You are cordially invited to attend the

Annual Meeting and Installation Dinner

Guest speaker

Sandra Opdycke

will discuss

“When Women Won the Vote”

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Cash Bar at 6:00 pm

Dinner at 6:30 pm

Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel

Reservations Required: $45, PayPal (Credit Card) $47

Reservations due no later than May 29^th

(No refunds after June 1^st)

Make checks payable: Poughkeepsie Branch AAUW Inc.

Mail check and reservation* to:

Judy Linville

PO Box 55

Staatsburg, NY 12580

To make reservations using PayPal, on www.aauwpoughkeepsie.org, select the yellow (PayPal/Donate) button and follow the onscreen directions. When PayPal asks for special instructions to Seller, click in that box and type Annual Dinner, your phone number and the full name(s) of those included in your reservation. You do not need a PayPal account to use this method. You do not have to contact Judy separately. The cost for the event when using PayPal is $47 per person.

Menu:

Fruit Cup, Garden Salad

Entrée:

Rib-Eye Steak or

Sole Meuniere or

Chicken Marsala or

Pasta Primavera

Hudson Valley apple Crisp ala Mode

Coffee or Tea

Questions: judylinville@citlink.net

*Reservation form below. ■

MEET LUCY STONE

Prominent American orator, abolitionist

and suffragist

Thursday, May 11, 2017

7:00 PM

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall

67 S. Randolph St, Poughkeepsie

Presented by

Judith Kalaora,

Founder - Artistic Director – Actress

“History at Play”

Our May program promises to be unique with our meeting Lucy Stone though Judith Kalaora’s presentation. Judith Kalaora, Founder/Artistic Director of “History at Play” will help us commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage movement in NYS.

Lucy Stone was one of the first women to spearhead the cause of women’s rights. Although she was allowed to speak for abolition as a Garrisonian agent, and not for women, she could not be stopped from speaking for women’s rights.*

Questions: Sandy Goldberg, 297-7670 sajgold@aol.com &

Betsy Kopstein, 485-7044 bkopstein@hotmail.com

*Continued below

MAY CALENDAR

Online Calendar at www.aauwpoughkeepsie.org

Contact: Kathy Friedman kfriedman33@gmail.com

April 20 “The Branch” deadline for JUNE!!

May 1 Word Games: 1:30 pm

Hostess: Sheila Zweifler (462-6478)

Coordinator: Betsy Vivas (485-2379)

2 World Travelers: 7:00 pm

Argentina, Brazil, Chili

Presenter: Sheila Zweifler

Hostess: Sheryl Miller (471-2937)

Reservations: Jeanette Cantwell (452-4188)

AAUWtravelers@gmail.com

4 Board Meeting: 7:00 pm

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Wilbur Blvd., Poughkeepsie

6 Defensive Driving Course, See below

8 All those books...: 2:30 pm

The Marble Faun by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Hostess: Carol Loizides e.loizides@verizon.net

Coordinator: Carol Loizides (452-3208)

9 Movie Night: Time TBD by show

Movie: Group members will be notified the

Thursday before - sign up with Sue.

Discussion: Eveready Diner, Rt. 9, Hyde Park

Director: Susan Osterhoudt (889-4469)

Producer: Diana Gleeson

10 Pedal Pushers: 10:00 am

Bike over Walkway to Highland, 12-14miles

Meeting Point: LaGrange Rail Trail Parking lot on

Old Manchester Road, behind Page Lumber

Leader: Sheila Zweifler (462-6478)

Coordinator: Sheila Zweifler sheilaz@optonline.net

10 Gourmet: Out & About: 6:00 pm

Le Petit Bistro, 8 E Market St., Rhinebeck

Contacts: Mary Ann Boylan (462-2504)

Kay Saderholm (229-8545) Ksaderholm@aol.com

11 General Membership Program: 7:00 pm

All members are invited and encouraged to attend

– see details on page top and below.

12 Daytime Literature: 10:00 am

The Girl with Seven Names by Hyenso-seo Lee &

The Expatriates by Janice Y. K. Lee

The Manor at Woodside, 168 Academy, Pok.

