Grand Rapids Branch

Grand Rapids Branch

President: Nancy Raymond email 218-326-1113

Grand Rapids Newsletter November - December 09

GRAND RAPIDS Best of the Year

The Grand Rapids branch is celebrating its 60th anniversary with the funding of an Anniversary Scholarship to be awarded in future years to help a woman finish her college degree or to obtain an educational certificate that will enable her to achieve greater economic stability. It was placed within our Grand Rapids Community Foundation structure. We also support the AAUW Educational Foundation and Legal Advocacy Fund as well as a scholarship awarded each year to a nontraditional woman student attending Itasca Community College (ICC). Each of these scholarship endeavors has a fundraising plan that supports it.

We hold monthly branch meetings with a planned potluck supper and mission-based program at either a church or restaurant. This year we will have one branch supper meeting at ICC. We have an active membership of about 100 and attendance of at least 60 at branch meetings. We hold informal summer meetings so that our snowbirds have an opportunity to participate and become acquainted with new members. (Our December meeting was attended by more than 60 women wearing long underwear under Christmas party dresses on a very cold winter evening when schools had weather-related closing!)

Our branch programs this year have focused on the educational opportunities in our community, especially in the STEM subjects, and on having a closer connection with ICC’s resources. We have used some of the staff for program speakers and encouraged our members to participate in community opportunities at the college. Students from the high schools and community college have been encouraged to accompany a speaking instructor to these meetings. Other mission-based programs have included Dr. Shirley Nelson from the Minnesota Women’s Candidate Coalition, a preschool resources panel, psychology research to keep mature minds active and healthy, and a trip to Duluth to attend the CARE documentary and discussion, A Powerful Noise. Our May banquet anniversary celebration speaker will be the Honorable Esther Tomjonovich, retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice.

The following interest groups meet regularly:

• Two book discussion groups

• Love to play bridge group

• Walking group, which explores walking and trails in the county and state parks

• Public policy topics reading and discussion group

• Art group

• Special interest group: exploring the resources of our community