Representing all of Anne Arundel County, Maryland Annearundelcounty-md.aauw.net June-July 2020 Newsletter
LETTER FROM THE CO-PRESIDENTS another, and possibly meet some of our scholarship By Barbara Marder and Laney Forge recipients.
Unnecessary to say, this has been a spring like none other Please save Monday evening, June 8, 7 p.m., for the we have experienced, but several very nice AAUW Zoom Branch gathering. activities have occurred. Our scholarship committees, We anticipate the meeting will be brief but friendly. You Women-to-Women and Transfer, met, reviewed have the date and time to reserve. BUT since the applications, held online interviews with their most Newsletter is public, Colleen will email the zoom promising candidates, and selected recipients for the connection to each of you a few days before the meeting. 2020-2021 academic year. Suzanne Furr and Margaret No reservation will be needed. Acquarulo, our scholarship chairs, have included articles introducing the fine women who will receive these And what’s ahead for the rest of summer and this fall? At scholarships. this time, we have the New Member Brunch scheduled for Saturday, September 19, at Woods Memorial Though the Maryland State AAUW Spring Convention, Presbyterian Church in Severna Park. We will know which our branch was to host, was canceled, the State whether holding the affair will be possible in a few weeks. Board and delegates from each branch met in a Gail Burke and the membership committee will host. conference call on May 26 and elected the incoming officers. Our own Roxann King will be serving as Public Our major fall event is usually our Book Sale. It starts with Policy co-chair on the new State board. Congratulations the Severna Park Fourth of July parade, continues all fall to Roxann and thanks to the nine board members who with book collection, and culminates in set-up and sale at served as Convention delegates. As the largest single the end of October, beginning of November. After much branch in the state, we also had the largest contingent of consideration, the Board has agreed that the sale must be delegates. canceled for Fall 2020. There are too many safety and health uncertainties to allow us to plan or begin work on In April, our Branch meeting was canceled; one virtual an event that requires a gathering of more than ten C&C was held on Zoom. Though sparsely attended, the people at a time and exposes all involved to potential visit was pleasant for those of us who participated. Our contagion. In their article Stacey Hilder and Linda King, May spring brunch and induction of new officers was yet Book Sale chairs, outline the issues leading to this another victim of quarantine and social isolation. We will cancellation decision. be having an induction of officers, however. Webmaster The Book Sale has provided a portion of the Branch and communications guru Colleen Kane has scheduled a operating budget and all of our scholarship funds. Are Zoom meeting open to all branch members. At that time there plans to provide some or all of the funds such as we we will induct the new officers, have a chance to ‘see’ one had available after the 2019 Book Sale? Yes, through a
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variety of sources Stacey and Linda have addressed in the WOMEN to WOMEN SCHOLARSHIPS email each of you received. Please read and respond if By Suzanne Furr you are able to participate in either or both of the proposed activities. Meanwhile, it is the hope that This year 70 applications were received for the Women members will be able to make personal donations to the to Women (W2W) Scholarships. The applicants came scholarship fund in lieu of time and sweat equity this from all the county public high schools, Anne Arundel year. Consider a donation now or in the near future. It Community College, and several local universities. A may be sent to Dianne Dezio, Treasurer, at any time. total of eight scholarships were awarded for the Donations must be sent to our Branch directly, not to 2020/2021 academic year. See recipients below. National, if they are to benefit our scholarship fund. Noreen Navarro is currently pursuing This, dear friends, is where we are now…eager to move a degree in Registered Nursing at on the next phase of our pursuit of opportunity for Anne Arundel Community College. women and children through AAUW. We look forward to Her goal is to graduate in December seeing you June 8. 2020 and pass the NCLEX board exam. Eventually, Noreen wishes to obtain a master’s degree in nursing and MEMBERSHIP become a clinical educator in nursing. Recently, Noreen has been employed as a Membership Associate at the Y From Dianne Dezio, Treasurer: in Arnold. She is certified as a Nursing Assistant and AHA The AAUW Annual membership dues are due now for the Basic Life Skills Provider year from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The dues for most people are $80. (AAUW National - $59, Maryland Danielle Jensen attends South River State - $10, and branch - $11.) Life members pay State High School. She will be attending and Branch dues ($21). Salisbury University in the fall where she will major in finance. She has held There are two ways to pay: a number of jobs, the most recent at 1. Send a check payable to “AAUW Anne Arundel County Coldstone Creamery. During her high Branch” to our Treasurer, Dianne Dezio, 8607 school years, Danielle has been a Wintergreen Court, Unit 403, Odenton, MD 21113. straight-A student and has volunteered with Books for 2. Pay online with a credit card using the link in the International Goodwill, American Cancer Society- Relay reminder email you should have received on May 20. for Life, Empty Bowls, Chesapeake Bay Foundation - Clean the Bay and the YWCA. The personalized email was sent to every member from Grace Smith will be graduating from “[email protected]” with a subject “AAUW Arundel High School. Grace has been Membership Renewal for Fiscal Year 2021.” accepted at Towson University where she will major in Early Note: if you make a donation online, it goes to AAUW Education/Special Education. Grace is National, not our branch. So, if you wish to make a involved in the Theater and Art donation to one of our scholarship funds, send a check to program at her high school. She is in Dianne with the designation of the scholarship (Women the International Thespian Society and the National Art to Women Scholarship or Transfer Scholarship). Honors Society. Grace is a triplet who will be starting at Towson along with two of her siblings.
