Volume 82, Issue    3

Co-President’s Message

It is an honor to serve with you in the American Asntains of the day.

Candace Lilyquist, Arlington AAUW Branch Co-President

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2025-26 Arlington AAUW Branch Programs & Calendar Updates

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

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

Volume 82, Issue   1

Co-President’s Message

Meet your Co-Presidents of AAUW – Arlington Branch, Theresa Bratt and Candace Lilyquist. Between us, we represent a spectrum of AAUW of Arlington membership with 50+ years in the organization. As Co-Presidents, we will facilitate your vision for the Arlington Branch of AAUW in 2025-2026. We are thrilled to build with you.

The issues confronting females determined to learn and grow are different but still daunting. When the first AAUW was established in 1882, young women were not able to study in many of the institutions of higher learning. Let’s honor the generations of women who struggled to improve circumstances that we sometimes take for granted by toiling to push back against the erosion of those hard-won rights and fighting for the equity due all women. Look for action items from our organization, the state, and the national, too.

The focus of AAUW – Arlington Branch, for 2025-26, will be delivering the high quality programs we are known for, STEM activities, and fundraising to support individuals in their learning and development. Greetings Arlington AAUW Branch Members!

Candace Lilyquist, Arlington AAUW Branch Co-President

AAUW VA STATE CONFERENCE 2026 – SAVE THE DATE

We received an announcement from Carol Stephens, Chair of the AAUW VA State Conference 2026 Committee, to save the date for next year’s AAUW VA State Conference. Details are forthcoming. The website indicates the conference will be held in Glen Allen VA with a planning date of April 18, 2026. Be on the lookout for further details.

Terry Bratt, Arlington AAUW Branch Co-President.

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GET OUT THE VOTE!

Our branch has committed to writing 200 postcards to encourage voters to participate in the upcoming November elections. We will be looking for volunteer postcard writers. An email will be sent out to members in mid-August with more information on how you can volunteer.

Terry Bratt, Co-President

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2025-26 Arlington AAUW Branch Programs & Calendar Updates

To start off our 2025-2026 programs:
We begin with a presentation on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Lubber Run Community Center in Arlington, by a representative from the Braver Angels Alliance.    Braver Angels Alliance’s goal is to introduce citizens to their process of depolarization and civil discourse through workshops, debates and public presentations designed to bridge the political divide in our country.

On Saturday, October 18 at 10:30 a.m., at the Lubber Run Community Center, we will host author Nicholas Reynolds who 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.

Jeanine Brundage, VP Programs

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Let’s Talk About Books

We don’t meet in August, but our list of books for the coming year is shown below.

Our September meeting will be at 2 PM on Tuesday, September 23 at the home of Elizabeth Anderson.  We will be discussing The Accidental President by A. J. Baime. Look forward to seeing you then. Please let the hostess know if you will be attending the session at her home.

If you would like to host any of the other meetings, please contact Barbara Gallagher.

Barbara A Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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Membership Renewal 

Please remember to renew your membership in the month you last joined. There has been a slight dues increase for the national level membership of $2.00. This is $.16 a month. 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.

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

Monthly Lunch Bunch activities with students at Arlington Community High School will begin in October. More information about how you can join in will be in the next newsletter.

Mary Beth Pelosky and Meg Tuccillo, chairs

Volume 81, Issue   6

President’s Message

Greetings Arlington AAUW Branch Members!

I hope everyone’s summer has gotten off to a great start although it seems we went from late winter weather to summer overnight. We had a great year of fellowship activities highlighted by celebrating our branch’s 80th birthday, meeting author Diana Parsell, and hearing former branch president Vivian Kallen discuss the life and times of former Virginia House of Delegate Kathryn Stone.

Our year concluded in May with a wonderful evening. We met our amazing science scholarship winners and were fascinated to hear about their projects. We were very impressed by our top scholarship winner as she described her project and shared the results. Our Educator of the Year gave an impassioned talk about her work and its many accomplishments.

In June your Board members met to plan the 2025-26 calendar and discuss possible topics for next year’s branch meetings. We will meet on Saturday mornings this year at 10:30 am at Lubber Run. More information about our programs is further on in the newsletter. Other activities coming up include writing Get Out the Vote (GOTV) postcards in early fall, a September theater trip to Signature Theater in Shirlington to see Play On, and a museum field trip. Following up on our presentation last year from the Arlington Historical Society on the Stepping Stone Project memorializing formerly enslaved people, we are also looking into our branch sponsoring a stone. More information on these activities will be in the next newsletter or via e-mail if they are time sensitive.

And one last note – For many of us, June is also time for us to pay our dues. National will send you a note about paying on line or you can send a check to our treasurer. All the best for a very happy July 4 holiday, and I look forward to seeing everyone again at our first branch meeting of the new year on September 20 at 10:30 am at Lubber Run.

Terry Bratt

Arlington AAUW Branch President.

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2025-26 Arlington AAUW Branch Programs & Calendar Updates

Mark your calendars now! For the 2025-26 year, the branch will meet on Saturday mornings at 10:30 am at Lubber Run. The dates are September 20, October 18, November 15, February 21, March 21 (our annual meeting to select new officers), April 18, and May 16. Our holiday luncheon is planned for December 6 but we are looking for a new location with better accessible parking. If you have any ideas please let us know.

Program topics being considered include Brave Angels, Book Banning, Fraud Prevention, a talk by author Nicholas Reynolds, a Stepping Stones Update, Women’s Health Issues, and our Scholarship program. If you heard other great presentations, let us know. We are still in the planning stage!

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Community Picnic

On May 31, AAUW-Arlington was one of 28 organizations participating in the Arlington Central Library’s Community Picnic and Joining Fair.  Each organization was provided with a table on which to display information about their group. The library provided free popcorn and drinks.  Susan Senn, Meg Tuccillo, and Barbara Smith ‘manned’ the table for AAUW-Arlington. We displayed a colorful handout created by Candace Lilyquist and Teri Doxsee  that described the many benefits of joining AAUW and offered a drawing for a set of AAUW inscribed wine glasses and a Keurig coffee maker.  The drawing provided us with the names and contact details of potential new members. During the four hours of the fair, we had a number of young women stop by to talk with us about AAUW.

Barbara Smith, VP Membership

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Let’s Talk About Books

Our June meeting is on Tuesday, June 24, 2 pm at the home of Terry Bratt.  Our book selection is James by Percival Everett. Look forward to seeing you then.

Our July meeting is scheduled for July 22, at 2 pm at the home of Barbara Gallagher. Our book selection is Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller.

Please let the hostess know if you will be attending the session at her home.

Even if you haven’t finished the book, come join the fun!

Barbara Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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Membership Renewal 

Please remember to renew your membership in the month you last joined. There has been a slight dues increase for the national level membership of $2.00. This is $.16 a month. 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.

