2024
Ingrid Michaelis on the left and Laura Taylor on the right.
04/09 – 04/10
External organization event – The New Futures for Females event happened at Girls at Work in Manchester, NH for area high school girls. Thank you to Branch Members Laura Taylor, Liz MacMillan, Ann Howe, Gail Agans and Ingrid Michaelis for volunteering to assist throughout this event.
04/08 ~ Branch Meeting via Zoom
How Racism Changes When We Look At It Through the Eyes of Women: A discussion of challenges unique to women of color in predominantly white New England.
This program focused on racism in New England as seen through the eyes of black women. Our speaker Courtney Marshall, PhD, is Instructor of English at Phillips Exeter. She gave an insightful presentation that generated robust discussion, a key takeaway of which was that efforts toward greater inclusion are the building blocks to lessening racist sentiment and unconscious. Thank you to all who participated for helping to advance AAUW’s commitment to greater inclusivity.
April 02 – Board Meeting via Zoom
April 01 – Book Group
The Forever Witness by Edward Humes
January 16 ~ Branch Meeting via Zoom
shire Branch of AAUW hosted a ZOOM program on the topic of book censorship. Our presenter was Amy Lapointe, Director of the Amherst [NH] Town Library. Her presentation focused on attempts to ban books in public and school libraries. She spoke of the public library principles of intellectual freedom, first amendment rights and censorship. She also included information about the history of and the recent uptick of book banning. After her presentation, there was time for discussion and questions.
January 08 – Book Group
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner
2023
December 04 – Book Group
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
December 03 – Holiday Brunch
November 11 – Social Luncheon at the Black Forest Cafe
November 06 – Book Group
The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
October 19 – Social Luncheon on the Amherst Town Green
October 02 – Book Group
Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships by Nina Totenberg
September 21 – Social Luncheon on the Amherst Town Green
Past President Pauline Landrigan passes the gavel to new President Liz MacMillan
September 19 – Branch Meeting, Fall Kick Off Meeting
Held at Girls At Work (GAW) in Manchester. Elaine Hamel, Founder and Executive Director gave us a tour of the facility and discussed ways AAUW can support and be involved in GAW going forward. Past President Pauline Landrigan continues to be our interface with GAW.
September 05 – Book Group
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.
August 20 – Summer Board Meeting ~ Transition & Planning
Aug 17 – Social Luncheon on the Amherst Town Green
Soup Sales on The Green July 4, 2023 Liz Overholt, Soup Sales Chair & Liz MacMillan, Branch President
July 4 – Scholarship Fundraiser – Soup Sale on Amherst Village Green
June 13 – Scholarship Fundraiser – 100 Hole 50/50 Golf Fundraiser
June 7 – Book Group
Zoom meeting to introduce titles nominated for 2023-2024
June 5 – Book Group
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
May ?
May 10 – 2023 STEM Scholarships Awarded
Scholarship Recipient: Elizabeth Bryson
2023 AAUW Scholarship Elizabeth Bryson with Zoe Gillis
The American Association of University Women is the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. Since its founding in 1881, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day including education, social, economic, and political policies in its mission to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.
This year the Southern New Hampshire Branch of AAUW is pleased to award a college scholarship to a student from the graduating class of 2023 of Souhegan High School in Amherst. Elizabeth Bryson is this year’s recipient of the $1,000 Southern New Hampshire AAUW STEM scholarship.
Elizabeth is the daughter of Claire and Scott Bryson of Amherst. She is attending the Franciscan University of Steubenville and studying Occupational Therapy. Elizabeth participated in multiple OT internships and job shadows, which helped her define her future. She was inspired to study Occupational Therapy by her grandmother, who spent many years as an Occupational Therapist. She accumulated over 200 volunteer hours in her school and in the community. Her many activities and leadership roles included being President of the National Honor Society, raising money for five charities, teaching religious education to children, organizing the SHS blood drive, being a basketball referee for the elementary school, serving as a SHS writing coach, being a SHS Grade Representative, serving as captain of the cross-country team, participating in the French Honor Society, and many more. She is an outstanding young woman, and AAUW is pleased to help her pursue her STEM goals.
May 16 – Annual Branch Meeting Potluck
May 12 – Book Group Nominations for 2023-2024 Deadline
Please see the information on the Book Group section of this website for directions.