Coordinator: Leona Miller (471-0777)

15 Manderley Literary Society: 7:30 pm

Dying in Dubai by Roselee Blooston

Hostess: Barbara Markell (471-8810)

Coordinator: Shelly Friedman (462-4996)

16 Cuisine: 6:30 pm

Famous Chef

Hostesses: Sue Levine (462-1190) &

Pat Aglietti (677-9485)

Coordinator: Barbara Lemberger

brlemberger@yahoo.com

17 Bridge I: 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Hostess: Linda Ronayne (897-9745)

Coordinators: Linda Ronayne (897-9745

17 Photography Club: 7:00 pm

Hostess: TBA

Coordinator: Carol Demicco (845-204-9553

18 Aventures en Soleil:

Chelsea & High Line Tour, $25.00

Contact: Marcine Humphrey (485-7697)

Coordinator: Ruth Sheets (473-6202)

19 Poetry and Plays - Emily D to Tennessee: 1:00 pm

An Afternoon Salon with guest poet Roger Aplon

Hostess: Carol Loizides (452-3208)

Coordinators: Jackie Sweeney (518/947-6682) &

Barbara Hugo BHugo2@gmail.com

23 The Ediss Book Group: 7:00 pm

La Rose by Louise Erdrich

Hostess: Barbara Markell (471-8810)

Coordinator: Celia Serotsky (473-8426)

24 Mah Jongg & Canasta: Noon - 4:00 pm

Uno Chicago Grill – Lunch

Contact Blanche (462-3955) by May 24

Coordinator: Blanche Bergman (462-3955)

24 Contemporary Literature: TBD

My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

Dinner Meeting – contact Coordinators

Coordinators: Ann Wade (229-5267) &

Linda Freisitzer (266-5427)

25 Bridge II: 12:00-4:00 pm

Red Lobster, Route 9, Poughkeepsie

Coordinator: Cathy Kinn cathy@kinn.org

25 Pins & Needles: 7:00 pm

Yearly Planning Meeting

Hostess: Kay Saderholm (229-8545)

Coordinators: Arlene Seligman (297-0006) &

Mary Ann Williams (868-7465)

26 Art on the Go: 11:00 am

Elisa Parker’s Show at Hudson Valley Center

for Contemporary Art

Coordinator: Mary Coiteux (226-8275)

27 Bridge 3: 10:00 am – 12:20 pm

Hostess: Mary Lou Davis (223-5544)

Coordinator: Donna Reichner dlr0804@verizon.net

NO MAY MEETING

Diversity: Out of One Many People

Coordinator: Jacqueline Goffe-McNish

mcnish@sunydutchess.edu

Trekkers:

Coordinator: Tori Smith (345-0043)

LOOKING AHEAD

Jun 8: Annual Meeting, Poughkeepsie Grand, 6 pm

July 21-23: AAUW-NYS Summer Leadership Conference,

Cazenovia, NY

Nov 4: Live Your Dream Girls' Conference, DCC

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Maria DeWald *266-4960* mfdewald@yahoo.com

When I am away from home, I always enjoy reading a local newspaper to see the similarities and differences. When you are also out of the country, as I was in early April (Bangladesh to be specific, visiting the grandchildren), it can be all the more striking. Many of the same issues as ours are always there; women’s gender equity, education as a way out of poverty, the rights of the “differently-abled” (I loved that terminology). I found one article by a 2014 Nobel Laureate, Satyarthe, on terrorism and how young people can be recruited, to be very interesting and would like to share a bit of it with you.

His Children’s Foundation, which addresses children’s issues such as child labor, child slavery, violence against children and access to education, had launched a “100 million for 100 million” campaign, meant to both provide better access to education and to engage 100 million youth to help 100 million disadvantaged children/youth in society through community service. To summarize, as we know, youth are full of energy, enthusiasm, dreams, aspirations and, also, ideology. However, there is, in his opinion, “no global platform where youth can find a better purpose in life and where they can showcase their enthusiasm. So, their ideology can be misled.” He feels one of the key platforms for helping youth, as we Americans would say, “find themselves,” is the ability to engage in volunteer work through which they can find/showcase their potential and thus bring change to society and to themselves.