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

Candace Lilyquist, VP Membership

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Lunch Bunch

The lunch bunch met for the last time this year in April with a well-received presentation by Naoual Benjelloun, owner of the Hair Play salon in Shirlington. She described her own immigrant experience coming from Morocco, her early entry level jobs while she went to school, and her training and licensure process in cosmetology. The follow up discussion included other post high school training the high school students were interested which included HVAC and the culinary arts and scholarship opportunities.

Next year we will be mentoring a new group of students at Arlington Community High School, so think about joining us. Our next meeting will be in October.

Mary Beth Pelosky, Meg Tuccillo and Terry Bratt

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2025 Award Winners Honored at Meeting

On May 19th we were delighted to have about 25 folks attend our annual Awards Event at Lubber Run. We had two of our scholarship winners and our Educator of the Year in attendance – our Arts Scholarship winner, Charlotte, decided to go to her senior prom that night instead!! Our Lunch Bunch Scholar, Marieth, shared her story and her goal of becoming an early childhood educator by attending Northern Virginia Community College and getting certified in Early Childhood Development. Our STEM Scholarship winner, Nadia, wowed the audience with her presentation on her Science Project titled “Mathematical Interpretations and Diagnoses of Pediatric EEG Seizure Disorder” – yes, pretty impressive!!!!

Our Educator of the Year, Monica Lozano Caldera, is a repeat winner having initially earned the award in 2013. She is a tireless advocate for her students at the Career Center empowering girls in STEM through a cohort model and inspiring her students to dream big. As one of her students advised other students, “Ms. Monica is like a diamond in a pile of coal, and it would be worth your time to introduce yourself to her”. It was a wonderful evening and we look forward to next year to see what our new awardees have to share with us!!!!!!!

Meg Tuccillo, Susan Senn, and Terry Bratt

Volume 81, Issue   5

President’s Message

Dear Arlington AAUW members,

At age 96 Vivian Kallen rocks-what an example for all of us!  At our annual March meeting, longtime branch member and  retired Associate Professor of Political Science at NOVA-Annandale, Vivian Kallen vividly presented a program entitled “Profile in Courage: Kathryn Stone vs the Byrd Machine and the Massive Resistance Movement against School Integration in the 1950s”.  Vivian herself was part of the group fighting against the Byrd Machine and was able to share her inside information on those who worked tirelessly to oppose the Byrd Machine.

Vivian’s presentation shed new light on some forgotten yet very important moments in recent Virginia history. Kathryn Stone (1906-1995) was a co-founder and first president of the League of Women Voters of Arlington and Alexandria City. She was also the first woman to serve in the Virginia General Assembly’s House of Delegates from Northern Virginia. In fact, while she served, she was the only woman!  During her time in the House of Delegates, she worked to improve funding levels for education and social services, the establishment of a minimum wage, and the integration of schools.  She also served on President John Kennedy’s Commission on the Status of Women. Kathryn Stone was truly a Person of Vision, which she was posthumously named by the Commission on the Status of Women. Then in a joint resolution in the General Assembly in 2001, she was recognized for all her achievements. Why isn’t she in more history books?

At our Annual March meeting, we had 18 members attending and 4 who sent in absentee ballots, well over the 10% needed for a quorum to elect our new slate of officers: President – Candace Lilyquist, Co VPs for Programs Jeanine Brundage and Terry Bratt, VP for Communications –Rebecca Moscoso, and VP for Membership –Susan Senn.  Teri Doxsee continues in her role as Treasurer and Francesca Reilly McDonnell as secretary. We send many thanks to these members for stepping up and volunteering to keep our branch running.

In early June, the Board will plan our calendar of events for next year and would love to have ideas from the membership. Do you have a topic you would like to more about or know an author who would like to be a speaker? Just let us know by sending me an email! Also check your email for alerts from National about your dues. I got mine last week. If you have trouble navigating the payment on-line, you can just send a check to Treasurer Teri Doxsee.

I hope to see you at our meetings in April and May so you can meet our scholarship recipients.  Happy spring to everyone!

Terry Bratt
Arlington AAUW Branch President.

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Arlington AAUW Branch meetings  in  2025

Here is some information about programs for the months of April and May 2025:

• Monday, April 7, at 7 pm, Lubber Run Community Center. Dr. Heather Spence, Marine Biologist, will be our guest speaker. An exiting event this year — Arlington Science Fair AAUW scholarship winners will present summaries of their amazing projects in person! See below for further details on the winners.
• Monday, May  19, 7 pm, Lubber Run Community Center – The winner of our $2,000 Lunch Bunch scholarship will be introduced and will tell us a little about her goals and plans.

Barbara Smith, Program Chair

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Stem – AAUW Science Fair Awards

At our April 7 Monthly Branch meeting, the girls whose science projects won awards from our AAUW branch will present a summary of their projects to the attending membership. In the past, we have held this meeting on Zoom. This year, depending on the responses of the girls to our request for them to present in person, we hope for an exciting set of live performances. The meeting will be held at Lubber Run, beginning at 7:00 pm. I am sure we all will be just blown away by the depth of their research and their skill at presentation. We also will have Dr. Heather Spence, Marine Biologist, as our guest speaker. The hope is all of you will attend to hear these presentations. This is our premier STEM event for our branch.

The girls presenting were chosen at the Northern Virginia Regional Science Fair held on March 1, 2025 at Wakefield High School. Susan Senn, Rebecca Moscoso and Sara Anderson collaborated in advance by reading ~150 abstracts written by Arlington Public Schools Middle and High School girls in order to select a list ~30 projects to visit on the day of the fair.

Following is list of the award, their names, and the titles of each of their projects:

Outstanding High School Project – $1,000 Scholarship

• Nadia Lach-Hab, W&L – 11^th Grade –“Mathematical Interpretations and Diagnoses of Pediatric EEG Seizure Data

2^nd Place – High School – $25 Gift Card from One More Page Books

• Charlotte Waggy – Arlington Tech – 9^th Grade – “The Effect of Natural Repellants on Isopod Presence”
• Tesla Pfautz – W&L – 10^th Grade – The Effect of Chemical Treatments on Blue-Green Algae”
• Margaret Saperstein – W&L – 9^th Grade – “The Effect of Colloidal Silica Concentration in a Biodegradable Gel on Flame Retardation”
•  Cassidy Wells – Yorktown – 9^th Grade – “The Effect of Different Colored Wavelengths on the Power Output of Different Solar Cells”
• Sabrina Yimer – W&L – 12^th Grade – “Utilizing a Random Forest Model for Glaucoma Diagnosis Through Gene Expression Modeling”
• Anna Brodsky – Yorktown – 12^th Grade – “The Impact of Climate Change on Educational Outcomes: A Global Analysis”

Outstanding Middle School Project – $100 award

• Kayla Sibley – Kenmore – 8^th Grade – “The Effect of Different Machine Learning Models on the Ability to Predict Market Success of a Book Using Cover Art”

2^nd Place – Middle School – $25 Gift Card from One More Page Books

•  McKenzie Kelly, Alessandra D’Amico – Swanson – 8^th Grade – “Purifying Salt Water Using Thermal Desalination”
• Evaleen McClinch – Williamsburg – 7^th Grade – “The Effect of Thickness of Body Protector on Force of Impact”
• Maedot Ayalew – Kenmore – 8^th Grade – “The Effect of Solar Magnetic Flux and Spatiotemporal Interplanetary Magnetic Field Variations on Space Weather Prediction Accuracy”
• Rebecca Zee – Kenmore – 8^th Grade – “The Effect of Cadmium Selenide Quantum Dot Diameter on Photocatalytic Water Purification Efficiency”

Susan Senn, AAUW STEM Coordinator

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Officer Elections at the March 22 Annual Meeting

The following slate of officers was elected by the members at the March 22 annual meeting. Thank you for stepping forward to support our branch in important activities and initiatives!

