JANUARY 2015
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S KEYBOARD
As we continue our journey into the new year of 2015, let us proceed with
hope. The recent terrible events in Paris and the threats to Western Europe
reawaken our awareness that evil can and does touch us all. So, treasure your
hours, days, and weeks and cling to HOPE that many new days will be granted to
all of us.
After our January 10th General Meeting, many of our members reconvened at
Calistoga Bakery for a STEM Committee meeting led by, chair CAROLINE
CREW. I continue to be impressed by the entire committee's willingness to attend
to all the details. We hope to see many of you on FEBRUARY 14, 2015 GIRLS
COUNT STEM CONFERENCE @ Hodges University.
As an outgrowth from parent feedback of last year's STEM conference, Greater
Naples Branch AAUW will also sponsor "THINK BEFORE YOU LINK: How Safe is
your Family's Digital Footprint" on March 28, 2015 at 1:30 at Holdges University.
Relative newcomers to GNB, ARDEL NELSON and MARY UHL met with GNB"s
Michele Shaw, me, and a representative from McAffee / Intel to plot and and plan
for this new STEM event. Planning is well on its way. More info to follow.
I was happy to attend a meeting with Past President, ELLEN GRANGER, and her
dynamic committee of members, as they continue to plan, refine, and develop our
major scholarship fundraising event: "DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS: Setting Tables
for Success." With the November 5, 2015 date confirmed, this energetic group
continues to work through a checklist of tasks that will bring our branch to a
innovative affair at Grey Oaks early next autumn.
DONNA WALKER and her marvelous Membership Committee spent their most
recent meeting planning for the WINE AND CHEESE RECEPTION for NEW AND
PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS, January 21, 2015. I know they have made many
contacts, and we expect a nice group to participate.
As the Gulf Breeze deadline approaches, this week I will attend a meeting of the
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE. Co-chairs, NIKKI FELTS and JEANNINE KLUMP,
have gathered a group of members to help them select recipients for this year's
scholarship dollars. And yes, we will continue our long history of providing
financial support to advance women's education. A deep heartfelt thank to all who
responded to the Board's request for donations.
Welcome back to our seasonal members. As I checked the weather forecast for all
points north of Naples, I am again thankful to be here in the Greater Naples
Area. Happy New Year!
Backpacks Needed
At our next meeting, we will be
collecting backpacks for Friends of
Thanks for the Hospitality
Let's raise our coffee mugs and toast
to the gracious GNB members who
Foster Children of SWFL. As you
may recall, our January speaker, Jane
Billings, its Executive Director,
reported that foster children are often
moved suddenly - sometimes in the
middle of the night. They leave
without a change of clothes or their
belongings. Gender
identifiablebackpacks are needed to
hold overnight clothing and supplies
for them. Please bring your
donation(s) to the next meeting! Thank
you!
have hosted the refreshments for our
Branch Meetings!
January: Carol Light and Laura Scott
December: Donna Walker and Susan
Coman
November: Donna Allenson and Laura
Candris
October: Judith McGregor
The report is that February, March and
April are spoken for. Thanks to our
present and future hostesses.
Public Policy and Legal Advocacy
by Robin Birnhak
What better way to reinvigorate your involvement with AAUW this season
than joining a new group! If you are interested in Public Policy and Legal
Advocacy issues, would like more intellectual stimulation and an
opportunity to discuss pressing current local and national issues, you will
want to be a part of this newly formed group. The first meeting will be held
at Hodges University, S&T Building, Room 141 on Tuesday, January 27,
2015 at 4:30PM. Please call Marcia Turner at 598-6144 or email her
atmturner@hodges.edu to indicate your interest.
2015 GNB / AAUW STEM Event
Caroline Crew
The Greater Naples Branch is proudly sponsoring the STEM (science, technology,
engineering, math) event for the community. We are thrilled, once again, to have the
support of Arthrex of Naples as our sponsor!
STEM Girls Count
The first STEM event of 2015 is the 18th annual conference for 5th grade Collier County
girls. This year the event will take place on Saturday, February 14 at Hodges
University. We have already secured 10 great STEM professional women from the
community who will present interactive sessions for the girls and three adult speakers who
will help parents with ideas and resources for helping their girls reach STEM goals. Our
keynote speaker is Dr. Ellen Prager, marine scientist and children’s author. Each girl
attending the conference will be given a copy of one of her books.
If you have any questions, contact Mary Schell, maryschell94@gmail.com or Caroline
Crew, crew.caroline@gmail.com
Think Before You Link
Presented by the Intel Security Digital Safety Program:
How Safe is Your Family's Digital Footprint?
Get the answer as Michelle Shaw-Hashman of Intel Security discusses tips on using your
electronic devices safely online. This GNB / AAUW STEM event is back by popular
demand!
Saturday, March 28, 2015, 1:30 p.m.
