Hibbing Branchibbing Branch

Hibbing Branch

President: Mary Petron email 218-263-9497

Hibbing Best of Branch 09-10

We tried something new this year which was a success. On Saturday, October 10, 2009, the AAUW Northland Get Together was held in Duluth. The branches from northeast Minnesota got together for a time of friends, food, and fun. It was such a success that it will be repeated this fall.

The programs this year featured mission-based programming, but you still need to have the fun. September featured the talents of some of our members. In October, we learned more about promoting the city of Hibbing through an advertising program which encourages tourism and development. We had two open meetings this year featuring Judy Pearson and her book Plantiff Blues about job discrimination in the school setting; and Emma Jaynes and her Experiences in South Africa during her semester through a study abroad program at St. Benedict’s. Jeanne Bymark presented Career and Technical Programs that are taught at the Hibbing High School. Her focus was on caring for programmed dolls that responded like human babies. We learn about children born with alcohol and drug related issues and shaken baby syndrome. On the lighter side, we were entertained by a flutist, a comedy and magic show, and in May will learn about Hot Reads for the Summer. Our goal is to continue the mission related programming for the upcoming biennium.

Our literature group read the following books: The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman, Guernsey Literary Society and Potato Peeled Pie by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows, 90 Minutes in Heaven by Dan Piper, Gilgamesh by Joan London, The Girl With the Dragon Tatttoo by Steig Larson, and A Dark Place by Laurie King.

The cultural interest group went to the Guthrie in October to see The Importance of Being Earnest and Chanhassen in April to see Footloose. The bus is ALWAYS full of laughter, fun, friendship, and of course, the stop for shopping and good food.

Our book sale has been wrapped up for the year and brought in $17,191.63 for our scholarships. Only at the booksale can we hear the stories of how we have impacted the lives of people in the communities we serve.

Scholarships will be given away shortly. Our newest scholarship is a STEM scholarship which will be awarded to a local hich school girl entering the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math.\We have had a fantastic year and the continued success of making new friends and encouraging new acquaintances to become members of a great organization.