November 2015

THE BREEZE
November 2015, Volume 33, Number 2
General Meeting
Robotics and the Tech Trek Girls
Wednesday, November 11, 4:00 pm
Tehachapi Community Congregational Church
100 East E Street
Friendship Hall
The Tehachapi High School Robotics Team is an after school club that works to promote
STEM throughout the community. Through partnership with their community, industry
partners, and the school district, the student members create and deliver programs in
LEGO Robotics and Computer Programming in addition to hosting an annual free Science
Exposition with the goal of encouraging more elementary students to remain curious and
pursue hobbies and careers in STEM.
As a FIRST Robotics Competition team, the students also design, build, program, and control a 120-pound robot for an annual cooperative/competitive challenge. The students
also compete in industry-sponsored competitions and contests as part of their yearround activities. Graduates and members of the THS Robotics Team predominantly pursue college and careers in engineering and internships within the High Desert and Antelope Valley. At the presentation on November 11, the students will demonstrate at least
two robots that they have designed and built with the assistance of industry mentors.
We also hope to hear from our 2015 Tech Trek Campers as they relate their summer
camp experiences.
November Board Meeting
November 4th, 4 pm
Home of Jan Combs, 1222 Catalpa
All members are welcome at the AAUW Tehachapi Board Meeting.
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President’s Message
By Jeannette Crounse
As our Tehachapi branch donates to the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund, you
might like some information about the organization and what it does.
The fund is named after Virginia Gildersleeve,
who was the Dean of Bernard College. In
1927 she said, “The most urgent and vital
need of college women is that some of them
should produce work of real distinction. To
this end, we must aid our most promising
young graduates in their professional and
scholarly careers, and this is one reason why
fellowships are so extremely important.”
The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund
was founded in 1969 by 11 members of the
International Association of University
Women. The fund was originally to assist
women college graduates - particularly in low
income countries. The hope was for them to
identify and implement solutions to a variety
of problems confronting their nations. In the
next ten years, the fund broadened it’s original purpose. Today the VGIF supports
women-led grassroots projects in developing
countries around the world—projects to help
improve the lives of women and girls by advancing women's rights and social justice.
Since it’s founding in 1969, the Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund has funded more
than 515 projects in 93 countries, focusing on
a broad range of issues; from education and
health to economic empowerment and human rights.
Tehachapi Mountain
Branch Officers-2015-2016
President
Jeannette Crounse 619-2006
Program Vice Presidents
Connie Lynch 823-1440
Linda Flores 821-0621
Membership Vice President
Jan Combs 823-9303
AAUW Funds Vice President
Bugs Fontaine 821-2055
Secretary
Anita Pritchard 823-4158
Finance Officer/Treasurer
Phyllis Belcher 822-4340
AAUW, founded in 1881, is open to all graduates
who hold an associate, a baccalaureate, or a
higher degree from a regionally accredited college
or university. In principle and 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.
Friends of AAUW share their skills and abilities
with our branch. These local women and men,
without associate, baccalaureate, or advanced
degree from an accredited institution, assist in
achieving the Tehachapi Mountain Branch AAUW
goals of life-long education and scholarship support for local students.
The Tehachapi Mountain Breeze is published
monthly, September through May by the Tehachapi
Mountain Branch of the AAUW. Please submit articles to the editors by the 15th of the month preceding
the date of the publication.. Breeze Editors: Sonja
Wilson, swilson29@bak.rr.com and Jan Combs,
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Where You There?
October Meeting
AAUW Hears Advice About Breast Cancer
By Phyllis Belcher
Women heard about the impact of breast cancer on individuals, families, and communities at a recent meeting of American Association
of University Women. A panel consisting of
Janice Armstrong, Mary Van Blake, and Connie
Lynch shared their personal stories of surviving
breast cancer.
They stressed the importance of getting mammograms and doing self examination. If cancer is
detected, they recommended getting a second
opinion about treatment.
Van Blake distributed packets of information
about breast cancer with advice and statistics.
She has organized a breast cancer support group
which meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at
Tehachapi Senior Center.
Each of the panel members is now well and
healthy, but they continue having check-ups and following their doctor's advice. They
have become advocates for a healthy life style of exercise and good nutrition.
Welcome To Our New Member
Karen Schoen, 20701 Old Town Road, 822-6189,
KEschoen@yahoo.com.
With Karen we have achieved 100 members!!! Thank you Jan
Combs!
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SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR WOMEN (SFFW)
by Janice Hagan Armstrong
Hitching Post Theater Fundraiser
By now you should have received 24 raffle tickets. We are asking for your help in this
fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund for Women, our Branch’s scholarship arm. The
SFFW is probably the largest local provider of scholarships, have awarded over $200,000
to local scholars.