May 1 – Book Group
Cloud Cuckooland by Anthony Doerr
April 18 – Spring Program: Artificial Intelligence 101
This was the last program in the three-part 2022-23 series focusing on women and their role in society. The program addressed how computers learn to solve problems, make decisions, and even improve themselves. For links to further reading on Artificial Intelligence, see the May 2023 Newsletter. The meeting, Artificial Intelligence 101, was recorded. The Zoom link to watch the recording will only be active until July 15: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/LXn9eQyl4bn8SM-xKsyv7Mo7TL5D4yl0vKZKJOc8AYel1mgmmJcXoM3iiJrCuZoe.gSbdJ9DYShUHMTbZ
April 16 – Board Meeting
April 3 – Book Group
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
March 6 – Book Group
The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery
February 13 – Eleventh Annual Amherst Candidates Night (Zoom)
The Southern New Hampshire Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) held the Eleventh Annual Amherst Candidates Night.
February 6 – Book Group
The Invention of Miracles: Language, Power, and Alexander Graham Bell’s Quest to End Deafness by Katie Booth. Guest visit by author via Zoom.
February 5 – Winter Festival Gathering
January 15 – Winter Program Meeting
The Southern NH Branch of the American Association of University Women held their winter program, Moving Beyond Caste via Social Entrepreneurship. This program explored ways to overcome the bonds and stigmas that affect the roles of women in the work place. A local example of social entrepreneurship included a guest from Girls At Work.
January 9 – Book Group
The Blue Tattoo: the Life of Olive Oatman by Margot Mifflin
2022
December 5 – Book Group
A Well Behaved Woman: a novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler
December 4 – Holiday Party
November 7 – Book Group
The Maid by Nita Prose
October 27 – Fall Program Meeting
The Southern NH Branch of the American Association of University Women held their fall program, Equity for Women in America’s Caste System. The book, ‘Caste: The Origins of our Discontents’, and clips from interviews with author Isabel Wilkerson and filmmaker Ken Burns, focused the discussion on how America’s caste system affects equity for women.
October 3 – Book Group – Special Event, dinner & discussion
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
September 20 – Fall Kick-off Meeting
President Pauline Landrigan and Guest Speaker Senator Dr. Tom Sherman
Southern NH Branch Fall Kick-Off Meeting
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
The Southern NH Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) held their Fall Kick-off Meeting. President Pauline Landrigan presented a brief overview of the goals of AAUW and the focus of the local branch. Programs and activities being considered for 2022-23 were presented. Guest speaker Senator Dr. Tom Sherman who represents the 24th district, Rockingham County, in the NH State Senate addressed issues that affect women including health care and education.
September 6 – Book Group – The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
August 7 – Board Meeting
August 2 – Book Group ~ Meeting on the Amherst Town Green to share summer reading.
Liz MacMillan, Nancy Bennison
Sally Hogan, Sally Varanka
July 4 – Soup sales on the Amherst Green to support the scholarship fund.
June 14 – June 18 – Book Group, Online Voting
June 14 – Last day to purchase/sell tickets for Scholarship Fundraiser
June 13 – Book Group: Presentation of Nominated Titles for 2022-2023
June 8 – Scholarship presentation, AAUW Southern NH Branch Scholarship 2022
AAUW Southern NH Branch Scholarship Recipient 2022
Southern NH Branch Scholarship Co-chair Zoe Gillis presented this year’s annual scholarship to Hollis Brookline High School senior Mia Karlsson of Brookline, NH. Mia is interested in research to determine if the world will continue to expand indefinitely and if there is life on other planets. She plans to attend Bowdoin College and study physics in the fall to pursue her interests. Mia is the daughter of Nicole Karlsson of Brookline
June 6 – Book Group, The Spy and the Traitor; The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre
May 21 – Annual Meeting
The meeting included a review of this year’s events and an opportunity to hear about upcoming plans.
May 14 – Deadline for Book Group 2022-2023 Nominations
May 11 – Program: Brainstorming for Mentorship
May 02 – Book Group, The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson
April 23 – Meet & Eat
April 13 – Branch Board Meeting
April 6 – Program Meeting, Women’s Health Series: Going Forward, the Physical and Mental Health of Young Women
Souhegan High School Social Worker Sheelu Joshi-Flegal and Souhegan High School Nurse Sherisse Salter.
