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February 2009   Vol. 2, Issue 4
February, 2008 - Vol 1, Issue 1
In This Issue
KAAUW Calendar
Potluck and a Film
Peking Dancers
Links to Blog Articles
Winter Luncheon
President's Letter
Leaders from the Past
Transitions, News, & Celebrations




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Kingston AAUW Calendar
Kingston AAUW Calendar

Sunday, Feb. 8: Potluck and a Film, See below. Vivi's, 5 pm

Tuesday, Feb. 10, Branch Board Mtg., Regginato's, noon. Evening Book Discussion, Olympia Diner, 5:15 pm.

Tues. Feb. 17, Book Discussion, The Known World by E.P. Jones,  1 pm, Kingston Library.

Sat., Feb. 21, Winter Luncheon, Deising's at 11:00 am.

Sunday,  Feb. 22, Public Policy Meeting, Irene Miller's at noon.

Wed., Feb. 25, AAUW Conversations: Get Fresh,  Woodstock TV and Ustream.com, 8:30 pm

Thurs. March 5, A Mighty Noise, CARE/AAUW benefit, Albany. Details to follow.

Hold the date:
Saturday, March 29, Branch meeting at Valkil and Wilderstein. Carpooling available.
 
Make the KAAUW google calendar a favorite and you'll always know what's happening. Integrate it with your own google calendar. Print it.
Potluck and a Film
Langella in Starting Out in the Evening 
On Sunday, February 8th, we'll be watching the 2007 film, Starting Out in the Evening.  Here's a summary and review:
 
Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) plays an ambitious graduate student intent on persuading Leonard Schiller, an aging novelist portrayed by Frank Langella (Nixon in the film Frost/Nixon), to allow her to write a master's thesis about him and, in the process, resurrect interest in his work. Lili Taylor is Ariel, Leonard's nonliterary daughter. A. O. Scott of the Times,  praised "Andrew Wagner's intelligent, careful adaptation of a near-perfect novel by Brian Morton" and Mr. Langella's performance as "both subtle and monumental."
 
Meet at 5 PM at my house (directions on request) for a covered dish supper, followed by the movie, followed by a brief discussion.  I'll have weisswurst and rice and a small cheesecake.  Hope you can make it.  ViVi

Directions to Vivi's
March Trip
Metropolitan Museum Christmas Tree

Sunday, March 5th


Peking Dancers

at the Egg
and a visit to the
Tang Museum
at Skidmore

9:30 AM - 6:30 PM
$55 includes all tickets, driver tip, and bus.

Follow the links or call Pat Whalen between noon and 10 pm at 845-657-6807 for details.

Other Articles on our Blogs
 
Rosa Parks

On our official site:
The Women Behind the Montgomery Bus Boycott and Dr. King

Get Fresh and the White House Farmer

One Wrong is Righted - President Signs Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Women in Technology Still at a Disadvantage

On Unofficial Passions:
Rosa Sat - a beautiful song about Rosa Parks

From Betsy Tuel: This I Believe

Video summarizing the Recovery and Reinvestment Plan from Ruth Wahtera

Libertyview Farmsfrom Janine Mower

You can receive new blog articles  by email as they are posted by subscribing to either or both blogs below.

Kingston AAUW Blog
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Unoffical Passions
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Quick Web Links
Kingston AAUW Branch Communication Committee
Garnette Arledge
Doris Goldberg
ViVi Hlavsa
Susan Holland
Doris Licht
Irwin Rosenthal
Ruth Wahtera, Editor

If you have something you would like posted on either the Kingston AAUW or the Unofficial Passions site, e-mail the information to a committee member.
Greetings!
It's been a cold winter and it's time to gather with warm friends! The Winter Luncheon, two book clubs - day and evening, the Peking Dancers, bridge, of course, and plenty more.

We can also celebrate what I hope is the first of several hard-won legislative battles. President Obama signed the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act last week!
The editor
Winter Luncheon
Hidden Children of the Holocaust

Suzanne Vromen Join us at Deisings on Saturday, February 21st at 11 am to hear Susanne Vromen, author of The Hidden Children of the Holocaust, Belgian Nuns and Their Daring Rescue of Young Jews from the Nazis.

In the terrifying summer of 1942 in Belgium, when the Nazis began the brutal roundup of Jewish families, parents searched desperately for safe haven for their children. These children found sanctuary with other families and schools--but especially in Roman Catholic convents and orphanages.

Suzanne Vromen has interviewed not only those who were hidden as children, but also the Christian women who rescued them, and the nuns who gave the children shelter. She will present numerous first-hand memoirs of life in a wartime convent--the secrecy, the humor, the admiration, the anger, the deprivation, the cruelty, and the kindness--all with the backdrop of the terror of the Nazi occupation.

Vromen shows that some adapted so well that they converted to Catholicism, at times to fit in amid the daily prayers and rituals, but often because the Church appealed to them. Vromen also examines their lives after the war, how they faced the devastating loss of parents to the Holocaust, truggled to regain their identities and sought to memorialize those who saved them.

No reservations required. We hope to see you for this inspiring program. Bring a friend.
President's Letter
Post-Holiday Wrapping -- ah, Wrap-up!

small logo

Our local branch continues its focused, active role in the community thanks to our diverse go-getting members. Inside this newsletter, you'll read of the outstanding work of our active Public Policy Committee, the activism (yes!) of the Daytime Book Group, and the varied programs our members have planned for spring. And, we welcome back Program Vice President Bette Nitzky, who took a brief leave of absence. We are so delighted you were able to come to the January planning meeting, Bette.
 
