AAUW Meeting Minutes, September 23, 2024

AAUW Meeting Minutes
4 April 2024
Art Center – Public Library

Present: Bonnie Peevler, Louise O, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Sylvia Echols, Dev K, Barb Tuttle,
Diane Kearns, Barb Edler, Elizabeth Reynolds, Jane Abell. Barb Smidt, guest; Martha Marsot,
Program
Louise called the meeting to order at 5pm.
Motion was made to approve the Feb minutes – Dianne Kearns made the motion, seconded by
Dev, and motion passed by voice vote.
Treasurer’s report:
– All dues are paid until June 2024. We currently have 22 members. The checking
balance is $1424.36.
Committee Reports
1) Legislation Report – Diane Kearns. All bills reviewed were in line with AAUW Public
Priorities.
– The AEA bill has been signed by Governor Reynolds.
– Repeal of gender balance was signed by Reynolds. Both Graber and Reichman
voted in favor of this bill.
– Arming school personnel is under unfinished business, meaning it could be
tacked on to any bill.
– The Iowa Senate have to adjourn by June 30, 2024
– The supplemental state aid for schools was passed at 2.5%.

– Health curriculum in the school is unfinished business and could be added to any
bill.
Old Business:
Dev passed out the sheets of engaged activism. Miriam Kashia requested feedback regarding
the Activism and Self-Assessment survey.
BOOK SALE: We are continuing to collect books for the AAUW Fall Book Sale. Sandy Stark is
at the Church on Wednesday, please call the church at 524-1081 prior to dropping off books.
Diane Kearns is also available to assist. If you have books to drop off, be sure to call first and
to have the books in plastic tubs.
The American Civil Liberties Union is collecting signatures for Reproductive Freedom. Louise
has the form to sign.
New Business:
There still is time to sign up for the Spring Conference in Cedar Rapids, a week from this Friday.
Conference agenda includes a Friday evening documentary on Human Trafficking. This is the
100 year anniversary of AAUW in Iowa. Instead of baskets for fundraising, AAUW is asking for
donations. Dev made a motion to donate $100 towards AAUW, Jane Abel seconded, motion
passed with voice.
Next Meeting, Thursday, May 2, 2024, 5pm at the Art Center. Wewill invite our scholarship
recipient(s). As there were scheduling conflicts, this year we will NOT have a brunch in May,
rather Thursday night will be a potluck dinner.
As part of the May meeting, Election of Officers is completed. Last year the nominating
committee was the AAUW group as a whole. This year, the President and Secretary are up for
nominations. Diane Kearns will stay on with the Political Committee. Louise is not willing to be
President for another year. Bonnie Peevler has been secretary for several terms and is willing
to relinquish this position, per our by-laws. We are looking for members to step up to fill the
offices of President and Secretary.
Meeting adjourned at 5:30pm
Martha Marsot presented a fascinating program on Banned Books.

AAUW Meeting Minutes
21 March 2024
Art Center – Keokuk Public Library

Our March Meeting was a presentation by Miriam Kashia, from Iowa City. She was a founding
member of 100 Grannies For a Livable Future. She is a retired psychotherapist and when she
was 71 she walked 2980 miles across the US to fight climate change. She is now in her late
70s. Miriam spoke to Engaged activism and to what degree each person could be an activist.
She handed out an Engaged Activism – A Self-Reflection Survey for each member to complete.
There was not a business meeting.

AAUW Meeting Minutes
New Bethel Church
1 February 2024
6pm

Present: Dianne Stanley, Louise, Jim and Mary Dennis, Barb Edler, Dev K, Janet Fife-LaFrenz,
Daine Kearns, Sylvia Echols
Guests: Shirley Martin, Kimber Tender, Deanne Brooks, Bev Brotherton,
Following a wonderful chicken pot pie supper, the meeting was called to order by President
Louise Orozco.
PROGRAM: Dev K
Dev showed a Ted Talk regarding racism, following with questions for discussion regarding
racism.
NEW BUSINESS:
The December 2023 minutes were motioned for approval by Mary and seconded by Sylvia.
Motion to approve was passed by voice vote.
Treasurer’s Report:
-$500 AAUW ??
-$172.18 Savings
-$1622.36 Checking
Membership Dues:
Mary Dennis reports paying her dues via AAUW online service. We should be receiving email
reminders regarding when our yearly membership fees are due. Please check to make sure
this is occurring and it is not clear if the reminders are consistently being sent out via AAUW.
Lobby Days:
Diane Kearns will be attending the Lobby Day, 2/7/24, DesMoines Iowa. There are numerous
bills being proposed from ‘heart beat’ bills, to overhaul of the AEA system, to gender equity, to
changing libraries to being under the control of the local city councils. Please keep contacting
our local representatives.
Human Trafficking – Barb Smidt through Rotary,is the contact person. Human Trafficking
education is a on-going project of Rotary. In the past AAUW has supported this effort.
Amy Radiken is available for programs.
OLD BUSINESS:

We can start taking books to Trinity Methodist Church. Please coordinate with Diane Kearns
and the church secretary, Sandy Stark. ALL books need to be in plastic tubs.

NEXT MEETING – NOTE CHANGE IN DATE
March 21, 2024
Thursday
Library
5pm
Speaker:
Miriam Kashia, from Iowa City. I think she was a founding member of 100 Grannies For a Livable
Future. She is a retired psychotherapist and when she was 71 she walked 2980 miles across the
US to fight climate change. She is now in her late 70s.

AAUW
December 7, 2023
Book Review Meeting

This month members brought books to recommend and review. The following is a list of books discussed.

