Volume 77, Issue 6

Transitions

It is with very mixed emotions that I begin a break from elected office for the Arlington branch of AAUW. I am extremely pleased that we have an extraordinarily talented and experienced team who will assume office on July 1, led by Terry Bratt and Karen Darner, and look forward to working with them. And I’m also sad to be stepping away from the hustle and bustle of serving as President; I like being where there’s lots of action! 

But after 10 years as an elected officer (two two-year terms as Treasurer, one as Vice President–Membership, one as Co-President, and one as President), it is time for a change. I have offered to continue as branch Bylaws Chair and as one of our delegates to Arlington County Civic Federation, so I will still be engaged, just at a different level. This break will also afford me the opportunity to serve in leadership in other organizations, which I found difficult while serving as President of the branch. 

I want to thank those who gave me a chance, as a new member, to assume elected office (Michele Milden); those who mentored me along the way (Arlene Wilson, Sara Anderson, Marcy Leverenz, and Meg Tuccillo); and those who supported me in serving in each of these offices, including every member of the Board of Directors, every year. Special thanks to Meg Tuccillo, who both helped me learn how to be President in real time during the years we were Co-Presidents, and who continued as a sounding board when I “soloed” as President. 

There were expected challenges, like our gradually shrinking membership, and unexpected ones like life in the time of Covid-19, and while our nation grapples anew with racial equity issues. But with the imagination of the entire Board and membership, we’ve managed to stabilize as a branch and continue our programming relating to AAUW’s strategic goals. The challenges we’ve faced have given us confidence that we can adjust again (and still again) as life evolves. I look forward to our continued progress together!  

Carol Dabbs, President

---

Time to Renew your Dues for 2021-22

It’s that time of year when AAUW will be asking you to renew your membership dues. While the amount of AAUW national dues has increased for the 2021-22 fiscal year to $62 (of which $59 is deductible), state dues remain $15, and branch dues remain $16 for the new fiscal year. This means that the total dues for an Arlington Branch Member will be $93 or $31 for a paid Life Member. Honorary Life Members (those who have paid dues for 50 years) do not pay dues to national, state, or branch. 

Members will receive an email with a link to pay your dues online or by check in the next few weeks. If paying by check, please make your check payable to Arlington Branch AAUW and mail it to Mary Spatz by June 30, 2021. (Address in Membership Directory and in the email that sent you the link to this newsletter.)

Thank you for renewing your membership at this time. We look forward to seeing you either on Zoom and/or in person next year.  

Michele Milden and Gail McGinn, Membership Co-VPs

---

Wearable Technology Summer Camp

Cohosted by Arlington AAUW and Qualcomm

Arlington AAUW  has agreed to co-host a Wearable Technology Virtual Summer Camp to take place July 12-16, along with Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus STEM programs and  Qualcomm, a company designed to create innovate technologies that transforms how the world connects, computes and communicates, which is the corporate sponsor for this camp. We have connected through Jim Egenreider, former APS teacher and technology guru, who currently is a professor at Virginia Tech, Northern Virginia campus, and the director of the Qualcomm Think-A-Bit lab, designed to teach young people of all ages electronic and robotic technology. Qualcomm is sponsoring all fees for electronic kits and other needed supplies to be distributed to 20+ girls in the Arlington area who have been recruited through APS Equity and Excellence Coordinators. Teri Doxsee is working with the IT supervisor to ensure each girl has equal access to the Zoom platform. We will offer participation to the 8 girls who were the Science Fair awardees.

“These camps are designed to help the girls develop new skills (algorithms, programming, engineering design processes) but to do so in highly engaging ways. The camp will include college and career exploration. The girls will design and build their own wearable-based creative project using these skills”.

If any of you who have had a STEM-related technology career and would be willing to talk to the girls (via Zoom) on one of the four eligible days of the camp between 12:00 – 1:00 pm for 15 minutes, please contact me.

Meg Tuccillo and Mary Spatz also are working with me on this project.

Susan Senn, STEM Coordinator

---

Let’s Talk About Books

TheJune meeting for Let’s Talk About Books is Tuesday, June 22, 2 pm at your regular Zoom location.  Our book selection is A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum.

