Candidates’ Night on October 7 is cancelled.

Regular October meeting will be held on Thursday, October 7

Minutes of the Branch Meeting of September 2, 2004

The American Association of University Women, Lock Haven Branch met on September 2, 2004 at the home of Amy Carroll.  Laura Long welcomed everyone to a new year and called the meeting to order.

Reports of Officers:

Secretary:  The minutes of the May meeting were approved with the following correction:  a donation was made to the Key Club and to Interact as service awards, not for their help with the book sale.

Treasurer:  The Treasurer’s report was accepted as published in the Lockletter. 
Amy Carroll presented the budget for 2004-2005. JoAnn Marcinkevage made a motion seconded by Jayne Arnone to approve the budget as presented. The motion carried.  Amy stated that the contingency fund cannot be spent without approval from the Board.

Program Chair:  Andie Bennett reported that arrangements have been completed for all programs for the year.  Due to a schedule conflict for one of the candidates, Candidates’ Night has been moved to Thursday, October 7, 2004 instead of Tuesday, October 5^th.  Our Branch meeting will be held on October 5^th to accommodate this change in Candidates’ Night.  The program on October 5^th will be a presentation by Russ Nelson on ethnic music.

Membership:  Jayne Arnone presented a request from National to hold membership dialogues on the requirements for membership in AAUW.  Jayne gave each attendee a handout that contained an explanation of the dialogue process, a list of questions and answers, and a questionnaire to complete and return to Jayne prior to the October meeting.  Attendees discussed the pros and cons of changing the requirement of at least a 4-year college degree for membership.  Following the discussion, Jayne asked that each member take the handout home and spend some time reading the material and completing the questionnaire.  The questionnaire should be returned to Jayne prior to the October meeting.

Reports of Committees:

Diversity:  JoAnn Marcinkevage will chair the Diversity Committee.  Laura Long will ask Laboni Begum to co-chair with JoAnn.

Education Foundation:  Beth Brobst introduced the three scholarship winners.  A scholarship toward graduate school at Lock Haven University was awarded to Erica Fisher.  The two undergraduate scholarships were awarded to Traci Foster who attends Penn College and Mary Ann Robyn Young who attends Lock Haven University.  Each scholarship recipient gave a brief talk about her plans and goals for the future.

Legal Advocacy Fund:  No report. Madeleine Davis passed around the envelope for donations to the fund.  Each member is asked to contribute $6.00 per year to the fund.

Book Sale:  The Book Sale has been tentatively scheduled for April 14 – 16, 2005.  Toni Tomasi reported that we will know by the middle of September whether the church will be able to accommodate us on those dates.  Nell Carnein reported that a few work sessions will be scheduled in September in order to prepare for the sale.  The first work session is September 7, 2004 at 9:00 at the Ross Library.  Nell asked that members respond to her e-mails announcing the work days so that she and Toni know how many will be attending.

Lockletter:  Nell stated that the deadline for inclusion of articles or information in the Lockletter should always be the night of the Board meeting.  Therefore, the deadline for the October Lockletter is September 16, 2004.

Yearbook:  The Yearbooks were handed out to the members in attendance at the meeting.

Publicity:  Betty Nelson and JoAnn Marcinkevage will co-chair.

Public Policy:  No report.  This committee chair needs to be filled.

Parliamentary Advisor:  Linda Frye will continue as the Parliamentary Advisor.

Hostess:  No report.

Historian:  No report.

Old Business:

Cheer Policy:  Discussion of the Cheer Policy was tabled until the next meeting.

Visionary Club:  Toni Tomasi reported that she has $44.00 toward this year’s Visionary Club commitment.

New Business:

Candidates’ Night:  Laura stated that we need volunteers to help with Candidates’ Night and that the most important thing is to have good questions. Laura asked that the members think of questions and send them to her.

Projects:  Laura stated that the Board felt that we should help with the Blood Drive again this year and that we should again do the Write Read Write Project.  Pat Burd stated that she would like suggestions of schools at which we can do this project.

As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Submitted by
Carol Hildebrand, Secretary

October Meeting

Our October meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. at Great Island Presbyterian church (please note that we're back to our regular night!)  Dr. Russ Nelson, Professor of Music (retired) at LHU will speak on "Ethnic Music--a topic which fits in very well with our diversity studies and promises to be entertaining and informative.  See you there!...and bring a friend and/or prospective member, too!

