FIVE CITIES-PISMO BEACH BRANCH OF AAUW-CA October 2017

http://fivecitiespismobeach-ca.aauw.net Volume 39, No. 3 Newsletter Editor: jbarnesgabriel@gmail.com

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE… We are off to a good start of our Branch year! Those of us who attended the Welcome Meeting at Birchwood Gardens in Nipomo I’m sure will agree that it was a very pleasant get-together in a lovely outdoor setting. We did a little work, of course – approving the Branch Budget and Goals - but also a lot of friendly socializing. I am always pleased with the camaraderie among our members and how much we seem to enjoy each other’s company. I believe that is a large part of why we generously devote so much of our time, energy and resources to Branch programs and events. During the current year the Board will work diligently on making progress toward reaching the goals we have set for the Branch this year, by proposing and developing effective strategies to reach these goals:

• Increase membership, focusing on retaining current members, recruiting new members, and diversifying our membership.

• Increase the amount of funding raised to support our programs and activities.

We will only be successful with input and assistance from members. To that end, the Board has pledged to increase communication with members and obtain as much feedback as we can about what you find valuable and interesting and what does not stimulate your interest and involvement. As a starting point, we will be providing highlights of the most recent Board meeting in the monthly newsletter - beginning with this one. You should not be in the dark about what the Board is discussing, proposing, and planning. We will also provide more information during the business portion of our general meetings. As we reach out to you, we hope that you will, in turn, reach out to us and not hesitate to share your opinions and recommendations. You can do that by responding

to surveys that are sent out to members, participating at general meetings, or contacting us through an email or phone call to any Board member. Or, you may attend any Board meeting. Members are always welcome! In closing, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Ann Sawyer for volunteering to assume the Parliamentarian position this year – an important Board position that had not been filled – and our co-VPs for Programs (Liz Wineman and Lisa Walker) for their planning of the Welcome Meeting and arranging for a very interesting speaker and topic for our general meeting in October. I hope to see many of you at that meeting! Susan Opava, Branch President

Highlights from the

September 11, 2017 Board Meeting

• Our branch is the chair of the SLO County Inter-Branch Council (IBC) this year. As such, our branch is responsible for planning the February Fellows Luncheon, held in conjunction with the Santa Barbara County IBC.

• Branch membership is currently at 69 members.

• Proposed branch goals for the year will continue to be the same as last year: 1. Increase membership, focusing on retaining

current members, recruiting new members, and diversifying our membership.

2. Increase the amount of funding raised to support our programs and activities.

• The Board will continue to work on a revised leadership structure for presentation to the membership for approval.

• The Board will try to develop more effective communication with members.

Comments and questions are welcome and may be directed to any Board member. From your Branch Board

October 2017 2

October General Meeting

SPEAKING OF HOSPICE: EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW BUT WERE AFRAID TO

ASK

OCTOBER 16TH

at the ARROYO GRANDE WOMEN’S CLUB

Social time at 6:30, Program at 7,

Business meeting to follow.

Susan Quinones from Wilshire Hospice will speak at our October meeting. She will seek to dispel myths about hospice care and cover such questions as “what is hospice”? ”How do we have the conversation about the end of life”?, and ”How do we know when it’s time”? Please join us for this presentation as we learn more about and explore this sensitive topic.

MEMBERSHIP Hello everyone. Well we stand at 69 members at present and our goal for the year is another seven members. So please put on your thinking caps to see how we can recruit more people. The directories are done thanks to Linda Lidberg. The directory has a new format so utilize it to check out all the committees and interest groups to see where you would be interested in participating!

2017-2018 Membership Directories were available for pickup at the Welcome Back Event. Members were asked to pick up any directories for neighbors, book club members, bridge players, etc., or anyone they might see in the near future as mailing them is quite costly. So be on the lookout for an opportunity to receive yours from a helping friend. The remaining directories will be available at the October 16th meeting. After that, contact: Membership VP, Susan Brazil.

Tech Trek 2017 UCSB Campers: Thank You Notes - Brandi Weldon Thank you so much for letting me have this experience and discover parts of myself that I never knew were there. You all spent a lot of money to send not only me but a few more campers, too. I would like you to know your generosity and amount of belief in young girls such as myself does not go unnoticed.

I am so glad the Five Cities Pismo Beach Branch chose me to get involved in not only Tech Trek but AAUW, too. I’ve had such an amazing and unforgettable week that I know will change me and my future. My core class was coding and I believe I found a new love for it. I even got to design and code an app myself. We went on a super fun boat trip where we learned about marine life and even got to see dolphins! On Friday we went to the beach and learned about the ocean and we had the chance to swim.

The entire week was full of fun and laughter. I made friends and felt like I finally belonged. I would like to thank you again for letting me have this week and for creating an unforgettable summer.

Sincerely, Brandi Weldon

October 2017 3

BINGO AND SILENT AUCTION

Monday, November 6, 2017

5:30 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Church, AG

Here comes our big fundraiser. We’ve separated the tasks necessary to make the evening a big success. Decide what you will do to help, and tell us what job you will do. We need everyone’s help. We have some members who do many jobs, and others who do few. What task will you do for the Bingo and Silent Auction Evening?

Help. Decide what task you will do and contact us so your name is on the list to get this done. We do need you! Thanks, Kathy Cohon

SILENT AUCTION

We had a lovely meeting at the Birchwood Gardens, and I got a lot of members to sign up to volunteer. But I still need more!!

