Branch Program for March 2015

International Women’s Day Celebration
“Bread and Roses”

Please join us for an entertaining and informative morning to celebrate Women’s
Movements around the World. Four cultures spanning Africa, Chile-South America,
Iran and India will be featured.

Saturday March 7th, 2015
9:30am—12pm

Shadow Hills Cabana Club
1001 El Capitan
Danville CA

Light Refreshments provided

RSVP: ashakiran@gmail.com

Speakers:

• Africa…………………………..Alicia Jones and Bev Nidick
• Chile………………………………………………..Luisa Hansen
• Iran………………………………………………………Fari Falaki
• India…………………………………………………….Asha Bajaj

Bread and Roses
— John Oppenheim

As we come marching, marching in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: “Bread and roses! Bread and roses!”

As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men,
For they are women’s children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!

As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for—but we fight for roses, too!

As we come marching, marching, we bring the greater days.
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler—ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life’s glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!

—Inspired in the political slogan “Bread and Roses” of Rose Schneiderman,
associated with the 1912 textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts

The Benicia Public Library’s young adult librarian has arranged a screening of the documentary “Miss Representation” followed by a panel discussion — and the panel includes award-winning YA author Jacqueline Woodson!

When:  Monday, March 9, 6:30 p.m.
Where:  Benicia Public Library
Cost:  Free — open to the public

Although many of us are familiar with the film from our branch’s screening and panel discussion program a few years ago, it’s exciting to have this opportunity to share it with others, especially with teenagers who haven’t yet seen it.

So please spread the word, especially to middle and high school teachers, parents, and students.

The next Board meeting will be on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 2 PM, at the home of Judy Sam (527-1661), 8821 Terrace Drive, El Cerrito. The following Board meeting will be on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at 2 PM, at a location to be determined. Please call President Ellen Mills (526-5815) for more information.

The branch will again participate in the ElCerrito Citywide Garage Sale on May 2, 2015.  Our site will be the garage at Vivian Coe’s.  Drop off jewelry, kick-knacks, other small items at her home between April 1 and 12.  Sorting will be after April 22.

AAUW WCC BRANCH Tech Trek 2015

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

MEETING: Thursday, January 15, 2015, 10:00 a.m. at the home of Marsha Weintraub (1080 Park Hills Rd., Berkeley)

Tech Trek continues to be a major program for our branch. Our plan for 2015 is to again raise money for scholarships to send eight girls from our West County Middle Schools (Crespi, DeJean, Helms, Hercules, Korematsu, Pinole and Stewart) to the Tech Trek Science and Math Camp at Sonoma State University June 21-27).

As in the past selecting the girls and raising the scholarship money will be very challenging.

The branch works closely with WCCUSD middle school math and science teachers to identify seventh grade girls who will benefit from the Tech Trek experience. Each nominated girl completes an application, writes an essay and is interviewed with a parent. WE NEED MORE BRANCH VOLUNTEERS TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOLS ON THE NOMINATION, SELECTION AND PROCESSING OF THE GIRLS, AND TO HELP COORDINATE THE CAMPER ORIENTATION MEETING AT EC DENNY’S ON JUNE 6, AND THE SEPTEMBER 19 FOLLOW-UP BRANCH MEETING.

If possible we would like all volunteers to attend the Tech Trek kick-off meeting for the school contacts on Thursday, January 15, at 10:00 a.m. at Marsha’s (1080 Park Hills Rd, Berkeley). Let us know if you would like to help with the WCC Tech Trek Program.

The cost per camper has stayed the same as last year ($900). Therefore each scholarship continues to be $850 (campers pay a $50 commitment fee). Getting donations from businesses continues to be very difficult since our scholarship needs do not meet the grant application criteria. For 2014 the branch members and friend/family donors provided over 80% of the scholarship money.

