New Members
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Two new members have joined this month. Do welcome them.
Maryann Casey joined our branch thanks to Delores LaChance. Maryann is a retired math teacher, Saugerties H.S., and author of three math review books. She loves to read and is interested in our literary group. She also loves to travel.
Linda Gold invited her husband to join. Michael Gold's
interests are photography, art and reading. He likes Vivi's movie night and trips.
Directory Information
Mary Ann Casey
48 Zandhoek Rd.
Hurley, NY 12443 845-338-0924 mac4669@gmail.com.
MS Ed. SUNY New Paltz, 1990.
Michael Gold
One Jacobs Lane
New Paltz NY 12561
(845) 255-5255
MGPhotoman@gmail.com
Boston University, BFA (Printing Major) 1966
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Watch for your 2011-12 dues invoice soon.
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Kingston AAUW Calendar
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Tues. May 3, 7pm
UCCC Scholarship Presentations, Quimby Theater, Ulster Community College
Sat. May 7 - all day
Women's Health Expo Booth
Sunday, May 8, 5pm
Potluck & a Film
Tues. May 10, 3pm
Branch Board Meeting
Sat., May 14, 10am
Branch Meeting
Tues., May 17, 1 pm
Book Group: Portrait of a Lady
Sat., May 21, 9am
Trip to Botanical Gardens or Bronx Zoo
Mon., June 6, 9 am
Museum of Natural History
Sunday, June 12, 5 pm
Potluck & a Film
Tues., June 14, 3pm
Annual Meeting and Picnic - Details to follow.
Make the KAAUW google calendar a favorite and you'll always know what's happening. Integrate it with your own google calendar. Print it. |
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Spring Trips
|  Saturday, May 21, 2011 Spring Trip to the NY Botanical Gardens or the Bronx Zoo Special exhibit at the Gardens - Spanish Paradise: Gardens of the Alhambra $57 includes bus, driver tip and Garden entrance. $54 for members of AAUW and SIP. $39 for driver tip & bus to Zoo. Monday, June 6, 2011 Spring Trip to the Museum of Natural History for the special exhibit The Brain $58 includes bus, driver tip and entrance to the Museum. $55 for members of AAUW and SIP; $39 for the bus alone. Join us for either or both of these trips. We will make a brief stop at Trader Joe's on the way back. Leave Kingston at a civilized 9:00 am. Leave Manhattan for home at 4:00 pm. For additional details contact Vivi Hlavsa at 331-0155. |
Potluck & a Film
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Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her
On Sunday, May 8th, we'll gather at ViVi's at 5 PM for a covered dish supper, after which we will watch the 1999 film, Things You Can Tell Just by Looking at Her. Here's a summary of the plot:
An anthology of five loosely connected stories dealing with a variety of very different women in dealing with their own life problems. The first story "This is Dr. Keener" features Glenn Close as a doctor looking after her invalid mother who comes to realize that her own life is passing her by.
The second story "Fantasies About Rebecca" features Holly Hunter as a wealthy bank manager who doesn't realize that her own life is a sham in dealing with an unplanned pregnancy, a workaholic boyfriend, and an observant street woman who knows more about Rebecca than she herself does.
The third, "Someone For Rose" features Kathy Baker as a single mother who debates with herself over starting a romance with a dwarf who moves into the house across her street. The fourth, "Goodnight Lilly, Goodnight Christine" features Calista Flockhart as Christine, a tarot reader who struggles with increasing grief and depression while taking care of her lesbian lover Lilly who's dying from cancer.
The fifth, "Love Waits for Kathy" features Amy Brenneman as a police detective who examines her loneliness after her blind sister Carol begins dating while Kathy is on a case of investigating the suicide of an old school friend who was just as lonely as she.
Don't these sound cheerful?! Just enjoy the great cast, and maybe Spring on the deck.
I'll make cornbread and five bean salad. Hope you can come.
ViVi
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About AAUW
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AAUW's Value Promise
By joining AAUW, you belong to a community that breaks through educational and economic barriers so that all women have a fair chance.
AAUW's Mission
AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.
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| Greetings! | Our little display at the Unhappy Hour on Equal Pay Day, April 12, sparked some discussion with people in the bar including a man who told me he thought women should be paid more than men because they make better employees. "they're self-motivated, pay attention to detail, and more reliable," he said. Well, let's get equal pay first.