• President – Candace Lilyquist
• Co VP for Programs – Jeanine Brundage and Terry Bratt
• VP for Communications – Rebecca Moscoso
• VP for Membership – Susan Senn

Terry Bratt, AAUW Branch President

Arlington AAUW Executive Committee 2025-26

Term begins July 1, 2025

• President: Candace L. Lilyquist (2025-2027) presarlvaaauw@gmail.com
• Co-First VP for Programs: Jeanine Brundage and Terry Bratt (2025-2027)
• Second VPs for Membership:  Susan Senn (2025-2027) Memberarlvaaauw@gmail.com
• Third VP for Communications: Rebecca Moscoso (2025-2027) newsarlvaaauw@gmail.com
• Secretary: Francesca McDonald (2024-2026)
• Treasurer: Teri Doxsee (2024-2026) Treasurer4AAUW@gmail.com
• Public Policy:
• Book Group: Barbara Gallagher
• Lunch Bunch: Mary Beth Pelosky and Meg Tuccillo
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

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Let’s Talk About Books

Our April meeting is on Tuesday, April 22, 2pm at the home of Barbara Gallagher, bgallag2@gmail.com. Our book selection is Horse by Geraldine Brooks.   Look forward to seeing you then.

In May we will be meeting at 2 PM on May 27.  Our book selection is The New Dominion by John Milliken and Mark Rosell The meeting will take place at the home of Terry Bratt, theresabratt@gmail.com.

Please let the hostess know if you will be attending the session at her home.

Even if you haven’t finished the book, come join the fun!

Barbara Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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STATE CONFERENCE MARCH 29, 2025

AAUW-VA Celebrates 100 Years!
On March 28 and 29, AAUW-VA celebrated its 100th birthday in style with many members coming from all over the state to Alexandria to recognize AAUW’s many achievements in the past century and to look ahead at the challenges facing us in both the long term and the short term. The conference whose theme was Changing the Conversation was subscribed to capacity and packed with great women and lots of ideas to share.

After a Friday evening social where conference attendees got acquainted and chatted, the next morning the Alexandria Town Crier rang the bell and called everyone in to the Conference Room to hear a welcome from AAUW-VA State President Lane Stone. She, in turn, introduced City of Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins who welcomed us all to Alexandria and told us how much she appreciated the work that our organization has done over the years for women and girls. President Stone next introduced Representative Jennifer McClellan of Virginia’s 4th Congressional District who gave the Keynote Address. She included Virginia history milestones and highlights from her family’s history in the United States before identifying the challenges including voter suppression that lie in the decade ahead. Following her address, VA House of Delegate Elizabeth Parker- Bennett read a proclamation from the General Assembly honoring AAUW Virginia. President Lane also read a resolution that Representative Gerry Connolly read in the US House of Representatives recognizing AAUW-VA’s achievements. The accolades continued when later on in the conference, City of Alexandria Poet Laureate Zeina Azzam read her poem commemorating AAUW-VA’s centennial, Lessons from the Moon.

Other presentations included hearing about community projects funded by AAUW-VA mini grants in McLean, Hampton and the Smith Mountain branches, a panel discussion with experts on Title IX — Emma Grasso Levine from Advocates for Youth and Shiwali Patel from National Women’s Law Center –on how we can continue to advocate for opportunities and safety in education at all levels for women and girls. And that was all before lunch!

After lunch we heard from Rose Dawson, Alexandria City Library Executive Director about the 1939 Alexandria City Library Sit-In and its impact on libraries today. Lisa Varga, Executive Director of the Virginia Library Association spoke about the continuing threats of censorship in schools and public libraries. The last presentation was from Ashley Giordano from the National Inventors Hall of Fame located in Alexandria who spoke about women who innovate and invent.

Every presentation was very informative and interesting and ended with a Q and A where conference attendees had an opportunity to ask for information and advice. I have no doubt that every participant walked away with a wealth of information to share with their branches and friends.

As an added bonus, several local women owned businesses set up mini shops for browsing during the breaks. The conference ended with a birthday cake celebration with the basket raffle that raised approximately $2000 for the Greatest Needs Funds. There were 23 first time attendees at the conference and 5 books were raffled off. VP for Programs Barbara Smith was one of the lucky five to win a book!

Mark your calendars for next year – the tentative date for the conference in the Richmond area is April 17-18, 2026!

 

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Rewards and Renewal in Membership

We belong! Spring is here with a sense of renewed hope about many things. We can continue to affect the affairs of our nation and the world by working with other members of AAUW. This is why we continue our commitment each year to the mission.

Let’s take a minute to recognize the impact of AAUW. There are significant advances to gender equity; including the passage of the Equal Pay Act, Title IX, and the Family Medical Leave Act. We have awarded over $135 million in fellowships and grants. AAUW is the largest scholarship program for women in the world.

The work accomplished at the national level, mirrors the work of AAUW_Arlington Branch. We have scholarships and STEM activities for students. Plus, we regularly honor the work of educators in our community.

Please remember to renew your membership in the month you last joined. There has been a slight dues increase for the national level membership of $2.00. This is $.16 a month. The new dues rate starts on April 1, 2025.

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

Candace Lilyquist, VP Membership

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Lunch Bunch

Our Lunch Bunch young women had a wonderful opportunity on March 20th to hear from our own Arlington AAUW author, Emma Violand Sanchez! Emma shared her personal memoir, Dreams and Shadows, An Immigrant’s Journey. The students were enthralled by her story and engaged in personal dialogue with her. AAUW was able to purchase a copy for each of our young women, and Emma personally signed each book. It was truly a memorable experience.

Another piece of good news regarding our Lunch Bunch is that our board was able to increase our scholarship amount from $1000 to $2000 using some of our contingency funding to better support our students paying college tuition. Since NOVA tuition, for example, is about $6,000 per year, this increase will enable our scholarship winner to better manager her college finances. We will be selecting our scholarship winner in April and celebrating with her at our May 19th meeting.