1)
2) Unsaid, by Neil Abramson
In this USA Today bestselling debut novel, Neil Abramson explores the beauty and
redemptive power of human-animal relationships and the true meaning of
communication in all of its diverse forms.
3) Horse, by Geraldine Brooks
Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington,
Horse is a novel of art and science, love and obsession, and our unfinished
reckoning with racism.
4) Those Who Save Us, by Jenna Blum
For fifty years, Anna Schlemmer refused to talk about her life in Germany during
World War II. Her daughter, Trudy, was only three when she and her mother were
liberated by an American soldier and went to live with him in Minnesota. Trudy’s sole
evidence of the past is an old photograph: a family portrait showing Anna, Trudy, and
a Nazi officer, the Obersturmfuhrer of Buchenwald. Driven by the guilt of her
heritage, Trudy, now a professor of German history, begins investigating the past and
finally unearths the dramatic and heartbreaking truth of her mother’s life.
5) Razorblade Tears, by S.A. Cosby
A Black father. A white father. Two murdered sons. A quest for vengeance.Ike
Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket
in all that time. But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid.The last
thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah’s
white husband, Derek. Ike had never fully accepted his son but is devastated by his
loss.
Derek’s father Buddy Lee was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek
was ashamed of his father’s criminal record. Buddy Lee still has contacts in the
underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy.
6) All The Light We Can Not See, by Anthony Doerr
Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History where
he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes
blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can
memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis
occupy Paris, and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where
Marie-Laure’s reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they
carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister,
enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and
fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal
academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the Resistance. More
and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the
heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s
converge.
7) Barbra, by Barbra Striesand
Barbra Streisand is by any account a living legend, a woman who in a career
spanning six decades has excelled in every area of entertainment. She is among the
handful of EGOT winners (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) and has one of the
greatest and most recognizable voices in the history of popular music. She has been
nominated for a Grammy 46 times, and with Yentl she became the first woman to
write, produce, direct, and star in a major motion picture. In My Name Is Barbra, she
tells her own story about her life and extraordinary career, from growing up in
Brooklyn to her first star-making appearances in New York nightclubs to her breakout
performance in Funny Girl on stage and winning the Oscar for that performance on
film. Then came a long string of successes in every medium in the years that
followed. The book is, like Barbra herself, frank, funny, opinionated, and charming.
She recounts her early struggles to become an actress, eventually turning to singing
to earn a living; the recording of some of her acclaimed albums; the years of effort
involved in making Yentl; her direction of The Prince of Tides; her friendships with
figures ranging from Marlon Brando to Madeleine Albright; her political advocacy;
and the fulfillment she’s found in her marriage to James Brolin.
8) The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride
In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for
a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom
of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held
secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where
immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and
sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe
integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.
When the state came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and
Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial leader of the
Black community on Chicken Hill, who worked together to keep the boy safe.
As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the
people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they
must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on
Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows
us that even in dark times, it is love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain
us.
9) Bright Young Womn. By Jessica Knoll

The ultimate gift for crime and suspense readers this holiday season! Don’t miss this
“breakneck thriller based on Ted Bundy’s heinous crimes [following] two women with
connections to the murders and their search for justice…a sharp examination of our
culture’s obsession with serial killers and true crime” (Harper’s Bazaar, Best Books of
2023).
10) Let Us Descend, by Jesmyn Ward
Let Us Descend is a reimagining of American slavery, as beautifully rendered as it is
heart-wrenching. Searching, harrowing, replete with transcendent love, the novel is a
journey from the rice fields of the Carolinas to the slave markets of New Orleans and
into the fearsome heart of a Louisiana sugar plantation.
Annis, sold south by the white enslaver who fathered her, is the reader’s guide
through this hellscape. As she struggles through the miles-long march, Annis turns
inward, seeking comfort from memories of her mother and stories of her African
warrior grandmother. Throughout, she opens herself to a world beyond this world,
one teeming with spirits: of earth and water, of myth and history; spirits who nurture
and give, and those who manipulate and take.
11) The Berry Pickers, by Amanda Peters
July 1962. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for
the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes.
She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge
of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to
come.
In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family.
Her father is emotionally distant, her mother frustratingly overprotective. Norma is
often troubled by recurring dreams and visions that seem more like memories than
imagination. As she grows older, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something
her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend
decades trying to uncover this family secret.
12) In Pieces, by Sally Field
One of the most celebrated, beloved, and enduring actors of our time, Sally Field has
an infectious charm that has captivated the nation for more than five decades,
beginning with her first TV role at the age of seventeen. From Gidget’s sweet-faced
“girl next door” to the dazzling complexity of Sybil to the Academy Award-worthy
ferocity and depth of Norma Rae and Mary Todd Lincoln, Field has stunned
audiences time and time again with her artistic range and emotional acuity. Yet there
is one character who always remained hidden: the shy and anxious little girl within.
With raw honesty and the fresh, pitch-perfect prose of a natural-born writer, and with
all the humility and authenticity her fans have come to expect, Field brings readers
behind-the-scenes for not only the highs and lows of her star-studded early career in
Hollywood, but deep into the truth of her lifelong relationships–including her
complicated love for her own mother. Powerful and unforgettable, In Pieces is an

inspiring and important account of life as a woman in the second half of the twentieth
century.
13) Passenger to Frankfurt,by Agatha Christie
Christie’s superb stand-alone mystery, Passenger to Frankfurt, is a true masterwork
of surprise and suspense, as a diplomat comes to the aid of a terrified woman in an
airport, only to find that his identity has been stolen and his life is suddenly in serious
jeopardy.
14) Everybody’s Got Something, by Robin Roberts
So begins beloved Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts’s new memoir in
which she recounts the incredible journey that’s been her life so far, and the lessons
she’s learned along the way. With grace, heart, and humor, she writes about
overcoming breast cancer only to learn five years later that she will need a bone
marrow transplant to combat a rare blood disorder, the grief and heartbreak she
suffered when her mother passed away, her triumphant return to GMA after her
medical leave, and the tremendous support and love of her family and friends that
saw her through her difficult times.
Following her mother’s advice to “make your mess your message,” Robin taught a
nation of viewers that while it is true that we’ve all got something — a medical crisis to
face, aging parents to care for, heartbreak in all its many forms — we’ve also all got
something to give: hope, encouragement, a life-saving transplant or a spirit-saving
embrace. As Robin has learned, and what readers of her remarkable story will come
to believe as well, it’s all about faith, family and friends. And finding out that you are
stronger, much stronger, than you think.
15) The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
The domesticated life of a powerful St. Bernard-Shepherd mix named Buck is quickly
turned on end when he is stolen away from his master and put to work as a sled dog
in Alaska. His once life of luxury turns into a life of survival and adaptation as he
learns the ways of the wilderness.
Set in the Klondike region of Canada during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, The Call
of the Wild showcases the transformation of a canine as he learns to adapt to what
life has given him, fair or not.
16) The Night Watchman, by Louise Ulrich
Based on the extraordinary life of National Book Award-winning author Louise
Erdrich’s grandfather who worked as a night watchman and carried the fight against
Native dispossession from rural North Dakota all the way to Washington, D.C., this
powerful novel explores themes of love and death with lightness and gravity and
unfolds with the elegant prose, sly humor, and depth of feeling of a master craftsman.
17) Our Missing Hearts, by Celeste Ng
Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving father, a former
linguist who now shelves books in a university library. His mother Margaret, a

