Greetings from Pat

Dear AAUW Branch Members:

It’s difficult to imagine starting over, totally, from having a place to sleep, to finding a job.  As I watched Katrina’s devastation unfold, and saw rooftops, I pictured families so destitute, they didn’t have one thing.  Some lost family members, not having a clue as to where they might be.  The conditions, for some time, were deplorable.  Hopefully, those people will be able to start life again.  It will never be the same.  Imagine everything as you once knew it, changed completely.  Katrina’s mark will be felt for a very long time.  It will be years before we are able to look back and realize it’s in the past.

We met at Carol Hildebrand’s September 1.  I thought we had a wonderful turn-out.  Thanks Carol for your hospitality.  The scholarship recipients were so appreciative.  We all enjoyed hearing them tell us of their plans, and we enjoyed hearing Jessica Marcinkevage’s note read by her mother, Jo Ann.  Going to college is so different from what it was.  Being able to change a career, do research in a foreign country and take classes on line is something many of us never thought would happen.  It all sounds so exciting!

We’re looking forward to the programs Andie worked so hard to put together by September.  Thanks Andie for a job well done.

The Pennsylvania’s Governor’s Conference For Women will be Tuesday, November 15, 2005.  It will be in the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.  The phone number to get started is 866-251-3537.

Our next meeting will be Thursday, October 6 at Great Island Presbyterian Church at 7:30 pm.  Jesse Reibson, who heads a community program-- Across Ages, will be speaking to us about mentoring.

Sincerely,

Pat

October Meeting Thursday, October 6, 2005 Great Island Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. Across the Ages Mentoring Program presented by Jesse Reibson

The Program for the October Branch Meeting is about opportunities for mentoring.  Jesse Reibson represents the Across the Ages Mentoring Program and works as a consultant for Valley Prevention Services, Inc.  He is also involved with the Clinton County Communities That Care.

Have you ever wondered what you could do to make things better for our kids? Please come to this meeting to learn about these programs and to see just how valuable your time could be for a child who needs you.

Andie Bennett
Program Vice President

American Association of University Women, Lock Haven Branch

Minutes of the Branch Meeting
of September 1, 2005

The American Association of University Women, Lock Haven Branch, met on September 1, 2005 at the home of Carol Hildebrand with 22 members and 7 guests in attendance.  Officers in attendance were Pat Burd, Amy Carroll, Andie Bennett, Jayne Arnone, and Carol Hildebrand.  Pat Burd called the meeting to order and welcomed all of the members and guests.

Prior to the reports of the officers, Beth Brobst introduced the scholarship recipients in attendance and named those who were unable to attend.  Each recipient in attendance gave a short talk about her field of study.  Jo Ann Marcinkevage read a letter from her daughter Jessica who was unable to attend.  The scholarship recipients are as follows:

Undergraduate

Graduate

Reports of Officers

Secretary:  There were no minutes from May 2005 as there was no business meeting at the annual dinner in May.  There were no additions or corrections to the April minutes as published in the May Lockletter.

Treasurer:   There were no corrections to the Treasurer’s report as published in the September Lockletter.  The Board-approved, proposed balanced budget of $11,487.98 for 2005-2006 was also published in the Lockletter.  The proposed budget was approved by the membership.

Program Chair:  Andie Bennett reported that the 2005-2006 program has been scheduled and is listed in the Yearbook.  Only a few details need to be finalized for November and December.

Membership:  Toni Tomasi asked that we give her the names of any prospective members.

Reports of Committees

Book Sale:  Nell Carnein reported that a price and sort has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 9:30 at the storage garage.

Care and Concern:  Gerry Cierpilowski reported that cards have been sent to Kay Crisanti, Jayne Arnone, Angela Black’s husband, and Mary Purcell.

Diversity:  No report.

Education Foundation/Legal Advocacy Fund:  Beth Brobst passed an envelope to collect for the Legal Advocacy Fund.

Historian:  No report.

Hostess:  No report.

Parliamentary Advisor:  No report.