Mary Beth Pelosky, Meg Tuccillo and Terry Bratt

Volume 81, Issue   4

President’s Message

Dear Arlington AAUW members,

Congratulations are in order for our branch! We met our goal of collecting 100 books to donate to the Women’s Detention Center in honor of AAUW’s 100th birthday. We send many thinks to our members for getting their donations to us at our November and December gatherings.

 

 

 

 

 

It is also with great pleasure that I share some more exciting news — AAUW Arlington (VA) Branch has achieved a star in AAUW’s FY24 Five Star Program! Our branch attained the Programming star. We thank our co-vice presidents for programs, Barbara Smith and Barbara Gallagher, for bringing us such great programs.

We have more great programs ahead, and I hope everyone has marked their calendars for our upcoming branch meetings and the AAUW State Conference in Alexandria on March 29. Our book discussion group also has some great books to share. Check out more information further on in the newsletter.

It’s time again to consider taking on an office for our branch next year. Terms are for two years.  We need to fill the following positions: President, VP for Communications and VP Programs. Michelle Milden, Susan Senn and I head up the Nominations Committee and may be calling you.

Please be sure to scroll all the way to the end of the newsletter to read the moving piece written by our friend, member, and local activist, Emma Violand-Sanchez. A message at the conclusion shows how to pre-order her book.

All the best for great adventures in 2025 while staying warm this winter!

Terry Bratt
Arlington AAUW Branch President.

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Arlington AAUW Branch meetings  in  2025

Here is some information about programs for the months of February, and March 2025:

• Sat., Feb. 22, at 10:30 am, Lubber Run Community Center – CDR Sandra Lawrence, USN Ret., will speak about “Women in the Military: A Long and Honored Tradition”.
• Sat., Mar. 22, 10:30 am, Lubber Run Community Center – Annual meeting – Program about the Arlington women who protested “Massive Resistance”, the political campaign in Virginia in the 1950s to prevent the integration of schools.

Barbara Smith, Program Chair

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Officer Elections at the March 22 Annual Meeting

Volunteers needed! The annual March election of officers is coming up. Our annual meeting where we elect our new officers is scheduled for March 22. Our branch officers are a group of volunteers and we need our members to consider stepping up and taking on one of the open positions. Open officer positions include President, VP for Programs, and VP for Communications. The Nominating Committee will meet and select a slate of candidates for
these positions. Members who are interested in one of these positions should contact a member of the Nominating Committee (Terry Bratt, Susan Senn, Meg Tuccillo, and Michele Milden) as soon as possible. The slate will be sent out to the membership to review in February.

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Let’s Talk About Books

Our February meeting is on Tuesday, February 25, 2 PM, at the home of Terry Bratt. Our book selection is Only Street in Paris, Life on the Rue des Martyrs by Elaine Sciolino. Look forward to seeing you then.

We will meet at 2 PM on March 25. Our book selection is The Women by Kristin Hanna. The meeting will take place at the home of Barbara Gallagher. Please let each hostess know if you will attend the session at her home.

Barbara Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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STATE CONFERENCE MARCH 29, 2025 

The next AAUW of Virginia State Conference, hosted by the AAUW-VA Northern District branches, will take place on March 29, 2025, at the Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria, 801 N. St. Asaph Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Pre-conference activities begin on March 28 and include 2 different tours of area locales of interest.

The State is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, with the theme of 1925-2025:100 Years of Changing the Conversation. Our branch will place a half-page ad about our exceptional programs and the wonderful 100 year celebration we had in the conference program. We look forward to a great turnout from our members.

Click here for the 2025 conference brochure  which has instructions for reserving guest rooms, and a complete description of activities. Room reservations are open now.

Register now – Early registration pricing until February 25

Due to popular demand there will be a basket raffle. Individual branches may submit one or more themed baskets. Our branch basket will feature stem-themed books for young learners.  Raffle tickets cost $7 for 1 ticket, $15 for 3 tickets or $30 for 7 tickets. Proceeds from the raffle will go to the AAUW Greatest Needs Fund. Winners will be announced at the close of the conference on Saturday, March 29. Winners or a proxy must be present at the end of the conference to pick up their baskets.

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Rewards and Renewal in Membership

You are making an impact with your dues in AAUW

Membership dues impact this community and beyond. The results can be seen in many different areas and in the organization’s operations. Here are a few examples:

Programs and Activities: Membership dues help to fund the programs and activities that make our organization unique. This can include STEM activities, scholarships, events, and educational opportunities, as well as advocacy for learning conditions and issues directly impacting women.

Operations: Membership dues also help to cover the day-to-day expenses of running the group, such as office supplies, postage, and occasional expenses to administer scholarships.

Development and growth: With a stable source of funding from dues and donations, we are able to invest in development and growth, expanding our reach and impact.

Community Building: Investing your dues demonstrates a commitment to help to build a sense of community and strengthen the bonds between members.

In conclusion, membership dues are critical. They are a funding source, demonstrate commitment, and help to support the programs, activities, and operations that make AAUW Arlington Branch unique. We appreciate the value and work done with dues and look forward to your continued commitment that insures the success of our mission.

Candace Lilyquist, VP Membership

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Scholarship Donations – Update

We are very pleased to announce that our branch’s generous members have once again donated enough funds to pay for 3  student scholarships, 1 teacher scholarship, and to cover as well the winners for the 2025 Science Fair, $4765.00 from 27 donors. Thank you!

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Lunch Bunch

Last year’s scholarship winner, Nicole Sotelo, spoke at the  December Lunch Bunch. She talked to the students about high school and post-high school educational opportunities. She also told them she was starting at NOVA this winter instead of the past fall so that she could save more money.  About a dozen young women eagerly attended to her thoughts and suggestions. The picture below shows the December turnout including Nicole and this year’s participants.

Mary Beth Pelosky, Meg Tuccillo and Terry Bratt

Volume 81, Issue   3

President’s Message

Dear Arlington AAUW members,

The holiday season is upon us! At least I think it is because the weather has been a bit unseasonably warm after a cool October. I hope everyone has Saturday, December 7 on your calendars. We are gathering at the Cote d’Or for our festive holiday luncheon celebration. For more information, check out the Program section below.

This year National AAUW is celebrating its 100th Birthday, and AAUW Virginia has asked branches to make donations of 100 something to a community group. Our board has decided to donate 100 books to the Arlington Women’s Detention Center. I bet that you have books around your home looking for a new home, so we hope that members can bring new or gently used books to our holiday luncheon to meet our goal.

We send many thanks to our panelists who shared their memories of earlier days in our branch as we celebrated our 80th birthday at our November 16th meeting. Gloria Blackwell, CEO of the National AAUW, sent our branch a Certificate of Honor, recognizing our 80th anniversary and expressing “sincere appreciation” for our branch’s “exceptional service and demonstrated commitment to advancing equity for women and girls.”