April 4 – Book Group, Surviving the White Gaze by Rebecca Carol
March 7 – Book Group, Blue Sky Kingdom by Bruce Kirkby
February 24 – Tenth Annual Amherst Candidates Night
The Southern New Hampshire Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) hosted the Tenth Annual Amherst Candidates Night via Zoom. All candidates who filed seeking to be elected to an Amherst town or school position were invited. The public had an opportunity to send questions ahead of time and during the program. Moderator Deirdre Rogusky and Event Organizer Liz Overholt kept the evening moving along with the many who participated. It was recorded and may be viewed beginning March 1
on the Town’s Amherst Community Access Television at https://amherstnh.viebit.com/ and at Town site https://vimeo.com/channels/1555931.
Election Day is Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Souhegan High School from 6 AM to 8 PM. Questions about accessing the recording contact Liz Overholt at liz@the overholts.net or 603-673-5171.
January 26 – Program Meeting, Women’s Health Series: Women’s Health Equity & Public Policy.
Lisa Maatz, former AAUW Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, shared insights on women’s health from a policy perspective. She represented AAUW and women’s equity issues on Capitol Hill for 15 years from 2002-2017. She is a strong advocate with a reputation for her strategic and creative approach to government relations. Lisa is currently with Ohio Citizen Action, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes people to engage in actions that protect public health, improve environmental quality, and benefit consumers. Lisa is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Ohio University, has two master’s degrees from Ohio State University, and held an adjunct appointment with the Women and Politics Institute at American University. She is a long time member of AAUW.
January 12 – Branch Board Meeting
January 3 – Book Group, Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
2021
December 5 – Annual AAUW Holiday Brunch Scholarship Fundraiser
November 1 – Book Group, Becoming by Michelle Obama
October 30 – Meet & Eat
October 14 – Program Meeting, Women’s Health Series: Pandemic and Beyond. Three members of the branch, whose careers have been in healthcare, participated on a panel discussion via Zoom. The focus was on national and local women’s health issues before, during, and after the pandemic. Panel members were Pat Harrison, Rosmarie (Romi) Krosch and Zoe Gillis, MD,
October 4 – Book Group, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
October 2 – Outdoor Luncheon, Amherst Town Green
Our first luncheon of the year was outdoors. It was an opportunity to catch up with friends as we head into fall.
September 25 – Meet and Eat
September 22 – Branch Kickoff Meeting
The Southern NH Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) held their Fall Kick-Off Meeting at Gatherings at the Colonel Shepard in Milford. The evening began with a social time, then President Pauline Landrigan introduced new and returning board members and presented an overview of the goals of AAUW including the focus of the branch.
Fourth of July – ‘Reverse Parade’ – Souhegan High School L-R – Liz MacMillan, Gail Agans, Romi Krosch, Ingrid Michaelis (photo by Sally Hogan)
July 4 – Amherst Parade
The Amherst July 4 parade was held as a “reverse parade,” where the parade participants were stationary and the community drove along the route. Our branch participated by having a parade station with the parade theme of “superheroes.”
June 18 – Scholarship Fundraiser, Milford Rotary 100 Holes 50/50 Golf Tournament
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Southern NH Branch benefitted from the sale of raffle tickets for the Milford Rotary 100 Holes 50/50 Golf Tournament on June 18th. Half the proceeds sold will be used by AAUW for scholarships for graduating local high school women who intend to pursue careers in STEM fields following completion of college. The Milford Rotary retains the other half of these ticket sales. Sales help the branch and also support Milford Rotary Club’s charitable grants and scholarship programs.
June 12 – Meet & Eat
Meet & Eat is back!
June 7 – Book Group via Zoom
The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Click or tap here for 2020 -2021 Book Group “Book Blurbs”
May 25 – Amherst Candidates Night via Zoom
The Southern New Hampshire Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) held the Ninth Annual Amherst Candidates Night via Zoom. This was an opportunity for voters to hear the positions of candidates.
May 22 – Branch Annual Meeting
The Branch Annual business meeting was held at the Atherton Commons tennis court. Committee presentations reviewed 2020-2021 and we planed for the year ahead.
