Health Care” – Maria de Soccoro Santillan, Thursday, January 12, 7:00 P.M.

Maria de Soccoro Santillan is on the front lines battling to safeguard access to reproductive health care for women and girls in California’s Central Valley.  She has been active in this struggle since starting her first job as a Health Educator at Planned Parenthood Mar Monte shortly after she graduated from CSU Fresno in 1996.  Now the Director of Public Affairs she works tirelessly to insure that Planned Parenthood remains a sanctuary for everyone in need.  On Thursday, January 12th.   Ms. Santillan will speak to our Branch about the ongoing efforts needed to protect and ensure women’s reproductive freedom.

 

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2022

“Mindfulness Practices for Challenging Times” – Ani-la Tenzin Lhadron, Thursday, December 15, 7:00 P.M.

Ho, Ho, Ho! The hustle and bustle of the holiday season has arrived.  Do you find the holidays stressful?  Maybe you’re feeling more like the Grinch than St. Nick? If so, come to our December program with Branch Member Ani-la Tenzin Lhadron and learn simple mindfulness techniques for calming the mind, reducing reactivity and triggers, and how to maintain balance when you feel imbalanced.  Drawing upon decades of psychotherapy and practical Buddhist practice, Ani-la will introduce us to a few simple supportive mindfulness and meditation practices.  Beginners welcome!

“Ani-la” – Ani Tenzin Lhadron, Ph.D. is a lifelong explorer and was ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun by His Holiness Dalai Lama of Tibet in 1996.  As a licensed therapist and chaplain, she is committed to bridging spirituality and psychology in order to integrate them in ways that are practical and meaningful.

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Let the Bidding Begin! AAUW ORE Fall Online Auction Fundraiser November 4 through November 14.

VISIT OUR ONLINE AUCTION STARTING AT 12 P.M. PDT FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4TH.

Find the full Catalog HERE

• Family Photo Session
• JAZZ, the Horse (Lithograph)
• New Year’s Weekend in San Francisco
• Gallo Center Performance
• Print & Art Book
• BBQ Delight

  

  Calaveras County Wine Getaway

  

  Modesto Graffiti Museum Tour

  

  Bed & Breakfast (and a dinner in town)

  
  

Buy something for yourself, family or a friend…Help us raise funds for Tech Trek, our Scholarships, NCCWSL,  AAUW Fund programs that tie into AAUW’s goals of helping women and girls reach their full potential. 

3 Ways You Can Help –

• Bid Soon

• Tell Friends

  • Use “Share Campaign”  top right on the Auction Website
  • Email your friends, family, and colleagues about the Fundraiser
  • Post the Fundraiser on your FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter or other social media sites.

• Link to the Auction Website STARTING NOV. 4TH!

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“Meeting the Challenges of Food Insecurity”, Jessica Vaughan from Second Harvest.  Thursday, November 10th, 7:00 P.M.

• Single-mother households and households with income below the poverty line are most vulnerable to food insecurity.
• Nearly 1 in 5 Californians don’t know where their next meal will come from.
• What is being done locally for hungry families, individuals, seniors?

Mobile Fresh Van

Jessica Vaughan, Director of Development and Communications for Second Harvest of the Greater Valley will speak to us about meeting the challenges of food insecurity and what Second Harvest is doing in Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon for those struggling to put food on their tables.

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“Ensuring Fair Elections” – Donna Linder, Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters.  Thursday, October 13th, 7:00 P.M.

“Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters office diligently works to ensure the integrity and security of each election is maintained.  Our office works tirelessly to count every eligible vote. Since 2010 the average turnout for a midterm election has been only 53 percent! That means only half the voters in our county decide who makes our local, state, and national laws and policies. Your vote really does make a difference, so please vote in the November 8 Election!” – Donna Linder 

Get engaged – then vote!  Love it or hate it – campaign season is here again and who better to inform us about the fairness of the election process in Stanislaus County than Donna Linder, Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters.  Having personally worked on 49 elections over the past 19 years of her career, Ms. Linder is unquestionably qualified to talk on the topic of “Ensuring Fair Elections” – and she will do just that when she addresses members of our branch and the Turlock-Modesto Branch at our October Meeting.

First elected Clerk-Recorder, Registrar of Voters in June 2018 and re-elected in June this year, Donna Linder has worked in every unit of the Clerk Recorder Department from entry level all the way through management. She was born in Turlock and has lived in Modesto since the age of fifteen.  After graduating from Beyer High School and Modesto Junior College she earned her Bachelor of Arts from Ashford University.

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Fall Lunch:  Saturday, September 17th, 10:00 – 12:00 noon

AAUW, ORE’s 60th anniversary fall  kickoff meeting will be held September 17th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.  Come catch up with your AAUW friends  in a lovely garden setting following a long hot summer, meet and hear about the highlights two of our wonderful Tech Trek girls experienced earlier this summer at Tech Trek,  get excited about the fabulous programs VP Program Direcor Teri Curtis has lined up for this year and learn about a new Gov Trek program being developed by AAUW-CA. The meeting will end with lunch.

Prospective members in the Oakdale, Riverbank, or Escalon area are invited to attend.   The meeting will be held in a member’s home.  Call (209) 847-0271 to make reservations, to get directions or for more information.  Cost of lunch is $10.00.

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Spring Brunch Photo Highlights:

Our New Board is All Smiles!

Attendees to “in person” meetings must be fully vaccinated; masks and social distancing are strongly encouraged. Prospective members in the Oakdale, Riverbank, or Escalon area are invited to attend.     Call (209) 847-0271  for location or more information.  

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Spring Brunch a Time for Conclusion, Celebration & Transition, May 14th, 9:00 A.M.  

As is our tradition, we will wrap up another stimulating, energizing, and enjoyable year with the following:

• Be introduced to our recently selected scholarship winners.
• Unveil our Named Gift Honoree.
• Install our elected 2022 -2023 officers.

The brunch will be held in the home and yard of one of our members.  Cost TBA.

Members are encouraged to invite guests who may be interested in joining our Branch.  Attendees must be fully vaccinated.

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Reversing Climate Change: A Race Against Time.  Dr. Jeff Mirocha, Thursday, April 14th, 6:00 P.M. Tesoro Clubhouse, Oakdale, CA and Zoom.

The one thing I want you to understand about climate change is that it is sneaking up on us…It’s another invisible enemy.  In fact climate change is already here.  It’s already happening, but because of the way climate changes, starting slowly at first you might not be aware that it’s here already.  Dr. Jeff Mirocha, 2020

In 2020 Dr. Jeff Mirocha shared the above warning in an interview he gave to a U.C. Merced student podcaster.  Atmospheric scientist, professor and activist Dr. Mirocha will once more “sound the trumpet” about the existential threat of climate change when he speaks to us at our April dinner meeting.  Dinner will begin at 6:00 P.M. followed by Dr. Mirocha’s talk at 7:00 P.M.  In his professional life Jeff Mirocha works in the Atmosphere, Earth and Energy Division at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and teaches within the Meteorology and Climate Science department at San Jose State University.  As an informed and concerned private citizen, Dr. Mirocha, through media and in person presentations tells the tale about the catastrophic consequences the world faces if we don’t take Climate Change seriously.  He says:  “Once the climate system goes rogue there may be no meaningful intervention.”  Serious though Climate Change is however, Mirocha has hope that we can mitigate it – if we take action now!  Mirocha holds B.S. and B.A. degrees in Geography and Mathematics from Arizona State University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Astrophysical, Planetary and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where his dissertation research focused on climate change processes in the Arctic.

Members are encouraged to invite guests.  Cost for the dinner is $15.00. Deadline for reservations is April 6th. Attendees must be fully vaccinated. Those planning to hear Dr. Mirocha’s talk via ZOOM can register by emailing sarpoika@velociter.net.

