CAB: The

Paris Wife

Film Buds:

“Moonrise

Kingdom” @

Beth Eller’s

Board

Meeting

Adelante:

Still Alice

Evening: The Help @ Emily Quinn’s

Film Fans: “Moonrise Kingdom”

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 4 5 6 GEM Fund

Drive Kickoff —

10 — 2

Beaver Dam

Rd. Fire Station

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 23 25 27

28 29 30

4—6

AAUW: Breaking down educational and economic barriers for women and girls

CAB

Helen McClintock on James Joyce’s

The Dead

4:30 at home of Renée Levine;

rsvp to Renée at haroldrenee@att.net.

Film Buds,

Led by Beth Ellers

Film & Location: TBA

5:30 —7

Lunch Bunch Noon

Pack’s Tavern 20 S. Spruce

Film Fans

Led by Beth Johnson

Film : TBA River Ridge Apt.

Club House 12—1:30

Evening

Ines of My Soul,

Allende; 7 pm, at home of Barbara

Mayer, 119 Beaver Ridge Rd; rsvp to Barbara at 252-6694 or bmay-

er8804@aol.com

AAUW Asheville

Newsletter

Apr i l 20 1 3

World Affairs

Topic: Health Care Systems

1:30, home of Barbara Mayer; rsvp to Barbara at 252-

6694 or bmay-

er8804@aol.com.

Reservation Deadline for Lunch Bunch

RSVP to sherrysaerie@

gmail.com

Adelante

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, Simonson;

1:45 at home of Jayne Gallinger, 33 Little Cedar Ct; rsvp

to Jayne at 299-3975

Branch Meeting

11:30 1st Baptist Church

Interactive Session: Exploring AAUW’s

Mission

RSVP to Andriette Kinsela by April 12,

andriettek@ bellsouth.net

Contents

Calendar p. 1

Activities & Events p. 2

President’s Message p. 3

Public Policy—CGIU p. 4

GEM News p. 5

GEM Announcements p. 6

New Members p. 7

Member Birthdays p. 7

New Officer Slate p. 7

Branch Meeting Reservation

Deadline

Reservation Deadline

for May 4 International

Dining Kentucky Derby

dinner; rsvp to Sandy

Bernard at 828-692-3620

or ssmreb@bellsouth.net

Standing Study Groups and Activities

Remember to notify the hostess or group leader if you plan

to attend this month’s meeting so that they can predict

attendance and so that you can be apprised of any last-

minute changes.

Adelante Book Group: The book study group meets the first Wednesday of every month at homes of members; for this month’s location and more information, contact group leader Fran Myers at 274-0976 or fjgmyers@bellsouth.net.

CAB Book Group: The “Cocktails and Books” discussion group meets downtown the first Monday of each month, from 4:30 to 6 pm for wine and conversation. To get more information or add your name to the list of members, contact group leader Peg Steiner at galaxpeg@hotmail.com. If you plan to attend, rsvp to co-chair Renée Levine at haroldrenee@att.net. Attendance is limited to 15 participants per session.

Evening Book Group: The book discussion group meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 7 pm at he homes of various members; all are welcome; for this month’s location or to obtain more information, contact group leader Juanita Spanogle at jspanogle@aol.com or 258-0096 .

Film Buds: This film discussion group meets the second Monday of each month from 5:30 to 7 to discuss first-run films; attendance is limited to the first 20 current group members who make a reservation with the group leader, Beth Ellers; because of the large size of the group, new member-ship is closed, but note that the Film Fans group dis-cusses the same film and is open to new members; to obtain this month’s film selection, location, and other information, contact Beth Ellers at slark1@att.net. Participants bring pot-luck supper.

Film Fans: This film discussion group meets the first Thursday after the second Monday of each month from noon to 1:30 at the River Ridge Apartments Club House; film is the same as that discussed by the Monday Film Buds group; members bring their own lunch; open to new members; for the film selection of this month’s meeting or to get more information, contact group leader Beth Johnson at JOHNSON1ea@earthlink.net.

International Dining Group: The International Dining group enjoys great food and wonderful company. Participants learn more about the food and customs of different countries as they prepare and then savor meals from around the world. The group will meet 7 times this year. All AAUW members and their guests are welcome. For more information, contact Sandy Bernard at ssmreb@bellsouth.net or 692-3620 or Debra Benjamin at debrabenjamin100@gmail.com or 650-0311.

Lunch Bunch: The Lunch Bunch is an informal gathering for lunch on the second Friday of each month at noon at a different area restaurant. The Lunch Bunch is open to all AAUW members who wish to be added to the reservation list. Be sure to contact Sherry Brown by the deadline date at sherrysaerie@gmail.com or 357-8455 and to get directions to the restaurant.

World Affairs Study Group: The study group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month to discuss selected topics in world affairs; participants meet at the homes of different members. Anyone interested in the wider world and how it affects all of us is invited to attend meetings. For more information, contact Eve Miller at 299-8107 or evehigginsmiller7@gmail.com.

April 2013 — page 2

March Branch Meeting

Wednesday, April 17

First Baptist Church

Interactive Session: “Exploring AAUW’s Mission”

Laura Collins: Facilitator

Lunch at 11:30 $12

RSVP by April 12 to Andriette Kinsella at andriettek@bellsouth.net

April 2013 — page 3

From the Branch President

Dear AAUW Friends:

If you missed the March branch meeting on STEM, you missed a wonderful presenta-tion. We had a record crowd of more than 60 members and guests and were captivat-ed by the presentations of Adrienne Franklin and Lynn Banks who work with the

technology company TSA Choice. We also delighted in the technology path of Ahira Sanchez who works for the National Climate Data Center. It was inspiring to hear from young people who have found places in what have been male-dominated careers.

Take care,

Molly Keeney

mollykeeney@charter.net 828-337-5044

Shirley Quisenberry, a 50-year member of AAUW reported that she received a call from AAUW headquarters in DC. Her great aunt, Florence Sabin, is memorialized with an AAUW endowment for her work in medicine. It’s quite an inspiring STEM story and I urge you to go to this link for details: http://www.aauw.org/2013/03/15/women-in-history-live-on-through-fellowships/ .

Each table was tasked with recording suggestions on how our AAUW branch can support STEM initiatives in the Asheville area. Here are some of the ideas:

Consider designating one of our educational scholarships to a woman studying in a STEM field (this suggestion was made by several).

Sponsor the Girl Scout Techbridge Programs in a Box program.

Review picture books to determine which promote

equity in content/illustration and perhaps which show bias against scientific/techy women or girls.

Join up with efforts of the Girl Scout’s work with Asheville Middle School’s program on STEM.

Investigate ways we could support the NSF grant that AB- Tech received for women in non-traditional fields.

Sponsor a Lego Robotic Club.

Hook up with Asheville Women in Technology using some of our members to speak to local business associations.

Since 6th grade is a pivotal year, we could partner with other organizations to provide STEM opportunities in local middle schools.

As you can see the group was thoughtful and ambitious.

Perhaps the first thing we should do is set up a STEM group to take the leadership in this initiative. Is anyone out there interested in serving on it???? Let me know.

Membership

I’m very happy to report that we now have 161 members of our AAUW branch. We are the largest in the state and one of the only ones with continuous growth over the past 5 years. Congratulations!

Communications

Thanks to the efforts of Helen McClintock, Pat Argue and others, AAUW and GEM have gotten wonderful publicity about our GEM scholarship program in WNC Woman and Asheville Citizen-Times. The Bling, Bling Bash information was included as well!

Board Business

The Board was asked to review a Resolution of Commitment to Ratify the ERA in North Carolina. The Board reviewed the resolution and it was moved and seconded that the Board support and sign the resolution.

Cathy and Molly plan to attend the NC State AAUW meeting in Burlington April 12 and 13. The Board discussed and agreed that payment for registration and hotel for Cathy and Molly will be paid out of the general branch funds.

I hope I’ll see you at our next meeting on April 17th!

From the National Branch

March 5, 2013

AAUW, Clinton Global Initiative Form Strategic Partnership

Working Together to Engage the Next Generation of Leaders

WASHINGTON — The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is a Strategic Partner of the Clinton Global Initiative and the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), a move that brings together two leading organizations dedicated to making a tangible impact on the world.

“We are thrilled about this new partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative and CGI U, which expands AAUW’s campus leadership and provides opportunities for global outreach and collaboration,” said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. “We have been helping women blaze new trails for more than a century. Through this partnership we will continue that wonderful tradition in a fresh and exciting way.”

“We are excited to welcome AAUW as a sponsor of CGI University this year as we mobilize more than 1,000 young leaders from around the world to create positive change,” said Robert S. Harrison, chief exec-utive officer of CGI. “AAUW’s experience, knowledge, and leadership in the Women’s space will serve to enhance CGI U’s ongoing focus on empowering the next generation of girls and women, which we believe is critical to future prosperity for everyone. We look forward to their participation and insight as we help students turn their ideas into action at Washington University in St. Louis in April.”

Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Hallman, represent-ing AAUW, attended the recent CGI winter meeting in New York. CGI Annual Meetings have brought to-gether more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize winners, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date, CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.

From April 5 to 7, 2013, President Clinton will host the sixth annual meeting of CGI U at Washington Uni-versity in St. Louis where student leaders, including those from the AAUW community, as well as NGO representatives, topic experts, and celebrities will gather to address global challenges with practical solu-tions. Each CGI U student must make a Commitment to Action: a specific plan of action that addresses a pressing challenge on campus, in the community, or in a different part of the world. More than $400,000 in funding will be provided to CGI U 2013 student attendees to turn their ideas into action to help con-front some of the world’s most urgent challenges. To date, CGI U meetings have convened more than 4,500 students from nearly 750 schools, more than 130 countries, and all 50 states.

To learn more, visit cgiu.org.

April 2013 — page 4

Public Policy

GEM News

April 2013 — page 5

GEM Fund to Kick Off Spring Fund Drive Season with “Bling, Bling Bash!” —

Don’t’ Miss It!

The GEM Fund of AAUW Asheville will kick off its annual spring fund drive season this year with a new event, “Bling, Bling Bash.”

Fund Drive Chairwoman Susan Grabel says,

Plan to gather up your friends and drop by this great new event April 6. All proceeds go to help fund scholarships.

Susan also reminds everyone to mark their calendars for the culminating social event of the fund drive season, the fundraiser party at the historic Fernihurst mansion on the A-B Tech campus on Sunday, June 2. It will be fabulous again this year, so please plan to attend and bring your friends. Watch for details in next month’s newsletter.

If you want to get a jump on reservations and contributions, contact Helen McClintock at 404-694-3216. Tickets are $40 per person. Sponsorships are available at three levels, starting with Sapphire level at $100.

“Pre-Call” for Items for the Members’ Boutique

In anticipation of the Fundraiser Party, please begin thinking about items and services you might contribute to the Members’ Boutique. Again this year, we are asking GEM and AAUW members to contribute their own original works of fine art or crafts. Last year fourteen members contributed

over 25 items — including handmade books, paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, hand painted furniture, and other fine items.

New this year is the Member Services portion of the Members’ Boutique. This part of the silent auction will offer great ideas and services volunteered by our members. These items might include hosting a dinner party, guiding a bird watching hike, giving a private tutorial on how to use Facebook, helping organize a closet or planting the bidder’s garden with flowers, hosting an art gallery walk, etc. Check out the “ad” on the next page or last month’s newsletter for more ideas. Cathy Battle heads up the Boutique this year; direct your questions and ideas to her. Cathy says she will begin taking items whenever you want to bring them, includ-ing your offer of services. She also asks that you suggest an opening bid. You can reach Cathy at 348-0505 or at catherinbattle@earthlink.com.

March Features Great Publicity for GEM and AAUW Asheville

We hope you all had a chance to read Helen McClintock’s wonderful article in the March issue of WNC Woman. Helen interviewed three of our 12 current GEM Scholars and featured their stories in the article. The Asheville Citizen-Times also ran a story on GEM and AAUW Asheville, featuring the technology grant that provided iPads to our A-B Tech recipients.

Putting a human face on our GEM scholarship program fosters greater interest and understanding among the public.

GEM Tributes

In Honor of Connie MacDonald, “one of the

GEM Board's initial founding spirits” — Eve

Miller

In honor of the 75th birthday of her husband —

Gladys Podhurst

In honor of the birthday of Jill Preyer — Helen

McClintock

In honor of the birthdays of Helen McClintock,

Jill Preyer, & Jeanne Smolkin — Alice Doner

The GEM Fund: AAUW Asheville Scholarship Endowment Fund, Inc.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that BLING!!

Don't miss the kickoff of our fundraising season for GEM Fund scholarships with

a Bling, Bling, Bash sale of fabulous

"gently" used jewelry, scarves, hand-bags and other accessories on at great low prices — Saturday, April 6 from 10-2 at the Fire Station on 450 Beaverdam Rd. We’ve gathered some fabulous bling and other accessories from our AAUW members and friends, so come check us out.

As the philanthropic arm of

the Asheville Branch of the

AAUW, the GEM Fund

supports AAUW’s mission of

breaking down educational and

economic barriers for women

and girls. Founded in 2002 by

the Asheville Branch of the

AAUW, the Fund is an

endowment used to provide

undergraduate college scholar-

ships for women whose educa-

tion has been interrupted or

delayed.

The Gem Fund has 501(c)3 status and, as such, contribu-tions to GEM are entirely tax deductible. All donations gratefully accepted and acknowledged. Note: During the fund drive season (now through June), please mail contri-butions to the GEM Fund at 2 Nichols Hill Drive Ext., Asheville, NC; 28804.

What is the GEM Fund?

Board of Directors

Alice Doner, President

Susan Grabel, First

Vice-President

Melinda Brown, Second

Vice-President

Jeanne Smolkin, Treasurer

Eve Miller, Secretary

Marilyn Kolton

Helen McClintock

Jill Preyer

Emily Quinn

Ann Clarke Snell

Molly Keeney, AAUW Ashe-

ville President

Pat Argue, Past President,

Advisor

Call for Items

for the

MeMbers’ boutique

Begin thinking about donating some of your original works of fine art or crafts or — new this year — offers of services to put up for silent auction at the

June 2 GEM Fundraiser Party.

Ceramics

Paintings, Drawings, & Watercolors

Photography

Handmade Books and Boxes

Handmade or hand painted furniture

Handmade Jewelry

Textiles

Other original works of art or crafts

Saturday, April 6

10:00 — 2:00

Fire Station at

450 Beaver Dam Road

Sale of Gently Used Accessories

Benefitting the GEM Fund of AAUW Asheville:

Scholarships for Local Women

Jewelry

Handbags

Scarves

Gloves

Belts

Hats

Bling, Bling Bash! April 2013 — page 6

Fine Arts and Crafts Services and Experiences

Host a dinner party

Plant a flower bed or house sit

Lend a cabin or vacation spot for a weekend

Help organize a garage or closet

Provide music for a dinner party

Host a gallery walk or an outing in a nearby town

Provide a tutorial on cooking, using technology, arts and crafts, etc.

Whatever other wonderful thing you can think of

To drop off items or share your idea, contact Cathy Battle

at 348-0505 or catherinebattle@earthlink.net.

Mark the date

for the annual

GEM Fundraiser Party

Sunday, June 2

4—6

at the Historic

Fernihurst Mansion

on the A-B Tech Campus

For preview information, contact Susan

Grabel or Helen McClintock.

Branch Board

President Molly Keeney

Vice-President Catherine Battle

Secretary Deb Fulton-

Helmer

Treasurer Laurie Powell

Co-Vice Presidents, Programs

Andriette Kinsella

Susan Grabel

Co-Vice Presidents, Membership

Barbara Robinson

Emily Quinn

Public Policy Karen Rubin

Newsletter Alice Doner

Webmaster Eleanor Johnson

GEM President Alice Doner

Study Group Chair Eleanor Johnson

Past President Jeanne Smolkin

AAUW Asheville

Welcome New Members! Please welcome these new members who joined since the publication of the last

newsletter; they will be great new assets to our organization. Please add their

contact information to the Members’ Directory. Membership is 161 and growing!

Lois Bauer —

Lois earned a BS in Education and Sociology from Jacksonville University and then, from the University of South Florida, a BA in Education and in Counseling and a degree as an Education Specialist.

105 Onyx Drive; Fairview, 28730 (H) 828-628-2300; © 828-505-5572 betsybauer31@gmail.com

Sandy Blankenbaker —

Sandy graduated from the Bryan Memorial School of Nursing and then earned a BA in Pre-Med from Hastings College and an MA in Nurs-ing from Texas Woman’s University.

70 Riverside Drive; Spruce Pine, 28777 (H) 828-765-2480 Sandyblanken@yahoo.com

Wendy Haner —

Wendy earned a BS in Education from UNC-Chapel Hill.

5 Kimberly Ave.; Asheville, 28804 (H) 828-252-5334; (C ) 336-926-4301 wendyhaner@icloud.com

Michele Nichols —

Michele graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Spanish and earned an MA in Public Relations and Communications from Emerson College at Boston.

21 Stone Bridge Drive; Asheville, 28805 (H) 828-505-1332; (C ) 828-545-1232 nichols1332@charter.net

Find us on the Web at

http://asheville-nc.aauw.net

This Month’s Member Birthdays —

Tell your friends “Happy Birthday” and honor them with a gift to GEM!

Mary Lee Cerillo 4/21

Pat Ashe 4/10

Benita Auge 4/5

Lois Bauer 4/26

Mary Lloyd Frank 4/16

Jane Hansel 4/16

Barbara Mayer 4/27

Judy Duncan 4/14

Helen McClintock 4/13

Linda Nicodemus 4/8

Jill Preyer 4/14

Barbara Robinson 4/29

Anna Sagel 4/5

Karen Shuffler 4/8

Jeanne Smolkin 4/8

April 2013 — page 7

Asheville Branch Nominates Slate of New Officers

From Betsy Kirk, Chairwoman, AAUW Asheville Nominating Committee:

Elections for new board members — Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Co-Vice President of Membership, and Co-Vice President of Programs — will take place at the April branch meeting on April 17 at the 1st Baptist Church.

As stated in our by-laws, Article VII, section 5,

A nominating committee . . . shall be chosen by the Board of Directors . . . and will present the nominees to the membership. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the time of election, provided the nominee consents in advance. Should there be more than one nominee for an office, the voting will be by ballot and majority vote.

Accordingly, the nominating committee submits the following candidates for election of new board members for the 2013-14 year:

Executive Vice President — Ann Clarke Snell

Secretary — Deb Fulton-Helmer

Treasurer — Laurie Powell

Membership Co-VP — Mary Ellen Lewis-Johnson

Programs Co-VP — Judy Colella

All AAUW Asheville members in attendance at the April

meeting may vote for the candidates of their choice.

Bargain for New Members

Anyone new who joins our branch

between now and June 30 will receive

an extra three months of membership

for the standard annual membership

fee of $73. Please pass on this

information to friends and family. Our

current membership is the best source

for recruiting new members!

In Memorium

Long-time AAUW Asheville

member Martha Waterman

passed away in

early March at the

age of 99. She will

be missed.