May 10 – 2021 Scholarships Awarded
Two Scholarship Recipients: Molly Atkinson and Delaney Facques
Left to right: AAUW Southern New Hampshire Branch Scholarship Recipients Molly Atkinson and Delaney Facques with Scholarship Co-Chair Diana Owen
The American Association of University Women is the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. Since its founding in 1881, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day including education, social, economic, and political policies in its mission to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. This year the Southern New Hampshire Branch of AAUW is pleased to award two college scholarships in the amount of $1000 each to two Souhegan High School students from the graduating class of 2021.
Molly Atkinson, daughter of Kristin and David Atkinson of Amherst, will be attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She wishes to advance her studies in biochemistry and plans to enter the field of medical research, or to become a physician while striving to see medical care more accessible and affordable for all.
Molly was nominated by the Souhegan High School Guidance Department as the Top STEM Student in the class of 2021. She played and was captain on the Varsity Field Hockey team. She served as president of the French Honor Society, and was a representative on Community Council serving as treasurer.
Delaney Facques is the daughter of Michael Facques of Milford and Cara Facques of Amherst. Delaney will be attending Villanova University. She has two potential goals: to study biology with an interest in medical research, or to become a physician assistant. She strives to lessen the divide between the genders while working in the medical field and to contribute to the growing number of females engaged in more rigorous areas of study.
Delaney was a representative on Community Council and a member and president of the National Honor Society. She was the recipient of the NH Scholars STEM Award, and was one of two student members on the Principal Search Committee. While volunteering at the local SHARE Foundation she accrued a total of 693 community service hours.
On Monday, May 10, Scholarship Co-Chair Diana Owen presented the two awards on Awards Night held outside under a huge white tent on the grounds of SHS.
May 3 – Book Group via Zoom
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Click or tap here for 2020 -2021 Book Group “Book Blurbs”
April 14 –Spring Branch Program Meeting via Zoom: Civic Engagement Series: Achieving Gender Justice
Speaker: Crystal Paradis, Director of Strategic Communications & Community Engagement for the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation.
Crystal addressed issues relating to gender equity such as pay equity, building local power and changing the culture. She shared the plans for the Women Run! Programs that will continue through the summer and why New Hampshire needs more women running for, and serving in, local elected positions. The mission and programs of the NH Women’s Foundation align with the work of AAUW. Crystal Paradis is a City Councilor At-Large for the City of Somersworth, the founder of Feminist Oasis and best friend to her dog, Daisy. In 2015, she was named one of 10 to Watch by Catapult & Seacoast Media Group, and in 2019, she was named NH’s Young Progressive of the Year by the NH Young Democrats. She is Vice-Chair of the Somersworth Democrats, a member of Indigenous NH Collaborative Collective and, as City Councilor, sits on Somersworth’s Recreation, Public Safety, Sustainability and Economic Development Committees.
April 5 – Book Group via Zoom
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Click or tap here for 2020 -2021 Book Group “Book Blurbs”
March 1 – Book Group via Zoom
The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
Click or tap here for 2020 – 2021 Book Group “Book Blurbs”
Feb 14 – Cocktail Party via Zoom
We may be stuck at home this winter but with Zoom we celebrated Valentine’s Day and supported our scholarship with a February cocktail party. Our social gatherings are fun ways to raise money for our scholarship fund and stay in touch with one another.
Jan 26 – Branch Program Meeting: Diversity in New Hampshire – Civic Engagement Series via Zoom
Becky Field, author and photographer
Mahboba Aktharzadah, SNHU graduate
Featuring photographer and author Becky Field and SNHU alumna Mahboba Akhtarzadah. Finding Home: Portraits and Memories of Immigrants by Becky Field. Since 2012, photographer Becky Field has been documenting the lives of new Americans in New Hampshire. Finding Home: Portraits and Memories of Immigrants is a collection of Becky’s portraits of 40 immigrants and stories in their own words about leaving the home country to find a new home. Mahboba Akhtarzadah was born in Afghanistan and came to New Hampshire on a full scholarship to SNHU. She now works in computer science. She is passionate about education, especially for girls in Afghanistan.
Books by Becky Field:
Different Roots, Common Dreams: New Hampshire’s Cultural Diversity
Finding Home: Portraits and Memories of Immigrants
Jan 4 – Book Group via Zoom
Saints for all Occasions by Courtney Sullivan
Click or tap here for 2020 – 2021 Book Group “Book Blurbs”
2020
December
Dec 13 – Holiday Open House via Zoom
Just because we were unable to gather together in person didn’t mean we couldn’t celebrate the holiday season. The Zoom “door” was open from 3-5pm. Favorite holiday goodies with recipes were shared. Gail sent the shared recipes out to all of our members. Donations to the scholarship fund, with a check made out to SNH Branch AAUW, were sent to our treasurer.