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A Master’s Degree Abroad:  Art, Culture, and COVID; An Irish Odyssey, Thursday, March 10th, 7:00 P.M. on Zoom

When asked to describe her granddaughter, ORE Branch member, Sharon Hawley-Crum pointed to a framed Hallmark saying on her windowsill – “A Goal Is Just a Dream That Rolled Up its Sleeves And Got To Work.”  That description, Sharon says, fits her granddaughter, Tc Adams, perfectly.  Tc, who grew up in Oakdale is our featured speaker at this month’s meeting.  Having graduated from Oakdale High School and determined to further her education, Tc enrolled in Columbia College near Sonora getting her Associate of Arts degree in 2014.  In 2017 she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree from Humboldt State University majoring in Studio Art and Art Education.  In August 2019, she traveled to Cork, Ireland to begin her studies seeking a Master’s degree.  She was just settled in Cork when COVID arrived.  Along with many other students, Tc was required to return home to California.  However, via virtual means she completed all her course work and in March of 2021, she attended the University College Cork (UCC), virtual conferring ceremony and received her Master of Arts degree in Arts Management and Creative Producing.  She is the current Marketing and Promotions Coordinator/Business Development Manager with Advanced Security Systems, a locally owned security company there.  Tc’s story focuses on her experiences of studying abroad, developing an internationally based inter-disciplinary arts festival, exploring dual cultures, and having a crash course in crisis management during her master’s program.  You won’t want to miss hearing the story of Tc’s Irish Odyssey.

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Homelessness Documentarians Richard Anderson and Eric Caine to speak, Thursday, February 10th, 7:00 P.M. on Zoom

“They need our sympathy and they need our tough love. Tough love is, ‘When you’re ready for us, society is here to help you out of this, we want to help you’.” -Richard Anderson, The Modesto Bee

Two local chroniclers of the houseless population, Richard Anderson and Eric Caine will share stories about several people from this community.  Dr. Anderson taught microbiology at Modesto Junior College and Columbia College for many years; Eric Caine taught English and Critical Thinking at Merced College.  Leaving the world of “Ivory Tower academia” as Anderson called it, the two became involved in community issues and concerns  – one of which was homelessness.  Several years ago they, along with Leng Power and Frank Ploof teamed up to make an hour-long documentary, Homeless in Modesto.  Dr. Anderson will share the story of two homeless meth “tweakers” who were rescued through their own determination and the help they received from many others at the Modesto Outdoor Emergency Shelter (MOES).  Mr. Caine who now covers a myriad of area issues in his blog “The Valley Citizen” will provide a counterbalance focusing on some folks who are more chronically homeless, more resistant to rehabilitation because of the difficulty of extracting themselves from being homeless and drug addicted.  Prospective members interested in attending this talk can call 1 (209) 847-0271) to be added to the Zoom invitation.

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AAUW American Fellow, Stacey Cabaj, Will Address AAUW, ORE Branch on “The Sound of Touch” Wednesday, February 16th, 7:00 P.M. on Zoom

It’s always a treat when we are able to meet and hear one of our AAUW Fund recipients.  Gail Marganelli, our Branch Fund Director has arranged for Stacey Cabaj, an award winning actress, performance pedagogy specialist and voice coach, to discuss her current research project with us on Zoom.  Professor Cabaj’s topic is The Sound of Touch.  She asks “What does it feel like to be you in the 2020’s?  How has your relationship to touch changed?”  She explores these questions through the lens of a theatre professor and investigates tools for technological synesthesia and their application in theatre education.  In less academic language the questions she is trying to answer are:To

• What does meaningful and compelling storytelling look/sound/feel like in 2022?
• What are, and how do we support, the needs of our next generation of creative professionals?
• How do we best teach about learning and learn about teaching?

Stacey Cabaj is an arts leader and theatre pedagogy specialist.  She is currently an American Fellow in AAUW and and Assistant Professor of Acting and Pedagogy at Loyola Marymount University.  She is the co-author of a forthcoming book, Lessons from our Students:  Meditations on Theatre Pedagogy.

To attend this program prospective members can send an email to the registrar at gmarganelli@att.net.

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Zinc House – A Stopping Place Through the Years, Thursday, January 13th, 7:00 P.M.

“We wanted to be able to work in a place that reflected our values and beliefs, while benefitting our home community” – Carol Franzia

In 2018, Carol Franzia the mother of triplet girls and a winemaker for 30 years set off on a new adventure.  She and her three brothers, Brian, Michael and Paul left the family wine business and founded Zinc House Farm a certified organic farm and seasonal farmstand near Escalon.  The Zinc House property has a history of being a stopping place for travelers going back to the Gold Rush.  You won’t want to miss hearing Zink House’s and Carol’s story!

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2021

Come hum along to Twelve Songs of the Season, Thursday, December 9th, 7:00 P.M. 

Join us in “The Barn” to sip something warm, raise a toast with friends, share holiday treats and hum along as the Oakdale Silver Strummers Ukulele Troupe get us in the swing of the holiday season.  From the rousing  Jingle Bells to the tranquil Silent Night, hummers will be musically transported to a place of joy, happiness and peace.

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Internationally Recognized Expert, Dr. Phyllis Gerstenfeld – “Hate Crimes:  Problems and Responses, Thursday, November 18th, 7:00 P.M. 

Multiple Choice Question:  Phyllis Gerstenfeld – a) writes romance, sci-fi and horror novels, b) writes college level textbooks on criminology, c) is slated to appear on “E! True Hollywood  Story” this fall, d) all of the above.  If you answered “d” you are correct.  Choices “a” and “c” however are secondary pursuits for Gerstenfeld.  Professionally, Dr. Phyllis Gerstenfeld is a recognized professor of criminology at CSU, Stanislaus.

It was a news story that triggered Dr. Gerstenfeld’s interest in “hate crimes”.  Being Jewish, growing up in Oregon and aware that the state was formed as a “Whites Only” state with a long history of racism, she was already interested in the psychology of prejudice when as a graduate student she read the story of a man in Florida who was accused of a hate crime.  This was a new term to Gerstenfeld, which led to her beginning to study the topic in 1990.  Now several decades later she is a national expert on the psychology of prejudice and hate crimes who teaches right here in the Central Valley at Stanislaus State.  We are very privileged to have her speak to us this month on the topic of “Hate Crimes:  Problems and Responses.”

Dr. Gerstenfeld earned a PhD in Psychology and a JD from the University of Nebraska and joined CSU, Stanislaus in 1993.  She is currently a professor and chair of the Criminal Justice Department.  She is an internationally recognized expert in the field of hate crimes and is author of a leading text on the subject, now in its 4th edition.  She has been interviewed and quoted in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Christian Science Monitor, BBC News, CBS News, Vox, The Forward, and NPR, among others.

Dr. Gerstenfeld received two Fulbright grants to teach and conduct research in Zagreb, Croatia. She and a team of other scholars are currently conducting a large cross-national study on student attitudes toward LGBT people and toward punitiveness.

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Trisha Huynh – “Becoming an Educator: Learning From Other Cultures”  Thursday, October 21st, 7:00 P.M. – Zoom

Trisha Huynh, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, grew  up in Cupertino California.  She has spent her life learning and abstracting lessons from several cultures – the Vietnamese culture of her parents, the American culture of the schools she attended, and the Malaysian Culture in which she immersed herself as a Fulbright Scholar.  This experience convinced her to become an elementary teacher.  She received her Master of Arts degree and credential from Stanford University.  She currently teaches fourth grade at Starr King Elementary school in San Francisco and is in her fifth year of teaching.  Trisha will discuss the culture she was brought up in, her studies at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and Malaysia and her work now.  

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Fall Lunch:  Saturday, September 25th, 10:00 – 12:00 noon

AAUW, ORE’s Fall  kickoff meeting will be held September 25th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.  Come catch up with your AAUW friends in person in a lovely garden setting after the long pandemic separation, get an update on our wonderful Tech Trek girls and hear about the fabulous programs we have lined up for this year. The meeting will end with lunch.