Chinese American poet, left without a trace when he was nine years old. He doesn’t
know what happened to her—only that her books have been banned—and he
resents that she cared more about her work than about him.
Then one day, Bird receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing,
and soon he is pulled into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the
many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an
underground network of heroic librarians, and finally to New York City, where he will
finally learn the truth about what happened to his mother, and what the future holds
for them both.
Our Missing Hearts is an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized
communities can ignore the most searing injustice. It’s about the lessons and
legacies we pass on to our children, and the power of art to create change.
18) All Thats Left Unsaid, by Tracy Lien
Just let him go. These are the words Ky Tran will forever regret. The words she
spoke when her parents called to ask if they should let her younger brother Denny
out to celebrate his high school graduation with friends. That night,
Denny—optimistic, guileless, brilliant Denny—is brutally murdered inside a busy
restaurant in the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta, a refugee enclave facing violent
crime, an indifferent police force, and the worst heroin epidemic in Australian history.
Returning home to Cabramatta for the funeral, Ky learns that the police are stumped
by Denny’s case: a dozen people were at Lucky 8 restaurant when Denny died, but
each of the bystanders claim to have seen nothing.
Desperately hoping that understanding what happened might ease her suffocating
guilt, Ky sets aside her grief and determines to track down the witnesses herself.
With each encounter, she peels back another layer of the place that shaped her and
Denny, exposing the seeds of violence that were planted well before that fateful
celebration dinner: by colonialism, by the war in Vietnam, and by the choices they’ve
all made to survive.

Taylor Caldwell was also listed as a favorite author.

AAUW Keokuk Branch Meeting Minutes
November 2, 2023

Program:
We had the program first, in case our speaker needed to leave. Tyler Mills, author of Death of the Blue Dogs: How
the Demise of the Blue Dogs Harmed the Country & Created Q’Anon Voters, spoke very eloquently and intelligently
about his book and politics in the United States.
Following the program, the meeting was called to order.
The secretary’s minutes were approved as sent by secretary, Bonnie Peevler.
Dev Kiedaisch, treasurer, reported the balance in the checking account as of Nov. 1, 2023, was $1622.36 and the
savings balance is $671.33. A $500 check will be sent to AAUW Funds from the savings account. Report was
approved.
Under old business, Diane Kearns reported the AAUW will be able to store books at the Methodist Church. For the
December meeting, members are asked to bring a tote to store books in as the books must be stored in totes. The
next Book Fair will be held in October, 2024.
Under new business, members are asked to bring a treat to share for the December meeting which will be sharing
favorite books. Diane gave an excellent program about Public Policy and gave members hand-outs to supplement
her presentation.
Meeting was adjourned.
Dev Kiedaisch, secretary pro tempore

Thursday October 5th, 2023                                                                        AAUW Forum including 4 women local entrepreneurs in Keokuk regarding their business journeys. Open to the public.

AAUW Meeting Minutes
September 7, 2023
Round Room
Keokuk Public Library
5pm

Present: Jane Abell, Bonnie Peevler, Louise O, Dianne Stanley, Sandy Seabold, Diane
Kearns, Dev K, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Gail Clark
Guests: Anne Pietscher, Sylvia Echols, Kathy Dinger, Erica Hawkins, Elizabeth Reynolds,
Vivian Murphy
Prior to enjoying a salad supper, Introduction of guests and AAUW members was made.
President Louise Orozco gave an overview of AAUW, including our non-partisan stance,
accomplishments of AAUW members and advocacy functions of AAUW at the national and
state level.
Business Meeting:
1. Programs for the 2023/24 year were reviewed. All meetings will be at 5pm,
Thursdays, Keokuk Public Library, Lower Level.
October – A panel discussion of local women entrepreneurs.
November – Diane Kearns – Update on Iowa Legislation. Tyler Mills will also speak
about his book.
December – Annual Book Discussion. Everyone is invited to bring Christmas ‘treats’
January – No Meeting
February – Bethel Church with a program relating to Black History Month
March – Women’s History Month
April – Martha Marsot – A discussion of current issues in censorship
May – End of year brunch
2. Scholarship – The local AAUW chapter provides a $500.00 scholarship to SCC,
preferring the recipient be a non-traditional female student. The scholarship has
been paid for this current year, therefore, we have additional dollars to send to the
national fellowship fund this year
3. Given the upcoming November elections, Jane Abell asked about AAUW sponsoring
a candidates forum.

4. Dian Kearns gave a public policy report. AAUW is following the issues of student
debt forgiveness, pay equity, and Title 9. National voter registration day is
September 19, 2023. Diane also spoke of local Iowa concerns including the Moms
4 Liberty influence on politics, gender balance on boards, abortion in Iowa, and
Governor Reynolds looking to consolidating boards and commissions.
5. AAUW Midwest Regional Conference, St. Louis, MO, October 19-21, 2023. Dev and
Diane Kearns will be attending.
6. Keossippi Book Fair – September 30, 2023.

7. Interfaith Alliance is hosting several programs, go to the Interfaith Iowa Alliance
website for details.

8. What Should I Do?, Dr. Jeffery Nelson. He is a family physician who discusses
Abortion and religious freedom. He will speak, October 3, 2023, Keokuk Library.
Dev has copies of his book, $16; contact her if you would like a copy.
9. Louise reminded us, that we member/s to coordinate the booksale as well as members
for the scholarship committee.

Old Business:
1. We currently have 22 members.
2. Minutes from the April 2023 were approved.
3. Treasurer’s Report: $1118 Book Fair; $500 Scholarship; $670.04 Education Fund;
$1,890.36 Checking. Motion to accept Treasurer’s report was made by Gail Clark,
seconded by Diane Kearns, motion passed by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm

AAUW Meeting – Feb 4, 2020

Catherine Worden called the meeting to order.
Members present were: Catherine Worden, Diane Stanley, Sandi S, Pru Bracklin,
Kay Day, Dianne Kearns, Dev Kiedaisch, Bonnie Peevler, Janet Fife-Lafrenz, eight
guests and one speaker.
Secretary’s Report: Janet Fife-LaFrenz moved the January 2020 Secretary’s report
be accepted as written, Dev K seconded; motion carried by voice vote.
Treasurer’s Report: Catherine gave the report provided by Louise. Essentially, there
are no changes since the January 2020 report.
Membership: No report
Old Business:
1) Iron Jawed Angels film will be shown at the March 3, 2020 meeting, Keokuk
Public Library Lower Level. Refreshments for March meeting are Janet and
Louise. Advertising and Posters need to be distributed, especially to SCC.
2) The previously scheduled March speak had to cancel, therefore the March
meeting will be showing of the Iron Jawed Angels.
3) Reminder of the Regional meeting – June 18-20, East Moline, Illinois.
Attendees can attend for 1 or 2 days.
New Business:
1) Dev requested AAUW provide a dinner for the Bridges out of Poverty Project,
Monday, March 9, 2020. The training occurs from 5-8pm. There are about
20-25 people attending this training, to include children. AAUW needs 5
volunteers to assist with providing food and to service the supper on March
9, 2020
– 1. Dev will bring Chili
– 2. Bonnie will bring cookies/desert and will help serve
– 3.
– 4.
– 5.
Three more individual are requested to volunteer and/or bring food that evening.
2) Tec Trek (STE M program) has been cancelled for this upcoming
summer.