Also, as I traveled, it was clear that there was even more security everywhere both in the airports and in the country. Handlers and their security dogs systematically going up and down security lines, handing over your laptops/Ipads at secondary check points so they could be logged in and specially boxed for further checking before going in the hold (not to mention standing for quite a while in a separate line in baggage to get them back on arrival), checking of purses everywhere in Bangladesh whether going to a swimming area or a grocery store, and so forth. Everyone acquiesced, just quietly accepting what was necessary or out of their hands. But, although society may change, our AAUW commitment to community service, education, the welfare of our youth, needs to be ever stronger.

There is so much for you to note in this newsletter: how you can participate in your AAUW community through voting opportunities on AAUW Board of Directors, Bylaw Amendments, Resolutions and Public Policy Program Additions (including a possible change in membership); our own Annual meeting in June where we will vote on new officers, budget and bylaws amendments; and, as ever, so very many community service opportunities.

Happy spring all….. Maria

RESERVATIONS FOR ANNUAL MEETING

Judy Linville *889-4802* judylinville@citlink.net

Thursday JUNE 8, 2017

Name________________________________________

Phone________________________________________

E-Mail_______________________________________

If you are making reservations for more than one person, list all additional names.

Cost: $45 per person / PayPal(Credit Card) $47

Enclosed is _________________for ________attendee(s).

Make checks payable to Poughkeepsie Branch AAUW, Inc.

Mail Reservations and checks to:

Judy Linville

PO Box 55

Staatsburg, NY 12580

Reservations are due no later than May 29^th and there will be no refunds after June 1^st

Open seating, no table reservations

Questions: judylinville@citlink.net ■

Save the Date!

Join us at Cazenovia!

Building Vitality

Summer Leadership Conference

All members of AAUW are invited

July 21-23, 2017

Cazenovia College

Cazenovia, NY

▶Harnessing Women’s Energy

▶Building for Vitality

▶Using Small but Mighty Ideas ■

SUPPORTERS OF THE BRANCH!!

Annual contributions from members help defray the expense of publishing The Branch and other communication expenses. All patrons and sponsors are listed in each monthly newsletter unless anonymity is requested.

Patrons ($25 or more)

Anonymous, Catherine Albanese, Lula Allen,

Carol Barmann, Mary Ann Boylan, Marguerite Cotter,

Lillian DePasquale, Ruth Gau, Gloria Gibbs,

Sandra Goldberg, Elizabeth Harrel, Joanne Long,

Jacqueline Prusak, Terry Schneider

Sponsors ($10 or more)

To add your name to the list, mail a check payable: “Poughkeepsie Branch AAUW, Inc.” to Margaret Nijhuis, 9 McAllister Drive, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

Betsy Kopstein-Stuts *485-7044* bkopstein@hotmail.com

It is with great pleasure that the Nominating Committee announces the following slate of officers that were approved by the board at their April meeting:

For 2017-2019:

Program Co-VPs: Monique Jones & Sandy Lash

Membership VP: Susie Blecker (2 yrs) & Sheila Zweifler (1 yr)

Development VP: Jocelynn Banfield

Election and Installation will be conducted at the June 8 Annual Meeting, held at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel. Nominations may be made from the floor with the written permission of the nominee.

Nominating Committee: Betsy Kopstein-Stuts, Chair; Mary Coiteux; Susan Doyle; Leona Miller and Barbara Van Itallie

Officers continuing for 2017-18:

President: Maria DeWald

Communications VP: Bonnie Auchincloss

Secretary/Bylaws: Kathy Friedman

Treasurer: Diane Jablonski

Membership Treas.: Mary Ann Hogarty ■

“HATS OFF”

Mary Coiteux *226-8275* mcoiteux@frontiernet.net

An expression of admiration for someone's achievement or contribution and our acknowledgment of it.

