February 24 Meeting

Alaskan climate change:
How Fairbanks residents can minimize the changes and their impacts

Saturday, February 24th 10:30 am-12 noon IBEW Hall

Terry Chapin is a retired UAF professor who studies the effects of climatic and social changes on Alaskan ecosystems and communities. He explores ways that individuals and communities can shape a sustainable future despite rapid climatic and social changes. He has written leading texts in ecosystem stewardship, ecosystem ecology, and plant physiological ecology. In 2019 he was the recipient of the Volvo Environment Prize

Locally Terry has served on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Climate Action Plan committee, which formulated the original draft climate adaptation plan and was then dismissed by the Assembly. He was the only committee member subsequently reappointed. He has also served on committees that wrote statewide,

national, and international climate change reports.

He will talk about what we, as Fairbanks residents, can do to understand the climate changes that are likely to occur in Alaska, reduce the magnitude of their impacts and explore pathways to adapt to and thrive in this rapidly changing world.

Jan 2024 Meeting

Dear Friends, please join us next Monday evening on Zoom for the second in our series on the transgender experience.
 
Gender Affirming Healthcare: Reviewing the Evidence Base

January 22, 2024, 7:00 – 8:30pm

Dr. Tracey Wiese, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
Clinical Director, Identity Health Clinic, Anchorage, AK

ZOOM LINK

Meeting ID: 894 9796 2081 Passcode: 175160

Dr. Wiese is a healthcare professional who directly serves those needing gender affirming care at Alaska’s only LGBTQ2IA+ focused clinic. She’ll help us with questions like…What happens during transition? Are there different types of transition? What are the healthcare needs involved?

This program is informational is based on the premise that the transgender experience is authentic.
Please share this information with those you believe sincerely want to learn more about this subject. We have opted for the Zoom experience to address the concern some of us feel about hosting a program on such a politically and emotionally charged topic. The meeting will utilize experienced gatekeepers to ensure that we can learn in a safe setting.

Contact Carla Willetto with questions – 907-347-1065, cewilletto@gmail.com

Dec 2023 Holiday Potluck

IT IS TIME FOR OUR HOLIDAY PARTY AND POTLUCK!

December 11th 6:00 til 9:00 pm Raven Landing Building 4 Lounge

Come celebrate with your AAUW friends and families! Bring your spouse, bring a dish to share for the potluck bring a gift for the Women’s Shelter, bring a white elephant for the gift exchange.

AAUW has the holiday tradition of making merry at our December meeting. In the spirit of the season we will again support the holiday market at the women’s shelter. We provide new toys or gifts appropriate for women or children and wrapping paper and bows. Gifts are not to be wrapped by us. These are taken to the shelter and put into their market from which women may choose gifts for their children and others.

Our traditional white elephant gift exchange has seen several items make repeated appearances. These may be new or gently used or prior gifts you never asked for! These are given out through a Chinese style gift exchange in which you may or may not keep the gift you select. Lots of fun!

November 2023 Branch Meeting

AAUW SCHOLARSHIP FUND MINI FUND-RAISER

GIVING TUESDAY Nov. 28 Noon to 3pm

Home of Jodi Gouwens, Linck Estates, 924 Kellum, Unit #304,

Off Cowles & 10th, behind Arctic Bowl 907-474-9144

Last year this event was a successful and enjoyable fund-raiser for our scholarship fund. So come enjoy some snacks along with tea or coffee. Your guests and family members are welcome. Fill out an AAUW program survey for our branch.

Because the scholarship announcement will be published in January, our Board needs to know what funds are available by the end of December. Currently our Fairbanks AAUW branch has some 2024 scholarship funds from member donations.

This event will be both a mini garage sale and mini bake sale. Jodi is continuing to downsize resulting in a variety of items available along with a limited amount of baking this year. Cash, check, or credit card will all be accepted. Watch for an email closer to the date on what will be available.

Do you have some garage sale books or bake sale homemade cookies you can add? Perhaps a snack to share? These can be dropped off at Jodi’s condo before the sale if you wish.

If you can’t join us on Nov. 28, you can donate by contacting Gael Murakami at 907-479-0804 or gaelmurakami@gmail.com. You can also mail Gael a check made out to AAUW — PO Box 83406, Fbks, AK 99708

FYI – GIVING TUESDAY was created in 2012 to counteract the spending of Black Friday and Cyber Monday with philanthropic giving to charities and non-profits in need of support. It has spread to become a national and international campaign.

October 9 2023 Meeting

Dear AAUW Fairbanks (AK) Branch Members,

We are skipping the newsletter this month, but our October program is a go! Please join us next week.

Understanding Transgender People: The Basics

Hudson Bolduc – Nanook Diversity & Action Center

Casey McMillan – UAF Office of Rights, Compliance & Accountability

October 9, 2023, 7:00 – 8:00pm

(as late as 8:30, if more discussion occurs)

Click on this link to register for this Zoom presentation:

https://alaska.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvcOivrD4iH9Hcq62XTo7A03g_1bMvpFP-

Issues of equality and acceptance of transgender and nonbinary people — along with challenges to their rights — have become a major topic in the headlines. These issues can involve words, ideas, and identities that are new to some and can feel unfamiliar and awkward. Join us for a few basics, along with definitions of common terms used to describe gender identity. We’ll scratch the surface of the language and vocabulary that accompanies the transgender experience.

This program will be full of information. It will not be a debate, and it won’t answer all our questions. We may come away still wondering, and still lacking full understanding. But learning is a process, and we hope this presentation provides a step forward as we strive towards true inclusivity and allyship. Use the link above to register.

Please share the attached information with those you believe sincerely want to learn more about this subject. We have opted for the Zoom experience to address the concern some of us feel about hosting a program on such a politically and emotionally charged topic. The meeting will utilize experienced gatekeepers to ensure that we can learn in a safe setting.

Where We Stand: LGBTQ+ Rights – AAUW : Empowering Women Since 1881

Sept Membership meeting

WELCOME BACK FOR ANOTHER EXCITING YEAR!

Join AAUW for our fall brunch. Meet new friends, renew old friendships, learn about our upcoming programs.
Learn of the significant impacts that AAUW are making Nationwide

Saturday, September 23rd 10:30 a.m.
Home of Ritchie Musick 4231 Aspenwood Dr

Take the Parks Hwy past the weigh station to Mile 349. Turn left onto Cripple Creek Rd, turn on the fourth street to the right which is clearly marked Aspenwood. Turn into the first driveway to the left which is marked “Musick Way”

Bring a dish to share for our brunch table.

April 2023 Scholarship luncheon

Remember to RSVP for the Scholarship Luncheon. It will be this Saturday, April 15th 11:00am – 1:00pm, at Miguel’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine, in the Shoppers Forum Mall. 
The cost is $20 to be paid to AAUW (cash, check, credit/debit card). There will be a fajita bar, soft drinks, and cake. You can buy your margaritas separately!
Use the banquet room entrance (bright yellow/orange sign overhead, next door to Bamboo Panda).
Both of this year’s scholarship recipients will be there, as will some of our COVID-era winners. 
We’ve had 8 members reserve their places and we are hoping to hear from more of you. Please let’s make our scholarship winners feel valued. Contact Carla Willetto to RSVP by Friday noon (cewilletto@alaska.edu, 907-347-1065). 

February 2023 Meeting

For the first time in almost 30 years Noel Wien Library will be receiving a much needed renovation and expansion this year. Join Melissa Harter, Library Director, for an update on all the exciting plans, learn how services will be delivered during construction, and take a tour to envision the new spaces. Saturday, February 18, 10:30am, Meet in the Conference Room