I hope the Women's Health and Fitness Expo provides a good opportunity to talk with more young women about breaking through barriers -- wages, STEM careers, women's health issues, and more. Will you volunteer for a shift at our booth?Ruth Wahtera, Editor |
President's Letter
I'm Back!
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 | | Betty Nitzky, President, 2009-11 |
I hope you had a happy Easter or happy Passover.
We are back from a wonderful winter in Arizona. I went to an AAUW meeting there and met some of our Arizona AAUW members. They have quite a different outlook from the Kingston branch -- no scholarships, no public policy meetings, and they are very social with bridge and fashion shows.
We can be so proud of our branch for reaching out to our community with support both financially and spiritually. On May 3rd, a group of us will be at UCCC for the scholarship award assembly. I am looking forward to meeting this year's recipients.
I attended our wonderful April branch meeting on memoir writing led by our very own Beverly Sloane. Great job!
Please look at all the upcoming events and be a part of our terrific meetings. You can learn so many new ideas and explore new dimensions.
I look forward to seeing you at our next event.
Your President,
Bette Nitzky
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Branch Meeting
Spiritual Care at the End of Life
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Sister Maria Lopez
May 14, 2011, 10 am
Kingston Area Library Community Room
Sister Maria Lopez says in her hospice work she provides spiritual support to Buddhists, Baptists, atheists and people of every other or no religious persuasion. And, there's a difference between spiritual and religious.
At the May 14 branch meeting, Sister Maria will explain what spiritual care is and use many of her hospice experiences to show the difference it has made in the lives of many. There will be ample time for questions and sharing at this meeting.
Sister Maria Lopez, a member of the Sisters of the Presentation, has been a hospice chaplain in Ulster and Dutchess counties for 11 years. Maria received a BA in Education from Mount Saint Mary College and an MA in Religious Studies from Manhattan College in the Bronx.
Maria has extensive experience in education, spirituality, and missionary work in Latin America, and pastoral work in NY. She also served as Executive Director of the Presentation Sisters International Association, where she directed the IPA Global Social Justice Network, and established the Presentation Sisters as an NGO in consultation with ECOSOC at the UN.
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Volunteers Needed
Can you talk to a stranger about breaking through barriers for women and girls?
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We are still looking for volunteers to cover the AAUW booth at the Women's Health and Fitness Expo on May 7 at TechCity. What's in it for you? You'll get free entry to the Expo, time to explore the other booths, and the opportunity to talk with many young women about issues you care about. If you're willing to work at our booth for two hours, let Ruth Wahtera know by sending her an email or calling her at 339-6568.
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Public Policy
The Economics of Happiness
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 | | The Economics of Happiness |
Tues., 5/24, 7 PM, The Economics of Happiness Rosendale Theater, 408 Main Street, Rosendale. For our Public Policy Film & Discussion group this month, we'll hear a chorus of voices from six continents, who tell us we need to localize, to bring the economy home. As we move in this direction, we'll begin to heal the earth and restore our own sense of well-being. This film challenges us to restore our faith in humanity and believe that it is possible to build a better world. Q&A with filmmaker Steven Gorelick. Suggested donation: $10. - lots more info about the film at: http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/For a copy of the Public Policy Calendar that Susan Holland, Public Policy Chair, publishes each month, go here.
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Book Discussion Group
Portrait of a Lady
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 Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Tuesday, May 17, 1 PM
Kingston Library, Community Room
Published in 1881, this is considered one of James' finest. The "Lady" is Isabel Archer, a young American heiress victimized by two Machiavellian expatriates.
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Bravo! Bravo!
Congratulations, AAUW Kingston Branch
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From Dolores LaChance: 
Four branch members attended the AAUW NYS convention in April, Dolores LaChance, Lydia Mellos, Rokki Carr, and Ruth Wahtera. AAUW-New York State recognized and acknowledged our contributions to the AAUW mission and vision, Breaking through Barriers, by presenting us with four certificates for the 2010-2011 year.
The first one is in appreciation of our significant contribution to the Educational Opportunities Fund, locally named EF or
Educational Fund, chaired by Doris Godberg and Gloria Sender.