Prospective members in the Oakdale, Riverbank, or Escalon area are invited to attend.   The meeting will be held in a member’s home.  Call (209) 847-0271 to make reservations, to get directions or for more information.  Cost of lunch is $10.00.

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Meet Tech Trek’s Virtual Camp Host Mary “Dr Mimi” Isaac:  Thursday, May 13th, 7:00 PM via ZOOM.

Tech Trek is going virtual this summer and we will get a peek at how it will look and feel at our May meeting. Mary “Dr. Mimi” Isaac the Virtual Camp Host will give us a brief presentation and demonstration of what the campers will experience.  “Dr. Mimi” is a passionate practitioner-researcher focused on female engagement in engineering and technology following a long career in the global energy business.  With studies in engineering (BSME 1982) and education (MAT 2010, PhD 2015), she preaches and researches hands-on outreach nonstop, presenting and publishing through organizations including the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) American Society of Engineering Educators (ASEE), International Technology and Engineering Association (ITEEA), National Science Teachers Association (NSA), For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST), and AAUW.  She lives in Southern California with her husband, St. Nick, and five dogs.”  Our Tech Tech Co-Director Zoe Kilkenny, says of her:  “This is the AMAZING woman who tackled Zoom Tech Trek single handedly!  I remain in awe of her tenacity.”

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Activist Alexis Atsilvsgi Zaragoza – “Defined by My Heritage”:  Thursday, April 8th, 7:00 PM via ZOOM.

Alexis Atsilvsgi Zaragoza has found her voice and uses it to speak up for women and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous , People of Color) individuals.  When asked to tell us something about herself and not be shy about mentioning honors she has achieved, she did just that.  For someone still in college she has accomplished more than many people do in a life time.  Alexis is a passionate activist in Higher Education, and has been defined by dual focuses on her Mexican heritage and Native identity.  As a Citizen of the Cherokee Nation she has become increasingly active in the MMIW (Mission and Murdered Indigenous Women) movement as well as activism around land rights and mentoring young Native students through college.  She is also a very strong activist for immigrants and undocumented people.  She has served on multiple boards during the entirety of her college career.  First in community college serving as a Board Member on the California Community College’s Board of Governors, appointed by Governor Brown to represent 2.1 million students across a system of 115 colleges, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees for Calbright College, the first ever online community college in the world.  Also during her time in the Central Valley she served under now U.S. Representative Josh Harder (D-10) as a field organizer for his campaign, becoming one of the youngest women in the district to be an organizer for a congressional campaign at only 19.  Upon transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, Alexis served on the University of California systemwide admissions board, The Board of Admissions and Relations of Schools, and was later elected to serve as a Regent on the University of California Board of Regents to make decisions for all 10 UC’s in the State of California.  In  her position she is a strong advocate for Transfer and under-represented students – specifically previously Incarcerated Students, Foster Youth, Student-Parent’s, and students of all backgrounds, admissions equity, Title IX justice, and faculty diversity, as well as Indigenous issues.  She is now doing research on “The Small-Town Dilemma: Understanding the Spatial Imagination of Rural California and the Implications of Physical Place in Access to Higher Education for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)”.  Alexis has a beautiful story to tell.  Don’t miss it.

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A Conversation About Racial Equity, Identity and Belonging with Khani Gustafson:  Thursday, March 11th, 7:00 PM via ZOOM.

Constance “Khani” Gustafson describes herself as a thought innovator and practitioner of Race Equity, Diversity and Inclusion dedicated to nurturing community for belonging.  She holds a master’s degree in Social Work and an honorary PhD in Divinity as well as several clinical training and practice certifications.  Her educational background, professional work as a consultant and facilitator, and community involvement as well as her lived experience as a wife and mother of “three amazing biracial children” residing in central California give her a singular perspective on race equity, identity and belonging.  She is also the founder of Sistah’s Literary Guild, a bookclub for African American women.  Don’t miss joining the conversation.

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Women of Color Speak Out On Their Lived Experience:  Thursday, February 11th, 7:00 PM via ZOOM.

Women, the world over, face roadblocks to success in their personal and occupational lives.  The salary gap, work-life balance, and hurdle to be twice as good as anyone else are three such barriers, but for Women of Color the obstacles are even greater. They include  double standards, facing microagressions, and conscious or unconscious racial bias.  At our February meeting we will hear the lived experience of four such Women of Color in our community, one in finance, one an English Language Intervention teacher, and two from the library realm.  In order to support each other we must hear each other.  Come meet them and hear their stories.

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2020 Police Department Response to Racial Violence in Oakdale:  Thursday, January 14th, 7:00 PM via ZOOM.

Oakdale Police Chief, Scott Heller’s resume in 2016 when he became Oakdale’s top crime fighter showed he had worked as a patrol officer, robbery/homicide sergeant, Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Task Force sergeant, SWAT sergeant, commander of the Gang and Narcotics Units and Assistant Investigative Services Division Commander at the Modesto Police Department and that he also served as Police Chief for the Placerville Police Department before coming to Oakdale.  Not listed in his area of expertise was the issue of combating racial violence or mitigating police brutality.  2020 though saw Chief Heller along with many other police chiefs having to confront those issues.  On June 3rd, following the May death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, while in police custody,  a Black Lives Matter protest was held in Oakdale.  Though mostly peaceful, tension sparked between competing groups.  A few days later when rumors of another protest were circulating a militia group arrived in Oakdale invited by a local business to provide protection.  How did the Oakdale Police Department respond to these and other racial violence events?  At our January meeting, Chief Heller will speak about racial violence in general and about how the police department handled specific local racial incidents in 2020.

2020

Music to Cheer Our Holiday Spirits:  Thursday, December 10th, 7:00 PM via ZOOM.

“Keep a song in your heart and you’ll never be alone!” is career musician Rhonda Danielson’s motto.  To that end she will share holiday music with us to liven our spirits and fill our hearts with song as we celebrate together while apart.  Originally from Cumberland, MD she moved with her husband to Florida in 1974.  Ms. Danielson’s music career as a church organist/pianist and music director began early when she was twelve years old playing for worship services and weddings at three tiny Methodist circuit churches.   During her 32 year career, she taught music education at two private schools and has had hundreds of private piano students as well.  She is past president of the Palm Beach County Music Teacher’s Association and currently serves on the Florida State Music Teachers Executive Board.

 

Grab your favorite libation to enjoy while listening to this musical winter treat.

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Named Gift Honorees – At our November meeting we honored three of our own members for their extraordinary service last year to our mission driven programs.

Wendy Byrd, local NAACP president, will speak on “Understanding Systemic Racism” Thursday, November 12th, 7:00 PM via ZOOM.

A core goal for Wendy Byrd is speaking up for civil rights for People of Color.  As an educator and activist in Modesto for over thirty years, Byrd has fought for racial justice.  Ms. Byrd is a former Stanislaus County Equal Rights Commissioner and Director of Student Development and Campus Life at Modesto Junior College.  She was the first African American to receive a Mater’s Degree of Behavioral Science Degree from Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma.  She is a 2010 graduate of the American Leadership Forum.  Byrd works and fights to level the playing field so everyone has the opportunity to compete financially and socially.  A necessary  step towards leveling the playing field is understanding systemic racism.  Join us as Ms. Byrd delves into what systemic racism is and how we as individuals and an organization can help dismantle it.

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Immigration Expert, Solange Goncalves Altman to speak on “The Future of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)” Thursday, October 8th, 7:00 PM via ZOOM.