We want to remain a vibrant branch that continues to support women and girls in our community, so bringing in new members is an important goal for us this year. Please invite your friends to join you in any of our branch activities. Everyone is welcome to come to our branch meetings, book club, lunch bunch, and field trips.

It’s also time for us to fund our scholarship program for high school girls going on to a two- or four- year college. I’ll be sending you a letter asking for donations like I did last year. The girls we gave scholarships to last year are going to MIT, NOVA and VCU. I’m looking forward to meeting this year’s scholarship winners in the spring and I hope you are, too.

And…
Remembering Lilly Ledbetter
Activist Lilly Ledbetter passed away on October 12, 2024 at age 86. Lilly championed equal pay for women. When she was close to retirement, she discovered that men in comparable administrative positions were paid several thousand dollars more monthly than she was at Goodyear Tire and Rubber
Company. Although she initially won her sex discrimination case against Goodyear, she later lost her Supreme Court case in a 5-4 decision. Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote the dissenting opinion. Lilly continued the fight for equal pay and was with President Obama in the Oval Office when he signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009. AAUW continues the fight for equal pay and we can all thank and remember Lilly Ledbetter for persevering in this cause of importance to all women and girls.

Best wishes to you and your family for a wonderful holiday season!
Happy 2025!

Terry Bratt
Arlington AAUW Branch President

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Arlington AAUW Branch meetings  in  2024

Sat., Nov. 16, at 10:30 am, Lubber Run Community Center – Our program was a  celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Arlington Branch of AAUW, with coffee and a very special cake. We heard a brief history of the Arlington Branch since its founding in 1944. Barbara Smith did some research at the Charlie Clark Center for Local History at the Arlington Public Library. The Center has copies of the minutes of every meeting held by the Arlington Branch of AAUW from its founding in 1944 until the early 2000s. Barbara summarized some “pretty interesting stuff” she found in the minutes.

We heard from several of our longer-serving members, Vivien Kallen and Marjorie Hobart, about their experiences with the Arlington Branch. They provided color commentary to the summary of the minutes. We also were updated on current activities of AAUW-Arlington: the Lunch Bunch (Meg Tuccillo), the International Coffee Group (Priscilla Becker), the Book Club (Barbara Gallagher), the Science Fair judging (Susan Senn), and Public Policy (Sara Anderson).

Finally, everyone present had an opportunity to share stories and recollections about our experiences with AAUW-Arlington. The day was a relaxed and enjoyable celebration of the 80^th anniversary of the Arlington Branch of AAUW in which we reflected on what this branch has done in the past, what it is doing in the present, and what it could do in the future.

Sat., Dec. 7, noon – Our holiday luncheon will be held again at Côte d’Or. There will be a choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert. The room for the luncheon seats only 30; contact Barbara Smith and reserve early.

 

Here is some early information about programs for the months of January, February, and March 2025:

• Sat., Jan. 25, at 10:30 am, Lubber Run Community Center – Charles Meng, CEO of the Arlington Food Assistance Center, will speak about the programs and activities of AFAC.
• Sat., Feb. 22, at 10:30 am, Lubber Run Community Center – CDR Sandra Lawrence, USN Ret., will speak about “Women in the Military: A Long and Honored Tradition”.
• Sat., Mar. 22, 10:30 am, Lubber Run Community Center – Program about the Arlington women who protested “Massive Resistance”, the political campaign in Virginia in the 1950s to prevent the integration of schools.

Barbara Smith, Program Chair

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Let’s Talk About Books

The December meeting is on Tuesday, December 10, 2 pm at the home of Terry Bratt. Our book selection is The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. We look forward to seeing you then.

In January we will meet at 2 pm on January 28 a the home of Barbara Gallagher. Our book selection is Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. Even if you have not finished reading the book, come join the fun!

Barbara Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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Public Policy

• • Post-Election Conversation

  • Rep. Gerry Connolly is having a post-election conversation sponsored by AAUW branches of Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, McLean, Mt. Vernon, Reston-Herndon and Vienna on Monday, December 2 at 5 pm.  Here is the advanced registration zoom link!

AAUW of Virginia Lobby Days in Richmond

•  January 15, 2025 – Evening Reception and Talk
  

  

Hampton Inn and Suites, Richmond – Room reservation link at Hampton Inn & Suites $157

• January 16, 2025 – Lobby Day

Make our Voices Heard in Richmond and Connect with our Lawmakers

Diane Schrier wants you to let her know if you can attend.

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Rewards and Renewal in Membership

Each member of AAUW-Arlington Branch came to the organization on a different path of life’s journey. In membership, we find the rewards of connection, belonging, and growth. ‘Tis the season of giving thanks; we must take time to celebrate how our pathways converged to bring us together. This month we did just that with the recognition of 80 years of service on November 16.

AAUW-Arlington Branch is a place for everyone. You belong to the nation’s largest source of scholarships for women who wish to advance their studies. Through grants and fellowships we grow the skills and knowledge of girls and women. This allows participants in AAUW-Arlington Branch to work for greater equity and opportunity for all. We have come together to accomplish a lot.

We find renewal in one another. With many hands we promote and enhance scholarship, learning, equity, and the betterment of our whole community. This is AAUW-Arlington Branch — 80 years strong!

Candace Lilyquist, VP Membership

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Lunch Bunch

The Arlington Community High School leadership team is thrilled to have our continued collaboration on behalf of young women looking toward their future. Efforts over the past few years have focused on student career interests as well as goal setting, career awareness, mental health, and self care. Past themes have been centered around the APS socio-emotional Standards of Learning goals, as well as the Virginia 4 C’s, Profile of a VA Graduate.

This year we have started with about a dozen young women from countries around the world. At our first get-to-know- each-other meeting, we all shared stories about the origin of our names. One girl’s name means hope in her language. Another is named for her grandmother and others had similar interesting stories. In November, we had Karen Vallejos, executive director of The Dream Project, share her life journey as a Dreamer.

We meet on the third Thursday of the month at 12:30 (with pizza) and invite you to volunteer with us. We meet at the ACHS -It is located at 4420 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203.

Mary Beth Pelosky, Meg Tuccillo and Terry Bratt

Volume 81, Issue  2

President’s Message

Dear Arlington AAUW members,

Autumn has certainly gotten off to a very wet start. As I write Hurricane Helene has devastated several states, and Hurricane Milton promises to bring even more destruction. Our hearts go out to the suffering people are experiencing in those hard-hit areas.

Our September branch meeting speaker was Donna Parsell. Her presentation on the life and adventures of early 20th century journalist Eliza Scidmore was a wonderful way for members to start our fall meetings. Her biography, Eliza Scidmore: From Early White House Reporter to Washington’s Cherry Trees is well researched and written, and is of interest to all.