Nov 2 – Book Group via Zoom
Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Please refer to 2019 – 2020 Book Group link, as discussion of this book was delayed due to pandemic restrictions on our original date.
Click or tap here for 2020 -2021 Book Group “Book Blurbs”
October 21 – Branch Program Meeting: First Program in Civic Engagement Series – Part 2 via ZOOM
Two programs in the series are being planned for 2021. Diversity and pay equity will be the topics.
The Southern NH Branch hosted Professor Monica Galizzi, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Economics and a Senior Associate of the Center for Women and Work at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Dr. Galizzi presented the program “The Gendered Workforce.” Dr. Galizzi comments, “During the last 30 years, the gender wage gap has experienced a dramatic decline, but US women still earn only around 82 cents for every $1 earned by men. While it is easy to react with disdain to this number, it is much more complex to identify the forces that are behind the difference between men and women’s pay. This conversation explores different explanations that scholars have offered to understand the gender wage gap and discuss some of the policies that are often suggested as potential solutions.”
October 5 – Book Group via Zoom
Educated by Tara Westover. Please refer to 2019 – 2020 Book Group link, as discussion of this book was delayed due to unavailability of multiple copies on our original date.
October 3 – Picnic on the Amherst Green
Instead of our November lunch at LaBelle, we offered a socially distant way to gather on the Amherst town green. This was an opportunity to be together before the weather turns too cold to meet in person.
September – The Southern NH Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) offered two kick-off meeting options.*
The meetings included a brief overview of the goals of AAUW and the focus of the local branch followed by a review of the programs and activities for 2020-21. These included an update on the book group that meets monthly and a report from the Program Committee. The Program Committee is planning a series of three programs for the 2020-21 season with Civic Engagement as the theme.
*September 19 – Branch Kick-off Meeting [Option 1]
– Outdoor Gathering at Atherton Commons
This was an in-person, social distance meeting, on the tennis court of Atherton Commons (which is off Old Milford Road in Amherst). This was an outdoor event.
*September 30 – Branch Kick-off Meeting [Option 2] via Zoom
This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the organization and what it does from the comfort of your own home.
August 8 – Book Group via ZOOM
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Please refer to 2019 – 2020 Book Group link, as discussion of this book was delayed due to unavailability of multiple copies on our original date.
August 19 – Board Meeting
July 4 – – Soup Sales on the Green, Amherst NH
CANCELLED
Due to the continued risk associated with COVID-19 and a unanimous decision from our local police, fire and health inspector, all public 3rd/4th of July celebrations in Amherst will be cancelled for 2020.
June 19 – Scholarship Fundraiser
The Southern NH Branch benefitted from the sale of raffle tickets to the Milford Rotary 100 Holes of Golf Tournament. Because of the unusual circumstances the Covid-19 pandemic presented, a decision on holding the event was not decided in advance, but tickets were sold. This is the main way for the branch to raise money for scholarship(s) to be presented in June 2021. The recipient(s) will be one or two students graduating from Souhegan High School. Raffle tickets were sold online!
The tickets sold for $20 each. Rotary keeps $10 and the branch receives $10. Sales help the branch and also support programs sponsored by the Rotary.
Purchasers had the chance of winning cash prizes as follows: top prize is $5,000, second prize $2,500, third $1,200, fourth $1,000, fifth $750, and five each $500. Tickets sales ended on June 19th.
June 1 – – Book Group
Book Group did not meet in June. More information on selecting the books will be in the June newsletter.
May 27 – AAUW Southern NH Branch Annual Scholarship
Presented Scholarship Chair Diana Owen.
During Milford High School Video Awards Night, two young women, Milford High School Graduates Gabriella Monico & Aspen Tlapa were recipients of the branch’s annual scholarship awards. Each award was $1,000. Both young women are passionate, intelligent, athletic, creative, hard-working, leaders, and focused. The young women selected are expecting to pursue studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). The Scholarship Committee felt they will help guide the next generation in a positive direction – a goal of AAUW.
