Stuart AAUW News 2011- 2012

Our  Newly Elected Presidents, Nancy Erwin and Rosemary Villano,  attended the  AAUW  FLA Convention April 1thru April 3 in Orlando, Florida .  Other elected officers may also attend.

This year we are giving the three  local high schools scholarships.  Stuart AAUW awarded an FAU student the Stuart AAUW Grace K Jones Scholarship  this year.  Recipients of the Scholarships were announced  at our May 11th luncheon at Dolphin Bar Shrimp House.

Scholarship Recipients for 2011 are: Amanda Alker, Nancy Devon Taylor, Esther- Rose Safaite

Pictured below is Amanda Alker with Laverne Romanik.

AAUW Convention News

 Last year's  Major changes:

1. ONE MEMBER_ ONE VOTE.  instead of a delegate system each member will have a vote. Each person will be able to vote thru a variety of methods such as electronic  ballots.

2. ONE BOARD- AAUW and EF  boards are merged into one board with authority over all aspects of AAUW activity.

3.  The AAUW dues paid to national will be tax deductible as a donation - 46.00

AAUW has been changed to 501 c3..... our state and local dues are still 501 c 4

4. FLA AAUW name has been changed to AAUW- Florida

New State News 2010

The Bylaws Committee will present changes to the state's bylaws at the state convention April 23-25, 2010. Please read them here or download them to share with your branch so that you can vote intelligently following the discussion.  In order to prevent waste of paper and save the state the postage expense these proposed changes will not be mailed to branches.

Did you miss the live discussion about Why So Few, AAUW's new research into why so few women are involved in and enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.  Access it at http://www.aauw.org/research.whysofew.cfm.

Early registration for the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders, June 3-5 at the University of Maryland  is open until April 16th.

Congratulations to Barbara Hendrick who received Honorary Life Membership from AAUW  national.
See Photo below

Community Tour to Ft. Lauderdale Museum of  Art ... February 3, 2011

Below is a photo of Jean Naman who has been our tour planner and guide for many years.

After taking a relaxing bus trip to the Vatican Collection , our members  were able to  tour the collection using audio guides.

After a two hour tour, we had a wonderful meal at the Cafe De Paris in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Thank you Jean for a fabulous day!!

  STUART BRANCH SUPPORTS STEM AT IRSC 2011

Three young ladies were able to attend the Quest Career Exploration Program at
Indian River State College in Fort Pierce thanks to a donation by the Stuart
Area Branch. The program ran from July 12th to July 29th and was offered to 14
and 15 year olds residents of St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River, and Okeechobee
Counties. The students attended the college four days a week , four hours per
day.

 The Quest Program enabled the students to explore areas in law enforcement,
computer animation, biotechnology, and health services.

The students toured the Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Complex, which is
on campus, and experienced a virtual reality simulator used in law enforcement.
They were introduced to computer animation and video production programs through
the college’s Digital Media Institute.

They learned about careers in Florida’s health care fields such as nursing,
medical lab technology and emergency medicine. A visit to the IRSC biotechnology
laboratories provided them an understanding of careers related to medical
research and new discoveries. They researched career information to assist them
in a consideration of their own career path.

Branch officers Rosemary Villano, Co-President, Connie Davis, Recording
Secretary as well as Finance Chair Sheila Leach and Cathy McCartney, Development
Chair, observed the program in progress and interviewed the sponsored girls who
were very enthusiastic and appreciative of the opportunity to attend. Ms. Lila
White of the Career Development Office indicated that the college will continue
this program this coming summer. Ms. White also attended our branch’s October
meeting and gave an overview of the Quest Program to our members. Our branch
plans to continue supporting this very worthwhile project for young ladies as
they explore the STEM fields.