Ely Branch

Ely Branch

President: Teresa Sagen Email 218-365-6461

VP Membership: Lora DeWeese, Email, 218-365-2455

AAUW Ely Branch 2010 – 2011

Northwoods News--Branch Newsletter

The Ely Branch of AAUW has a proud history, extending over 84 years, advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

Board:

President    Teresa Sagen

Vice President Membership   Lora Deweese

Secretary Katherine Scheuer

Newsletter Caroline Owens

Vice Presidents Program     Laura Moberly, Regina Johnson, Shelley Fredrickson

AAUW Funds (EF) Marge Forsberg

AAUW Funds (LAF) Lucy Deisslin

Finance      Jeanne Tomlinson

Public Policy Judy Viken

College/University Representative Caroline Owens

ELY BEST OF BRANCH

A three-year strategic plan and yearly action plans continue to provide guidance to the Ely Branch for making decisions about programming, about how we spend our money, and about how we participate in the community.
As a result of this planning, our activities have focused on Membership, Community Involvement, and Program.

Our membership has continued to grow as a result of our recruitment efforts and our visibility in the community. Members have participated in a variety of activities which contributed to continued energy and enthusiasm about
the mission of AAUW. The Ely Branch was well represented at state, national, and regional meetings. In 2009, the Branch sent three representatives to the National AAUW Convention in St. Louis and sent delegates to the 2010 AAUW State Convention. In September, 2010, the Ely Branch sponsored a joint meeting of Northern Minnesota Branches and representatives from Vermilion Community College, a College/University partner of AAUW. Guests included Carol Sheggeby, AAUW State President, Hillary Hartleben, our NCCWSL scholarship recipient, and members of the Ely Community.

The Branch has continued to foster the relationship with Vermilion Community College (VCC), and especially in support of women students. The Ely Branch and VCC have worked together for many years for the benefit of each organization and the Ely community. This relationship has grown even stronger this year. Our members continue to serve on the VCC Advisory and Foundation Boards, along with two members serving as liaisons with the college to ensure continued collaboration. In conjunction with these efforts, VCC joined AAUW as a College/University Partner. We created a brochure to recruit students as e-affiliate members and meet with students in the fall to talk about the AAUW mission. The Branch frequently meets at VCC for monthly meetings to encourage student participation. A joint meeting in the spring was a pizza party and attendance at a VCC women’s basketball game to celebrate “National Girls and Women in Sports Day.” The VCC students and our Branch jointly organized a Pay Equity Day Bake Sale at the College. We continue to award our yearly scholarship to a nontraditional woman student. Additionally, the Branch provided a scholarship for a VCC woman student to attend the NCCWSL in June, taking advantage of the State AAUW matching funds. Ely hopes to sponsor another student for the 2011 NCCWSL.
In addition to VCC, community involvement continues to be strong. In 2009, the Branch formed a Relay for Life Team as a tribute to our members who are cancer survivors and as a memorial to friends and family members. We continue to provide “Books for Babies” with Friends of the Ely Public Library, to support the Hospice Respite “Festival of Trees,” and to participate in the Highway Cleanup Program. In October, our Branch will again cosponsor a local candidate’s forum with Ely Rotary, VCC, WELY, The ECHO, and The Timberjay.

Programs continue to focus on the AAUW mission. Highlights include “Let’s Read Math” (AAUW’s Program in a Box), Woman’s Health and the Practice of Tai Chi, Library Technology (with emphasis on using the AAUW website and library search tools). For Women’s History Month, the Branch featured a display window at the Ely Community Center honoring women, past and present. Programs and activities for the coming year include “Women of Hungary.” Title IX Compliance, STEM, “A School in Southeast Asia,” “A Woman for the Ages – Hillary Clinton,” and a discussion of Temple Grandin, the woman and the movie.

The Branch is full of energy with an attitude of “doing keeps us strong and viable”. This energy brings us more
visibility in the community and attracts new members who want to be part of this active group.