Gabriella Monico will be majoring in Mechanical Engineering and attending UMASS Dartmouth. In addition to her classes at MHS, she enhanced her learning at Manchester Community College and Nashua Community College where she took classes in Adv. Robotics, CAD Design, Adv. Engineering, AP Computer Principles, and Manufacturing. She even received a patent for a part she designed for a local company.
Aspen Tlapa plans to study Biology (Physician Assistant) at Clarkson University. Math and science are her passions. Practical experiences in her field include Community Emergency Team training and an internship in the birthing suite at Monadnock Community Hospital.
Milford High School composed an amazing video featuring the sponsors of the local scholarships. It was extremely well designed and incorporated not only the presenters but photos of the students who won the scholarships. The video ceremony is available to be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/GraniteTownMedia
(The AAUW awards are about nine minutes into the program.)
May 20 – Annual Meeting & Potluck Dinner via Zoom
The Southern NH Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) held its annual meeting, remotely, on Wednesday, May 20. The following governing board slate was presented and unanimously approved: Gail Agans *, President; Susan Hoover * and Johanna Tigert, Program Co-Chairs; Ingrid Michaelis and Liz MacMillan, Membership; Kathe Richardson *, Treasurer; Debbie Curran, Secretary; Liz Overholt*, Newsletter/Directory; Sally Hogan *, Publicity; and Mary Marsh *, By-laws. (Note: asterisk indicates continuing). The new term will begin on July 1, 2020.
Members learned two $1000 scholarships were to be awarded to Milford High School graduating seniors. The young women selected are expecting to pursue studies in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math).
In addition to providing scholarships, when the COVID-19 concerns ease, the branch will determine the best way to continue their yearly activities including monthly book discussions, Meet and Eat social evenings, and occasional trips to theatrical performances and special exhibits at local museums. Next March, they plan to sponsor the annual Candidates Night giving the public a chance to hear the positions of candidates running for offices on the Amherst ballot in March.
May 13th, May 20th, and May 27th – 7:00 PM [Program of interest, not sponsored by our organization]
The New Hampshire Women’s Foundation 2020 Women Run! series: “How Women Leaders Are Rising to COVID-19’s Toughest Challenges — and Why We Need More Women in Public Office to Shape Our Recovery” is underway. For more information about the series and to sign up contact Crystal Paradis at crystal@nhwomensfoundation.org. For information about the organization contact Jennifer Frizzell, NH Women’s Foundation Director of Policy, at jennifer@nhwomensfoundation.or
May 4 – Book Group
Educated by Tara Westover
After much discussion, we have decided to postpone the April and May 2020 Book Group meetings. We will discuss the April book, Where the Crawdads Sing, at our August meeting and our May book, Educated, will be our October book. The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore will also be added to the 2020-2021 reading list.
April 18 – Meet & Eat CANCELLED
April 14 – Board Meeting
April 6 – Book Group
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
[note: the discussion date of this title was changed from the linked list]
After much discussion, we have decided to postpone the April and May 2020 Book Group meetings. We will discuss the April book, Where the Crawdads Sing, at our August meeting and our May book, Educated, will be our October book.
March 3 – Candidates Night. Barbara Landry Room, Amherst Town Hall
AAUW members at Candidates Night L-R: Romi Krosch, Liz Overholt, Event Chair; Linda Dyer, Ingrid Michaelis, Deirdre Rogusky, Moderator; Liz MacMillan, Diana Owen, Judy Dennis
(photo by Sally Hogan)
The Southern New Hampshire Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) held the Eighth Annual Amherst Candidates Night. All candidates who filed, seeking to be elected to an Amherst town or school position, were invited. AAUW is a non-partisan non-political organization that never endorses candidates or specific parties.
CANCELED – Spring Branch Meeting. Black Forest Cafe
Given the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, our March 25 branch meeting at Black Forest Café is canceled. We are hoping to host our guest speaker Dr. Galizzi in the fall instead. Stay healthy!
Third Program in “Civic Engagement Series: Women and Labor” Dr. Monica Galizzi, Chair of the Department of Economics and a Senior Associate of the Center for Women & Work at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Professor Galizzi will address the gender pay gap and economic security in her talk “Women and Labor.” She teaches classes in Principles of Micro and Macro Economics, Labor Economics, and Health Economics at the university.
March 2 – Book Group
Closest Companion: The Unknown Story of the Intimate
Relationship Between Franklin Roosevelt and Margaret
Suckley by Geoffrey C. Ward.