Solange Altman, a retired immigration attorney worked in Modesto for more than three decades.  She last spoke to us in 2014 on immigration law.  Several of our members volunteered at workshops organized by Ms. Altman to help young Dreamers organize their paperwork and documentation so they could apply for DACA status when the program was initiated during President Obama’s administration.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Ms. Altman, an immigrant herself, graduated from CSU Fresno in 1977 and earned her JD from UC Davis in 1980.  She will talk to us and take questions on the future of the DACA Program.

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Hello Everyone! We won’t be holding in person meetings or gatherings for the near future, but thanks to Zoom we will be able to meet virtually.  In past years we looked forward to reconnecting with each other, meeting prospective members and previewing programs for the coming year at our Fall Membership Brunch, but due to COVID 19 we are in different times.  We will still do this at our September 10th meeting, but minus the brunch it will happen on Zoom.  In addition we will view the AAUW California webinar on Racial InJustice.

Racial Injustice: Understanding It, Recognizing It, Talking About It. (Webinar) Thursday, September 10, 7:00 p.m. Zoom Meeting

No matter how open and accepting we believe ourselves to be, we must do better.  That’s why this year we would like to focus on ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ as our theme for the year.  It is time that we take this stance, along with our state and federal branches of AAUW to do more, act more, make a difference.  You will see this theme tied into our meetings this year.  We will focus on what we can do as a branch to bring attention to the issue of diversity and inclusion. – Tena McLane-Ceja, Branch President

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Cancelled. “Immigration Policy in the United States:  Looking Back – Looking Forward”, Pending Date – Thursday April 9, 2020, 7:00 p.m. possibly via Zoom

One thing is for sure – there is no consensus on what immigration policy should be in the United States.  The only thing stakeholders agree on is that it needs massive reform.  We have invited  Ariana Martinez Lott, the Valley Watch Network Coordinator of Faith in the Valley to speak to us about how our current immigration policy came to be and what changes are needed to make it a fair and equitable policy.  Ms. Martinez Lott was born and raised in the Central Valley.  She was drawn to immigration advocacy through her neighbors who taught her resiliency and hope in their immigrant story.  As a volunteer, Ariana teaches workshops for groups seeking to learn more about our current immigration system.  Professionally she serves as the Valley Watch Coordinator with Faith in the Valley.  VWN is a rapid response network of volunteers across the Central Valley who are ready to respond and support families that have been impacted by immigration enforcement. Whether we meet virtually on April 9th or in person at a later date you won’t want to miss hearing Ms. Martinez Lott.

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“Journey to a Career in Public Service”: Karen Warner, Thursday March 12, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Mix together interests in public health, social justice, politics, and business management and what do you get?  You get Karen Warner, a woman whose life’s journey has led to a career in public service spanning diverse organizations and geographies.  Ms. Warner grew up in Oakdale and holds degrees from Stanford and Harvard Universities.  She has held varied leadership positions in the nonprofit, business and government sectors both in the United States and abroad, and  currently serves as the District Chief of Staff for Congressman, Josh Harder. She will share her journey with us at our March meeting.  Come hear how  her passion for service and her Central Valley roots  have made her the woman she is today and what her goals are in the future for herself, her family, community and the world.

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Getting Around in California: Laura Podolsky, Thursday February 13, 2020, 6:00 p.m.

Biking more, driving less, drone deliveries to our doors – yes or no?  High speed rail in California – a boondoggle or a blessing?  These and other transportation issues effect how and where we live and Laura Podolsky the Assistant Director for the UC Institute of Transportation Studies (UC ITS) will tell us a thing or two about these and other transportation issues in California at our dinner meeting on February 13.  In her position, Laura oversees the delivery of a transportation research program supported by the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 and the Public Transportation Account with an annual budget of $6million. For her AAUW talk, Laura will share highlights from the UC ITS research program, discuss how research is being used to inform policy discussions and delivery benefits to residents in California, and provide an introduction to emerging issues in transportation that will affect our lives and communities, such as the introduction of autonomous vehicles, drone delivery, mobility justice, and more.  Laura has a Master of Science in Transportation Technology and Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from UC Davis.  She currently lives in Sacramento, but was born and raised in Oakdale, CA.

Members of the Oakdale, Riverbank, Escalon Branch and their guests are encouraged to attend. Cost of the dinner is $12 and will be held at the Tesoro Clubhouse in Oakdale.  Call (209) 847-0271 to make reservations, to get directions or for more information . 

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Healthy Relationships Develop From HARRT:  Debbie Soro Adair, Thursday January 16, 2020, 7:00 p.m.

Since its inception in 2015, the HARRT program has trained 41 youth leaders and peer educators who have, collectively, reached 7,411 Stanislaus County residents (predominately youth) with their adolescent dating abuse prevention education and healthy relationships campaigns.

Debbie Soro Adair is passionate about women and girls developing healthy and responsible relationships.  She spoke to us about HARRT (Healthy and Responsible Relations Troup) several years ago and is back to update us about it’s growth, development and expansion to Oakdale High School.  

Ms. Soro Adair began HARRT  in 2014 at Enochs High School.  She also brought the Day of Respect to Enochs High and was selected as an Outstanding Woman of Stanislaus County by the Stanislaus County Commission for Women in 2016.

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2019

Dr. Krystyna Belski speaking on “Creating a Healthy Lifestyle Regimen”, Thursday, November 14th at 7:00 P.M.

For ORE member Dr. Krystyna Belski being healthy is a must for herself, her family and her community.  As Oakdale’s first pediatrician she encouraged her young patients and their families to create a healthy lifestyle regimen.  Now retired, she continues to emphasize the importance of developing such a regimen to all who will listen.  Come learn how you can create a regimen or improve on the one you already have.  

Belski, a native of Poland, practiced ophthalmology in her homeland for twelve years before coming to the U.S.  Once here she was required to complete another residency.  After finishing a residency in pediatrics in Fresno she began looking for a position in California.  She had two interviews scheduled in Roseville and Auburn when she heard from a friend in Modesto about an opening for a pediatrician in Oakdale.  So on her way to the interviews she stopped in Oakdale where she met local medical personnel who told her about the great need for a pediatrician in town.  She followed through with her interviews, but felt called to become Oakdale’s first pediatrician.  She opened her practice her in 1990 and continued to serve as the only pediatrician in town up to her retirement.

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Oktoberfest – AAUW ORE Fall Fundraiser, Sunday, October 20th, 4:00 – 7:00, Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 South Second Street, Oakdale, CA

Oktoberfest is all about food, beer, music and raising money to benefit our Tech Trek, Speech Trek, Scholarship and AAUW Fund programs.  So come celebrate Oktoberfest.  There will be Brats, German Potato Salad and Pretzels along with beer, wine, hard cider and non-alcoholic beverages. Enjoy some rousing accordion  and tuba music, watch the Village Dancers perform several German Folk Dances and join in dancing one or two as well.

Don a costume and take your photo.

Buy raffle tickets for the six themed baskets.

Bid on the silent and/or live auction items including:

• A day of sailing on San Francisco Bay with Richard and Pam Wright
• A golf foursome and cart at the Oakdale Golf and Country Club
• Stay and Play @ Black Oak Casino
  • 2 – $25 Free Play
  • 2 – $40 Food Vouchers
  • 1 – $150 One night stay at the Hotel (expires October 30, 2020)
• Week in Hawaii at the Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort – Up to six people
• Private dinner for eight in your home by professional Chef Hank Winkle
• Beautiful handmade quilt perfect as a wall hanging
• Whole house fan and installation

Enter the ticket stub drawing.

Donation: $30.00 per guest. Tickets are available from any AAUW, ORE member, by emailing AAUW.ORE@gmail.com or go to Eventbrite
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aauw-oktoberfest-tickets-71749248935. Unless sold out, a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Fall Membership Brunch to feature NCCWSL Attendee, Jasmine Yong, Saturday, September 14th, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Jasmine Yong says she is excited to share her National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) experience with us at our Fall Membership Brunch. She will also fill us in on her major and career goals.  At the end of May, Jasmine flew to the University of Maryland to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL).  Only about 900 young women have the opportunity each year to attend this premier leadership event for college women in the U.S. and globally. Our AAUW, ORE Branch gave Jasmine a stipend to attend the conference.

Members and guests will also get a preview of the Branch’s plans and programs for the coming year.

 Jasmine Yong , our branch’s attendee at this year’s conference joined nearly 900 other college and university women and campus professionals from all across the United States and from around the world in redefining leadership for all women.  Jasmine studies data science at U.C. Berkeley and manages The Sage Mentorship Project.

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AAUW, ORE’s Fall Membership Brunch will be held September 14th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.  Prospective members in the Oakdale, Riverbank, or Escalon area are invited to attend.   The meeting will be held in a member’s home.  Call (209) 847-0271 to make reservations, to get directions or for more information . 

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Highlights  from our May 4th Spring Brunch

Members and guests:

• Met six of the ten trekkers our branch sent to Tech Trek and heard highlights about their week at Tech Trek Camp last summer.
• Were introduced to our recently selected scholarship winners.

Additionally we:

• Unveiled our Named Gift Honorees.
• Installed our elected 2019 -2020 officers.

 

Spring Brunch a Time for Conclusion, Celebration & Transition, May 4th, 9:00 A.M.  

As is our tradition, we will wrap up another stimulating, energizing, and enjoyable year with the following:

• Meet members of the Tech Trek Class of 2018 and hear highlights about their week at Tech Trek Camp last summer.
• Be introduced to our recently selected scholarship winners.
• Unveil our Named Gift Honorees.
• Install our elected 2019 -2020 officers.

The catered brunch will be held in the garden of one of our members.  Cost is $12.00.

 “State of Salmon and Steelhead in the Central Valley” Andrea Fuller, Director of FISHBIO – April 11, 7:00 P.M.  FISHBIO is located at 1617 S. Yosemite Ave., Oakdale

Andrea Fuller has spent her 21 years as a fish biologist monitoring fish, specifically salmon and steelhead, locally and worldwide.  As a biologist, a local resident and a concerned citizen she will inform us of the many challenges fresh water fish face including climate change and she will offer insight into how fish and water coexist. All the stakeholders “want to see salmon and steelhead populations doing well and better than they are now,” says Fuller.  Furthermore she says that because she lives here she wants to see her kids enjoy the same resources she has been able to enjoy. Come hear about her work with these stakeholders –  irrigation districts, fishery agencies, and private consultants to make this goal happen.

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Katy Dynarski, AAUW 2018 Community Action Grant recipient, to speak at Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon and Turlock-Modesto Branches Fund Luncheon, Saturday, March 16th, 11:00 AM @ The Fruit Yard Restaurant

GOALS (Girls’ Outdoor Adventure Leadership In Science) is for high school girls what Tech Trek is for junior high school girls.  This collaborative program between UC Davis and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is a free immersive science education summer program for high school girls from backgrounds underrepresented in STEM. GOALS co-founder, Katy Dynarski who holds a Ph.D. in soils and biogeochemistry from the University of California, Davis wrote and was awarded a $5,000 Community Action Grant from AAUW in 2018.  Don’t miss hearing this dynamic young woman describe the GOALS Project and her role in creating it.

“GOALS is such a great opportunity to get into the science field or to find your interest in whatever career. Because, you know, we’re all young and we don’t know what we want to to be or what field we’re going to go into, and it’s nice to have this opportunity to see if you’re interested in science or if you’re not. It’s something to allow girls like me to explore themselves, explore the world, explore science, and just run the world — because we never had that chance before — and I thank GOALS for that.” – A 2018 GOALS SCHOLAR

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“Not Your Traditional White Coat Doctor” – Dr. Lauren Brown-Berchtold, Thursday, February 21, 6:00 P.M.; Suzy Belen’s Restaurant, 130 North 3d Avenue, Oakdale.  

“Lauren loves delivering babies.  She is passionate about the proper care of pregnant women.  She is smart and caring, and doesn’t want her patients to view her physicians’s white coat as something that makes her better than them, so she doesn’t’ wear one.”

Dr. Lauren Brown-Berchtold

So says ORE AAUW member Gail Marganelli of her niece, Lauren Brown-Berchtold who will be speaking to our branch this month.  Lauren grew up in Escalon.  While attending Westmont College in Santa Barbara, she spent three months in Indonesia, living with and witnessing the inequalities of health care among the people there.  It was this experience that made her decide to become a physician. She graduated from Keck School of Medicine at USC. During her residency at John Peter Smith Hospital in Ft. Worth, Texas, she made several trips to Uganda where she spent a month performing cesarean deliveries at the hospital with the highest number of deliveries in the world. She recently joined San Joaquin General Hospital where she teaches new doctors and is able to continue doing what she says she loves – caring for and delivering pregnant women, taking care of patients in the hospital and doing medical procedures.  We are excited that Dr. Lauren Brown-Berchtold has fit us into her busy schedule.  She will share her experiences regarding health care, the differences she saw and lessons she learned from around the globe, particularly those in Indonesia and Uganda.  Don’t miss this exciting program.  Reservations are needed.

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“Hear Ye, Hear Ye” Judge Stacy Speiller to relate her “Journey to a Judgeship”:  Thursday, January 10 – 7:00 p.m.  

• Outstanding Woman of Stanislaus County – 2015
• Appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to a judgeship in the Stanislaus County Superior Court – 2017
• Modesto Bee 20 under 40 honoree – 2018

Judge Stacy Speiller is young, energetic, and believes in the power of mentorship – something that is also important to us in AAUW.  Judge Speiller and her family chose to live in Oakdale, which she has stated has a good school system, is close to her work, and offers a small town atmosphere.  She did her undergraduate work at Brandeis University and got her law degree from the University of Florida. Wanting to practice in an area of the law that would truly help people, Speiller earned a specialization in Family Law and was a partner at Cash-Dudley Speiller and Torres Professional Law Corporation before becoming a judge.  She is currently assigned to the Civil Department of the Stanislaus County Superior Court, which handles civil, probate estates and trusts, civil harassments, and name changes.

 Prospective members in the Oakdale, Riverbank, or Escalon area are invited to attend.   The meeting will be held in a member’s home.  Call (209) 847-0271 to make reservations, to get directions or for more information .  

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2018

Plastics, A Global Tragedy for our Oceans and Sea Life:  Thursday, November 8 – 7:00 p.m.  Speaker:  Annie Kohl Frankel

How can concerned citizens stop the death of thousands of marine animals and birds each year from ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it.  Annie Kohut Frankel, Education Coordinator with the California Coastal Commission will speak to us about this global tragedy that is taking place in our oceans at our upcoming general meeting.  Involved in environmental education ever since receiving her degree in Environmental Sciences from U.C. Berkeley, Ms. Kohl Frankel has worked for the California Coastal Commission since 2001.

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AAUW Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon Branch Fall Fundraiser

Sunday, October 21 – 4:00 p.m. Wine & Hors d’oeuvres; 6:00 p.m. Film Showing

Come enjoy a fun filled afternoon…

* Sip wine or beer as you peruse the themed baskets and silent auction items.

* Nosh on a plate of delicious Hor d’Oeuvres.

* Relish the scandal that arises when Queen Victoria strikes up an unusual friendship with Abdul a young Indian Clerk in this British biographical film drama set near the end of Victoria’s reign.

* Bid on silent & live auction items.

* Buy lots of tickets for the Themed Basket Drawings.

* Enter the Ticket Stub Drawing.

Help us Raise funds to benefit Tech Trek Math/Science Camp for Girls, Speech Trek Contest, Local Scholarships, and AAUW Fund.

Donation: $25.00 per guest. Tickets are available from any AAUW, ORE member or by emailing AAUW.ORE@gmail.com.  A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Hope to see you at there.

Fall Membership Brunch to feature NCCWSL Attendee, Sahiba Kaur, Saturday, September 8th, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

At the end of May, Emilie Crossman from Oakdale and Sahiba Kaur from Escalon flew to the University of Maryland to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL).  Only about 800 young women have the opportunity each year to attend this premier leadership event for college women in the U.S. and globally. Our AAUW, ORE Branch gave Emilie and Sahiba each a stipend to attend the conference.  At our September 8th meeting, Sahiba, now an upper division student at the University of California, Davis will share her conference experience with us including the opportunity to see and hear Tarana Burke, social justice activist and founder of the Me Too Movement as well as the 2018 NCCWSL Woman of Distinction, Simone Askew who broke barriers as the first African American woman to serve as first captain at West Point – The U.S. Military Academy.

Emilie is unable to be with us, but she says of her experience :

Aside from meeting amazing new women, I had the opportunity to talk to some business schools about master’s options for me post-undergrad.  In talking to some admissions advisors, I found two programs, one at Penn State and one at University of Michigan, that I did not know existed before and that I am extremely interested in.  In fact, they actually made me more excited for my future.

Emilie (2nd from left) & New NCCWSL Friends

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AAUW, ORE’s Fall Membership Brunch will be held September 8th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.  Prospective members in the Oakdale, Riverbank, or Escalon area are invited to attend.   The meeting will be held in a member’s home.  Call (209) 847-0271 to make reservations, to get directions or for more information .  

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ORE’s Evangelina Paoluccio Named a 20 Under 40 Modesto Bee Honoree

Our own Evangelina Paoluccio is among the Modesto Bee’s 2018 20 Under 40 class.  As such she and the nineteen other difference makers will be feted at a special event at the Gallo Center for the Arts on Wednesday, August 22 from 6-8 p.m.  Tickets are $25.00.  They can be purchased online or at the Gallo box office.  Evangelina, the Engineering Manager at Inventive Resources Inc. has been instrumental in nurturing many environmental projects through patenting, marketing and the grant phase.

She also volunteers at elementary and middle schools engaging students in STEM programs, and in 2017 she received the distinguished service award from the San Joaquin Engineer’s Council for her volunteer work with middle school children to instill and motivate them to pursue careers in engineering.

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Spring Brunch, May 5, 2018 Concludes the 2017-2018 Year and 56 Years  of Working Towards Equity for Women and Girls

Meeting Highlights Included:

• Installation of 2018 – 2019 Elected Officers

  

  Diane Korupp installs newly elected officers: Clydora Hippler, Ellen Lowe, Jane Griffith, and Sharon Hawley-Crum. Not pictured were Bonnie Fogarty and Pam Wright.

  At the last meeting of this current year our Branch installed Sharon Hawley- Crum, President; Jane Griffith, VP, Program; Clydora Hippler, VP, Membership; Pam Wright, Recording Secretary; Bonnie Fogarty, Treasurer; and Ellen Lowe, Public Policy Director.

• Meeting our 2018 Scholarship Winners

  

  Former Tech Trekkers Guadalupe “Lupita” Rodriguez and Mackenzie Teunissen are this year’s AAUW, ORE scholarship recipients.

  Guadalupe “Lupita” Rodriguez is the winner of our four-year scholarship.  A graduate of Riverbank High School, Lupita will matriculate at University of California, Davis in the fall.  “A very key ideal that I cherish greatly from my family,” say’s Lupita, “is that we still honor our Mexican culture.  Being raised with the acknowledgement and practice of two distinct cultures has opened my mind and enhances the richness of life.  I am goal oriented and always strive to do my best.  My academic achievements have made my parents proud of who I am and what I have accomplished.  I will be the first person in our family to go to college.  Knowing that I can give back to my community is something that pushes me forward every day.”  Lupita plans to become a veterinarian.

  Mackenzie Teunissen, our two-year scholarship winner also plans to major in veterinary medicine, first at Modesto Junior College and then at U.C. Davis. She  plans to first become a veterinary technician then a veterinarian, and hopes eventually to open a veterinary clinic. A graduate of Escalon High School, Mackenzie says:  “My community, little old Escalon, is the most tightly knit group of people that I have come to know.  Neighbors greet each other every morning, where we are a family, not just a town.  The same can be said of our high school.  Each student takes pride in having been raised in this town and they have a genuine gratitude towards those who have taught them.  I can personally say that the staff here has raised my expectations regarding life and has taught me to be compassionate and kind toward others.  Thanks to the determination of those around me, I have a positive future.”

• Named Gift Honorees – This year our Branch opted to pay tribute to two local organizations – Riverbank Federated Women’s Club and Soroptimist International of Oakdale and one Oakdale Business, Corporate Development, Inc. for their extraordinary service to our mission driven programs.

  

  Fund Director, Gail Marganelli presenting Named Gift Award to Jerry and Barbara Marquis of Corporate Development, Inc. in 2018.

  

  President Sharon Hawley-Crum thanks Diana McGinnis and Marilyn McRitchie of the Riverbank Federated Women’s Club, which has donated more than $4,275 to Tech Trek since 2006.

  

  Soroptimist International of Oakdale has donated over $14,300 since 2006 towards sending local girls to Tech Trek.

  
  

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Taking Action to Reduce the Carbon Footprint – Thursday, April 12, 7:00 P.M.

Engaged knowledgeable individuals want to reduce the carbon footprint. And even though a majority of Americans support taking action to address the threat of climate change, they aren’t sure how that goal can best be achieved. At our April meeting, Des Orsinelli, a local Climate Change activist, will speak to us about how the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is advocating for passage of their Carbon Fee and Dividend proposal in Congress. The CCL exists to empower citizens to influence their members of Congress concerning this needed change. Come learn about the Carbon Fee and Dividend proposal and what each person can do to help combat climate change.

Prospective members in the Oakdale, Riverbank, or Escalon area are invited to attend.   The meeting will be held in a member’s home.  Call (209) 847-0271 for directions or more information .  

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Congressional District 10 Candidates’ Forum on Tap – Wednesday, April 25, 7:00-8:30 P.M. –  Bianchi Community Center, 110 South 2nd St., Oakdale

Our branch is partnering with The League of Women Voters of Stanislaus County in sponsoring this opportunity for the residents of Congressional District 10 to engage face-to-face with the eight candidates running to represent us in Congress.  There are two Republicans – Jeff Denham, Incumbent, Modesto and Ted Howze, Turlock; five Democrats – Mike Barkley, Manteca, Michael Eggman, Turlock, Josh Harder, Modesto, Virginia Madueño, Riverbank, Sue Zwahlen, Modesto; and Independent Scott Sholom, Modesto.

AAUW-ORE Study Group Chair, Judy Kropp says that each candidate will have a few minutes to explain his/her platform, answer written questions from the audience and give a brief summary.  She says:  “We look forward to an evening of sharing ideas and solutions.”

Meet our AAUW Career Development Grant Recipient, Cherone Cabezudo, Saturday, March 10th, 9 A.M. – 12 Noon

Kingston, Jamaica native Cherone Cabezudo will speak at our March Brunch. She is an AAUW Career Development Grant recipient in the field of Education at the University of San Francisco and is working on her M.A. in teaching.  She believes that access to education is intrinsic to a higher quality of life.  As a result of working with Bay Area youth, especially minority girls in the juvenile justice system, Cabezudo decided to pursue a master’s degree in education with dual teaching credentials in science and multiple subjects.  She is focusing on social justice issues in primary and secondary education and is a strong advocate for equal and equitable access to STEM education for ethnic minorities and girls.

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Tackling Invasive Aquatic Plants – Thursday, February 8th, 6:00 P.M.

Branch member Evangelina Paoluccio, PE/QSD with Inventive Resources, Inc., along with her husband John, is currently involved in a pilot study at Lake Tahoe to test a vessel he designed, which uses UV lights to kill the invasive aquatic plants in the heavily infested marina.