The branch holiday activities deserve a round of applause for the projects we accomplished in the busy cold season.
  • Joan Davis, Legal Advocacy Fund chairperson, once again organized the fundraising Gift Wrapping at the Mall. Too many to name here contributed time and wrapping talents. Many thanks.
  • At our Winter Party, members brought in more than fifty gifts of warm clothing and toiletry for the women and children in the Battered Women's Shelter. And, we raised more than fifty dollars for the Educational Fund.
  • Arlene Bruck, Diversity chairperson, once again coordinated Holiday Gift purchase cards for ten ESL students and their families.
  • New Branch Member and Kingston Library Director Margie Menard, Christ the King Church member Ron Basten, and I worked together delivered more than one hundred children's coats, boots, hats, mittens and scarves donated and collected by the Marbletown Elementary School community to People's Place just before the zero degree weather hit. Peter, the manager of People's Place, told us these articles were really needed and appreciated. They welcome any contributions.
 And, many thanks to Marjorie Regan for her continuing work in overcoming prejudice and racism. Marjorie arranged our speaker for the Winter Luncheon and is acting as liaison with the Hodge Center for a new educational mentoring program. More about that next month.
 
I am proud to be part of an organization actively advocating and working to compassionately meet local needs. See you at Deising's on Feb. 21.

Garnette
Leaders From The Past
Historian Logo From Bernie Carpino, Historian:

While reminiscing about AAUW, women often mention other members with whom they worked. Some names came up repeatedly. I'd like to acknowledge a few of them who were still active when I joined in the 70's.

Frieda Dingeel (President 1945-46) participated in many community organizations. A tireless worker, she became the first woman principal in the Kingston Consolidated School System and designed and supervised the district's original remedial reading program. June picnics at her camp in Lake Katrine were often mentioned.

Betty LeFever (President 1946-48) was an active member until her death. Dedicated to education, she was instrumental in the establishment of Ulster County Community College. Because of her involvement, AAUW had a study group, which made recommendations.

Helen Ann Robbins (President 1957-59) used her connections to national AAUW to help the local College Women's Club make the transition to the Association. Many remember her for her scholarly strong opinions and for Book Club Meetings at the Robbins Library.

Adelaide Van Wagenen, although never president of AAUW, was a vital part of the organization. Always quick to volunteer, her enthusiasm was contagious. As membership chair, she enrolled most of the faculty at Chambers School as branch members. Adelaide currently lives in an assisted living facility in Florida.

These are just four women among many who are
Two Book Clubs!!
Book Cover Daytime Book Club: 3rd Tuesday at 1pm, Kingston Library:

Feb. 17,2009, The Known World by E. P. Jones. Before the Civil War, a black slave buys his freedom and then buys black men to work for him.

March 17, 2009, The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton. This heroine in early 20th century New York has no fortune and is unable to find her place in the upper .level of society. Fictional depiction of the rigid class system of the time.

Change: April 21st, 2009 Vivi Hlvasa's Community Wide Selection : Stories by Andrea Lee
For more information call Marjorie Regan

Evening Book Club: 2nd Tuesday, 5:15 pm, Olympic Diner

Jane Austin or Emma?

On February 10,we'll be discussing Emma by Jane Austen and the first 100 pages of Jane Fairfax: The Secret Story of the Second Heroine in Jane Austen's Emma by Joan Aiken.
 News, Transitions, and Celebrations
AAUW graphic
Public Policy - Lots on our agenda:
The committee is a lively group that meets over lunch (thank you, Irene!) on a Saturday or Sunday so that those of us who work can attend. The conversation is far ranging. Our goals are achievable.

Voting Machines: We are preparing a letter writing campaign to encourage the Ulster County Legislature to keep the lever voting machines in place. Dutchess County recently passed this initiative. Electronic voting has proven hacker-susceptible and expensive at a time when town budgets are stretched. Levers work.
Let's keep them.
Pay Equity: While we celebrate passage of the Ledbetter Act last week, we continue to work toward passage of the Pay Check Fairness Act.
Employment of Older Women (and Men): The economy has many older adults looking for work and finding the doors closed to them. We have begun to study this issue.
Eat Local: Our conversations led to the new CTV series below.
Healthcare: Although the discussion group for the Transition Team was cancelled due to snow, several sent comments that we will circulate.

We welcome all interested to our next meeting, noon, Sunday, Feb. 22 at Irene Miller's. RSVP for her home cooking!
*****
New! AAUW Conversations: Get Fresh -- This winter Garnette and Janine explore eating local on our cable and Internet TV program on www.woodstocktv.com or ustream.com  starting Wed., February 25th at 8:30 PM. Coming soon to YouTube! 

*****
Celebrate International Women's Day with us

Movie poster

A Powerful Noise- The impact of one voice; the power of many -
This live event in theaters across the country will bring together women and girls to celebrate and gain strength from the stories of three women in very different worlds who empowered themselves to fight poverty and change the world. We'll be carpooling to Albany on Thursday evening, March 5th. Watch for details.
Sponsored by CARE and AAUW.