The meeting adjourned at 6:55 pm for the Program of: Dr. McCrary, professor at
Western Illinois University, gave a program on restorative justice. Dr. McCrary gave an
enlightening program regarding the tenants of restorative justice.
Submitted by:
Bonnie Peevler,
Secretary

AAUW Meeting December 3, 2019
Keokuk Public Library

Present: Catherine Worden, Pru Bracklin, Diane Kearns, Barb Tuttle, Dev K, Peggy Moss,
Bonnie Peevler, Louise Orozco, Sandy Seabold, Gail Clark
The meeting was called to order, 7 pm, by President Catherine Worden.

President Catherine Worden.
Secretary’s Report
The November 5, 2019, Secretary’s report was emailed to all members. Sandy Seabold
moved and Louise Orozco seconded, to accept the November secretary’s report. Motion
passed by voice vote.
Treasurer’s Report
Louise Orozco presented the December 2019 – Treasurer’s report.
Checking account balance as of 11/30/2019 $2936.70
Income for October 2019 85.00
Thrift Books 30.61
Total Income 115.61
Expenses for Oct
SCC scholarship (Patricia Hewlett ) 500.00
Dues Payment to Natl 69.00
Total Expenses 569.00
Checking account Balance as of 11/30/2019 $2483.31
Savings account balance as of 11/30/2019 $ 219.84
Sandy made motion to approve the treasurer’s report, Diane seconded, motion passed by
voice vote
Membership Report – No report
Book Sale
Sandy Seabold has resigned as book chair. At this point there has not been a volunteer to
take this over
Old Business
1. Voter registration at Keokuk High School – AAUW was able to register 12 new
voters. The registration takes place over lunch; however, seniors are able to leave
the campus during lunch. The idea was developed to have students sit with the
AAUW volunteers
2 Iron Jawed Angels – film – Today Dev ordered the Iron Jawed Angels.

Location options: Keokuk Library, Keokuk Art Center, Keokuk High School, or
Southeastern Community College. Thursday, March 19, 2020 was set at a
tentative date.
3 Regional AAUW Meeting, June 18-20, 2020 East Moline. All are encouraged to
attend. Five states will be coming together for this meeting.
4 State Positions open for AAUW Iowa: Secretary, Program Vice-President, AAUW
funds (fellowship money), College and University Relations, Public Policy,
Diversity and Gender Equity, Social Media, International Relations, Nominations
Chair. If interested in any of the positions speak with Dev.
5 Google – Hard Won Not Done, and many Iowa events will show up regarding
women obtaining the right to vote, 19 th Amendment.
New Business:
The by-laws need to be approved each year. The Board will review this separately
and make a recommendation to the membership at large.
Next meeting: February 4, 2020, 6pm at New Bethel Church. Professor McCrary
of WIU will discuss Restorative Justice. Dev K is leader for the evening.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45pm.
The annual Book Talk was held, with the following books recommended.
Mrs. Ives’ Christmas by Oscar Hijuelos
Vindication by Frances Sherwood
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
Educated by Tara Westover
What Will it Take to Make a Woman President by Marianne Schnall
Sister Citizen by Melissa Harris –Perry
Becoming by Michelle Obama
The Reckoning by John Grisham
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris (A sequel to the Tattoist of Auschwitz)
LaRose by Louis Erdrich
My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Still Life by Louise Penny (This is a series of fun books to read)
The Enchantress of Numbers: A Novel of Ada Lovelace by Jennifer Chiaverini
Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark by Bill Dedman and Paul
Clark Newell, Jr.
Verina: A Novel by Charles Frazier
The Thirty-Nine Deaths

AAUW Meeting 
5 November 2019
Keokuk-Hamilton Dam Museum
Conference Room

Present: Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Catherine Worden, Diane Kearns, Maureen Hutchcroft,
Dev Kiedaisch, Louise Orozco, Kay Day, Barb Tuttle, Diane Stanley
Guests: Janet Hurt, Cindy Patterson
Presenter(s):
Duayne Taylor – Keokuk Library – Mr. Taylor spoke to the Concept Design of the
Keokuk Public Library Park, along with specific design features. The first phase of
the park is nearing completion. He reports the Plaza portion is anticipated to be a
major cost to complete. To date over $300,00 has been spent in Completion of
Phase One, which included purchasing and razing of houses. Other details include a
sketch of the recirculating fountain, with park plans handed out to AAUW members.
A sculpture called, Journeys of the Imagination, has been donated to the park. The
sculpture is currently in the basement of Pilot Grove Bank. Fund raising is on-going,
with the Library Board appreciating all donations.
Janet Fife-LaFrenz spoke to the Keokuk-Hamilton Dam Museum. Six year’s ago the
100 th Anniversary of the Keokuk Lock and Dam was celebrated. With some left over
funding of this celebration, the Keokuk-Hamilton Dan Museum was begun. An open
house will be held, Saturday, November 16 th from 10am to 3 pm. Hugh Cooper
constructed the Keokuk-Hamilton Dam. There are numerous #1 feats associated
with the building of the Dam: Longest monolithic concrete dam (2.5 miles); largest
privately-funded hydro power-project (no tax dollars used); largest turbines every
constructed (15 turbines spanning 20 feet each); Heaviest rotating weight
suspended on a single bearing (bearing developed specially by Kingsbury and still is
in use); the dam consists of 119 floodgates called penstocks to reduce flooding;
largest inland dry dock used to allow dam wall inspections; Only pneumatically-
raised lock gates (powered by air); only commercial hydro-electric facility on the
Mississippi River (green & efficient, owned/operated by Ameren); First long-
distance transmission lines spanning from Keokuk to St. Louis; First high-voltage
transformers used to move electricity faster (still in use today) and first voltage
insulators used to prevent wires from accidentally touching.
Old Business:
Secretary’s Report
Dev moved the October minutes be accepted as written, Diane Stanley, seconded.
Motion passed by voice vote.

