General Meeting: Saturday, Nov. 16, 9:30-11:30

Huge thanks to Owens Estate & Wealth Management Strategies for sponsoring this program.

The focus of our November 16 program is food insecurity – what that means, how it is being addressed, who are the people in need and how we can help. AAUW member Sue Van Son has organized an excellent program to more fully understand the scope of this humanitarian issue. With her expertise as a former director of the IFM, she has organized and will moderate a panel of speakers who are experts on food insecurity in our region. They are:

Leslie Lovejoy

Phil Alfonso

Julie Thorbury

• Leslie Lovejoy, Executive Director of Gold Country Senior Services, which operates Meals on Wheels and runs a new senior centern
• Phil Alonso, Executive Director of Interfaith Food Ministry, with Development Director Victoria Lindsay, and Operations Manager Venus Paxton
•  Julie Thornbury, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Nevada County, with Heather Haddock, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator

These panelists will address such topics as the scope of food insecurity, gaps between these organizations’ mission and challenges to fulfilling it, how demand for food is increasing, the demographics of those in need, and various ways to involve the community. Sue will also tell us how we can help address this food need and participate in the Holiday Service Project with food donations to families over the coming holidays.

Saturday, Oct 19, 9:30-11:30, Tech Trek in the Spotlight

The October ’24 program was dedicated to the AAUW Tech Trek program and offered an opportunity to meet our 2024 Trekkers. This past July, eight Nevada County middle-school girls attended the week-long AAUW Tech Trek camp at UC Davis where they explored wide-ranging STEM fields.

Six of those girls were able to attend the meeting and described their classes and perceptions in details that conveyed the significance of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Their heartfelt gratitude and warmth gave us a view of how meaningful this week away from home has impacted them and quite possibly their future goals. 

Prior to the Trekkers’ presentation, Megan D’Errico, Associate Dean of Science and Mathematics, of Sierra College, spoke to us about the importance of early interventions with girls that boost their knowledge and confidence around STEM careers, interventions that dispel the notion that girls are not suited to the currently male-dominated world of science, tech, and engineering. Megan holds a PhD from Stanford in Geological and Environmental Studies and told the audience her original ambition was to be a doctor. However, once in college, Megan discovered her true calling during a field trip where she was able to apply academic knowledge to nature. Megan had female mentors along the way and emphasized the importance of those models in opening her eyes to a wider world. Her story exemplifies how important that exposure can be. Megan praised the Tech Trek program for its work in doing just that–to exposer girls to the possibilities around STEM and a professional life within its realm.  

The Nevada County Branch has sponsored girls to participate in Tech Trek since it began in 1998, for 26 years! At the start of the program Martha Rees gave a stirring introduction to Tech Trek and its undeniable success.

Huge thanks to Sierra Tech Guy (David Ball) for sponsoring this program!

Saturday, September 21, 2024: Welcome Back Brunch 

Co-Presidents Carol McMillan and Diane Kellegrew presided over the Branch’s first meeting of the year. The meeting was well attended and offered information about the AAUW mission, with a focus on National AAUW Fund fellowships and grants, our Local Scholarship program, and the ever popular, much touted Tech Trek, which will be center stage for the October program.

Attendees were encouraged to explore the many Interest Group displays and consequently gather a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of four prizes, a pair of tickets to the Onyx movie theatre in Nevada City.

 

Brief descriptions of future programs were given by Program VPs Bernadette Sylvester and Carolyn Feuille. In place of a regular meeting in December, the Branch offers a celebratory night of fun at Off Broadstreet theater. This December 6 (Friday) evening event looks as though it will sell out, so if you want to attend, you need to purchase your ticket(s) ASAP!

Attendees also had an opportunity to converse with their table mates about their talents and histories, getting better acquainted as a result, and enjoying the camaraderie of being together after a summertime hiatus. 

Oh, and the food was absolutely delicious!!!

Thursday, May 16, 2024, Year’s End Luncheon/Program

The year’s final meeting took place at Miners Foundry, where new officers were installed, committee chairs and appointed officers recognized, and dedicated members acknowledged for their service and commitment. Outgoing President Deb York was honored for her impactful, successful two years at the helm, as was Edi Silverman Award recipient Carolyn Feuille for her commitment and dedicated service.

 

Named gift honorees were Gretchin Corbin, Peg Fleming, Ann Gould, Karin Quinn, and Bonnie White, pictured below:

Saturday, April 20, 2024, Our Election Process: An Insider’s View

On April 20^th, the AAUW Branch Meeting hosted a ‘candid conversation’ with Natalie Adona, Nevada County Clerk Recorder, responding to questions posed by League of Women Voters Co-Presidents Jan Bedayn and Lynn Forbes. Since winning the election in 2022, Natalie Adona has worked diligently to create transparency in our local election process. Natalie’s experience and knowledge were on full display as she addressed queries about ballot security, mail-in vs. in-person voting, how votes are tallied, and our county vs. other counties’ demographics.

Prior to this conversation the audience was treated to a lively and impassioned report from Sidney Pixley on her previous year’s participation in Gov Trek. Sidney emphasized the eye-opening aspect of her interactions with women in government positions across the state of CA, the many details involved in putting together a political campaign, and how surprisingly well the Zoom format worked, despite its virtual nature. Sidney impressed us all with her confidence as a public speaker and her commitment to future involvement. She encouraged the Branch to support Gov Trek going forward. 

Co-Presidents of the League of Women Voters, Jan Bedayn and Lynn Forbes

Branch Scrapbook Photos, click here…