 

Evangelina, a graduate of University of the Pacific, will talk about this pilot study and their preliminary findings at our annual dinner meeting to be held at Papapolloni’s Mediterranean Bistro in Oakdale.  She will also talk about her involvement in engaging elementary and middle school students in STEM programs.  Last February she received the distinguished service award from the San Joaquin Engineer’s Council for her volunteer work with middle school children to instill and motivate them to pursue careers in engineering.

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Building a Cradle to Career Movement in Stanislaus County – Thursday, January 11th, 7:00 P.M.

Come hear how the Stanislaus Community Foundation is working to change these facts:

• 71% of area third graders do not read at grade level.
• These students are 4X less likely to graduate from high school.
• They will only earn $20,000 per year on average.

Amanda Hughes, Program Director for the Foundation, will tell us about the early wins of the Stanislaus READS! and Stanislaus Futures initiatives and how this work will evolve into a county-wide “Cradle to Career” movement.   Ms. Hughes oversees all aspects of the Foundation’s grant making, scholarship, and community leadership programs.  She was named by The Modesto Bee in 2016 as one of the area’s emerging young leaders, making it onto The Bee’s “20 Under 40” list of young professionals to watch.

Prospective members in the Oakdale, Riverbank, or Escalon area are invited to attend. The meeting will be in a member’s home. Call (209) 847-0271 for information and directions.  

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2017

Welcome the Holidays with the Oakdale Silver Strummers – Thursday, December 14th, 7:00 P.M.

Holiday cheer is here again.  In keeping with our tradition, we’ll fill the house with holiday spirit and goodwill as we sing along with this strummin’ Ukulele band, ooh and ah over the magical holiday decorations, and savor the delectable treats while mingling with each other.

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Kelly Fogarty Addresses Branch on Young Women in Agriculture

Thursday, November 16 – 7:00 p.m.

Ranching is in Kelly’s blood.  So is AAUW.  Her grandmother, Adlie was a charter member of our branch, and her mother, Bonnie is a current member.

At our November meeting Kelly will talk about young women in agriculture as well as her own experience in the field.   Kelly currently serves as the Vice President of Western Skies Strategies, a Washington, D.C. based executive management, government relations and strategic consulting firm that specializes in agriculture and natural resources-based organizations.  She has worked for the firm since graduating from UCLA in 2009 and was previously based in D.C. for five years until moving back to Oakdale where she currently resides.  Kelly continues in her role at WSS while working on her family’s 5th generation beef operation. She currently serves as the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Chair and is serving her first term as a Board of Director for Stanislaus County Farm Bureau.

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AAUW Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon Branch Fall Fundraiser

Sunday, October 22 – 4:00 p.m.

Come enjoy a fun filled afternoon…

* Sip wine or beer as you peruse the themed baskets and silent auction items.

* Nosh on a plate of delicious Hor d’Oeuvres.

* Nibble on popcorn while viewing a delightful film about a thirteen-year-old Kazakh girl in Mongolia who wants to become the first girl in her family of hunters to hunt with a golden eagle. Spectacular scenery. Subtitles.

* Bid on silent & live auction items.

* Buy lots of tickets for the Themed Basket Drawings.

* Enter the Ticket Stub Drawing.

Help us Raise funds to benefit Tech Trek Math/Science Camp for Girls, Speech Trek Contest, Local Scholarships, and AAUW Fund.

Donation: $25.00 per guest. Tickets are available from any AAUW, ORE member or by emailing AAUW.ORE@gmail.com.  A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Hope to see you at the

Gene Bianchi Center

110 South Second Ave

Oakdale, CA

Help us spread the word. Please share with your friends.

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National Conference for College Women Student Leaders

 In 2017 Rachelle Pabalan an AAUW Oakdale Riverbank Escalon Branch Tech Trek alumna and scholarship winner who is currently a student at Stanford University joined nearly 900 college and university women and campus professionals from all across the United States and from around the world in redefining leadership for all women at this conference.

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ORE Kicks off 56th Year – Rachelle Pabalan to Speak – September 9th, 9 a.m. to Noon

If you were to ask almost any girl attending Oakdale, Riverbank or Escalon High School what AAUW means to them you would probably get a blank stare and a response like “AAUW – What is that?” But if you asked OHS alum Rachelle Pabalan that question, her answer might be something like: “Opportunities. That’s the group that gave me the opportunity to attend Tech Trek, a math-science camp at Fresno State the summer before I started eighth grade. During high school they took the Tech Trek graduates on a number of STEM – that’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math related field trips to keep us interested in those areas and to perhaps choose a STEM career, and last spring I had the opportunity to show some current Tech Trek Alums around Stanford University where I am enrolled. I polished my public speaking skills by participating in AAUW’s Speech Trek Contest. I was awarded the Oakdale Riverbank Escalon Branch’s four-year scholarship when I graduated from Oakdale High in 2015, and this last spring they gave me a stipend to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) held at the University of Maryland, May 31 – June 3.  So that’s what AAUW means to me, providing girls and women opportunities to expand their horizon.”

Mark your calendars for our annual membership Brunch at a member’s home to hear Rachelle tell about her connection to our branch, her experiences attending NCCWSL and her plans to implement what she learned on campus this year as she heads back to Stanford University this fall.  Prospective members* in the Oakdale, Riverbank, or Escalon area are invited to attend the meeting to hear Rachelle and to learn about the Branch’s plans and programs for this coming year.  Call our Membership Vice President at (209) 847-0271 for information and directions and to make reservations.

*Graduates holding an associates or higher degree from an institution of the AAUW list of qualified institutions and persons holding an honorary degree are eligible for membership in AAUW.

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AAUW ORE Branch Wraps Up 2016 – 2017 Year at Spring Brunch

AAUW ORE was presented with a Certificate of Honor from national AAUW recognizing our 55th Anniversary at our May Brunch.

Elaine Kidd thanked members of the current board, and then using a garden theme installed the 2017-2018 Directors:  Sharon Hawley-Crum, President; Jane Griffith, Program Director; Clydora Hippler, Membership Director; Bonnie Fogarty, Treasurer, Pam Wright and Gail Marganelli, Recording Secretary; Pam Wright, Public Policy Director.

 

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April 17 – Political Forum and Q & A in Oakdale CA

POST

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Thursday, April 13, 2017 7:00 P.M. – Title IX – It’s Still an Issue!

Come meet and hear Julie Johnson and Virginia “Ginger” Johnson speak on one of AAUW’s Issues – Title IX.  At Stanislaus State and Modesto City Schools, these two women are responsible for making sure these institutions are in compliance with Title IX, the federal law passed in 1972, which bars sex discrimination in schools receiving federal funds.

Julie Johnson is Stanislaus State’s Associate Vice President for Human Resources, Equal Opportunity and Compliance, having previously served as Campus Compliance Officer and Deputy Title IX Officer since September 2012.  In addition to sharing the nuts and bolts about Title IX with us, she will tell us about her role in enforcing the law at Stanislaus State, and what steps the University is taking to comply.

Ginger Johnson, as Associate Superintendent of Educational Services for Modesto City Schools, oversees all programs at the thirty-four school sites she supervises.  She will talk to us about what Modesto City Schools is doing to make sure that Title IX is a game changer at the elementary and high school levels.

Every school should have at least one employee who is responsible for coordinating the school’s compliance with Title IX.  Program attendees will also learn how they can act to make sure each of our local schools has a Title IX coordinator and that these coordinators have the resources needed to understand the full scope of their jobs.

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 Tuesday, April 11, 2017 6:00 P.M. – Gillian Wegener Poetry Reading

[facebook post here]
Our member Gillian Wegener read poetry from her new book at the Barkin Dog Grill in Modesto on the evening of Tuesday the 11th.
There are poetry readings on the second Tuesday of every month, with an open mic session after the scheduled readings.