Hats Off to Diane Jablonski who, along with her husband, Walt, was honored by the Dutchess County Democratic Committee at their Spring Brunch.

Hats Off to Carol Loizides for her participation in an art show at the Mid Hudson Heritage Center. You can see her work through May 8^th. ■

JOIN US!! DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSE

For AAUW Members, Spouses and Friends

Sandy Goldberg *297-7670* sajgold@aol.com

SATURDAY, MAY 6^th

AAUW, as a service to our members, will be offering a Defensive Driving Course at Uno’s in the Town of Poughkeepsie from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Course will be given by AAUW member Michelle Paolicelli.

Reduce insurance premiums / Reduce points

Take the course with friends and likeminded people for a fun time!

Please let Betsy Kopstein (845-416-4754 or 845-485-7044 or bkopstein@hotmail.com ) know if you plan to attend.

Cost will be $22.00 plus whatever you order for lunch. ■

SCIENCE FAIR A SUCCESS

Betty Harrel *462-2141* bharrel28@gmail.com

AAUW members Kay Saderholm and Claudette Hennessy served as judges at the Dutchess County Regional Science Fair. It was held at Dutchess Community College on April 1 and featured many outstanding student projects.

The AAUW 7^th grade award went to Alexandra Diminico from Van Wyck Junior High School for her project “Solar Panel Temperature Effect.” Melissa Chu from Union Vale Middle School received the 8^th grade award for “Experimental Determination of the Speed of Light Using a Microwave Oven.”

Judges had a challenging time making their decisions. According to Claudette, “Both girls were truly impressive in a great field of entries. I’m feeling lots better about education.”

Thanks to our 2 judges and to all who worked to make the fair such a success! ■

CONGRATULATIONS!

Betty Harrel *462-2141* bharrel28@gmail.com

In every organization, there are members who step up when something is needed, willingly share their time and expertise, and help the group to fulfill its mission. This year the Poughkeepsie Branch is very pleased to honor some of these women.

Each branch in New York State has the opportunity to honor an Emerging Leader – someone who joined and immediately got involved in helping the branch move forward. This year’s honoree, Sheila Zweifler, rejoined AAUW about 4 years ago after fully retiring. She loved the activities and warmth of the members and wanted to give something back. She started the Pedal Pushers biking group, joined two bridge groups, Word Games, and Soleil, gave several presentations at the World Travelers group, and organized 2 of our annual dinners. She has served as assistant to the Membership Vice President and is a candidate for Co-Membership Vice President in June.

We also are able to name a fellowship in a member’s honor for each $500 we donate to the national fund. This year we’re delighted to honor six of our members:

Diana Babington joined in 2014 and became active in the Manderley Literary Society and Soleil. After attending the first planning meeting for the Live Your Dream Girls’ Conference, she agreed to co-chair the event with another new member. Together they led a large group of volunteers and had a very successful conference in November. Plans are already underway for the 2017 event.

Mary Ann Boylan has gotten actively involved in the past 3 years. She planned a Soleil trip, coordinated the summer Gourmet: Out and About dinners, took part in the Girl Scout initiative, and brought refreshments to several meetings. She has been serving as a member of the communications committee and manages all the AV equipment.

After being persuaded to join even though her time was limited, Mary Ann Hogarty immediately began serving as the Membership Treasurer. In addition to her work doing taxes and teaching related courses. She is part of World Traveler and helped on the Working Rules. Her goal in her AAUW position is to prepare the materials so the job can be readily passed on to her successor.

Barbara Lemberger had been a member a number of years ago and rejoined right after her retirement. She served 5 years as Hospitality Chair, is the Cuisine coordinator, and currently serves as the Interest Group Coordinator. She has always volunteered when needed and can be seen at many AAUW events.

