March

The AAUW Gateway to Equity Award honors an individual, group or organization that has shown by action and philosophy the promotion of the AAUW mission of equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. It celebrates International Women’s Day which is held annually on March 8.

The 2017 Gateway to Equity Award was presented to Professor Bonnie Winfield, Director of Community Partnerships at Lafayette College, on Wednesday, March 8th, International Women’s Day. Several members of the branch took Bonnie to lunch and then presented her with the award.

It’s Time To Party

Sunday, December 7 from 5 PM to 8 PM
The Home of Colleen and Neil Kuschke

We will be celebrating the holidays with our annual HOLIDAY PARTY. This is a time when we get to meet the “other half” of our members. Come by yourself or come with your spouse or partner and join the fun.

We hope to see everyone there, so that we can say “Happy Holidays” in person. If members need a ride to the holiday party, one will be provided – please call Fran Kennedy or Nancy Butow.

Turkey and ham will be provided and we ask that you bring the following: A – H Sides or Salads; I – P Hors d’oeuvres; Q – S Desserts; T – Z Drinks

November

Evening at the Williams Center
Phil Wood Quintet
Tuesday, November 11 at 8 p.m.

The Man With The Hat

 

“The Phil woods Quintet is a jazz institution, led by a legendary alto saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master. With Brian Lynch on trumpet, Bill Mays on piano, Steve Gilmore on Bass and Bill Goodwin on drums, this is no mere backing band for Phil Woods. Each musician brings his own sensibility and rich musical history to the work, which includes American jazz standards and original pieces composed by members of the quintet.”

Wikipedia begins: Philip Wells Woods (born November 2, 1931) is an American jazz bebop alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader and composer. He has performed with greats like Dizzie Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Buddy Rich, and Thelonius Monk, and has won several Grammys

There will probably be a pre-concert talk at 7:00. Stay tuned for more information.

Please call Marian Cunningham for more information. This concert is probably going to be sold out early so get your tickets now! 

Make your check for $20 per ticket payable to AAUW Easton Branch and send to Marian Cunningham..

Check must be received by November 4. $5.00 from each ticket will go towards our AAUW Scholarship Fund.

October

October Frozen Yogurt Social

Pumpkin frozen yogurt was on tap tonight at Just A Dream Frozen Yogurt. It was delicious. 

MeetandGreetOct2014

See You in San Diego!
Registration is now open for the 2015 AAUW National Convention! Will you be the first to join the wave headed to sunny California next June?  Register today to take advantage of Best Value rates.

September

The Rotating Gourmet Interest Group enjoyed good food and good conversation at their first event of the year.

Zoe Roble and John Kennedy

September Potluck Dinner Meeting

Tuesday, September 16
Downstairs at First Presbyterian Church
Doors open at 5:45 p.m., Dinner begins at 6 p.m.
Business meeting at 7 p.m.

Program: The Civil War Lady, What She Wore From Head to Toe

Join us in enjoying Bonnie Scott’s show and tell of the clothing worn by the ladies of the Civil War era.  Did you know that they wore about 7 layers of clothing under their dress every day?

We will also be awarding the Jane Wait Stem Scholarship to a Northampton County Community College student.

Please be guided by the first letter of your last name when bringing food to the potluck dinner:
A-K: Salads    L-Z: Entrees 

  Dessert and coffee will be furnished.

Book Fair Time Almost Here

The barrels are out and books are pouring in. Sorting and selling for our Annual Book Fair is almost here. Click the link below for Book Fair information.

BookFairPoster082314

Choose Your Own Adventure: Apply for Campus Leadership Programs!

Each year, AAUW’s campus programs are part of the journey for thousands of college women on their way to being the next generation of leaders. This year, the adventure begins on August 20 as applications open for three of these programs: the National Student Advisory Council, Elect Her–Campus Women Win, and Campus Action Projects.

President Obama Signs Executive Order on Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces 

On July 31, President Obama signed an Executive Order requiring prospective federal contractors to disclose labor law violations within the last three years. The order—which will go into effect for new contracts beginning in 2016—addresses wage and hour, safety and health, collective bargaining, family and medical leave, and civil rights protections for employees of government contractors. This order prohibits companies with contracts of $1 million or more from requiring their workers to enter into mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements for workplace harassment or civil rights complaints, thereby ensuring that employees can get their day in court. The Executive Order also requires contractors to give their employees information about their paychecks so they can make sure they are getting paid what they are owed.

