Volume 78, Issue  3

January/February President’s Message

Greetings Arlington AAUW Members,

Welcome to 2022! We wish all our members and their families a joyful and productive year ahead-one filled with reconnecting physically with family and friends and building new relationships and enjoying new activities. We finished our Branch activities on a high note with our annual holiday luncheon. Meg Tuccillo graciously hosted 26 branch members in her home beautifully decorated for the holidays. We had a delicious lunch followed by playing some holiday games and learning more about how we can help newly arrived refugees from Meg and Susan Senn. Best of all we were so happy to see each other in-person again to catch up on the last 18 months! Thank you, Meg, for your generous hospitality!

Looking ahead we hope that all branch members will participate via Zoom on January 22 in the Virginia State AAUW meeting on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. For more information, see Meg’s notes below. And don’t forget that In March we will have our annual meeting. Depending on what happens in early winter, we remain flexible for deciding on Zoom or in-person meetings. 

We end with a personal note from co-president Karen Darner:

“I had a memory freeze while headed to a funeral in Illinois and spent a week in the hospital of Ohio State University and with their help and that of my own VHC doctor I am well on my way to complete recovery. In fact, I attended our AAUW luncheon at Meg Tuccillo’s! Magnificent work you all! Thank you.
I am so grateful for the work of our local board members, led by Terry Bratt our co-president. I think I will remember this Thanksgiving as my miracle. I wish each of you a wonderful holiday as 2022 approaches and a COVID threat free life in the New Year. Much love to all, Karen”

Karen Darner and Terry Bratt , Co-Presidents

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Arlington AAUW Program Updates

We are already almost halfway through our year and we have already had the opportunity to learn about STEM programs for young girls, the possibility of a broadband authority in Arlington, the status of women veterans in America and local good Samaritans helping our neighbors in need.

January Meeting

In January, we are excited by the opportunity to join with AAUW – Virginia in a Zoom meeting on Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 10 am to 11:30 am where we will learn more about Creating Inclusive Spaces. The panelists include one of our own Arlington AAUW members, Krysta Jones, along with two other experts on inclusive communities.  This issue speaks to our focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.  

Please plan to join with other AAUW members throughout the state on this important issue.  Click the zoom link to join the program on January 22.

What’s Getting You Through Covid?

In these challenging times, we have decided to change our program schedule and add a branch meeting on Saturday, February 19^th at 1 pm via zoom.

We’d love to have you all join us on the 19^th for an informal, fun, one-hour chat on this engaging topic – “What’s Getting You Through Covid?!”

We invite folks to share books you have loved, Netflix or other places where you have found great movies, exercises or other activities you’ve enjoyed and other survival tips!!!  We will send out the zoom link during the week prior to February 19^th for your convenience.  Hope to have you all join our chat on February 19^th at 1 pm.

Annual Meeting in March

 Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be our Annual Meeting with elections and will be held on Saturday, March 19^th at 10:30 am.

Check out our full program of meetings on the Meetings page on our website.

Meg Tuccillo, VP Programs

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Let’s Talk About Books

The January Let’s Talk About Books  meeting is Tuesday, January 25, 2 pm at your regular Zoom location.  Our book selection is Caste: The Origins of our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson

Our February meeting will be Tuesday, February 23, 2 pm.  Our book selection is A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemmingway.

Shortly before each meeting Terry Bratt 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 2021-22 with a brief description of each on the Let’s Talk About Books page.

Barbara Gallagher, Chair

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Winter Plans for THIS/AAUW International Coffee Conversation Group:

The THIS/AAUW International Coffee group will not meet in January.

We will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 9,  10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m at the home of Liz Klass to celebrate  Valentine’s Day.

We will meet at the home of Juanita Cullen on Wednesday, March 9 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Members of the AAUW Arlington Branch are welcome to join the group.  For more information please contact Priscilla Becker. (See Branch Directory for her phone and email.)

Priscilla Becker, lead

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AAUW-VA State Lobby Day

Sending on the latest message from our VA PP chairs, Susan and Denise.

State Lobby Day Update – We will be Virtual Again
After considering public health warnings about the new Covid variant, we have decided to forgo an in-person State Lobby Day in 2022 and canceled our plans to host a reception for Virginia’s women legislators.   We are disappointed but mindful of the importance of staying safe and healthy.

As we did in 2021, we ask for your support in virtual lobbying through emails and phone calls to your elected representatives. We will provide resources in the form of fact sheets, talking points, and other materials you can use to engage your delegates and senators.  Virginia’s General Assembly session begins on January 12 and ends on March 12.

In lieu of our reception for women legislators, we are working to host a Zoom session with Virginia women legislators from both political parties on January 25 at 6:30 p.m.   There are lots of moving parts to manage, but we will keep you posted.

In December, fellow Arlington AAUW member Krysta Jones was the guest speaker at the Lunch Bunch holiday luncheon. Krysta spoke to the students about her work in the Peace Corps and as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill advocating for women and social-economic issues. Besides having a delightful holiday luncheon, the students enjoyed getting colorful earbuds donated from BB&T. More motivational speakers are planned for the Spring.