Our Stories
2009 Kickoff, Bash with Biscotti
August 31, 2009 Kickoff, Bash with Biscotti (members trying
their best to recognize Pictures of famous women)
Mimi, Lisa and Jacque enjoy the food and fellowship at the
Bash!
Mary and Jane are checking out WIM (Women in Motion) activities
coming up this year.
Cedar Falls AAUW has adopted Jacque Ingibire, a Rwandan
Refugee Student. These are some of the items for her support for the year.
A bicycle (not shown) and money will help get her through this senior year.
Prairie Picnic July 19, 2009
Enjoying a box lunch.
Great music for listening during the picnic.
Judy and Gloria making s'mores.
Prairie Flowers
AAUW Bridge Club
Some of the women who play bridge and contribute $2 for EF each
time they play. We happened to be playing at the Women's Club this time.
Hands enjoying playing bridge! It is the one time we try to be
quiet and use our brains. But between hands we have great fellowship.
Looking over used books to buy. Donate a book or buy books
before each meeting. The money from the sales go to support Community
action projects.
2008-2009 Board
2008-2009 Board members pictured above:
Judy Beckman and Gloria Tollefson, Co-Presidents;
Mary Forgarty, Vice President for Program; Mary Franke, Secretary; Allaire George, Co-Vice President for Educational Foundation; Judy Focht, Past President; Mimi Zischke, Vice President for Membership; Barbara Cardamon, Co-Vice President for Educational Foundation; Mary Dove, President Elect. (not pictured Diane Davison, Treasurer)
October 2008
Marcia Street, Gloria Tollefson, Judy Focht and Linda Morgan pose in front of two of the many banners
carried in the Boone suffrage reenactment parade on October 25.
AAUW state and local members carry an organization banner as they listen to a speech by a "British sister" encouraging women to keep fighting for the right to vote.
On October 25, four AAUW Cedar Falls members attend a reenactment of the Boone suffrage parade of 1908. The original parade and open-air meeting was the first and only parade ever held in Iowa and was one of the first in the United States. The old methods of attracting attention to the cause were tired and no longer working. New more dramatic tactics, borrowed from English women, had to be used if ever the vote was to be gained--thus the march.
The reenactment started at the Boone high school, about 100 women from across the state marched the original route with a band leading the way. The women, dressed in the fashion of 1908, carried banners, sang songs, chanted ‘We want to vote” and listened to inspirational speeches given by local women playing the parts of of the first participants. Vintage cars and a parade route lined with folks cheering and clapping added to the feeling of importance to the march.
Other activities of the day included dedication of a suffrage monument, a luncheon featuring desserts of the era, a reception to “Meet the Suffragists”, exhibits to explore and an original play written by E. Joyce Schulte in 1995 to enjoy.
The Boone Historical Society, along with along with seven sponsors and ten participating organizations from Iowa, made this event a memorable and enlightening experience for the four local women attending.
August 2008
Fall Kick-off in August!
Exhibits energized us to join interest groups, participate in community action
projects and attend the great programs that are planned for our monthly dinner
meetings. Prizes were given away at each display.
President, Judy Beckman, talks to member Maralyn Curl
Get out to vote display! Member Maureen White tells a visitor about registering voters in October.
Myrna Sandvik, Barbaa Cardamon and Allaire George discuss what our money does for Educational Foundation (EF.)
Yes we play bridge to keep our minds on the edge! Each player donates $2 to Educational Foundation each time we play.
Those ice cream sundaes were wonderful and the Biscotti was even better!
May Dove gives away a book at the book display for Cedar Valley Discuss and Discover Diversity.
June 2008
EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER EVENT HELD AT LITTLE RED SCHOOLHOUSE
Rita Congdon, Education Coordinator, for the Cedar Falls Historical Society presented a program in June 2008 about teaching and learning in a one room country school Yes, we sat in student desks, wrote on slates, and had our hands checked for cleanliness. Some of our members felt right at home having gone to a one room school in their early school years.
After the program, a box lunch was enjoyed outside in the gazebo. The Educational Foundation Committee, Melba Widmer, Beverly Lundy and Barb Cardamon was in charge of the event and proceeds were added to the EF fund.
Since the water of the Cedar River was rising fast, we climbed the dike to get a first hand look at what was later to become a record setting flood for our community and others on the banks of the river. The Little Red Schoolhouse was not impacted by the water level.
Also in June:
Flooding in Cedar Falls Area
May 2008
Annual Garage Sale
A cold clear morning greeted AAUW workers and customers for the annual plant and garage sale in early May at the home of Beverly Lundy. Notice Judy Focht in her red winter coat, Barb Cardamon in her blue cap and warm jacket ,and Melba Widmer cuddled up in a blanket as she serves as cashier. Bev Lundy’s garage was filled with donated items from AAUW members. The great bargins made customers smile.
Over 800 dollars was raised for EF and LAF.
April 2008
Cedar Falls/ Waterloo Women Attend
Iowa AAUW Annual Conference
April 2008
The Annual Conference of Iowa Association of University Women was held on the Simpson College campus in Indianola, Iowa on April 11 and 12. “Common Goals, Uncommon Connections” was the theme. Nancy Rustad, immediate past president of AAUW and Linda Bors, current Association Vice President for Finance, presented workshops on leadership training.
Conference attendees had an opportunity to meet many women who are serving or have served in roles of leadership in Iowa. Former Senator Maggie Tinsman addressed the group at the Saturday luncheon urging women to “Step Up, Step Forward, Take a Risk” by running for office, serving on community boards, joining groups that promote the causes of women and girls.
Three AAUW Fellows shared how AAUW has made a difference in their lives as they work on their dissertation studies. All three are studying at universities in Iowa.
Two current issues facing women today were emphasized: pay equity for woman and stopping violence against women. Both issues are at various stages in the US Congress legislative process. AAUW supports both issues with direct lobbying, letter writing and signing petitions at the national, state and local levels.
Iowa AAUW presently has one thousand members in thirty branches, and contributed $22,834.99 in the year 2007 to projects designed to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research.
Pictured above: Jane Close, Neysa Picklum, Judy Focht, Myrna Sandvik, Sheila Bullock(Waterloo) Judy Beckman, Ardelle Brown and Louise Conklin(Waterloo) gather around a framed copy of Governor Chet Culver’s proclamation declaring that April 22, 2008 be designated Pay Equity Day.