President’s Message
AAUW Prescott is looking forward to another year of growth, impact and opportunities!
Happy New Year!
In my first month as AAUW-Prescott President I have experienced a tremendous learning curve. While I stepped into this position a bit wide-eyed, our past president, Carol Dosse, has been an excellent mentor and I appreciate all of the help and guidance she has given. Yet, there is so much I don’t know. I am willing to learn, so I guess the phrase “I don’t know what I don’t know “ applies here!
Our September General Meeting on the 14th will be in the lovely Sculpture Garden at Yavapai College. Interest groups will be on hand to display their materials to entice new participants and encourage longtime members to join.
There will be changes and opportunities in the next nine months that we all will have to adjust to. Our October 12 general meeting will take place at our new location, Hope Lutheran Church, located at 231 Smoke Tree Lane.
There will be a number of small projects for volunteering, such as helping with Voter Registration at the local university and colleges.
The Program VP’s have been working hard to confirm interesting speakers and to have fun things to do, like our annual holiday brunch. Plus, there are opportunities to mentor new members and much more.
As we look forward to 2025 there will be new, old, and continual initiatives that will be targeting increased visibility for AAUW-Prescott. Sue Marceau has done a wonderful job getting us out there, but now we must pick up the reins and continue. Our new business cards are available for distribution, and our memberships in the Prescott and Prescott Valley Chambers will give us greater exposure. We will be looking for volunteers to have some fun at the chamber mixers. While attending the mixers there will be free food and drinks. That’s a pretty sweet volunteer gig. Another is expanding our membership.
As we look forward, we must remember our past and that we are in our 75th year as an organization, and the celebration, memories and recognition of those before us must go on. Without them we wouldn’t be here today.
Yes, there will be adjustments but our focus remains the same, “To Advance Gender Equity for Women and Girls Through Research, Education and Advocacy.”
Upcoming Programs
The 2nd Saturday of every month @ 9 AM
General Meeting: Annual Social – Sept 14
Our September meeting is our annual social gathering. It will be held on Saturday, September 14, in the Sculpture Garden at Yavapai College from 9 to 11AM. Representatives from each interest group will be available to chat, and members will have opportunities to sign up to get involved with our wide range of offerings.
In keeping with tradition, our board will provide snacks for this first fall meeting. As a note, the restrooms in the theater building will not be available to us during this time. The nearest restrooms are in the library building.
Please join us on this day! It is a great time to reconnect with current AAUW members and to meet guests who may be interested in membership, as well.
General Meeting: October 12
Our speaker on October 12 is Matt Weber. As usual with our general meetings, we start with social time and snacks at 9AM, then announcements at 9:30, and our speaker from 10:00 to 11:00. This month’s topic will include the voter registration process and the steps that Yavapai County uses to maintain the voter rolls.
Matt Weber grew up in Camp Verde, graduating from Camp Verde High School in 1979. After earning a degree in Social Science Education at Northern Arizona University, Matt worked in Arizona high schools for 29 years.
After retiring, Mr. Weber moved back to Yavapai County in 2012. A few years later, boredom set in, and he began working for the Yavapai County Elections Department during the 2016 elections. He transferred to the Voter Registration Department in 2017, becoming the Registrar of Voters in 2022. The Voter Registration Department oversees maintaining the voter rolls and conducting early voting.
Mr. Weber is encouraging any questions about voter registration and elections.
Getting There Map Links:
SEPTEMBER: Yavapai College Sculpture Garden
OCTOBER: Hope Ev. Lutheran Church
Click on a location to see it on a map:
Yavapai College Sculpture Garden
Hope Ev. Lutheran Church
AAUW Prescott Business
August Retreat for New Board Informative, Lively
It’s a new year for all of us in AAUW-Prescott, and I hope you all enjoyed your summer break. In May we installed the new officers who will take the mantle to bring you another interesting year of information and activities.
Board members attended a retreat on August 5, 2024, to kick off the new year. The afternoon started off with a salad potluck, and a few delicious desserts followed by a brief board meeting and introductions.
The group participated in a personality quiz called True Colors; a fun activity that allowed everyone a chance to get to know each other a little better and understand how to successfully work together.
The group then broke out into three groups to address our key initiatives of Membership, Education for Women and Girls, and Advocacy. The group came up with several ideas which can be implemented to help meet these initiatives. These ideas will become small projects offering opportunities for everyone to get involved.