Treasurer’s Report:
Checking account balance as of 9/30/2019 1907.10
Income for October 2019 85.00
Book Fair 1113.60
Total Income 1198.60
Expenses for Oct
Cash for Book Fair 100.00
Dues Payment to Natl 69.00
Total Expenses 169.00
Checking account Balance as of 10/31/2019 $2936.70
Savings account balance as of 10/31/2019 $ 219.84
Membership Report – No report – Louise stated one new member applied on-line;
Louse welcomed her to the meeting.
Final Book Fair Report- See Treasurer’s report
NEW BUSINESS:
Dev spoke of the film, the Iron Jawed Angels and thoughts of showing the film again.
Women’s History month is March, therefore this might be a good time to show the
movie. An emphasis will be made to get students to come to this movie.
AAUW Regional Meeting is June 18-20, East Moline, Illinois. Eleven states will be
coming to this meeting. Dev encouraged everyone to attend and to put this on their
calendar.
Sandy Seabold requested a new chair be found for the book sale. The book fair will
be held in the board office, Keokuk School District. AAUW will be seeking a new
chair for the book fair.
Meeting adjourned at 8pm.

Respectfully Submitted,
Bonnie Peevler, Secretary

October 1, 2019 AAUW Meeting

Keokuk Public Library Lower Level Meeting Room

Present: Dev Kiedaisch, Catherine Worden, Bonnie Peevler, Louise Orozco, Sue P ,
Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Diane Stanley , Pru Backlin, Peggy Moss, Maureen Hutchcroft,
Ellen Norman, and Sandy Seabold
Guest and presenter: Barb Smidt On Financial Empowerment
Following an information presentation by Barb Smidt, Catherine Worden called the
meeting to order at 8pm.
Diane Stanley made motion to accept minutes from September 2019 AAUW
meeting, Louise Orozco seconded the motion. Motion carried via voice vote.
Louise Orozco presented the financial report. There are 26 paid memberships, with
Dolores Lofton as a lifetime member. Louise also handed out a history of the book
sale receipts.
Treasurer’s Report, Sept 2019
Checking account balance as of 8/31/2019 $1859.10
Income for Sept 2019 – 170.00
Local Dues payment from National Office – 16.00
Total Income- 186.00
Expenses for May-August 138.00
Dues payment to National Office
Total Expenses: 138.00
Checking Account Balance as of 9/30/19= 1907.10
Savings Account Balance as of 9/30/19 +.14 interest 219.84
Membership Committee – No report
Programs:
There was a discussion relative to paying speakers. Dev Kiedaisch stated from paid
dues, the local club has $480 to spend for speakers. The SCC Scholarship(s) comes
from the Book Fair proceeds. The Book

AAUW Meeting      September 3, 2019

The Keokuk Branch of AAUW met in the Art Center located in the lower level of the public library on Tuesday, September 3.  Twelve members and seven guests enjoyed a salad supper provided by the membership.

Dev Kiedaisch introduced Kyla Muston and Eva Radel, students attending the Middle School.  The young women had been selected to attend the STEM Trek Tech camp held on the Buena Vista campus in Storm Lake, Iowa.  The young women provide an overview of their adventures and opportunities during the week-long camp.  Topics presented included cyber security, coding, DNA experiments, etiquette and learning about women who own their own businesses.

Catherine Worden called the business meeting to order.  The minutes of the previous meeting had been distributed via email.  Dev moved the minutes been accepted.  Gail Clark seconded.   Motion carried.

Louise Orozco reported a balance of $1859.10 in the checking account and $219.70 in the savings account.  She reported there were currently 21 paid members and one life-time member.  A list of the members including email addresses and phone numbers and programs for the coming year will be distributed to all via email.

Old business:

The book fair continues to look for a location.  Both the Christian Church and the Keokuk Alternative Learning Building are being reviewed.  Catherine is working with a committee of Ellen Norman and Sandy Seabold.  The success of the transfer of books to Thrift Books provides a method of disposal alleviating the storage issues of unsold books.

New business:

Catherine suggested creating a book of letters written by the AAUW members.  More information will be shared later.

Meeting adjourned.  Janet Fife-LaFrenz, acting secretary

AAUW Meeting  4 May 2019

Annual Brunch Meeting

Present:  Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Gail Clark, Chris Barnes, Pru Backlin, Catherine Worden, Louise Orozco, Sandy Seabold,  Ellen Norman, Bonnie Peevler, Christine Barnes

Prior to the business meeting, two female students from KHS math department gave a presentation on their work with algorithms.   (I did not catch their names; so if someone has them, please let me know-Bonnie)

Catherine Worden called meeting to order

Approval of April Minutes: Janet made the motion to approve the April minutes, Seconded by Louise, and passed by voice vote.

Treasurers Report:  Louise gave Treasurer’s Report.   Several members have paid their annual dues using the on-line feature.

Checking account balance as of 3/31/2019                 1961.10

Income for April 2019

Membership Dues                                                              510.00

Local Dues from National   (MPP)                                      48.00

Bethel Dinner payment                                                       10.00

Book Fair purchase                                                                 3.00

Total Income                                                                       571.00

 Expenses for April

AAUW Fund donation  (at State Conference)                    100.00

Liability Insurance                                                                   185.00

Late payment of last yr dues (AAUW Nat’l)                            59.00

Late payment of last yr dues (AAUW Iowa)                           10.00             

Total Expenses                                                                       354.00                                                                                          

Checking account balance as of 4/30/2019                2178.10                

Savings account balance as of 4/30/2019                     219.56                   

A discussion was held regarding updating the membership list, as well as the membership email list.  Once all memberships have been received, Bonnie and Louise will work together to develop a current AAUW email membership list.                                   

Membership:  Gail Clark is not receiving statewide membership information from state AAUW.  It is anticipated four members have not renewed their membership.  On the state AAUW website, Louise updated Gail Clark’s email, therefore this situation should now be corrected.

Old Business:

Book Fair – AAUW needs to find a new place for the Book Fair, as St. Johns has decided to not allow AAUW to have the book fair at the church.  Per request of St. John’s, the liability insurance policy has already been established and paid.

The recycled books from last year’s book fair have not yet been removed from St. Johns.  Sandy was under the impression this had occurred, but will follow up to make sure the books are removed.  There are also stored books, which St. Johns has requested AAUW removed.   Following a discussion, Catherine stated she would check with a possible source to store the books.    The tentative dates for the Book Fair were:  were October 11, 12, and 13, 2019.

Tech Trek Camp – all three students have been accepted for the camp.