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Marisa Falsone attends South River Elizabeth Monaghan attends South High School, where she is a straight-A River High School where she has been student. Marisa will be attending the on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll University of Virginia, majoring in since 2016. Elizabeth is going to major kinesiology. During Marisa’s internship in Mechanical Engineering at University at the Anne Arundel Medical Center, of Maryland at College Park. Elizabeth she realized she wants to be a is enrolled in Project Lead the Way Physician Assistant. Marissa is a Pathway engineering classes at SRHS, is a member of the National English Honor Society and National Science robotics team and the state semi-finalist volleyball team. Honor Society member. She is a Red Cross Club Disaster In addition, she has an internship with a podiatrist where Relief Coordinator. she uses 3D printing to make orthotics. Elizabeth has Sehaj Hira will be graduating from seven siblings, one who is her twin. Severna Park High School. She will be attending University of Maryland at College Park with a major in Public Health/Biological Sciences. Sehaj is the first generation student in her family to go to college. She wants to go into the medical field and specialize in neurologic and genetic disorders especially working in countries where medical care is minimal or non-existent.
Jisela Ramos will be graduating from Old Mill High School with an International Baccalaureate diploma. Jisela is president of the Student Government Association and first seat viola in the school orchestra. She is an Ambassador for the Living the Example Project which is drug prevention program for adolescents. Jisela will be attending Towson University majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She wants to become involved in the research that discovers and defines gene therapies for a variety of diseases. 2020 AAUW MARYLAND ANNUAL Amber Chew attends Chesapeake High CONVENTION POSTPONED School where she has been a straight- A student throughout her high school Our branch was scheduled to host the 2020 convention career. Amber will be attending in Annapolis on June 27 (delayed date). The AAUW MD Elizabethtown College in PA, where board has agreed to postpone the convention indefinitely she will study Occupational Therapy until it is safe for state members to meet. Our branch is (OT) with a double major in Spanish. still committed to hosting when the time comes. AAUW As an OT, she plans to work with and specialize in children Maryland held the annual business meeting using ZOOM with special needs. Amber is currently employed as a on Tuesday, May 26. It is usually held at the end of the tutor for two girls. Amber is a quadruplet; two girls and convention. two boys.
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TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS pathologist. As a first generation college student, Karlie By Margaret Acquarulo believes passionately in the power of education for women.
The Transfer Scholarship Committee is pleased to Claire Purvis. Claire’s goal is to change the face of announce that we were able to give four scholarships this architecture by incorporating elements that will make year. There were several qualified candidates, and as buildings and spaces accessible to people of all physical always, it was a difficult choice. Without face-to-face abilities. Seeing others with disabilities, plus her own interviews, we met our candidates via Zoom. Thanks go chronic illness, inspired her to major in architecture and to the committee members -- Vera Torrence, Maggy planning, which she will study at Morgan State University. Cullman, Terry Saylor, and Andrea Godwin – for their time Claire previously studied psychology and criminal justice, and attention to this important part of AAUW’s work. both of which will help her in her chosen field. She has
served as an officer of the American Institute of Please welcome our Transfer Scholarship recipients: Architecture Students at AACC.
