Volume 82, Issue 4
Co-President’s Message
Dear Arlington AAUW branch members,
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season with family and friends and is looking forward to attending branch activities this winter. We have a field trip lined up to the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington in February and plan to focus on Arlington women community builders in addition to electing our new officers in March. We need to grow our membership, so invite friends to these activities. Look for more information about these activities and what our book discussion group is reading further down in this newsletter.
I am very sad to share that on January 9, our friend and past president Vivian Kallen passed away at age 96. Vivian was truly a force of nature who dedicated her life to making our society better for all. Vivian was very active in branch activities for more than 50 years. In fact, she was our speaker last year at a branch meeting co-sponsored with The Arlington-Alexandria League of Women Voters. She spoke about the ground breaking work of Delegate Katherine Stone. Arlington leaders including John Milliken were there to hear what Vivian recounted about how Delegate Stone was a voice for school integration.
I fondly remember our lively book club discussions, especially the time we discussed A Vindication of the Rights of Women by the English 18 th Century philosopher and writer Mary Wollstonecraft. At an earlier branch meeting, Vivian also shared memories of growing up in Chicago and being part of the social movement supporting immigrants at Hull House when she was a child with her mother. Vivian lived a very fulfilling life and will be missed by all who knew her. We are sharing her obituary and a favorite photo from Susan Senn below.
Many thanks to all the branch members who have made donations to our scholarship fund. The response to our letter asking for donations to our scholarship fund was fantastic. To date we have raised $4775! It’s not too late to make a donation to the fund. We would love to increase the scholarship amount as college costs, like everything else, are going up for our students.
At our annual meeting in March we will be electing new officers. Open positions include president, vice-president for communications and secretary. Let me know if you are willing to volunteer for one of these positions. Our organization is all-volunteer and we can only continue to function well when
everyone participates in our activities and assumes responsibilities for our branch’s endeavors.
Stay warm this winter and plan to attend as many branch activities as possible!
Terry Bratt, Co-President
Vivian Kallen Obituary
Vivian Margaris Kallen of Arlington, Virginia died on January 9, 2026. Born in Astoria, New York, on March 11, 1929. Vivian grew up in Chicago, Illinois, where her parents, Haralambos (Bobby) Margaris and the Greek-American author Theano Papazoglou Margaris, were active in the Greek community. She graduated with a Masters degree in political science from the University of Chicago, where she also met the love of her life, Arthur Kallen. They were married for 62 years, from 1953 until Arthur’s death in 2016. They lived in Arlington, VA throughout this time.
After doing further graduate work at American University, Vivian embarked on a teaching career at Northern Virginia Community College, where she was an Associate Professor of Political Science. While there, she started The Northern Virginia Review literary magazine and was President of the Faculty Senate. She was active over many years in the American Association of University Women (AAUW). In 2012, she received the Award for Notable Support for the Arts from the Arlington branch of the AAUW, and in 2025, at the age of 96, she lectured that group on the legacy of Delegate Katherine Stone. Vivian was also a devoted fan of the arts and theater. She served for 7 years on the Arlington Commission for the Arts and on the Board of the Washington Shakespeare Company. She was named as a Person of Vision by the Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women.
Vivian had a tireless and passionate devotion to social justice. She was active in the movement to repeal the poll tax, served as the first president of the Northern Virginia Women’s Democratic Club, and was the Democratic nominee for the House of Delegates in 1969. She continued to be politically active, casting her last in person vote for Governor-Elect Abigail Spanberger. She despised Donald Trump, and everything he stood for, until her dying day.
Anyone who knew Vivian knows she was one of a kind and a force to be reckoned with. In the words of her late husband, “she’s a dynamo”. Her influence touched innumerable lives.
Above all, she most cherished her family. She is survived by her sons Gregory (Laurie) of Radford, and Jeffrey (Margaret) of Dublin, Ireland; grandchildren Alicia Kallen, Seth Kallen, and Esther Ní Dhonnacha; great-grandchildren Maxwell Lee Kilgore and Sophia Ní Dhonnacha; brother-in-law Roger Kallen of San Francisco; and cousins Roula Papadopoulou and Faní Papadopoulou, of Athens, Greece.
Family and friends are invited to honor Vivian’s life. Arrangement details will be shared once finalized. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the AAUW, the ACLU, or the Arlington Community Foundation; memo line Arthur and Vivian Kallen Fund for the Arts, 818 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22203.
Published by The Washington Post on Jan. 17, 2026.
This is our Ad for the 2026 VA State Conference
Join us at our February and March Membership Meetings!
Come to the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington, at 3045 B Columbia Pike, Arlington, 22204, on Saturday, February 21 at 10:30 a.m. Scott Taylor, President of the Black Heritage Museum, will meet us and walk us through the exhibits.
The museum was founded to celebrate the African American journey to freedom in Arlington. It is organized for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes, to acquire, preserve, catalog and display historic items regarding Arlington history.
Please let Jeanine Brundage know if you will be attending that day. This event is our monthly meeting for February. According to online information, there is a restroom, and it is wheelchair accessible. For more information, check out the website for the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington.
Don’t miss our annual meeting on March 21, 10:30 am at Lubber Run. We will be voting for new officers and a change to our bylaws. Nominations for President, VP Communications and Secretary are still open! Look for an email from Carol Dabbs about the proposed bylaws changes.