This year’s roster of officers includes:
| Position | Member |
|---|---|
| President | Miriam Haubrich |
| President Elect | Jet Sletten |
| Program VP | Margie Crider |
| Program VP | Kimberley Richards |
| Membership VP | Sonya Tenney |
| Membership VP | Mari Rimple |
| Treasurer | Elaine Poole |
| Corresponding Secretary | Eileen Cotter |
| Recording Secretary | Cathy Cunningham |
| Advocacy Coordinator | Penny Briner Ewell |
| Archivist | Liz Bailey |
| Communications | Janet Orr |
| Communications/Directory | Lenore Hemphill |
| Dignity Health Council of Electors Representative | Julie Cargill |
| Hospitality | Kathryn Madden |
| Hospitality | Barbara Michelman |
| Parliamentarian | Edi Taylor-Richards |
| Scholarship | Kelli Klosterman |
Front: Miriam Haubrich – President
Not pictured: Kimberly Richards – Program VP, Sonya Tenney – Membership VP, Mari Rimple – Membership VP, Penny Briner Ewell – Advocacy Coordinator, Kathryn Madden – Hospitality, Julie Cargill – Dignity Health YRMC Board of Electors Representative
Membership News
It is gratifying to see how many of you, our wonderful Prescott AAUW members, have renewed your membership for the coming year. Thank you! There are, however, still quite a few who have not yet renewed, and Mari and Sonya, your membership VPs, would like to remind you to go to https://www.aauw.org, select “Login” in the upper right-hand corner, enter your username and password, and click on the “Renew” button. From that website, you can pay with a credit card directly through the national website. As you complete the membership form please indicate that you want to join the local Prescott branch (AZ0009).
We did add one new member to our branch over the summer. Please watch for Sharon Novak at our meetings and reach out and welcome her. We’d love to add even more members. Consider sharing how much you enjoy being a member of AAUW with your friends and neighbors and invite a friend to join you at our meeting in September.
Hospitality Chair Outlines Member “Treat Schedule” for 2024-25
Welcome back to a new year with Prescott AAUW. We are hoping you will decide to join us on the second Saturday of each month for our general meetings and to meet and mingle with friends. The Hospitality chairs provide coffee and tea for the meetings, but we depend on our members to supply treats. This year, we are divided into alphabetical groups.
When our president sends out the general meeting notice, she will also remind those whose turn it is to bring treats. We have coffee cups, but we appreciate it when you bring your own.
Thank you so much for your help and participation.
| Month For Snack | Assignments (ABC) |
|---|---|
| September 2024 | Board Provides Treats |
| October 2024 | A-B |
| November 2024 | C-D-E |
| December 2024 | Holiday Brunch |
| January 2025 | F-G-H-I |
| February 2025 | K-L-Ma |
| March 2025 | Mc-P |
| April 2025 | R-S |
| May 2025 | T-W |
AAUW Arizona
AAUW-AZ Fall Forum to Focus on Leadership Skills
AAUW of Arizona holds its annual Fall Forum on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the Ramada by Wyndham, Viscount Suites, in Tucson, from 9 AM to 3 PM.
The featured speakers are Melissa LaDuke, National AAUW Board of Directors, and Magdalena Verduco, CEO at YWCA of Southern Arizona. For more information, go to the AZ AAUW website or check out the Current Events sidebar on our Homepage.
Advocacy News
Prescott AAUW Creates Advocacy Committee
Penny Briner Ewell Appointed as Coordinator
Greetings and welcome to a new AAUW year! I am excited to represent you in the new Advocacy Coordinator position. The Advocacy Coordinator, a liaison position between the AAUW Board and the AAUW-Prescott membership, is focused on public policy and community action initiatives as they relate to the AAUW mission. It is not the coordinator’s role to chair or lead various programs, but rather to help facilitate and coordinate the implementation of AAUW programs. So let’s get started!
Advocacy Committee
One of our AAUW Board goals this year is to re-energize advocacy within our community. We are forming a small committee of AAUW members interested in initiating new public policy and community action opportunities for AAUW-Prescott. Contact me by email or phone if you are interested in talking further about community advocacy.
Voter Registration
Look for information in this edition of the Thumb Sketch on helping with student voter registration.
Project 2025
By now you’ve undoubtedly heard much about Project 2025, a 900 page governing agenda that is overseen by the Heritage Foundation. Project 2025 focuses on four main areas: policy, personnel, training, and a playbook. Regardless of one’s political party affiliation, there are reasons to be concerned about this plan. It fundamentally changes the checks and balances of our democracy, putting more power in the executive branch. It addresses policy issues related to immigration, health choices, climate change, the non-partisan nature of federal agencies, LBGTQ+ rights and many more. A few relevant highlights from Project 2025:
- Reproductive Rights – Whereas the plan does not call for a national abortion ban, it would make changes for the approval of and access to abortion pills, emergency contraception, and affect the care received for those in the military and their families.
- Education – Change to or elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, as well as cutting low-income and early childhood education programs.
- Environment – Changes to environmental and climate change protections.
These are only three of the many issues discussed in Project 2025. To read the document itself or for further information about what Project 2025 is, follow these links:
Project 2025 (Document itself)
What Is Project 2025 (Washington Post summary)
Amendments and Propositions on AZ Ballot 2024
Look to the November-December Thumb Sketch for more information and links regarding the numerous ballot measures in this year’s general election. In the meantime, if you would like to know more, the following websites provide information on the propositions and amendments.
Ballotopedia
Vote411 – The League of Women Voters provides a website for a “personalized ballot” based on where you live.
Reality Store®
We are currently working with several other organizations that are interested in having AAUW bringing Reality Store® to them. Keep watching the website and the Thumb Sketch for updated information about these opportunities.
Reach Out
If you have ideas for advocacy, please do not hesitate to reach out by phone or email. I look forward to hearing ideas from all our members!