A second certificate places the Kingston Branch in the 'Top Ten Branches' of 2010 Contributions to the Legal Advocacy Fund, along with a third certificate which honors LAF donations of $5 or more per member. The LAF committee is chaired by Dolores LaChance who wishes to thank everyone who helped make our Flea Market event a success. The fourth certificate is very special because it has nothing to do with monetary donations, but speaks well of our entire membership. It is the 2011 Newsletter of Excellence Award. Everyone who took the time to contribute an article, organize programs and/or educational activities, submit photos, etc. can pat herself on the shoulder. But let's give a super special 'Hip, Hip, Hooray to Ruth Wahtera, who takes the time to put all that information together in such an attractive, eye appealing, easy read, easy find newsletter, and then sends it by email. And, thanks to Ruth Bean who sees that those without computers receive it through snail mail. Thank you, thank you, Ruth!!!
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AAUW National Elections
It's Time to Vote for AAUW Directors
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You asked for it -- One Member, One Vote: 
You should have received your national AAUW ballot within the last week or two. Whether you return a paper ballot or vote on-line, you will need your membership number and your pin to vote. Both are printed on the ballot.
Who Will You Vote For?
Since locally we know few of the candidates, the branch board has been consulting with trusted colleagues across the country to determine which candidates share our branch's commitment to issues like open membership.
Like a corporate board that requests stockholders vote for a slate they endorse, we ask that you vote for the following slate:
Charmen Goehring-Fox
Dot McLane
Connie Hildebrand
David Kirkwood
Julia Brown
Betsy McDowell
Kathleen Cha
We will publish a special edition of the newsletter about voting procedures and sharing the candidates' positions.
Please note, we do not endorse either of the NY candidates -- Mildred DeWitt due to her public opposition to open membership and Nancy Mion because of problems our branch had with her when she was NYS' public policy chair. At best, she treated us rudely and, at worst, violated the NYS by-laws in her handling of a resolution we submitted that she didn't like.
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News, Celebrations, and etcetera
May Headlines
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Feedback on Walmart
From Jean Semilof: Unfortunately, Walmart is far from the only company that pays minimum wage and that uses underpaid and exploited workers. If we were to boycott every store and manufacturer that does this we would would probably be able to buy very few manufactured goods. As Chairman of the Community Service Committe of the Ulster County Board of Realtors, I can say, firsthand, that the local Walmart has been outstandingly generous in supporting our many charitable events.
From Delores LaChance: Do you recall the German woman [Wal-Mart employee in Germany] who did not understand why the Walmart workers were having these problems in the US when German employees were not? They were even getting 36 vacation days per year. This is where our government fails its citizens; not so in many European states. From the looks of some current government antics in support of corporations, it can only get worse before getting better.
From Susan Hirsch:Film was very good - lots of issues raised, some of which were new to me. Each summer we spend a week at Chautauqua... A few year's ago the theme was "the world of work." One of the speakers addressed the low wages and lack of worker's rights at Wal-Mart. His parting comment was one I took to heart. He said he was in total sympathy with the need for people to shop at Wal-Mart if on a tight budget. But, if Wal-Mart shopping is not a necessity then speak with our pocketbooks and go elsewhere. I do not shop there.
In response to the question raised elsewhere about gift certificates we gives to Wal-Mart - by all means my vote is a loud and clear:stop! Gift certificates can be given to the mall or to one of the supermarkets. The dollar will not go as far - but sometimes trade-offs must be made. The lowest price should not be our goal. All the government economists have yet to be able to balance low cost and livable wages. But, unfortunately, only the government can regulate effective long term policies (higher minimum wages, changes in import-export policy, etc.) But since there will not be effective changes on this level in the foreseeable future, it is up to the individual to vote with shopping decisions for whatever limited effect that will have.
Thanks, Bev!
Gloria Sender was inspired to write us about the April Memoir Writing program. "Bev showed passion about memoir writing. She was professional in her manner, showing the proper balance between interest and detachment from each of us On a personal level, even I had the courage to read two paragraphs that I wrote. I 'm very inhibited, but somehow she was able release some of my inhibitions."
Paycheck Fairness Act Reintroduced
In honor of Equal Pay Day, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) reintroduced the Paycheck Fairness Act. Help the AAUW Action Fund Lobby Corps gather sponsors for this important bill by writing your members of Congress today to urge them to sign on and to make sure they pass the bill this Congress! The time is now for pay equity.
AAUW Receives Honor for 2nd Consecutive Year
For the second year in a row, GreatNonprofits has ranked AAUW as a top-rated women's empowerment organization. AAUW received this honor because of the many stories women have written about the incredible ways AAUW directly benefits their lives.
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