The raffle prize is a one-year pass to the Hitching Post Theaters (some restrictions on it,
but not many). It is donated by Mr. Viner of the Hitching Post Theaters. He has been a
fantastic sponsor of local Scholarships and we deeply appreciate his support! When you
patronize his business, please thank his staff for this great gift from him. If you take a
look at their website, there is a spot you can send him a comment—this is another way to
let him know we appreciate him.
We usually raise $1500-$2000 with this fundraiser. The drawing will be at our December holiday event.
Note the following:
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If you don’t want to participate, please contact me and I will pick up the tickets.
Checks should be made payable to the Scholarship Fund for Women. Remember that
SFFW is a 501©(3) tax exempt organization. If you do not win, in reality you still win,
since your donation is probably tax deductible. Consult your tax advisor.
If you would rather not participate but instead just make a donation—it will be gratefully accepted!
On another note, a special thank you goes to Norm Prigge, a former AAUW member and
resident of Bear Valley Springs who has relocated to northern California. Norm donated
a beautiful painting on wood and 4 “Jim Yurk” mugs. We will be auctioning these off at
our December holiday event.
On behalf of the Trustees of the Scholarship Fund for Women, I thank you.
Janice Hagan Armstrong
Chair, SFFW
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TECH TREK
Quilt Raffle Fundraiser by Phyllis Belcher
This is the handmade quilt Lynne Bauer has donated for AAUW to raffle to raise funds
to send a Tehachapi girl to Tech Trek next summer. Tickets will be sold at Branch meetings beginning September 12. They are $5 each or 5 for
$20. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Scholarship Awards Dinner next June. The winner need
not be present. AAUW appreciates Lynne's talent
and generosity which make it possible for the
Branch to participate in this important program
for girls.
President Jeannette Crounse helps
Lynne Bauer to display the quilt.
Checks should be made out to AAUW with Tech Trek and Camp Name in memo line.
Donations may be tax deductible if you do not win. Ask your tax advisor.
AAUW Table on First Friday, Nov 6, 5-8 pm
Tehachapi Community Congregational Church
Corner East E and Green Street
AAUW will be selling quilt raffle tickets and Hitching Post raffle tickets at our table at this
First Friday event, along with providing AAUW information and membership applications. The evening features Tehachapi’s own Librarian discussing the International Bank
of Bob by Bob Harris. With humor and insight, Harris shares his adventures in Kiva.org
international micro lending. Dinner is available for a small donation.
Many local volunteer organizations are participating.
S.H.A.R.E.S.
Supporting Humanities Arts Recreation Education Sports
Here's how it works, everyone! Every time your card is swiped by Savemart, points are
issued to AAUW! Then AAUW receives a quarterly check for the amount earned at the
rate of up to 3%. As soon as YOU start using your S.H.A.R.E.S. card, AAUW and the scholarship fund start earning points. AND- there is no limit to how many people we can enroll. So- if you want more cards for friends, family, neighbors, call me. Nancy Williamson,
821-3534
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INTEREST GROUPS
New Theater and/ or, Movie Group?
New Party Bridge Group?
Details of what, when and where for each group to be determined at the first meeting of
interested ladies. Contact Sonja Wilson at swilson29@bak.rr.com or 823-7884.
Arts and Crafts Group by Liz Wolfe
Arts and Grafts Group meets the fourth Tuesday of the month
and due to the proximity of Thanksgiving and Christmas—we
will not be meeting for those two months.
Reminder of our October Field Trio to Ridgecrest
(weather permitting) on Tuesday, October 27th. I have eight
RSVP’s so far—please let me know if you plan on going.
Liz
Book Group by Sonja Wilson
The Book Group will meet on November 17, 1 pm at the Tehachapi Community Congregational Church. The book for discussion is Perfume: The Story of a Murder by Patrick Suskind.
This book was recommended by Marti Briggs.
Cemetery Interest Group
by Janice Armstrong
The Cemetery Interest Group will meet Friday November 20th. Contact Janice Armstrong for more details.
Great Decisions, 2016
SEE PAGES 8-9
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INTEREST GROUPS (Continued)
Highway Cleanup by Patty Kruetz
For information on cleanup activities in November, please contact Patty
Kruetz.
Lunch Bunch by Jan Combs
On November 10, weather permitting, we will journey down
to Keene to the Keene Café. We’ll carpool at 11:30 am, but
don’t know where we will meet yet. If you plan to go, please
let Phyllis B. or Jan C. know so we can tell them we are coming. A word of advice, if you want pie, order it first!
We will meet at 11:30 at Kmart in the parking lot behind the store.