Samantha Bousman. Sam is planning to transfer to the University of AWARD IN MEMORY Maryland, College Park in the fall to major in kinesiology, the study of the Denise Grimes is the recipient of an award in the memory way the body moves. She has always of Mary Ellen Gick. been drawn to the healthcare field, Denise dropped out of and her long-term goal is to become school at age 15 because a pediatrician. Sam is an she was pregnant. She accomplished pianist and attended was also a runaway. That Archbishop Spalding High School on a piano scholarship. was almost 30 years ago. She also enjoys lacrosse and has several part time jobs Since that time Denise has including sales clerk, nanny and dog sitter. earned her GED, started her own day-care Katherine Truelove. Katherine credits business in 2004 and to the AVID leadership program with date has watched over 150 children. She has served in inspiring her to become the first in her leadership positions in the Anne Arundel Family Child family to attend college. She plans to Care Association and Arundel Child Care Connections. In study nursing at Stevenson University August 2013, Denise entered AACC and this spring earned and eventually become a nurse her associate degree in Business Management and practitioner. Katherine is already Transfer Studies. This fall Denise will attend the preparing for her future profession by University of Baltimore to complete her BS in Business working as a transporter at one of the Management. Denise is currently fighting in court to local hospitals, a job she has kept keep her five year old twins from being taken to Haiti by throughout the pandemic. their father. Because of this lengthy and difficult experience, after completing her BS, Denise plans to Karlie Stracke. Karlie is driven to continue her education and obtain a law degree so she succeed. With the help of high school can work in the area of child advocacy. AP credits, she will receive her associate’s degree after only one year at AACC. Her next step is completing a bachelor’s degree at the University of Maryland, College Park with the goals of earning a master’s degree and becoming a speech
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AAUW BOOK SALE inside. What do we do with the thousands of books we By Stacey Hilder and Linda King have collected? Will members be able and willing to move them into trucks we will need to rent, so we can take them to the wholesaler in Frederick who will buy The Book Sale in the Time of Corona Virus them by the box, if they are open for business? Renting
trucks means incurring an expense against no income. The amount of uncertainty surrounding this virus is Using movers to move the books means another overwhelming. What will it do this summer? Will it come expense. back next fall? What can we do that is safe? How do we protect ourselves and others as we go about our daily As much fun as the book sale is, and as much as we rely lives? In the midst of this, Linda and I are having to look on that income to fund our scholarships, it is obvious that ahead to the activities that lead up to, surround and make this year is different. This year we need to concentrate possible the book sale. It is hard because there are no on how to keep our AAUW members safe and healthy. easy or definite answers, but there is some consensus of Recognizing that the majority of members are part of the opinion about next fall. The virus will come back, along vulnerable population that is most susceptible to the with the flu, and what we are allowed to do will again be virulent form of this virus, caused Linda and me to pause affected. and ask, "Is the health of our members and friends worth
risking in order to hold our annual used book sale?" As of this writing, there is no decision about the 4th of We passed our concerns and the above scenarios on to July parade in Severna Park in which we usually the board and asked them to make a decision about the participate and which we use as the kick off for our book sale. As the president's letter informed you, it was advertising of the book collections and sale. If it is not decided that the book sale and all activities that surround held, how can we make up for that lost opportunity to get it would be cancelled for this year. This is a hard decision the word out to the community? Do we want to commit to make but one Linda and I agree with. to the collections and sale?
We hope you stay safe and healthy during these August is the month we usually begin collecting. We set uncertain times. members up at 3 locations on specific Saturday mornings and greet the public as they bring their books and donate them to us. So let's say the virus seems to disappear, and we start collecting books. Will it be safe at this point for AAUW members to handle these books which need to be sorted and packed and moved into storage at the EZStorage in Arnold which has again granted us the use of 2 storage units for the next 5 months? Kids go back to school, stores etc. reopen, the weather cools and the virus and flu come back as predicted. Our world once again requires face masks and social distancing and non- essential businesses to close. We now have a storage locker full of thousands of books. Can we hold a sale? How does that work with only 10 people in a room at a time, especially when 4 of the 10 need to be AAUW members there to work the sale? Will customers come and want to buy books that have been handled by any number of people? Would we be allowed to open a sale?