One of our newest members is Lori Scolaro. She was asked by Pamela Edington, the Dutchess Community College President, to attend our first planning meeting for the Girls’ Conference and volunteered to co-coordinate it with an AAUW member. She and Diana Babington have formed a close working relationship as well as a great friendship through the project. Lori joined AAUW at the September 2016 Open House, is president of the AWDCC (Academic Women of Dutchess Community College), and serves as the Assistant Director of Academic Services and Testing. She, too, has committed to co-chairing the 2017 conference.

Barbara Van Itallie was another member who joined and immediately took leadership positions. She first served as Secretary, was the branch Treasurer for two terms, served as President, and recently started the Math Buddies initiative. She has also helped on the state level and took part in a review of the state financial records.

We are very fortunate to have these women as members, and we wish them much success in the future! ■

AAUW COURT WATCH MEETS WITH NYC ATTORNEYS

Ann Pinna, Chair, AAUW Court Watch Initiative

The Court Watch Initiative hosted a luncheon on March 30, 2017 at the Boardman Rd. Library for two New York City attorneys who were interested in learning more about the AAUW Court Watch Initiative. Present were Sandy Lash, Elaine Andersen, Sandy Sherman, Flo Mondanaro, Joanne Dyson, Mara Goldstone, and Ann Pinna.

Having heard about the success of our AAUW Court Watch Initiative from Denise Kronstadt, attorney at The Fund for Modern Courts in Manhattan, Kate Wurmfeld and Rebecca Thomforde-Hauser, attorneys for The Center for Court Innovation, met with the AAUW Court Watch team to discuss the method of training new monitors and also to gather ideas, materials and strategies that they could adopt to assist others and improve their own court watch programs.

Specifically, Ms. Wurmfeld and Ms. Thomforde-Hauser were seeking advice for the purpose of developing a “toolkit” which would serve as a guide to other jurisdictions who are looking to enhance or develop their own court watch initiatives. The Center for Court Innovation hopes to create a program development guide and to share materials and lessons learned in order to assist other court watch programs work more effectively with the courts in their own jurisdictions. Their ultimate goal is to improve the court system by enacting meaningful reforms and to increase access to justice, especially in domestic violence cases.

The Center for Court Innovation is a non-profit organization which helps the justice system aid victims, reduce crime, and improve public trust in the courts. It seeks to create a more effective and humane justice system by designing and implementing innovative operating programs, performing original research, and providing reformers in the U.S. and around the world with hands-on assistance and the tools they need to launch new strategies and deliver justice. The Center has received many awards for its contributions to court reform.

According to comments made by Ms. Wurmfeld after our meeting, “It was great to go to Family Court and see the process in action. It was apparent that your presence in the court room definitely has an impact on what happens there. ...we would love to incorporate some of your materials in our toolkit and share with others trying to develop their own programs.”

Some descriptive material taken from The Center for Court Innovation website and Wikipedia.■

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN!

Betty Harrel *462-2141* bharrel28@gmail.com

For the past few years, our members have generously donated small stuffed animals for the Leading to Reading project. They are used in our Fuzzy Friend kits, which go to young children who are in stressful situations. They provide something warm and comfortable to cuddle while the children enjoy their new books.

We’ll be collecting the animals at the annual dinner on Thursday, June 8. They need to be small (up to 8”) so they can fit in one of our family reading kits and must be new. Please keep these young children in mind while you’re doing your springtime shopping! ■

SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT US!

Betty Harrel *462-2141* bharrel28@gmail.com

Our Leading to Reading community initiative fortunately has a great deal of support from the community. Once again, it’s time to highlight a few of them.

The latest grant was from Stewart’s Shops Holiday Match program. Each year, members of the community donate money to the Holiday Match to support local agencies. Stewart’s matches the funds and has donated over $1.85 million this year. They provide support to programs serving youth in communities in which they’re located. Funds will be used to purchase bilingual pre-school books, string bags, and books for the family reading kits.

Through the efforts of one of their longtime customers, Love Effron also has provided funds for Leading to Reading. Their foundation donates money to educational programs in the area they serve.