In October fifteen of us enjoyed lunch together at The Shed including Nancy Guidry, one of
our brand new members. On our very precise 1 to 5 rating scale, Food and Service both
rated a 5. They are doing a lot of fixing up kind of things and we gave Ambiance a 4. It,
too, will no doubt be a 5 when they are all finished.
Story Tellers by Phyllis Belcher
Story Tellers Plan for March
Tehachapi Mountain Branch has a long history of promoting
Women's History month. In 1996 Carol Coleman, Evelyn Eccleston,
Margaret Thomas, and Phyllis Belcher began going to the schools
and impersonating women who made important contributions to
society. Now 20 years later, AAUW members are planning presentations for 2016.
The women met in October and described the character they wish
to portray. They will spend the next two months researching their
character and writing a script. On January 5, they will meet again to
read the script to one another. Then meetings will be scheduled to
practice the presentations and arrange schedules. There is still opportunity for more people to participate. Call Phyllis (822-4340) if you have questions.
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Great Decisions Group 2016
Since 1954, GREAT DECISIONS discussion groups have engaged with and educated Americans about the
U.S. foreign policy process. Next year, 2016, the briefing books will be $22.50 each. The DVD is an additional $40, paid for by AAUW in the past. Our shipping and handling was $45. last year. This brings the
grand total for each participant to about $25. Please consider joining this dynamic group next year. Visit
www.greatdecisions.org for more information about programs, supplemental readings, program updates,
and who to follow on Twitter. Call or email Nancy Williamson, nanwilliamson33@hotmail.com, with
your questions. To order your book and commit to the group, mail a checks for $25, made out to
Nancy Williamson , 29960 No Lower Valley Road, Tehachapi CA 93561. Our group order must
go in by Oct 29th to get the 10% discount included in the $25 price. So let Nancy know
immediately, if you want to participate. Books arrive the end of December or early January.
The Foreign Policy Association is pleased to announce the topics for Great Decisions 2016! This
year's topics are as follows:
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Middle East Alliances
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The Rise of ISIS
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The Future of Kurdistan
Migration
The Koreas
The United Nations
Climate Change
Cuba and the U.S.
Middle East Alliances By Augustus Richard Norton
From a proxy war in Yemen to an ongoing civil war in Syria, a number of ongoing conflicts have shaken the
traditional alliances in the Middle East to their core. As alliances between state and non-state actors in the
region are constantly shifting, the U.S. has found itself between a rock and a hard place. In a series of conflicts that are far from being black-and-white, what can the U.S. do to secure its interests in the region without causing further damage and disruption?
The Rise of ISIS By Gregory Johnsen
Born out of an umbrella organization of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)
burst onto the international stage after it seized Fallujah in December 2013. Since then, the group has
seized control of a number of critical strongholds in the country and declared itself a caliphate, known as
the Islamic State. Still, the question remains: What is ISIS, and what danger does it pose to U.S. interests?
The Future of Kurdistan By Jenna Krajeski
Kurdistan, a mountainous area made up of parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, is home to one of the largest ethnic groups in region: the Kurds. Most in the West know them for their small, oil-rich autonomous
region in northern Iraq called Iraqi Kurdistan — one of the U.S.’ closer allies in the Middle East and a bulwark against the expansion of the so-called Islamic State. What does the success of Iraqi Kurdistan mean
for Kurds in the surrounding region?
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Great Decisions Group 2016
Migration By Joseph Chamie
As a record number of migrants cross the Mediterranean Sea to find refuge in Europe, the continent is
struggling to come up with an adequate response. Although Europe’s refugees are largely fleeing conflicts
in Syria, Iraq and parts of Africa, their struggle is hardly unique. Today, with the number of displaced people at an all-time high, a number of world powers find themselves facing a difficult question: how can they
balance border security with humanitarian concerns? More importantly, what can they do to resolve these
crises so as to limit the number of displaced persons?
The Koreas By Scott Snyder
At the end of World War II, Korea was divided in two. The northern half of the Korean peninsula was occupied by the Soviet Union, the southern by the United States. Today, North and South Korea couldn’t be further apart. The North is underdeveloped, impoverished and ruled by a corrupt, authoritarian government,
while the South advanced rapidly to become one of the most developed countries in the world. With such a
wide gap, some are asking if unification is possible, even desirable, anymore?
The United Nations By Stephen Browne and Thomas Weiss
On the eve of the international organization’s 70th birthday, the United Nations stands at a crossroads. This
year marks a halfway point in the organization’s global effort to eradicate poverty, hunger and discrimination, as well as ensure justice and dignity for all peoples. But as the UN’s 193 member states look back at
the success of the millennium development goals, they also must assess their needs for its sustainable development goals — a new series of benchmarks, which are set to expire in 2030. With the appointment of
the ninth secretary-general in the near future as well, the next UN leader is bound to have quite a lot on his
or her plate going into office.