Hodges University
Science & Technology Building
2655 Northbrook Drive
Naples, FL
For questions, please contact Ardel Nelson, at raghanger5@comcast.net
Click here to view the flyer:
Upcoming GNB AAUW Branch Meeting Speakers
By Susie Mehas
February 7, 2015: Linda Oberhaus, Executive Director, The Shelter for Abused
Women & Children: “Human Trafficking in Florida”
March 7, 2015: Ellen Cordoba, Director of Clinical Operations, Marion E. Fether
Medical Center in Immokalee:
“Serving the Healthcare Needs of the Underserved in Collier County”
GNB / AAUW Tours & Talks
Private Guided Tour of Naples Botanical Garden
4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples
Wednesday, February 25th
Meet @10:15; tour begins promptly @ 10:30
Enjoy a 90-minute tour of the beautiful “Gardens with Latitude,” including 3 new gardens –
Kathryn’s Garden, Irma’s Garden and the LaGrippe Orchid Garden – together with the
unique new Visitor Center and beautiful Garden Store. Optional lunch at the new Fogg
Café or other local restaurant.
Cost: $20.00, includes admission to Garden, guided tour by experienced tour guide, and
10% off merchandise at The Garden Store on day of tour. An additional voluntary donation
is requested to support Branch programs, which can be included in registration or collected
on day of tour. (Note: due to special nature of the tour, cost is the same for Naples
Botanical Garden embers.)
Registration deadline February 7
Cash or check payable to Laura Scott (use attached registration form)
Questions – email: laura.scott7@gmail.com, cell # 650-773-3362
Notice - Painting with a Twist
Canceled.
Membership Matters
Donna Walker
New Members:
Welcome - Charnele Tate - charneletate@gmail.com,University of Florida
B.A.Ave Maria Law School J.D.
January to March 15, 2015
Half-Year Membership (new members only)!
AAUW National, State and Local Dues 50% off for $43.50, combined with
Shape the Future Membership Campaign; for a new member who joins at a
public event that’s a total of $31.25 tax deductible dues.!
Half - Year Dues
Half-year dues for national, state and branch from January 1st - March 15th for
new members. Members whose membership has lapsed for 2 years also
qualify. Anyone who joins after March 15th pays full dues for the July 1st start
of the 2015/16 season. $87.00 regular dues = $43.50
Shape The Future Membership Campaign
New members who join at public event take an additional 50% off the half-year
national dues discount. Our branch receives one free membership to award for
every two Shape The Future new members.
$49 - $24.50 = $12.25
Total $31.25 (correction from December Gulf Breeze)
Printed Directory - $5!
Printed directories will be available for pick up at the branch meetings or for
mailing. For mailing payment may be sent to:
Donna Walker
25030 Cypress Hollow Ct D201
Bonita Springs, Fl 34134
SIG NEWS
Mid-day Movie Group - Awards Ceremony Edition
By Laura Candris
Next meeting: February 11, 2015
Join us on February 11 to see a recently released matinee movie and share a lively lunch
discussion. We'll choose among the Golden Globe winners and Academy Award
nominees. If you'd like to be in the group, please contact Laura Candris
atlaura_candris@msn.com or 239-919-8869.
Non Sequiturs
By Nancy Beights
What: February Joke Night
When: Thursday February 12 at 5:00
Where: Alexander's Restaurant
Why: to share our favorite jokes, shaggy dogs and amusing stories, and network with other
fabulous women.
Please plan to arrive between 5:00 and 5:15 and
Send your RSVP by Tuesday February 10 to:
NancyBeights@gmail.com
Bibliophiles (Mysteries and Thrillers) Book Club
By Sallie Light
Members read mysteries and thrillers and meet in each other’s homes. The hostess
reports on the authors, but there are no particular titles assigned.
November 11 Miriam Geist author - CJ Box
December 9 Janet Ankiel - Kelly Wright
January 13
Florence Chandler - Benjamin Black
March 10
April 14
Sallie Light TBA
Judy Blackburn - Joe Nesbo
Please contact Sallie Light if you have any questions: sallielight@mac.com, 239-592-7894.
Book Discussion Group
By Susan Becker
In January, Laura Scott will present the book, The Dinner. The group will meet at the home
of Mary Ellen Wolfe.
If you are not a regular member of this group and would like to be, please contact Susan
Becker at smsbecker@comcast.net Would you like to lead one of the discussions? Again,
contact Susan!
Non-Fiction Book Club
Karen Clegg
The Non-Fiction Book Club meets monthly at the Community Room, North Collier
Government Services Center, 2335 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples 34019. Members are
welcome to join the group for lively discussions of good books. The next meeting is
January 26, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Elizabeth Warren’s book A Fighting Chance will be discussed.
At the February 23 meeting, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., we will discuss The New Arabs, How the
Millennial Generation Is Changing the Middle East by Juan Cole. On March 23, the
meeting time will change to 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. The March selection is The Birth of the Pill:
How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution by Jonathan Eig. Our
last meeting before the summer break will be April 27, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. The book selected
is How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place by Bjorn Lomborg. After the
discussions, we gather for a light dinner at a nearby restaurant (except in March we will
dine before the meeting). If you have any questions or need further information, you may
contact Karen Clegg, clegg115@gmail.com or 239-649-3248.
Great Decisions
By Donna Carty
Contact group Chair Donna Carty with any questions: donnacarty400@gmail.com or239784-7734.
NEXT MEETING:
Monday, February 2, 2015
Time: 7:00 - 8:45pm
Place: The North Collier Government Center
Topic: Russia and the Near Abroad