February 9 – – Cocktail Party
Celebrate The Heart of Winter
This is one of the major fundraisers for our scholarship.
January 22 – WinterBranch Meeting
Media: Friend or Foe? Second program in Civic Engagement Series.
Left to right: Amherst Town Library Assistant Library Director Sarah Leonardi, Program Vice President Susan Hoover, and long time newspaper reporter and editor Michael Cleveland at the Black Forest Cafe on January 22. “Media: Friend of Foe?” was the second program in the three part series on Civic Engagement scheduled for 2019-20.
The program began with opening remarks at 6:30 p.m. and ended at 8 p.m. The branch welcomed Michael Cleveland, who has over 50 years working as a newspaper editor and reporter, and Sarah Leonardi. Assistant Library Director at the Amherst Town Library. The program was a panel format with Susan Hoover moderating. There was time for questions.
January 6 – Book Group
Mr. Penumbras 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
2019
December 15 – Holiday Brunch
Fundraiser to benefit the scholarship fund.
November 4 – Book Group
The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey
[note: the discussion date of this title was changed from the linked list]
November 2 – Lunch. LaBelle Winery, Amherst
We have enjoyed dining at LaBelle for several years and it is a nice way to get to know members of the branch and enjoy a delicious lunch.
October 16 – Branch Meeting
President Gail Agans, Program Presenter Milford High School Teacher David Alcox, Program Vice President Susan Hoover.
The program was the first in the Civic Engagement series planned for 2019-2020. Our guest speaker was David Alcox, who teaches civics at Milford High School. He spoke about the United States Constitution; several students from the school’s We The People program were present. He has presented at several institutes and conferences on topics of civic education and citizenship.
October 7 – Book Group
There, There by Tommy Orange
September 28 – Meet & Eat
An evening of feasting and fun.
September 18 – Kickoff Meeting.
This was an excellent opportunity to learn about the organization and what it does. Members offered a brief overview of the goals of AAUW and the focus of the local branch. Civic Engagement is the theme for programs in 2019-2020. Our programs will touch on media literacy, immigration, voting rights, economic security, the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and other related issues.
August 16 – Field Trip – Mont Vernon Historical Society Museum, Women and the Nineteenth Amendment
Left to right: Linda Pellerin, Linda Cataldo, Guest Jennifer Overholt, Judy Dennis, Curator Mary Jo Marcely, Liz Overholt, Ingrid Michaelis, Romi Krosch, Linda Dyer, Donna Bone, and Gail Agans. Missing in photo: Susan Hoover and Sally Hogan
On Friday, August 16, AAUW Southern NH Branch members visited the Mont Vernon Historical Society’s museum and met with Curator Mary Jo Marcely who took the group on a tour of the exhibits then focused on Women and the Nineteenth Amendment. She also spoke about Mont Vernon resident Fanny Kittredge (b.1867) who was a supporter of the Suffrage Movement.
July 26 – AAUW Scholarship Fundraiser with Milford Rotary
Milford Rotary hosts the 100 Holes of Golf annually, for which AAUW members sell raffle tickets. We share proceeds, with our share going to the AAUW Southern NH Branch scholarship.
July 4 – Soup Sales on the Amherst Green
Fundraising for the scholarship, our branch once again sold cold soup – cream of tomato, cucumber, and this year we added gazpacho.
July 1 – The governing board began the new term. At the annual meeting on May 23rd, The following slate of officers was unanimously voted in: President Gail Agans, Treasurer Kathe Richardson, Secretary Jan Ward, Vice President/Programs Susan Hoover, Vice President/Membership Diana Owen, Newsletter/Directory Editor Liz Overholt, and Publicity Sally Hogan and Mary Marsh.
June 3 – Book Group
Each May, we ask the members of Book Group to submit three titles for consideration when we plan our reading list for the following year. We discussed the proposed titles at our June Book Group meeting and voted on which ones we will be reading for the following year.
June 1 – Gourmet Meet and Eat
May 23 – Annual Meeting & Pot Luck Dinner
Members of the Southern New Hampshire Branch AAUW (American Association of University Women) met May 23 for a pot luck dinner and their annual meeting. The following slate of officers was unanimously voted in: President Gail AgansTreasurer Kathe Richardson, Secretary Jan Ward, Vice President/Programs Susan Hoover, Vice President/Membership Diana Owen, Newsletter/Directory Editor Liz Overholt and Publicity Sally Hogan and Mary Marsh. The governing board will begin the new term on July 1.