New Business:

Election of Officers: – Catherine Worden – President; Co-President of Programs is Dev Kiedaisch and Diane Stanley; Co-Vice President of Membership:  Janne Long and Gail Clark; Secretary- 2nd year- Bonnie Peevler; Treasurer 2^nd year Louise Orozco.

Bonnie Peevler made a motion to accept the Slate of Officers, with Janet Fife-LaFrenz seconding the motion.   A voice vote indicated approval of the motion.

A motion was made to send out the slate officers and a ballot/voting can be cast via email.  A voice vote approved the motion to send out the slate of officers via email.  AAUW members can vote for the slate officers via email.   See attached By-Laws for clarification of voting for the slate of officers.

Southeastern Community College asked for a donation to assist a student who lost their loan, due to the cancellation of a class, therefore the student is owes $600.  SCC to assist with this concern contacted Dev Kiedaisch.  This request was tabled for more information.

National Action Campaign, NOW President will appear on C-Span Washington Journal Sunday may 5^th at 8 AM to discuss the growing momentum for Equal Right Amendment and key issues for the 2020 election.

Sandy Seabold gave a report of the AAUW Iowa Spring Conference.  Alka, Dev and Sandy attended the daylong conference in Newton, Iowa.

A discussion was also held relative to what is a quorum.  See attached By-Laws.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bonnie Peevler – Secretary

 

April 9, 2019 AAUW Meeting

A brief business meeting was held following the Nudge Party at Southeastern Community College.

Dev K, stated a slate of officers needed to be presented at the May 5^th, breakfast meeting.  She asked for volunteers to be on the nominating committee – there was    no response.

A motion made by Dianne Stanley and seconded Carol Richardson, to pay $50 dollars, for up to three students to attend Tech Trek Camp.

The May 4^th meeting will be at Catherine Worden’s , 1111 Grand Avenue at 10 AM.  Each member is to bring a dish to share.

Louise provided the following Treasurer’s Report:

Feb/March 2019 Treasurer’s Report

Checking account balances as of 1/31/2019=1993.10

Income for Feb/March=190.00 (Tickets for Bethel Church dinner )

Educational Cash C&D deposit=8.00

Total Income=198.00

Expenses for Feb/March=230.00

Bethel Church (diners)=230.00

Total expenses=230.00

Checking account balance as of 3/3/1/2019=1961.10

Saving account balance as of 3/3/1/2019=219.56

Respectfully Submitted,  Bonnie Peevler, Secretary

AAUW Meeting  Bethel Church  5 February 2019

Following a wonderful chicken and vegan pie supper, a brief business meeting was held.   Dev called the meeting to order at 6:45 pm.Present:  Louise, Diane, Dianne , Nora, Kay, Alka, Bonnie, Janet, Poly, Dev, Peggy, Ellen, and guests

Janet moved and Dianne seconded the motion to accept the minutes from the December 2018 meeting.

Louise presented the December and January treasurers report.

December 2018

Checking account balance as of 11/30/2018:    $2993.10

Income for December:  $0.00

Total Income: $0.00                                                                                        

Expenses for December:  $0.00

Checking account balance as of 12/31/18:    $2993.10                                     

Savings account balance as of 12/30/18:      $219.42  +.14 Interest                         

January 2019

Checking account balance as of 12/31/2018:  $2993.10

Income for January 2019:  $0.00

Total Income: $0.00                                                                                                 

Expenses for January

AAUW National Office donation for Fellowships – Fund #4450  – $1000.00

Total Expenses:  $1000.00                                                                                   

Checking account balance as of 1/31/2019:  $1993.10                                                   

Savings account balance as of 1/31/2019:  $219.42                                              

Additional Business:

March 5, 2019:  Wonder Woman, Torrence Elementary at 7 pm.  Dev stated there are parts the are not yet filled for this presentation, and encouraged members to sign of up reading the different characters.  Typically, each part is brief.  The Wonder Woman presentation is open to the public.

Alka and Louise volunteered to do the refreshments for the March 5^th meeting.

April 9, 2019 meeting will be a Nudge Party – No Use Delaying Gender Equity.  The N.U.D.G.E will begin at 5:30 pm, at SCC.   Janne Long and Geni are on the schedule to provide refreshments.   The location will be at SCC, as we are doing this in conjunction with SCC.  Louise made a motion to combine the April 2 meeting with the Nudge party on April 9.  Alka seconded.  Passed by a voice vote.

Book Fair – AAUW has received a letter from Episcopal of John Church regarding use of the church and providing liability insurance.  Dev has contacted State AAUW regarding liability insurance through AAUW.  Ellen Norman stated she would work on this  issue, along with Sandy Seabolt.

Meeting adjourned at 6:50 PM.

PROGRAM

Nora Vera Godwin presented:  100 Years of AFSC.

Respectfully Submitted:  Bonnie Peevler

 

AAUW Meeting   4 December 2018

Present:  Bonnie P, Dev K, Sandy S, Dianne K, Chris B, and Jean (Chris’ mother), Barb T,  Louise O, Ellen N, and Catherine W

Dev K called the meeting to order, 7 pm.

Old Business:

The minutes from the November meeting were reviewed and accepted as written.

Motion to approve by Barb T and seconded by Sandy S.  Motion carried by voice vote.

Treasurers report:  There were four payments this month – SCC scholarship $500, $10  Iowa AAUW and $59 to National AAUW for a new membership; and $200 to the Episcopal Women.  Total Expenses for November: $769.00

Checking Account Balance as of 10/31/2018:  $3677.10; Checking Account Balance as of 11/30/2018:  $2993.10; Savings Account Balance as of 11/30/2018=$219.28.

Sandy brought forth a discussion regarding named scholarships.  Louise made a motion for $1000 contribution to named scholarships; Catherine seconded the motion.  Motion carried by voice vote.

New  Business:                                                                                                                                          Ellen Norman read her report from the zoom meeting with CEO of AAUW.  Previously, Ellen had emailed the report, to all AAUW members.

Dianne Kearns will be our local AAUW public policy chairperson.

A discussion was held regarding sponsoring activities for equal payday.  Caucasian women, equal payday occurs in April and August for Minority women.

A discussion was held relative to the lack of progress of House File 129,  that introduced on January 26, 2017 and was referred to Labor Committee, which assigned to a subcommittee, that never met.  Therefore, the bill died, as it did not get out of committee, with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry lobbying against this bill.   The subcommittee was made up of three people, two of which were Republican.  In  February, there is  an AUW state lobby day, Des Moines.    Members may wish to bring up this bill, as part of the AAUW lobby day.