Please be sure to share your thanks with these local businesses! ■

POUGHKEEPSIE AAUW BUDGET

Diane Jablonski *485-6228* dianejablonski@gmail.com

The 2017-2018 budget was prepared and approved by the board. The budget assumes we will have 350 members. The number of members affects both our income as well as our expenses in paying dues to National and New York State. Other expenses remain about the same with some minor adjustments. The Tea income and expense is presented separately and not part of the budget. The funds from the Tea are used to support our Community Service Initiatives such as Leading to Reading, Mothers Project and other programs. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Diane Jablonski, Treasurer.

Budget 2017- 2018

INCOME

Investments 300.00

NYS Awards 0.00

Undesignated Contributions 100.00

Communications Contributions 350.00

Dues 27,300.00

Annual Meeting 4,000.00

Woman of the Year 3,000.00

Other 50.00

Total Income 35,100.00

EXPENSES

Administration 300.00

Awards/Gifts 175.00

Caring Comm. 25.00

Convention 475.00

Donations 100.00

Dues 21,700.00

Equipment 50.00

Historian 20.00

Insurance 1,200.00

Membership Activities

Dues collection 1,000.00

Directory 900.00

Open House 300.00

New Member reception 250.00

Total - Membership 2,450.00

Monthly Meetings 1,125.00

Newsletter 250.00

Other 120.00

Postage, Mailing 50.00

Printing, Copying 25.00

Special Event Expenses

Annual Meeting 4,000.00

Woman of the Year 3,000.00

Supplies 35.00

Total Expenses 35,100.00

Net Income/Loss 0.00 ■

MEMBERSHIP COUNTS

Susie Blecker *462-7074* iblecker@aol.com

Sheila Zweifler *462-6478* sheilaz@optonline.net

Spring has sprung and it is time for all you wonderful Poughkeepsie Branch members to renew your membership. Shortly, you will be receiving in the mail the 2017-2018 AAUW renewal form. Please fill it out along with the Member Profile Sheet so we can update our records. This is very important since it is our way to keep track of your interests and abilities, so we can contact you if there is some pending activity we think might interest you or for which we might need your help.

This year, members have the option to pay their dues using PayPal. There is a $2.00 surcharge and there is a link on the AAUW website with instructions www.aauwpoughkeepsie.org Otherwise, please mail your check and/or completed profile to Mary Anne Hogarty as soon as possible. If you feel you cannot continue your membership we will be very sorry to see you go but please let us know by either checking the box on the member renewal form and returning it or calling one of us.

On the renewal notice, you will see that members have a chance to win a free national membership. There are four free memberships available. The drawing will take place at our Annual Dinner on June 8, 2017. Mail your dues by May 11th and get three (3) tickets for the drawing. Mail your dues by May 18th and get two (2) tickets and mail your dues by May 25th and get one (1) ticket for the drawing. If you do not renew your membership by Sept. 15, 2017, you will not receive The Branch newsletter, be able to participate in the interest groups, and be listed in the Membership Directory. Once you renew all AAUW benefits will be reinstated.

We want to extend a warm welcome to our new members, Patricia Smith, Pauline Herr, and Marilyn Pukmel. It is a great time to join and we hope to see you at our Annual Dinner.

Finally, we want to thank all of you who have worked so hard to make this year such a success. We are sure with your continued help and enthusiasm, next year will be even better. ■

WHO IS OUR NEXT AAUW CORNERSTONE?

Betty Harrel *462-2141* bharrel28@gmail.com

Last year, the Cornerstone Award was initiated to honor those who contribute a great deal to our branch. These members serve the AAUW mission enthusiastically and help to move our branch forward, but they often remain in the background. They are truly the “backbone” of AAUW.

Our first honoree was Margaret Nijhuis, who continues to work tirelessly for all of us. This year’s winner has been selected! Be sure to come to the annual dinner on Thursday, June 8^th, at the Poughkeepsie Grand. The winner will be announced at the dinner and we’ll all have a chance to commemorate her many accomplishments. Reservation information is available in The Branch and on our website. Don’t miss this important celebration! ■

PERUSING OUR PAST

Barbara Hespenheide and Eileen Hayden

Alice Paul was one of the most prominent members of the 20th-century women's rights movement. An outspoken suffragist and feminist, she tirelessly led the charge for women's suffrage and equal rights in the United States. Born to a New Jersey Quaker family in 1885, young Alice grew up attending suffragist meetings with her mother. She was educated at Swarthmore and the University of Pennsylvania. While continuing her studies in England, she made the acquaintance of British suffragists.

