Volume 82, Issue   2

Co-President’s Message

It is an honor to serve with you in the American Association of University Women – Arlington Branch. There has never been a better time for us to step up and serve the cause of learning and education for all. Advocacy in this area takes many forms, and we AAUW members are equipped through our relationships and memberships to take on the mountains of the day.

Winston Churchill said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Through the years, AAUW has demonstrated its perseverance by not only surviving the pandemic, but emerging with a plan to become stronger. In this new time of uncertainty we will continue to persevere against the challenges of the day and build the muscles we need to climb even higher.

Recent cuts to the US Department of Education as well as the job insecurity many are facing have rattled the professions and the pursuit of higher learning. AAUW remains active in support of federal agencies working to advance public policy based on good science, sound technology, and meaningful collaboration. AAUW-Arlington Branch is focused on its mission and vision. Although there may be storms swirling around us at times, our organization is committed to serve so that we as members can each make a true impact on our community. As an organization, we must persist.

Things will change. AAUW will make certain those changes are positive. Our tools include an excellent series of programs and a book club, too. Please read below to learn about the programs we have for you this year. I look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon.

Candace Lilyquist, Arlington AAUW Branch Co-President

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FIVE STAR PROGRAM

I am delighted to share that the Arlington-VA Branch earned four stars this year for our excellent activities and programs in the categories of:  Public Policy & Advocacy, Governance & Sustainability, Programming and Communications, & External Relations. This achievement reflects our branch’s commitment to advancing gender equity, and aligning our programs with National AAUW’s strategic priorities for advocacy, and sustainability. We can be very proud of our branch!

Terry Bratt, Co-President

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Shout-Out to Postcard Writers!

Many thanks our branch members who answered the call and volunteered to write Get out the Vote Postcards. We have met our goal and the postcards are in the mail!

Our branch had committed to writing 200 postcards to encourage voters to participate in the upcoming November elections. Our postcards this time went to voters in the Richmond, VA area.

Terry Bratt, Arlington AAUW Branch Co-President

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2025-26 Arlington AAUW Branch Programs & Calendar Updates

Saturday, October 18 at 10:30 a.m., in Room 412 at Arlington Mill (909 South Dinwiddie Street, Arlington 22204). Author Nicholas Reynolds will discuss his most recent book, Need to Know:  World War II and the Rise of American Intelligence. Mr. Reynolds has worked in the field of modern history on and off for 40 years.  He has taught at the Naval War College, John Hopkins University and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Please Note this is a change of venue! Parking is available in the garage beneath the building. Turn on Dinwiddie (right or left depending from which direction you are coming from), then turn right, and you will see the garage.

November 15 at 10:30 am in the Magnolia Room at Lubber Run. Diane Kresh, Director of the Arlington Public Library, will discuss the issue and process of the banning of books.

December 6 at 12 pm we will hold our annual holiday luncheon at Milo’s Grill in the Chesterbrook Shopping Center, 6238 Old Dominion Drive in McLean, VA 22101. Our speaker is from AARP and will discuss protecting ourselves from fraud and identity theft. Note: there is ample parking and easy access to the restaurant.

Jeanine Brundage, VP Programs

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Let’s Talk About Books

On Tuesday, October 28 at 2 pm the book club will meet at the home of Kathy Scruggs to discuss Money, Lies, and God by Katherine Stewart. Please let the hostess know if you are coming. There is no book club in November.

If you would like to host any of the other meetings, please contact Barbara Gallagher. Our previous newsletter had a list of all books and meeting dates for the year.

Barbara A Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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AAUW Arlington co-sponsors 2025 Candidate Forums with the League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City

Mark your calendars! The Arlington Candidate Forum will take place on Saturday, October 11, from 1 to 4 pm at the Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th Street South, Arlington VA). This forum is an important opportunity to hear directly from those running for office and ask your questions. Stay tuned for more details, including an announcement with details about the Alexandria Candidate Forum.

The League likes to call these forums “Candidating,” and sees them as being somewhat like speed dating for democracy. Candidates sit at tables while groups of 5-6 constituents/ community members rotate through every 10-15 minutes. Lively and engaging, the Candidate Forums are one of the best ways for voters to connect directly with those running for office. The League has found this format to be popular in past years.