July

77 Cents Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

Once you break down the gender pay gap, you’ll find that the disparities for many women are worse than you thought. That’s why we’re marking a few more Equal Pay Days this year. Here’s how you can help »

June

Branch meetings resume in September. Join us for the Potluck dinner and meeting on September 16.

Congratulations to Annette Stoody,
Easton Branch  Outstanding Woman of the Year.

Are You Dreaming of a Trip to Sunny San Diego?

Registration for the 2015 AAUW National Convention doesn’t open until October 1, but you can get ready to attend right now. Read more »

May

Scholarships awarded, branch members honored, new officers installed, and a delicious dessert – all this happened at our annual May Dessert.

Congratulations to our new co-presidents – Nancy Butow and Fran Kennedy.

Nancy Butow, Fran Kennedy

Janice Lupackino and Rosemary Baker are the 2014 Named Gift Honorees and Jean Riker is our Special Honoree for all that she has done for AAUW.

Rosemary Baker and Janice Lupackino

Jean Riker, Special Honoree

Meet our 2014 scholarship winners: Carli Swiatek, Allison Thatcher and Samantha Sostorecz.

Carli, Allison, and Samantha

May Dessert, Scholarship and Branch Awards
May 20, 7:00 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church, Easton

Join branch members as they meet for dessert, install officers, award scholarships to graduating high school seniors, and present the Outstanding Woman, Branch Spotlight, and Named Gift Honoree awards.

May 3rd Authors’ Luncheon a Success !

Kathryn Craft, Maryann McFadden, Javier Avila, Karen Hickey, Terry Thomas

AAUW Easton Branch Endowment A Reality

June 26, 2013 – a memorable day for the Easton Branch. Today Marian Cunningham and Toni Hoffman, co-pesidents, presented Paul Acampora of Northamtpon Community College with a check for $15,000 to begin the AAUW Easton Branch Endowment.

April

There is still time to register for the first Annual Easton Branch Authors’ Luncheon. Don’t worry about the April 17th deadline, it’s been extended.
Click here for more information and the registration form: Author luncheon brochure 2014

March

Inter Branch Luncheon

Saturday, March 8 at 11:30 a.m.
Northampton Country  Club

Join Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown, and Pocono branch members for the biennial Inter Branch Luncheon at Northampton Country Club in Easton.  Dr. Nichola Gutgold, associate dean of academics of the Schreyer Honors College, Penn State University and professor of communication arts and sciences, is the keynote speaker. Her topic: Empowering Women

For more information and registration form, click INTERBRANCH_LUNCH_2014-r6

February

Mother/Daughter/Granddaughter Luncheon

Saturday, February 15 at noon
Vintage Restaurant and Bar
100 Clubhouse Drive, Easton, PA

Special Entertainment by members of the Easton Area High School Jazz Band

Join us as we celebrate the special relationship between mothers and daughters. For menu and registration form, click here: Feb._Luncheon_flyer

Happy New Year

December

Holiday Celebration

Sunday, December 15
5 – 8 pm

at the home of Lois and Ken Wildrick
RSVP to Lois – phone number in the yearbook.

We will be celebrating the holidays with our annual Holiday Party. This is a time when we get to meet the “other half” of our members. Come by yourself or come with your spouse or partner and join the fun.

We use this opportunity to contribute to our local food bank so please bring a can of food. We also distribute the small bottles of shampoos, conditioners, and body lotions that we’ve picked up from our hotel stays. Bring those as well and we’ll distribute them to Safe Harbor. In addition, residents of Safe Harbor need back packs so we’ll collect and distribute them too.

Please bring the following according to your last name to share – turkey and ham will be provided.

A – H   Desserts          I – P   Entrees       Q – Z   Hors d’oeuvres

October

Frozen Yogurt Social

We had dessert first and last and perhaps in the middle as well. it was lots of fun coming in costume to our third frozen yogurt social. The pumpkin yogurt was to die for. This fundraiser has turned into a monthly event so join us on November 25 for the next one.

September

Frozen Yogurt Social

September 30, 5 pm – 9 pm
Giant Shopping Center on Sullivan Trail

Bring your family and friends and join other branch members at Just a Dream Frozen Yogurt  for our second frozen yogurt social.

Let’s Read MathTM Summer Programs

The Let’s Read Math program was begun in 2004 by Claire Passantino, a member of the Makefield Area AAUW Branch, as a community outreach project, to address the alarming level of math anxiety existing at all socio-economic levels, particularly among women and girls. At workshops we read light-hearted and engaging children’s books and then make painless transitions to doing fun math-related activities. In this way we hope to build positive attitudes towards math.

