President’s Message
We are proud to announce that our very own Kathleen Doty has been named State Named Gift Honoree 2025 for her dedicated work contributing to The Fund, which gives our young women opportunities to attend higher education and to pursue careers in the sciences and mathematics!
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The 2024-2025 Branch Fiscal Year will be coming to a close! In the first year of my presidency, I have gained great appreciation for the work that each of you do to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy.
We are most fortunate that our Branch Officers have remained in their respective roles, enabling consistency and stability as we move forward in our projects and programs. And we welcome our new President-Elect, Liz Tarnove, into the fold. We will see an expansion of Tech Trek through the Tech Trek Alumnae Group (TTAG). We will also continue our conversations regarding the DEI Strategic Plan and follow the programming of JABEID (Justice, Accessibility, Belonging, Equity, Inclusion and Diversity) that began in the spring.
Our Annual Meeting was held on April 19th, with an engaging and provocative presentation by US Air Force Retired Colonel Wayne Scott, addressing Women in the Military.
AAUW CA members have sent gift cards from across the state to our branch members in need, due to the Eaton fires. Two members lost their homes and one member had smoke damage. We thank AAUW CA members for their generosity and kindness during this difficult time.
AAUW CA will be seeking approval for a state dues increase from $20 to $30 annually. You will receive your ballot when the election opens on April 26th. Look for an email with the subject 2025 AAUW California Election Ballot or check your spam folder.
Please take good care of yourself! Your well-being is important. With an uptick in policies and enforcement actions that run counter to our core values, you may be feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, fearful, or anxious. Be gentle with yourself and acknowledge your efforts.
Public Policy offers a guide on how to read the news more strategically to still be able to follow events while preventing burnout and protecting your mental health.
It is recommended that you stay connected with AAUW members and with those outside of AAUW who are engaged in efforts to push back. There are examples of individuals, groups, and organizations that are pushing back in different ways.
In building the world we want, “the challenge for us…is not to grieve over social change, but to guide it.” – Robert Putnam
Events for May:
1. Installation of the 2025-2026 Elected Officers – Saturday, May 10th –
11:00am to 12:00pm in Kathleen’s backyard. All Branch Members are invited to attend. An email blast will be sent to remind you of this important event.
2. Board of Directors Planning Meeting for 2025-2026 – Saturday, May 31st – Kathleen’s Backyard – 11:00am to 12:30pm
Marilee