Climate change By William Sweet
In the past few years, the American public has become more aware of the damage wrought by climate
change. From droughts in the west to extreme weather in the east, a rapidly changing climate has already
made its footprint in the United States. Now, it’s expected that the presidential election in 2016 will be one
of the first ever to place an emphasis on these environmental changes. What can the next president do to
stymie this environmental crisis? And is it too late for these efforts to be effective?
Cuba and the U.S. By Michael Shifter and Ben Raderstorf
The U.S. announced in December 2014 that, after decades of isolation, it has begun taking major steps to
normalize relations with Cuba. The announcement marks a dramatic shift away from a policy that has its
roots in one of the darkest moments of the Cold War — the Cuban missile crisis. Although the U.S. trade
embargo is unlikely to end any time soon, American and Cuban leaders today are trying to bring a relationship, once defined by antithetical ideologies, into the 21st century.
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Public Policy by Ginny Tunks
Legislative Update:
Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 358. This bill updates California’s Fair Pay Act. California and the federal government already have laws banning employers from paying
women less than men for the same jobs. This new law broadens that prohibition by saying employers cannot pay employees less than those of the opposite sex for “substantially
similar work” even if their titles are different or they work at different sites. It also prohibits retaliation for disclosing wages amongst coworkers. This law builds on the 2009
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Transparency Rule for Federal Contractors that was
put into effect September 15. See the September Breeze to see an explanation of this executive order.
New Collaboration: A STRONGER CALIFORNIA
AAUW California is now collaborating with a group known as A STRONGER CALIFORNIA.
This is a group of organizations that are concerned about women’s economic security
and work on addressing women’s issues through legislation. The California Women’s
Legislative Women’s Caucus is solidly behind their efforts.
CA Public Policy Committee Request:
As legislators are often persuaded to vote for bills when they hear personal experiences,
the AAUW California public policy committee is asking that you send your stories on being personally affected or disadvantaged by having to disclose your prior salary history
when applying for a job. Summit your stories to legislativeadvocate@aauw-ca.org. Include you contact information and if you’d be willing to be public with your story.
Sign-up to be a two-minute activist: www.aauw.org/actionnetwork
Help improve women’s working conditions.
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Membership Forms
AAUW Membership (Please Print)
NAME_________________________________________
SPOUSE/PARTNER______________________________
ADDRESS______________________________________
Friends of AAUW
Several years ago the need for another
category of affiliation for the Tehachapi
Mountain Branch was recognized. Some
individuals in the community were
interested in our activities and goals but did not
have a college degree. They are never the less
welcome to participate in all of our events but
may not vote or hold an elected office.
CITY/ZIP_______________________________________
HOME PHONE__________________________________
To be a FRIEND of AAUW (Please Print)
NAME__________________________________
E-MAIL________________________________________
BIRTH DATE:MONTH_________ Day________________
ADDRESS_______________________________
CITY/ZIP________________________________
HOME PHONE___________________________
COLLEGE /UNIVERSITY__________________________
CITY/STATE____________________________________
E-MAIL_________________________________
BIRTHDATE: Month__________ Day________
Dues are $20.00 per year (July 1—June 30)
DEGREE_____________________YEAR_____________
Dues are $89 Per Year (July 1-June 30) (National $49; State
$20, Local $20). If you join after January 1 and before March 15
Reduce the National Dues by 50%.. If you join after March 15,
pay the full amount and that will cover the concluding year as
well as the next full year.
Make your check payable to:
AAUW Tehachapi Mountain Branch
Mail to: AAUW Membership
1222 Catalpa CT, Tehachapi, CA 93561
Info -Membership VP Jan Combs
Make your check payable to: AAUW
Tehachapi Mountain Branch
Mail to: AAUW Membership
1222 Catalpa Ct, Tehachapi, CA 93561
If you are an undergraduate student enrolled
in a qualified educational institution you
may join as a student affiliate. Student
Affiliate dues are $30.
Membership in AAUW is open to women and
men who hold an associate degree or
equivalent, or a baccalaureate degree or higher,
from an accredited university or college. Those
who have a degree from a foreign institution
recognized by the International Federation of
University Women may also join AAUW.
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THE BREEZE
AAUW TEHACHAPI MOUNTAIN BRANCH
Post Office Box 273, Tehachapi CA 93561
AAUW’S IMPACT IN CALIFORNIA
Fiscal Year 2014
Click below to read this informative report describing what AAUW California
accomplished in 2014 from the AAUW National Website.
AAUW on Campus
AAUW C/U Partners
AAUW Student Organizations
AAUW In the Media
AAUW Advocacy
AAUW in the Courthouse
AAUW Research in Action
AAUW National Trainings and Presentations
AAUW Around the World
AAUW California Impacts 2014
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