Several of our members have participated in these workshops at the Easton Library and Spring Garden Children’s Center during the year and particularly during the summers. I would like to thank members and volunteers who worked this summer with three programs at the Easton Library’s Summer Reading Program including one each at both the Palmer and Southside branches and two workshops for second and third grade students at ProJeCt Easton’s Sizzle program. We tried some new books and workshops as well as some of our favorites. The new workshops used “Math-terpieces” and “Chrysanthemum.” Our old favorites included “Grandfather Tang’s Story,” “The Greedy Triangle,” and “The Sundae Scoop.” The Sundae Scoop workshop ended with each child making his or her own sundae and then being presented with a copy of the book to take home, compliments of Easton Library.

Thank you to our fantastic team of volunteers including Jean Riker, Bitsy Jeffers, Toni Hoffman, Janet Heffner, Christina Kennedy, Marian Cunningham, Lois Fowler, Maria Ramuni, Sue Kell, Suzi Campbell, Nancy Berry, Janice Lupackino, Fran Dean, Fran’s granddaughter Kim, Phyllis Finger, Debbie Cooper, and John Kennedy.

Thanks also to Audrey Kanter, (who talked about our workshops to the branch librarians) and Katie Cardell at the Main Branch of the Easton Library, Stephanie Supinski at the Palmer Branch, Debbie Osmun at the Southside Branch, and Stacie Phillips at ProJeCt Easton.

Thank you again to everyone. If you are interested in helping with future presentations or have ideas as to where we might do other presentations, please call or email me.

Fran Kennedy

The following is the content of a letter that Fran received this summer about the “Let’s Read Math” program.

Dear Members of the AAUW,

On behalf of the Palmer Branch of the Easton Area Public Library, I would like to extend my appreciation for your recent participation in our summer reading program. This year we are thrilled to report that we had 475 children signed up for our program! That is the most ever!

“Let’s Read Math” was appreciated by both the children and parents who attended. One educator, not part of the program who happened to be in the library, commented on what a great program you and your assistants were doing. I thought you might like to hear that positive feedback!

Thank you for sharing your time with our children as well as at our branch. We greatly appreciate it.

Sincerely, Stephanie Supinski, Branch Manager, Palmer Branch

 July 2013

Heritage Day in Easton

It was a day two AAUW Easton Branch members will remember for quite awhile. On July 7, 2013, Kim Rose and Annette Stoody portrayed women from our revolutionary past.

Oh, What A Night!

Five special honorees, three scholarship awards, two 60-year special honorees, two Teal Awards, two Outstanding Women of the Year,  one Named Gift Honoree, and one Presidents Award – plus delicious fruit crepes. That just about sums up our Scholarship Award and Branch Honors Dessert.

Marian Cunningham and Toni Hoffman, our co-presidents, were presented with the Outstanding Woman of the Year Award. They managed to avoid having their picture taken.

Carolyn Pokrivchak and Margaret Smith were honored for their contributions to AAUW and our branch for 60 years. Eleanor Pinto, Connie Krohn, and Mildred Pitoni have passed the 60 year mark and are going toward 70 years in AAUW.

AAUW Easton gave three scholarships to graduating high school seniors.

The Teal Award is given to a branch member who has made a big difference in something important to the branch. This year’s recipients are Pat Lucey and Lois Fowler who did a remarkable job with our Book Fair publicity.

For every $500 given to AAUW Funds, the branch can honor one member as a Named Gift Honoree. It is a way to recognize members who have contributed to the success of the branch. This year, our Named Gift Honoree is Nancy Berry.

World Book Night A Success

Marian, Nancy, Rosemary and Toni distributed books to four locations in Easton and then had a well deserved dinner.

Ladies Night Out at Steelstacks

IN THE RED…

Plan to attend our Second Annual UnHappy Hour on April 11. AAUW Easton and Bethlehem branches have been hard at work creating a fun evening out. We will have vendors selling accessories and Pay Equity and Feminist ‘Coming Out’ table displays, staffed by Moravian College students. Bring your dollars to purchase raffle tickets for a 50-50, benefitting A Perfect Fit: Helping Women Dress for Success.

Area mayors have been invited to recognize Pay Equity for the women of their municipalities in a brief ceremony starting at 5:30 pm.

Bring your friends and family members and come prepared to have a great time.

Remember: WEAR RED!

March 2013

Gateway to Equity Award

AAUW Easton Branch presented the 2013 Gateway to Equity Award to the Easton Area Community Center on March 11, 2013.

