President’s Message
Welcome to October! I am delighted to share with you the following email I received on August 28th. It is from Tremayne A. Parquet, Deputy Director of Advancement, AAUW National.
“Thank you once again for taking part in the FY25 Annual Branch Survey. Your responses not only help AAUW understand and support the work happening at the branch level, but also ensure your efforts are recognized through the Five Star Program.
I’m delighted to share that the Alhambra-San Gabriel (CA) Branch has earned a Governance & Sustainability, Communications & External Relations and Advancement Star in the Five Star Program for FY25!
We are so grateful for the time and energy you and your fellow leaders devote to this work. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and we look forward to celebrating your success further in the months ahead, including through future highlights in Membership Matters and on the AAUW website.”
We also received acknowledgment from Dianne Owens, September 8th, congratulating us for earning Three Stars. She states, “AAUW’s Advancement Committee is proud to recognize your branch and your members for your outstanding work in your branch and in your community.”
Thank you for all you do to advance Gender Equity.
Charmen’s Compass Callouts: A message from Charmen Goehring, AAUW California President
The California Compass (or CC for short), is a new publication to share relevant information with every member in our beautiful state. Each month, you will find pertinent news from our national organization; member-focused highlights from our state committees; mission-based book recommendations from our state leaders; links to information on either AAUW National or AAUW California websites that may surprise you; as well as a monthly trivia question about AAUW members through history. Answer the question on the simple Google form and be entered into a drawing for a fun prize!
We look forward to a special DEI/BRW presentation October 18th from 12:00pm – 2:00pm (Bring your own lunch.) Thank you, Janice Lee, Betty Morin and the DEI Committee, for your work and input into this special event.
In honor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, I would like to share illuminating vignettes of those worthy of accolades under the DEI umbrella:
The Mercury 13,
also sometimes known as the “members of the First Lady Astronaut Trainees” (FLATS), were a group of women who participated in training to become astronauts for the country’s first human spaceflight program in the early 1960’s. FLATS was never an official NASA program and was unfortunately eventually discontinued. The commitment and determination of these women to get into space paved the way for later astronauts.
The ENIAC Programmers,
A group of six young women working on a secret project during WWII, programmed the first all-electronic programmable computer. When the project was eventually introduced to the public in 1946, the women were never introduced or credited for their hard work. Since then, the ENIAC Programmer Project has worked hard to preserve and tell the stories of these six women.
You’ve come a long way, baby! Soon, the 2025-26 Fellow and Grantees will begin their studies – stepping into classrooms, research labs, and leadership roles with courage – ready to break barriers and chart bold new futures. These extraordinary women are not only pursuing their dreams; they’re shaping a future where equity, opportunity, and innovation thrive, and their journeys inspire us all.
SAVE THE DATES!
DEI/BRW Presentation on Saturday, October 18th, from 12:00pm – 2:00pm (Bring your own lunch.) Alhambra United Methodist Church, 9 N. Almansor St., Alhambra.
Be sure to mark your calendars for our Holiday Program on Monday, December 1st at 7:00pm. This will be held at Alhambra First United Methodist Church. It’s always a fun event and it will be exciting to see what our Programs Chairs and committee has planned for us.
Best to you!
Marilee