After the deaths of Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1902 and Susan B. Anthony in 1906, the suffrage movement was languishing. Paul established the National Woman’s Party in 1916 and borrowed British tactics to help American women get the vote. Members picketed the White House for months on end, suffered arrests, held hunger strikes and were force fed. In 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote. Paul and her party did not stop there, but lobbied for decades from Washington D C to help pass legislation advancing gender equality. The Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, home to the National Woman's Party for nearly 90 years, was the epicenter of the struggle for

women's rights. President Barack Obama designated the home a national monument on April 12, 2016. If you travel to DC, and would like to visit the home, information and directions are found at: https://www.nps.gov/bepa/index.htm

Information for this article is from the website above and the National Parks Conservation Association 2016 Annual Report. ■

Continued from Page 1...

LUCY STONE / JUDITH KALAORA

Sandy Goldberg, 297-7670 sajgold@aol.com

Lucy was the first woman from Massachusetts to earn a college degree and defied every obstacle to support human rights. She fiercely believed that women and men are equal and her message inspired thousands of women to join the suffrage movement. Susan B. Anthony credits Lucy’s impassioned speeches for her own involvement.

Judith, as Lucy, touches on the gender caste system and encompasses the fierce abolitionist movement. “Women were evolving from successful abolitionists to struggling suffragists!”

Lucy was a scholar and studied Greek and Hebrew; she insisted that the Holy Bible had been mistranslated to oppress women; she insisted her marriage vows be rewritten and did not take her husband’s last name.

Lucy Stone helped form the women’s triumvirate by inspiring Susan B. Anthony and supporting Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Judith’s portrayal of Lucy Stone has been featured by PBS’ WGBH in their Forum Lecture Series. ■

I think, with never-ending gratitude, that the young women of today do not and can never know at what price their right to free speech and to speak at all in public has been earned. Lucy Stone, 1833

VOTING NATIONAL AAUW

For Board of Directors, Bylaw Amendments, resolutions and Public Policy Program

Mary Lou Davis *223-5544* maryloudavis125@gmail.com

Your member ID number (found in our membership directory) and the assigned voting PIN are required to submit a ballot whether online or by mail. PINs will be e-mailed to members before voting begins and will also be sent with the Spring AAUW Outlook. A member’s online or paper ballot is uniquely tied to the member’s ID and to the assigned PIN number. Only the first ballot submitted by an individual will be counted. The Spring AAUW Outlook will contain the proposed bylaw amendments, resolutions, and the Public Policy Program revisions and additions, as well as profiles of candidates who have been approved for ballot by the AAUW Board of Directors.

Voting begins online on April 17, 2017 and ends on June 15 at 9 pm. All members are encouraged to vote online, because it is fast, easy, secure and green.

For paper ballots members may request to have it mailed to them between April 3 and May 4. No ballots will be issued after that date. The deadline to mail the ballot back to AAUW is May 29, 2017. To request a paper ballot, e-mail your name, address, and member number to connect@aauw.org or call 800.326.2289.

An amendment was submitted by Elizabeth Haynes for a vote to add advocates as members who do not need to hold an associate or college degree in order to join the association.

The National AAUW Bylaws state that a quorum is required for a vote to be counted. The submitted ballots must equal in number to at least five percent of the votes entitled to be cast by members. On June 16 election results will be announced online and at convention.