Members have lots of activities to join in the next few months. In October we will have the opportunity to learn more about DEI initiatives in Arlington, and in November we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of our branch with a panel discussion. Our October book discussion will be on The Art Thief. More information about these branch activities can be found further down in this newsletter. I am also looking forward to joining other branch members in seeing the Sondheim Tribute Review on October 20 at Creative Cauldron in Falls Church.

This summer our branch committed to sending out 200 Get out the Vote postcards, and branch members stepped up to fulfill our promise. Our postcards, sent out on October 1, were mailed to women voters in
Seminole County, Florida. I want to thank the branch members who volunteered to write the postcards. We joined branches throughout Virginia in sending out approximately 5000 postcards. Early voting has started here in Virginia, so be sure to vote now or on Election Day at the latest. Every vote counts! Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Terry Bratt
Arlington AAUW Branch President

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Arlington AAUW Branch meetings  in  2024

 

• Mon., Oct.21, at 7:00 pm, Lubber Run Community Center – “Empowering Voices: A Student-Led DEI Professional Development Workshop,” with Monica Lozano Caldera, MA, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator, Arlington Career Center, Arlington Public Schools; and Marlene Reyes, Senior, Arlington Tech/Arlington Career Center, DEI Student Leader — The Princeton Prize in Race Relations recipient 2024.
• Sat., Nov. 16, at 10:30 am, Lubber Run Community Center – A celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Arlington Branch of AAUW with coffee and a very special cake. Bring your memories to share as we hear about the early history of the Arlington Branch and the activities of the Lunch Bunch (Meg), the International Coffee group (Priscilla), the Book Club (Barbara G.), the Science Fair judges (Susan Senn), and the Public Policy group (Sara Anderson). Marjorie Hobart and Vivian Kallen, as long-time members of AAUW-Arlington, will discuss their experiences and changes they have seen.
• Sat., Dec. 7, noon, Holiday luncheon at Côte d’Or. There will be a choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert. The room for the luncheon seats only 30; reserve early. Information on reservations will be sent out in early November.

Barbara Smith, Program Chair

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Let’s Talk About Books

The October meeting is on Tuesday, October 22, 2pm. Our book selection is The Art Thief by Michael Finkel. The meeting will be at your regular Zoom location. Shortly before the 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.

There is no November book group meeting.

Barbara Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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AAUW Membership is in Season

Traditionally members of AAUW had to be invited to join the organization. In effect, this is still true today. People do not often join organizations; they join people. When you feel that sense of connection with a community member and want to spend more time with them, or even take an action, make sure to invite them. Invitation is our link to growth. It often takes a few negative responses to get to an affirmative response. So, ask early and often as you venture through your day.

Think about the medical providers you connect with in Arlington or our surrounding area. Invite them to join. Do you have children in your life who attend school? It does not matter where. Ask the children’s teacher to become a member in the community where they are living.

The latest tool to support your invitation is a QR code. A quick response (QR) code is an array of black and white squares that can be read by a machine’s camera. The QR code usually takes the user to a URL connecting them to information on a website. AAUW Arlington Branch will be looking into securing a QR code for our membership materials, after board approval. Your membership ensures a powerful voice is amplified on critical issues affecting women of all ages and girls. Each year we renew our commitment to focus on economic security, education and Title IX, and civil rights. Until next time, invite anyone who you think might be a wonderful addition to our group.

There is still time to renew! Continuing members can log on to renew or send a $103 check to Teri Doxsee for the full dues amount. Lifetime members pay $31 for state and local dues. This can be paid via the website or by sending a check to Teri Doxsee. Individuals who have trouble logging on may need to change their passwords.

Candace Lilyquist, VP Membership

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Lunch Bunch

Lunch bunch meetings will be starting soon.

 

 

 

Mary Beth Pelosky and Meg Tucillo, Lunch Bunch

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Public Policy

Lane Stone, President AAUW-Virginia sent all state branches a list of this year’s Equal Pay Days to share with all members. As you will see, there is still a lot of work to be done in leveling the playing field for women and girls.

• 2024
  • July 2024
    • 27 Black Women’s Equal Pay Day
  • August 2024
    • 7  Mom’s Equal Pay Day
    • 26 Women’s Equality Day
    • 26  104th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment
    • 28 Native HI/Pacific Islander Equal Pay Day
  • September
  • October
    • 3  Latina’s Equal Pay Day
  • November
    • 21 Native Women’s Equal Pay Day
• 2025
  • March
    • 5  Equal Pay Day
    • 8 International Women’s Day
  • May
    • 3  AAPI Equal Pay Day

Terry Bratt, Branch President

Volume 81, Issue  1

President’s Message

Dear Arlington AAUW members,

I hope everyone is enjoying these last weeks of summer despite some pretty hot days and looking forward to our fall activities. We have lots on the agenda! Our branch has committed to send out 200 Get out the Vote postcards. I will send out an email soon asking for volunteers. You will be provided with the text, the addresses of potential voters, and stamps. Our window for sending them out is the first week of October, so we have plenty of time to write them.

This year we are celebrating our 80th birthday as a branch. We were founded in 1944 by a group of women who lived in Fairlington during World War II. We are looking for volunteers who remember what they learned about our early history and how they became members to help with our November Program. I, for example, was recruited by longtime member Martha Ann Miller along with other young women in the 1980’s. She called us the young Careerists and got us involved in a lot of branch activities. What do you remember about how and why you decided to be a branch member?  We will be all ears!

I am thrilled that we will host Diana Parsell, author of Eliza Scidmore: From Early White House Reporting to Washington’s Cherry Trees at our September 16 meeting. Please be sure to find out more about this program and other upcoming programs further on in this newsletter. Be sure to get all the dates down on your calendar now so you don’t miss out.

Enjoy what’s left of summer. I really enjoyed going to a minor league baseball game in Fredericksburg in July and as I write I am on my way to New York City where we will see the musical Suffs and visit the Brooklyn Museum of Art to see Paul McCartney’s photo exhibit of the early days of the Beatles. I am
looking forward to seeing you at our author talk on September 16. Bring some friends –everyone is welcome!

Terry Bratt, Arlington Branch President

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Arlington AAUW Branch meetings  in  2024

 

• Mon., Sept. 16, at 7:00 pm, Lubber Run Community Center – Book talk with Diana P. Parsell, author of “Eliza Scidmore: From Early White House Reporting to Washington’s Cherry Trees”.
• Mon., Oct. 21, at 7:00 pm, Lubber Run Community Center – Program on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). DEI Coordinator and student from the Arlington Career Center invited to speak. Not yet confirmed.
• Sat., Nov. 16, at 10:30 am, Lubber Run Community Center – Special program in honor of the 80^th anniversary of the Arlington Branch of AAUW.
• Sat., Dec. 7, noon, Holiday luncheon at Côte d’Or.

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Let’s Talk About Books

The September meeting for Let’s Talk About Books will be on Tuesday, September 24, 2pm at the home of Terry Bratt.  Our book selection is The Covenant of Water by Abraham Varghese.