The 2025 Arlington Candidate Forum will feature:

• Five County Board candidates (one seat)
• Three School Board candidates (one seat)
• Contested races in House Districts 1 and 2
• An uncontested race in District 3

The 2025 Alexandria Candidate Forum will feature four uncontested races, including:

• Commonwealth’s Attorney
• Sheriff
• House Districts 4 and 5

Even in uncontested races, this format gives constituents a valuable chance to engage with incumbents.

Would you be interested in volunteering to participate in one or both forums? A kickoff meeting for volunteers interested in helping plan and/or participate in the Candidate Forums will take place sometime soon. Details to follow.

Barbara Smith, Member at Large

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All-District Meeting: The National Popular Vote vs. The Electoral College

On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 7 PM, the first virtual All-District meeting for this year will be presented: One Person, One Vote: The National Popular Vote vs.The Electoral College.  This program will be presented by Jane D. Newell, Greater Richmond Branch (GRAAUW) AAUW Funds Chair, as well as Director of Transformation for the League of Women Voters of Virginia (LWVVA).  “Five times in our history, the presidential candidate with the most popular votes wasn’t elected.  That’s because the people do not elect presidents– the Electoral College does.”  Jane will provide a fascinating program on the current system and the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact to abolish the Electoral College.

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Northern District Meeting November 1

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AAUW VA State Conference 2026

The 101st AAUW-VA 2026 state conference will be held April 18, 2026, at the Drury Plaza Hotel Richmond, 11049 West Broad Street, Glen Allen VA 23060. Join us for afternoon tours and evening entertainment on Friday, April 17. Then on April 18, we will spend the day together with:

• Interesting speakers,
• Informative panels,
• Catered lunch, and
• Irresistible raffle baskets to support AAUW Greatest Needs Fund

Hotel amenities include free parking, complimentary hot breakfast, complimentary evening drinks and snacks, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, business center, fitness center and pool.

Reservations may be made by visiting the following link:

https://www.druryhotels.com/bookandstay/newreservation/?group no=10150185

Or you may call 1-800-325-0720 and reference your group number, 10150185, to make your reservation.

To get the group rate, be sure to reserve your room by Sunday, March 15, 2026. Reservations made after this date will be subject to prevailing rates and availability.

Terry Bratt, Arlington AAUW Branch Co-President

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September Braver Angels Presentation at Lubber Run

At our September 20, 2025 branch meeting, Braver Angel presenter Don Hardy spoke to a packed room filled with very interested branch and community members. Don is from the Fairfax office of Braver Angels and he explained how Braver Angels from its inception in 2016 has been working to depolarize our country.  He explained the history of Braver Angels and how it is a national movement to bridge the partisan divide by bringing people together to understand each other beyond stereotypes, forming community alliances, and reducing the vitriol. During his presentation, he showed us a clip from CBS Sunday morning, so we could see their activities, which include community workshops, debates, campus engagement, podcasts, in action. He also explained that their activities require leadership and participation to be pretty evenly divided between red and blue sides. The audience asked great questions and we all left thinking about what our next steps need to be.

For more information, check out Fairfax.BraverAngels.org.

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Membership Renewal 

Please remember to renew your membership in the month you last joined. Recently five members have rejoined us, plus we have one new member! There has been a slight dues increase for the national level membership of $2.00. The total for national, state and local dues is $105. The new dues rate started on April 1, 2025.

People who have Lifetime membership should pay $31 for state and local dues.  You can pay online or send a check to Teri Doxsee or myself. I will be contacting you via email or text to remind you to pay those state and local dues. Our branch relies on those payments for many things.

Please let us know how we can help you with any questions you might have about your membership.

Susan Senn, VP Membership

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Lunch Bunch

It’s the start of a new school year, and we are excited to meet with a new group of committed young women from Arlington Community High School! Each year these young women share their dreams for their future, and we help by providing informative workshops, inviting motivational speakers, and mentoring in choosing their next goals. It’s fun, it’s a learning opportunity for them as well as for us — and there is always free pizza!! We meet once a month at 12:30 generally on the third Thursday of the month. If you are interested in being part of the team, please reach out to Meg Tuccillo for more details. We will be starting in October, and we guarantee you will enjoy it.

Mary Beth Pelosky and Meg Tuccillo, chairs