March is Women in History month, when Wonder Woman  would be presented. Dev stated we have the  script for Wonder Woman, but need a place, with a stage to present this production.  The suggestion was made to change the March AAUW meeting, to accommodate access to Great River Players’ facility.   Chris and Catherine volunteered to handle the technology portion of this presentation.  Sandy will contact Great Rivers to check on availability of dates.

Louise spoke to the option of paying dues on-line.  To pay dues, there are two options available:  by personal check or on-line.  Louise stated the advantages of on-line payment are:  Faster, as Louise would send out  email to everyone with  a link for dues payment.  According to the research completed by Louise,  during the year,  each month a new member paid their dues,  then monthly, the local portion of the dues would be sent back to the local bank account.  Disadvantages:  The treasurer needs to go on-line to pay the dues.  A motion was made to switch to on-line due payment by Sandy S and seconded by Ellen.  No further discussion, motion carried by voice vote.

Dr. Ash sent a thank-you to AAUW for the $500 gift scholarship.

Meeting adjourned at 7:50 pm.

Book Discussion:  followed.  The reviewed books are sent under a separate email.

Respectfully submitted by;

Bonnie Peevler, Secretary

AAUW Meeting -13 November 2018

Present:

Bonnie Peevler, Catherine Worden, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Susan Dunek, Julie Graham, Sue P, Mary Dennis, Dianne Stanley, and Louise Orozco.

The meeting was called to order, 8:35pm, by Catherine Worden.  The program was presented prior to the business meeting.

Old Business:The minutes from the October meeting were reviewed

New Member AAUW:  Julie Graham, Psychiatric Nurse

Book Fair:  Sandy reported $1463.75 was made.

Treasurer Report:  Louise reported Checking Account – $3677.10; Saving Account-

$ 219.48.  Louise spoke to paying membership dues on-line, which go national and then are reimbursed back to the local organization.

Susan Dunek made a motion to pay $200 to the Episcopal Women for use of the church for Book Fair.  Motion seconded by Diane Stanley. Motion carried by voice vote.

AAUW continues to look for a public policy chairperson.

New Business:

Next meeting – 12/4/2018, at the Keokuk Public Library, 7pm.   Chris Barnes and Dianne Kearns are in charge of refreshments. Topic will be Book Discussion.

Diane Stanley spoke to Brenda Bradley regarding the February AAUW meeting at Bethel Church.

Meeting adjourned at:  8:50 pm.

Program presented by Dr. Donza  Worden on Health Care 2018

October 2, 2018 – Dam Museum – 7pm  Bonnie Peevler & Gail Clark Refreshments

Dev K explained the Nudge Party concept.  This is a bi-partisan group, to encourage working ‘across the aisle’.  It takes three asks for a woman to agree to run for office. The Nudge Party encourages people to run for office, as well as completing the training during that meeting.  The date of the Nudge Party, April meeting, may need to change

Dev shared a thank-you note from Jesse Bell, the SCC scholarship recipient.

Trees:  September 10, 2018 is the week AAUW is scheduled to water the trees in Rand Park.   Depending upon the weather, Monday, September 10, 5pm, AAUW will meet at Rand Park to water the trees.

 September 25, 2018 is the E-waste, Burger King parking lot from 7am to 1 pm.  Sandy Seabold has requested assistance this day. Mary Dennis will help 7am to 10am; Dev will assist 10 am to 1pm

Book Fair –Drop off and work days for the Book Fair:

Sept 29, October 6 and October 13 from 9 am to noon.  Please come as you can to assist in working.

Janet Fife-Lafrenz, former treasurer, requested a motion, designating Louise Orozco as the new treasurer for AAUW.  Diane Stanley made the motion, Mary Dennis seconded the motion. The motion passed by voice vote.

New Business:  none

RBG film was recommended by Janet Fife-LaFrenz.  A discussion was held about the possibility of showing the film in March, opening it up to the community.  Sue P will check about purchasing this film.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:44 PM.

Respectfully submitted:

Bonnie Peevler, Secretary  

2 October 2018 ( Corrections added below)

Present:

Bonnie Peevler, Gail Clark, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Diane Kearns, Maureen Hutchcroft, Pru Backlin, Kay Day, Barb Tuttle, Peggy Moass

The meeting was called to order, 7pm, by Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Acting President, for  President Dev K.

Old Business:

The minutes from the September meeting were reviewed, with a motion made by Gail Clark, to accept the minutes and seconded by Diane Kearns.  The motion carried by voice vote.

Treasurer Report:  Louise reported, via Janet Fife-LaFrenz – current saving account balance of $1800.35.  Currently twenty-eight members have paid their dues.

Membership:  Gail contacted several people, who stated they were already members of AUUW.

Book Fair October 19, 20 and 21, 2018.  Gabe Buckner will pick up left over books, Sunday 10/21/2018 at 3pm.  A sign up sheet, for the work Saturdays, as well as the Book Fair, was presented to all present members.   Members are encouraged to sign up for multiple work times.

New Business:

Our local AAUW branch, is seeking a  public policy chair to be involved in public legislation and lobbying.  The responsibilities are to work with lobbying promotion.

November 13, 2018 will be held at the Hamilton-Keokuk Dam Museum, with Dev and Catherine in charge of refreshments.    Ms. Worden will present on Health Care.

Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm

A presentation was made by Lee County regarding the new voting laws and voting security.  The following is a brief summation of presented information.

Early voting:  you do not need a pin number or driver’s license number on the early voting form and identification is not required.  Early voting starts next Monday, 8:30 AM, at Court House and will last until the day before election.

If you vote at the polls, one does need to produce a valid identification.  This year only, you can sign an oath of identity, if you don’t have an identification with you.   One can not be turned away for not having an identification, and if you do not have a valid identification,  a provisional vote can be made.

Voting integrity was also addressed.  During the last election, the Russians did try to hack into the voter registration data base.  DesMoines. Iowa has been proactive in cyber security. Iowa voting machines are not attached to the internet.  All voting machines have been locked in a secure place.

10/11/2018 – Corrections to 10/2/2018 Minutes

1. Peggy Moss – corrected spelling of last name

2. November Program s Health Care by Dr. Donza Worden.

3. Financial report is from the checking account, NOT Savings account

AAUW Meeting – 4 September 2018

Salad Supper

Present:

Bonnie Peevler, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Sue P, Diane Kern, Louis Orozco, Dev Kiedaisch Mary Dennis,  Sue P, Maureen Hutchcroft, Kay Day, Gail Clark, Dianne Stanley, Peggy Moss, Nora Vera-Godwin, and Pru B

The meeting began with Keith Barnes showing a short video about AAUW, on behalf of Chris Barnes, who was unable to attend this evening.