Please see our book list for the coming year and the meeting dates below.  All meetings except September and July 2025 have hosting opportunities.  If you would like to host one of the meetings, please let me know and I’ll get word out to all members.

 

Barbara Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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Remembering Mary Ann Ullrich

Longtime Arlington AAUW branch member, Mary Ann Ullrich passed away on July 9, 2024. Mary Ann was 82 and is survived by her son, David and siblings Bonnie, Don, Marge, and Larry. Her family is planning a remembrance mass at the church where Mary Ann grew up and her ashes will be spread on the family farm in Illinois.

Mary Ann was a teacher and administrator for the Arlington Public Schools.  She started her career in APS as a secondary ESOL/HILT teacher and later became the Foreign Language Supervisor for APS. Mary Ann was also an active member of our branch before moving away to live nearer to her son.  She served on our branch board while being an active member of the International Coffees and being a dedicated leader of our high school Lunch Bunch.

Mary Ann will be remembered by all her friends and colleagues for her outgoing, friendly nature, kindness, exquisite fashion sense, and her joie de vivre. We send our condolences to her son, David and his family and her many friends.

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AAUW Membership is in Season

Your membership ensures a powerful voice is amplified on critical issues affecting women of all ages and girls. Each year we renew our commitment to focus on economic security, education and Title IX, and civil rights.

Speaking of renewal, June is the typical month to renew dues. You should have received a little prompt from AAUW reminding you your dues were coming due. Please check online or contact Candace Lilyquist or Teri Doxsee for help.

Continuing members can log on to renew or send a $103 check to Teri Doxsee for the full dues amount. Lifetime members pay $31 for state and local dues. This should be paid via the website or by sending a check to Teri Doxsee. Individuals who have trouble logging on may need to change their passwords.

AAUW now runs a 12 month membership. This means, if you joined in August. Your membership renews in the same month you joined (August of the following year). Again, please reach out to the membership chair or the treasurer if you have questions or need any assistance.

Thank you for your activism and dedication to making the opportunities for women and girls better than they ever have been. This really is the season for change.

Candace Lilyquist, VP Membership

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Lunch Bunch

We look forward to meeting a new group of students at Arlington Community High School. We will start meeting in October with our student group over lunch beginning on October 17. We meet on the third Thursday monthly from October to May to discuss topics of interest to our students. Please think about joining the group. More information will be posted in September about the first meeting.

Mary Beth Pelosky and Meg Tucillo, Lunch Bunch

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Public Policy

Mark your calendar for these two important events! The Fall 2024 Northern District meeting will take place on September 14, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library. Meg Tuccillo, Co-Vice President for Diversity Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) will present a program on “Micro-Aggression”. This topic was a 10 minute toolkit at the 2024 state conference and was very well received. Watch for a follow up email with more details.

This year the northern Virginia branches are hosting the 2025 AAUW-VA state conference. It will be held on March 29, 2025 in Alexandria. This is an extra special conference as we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of AAUW-VA. More information will be coming throughout the year, but we will need everyone’s help to make this a super success.

Terry Bratt, Branch President

Volume 80, Issue 6

President’s Message

Dear Arlington AAUW members,

Back in war time 1944 a group of women met in Fairlington to establish an Arlington branch of the American Association of University Women, now known as AAUW.  2024 marks the 80^th anniversary of the founding of our branch, and we plan to celebrate our anniversary this fall and learn more about how our branch came to be.  If you are interested in working on our history project, let me know. On June 12, our Board will meet to plan our activities for the upcoming year, so if you have any ideas and suggestions, be sure to let Barbara Smith know beforehand.

At our May branch meeting we had the pleasure of meeting our scholarship recipients, science fair winners, and outstanding teacher.  The students all came with not only their parents, but aunts, uncles, and grandparents as well. Our teachers came with the Kenmore principal and colleagues and sorority sisters.  It was a very festive affair with cake and punch.  Meg Tuccillo presented the Elizabeth Campbell arts scholarship and the outstanding teacher award.  Susan Senn presented the STEM scholarship and science fair awards and Mary Beth Pelosky presented the Arlington Community High School Lunch Bunch scholarship.  It was a very moving evening for all.

Please join me in recognizing all the work done by branch volunteers. We thank Meg for chairing the scholarship and awards committee again this year.  Kudos to Susan for doing an excellent job of preparing our students for their Zoom science fair presentations in April and for organizing a robotics coding workshop for Arlington high school students in May.  We also appreciate Mary Beth and Meg for all their work in bringing great activities to the monthly lunch bunch students at Arlington Community High School.  We also applaud the other branch members who keep our branch running smoothly – Treasurer Teri Doxsee has done a great job of keeping our books in order, VPs for Programs, Barbara Smith and Barbara Gallagher organized a series of interesting and varied monthly programs, VP for Membership Candace Lilyquist has been working on increasing membership, VP for Communications Rebecca Moscoso has gotten out our bimonthly newsletter and kept our web page updated, Barbara G has organized our monthly book discussions, and Carol Dabbs updated our bylaws.

Everyone should have received their dues renewal email from National AAUW.  The national, state, and local dues are the same as last year-$103. If you have difficulty doing the renewal on line, you can send your check to Teri Doxsee and she will complete it for you.

Best wishes to everyone for a happy and restful summer.  I hope it is not too hot for us.  Fall is sure to bring lots of interesting activities for us to enjoy together.   See you then!

Sincerely,

Terry Bratt, Arlington Branch President

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Arlington AAUW Branch meetings – Program Suggestions for next year

Please send in your suggestions for programs for next year’s monthly meetings. We are looking for program ideas for six months next year: September, October, November, January, February, and March. We will be voting on these suggestions at the June meeting of the AAUW-Arlington Board.

 Here are some ideas that have been proposed:

• Book talk on “Eliza Scidmore: From Early White House Reporting to Washington’s Cherry Trees”. Scidmore is the woman responsible for bringing the cherry trees to Washington.
• Program on the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), its role in the Arlington Community and the people that it helps.
• Follow-up program on the new Title IX regulations.
• Program on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
• Program on the women in Arlington who stood up to the Massive Resistance Movement in the 1950s that opposed desegregating public schools.
• Program on the AAUW-Arlington Branch’s 80^th anniversary.
• Program on Optimal Aging by Dr. Heyn, Marymount Center on Optimal Aging.
• Updates on artificial intelligence and ChatGPT
• Program on what comes next after Columbia Pike renovation

 Send your suggestions to Barbara Smith and Barbara Gallagher.

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Let’s Talk About Books

Our June meeting is Tuesday, June 25, 2 pm.  Our book selection is Under the Sky We Make by Kimberly Nicholas. The meeting will be at your regular Zoom location. Shortly before the 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.

Our July meeting is scheduled for July 23, at 2 pm at the home of Barbara Gallagher.  Our book selection is How It All Began by Penelope Lively.