Also, we are continuing to collect homemade cookies for the troops in Iraq, so, if you can, please bring in some on a paper or plastic plate wrapped in foil or clear plastic.  Remember: no chocolate chunks.

EF News

Here is a thank you from Erica Fisher, the winner of an AAUW graduate scholarship of $1000, which will help finance her work at LHU toward a Master's Degree in Education, with an emphasis on Alternative Education.   Members and guests who attended the fall potluck at Amy Carroll's heard Erica give a brief autobiography and had an opportunity to visit with her.

 "AAUW--  To all members, thanks so much for a great evening with dinner.  I enjoyed meeting everyone, and truly appreciate all you do-- and all you've done for me.  It means a lot.  Thanks again. Yours truly, Erica Fisher"

When we get to know our scholarship winners, their struggles become our struggles.  Many of us remember when we were having similar experiences.  Thanks to all who help these women achieve their goals! Give yourselves a pat on the back!

 Beth Brobst, EF Chair

Millbrook Playhouse

The Visionary Club (for Millbrook) donations will be collected at the October and November meetings.  Checks should be made out to Millbrook.  Please be as generous as you can.  If you are not able to attend either fall meeting, please send your checks to Toni Tomasi.

Bits and Pieces

Thank you to Pat Burd and Betty Nelson who have agreed to serve as our Cheer committee.

Please add to Yearbook:

     Publicity:  Betty Nelson and JoAnn Marcinkevage

     Laboni Begum's name to Diversity along with JoAnn.

**We are still looking for someone (or ones) to take Public Policy.

Please contact Nell Carnein if you have not received your Yearbook or if you find any typos, omissions, etc. from the Yearbook.

We will again be sponsoring a Blood Drive on Wednesday, June 29, 2005.  Please put this on your calendar and then sign up to help when it is organized.

Board meeting will be held at Amy Carroll's house at 7:30 p.m. on October 21.

Proposed Branch Budget for 2004-2005

$1,966.00

$500.00

$547.00

$4,000.00

$7,013.00

$5,089.98

$12,102.98

$1,966.00

$500.00

$3,000.00

$1,500.00

$750.00

$800.00

$1,200.00

$150.00

$150.00

$206.00

$1,320.98

$100.00

$100.00

$50.00

$50.00

$40.00

$50.00

$50.00

$120.00

$12,102.98

Treasurer's Report
August 24, 2004

$6,161.17

$10.00

$125.00

$1,000.00

$1,000.00

$4,246.00

$826.00

$2,741.17

$3,138.81

$0.69

$0.69

$3,139.50

$5,880.67

Treasurer's Report
September 16, 2004

$2,741.17

$36.06

$12.00

$92.00

$140.06

$13.00

$13.00

$2,614.11

$3,139.50

$0.66

$0.66

$3,140.16

$5,754.27

Top 5 Things You Can Do to Fight Bias, Bigotry, and Racism

In our everyday lives, we often encounter acts of discrimination, inequality and stereotyping.  Sometimes where we least expect it.  Sometimes, we are the unwilling victims.  And other times, it can even come from ourselves.

This is why we all have a role in joining the fight against bias, bigotry, and racism.  The National Conference for Community and Justice recommends the following five critical steps we can all take to get started.

1.  Look in the Mirror

It is hard for most of us to acknowledge biases.  Take the time to stop and evaluate how you interact with others, what words you use, and how you nonverbally interact with those who are different than you.

2.  Get Smart

Whether it is asking questions of individuals and groups you are familiar with, or picking up a book or visiting a website; take the time to find out more about the cultures, societies and religions that are unfamiliar to you.  Education is the key to eliminating the spread of bias, bigotry, and racism.

3.  Listen and Speak Up

Be aware of what you hear on TV, the radio, from your neighbor, teacher, colleague or friend.  Speak up when you hear someone spreading bias, bigotry, or racism.  Drawing attention to the problem may be uncomfortable and challenging, but it is essential to helping others identify and address their own bias words and actions.

4.  Venture Beyond

When we think in new ways, meet new people, and embrace new ideas, we expand our capacity for understand.  Seek experiences that bring you in contact with religions, ethnicities and cultures that are unfamiliar to you.  Being open to different prospectives and lifestyles is one of the best examples you can provide for others to follow—and expand your own experience in the process.

5.  Make a Commitment

Do not stand still.  Get involved.  Join an organization in your community that inspires you.  Participate in programs or honest conversations focusing on human-relations issues that are important to you and your community.  Making a commitment to be active is the most important step in joining in the fight against bias, bigotry, and racism.