We will also learn about the Arlington Women Community Builders and how we could get involved at our March meeting!
ACF board members
In 2023, Arlington Community Foundation convened a group of local “women on a mission” to talk about community engagement, leadership, and charitable giving. We listened carefully. We heard that women were interested in opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of community issues and that they enjoyed connecting with other women to share perspectives, learn together, and identify opportunities for action and impact on the issues they care about.
Since then, the Arlington Community Foundation has had the honor of hosting a number of important community conversations through what’s now called the Arlington Women Community Builders (AWCB).
From discussing equity and inclusion to highlighting local affordable housing issues and solutions to local giving opportunities, AWCB has become a home for women learning, growing, and giving in Arlington.
Join this discussion and see how you can get involved.
Mark your Calendar for future Branch Meetings
- February 21, 2026 10:30 am – Field Trip to the Arlington Black History Museum
- March 21, 2026 10:30 am– Annual Meeting with a speaker about the Arlington Women Community Builders
- April 11, 2026 10:30 am – STEM Science Fair presentations from top students and Laurie Sullivan, Discovery Science teacher who will be our key speaker
- May 16, 2026 10:30 am – Presentation of Scholarship Awards
Jeanine Brundage, VP Programs
Let’s Talk About Books
Our book group meeting scheduled for January 27 has been postponed to February 24.We are still discussing Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter. Unless it is another snow day, the meeting will take place at 2:00 pm at Barbara Gallagher’s home.
Our March meeting will be on March 24 at 2:00 pm at Barbara Gallagher’s home. We will discuss Not My Type: One Woman vs. A President by E. Jean Carroll.
If you would like to host any of the other meetings, please contact Barbara Gallagher.
Barbara A Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair
STEM – a word about STEM and this year’s Science Fair
All of you have kept up with the success of the young women we have chosen, based on their Science Fairs projects, and for our AAUW $1,000 scholarships. Let me refresh your memory – two at MIT, one at Harvard, and one at Columbia. Thanks to all of you who has donated to those funds.
Our Annual STEM Monthly meeting this year will be on April 11, 10:30am at Lubber Run. This meeting is when all the girls (4 High School and 4 Middle School) present a summary in Powerpoint form of their outstanding projects. Often, their families are at the presentations as well. I am asking all of you to make a commitment to attend the meeting this year. I promise you will walk away having your mind stunned at the level of research and effort by these young women.
Susan Senn, STEM
Membership Renewal
Dear AAUW members,
This is an update on the status of our branch membership. Currently, we have 55 members including 7 Honorary Lifetime members, 9 Lifetime members, and 39 who pay
dues yearly. Among those members are 4 whose memberships have expired, and five who are in the “Grace” period (they are given 90 days past their membership expiration date to renew their membership). I will be in contact with them to remind them to renew. We also have two new members, Genevieve Borello and Marilyn Falksen. It behooves us each to make ourselves known to them. A Meet and Greet is to be arranged.
Your board members are in serious discussion about the falling membership numbers and the lack of attendance at the Monthly meetings ☹now on Saturday mornings at 10:30 at Lubber Run, usually, or at Arlington Mill. If you have any thoughts about this, please feel free to contact me or any other board member. We need now more than ever to maintain our dedication to all aspects of the lives of women.
Susan Senn, VP for Membership
Lunch Bunch
We have been pleased to see about 15 to 16 young women attend our monthly lunch
bunch group this year. In November we were all inspired by Karen Vallejos’ sharing of
her journey from a “Dreamer” to law school to executive director of the non-profit, The Dream Project (founded by our Arlington AAUW member, Emma Violand Sanchez!). The Dream Project helps young folks without documentation have access to a college degree. She shared info on scholarship opportunities available to our students.
Our December meeting was cancelled due to required testing before winter break ,and we look forward to our January meeting on January 22nd at Arlington Community High School at 12:30. Our planned speaker is Rachel Carter, the work-based learning specialist from APS’ Career and Technical Education Department. She will talk with the girls about starting their own business. It is always fun to be part of these discussions, and you get free pizza!!!
Mary Beth Pelosky and Meg Tuccillo, chairs
Notice of Nominations for Women of Vision Awards
It’s that time of year again, and the Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women is excited to announce that Nominations for the 2026 Arlington County Virginia – Government Women of Vision Awards are OPEN! Women of Vision awards are presented each year as part of the celebration of Women’s History Month. The awards are given to individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to issues affecting women and girls and have, over time, developed and communicated their vision for women and engaged community members and other leaders in order to realize this vision.
The award originated in 1988, and honored women and men from the community who have made outstanding contributions toward improving the lives of women and girls in Arlington. Each year, since 1988, the Commission has honored women who are recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to improving the lives, opportunities, and roles in the community of Arlington women. Award recipients must live, work, or volunteer in Arlington.
For more information and to submit your nomination online go to https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Commissions-and-Advisory-Groups/Commission-on-the-Status-of-Women/CSW-Women-of-Vision-Awards. The nomination deadline is February 6, 2026, by 11:59 PM.
Terry Bratt, Co-President
AUW 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
Note from the Editor – April/May 2026 Newsletter
Any articles for publication should be emailed to newsarlvaaauw@gmail.com with the SUBJECT line: Newsletter by March 15.
MISSION OF AAUW
Advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.