Our July meeting is schedule for July 19, at 7 pm.  Our book selection is A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.

At our July meeting we will have the opportunity to lobby for our suggestions for next year, but the vote of the group will determine if it makes the list.  We need 11 titles since we do not meet in August.  When considering your suggestions (a maximum of three) we ask that it be readily available at the library or in paperback.  If you send me your suggestions with a short blurb about the book, I will compile the list and send to all before the meeting so you can be contemplating your choices. Here are links to the Master Book List so you can see what we have already read.   Let me know if you  have any problems. Link to Master list by title.  Link to Master list by author.

Shortly before each meeting Terry Bratt or Carol Dabbs will send an invitation with the Zoom information. So, watch your email and come join the fun!  Look forward to seeing you then.

See all our books for 2020-21 with a brief description of each on the Let’s Talk About Books page.

Barbara Gallagher, Chair

---

Welcome New Members

Krysta Jones

Krysta Jones, has committed her life to public service and developing leaders and is passionate about the power of politics to change lives.

Krysta serves as the inaugural director of the Virginia Promise Partnership which aims to achieve access to affordable, quality childcare for all Virginia families by 2030. Krysta serves as the voice of the Coalition before policymakers and the media and oversees the Virginia Promise Advocate community.

In 2006, Krysta founded Vote Lead Impact to educate Black leaders about the political process, and has served as Director of Outreach for two Members of Congress. She has held leadership roles for several local, state and national organizations and is currently the president of the National Women’s Political Caucus – Virginia, and the national co-chair for the Women’s Vote Centennial Initiative.

Elizabeth Estabrooks

From her youth, Elizabeth Estabrooks has had a passion for social justice, which she has used in her career for nearly three decades. In that time, she has had the privilege of focusing her work primarily on issues related to women, particularly peer support services, recovery, gender- and culturally- responsive services, domestic violence and sexual assault, and advocacy for women Veterans.  

In 2001 Ms. Estabrooks earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Gender Studies and Political Science from Eastern Oregon University. In 2013 she was selected as a Fisher-Cummings Washington D.C. Fellow and earned her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University, where she began developing policy papers on the topics of military sexual assault, military culture, and women veterans and  was invited to serve on the Department of Veterans Affairs National Domestic Violence Task Force. 

During her career Ms. Estabrooks has worked with government, non-profit, and private agencies nationwide and in Canada. She is currently the Acting Director at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Women Veterans in Washington, DC.

 Ms. Estabrooks is a Peacetime veteran of the U.S. Army and makes her home in Woodbridge, VA with her adorable Shih Tzu Beyonce (aka Queen B) and enjoys dragon boat racing, kayaking, yoga and walking with Beyonce along the river.

---

AAUW Calendar

Our AAUW Calendar has moved to google which means you can check it online from the website or subscribe and see it directly on your phone or laptop! Additional information about the events is available by clicking the item.  Contact Teri at newsarlvaaauw@gmail.com if you have any questions.

---

Arlington AAUW Executive Committee 2020-21

• • President: Carol Dabbs (2019-21) presarlvaaauw@gmail.com
  • Co-First VPs for Programs: Meg Tuccillo and Chioma Eni (2019-21)
  • Co-Second VPs for Membership:  Michelle Milden (2019-21) and Gail McGinn (2020-22)
  • Third VP for Communications: Teri Doxsee (2019-21) newsarlvaaauw@gmail.com
  • Secretary: Marie Schryver (2020-22)
  • Treasurer: Mary Spatz (2021-22)
  • Public Policy: Sara Anderson

Arlington AAUW Executive Committee 2021-22

Term begins July 1, 2021

• • President: Terry Bratt(2021-2023) and Karen Darner (2021-2023) presarlvaaauw@gmail.com
  • Co-First VPs for Programs: Meg Tuccillo (2021-2023)
  • Co-Second VPs for Membership:  Michelle Milden (2021-2022) and Gail McGinn (2020-22)
  • Third VP for Communications: Teri Doxsee (2021-2023) newsarlvaaauw@gmail.com
  • Co-Secretaries: Candace Lilyquist (2021-2022) and Susan Senn (2021-2022)
  • Treasurer: Mary Spatz (2021-22)
  • Public Policy: Sara Anderson