Let's say that because of the restrictions imposed, we are not allowed to open a store front with a used book sale
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PUBLIC POLICY By Roxann King and Joan Spring
Now is the time to turn in those ballots! The corona virus HB 246/SB 231 ▪ Sexual Solicitation of a Minor - makes this election year quite challenge for promoting Solicitation through Parent, Guardian, or Custodian - candidates and issues. Usually our branch partners with Prohibition and Penalties the League of Women Voters to offer October public HB 248/SB 210 ▪ Protective Orders - Relief Eligibility - forums for the key contested races in our area. That will Rape and Sexual Offenses not happen this year, due to the virus. This year is the SB 684▪ Correctional Services - Prerelease Unit 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, for Women - Facilities and Services (Gender Responsive giving women the right to vote. It was going to be a big Pre-Release Act) VETOED year for us to support getting out the vote throughout the nation. So we need you to urge all your family and friends NOT PASSED anywhere in Maryland to mail their ballots by June 2. No HB 590/SB 230 ▪ Criminal Law - Sexual Crimes - Repeal stamp is necessary. Wherever they may reside in Spousal Defense Maryland, they can go to VOTE411 online and find the HB 839/SB 539▪ Time to Care - Family and Medical Leave candidates’ responses to the critical issues facing their Insurance Program district and region. This site is available before each election and is managed by the League of Women Voters. We thank Debbie Chessin, Linda Calvert, and Mary Please share the link or search your browser for VOTE411 McGrath (as well as non-member Michelle Smith) for all and select Find What’s on Your Ballot. You can also obtain their help with our first year assisting the Women’s voting information, register to vote and check your voter Caucus of the General Assembly. It was a good registration there. experience for all and we hope to be asked again next year to participate in the preparation and Results from the bills supported by the Maryland accomplishment of the weekly meetings and events for Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW) during the the Caucus. shortened General Assembly 2020 session were very promising. Seven of the nine supported bills were passed Finally, we made two field trips with branch members to Washington, D.C., for exhibits related to the passage of by the General Assembly; two of those have been vetoed th by the Governor and the remaining five are awaiting the 19 Amendment at the National Portrait Gallery and action by the Governor. Two bills did not get out of at the Library of Congress. Both were well-attended committee. This was a big year for women’s bills in the outings. We look forward to sponsoring similar outings in General Assembly. Our branch and AAUW Maryland are the future. both organizational members of MLAW, with many other women’s and advocacy groups throughout Maryland. The bills are listed below; details are available at the MLAW site. PASSED HB 4/SB 208 ▪ Public Safety - Rifles and Shotguns - Sales, Rentals, and Transfers VETOED HB 123/SB 217 ▪ Labor and Employment - Wage History and Wage Range HB 233/SB 212 ▪ Criminal Law - Assault in the First Degree - Strangulation HB 242/SB 206 ▪ Criminal Procedure - Motion to Vacate Judgment - Human Trafficking (True Freedom Act of 2020)
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A BIT OF AAUW ANNE ARUNDEL MORNING BOOK CLUB COUNTY/SEVERNA PARK BRANCH Lynn Hapchuk “HERSTORY” Terry Sayler The daytime book group met via Zoom in May. We plan another Zoom meeting in June to discuss The Girl with 7 We all missed attending our annual Spring Banquet this Names by Hyeonseo Lee. While not quite the same as an year, so I thought I’d look back for more information in-person gathering, we all enjoyed a lively discussion of about that event. The following is gleaned from our our May selection and we look forward to our June 3 branch scrapbooks covering our “herstory” from the meeting. For more details and the passwords to attend, beginning in 1966 to the present. please contact Lynn Hapchuk,
1-4, 1970, all carried a similar article about the international dinner held at 7:30 P.M. in the Woods Memorial Church Fellowship Hall, preceded by a cocktail MONDAY NIGHT BRIDGE hour at a member’s home. Installation of officers Roxann King followed the dinner. The Maryland Gazette, The Baltimore Sun, The Evening Capital, The Villager, June 2- We have discovered that playing bridge online can be a 3, 1971, reported an international dinner at St. Martin’s- lot of fun. We have been meeting online each Monday in-the-Field Hall preceded by a champagne punch. From since the beginning of May. So far from eight to sixteen 1973 to 1979 these dinners and installation of officers players have been involved with the game at 7 p.m. Each continued at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Hall. In 1972 table opens a conference call so members can talk during branch members gathered for their annual “Gourmet the play. It is so nice to connect with our friends! Gala” dinner at the Severna Park Methodist Church. In 1983 and 1984 the dinner moved to the Severn School dining hall. In 1985 the dinner was held at the Governor Calvert House on State Circle in Annapolis. In 1986 the 20th anniversary dinner and birthday cake were served at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church. 1987 was the first time the annual Spring Banquet and installation of officers was held at Chartwell Country Club. An interesting side note is that husbands were always included in the dinners in the 1970s and early 1980s.
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Appeal to our Philanthropists…
Part of our national mission is philanthropy in support of • Women-to-Women awards to local women with equity in the workplace and in education for women and needs for pursuing higher education; girls. If you wish to contribute personally to any of our • Transfer Scholarship awards to Anne Arundel Branch award funds, send a check payable to: AAUW Community College graduates transferring to a Anne Arundel County Branch to our treasurer: Dianne college or university; Dezio, 8607 Wintergreen Ct., #403, Odenton, MD 21113. • AAUW Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) The three funds are listed below. If you do not specify a awards, presented by the national AAUW fund, then your donation will be distributed 40%, 40%, organization to women for graduate education or 20%, respectively, which is the rule our Branch has research related to women’s issues. determined for distributing Branch award fund monies.
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
June 3rd Wednesday Morning Book Club, contact [email protected] June 3rd Wednesday Evening Book Club, contact [email protected] June 8th Monday Branch Meeting 7:00 p.m. by Zoom (link will be emailed to members) July 1st Wednesday Evening Book Club, contact [email protected]
September 19th Saturday New Member Brunch Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church
Find us on Facebook at AAUW Anne Arundel County and on the web at annearundelcounty-md.aauw.net.
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