BE SURE TO VOTE. ■

THANK YOU FROM THE CHAIRS: LULA ALLEN & LINDA ROBERTS

MargaretNijhuis@gmail.com *635-8612*

April 2, 2017 was a lovely almost spring day! Those of us who participated in the 8th Annual Writers’ Tea & Auction had a beautiful afternoon. The writers were both outstanding, the food was excellent and our wonderful members were very generous at the auction. Our attendance was down this year; therefore, our profit was as well. Early accounting has our profit just over $7000 for our scholarships and community service initiatives. This is more than $1000 less than last year.

To quote from Cathy Kinn’s thank you letter to the editor: “First, to our writers, Jim DeFelice and Lesa Cline-Ransome, you are as interesting and entertaining at speaking as you are brilliant at writing. Next, we are so grateful to all our donors: Harney & Sons Fine Teas; Walter Effron and the Three Arts Bookstore; Exclusive Baby Vision of Poughkeepsie; Bykenhulle Bed & Breakfast; Elizabeth Boutique; Portofino Restaurant; Athena Gyro; Entirely You Salon; Silent Pictures Framing; Inner Light Health Spa; Max’s on Main; Big W’s; Paula’s Public House; Mid-Hudson Food & Wine Society; Hudson Valley Skincare; Fishkill Plaza Cleaners; Beacon Bubble & Bath; Utensils of Beacon; Beacon Bagels; Brothers Trattoria; Al Fresco Ristorante; On-A-Stick Bakery; Journey On Antiques and Gifts; Steven Amendola Salon and Spa; Gigi’s Trattoria; The Local Flower Market; and Rhinebeck Department Store, as well as to the AAUW members who contributed such wonderful gifts.”

We would ask you to please patronize these generous area businesses and, if you do, tell them “Thank you from Poughkeepsie AAUW.”

Again the committee would like to say a huge thank you to all of our members who donated items for the auction – many have done so for all 8 years. And to the people who attended, without your purchase of tickets for the event and bidding at the auction all of our efforts would be in vain. We would also like to thank the many members who worked on the auction (for months ahead) and helped out on the day of the event at the auction and tea! AND to each member of the Writers’ Tea & Auction Committee – thank you for your yearlong work to make this event a success.

If you could not attend but would like to still make a contribution, please send a check payable to Poughkeepsie AAUW, Inc. and mail to:

Diane Jablonski

5 Merlot Drive, Apt 536

Highland, NY 12528

Or you may donate by credit card through PayPal from the homepage of our website www.aauwpoughkeepsie.org ■

PROPOSED BYLAWS CHANGES Poughkeepsie AAUW

Kathy Friedman *485-8671* kfriedman33@gmail.com

The following changes to our local bylaws will be offered for a vote at our annual meeting on June 8:

There will be two changes to the names of officer positions:

Secretary will be called Secretary/Bylaws

Educational Opportunities Fund Vice-President will be called Development Vice President.

The following Article will be added to the bylaws:

ARTICLE XIX AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS NOT MANDATED BY AAUW

Provisions of the Affiliate’s bylaws not mandated by AAUW may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members voting after a quorum is attained. Proposed bylaws amendments shall be sent to the entire membership at least 30 days prior to the applicable meeting. ■

Check out the pictures from the Tea on www.aauwpoughkeepsie.org courtesy of Bonnie Auchincloss and Pat Luczai

Poughkeepsie Branch AAUW, Inc. Officers 2016-2017

President Maria DeWald 266-4960

Program V.P. Sandy Goldberg 297-7670

Betsy Kopstein-Stuts 485-7044

Membership V.P. Susie Blecker 462-7074

Educ. Foundation V.P. Linda Roberts 227-5287

Communications V.P. Bonnie Auchincloss 635-5191

Secretary Katherine Friedman 485-8671

Treasurer Diane Jablonski 485-6228

Membership Treasurer Mary Anne Hogarty 221-0203

Association website: www.aauw.org

NY State website: www.aauw-nys.org

Poughkeepsie Branch website: www.aauwpoughkeepsie.org

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

In principle and in practice, AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or class.

The Branch is published ten times a year, September through June, by the Poughkeepsie Branch of the AAUW, Inc. Send articles to the editor: Margaret Nijhuis, MargaretNijhuis@gmail.com (635-8612).