Lockletter/Yearbook:  Nell Carnein passed out the Yearbooks to all in attendance and asked members in attendance to deliver the Yearbooks to those not present.  Bobbie Way reported that the Yearbook is now online but at a web site address which is not published for security reasons.  The address was given in her e-mail announcement of the September Lockletter.

Bobbie also sent an e-mail in which she provided a link to an announcement of the Governor’s Conference in Philadelphia on November 15, 2005.  The deadline for registration for the conference is October 15, 2005.

Publicity:  No report.

Public Policy:  Laura Long obtained a list of candidates running for election in November and found that only city offices are up for election.  Therefore Laura asked the membership to decide if we should host a discussion of Home Rule Charter instead or if we should cancel Candidates’ Night for this year.  Natalie Newcomer moved that we do not hold a Candidates’ Night this year.  The motion carried.

New Business

Clarification of Associate Degree:  Pat passed out copies of the 2005 Membership Criteria clarification memo written by Caroline Pickens, AAUW Bylaws Chair and Coco Siewert, AAUW Parliamentarian, and approved by the Association Board.

Books for Babies:  Pat reported that Regina Kraus came to the last Board meeting to ask for support from AAUW for the Books for Babies Program which is sponsored by the Friends of the Ross Library.  The goal of the program is to encourage parents to read to and with children.  Laura Long moved that we support Books for Babies either by sending individual checks to the Friends of the Ross Library or by contributing to a collection at the AAUW meetings by November 15, 2005.  The motion carried.

Festival of Trees:  Pat reported that the city of Lock Haven is planning a Festival of Trees.  The trees will be decorated by various community organizations and will be put on display in the Ross Library.  The trees will be auctioned off in early December and the proceeds from each tree will go to the sponsoring organization.  Lisa May has agreed to chair a tree-decorating committee so that our branch can take part in the Festival of Trees.

Discussion Group:  Pat and Andie will be meeting to develop a plan for having a discussion group within our branch. They will explain in more detail at the next meeting.

New Members:  Jo Anne Hoberman will write an article for the newspaper concerning the new membership criteria for AAUW.

Announcements:  The next meeting is October 6, 2005 at 7:30 at Great Island Presbyterian Church.  A program on mentoring will be presented by Jesse Reibson.

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

Carol Hildebrand, Secretary

Public Policy Report

Candidates' Night has been cancelled because there were no county-wide offices in contested races.  Usually we do not invite the township candidates and it would be a big project to have it just for Lock Haven City Council.

We considered having an informational discussion about the study to examine our county form of government and the alternatives, but the committee will be hosting public meetings on this subject once it is formed.  We need to hear what our choices are so we can decide what is best for the future of Clinton County.  I hope there will be good attendance at the October 25, 7 p.m. meeting at the third floor of Ross Library to learn more about the Home Rule form of government.

It is important for you to get out and vote on Election Day.  Women worked hard to earn the right to vote.  Honor them by going to the polls on Tuesday, November 1st.  The people elected to our local governments make a big impact on our lives. 

Do you know anyone who has recently moved to or within our county?  They need to register to vote at their new address before October 1st. 

Registration Forms are available in the Garden Building, 232 East Main Street on the third floor.  Contact Connie Baim if you need one mailed to you at 893-4019.

Also, if you cannot get to the polls on Election Day, have an application for an absentee ballot sent to you.  You must fill it out and send it in to receive the actual ballot in the mail.  Note the dates on it.

Laura and Michele

Bits and Pieces

Please make these corrections in your AAUW yearbooks.

√  Sandra Hammann's email should read: sjhammann@earthlink.net

√  Jackie Whitling’s address and home phone should be listed as--
16 Corbett Lane, Lock Haven PA 17745
753-5478

Anyone interested in purchasing an "Ask me about AAUW" pin, contact Betty Nelson for information.  They are quite inexpensive and a great way to find out about potential members.

We had our first Price and Sort at the garage and have the second one planned for Fri. Sept. 30 at 9:30 at the garage.  I will be sending an email reminder.  We can use help!  We hope this will do it until January.

There is no Treasurer’s Report this month.

A "Thank You" from Matt Zerby: