The Branch,
Poughkeepsie AAUW

February 2020 Newsletter>>

January 2020 Newsletter>>
 

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AAUW-NYS & National News>>
 

AAUW-NYS
Centennial Lapel Pin

$75.00 each
On sale until April 15th.

Details>>

AAUW 2020 Vision: The Gender Agenda>>

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Coming Events

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Come celebrate with Poughkeepsie AAUW the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage with a program highlighting Dutchess County’s role in advancing the rights of women!

 

A Long & Winding Road: the Local Path to Women’s Suffrage
on its 100th Anniversary
 

March 12, 7:00 pm

Unitarian Fellowship, 67 S Randolph Ave
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601*

Presented by

Bill Jeffway, Executive Director, Dutchess County Historical Society

Melodye Moore, Head of Collections, Trustee, Dutchess County Historical Society

Top: Lucretia Mott, one of the five organizers of the Seneca Falls convention in 1848 was a student and teacher at the Nine Partners Boarding School in what is today Millbrook.  Bottom: Vassar College faculty were not allowed to publicly advocate for women's suffrage until after 1910.  The leader of the Equal Suffrage League who did emerge at that time was Vassar Professor Laura J. Wylie. 

A look at the persons and events within Dutchess County that led up to the adoption of the US Constitutional Amendment in August of 1920 granting women across the nation the right to vote. From the beginning of organized efforts at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, to influences prior to that, Dutchess County has had a unique influence in part due to its large Quaker community and the presence of Vassar College.

More Information>>
 

The following link will lead you to an article by Bill Jeffway will give you an overview of this journey to voter rights for women. 

The Local Path to 1920 “Votes for Women” by Bill Jeffway>>
 

 

*Directions: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie at 67 South Randolph Ave. can be accessed from Hooker Ave. OR take Route 9 to Sharon Dr. (near Holiday Inn).  At the end of Sharon turn left onto Beechwood then the first right onto Ferris Lane, next an immediate left to S. Randolph.  The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie is on the right.

Questions: Monique Jones, 849-1692, Sandy Lash, 227-4650

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“Good food is very often, even most often, simple food.” ― Anthony Bourdain

Join Poughkeepsie AAUW for a presentation on:

April 16, 2020 7:00 pm
Unitarian Fellowship
 

The Future of Food & Nutrition: Trends and Perspectives

Food is central to our health and the health of the planet. With growing global challenges of obesity, hunger, and climate change (to name a few…) how will we feed a future population of 10 billion people a healthy diet within planetary boundaries by 2050? Allison Righter, MSPH, RDN, will cover the latest research as well as consumer and industry food trends that are driving changes towards a healthier and more sustainable food future.

Allison Righter is an Assistant Professor in the School of Culinary Science and Nutrition at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), where she teaches Nutrition, Food Safety, Food Systems and Public Health courses.

More information>>

 

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Poughkeepsie AAUW
Year 2018-19 in Review

President's Report 2018-19>>

Diane Jablonski

 

The events of 2018-19>>

Taken from the pages of our newsletter The Branch
 

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Recent Events

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Asylum and the Role of Counsel

February 13, 2020

Speaker: Rob Horne

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie

Managing Attorney, Regional Immigration Assistance Center 4 Hudson Valley Region

The perilous situation of asylum seekers at the border and of non-documented and other non-citizens living in the US has filled the news and often the headlines. What is actually happening and how can the situation be addressed?

Rob Horne addressed the fundamentals of an asylum application and the role of counsel, current issues in asylum law and at the border; consequences of criminal convictions and resources available to non-citizens charged with crimes.

 

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Extending Hospitality to 21st-Century
Students at DCC

 On January 9, 2020, Marti Madory, chair of the  Poughkeepsie AAUW International-Diversity Committee, arranged an outstanding program which brought together Marcia Butland, Assistant Dean, Office of Student Advocacy and Accountability at Dutchess Community College,and the Poughkeepsie-Oaxaca Friendship Committee.  

With the demographic changes in today’s student population, Marcia’s talk explained the DCC’s efforts to respond to these shifts. This thoughtful look at DCC’s experience also helped to illustrate the need and opportunity to establish a community-wide Hospitality Resource to welcome the area’s minority and international residents and visitors

In addition Blanca Calderon, Joyette Walton, and Franky Perez
gave an enthusiastic report on their days in Oaxaca and the wonderful people and students they met.

AAUW member Ellie Charwat, who chairs the Friendship Committee, recently spoke to the Wappingers Rotary Club on the subject, and has written an article about it for the Fall 2019 Road Scholar Alumni Magazine (Here>>).  The Friendship Committee hopes to organize a reciprocal trip in 2021 in which Mexican teachers visit Dutchess County schools.

More Information>>
 

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Grace Smith House:
An Open Door for
Victims of Domestic Violence
History, Programs and Services
 

  Branka Bryan                          Marjorie Smith

On December 12, 2019, AAUW members donated an amazing pile of gifts to the women at Grace Smith House.  The members were then treated to a summary of the critical services and programs that it offers in our area by recently appointed Executive Director Branka Bryan, PsyD.  Grace Smith House Board member, Marjorie J. Smith, JD spoke about the problems the families and some of the history of the organization.  Many questions were asked and answered.

Additional Information on Program and Speakers>>
 

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Hiking & Picking: Experiencing the Music & Terrain of the Appalachians
 

On November 14 at the
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, we were entertained and informed about the Appalachian trail.  Rich Keyes (left) showed slides and gave commentary on the nearly 800 miles of the trail he has traveled and he joined Carole and Kevin    Becker (middle and right) to play music of the region.  This program was presented in conjunction with the "Big Read."

More information>>
 

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November 2, 2010

Video & Pictures of the Day>>
 

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Poughkeepsie AAUW
Woman of the Year 2019

Hon. Joan S. Posner

 

Dutchess County
Family Court Judge

Acting Supreme
Court Justice
Retired

October 27, 2019, an afternoon of celebration for an outstanding woman!

Complete Biography>>
 

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Gender Bias in Healthcare:
A Long History

On October 10, 2019 at Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie , Christie VanHorne, presented a program that left all with much to think about and a plan to obtain better health care.

Christie started with our sharing both our good and bad experiences with doctors.  She gave a brief history of diagnosis - if missed diagnosis was a disease  it would be the third largest cause of death. Many women have been dismissed as being hysterical (we can thank Fraud for this).  She shared many other stories ending with reminding us that  racial disparities and marginalized people experience far greater discrimination in medical care - it is a racial problem.                  

What can we do when we have a doctor's appointment:

Remember first of all you are the expert on you. 

- Think what questions you have - you have at most 15 minutes.

- Have a 20 second elevator complaint

- How has you complaint impacted your life - what does it prevent you from doing - be specific

- Have questions ready - prioritize your questions in case you only have time for a few.

- Never get angry

- Elaborate on yes and no questions the doctor asks.

More program information>>
 

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Open House/Reunion

On Thursday, September 12 at Freedom Plains Presbyterian Church, AAUW gathered for their annual Open House/ Reunion to introduce the program for the year.  This included the monthly programs, interest groups and initiatives.  Current members were welcomed back and prospective members were welcomed to the organization.  This was a new meeting venue for AAUW and was found to be most effective.
 

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POUGHKEEPSIE AAUW ANNUAL MEETING & INSTALLATION DINNER 2019
 

Speakers

At the June 13th meeting fun pictures were taken, AAUW members and friends chatted and met new people, elections were held, officers installed and members honored.  That was all before the program started with the recipients of the Irene Keyes Scholarship speaking about their trip to the NCCWSL conference.  The final part of the evening was a talk by Sabrina Marzouka, "Improving the Lives of Women and Children."  We were told to "open our briefcase of talent and change the world."  Sabrina closed with a quote she has on her office door by Angela Davis "I am no longer accepting the thing I cannot change. I am changing the things I can not accept."  It was a wonderful evening, enjoyed by all.

Additional information>>

Committee: Sharon Fleury, Diane Jablonski, Joan Kimmel & Ann Pinna

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Goldee Greene, Vocal Artist

Tom McCoy, Music Director

Diverse Divas in Opera, Jazz & Musical

May 9, 2019 AAUW  had a true musical experience.  Goldee Greene charmed us with excerpts by opera divas such as Cleopatra, Tosca and Delilah as well as real-life prima donna’s like Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Mae West and Marlene Dietrich.

Many genres express the laughter, love, struggles and empowerment of women through the ages - from Puccini to Duke Ellington.  In collaboration with world-class pianist and arranger Tom McCoy, we were treated to  a stirring, wheels-within-wheels evening of songs and piano solo (from Ellington).

More program information>>

Sabashnee Govender introduced her co-chair, Judy Longacre and once again AAUW members were most generous with donations for Days for Girls>> .