May 23 – Cultural Outing – Currier Museum of Art
Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence .The exhibit showcases a form of beadwork developed by a community of women living and working together in a rural area of South Africa. The skills have been passed down through generations of women. (The exhibit closes June 10.)
May 22 – Scholarship Awarded
Diana Owen with AAUW Scholarship recipient Madeleine Morrissette
Madeleine Morrissette, a Souhegan High School senior from Mont Vernon, was the recipient of the 2019 Southern NH Branch of the AAUW (American Association of University Women) scholarship. She was chosen from a field of fourteen well-qualified applicants.
Madeleine will study marine biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the fall. For many years she has had a particular interest in sea turtles and expects to follow her passion in her studies. She also loves math and science. Madeleine completed over 300 community service hours over four years. She enjoys helping others and teaching children. She was captain of the varsity soccer team and plays United Soccer year round. She is also an assistant coach of a volleyball team. In addition, she finds time to work as a counselor at her church’s Bible camp. Madeleine’s academic excellence earned her the Environmental Stewardship Award and the Presidential Education Award. She is the daughter of Caroline Morrissette and Matthew Morrissette of Mont Vernon.
April 13 – Gourmet Meet and Eat
Left to right: Program Chair Pauline Landrigan, branch member Linda Cataldo with Souhegan Valley Boys and Girls Club Unit Director Caitlin Hunter and STEAM Coordinator Mike McKnight.
April 9 – Dinner and Program a Success … The Southern NH Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) held a dinner at the Black Forest Cafe in Amherst followed by a program focusing on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Math). Branch Program Chair Pauline Landrigan then introduced the main speaker Mike McNight who is the STEAM Coordinator at the Souhegan Valley Boys and Girls Club in Milford. He spoke about the many opportunities the club offers children in grades K-12 to develop skills relating to the STEAM fields including computer skills, Robotics, LEGO Challenges, coding, ‘Stop Motion Animation’, math games, electricity, and many others. He also told how branch members could be involved helping as mentors, donating materials for projects, and sharing experiences to encourage kids to explore ideas they may not have thought about. Boys and Girls Club Unit Director Caitlin Hunter spoke about her 15 year involvement with the club. Then branch member Linda Cataldo discussed her tech writing career as well as her attendance at the state-wide Tech Women Ambassadors Week in November. She recently participated in the Girls in Technology Day at the Manchester Community College attended by over 1000 girls. For more information about AAUW contact Membership Chair Diana Owen at 673-7841.
March 27 – A large group of members enjoyed an afternoon at the movies at Susan Hoover’s home recently. We enjoyed refreshments and watched the Academy Award winning movie, Period. End of Sentence. We all enjoyed the movie and the discussion that followed.
February 12 – The Southern NH Branch of the American Association of University Women planned to host the Seventh Annual Amherst Candidates Night at the Amherst Town Hall. The evening gives the public an opportunity to meet candidates and hear their positions on issues. There is also time for questions. [Cancelled due to winter storm.]
February 10 – Banish the Winter Blues Cocktail Party at a member’s home. Proceeds to fund the Branch scholarship.
January 12 – Branch Meeting focusing on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering and the Arts) Click or tap for more information
2018
September 4 – The Southern New Hampshire Branch of AAUW sold raffle tickets for a Patriotic Quilt to raise scholarship funds for a local college bound young woman. The raffle drawing, for the quilt took place on Tuesday, September 4th. The winning ticket was held by Eloise Carleton of Mont Vernon. The quilt was originally given to WWII veteran Tom Gouvalaris while he was in respite care at the VA Hospital in Manchester. At the time, he was the oldest veteran in the hospital and the second oldest living veteran in NH. He lived to be 98 years old. The quilt was donated by his daughter Ann Howe a long time member of AAUW.
February 13 – Members sponsored and attended the Sixth Annual Amherst Candidates Night
January 16 – Sarah Mattson Dustin, Policy Director, NH Women’s Foundation discussed organizing a workshop for women interested in running for office at the local and state level. More than twenty women attended the meeting in Amherst, NH.
2016
May 13 – Evening With Authors