The Easton Area Community Center was chosen because of the numerous programs and activities that help girls and women afford the opportunity to achieve a better life through education, mentoring  and learning life skills.  Many have become successful business -women in the area. Programs at EACC include teaching women who are in prison how to cook and showing them how to use these skills to obtain employment when they are released.

Anita Mitchell, Director of the Easton Area Community Center accepted the award.

Women of the Past Became Very Present

On March 8, 2013, in celebration of National Women’s History Month, AAUW Easton Branch members presented two programs on local women who made significant contributions to their community and beyond.

At the Sigal Museum before an audience of more than fifty 8^th graders and members of the public, narrator, Debra Jo Ashton Chase introduced our selected women in Pennsylvania history beginning with the sciences, then moving on to the fields of education, government and politics, law, and entertainment. Under the artful interpretation of AAUW members, these women came to life as the stories of their times in Easton, their education, and their accomplishments were told.

The second presentation was at Paxinosa School in front of an auditorium filled with 4^th graders. Challenged with reducing an hour’s program into a half-hour presentation, each thespian reformatted her presentation to appeal to the 4^th graders and presented an abbreviated biography. At the conclusion of the presentation, the students were given time to ask questions, and immediately almost every student had his or her hand in the air! It was obvious that the teachers had prepared the students well, that they were attentive and wanted to know more.

Many thanks to the AAUW members that brought our women in history to life:

Debra Jo Ashton Chase for her introductions and interaction with the audience, Annette Stoody for portraying Dr. Florence Seibert, Pat Franklin for portraying Dr. Mildred Hicks-Bruun, Peggy Fackenthal for portraying Helen Beebe, Rosemary Baker for portraying Jeanette Reibman, Gwen Jacobs for portraying Belle Archer, and Nancy Seksinsky for portraying Elizabeth Wysor.

April 2013

Eastern District Meeting

Members from 13 branches in the Eastern District attended the District Meeting at Pennswood Village on Saturday, November 17. We listened to Amanda Holt talk about her efforts to ensure that the Legislative Reapportionment Commission did not violate the Pennsylvania constitution as they went about redistricting after the 2010 census. To learn more about this issue, visit Amanda’s website at AmandaE.com

Lisa Maatz, the face of AAUW Public Policy and our lobbyist on Capitol Hill, gave us some post election analysis including several interesting statistics – 69% of single women voted for President Obama, 54% of married women voted for Governor Romney, 19% of the total electorate consisted of millennials (young people between the ages of 18-30), and 19% of the total electorate consisted of seniors.

Jane Wait STEM Scholarship Recipient

Kelsey Rothstein, a sophomore at Northampton Community College, is the first recipient of our STEM scholarship. Kelsey is majoring in Biotechnology with an emphasis in nanotechnology.

Presidents’ Award

Carolyn Conners, AAUW Easton Branch Membership Vice President, was honored with the Presidents’ Award at the September 18th meeting of the branch. This award is given to a branch member who deserves special recognition for services to the branch, a member who goes far beyond the responsibilities of her position. During her tenure as Membership Vice President, AAUW Easton Branch has added 33 new members. This is a remarkable achievement.      Congratulations Carolyn.

                         Branch Members Help Get Out The Vote

Together with Bethlehem branch members, we spent three days at Northampton Community College helping students become registered voters. Students from Professor Anastasakos’s Political Science class were immensely helpful in drawing students to our registration tables. Over the three day period, we registered over 150 students.

Get Out The Vote at Lafayette College

Lafayette students joined branch members as we registered new voters in Farinon College Center.  We answered questions about photo IDs, helped students fill out the voter registration forms, and made sure that the students knew where to look online for information on the issues that face the country today.

It’s Book Fair Time

Branch members are busy sorting books at Eddyside. Even if you are not scheduled to sort, drop in for a visit. You will be amazed at how good it looks even at this early stage of sorting. Connect with old friends and make new ones.

Need Book Fair information? Click here.

 Easton Branch Works To Get Out The Vote

Branch members are contributing to the Get Out The Vote effort by working with the Bethlehem Branch at the NCC Annual Quadfest/Community Service Fair on August 30. They will also be “womaning” the tables at Lafayette College from September 11-12 educating and registering young voters. Branch members will be back at NCC, along with the Bethlehem Branch, from September 17-19, again behind the tables with information and voter registration forms.

Voter registration forms will also be available at the Book Fair.

Information available to students at both colleges includes: Voter registration forms and how to register to vote, information on what documents are necessary to obtain a Photo ID and what constitutes proper identification, a list of internet resources to fact check political ads and emails, position statements from both candidates, plus information about AAUW.