I need people to:

• Organize items with numbers • Organize gift certificates • Ferry items from Marilyn’s home to St. John’s

at 3:00 on Nov. 6th • Set up/take down room at St. John’s • Cashier of Silent Auction • Runners to return sheets to highest bidder • Retriever of Silent Auction items after Bingo

has finished • Delivery of wines to highest bidders the

following day (Nov. 7th)

I will be sending out a list of the businesses from whom we have received donations in the past. Please add your name to the list and call me (543-5403) or email me with your name so we don’t duplicate donations.

Thank you. YOU make it happen. YOU make our branch able to give scholarships, Tech Trek opportunities, and reading books to students of the South County. Pam Zirion

S.A. Donations – Word Search

AAUW BINGO COMMITTEES

BEFORE BINGO NIGHT Tickets Electronic Publicity Posters Kitchen Door Prizes Game Prizes

NIGHT OF BINGO Draw map of existing room Move furniture (about 3 PM) Post arrows to entrance Cashier at entrance Square Game Caller Caller’s Assistant Game White Board Money Hat Clean and Reset Room

October 2017 4

GREAT DECISIONS

Nuclear Security: The Enduring Challenge of Nuclear Weapons. What a timely topic for the next Great Decision discussion group meeting on October 23! Find out accurate and interesting information to enhance your current knowledge by joining the Great Decisions group on October 23, 7:00 pm to discuss Nuclear Security. Our current world security is in the forefront of the news with North Korea testing missiles, hot rhetoric between the United States and North Korea leaders, a promise by President Trump to boycott and pull out of the Iranian nuclear treaty and more. Great Decisions video, discussion and reading may help unravel your understanding of this world-wide challenge. Join us on October 23 for a lively discussion.

Great Decisions meets monthly at the home of Mary Jo Aspinall to discuss world events, view a video and follow up a reading from the Great Decisions Foreign Policy Association publication. The meetings are typically the 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. New attendees are welcome. Call Mary Jo Aspinall 556-0193 or Connie Rodgers 481-1841 with questions.

DAYTIME PAGE TURNERS

Daytime Page Turners welcomes you to join book lovers who meet in the daylight, but read anytime. We meet the first Friday of each month, hosted by different members. The discussion begins at 11:30 am, followed by member’s brown bag lunch and dessert and beverages provided by the hostess. Meetings are the 1st Friday of each month, 11:30 am. October 6, Friday at 11:30 am will find the Daytime Page Turners at the home of Mo Briggs. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown will be discussed. This true story celebrates the 1936 U.S. men’s Olympic eight oar rowing team—nine working class boys who stormed the rowing world, transformed the sport, and galvanized the attention of millions of Americans. Our book discussion on November 3 will be centered on the novel Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. Gaye Peltzman will serve as hostess in November. We welcome new readers, as always. Message Jean Burns Slater 805 627-1845 or jbslater2006@gmail.com for more details and a listing of the remaining books for 2017.

LUNCH BUNCH On Thurs., Oct. 5th, The Lunch Bunch will head to Avila Beach to the Woodstone Marketplace and Deli. They do not take reservations, so it would be great if we are all there at 11:30 so they can seat us together. It is a fairly small venue with not too much group seating, and it is a popular place. Woodstone is located off San Luis Bay Dr., on Bay Laurel Place before the town of Avila Beach. Depending on weather, we may be seated outside so a light jacket or sweater might be in order. Kindly RSVP to Carole Dempsey at medipharmix@aol.com. NIGHT READERS

The next meeting of the evening Book Club will be held at the home of Sandra Ku on October 10. The book for discussion is a “classic” choice, E. L. Doctorow’s “Ragtime.” The novel uses a unique concept, combining historical American figures of the early 1900s with fictional characters woven into the narrative. Making cameo appearances are such figures as Harry Houdini, J. P Morgan, Henry Ford, Evelyn Nesbit, Emma Goldman, and Coalhouse Walker. Looking ahead, the selected book for November is “The Summer Before the War” by Helen Simonson. The evening Book Club is currently filled to capacity. - Sandra Ku, chairperson

FINESSING FEMMES BRIDGE

Finessing Femmes now meets on the first Wednesday of the month. We meet at 12:30 at the home of one of the members. If interested in joining our bridge group, call Marilyn Corey at 473-1928.

HAND AND FOOT CANASTA

The AAUW Hand and Foot card group will meet at Debbie Audet's house on Friday, October 27th, at 9:30 a.m. Bring a lunch and $3. Drinks, snacks, and dessert will be provided. We are looking for a permanent member and members willing to substitute. Contact Debbie Audet at 550-8910 if you are interested.

October 2017 5

Cooking Together – November 4th

Please join us for our next dinner November 4, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. Hosted by Elin McCall Please contact the host to RSVP at least one week before each dinner so that she can plan accordingly.

• Please bring a bottle of your favorite beverage (alcoholic or not) to share with the group. Cost per person is $10 paid to the hosts

• Hosts will print copies of all recipes for the dishes we prepare for everyone to take home.

Your Committee Chair, Lisa Walker.

October 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3 4 Finessing

Femmes Bridge 12:30pm

5 11:30am

Lunch Bunch

6 11:30am Daytime Page Turners

7

8 9

10 Night Readers 7pm

11

12

13 14

15

16 7pm General Meeting: Wilshire Hospice

17

18 19 20 21

22 23 Great

Decisions 7pm

24

25 26 27 Hand & Foot Canasta 9:30am

28

29

30

31

Cooking Together

November 4, 5:30pm

September 2017 S M T W T F S 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30

October Birthdays: 10/02 Beth Hutton 10/10 Kathy Cohon 10/10 Linda Kime 10/14 Sandra Pitt 10/15 Janice Kaiserman 10/21 Susie Wedell 10/22 Rose Ann Steiner 10/31 Joyce Rowe

November 2017 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

October 2017 6

October 2017 7