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Thursday, April 6, 2017 8:00 P.M. – Gillian Wegener Poetry Reading

[facebook post here]
Our member Gillian Wegener participated in a poetry reading at the John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis this Thursday night.

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Saturday, March 11, 2017 9:00 A.M. – Bringing Literacy Through Family Engagement

Olga Valencia Cardenas, an American Library Association winner of the 2016 I Love My Librarian Award, will share her passion to bring literacy programs wherever she works at our March Brunch.  As the Youth Services Outreach Librarian at the Stanislaus County Library, Olga bridges barriers for families by engaging with parents where they naturally live, work, and pray.  This innovative approach to family engagement is highly effective and leads to new partnerships between the library and businesses, service organizations, and schools.  Come hear how Olga’s work is positively impacting our community and transforming lives through education.

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Thursday, February 9, 2017 6:00 P.M. – How to Succeed at Science and Life

Anne Marie Bergen, Science Teaching Specialist for the Liberal Studies Department, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, preparing undergraduates to be confident and competent in the area of science and STEM. In addition, she is the co-director of the Central Coast Science Project, a STEM professional development organization for the Central Coast. Recently Anne Marie was part of the writing team for the California Science Framework.

 

 

 

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Thursday, January 12, 2017 7:00 P.M. – Learn the Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease

Cheryl Brunk, Director of Walks, Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, and a former member of our branch, discussed the basics of Alzheimer’s and point out 10 warning signs of this chronic neurodegenerative disease, which is the cause of 60% – 70% of cases of dementia.

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50 Year AAUW member, Ardythe Looper is all smiles!

Soon after graduating from college Ardythe was invited by her best friend, Barbara Marquis to join AAUW. She did and she has been an integral member of the Oakdale Riverbank Escalon Branch since then. She has served in many capacities including Branch President in 1973-1974. Still an active member, Ardythe is our current 1st Vice President: Program Director. She received her lifetime AAUW membership certificate at the Fall Membership Brunch held on September 10th. Congratulations Ardythe!

If you hold an associates degree or higher and would like information on becoming a member, please send an email to – Anne, hendricks2495@msn.com or Jane, janegriffith123@gmail.com

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Fall Fundraiser, A Trek Through Spain

Sunday, October 16, 4:00 p.m, Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 South Second Ave., Oakdale, $25.00 donation

Each year our Fall Fundraiser gets bigger and better. Once again we are raising funds to send young women to our week long Tech Trek math-science camp in Fresno, to fund Speech Trek and our scholarship fund, and to raise funds supporting other programs that carry out AAUW’s mission of equity for women and girls.

You will be treated to a plate of great tasting appetizers with a Spanish flavor, wine and other beverages and of course have the opportunity to bid on outstanding items in our live and silent auctions. You can also take a chance at winning one of our “over-the-top” themed baskets. Footsteps will point out points of interest along the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) and you’ll learn the story of one pilgrim who made the trek. We hope you’ll join us for this evening in Spain.

Get your tickets early. They are available from any AAUW Oakdale-Riverbank-Escalon Branch member or by calling (209) 985-4337. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

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2016 Scholarship Winners – We are proud to introduce:

Carolina Duarte, Riverbank High School, who will receive our 4 year college scholarship. She will attend Fresno State where she remembers having a wonderful Tech Trek experience. She plans to pursue a RN degree, and then take additional training to become a midwife.

Zoe Brown, Escalon High School, is our 2 year recipient and will attend Delta Junior College, majoring in music which is her passion. She hopes to transfer to a 4 year university to major in music education.

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Academic Decathlon Coach, Dee Hawksworth, April 14, 2016

This past February Oakdale High School’s Academic Decathlon team celebrated its Sweet Sixteen – that’s sixteen years of successive wins at the Annual Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon. At our April program branch members and guests heard rookie coach Hawksworth tell how they continue to win year after year. Caitlyn, the unofficial team captain said that having an Aca Dec class, the desire to keep the streak going and the rivalry with a close competitor are three elements of their success. Two other team members, Emma and John shared their speeches. Papapolloni’s Mediterranean Bistro was the venue for this program.

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AAUW Fund Speaker March 12 , 2016 – Helen Rocha, Career Development Grant Recipient

At our Fund Brunch on March 12th, Career Development Grant recipient, Helen Rocha told us that she has been a planner and a builder from a very young age. As a child she was drawn more to building with Legos and Lincoln logs than to playing with dolls. She also began mapping out where she wanted to be and how to get there. That planning led her to a degree in civil engineering and in 2014 she became a licensed civil engineer. As such, she can now stamp her own designs and get credit for her own work. Now working in the public sector, Ms. Rocha is helping her community have safe drinking water. The Career Development Grant she received from AAUW is allowing her to complete her Maters Degree in Civil Engineering with a concentration in engineering management. She continues to mentor two women students each year at California State University, Sacramento telling them what she wishes someone had told her. One piece of advice she imparts is “to be selective of one’s peers.” The first in her family to complete college she said: “My journey has been a struggle, but has made me a strong, independent engineer.”

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February 11, 2016 Branch Program – Marion Kaanon, Stanislaus Community Foundation CEO

The Foundation is so much more than the custodian of our branch’s scholarship monies. It has become a driving force in the community, especially when it comes to promoting literacy.

Ms. Kaanon spoke about the newest collaboration in the county – Stanislaus READS! a multi-agency, multi year initiative to uncover many winning solutions to help children read – and succeed – by third grade. She also shared her own fascinating background, as a non-English speaking child immigrant, to her rise managing marketing campaigns for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofit organizations.

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Did you miss the Ending the Culture of Violence on School and College Campuses event attended by 500 people on March 19, 2015 or would you like to view it again? The video of the event is available on YouTube.

Ending the Culture of Violence on School and College Campuses – A Panel Discussion & Information Faire

This event was a partnership between the Stanislaus Office of Education, and local affiliates of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International (DKG), and the League of Women Voters (LWW).

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2014-15 Year off to a great start!

Members gathered in Pat Paul’s home on September 13 to launch our new AAUW year. Co-Pesidents Sharon and Molly welcomed new and returning members, and VP Sharon H gave an overview of the coming programs. Jane let us in on the details of the much-awaited plan for this year’s film fundraiser, which will be held at the Oakdale Bianchi Center next month. Then we were treated to an update by our special former Tech Trekker Jessica Arauza, who attended the NCCCWSL conference in Washington DC this summer. Jessica wowed us with her experiences, which included hearing Chelsea Clinton speak. She stressed the importance of mentoring, and shared lessons learned at the conference on that topic. It was a special pleasure to have Jessica’s family present.

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March 8, 2014

Breakfast meeting featuring EF speaker Sara Farooqi, graduate student at Mills College. Sarah delighted our branch with tales of her Indian grandmother and with her plans for the future. Also, 2014-’15 officers were elected and members were encouraged to support the $4 raise in state dues.

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February 13, 2014

More than fifty members and guests heard Attorney Solange Altman speak on immigration and the Dream Act at Papapolloni’s restaurant in Oakdale. Excellent meal, lots of interaction, and a special surprise guest–our much loved former president Ursula, back for a visit from New York.

 

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The ORE AAUW Speech Trek competition was held at Oakdale High School on January 30, 2014. Four amazing competitors, all students of OHS Speech Coach Denise Springer, presented the speeches they had researched and perfected under Denise’s guidance. This year’s topic was “The Glass Ceiling.” Thanks to Jane Griffith, Kathy Wallace and Pam Wright for putting on this outstanding event.

2014 Speech Trek

1st place winner Marian Pagaduan

2nd place winner Jasmine Yang

Marian wowed the judges with her speech on the glass ceiling.

2nd place winner Jasmine Yang

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January 9, 2014 – Members listen to Oak Valley Hospital CEO John McCormick speak about health care in our community.