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 is a link to the Master Book List so you can see what we have already read.

Barbara Gallagher, Let’s Talk About Books Chair

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AAUW Membership is in Season

Your membership ensures a powerful voice is amplified on critical issues affecting women of all ages and girls. Each year we renew our commitment to focus on economic security, education and Title IX, and civil rights.

Speaking of renewal, June is the typical month to renew dues. You should have received a little prompt from AAUW reminding you your dues were coming due. Please check online or contact Candace Lilyquist or Teri Doxsee for help.

Continuing members can log on to renew or send a $103 check to Teri Doxsee for the full dues amount. Lifetime members pay $31 for state and local dues. This should be paid via the website or by sending a check to Teri Doxsee. Individuals who have trouble logging on may need to change their passwords.

AAUW now runs a 12 month membership. This means, if you joined in August. Your membership renews in the same month you joined (August of the following year). Again, please reach out to the membership chair or the treasurer if you have questions or need any assistance.

Thank you for your activism and dedication to making the opportunities for women and girls better than they ever have been. This really is the season for change.

Candace Lilyquist, VP Membership

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Arlington AAUW Awards Evening, May 24

Our annual Arlington AAUW awards event took place on Monday, May 20th, at the Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N Park Drive, Arlington 2203, at 7 pm. We honored our STEM scholarship winners, Olivia Bartrum from Wakefield High School and Nicola Beaumont from HB Woodlawn Secondary School, along with two middle school Science Fair Award winners, Cassi Wells from Williamsburg Middle School and Amelia Pearson from Swanson Middle School.  We also recognized our AAUW Elizabeth Campbell Arts Scholarship winner, Niyah Wertz from Wakefield, and our Lunch Bunch awardee, Nicole Sotelo from Arlington Community High School.  In addition, we awarded the AAUW Educator of the Year Award to Eurith Bowen, Functional Life Skills Teacher at Kenmore Middle School. It was inspiring to hear from our awardees and we enjoyed meeting their families and friends and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Barbara Gallagher and Barbara Smith, Co VPs Program

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Lunch Bunch

Those if you who were able to join in our scholarship presentation shared in the joy of seeing our Lunch Bunch Scholar, Nicole Sotelo, receive her reward and see  her four-year old daughter’s excitement! Nicole is one great example of the young women we met at our monthly Lunch Bunch gatherings. This year we have been able to provide presentations from other women who are strong examples of resilience and determination and who shared their stories to give our young women hope for their own futures. Each month we have seen growth in these students, and we get to join in their discussions about their hopes and dreams!!

Why not consider joining us next year? We will share some specific plans in September, so stay tuned!!

Mary Beth Pelosky and Meg Tucillo, Lunch Bunch

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Girls in STEM – A STEMtastic Season

Arlington AAUW has had a very active, exciting, STEM season, from  December, 2024-May, 2024. First, judging took place at three Arlington high school Science Fairs in December, January and February. This gave our team a chance to pre-look and identify some outstanding projects at the school level. Many of those projects then were deemed worthy enough to be sent on to the Regional Fair which took place on March 2 at Wakefield High School. Prior to that fair, Barbara Smith and I read through about 160 abstracts authored by Arlington Public School middle and high school girls in order to boil down a list to about 30 projects that we could judge on the day of the Regional Fair. Paring down those abstracts meant reading them all about three times to create a fair and thorough list.

On the day of the fair, we each judged all 30 projects independently using a rubric developed specifically for the Science Fair. At the days’ end, we identified two first place high school and two middle school winners, as well as eight 2^nd place winners at both levels. Our first place winners were awarded $1,000 scholarships which will be sent to their choice of colleges or universities. Our middle school winners each received a $100 check. The 2^nd place winners each received a $25 gift card to One More Page Books, which we support. One of our high school winners, Olivia Batrum, was selected as one of the two top Regional Fair winners and went on to compete in the ISEF International Science Fair in Los Angeles. She was the first place winner there. And, as an aside, our first place winner from last year, Anna Mohanty, won a 2^nd place also at the ISEF International Fair this year. If any of you have a subscription to the Arlington Magazine, our first place winner from two years ago, Julia Brodsky, graced the cover of the March/April edition. She went  to MIT with her $1,000 scholarship from us at AAUW.

Then, we had a great 2^nd STEM event. National AAUW had 75 STEM Lingo kits to give to several AAUW branches all over the state. We agreed to take the kits in order to plan a workshop using the kits. They were designed to assemble and code for building a computer-based back-up sensor for a car. The roll-out for the event was quite difficult in the planning. National was dealing with programs all over the state with different ideas about how (especially how) and when the event was to take place, how we would recruit the girls to participate, and where we could get the technical help to do this. This was all happening too, right around Spring Break and the end of the 3^rd quarter. I cannot count the hours spent on this project.

I chose to apply for a room at Lubber Run, asked the girls who were the 2^nd place winners of the Science Fair and recruited one student from HB-Woodlawn. Luckily, I have an Airbnb guest, a post-doc working in a Chemistry/Physics lab at GWU who knew everything about the kit. He was our onsite technician. STEM Lingo, over Zoom, walked us through the kit on Saturday, May 18, 9-12. Before the workshop ended, all four girls had lit, beeped, and created a variable distance. Two parents joined us and spoke up afterwards, asking if we were organizing any other similar projects. Hmmmmm.

All in all it was a very busy and worthwhile STEM season and great recognition for our AAUW branch. Many, many thanks to Barbara Smith for her help with the Science Fair.

Susan Senn, Stem Coordinator

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Public Policy

 

The Virginia General Assembly passed a compromise two-year spending plan that boosts funding for education and other priorities without increasing taxes. Votes in both the Senate and House of Delegates were nearly unanimous. The budget includes 3 percent raises in each of the next two years for teachers and state employees, as well as big increases in funding for K-12 schools, higher education and mental health services.

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Virginia AAUW State Conference

For the past two years, I have served as Virginia AAUW co-VP for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. At our state conference in April.  Erica Brown-Meredith and I shared some tips to help us all when we encounter incidents of microaggression at meetings — and in our everyday lives. Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal and environmental slights, snubs and insults, whether intentional or not, that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative messages to target persons based solely on their marginalized group membership. One example to avoid microaggressions is to use the RAVEN Approach. As we close out the year, please keep the RAVEN approach, explained below, in mind when you consider your response to a given microaggression:

R – Redirect (intervene, correct, pull aside)

A – Ask probing questions for clarity (I think I heard you say/what did you mean to say?)

V – Values clarification (in AAUW, we try to provide safe and welcoming environments)

E – Emphasize your own thoughts and feelings (that makes me feel…)

N – Next steps (reflect on how you will handle future situations)

As we all look ahead to planning our programs and events for next year, let’s be attentive to the environment that we provide so all our members feel comfortable and included!

Meg Tucillo