Special thanks go to last year’s branch donors: Diane Ichiyasu, Carolyn Linnard, Marion McIntire, Ida Michael, Ellen Mills, Jean Niehaus, Patricia Player, Marianne Selph and Virginia Summerer.

If you would like to contribute (donation of any amount are welcome) to our 2015 Tech Trek Program, make the check for your tax-deductible donation payable to AAUW CA SPF and put Tech Trek on the memo line. Then either mail the check to AAUW WCC Branch, PO Box 501, El Cerrito, CA 94530 or give it to me at the our meeting on January 17.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Roberta Montgomery and Marsha Weintraub
Tech Trek Co-Coordinators

The AAUW Board Meeting will be held on, Tuesday, January 13^th at Vivian Coe’s home at 413 Balra Drive, El Cerrito at 2 pm.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR
ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY!

Saturday, December 13, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
At the home of Betty Ann and Ray Barnett
1452 Sandpiper Spit, Richmond (510-233-7580)

Please join us at the Barnetts’ beautiful Richmond home for our annual celebration of the holiday season. We always have a great time on this special festive occasion.

We need people to come early to help set up, and also to stay late to help clean up. Two people have already volunteered too come early, but we can use more help.

Please remember to bring a holiday goodie – a small plate of cookies or tea sandwiches – sweet or savory — to share. Bring what you wish, but please remember that this event is not a lunch. Our hostess will provide coffee and tea. Some baggies should be available if people wish to bring home any extra treats. Please put this special gathering on your calendar now.

Please also bring a children’s book (age appropriate for first and second graders) or a donation of at least $5.00 that will be used to buy children’s books. We are collecting books and donations to support two programs: Read Aloud (K-3), and the Grant Elementary School Birthday Book Project for first and second grade students. Your generosity in the past has been wonderful, and these worthwhile programs help the children develop their ability to read and their interest in books.

Musical entertainment will be provided by a popular barbershop quartet. We strongly urge branch members to invite their friends, neighbors, and prospective members to this joyous celebration. We also encourage new members to join at this time and continuing members to renew.

Directions: To reach the house, go west on Cutting Boulevard or take the 580 Freeway going toward Point Richmond, turn or exit onto Canal going south (towards the Bay). Drive seven tenths of a mile until the road narrows. Turn right on Seacliff and go up and over the hill and down to a stop sign. Turn left at the stop sign onto Sandpiper Spit and go almost to the end of the street. The house is on the Bay side of the street. Please park on the north side of the street, as there is no parking on the south (Bay) side of the street. Carpooling is strongly encouraged, as parking is limited.

What: Drama Group (read plays together)
When: 2nd Wednesday of the month at 1:00
Where: Home of Lorene Mayer in ElCerrito

Armchair Travel Series: Laura and Tony Bushman (558-8092) are holding three Armchair Travel series, which are open to all. They are as follows: (1) On Tuesday, September 23, at 11:00 AM, at the Dorothy Wong Chinese Cultural Center, 2117 Acton Center, Berkeley, the Bushmans will give a presentation on Iguassu Falls, Brazil. (2) On Friday, October 3, at 1:00 PM, at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue (corner of Martin Luther King), Berkeley the Bushmans will give a presentation on Venice. (3) On Friday, October 10, at 10:30 AM, at 4321 Salem Street, Emeryville, the Bushmans will give a presentation on Easter Island. Biographical information: Laura Bushman grew up traveling and has been to more than 150 countries. She was a professor of chemistry and ballet for 28 years. She speaks Italian, French, and some Spanish. She likes to give visually appealing, informative travel presentations. Her husband, Tony Bushman, is an award-winning, published photojournalist traveler and author. He has taken photos in more than 150 countries and has lived in Italy and Spain and spent weeks in France, England, German, China, and Guatemala. He is Professor Emeritus at San Francisco State University. Please contact the Bushmans for more information regarding their series.

The September AAUW CCC IBC meeting will be Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at 6:30 at Altria Senior Living, 1545 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette, CA.