Prescott AAUW Wants You!
Let’s Help With Voter Registration For College Students
to Get Out the Vote!
Are you are interested in a volunteer opportunity with a short-time commitment? This schedule might just be for you! AAUW-Prescott is working with Yavapai County Electors to register college students to vote. There are four dates/times from which to choose:
- Friday, September 13, 1:00-3:00, Prescott College
- Monday, September 16, 11:00-12:30 or 12:30-2:00, Yavapai College
- Tuesday, September 17, 11:00-12:30 or 12:30-2:00, Yavapai College
- Wednesday, September 18, 12:00-2:00, Prescott College
Come help students become part of our democratic process! Contact Penny Briner Ewell if you want to volunteer. Penny’s contact information is in our Directory.
Scholarships
Opportunity Award Well Appreciated
Below is a quote from a recipient of the Opportunity Award for the Thumb Sketch:
“I just wanted to follow up with gratitude. I am so excited! I have signed up for 3 trainings. Thanks for this opportunity! Thanks much!“
-Natalia Khudokonenko
What a fitting way to celebrate during our 75th Anniversary Year: Tours of Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center (FEC)
Members met and caught up on summer plans on June 8th in the cool Yavapai College Sculpture Garden and were then led in two separate groups to the FEC Center. Victoria Sweet, FEC Director, showed each group the newly-renovated outside play areas, along with the separate rooms serving and teaching children of different age levels in a safe and happy environment. After touring the lovely facility, members were served cookies and chocolate milk!
Since 2007, AAUW Prescott has supported an endowed scholarship through the Yavapai College Foundation. Named the Mary Alice Moulton Childcare Assistance Fund, in honor of 2001-02, AAUW Branch President (deceased, 2005), who was a tireless advocate for a children’s education curriculum at Yavapai College and for the creation of an early childhood center. The Del. E. Webb Family Enrichment Center was opened in 2007. As many as 33 scholarships have been awarded suplementing childcare tuition for selected female students/mothers pursuing their education at Yavapai College.
AAUW Prescott Member, Debra Brown a former Master Teacher at FEC is presently serving on the Yavapai College Foundation Board of Directors as liaison for the Board and the Friends of the FEC. She reports that the March 1st Cocktail Reception, Framing the Future, which benefited the Foundation, was a huge success featuring FEC student artworks. Ann Barton, another AAUW Prescott member has also served on the Yavapai College Foundation Board Scholarship Committee.
The Yavapai College Foundation provides a secure website for online donations to named scholarship funds, including the Mary Alice Moulton Childcare Assistance Fund. Remember, Contributions to this fund are tax-deductible.
Interest Groups
Book Groups
There are several book groups sponsored by AAUW Prescott. Please click on this link for more information about each one.
Travel Discussion Group – This special lunch is open to all AAUW members!
September 10, 2024, at 12:30 pm at the Triple Creek Kitchen and Spirits at the Hilton Garden Inn, 300 North Montezuma St.
Guest Speaker – Marci Hurlbert
Responding to consumer issues and trends in the hotel industry.
Marci Hurlbert, Vice President of Revenue Management and Sales for WBI Companies.
Marci is highly experienced in the hotel industry, and corporate world and is knowledgeable about hotel/travel trends. In her position with WBI Companies, she manages revenue and sales strategy and operations at five Hilton and Marriott hotels in Prescott, Flagstaff, and Show Low.
Yet she knows the local travel landscape as well. She graduated from Prescott High School where she excelled in gymnastics. Marci was one of a handful of women accepted at the Air Force Academy as it began accepting women into its ranks. As a Cadet Marci McGlinn Hurlbert ’85 won two consecutive national titles in gymnastics. She was inducted into the Air Force Academy Athletic Hall in September 2023. For additional biographical information read a recent Courier article about Marci’s accomplishments.
Marci will speak and respond to questions from AAUW members. Followed by lunch at Triple Creek Kitchen and Spirits. (Each member pays for her own meal.) A maximum of 20 members can be accommodated, please reserve your space by emailing Janet Orr by Wednesday, September 4th.
November 12th, 2024 at Prescott Public Library, Founders Room B, 1:00 to 2:30 pm
Topic: Planning a vacation around climate change? High/low water, packing for heat variances, unusual weather disruptions, recycling programs in other countries, and supporting local climate change policies.
Lunch Bunch
Our September Lunch Bunch will be at Tara Thai, 115 S Cortez, on Wednesday the 11th at 11:30. This place is very popular with most of our members. If you would like to be a part of our monthly meet-up, contact Margie Crider. It’s a great way to connect with members in a casual and delicious way. Give it a try! Margie sends an email out to members with the date, the time and the location each month, but you can find the schedule for the year on the Lunch Bunch webpage.
Calling all ISO Bridge Players!*
Our group is always on the lookout for competent but not compulsive bridge players! We meet twice a month (the first and third Friday) throughout the year at members’ homes from 1-4 pm. We play two tables, enjoy the game, and enjoy the camaraderie. If you are interested or want additional information, contact Tamara Voss, our group chair. Her email can be located in the member directory.
*Note that we cannot promise a bridge hand as shown here!