A brief business meeting was held prior to the salad supper.

Old Business:

Dev handed out schedules for the AAUW 2018/2019 meetings.  

Flyers for the book fair were also handed out.

The meeting notes from April, May and July meetings were accepted and approved.  Motion made by Janet Fife-LaFrenz and seconded by Gail Clark. The motion passed by verbal vote.

Financial Report:  Janet Fife-LaFrenz

Checking:  $2400.35; Savings Account $219.14

Membership:  Gail Clark presented membership information and brochures.  If there are potential members, email Gail Clark and she will contact them.

AAUW Meeting Schedule for the 2018/19 year was presented.  

The February meeting will include a vegetarian and gluten free option.

• A location for Wonder Woman was discussed.  GRP was unable to accommodate the March 5, 2019 performance.  It was moved to change the date of the March meeting to coordinate with GRP Theater availability for the Wonder Woman Performance.   Coffee and desert will be served.

Janet Fife-Lafrenz made the motion; seconded by Diane Kearns.  Passed with a verbal vote. Dev requested a coordinator for the Wonder Woman program

-Mary Dennis will coordinate the deserts for the Wonder Woman program.

– Dev requested  someone to coordinate the production

-7pm will be the meeting time.

Keokuk Branch of AAUW     October 2017 Meeting Minutes                                                              The Keokuk AAUW  Branch met on Oct 3, 2017, at the Southeastern Community College, Keokuk Campus.

Members and Guests in Attendance:  Prue Backlin, Chris Barnes, Kay Day, Teresa Garcia, Dev Kiedaisch,  Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Maureen Hutchcroft, Kris Moser, Lily Moser, Julie O’Connor, Louise Orozco, Bonnie Peevler, Geni Petersen, Sue Prochazka, Carole Richards, Dianne Stanley, Barb Tuttle, Catherine Worden

Minutes:  Sue Prochazka distributed minutes from May and September 2017 meetings.  Janet Fife La-Frenz moved and Kris Moser seconded to accept the minutes.  Motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report: Janet Fife-LaFrenz reported a balance of $2554.65 in the checking account. The following income and expenses were reviewed: Funds totaling $266 for a student to take 2 tests related to acquiring a teaching license.

Program Committee: For the November meeting, the program committee has organized a panel discussion on mental health.  Panel may include: Amber Glasscock, representative from Lee County Sheriff, Pat Ewing, Polly Falcon.  The meeting will be held at the Keokuk Dam Museum at 428 Main Street.  Upcoming Meetings:

December 2017 – Annual Book Review – members are encourage to bring book titles from their reading list, January 2018 – no meeting, February 2018 – Chicken Dinner at New Bethel Church with program about Buxton Iowa’s integrated community, March 2018 –  Women in History Month, April 2018 – Deeper in Debt  – AAUW Program about student loan debt.

 Membership: no report

Old Business

• Members recognized efforts of Janet Fife-LaFrenz for organizing the candidate forums for the Lee County Attorney elections.

• Susan Dunek thanked AAUW members for support, cards, flowers and good cheer during her recovery.

New Business

• AAUW will collect books at the Keokuk Recycling Day; volunteers are needed to deliver books to St. John’s.

• AAUW is planning a mayoral and city council candidates’ forum; volunteers needed.

• Biotech Classes from Keokuk Community School District are mapping Rand Park to determine number and types of trees; a subsequent tree planting project may follow

• AAUW Iowa Public Policy Chair will send out materials for review. Louise Orozco will send an email for members to review; we will discuss at November meeting

• Title 9 Compliance: Dev Kiedaisch informed members that if a child is home schooled by someone not related to you, there is no requirement to report attendance, complete testing, have background check.

 Program: Susan Dunek gave an overview of the career technical programs offered by SCC.  The program was followed by a tour of the new Industrial Technologies Training Center in Keokuk.

Submitted by Sue Prochazka, Secretary

 Officers: Dev Kiedaisch – President, Dianne Stanley – Vice President/Program Chair,

Janet Fife-LaFrenz – Treasurer, Gail Clark – Vice President/Membership Chair,

Louise Orozco – Branch Web Site – Sue Prochazka, Secretary

Meeting Minutes Aug. 5, 2017

President Dev Kiedaisch called the meeting to order @ 6:38 pm.

Three of the four young women who attended “Tech Trek” were introduced; Crystal DeOriellas, Abby Walter, and Kaydance Oliveski.  A statement by Kayle Watson expressing her regret at missing our meeting was read.  The three present described their week of fun, learning and fellowship.

Two guests were introduced; Mary Jo Riesberg and Anna Westermeyer.

Oct. and Nov. meetings are to be @Dam Museum, Feb. @ Bethel Church, Mar. & Apr @ SCC.Sandy Seabold announced she will be at re-cycle day, gathering books. She asked for volunteers. Sept. 26, 7am to 1pm.

Prue Backlin read minutes from May 6th meeting.

Gail Clark has agreed to take Barb Cassidy’s place as Membership Chair.  We have 23 renewing and two new members.

We were reminded to vote to retain the 6 cent levy for SCC equipment.

Maureen, Janet and Peggy brought up a new project, Trees for Rand Park.  We will partner with other service groups and Alliant Energy to replace trees.  City Parks dept. will cooperate with the project.

Dev Told us of skill webinars, Sept. 8^th and 12 th.

We will be having a mental health panel at our Nov.  Meeting.

Meeting was adjourned @ 7:30 pm

Respectfully Submitted by

Dianne Stanley.

Keokuk Chapter of AAUW October 2016 Meeting Minutes

The October 4, 2016 of the Keokuk Chapter of AAUW was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Dev Kiedaisch.  The meeting was held at the Grand Theater, was hosted by Dianne Stanley, and included a tour of the Theater.

Minutes of the September meeting were emailed to members prior to the meeting.

• Treasurers Report – There is $1,838.95 in the checking account and $1,416.71 in the savings account.
• The December 6, 2016 meeting will be the annual Share A Book.  The meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. in the Keokuk Art Center, the lower level of the Keokuk Public Library.  Everyone is encouraged to bring a book that they have enjoyed reading and would like to share with the group.  This is a great way to gather a list of books to read or to give as gifts.  Please bring a holiday treat to share with the group – coffee and tea will be provided.
• The February 7, 2017 meeting will be held at Bethel church.  Dinner will be at 6:00 and will be $10.00.  The program will be Patti Miller, who participated as a Freedom Rider.  Dianne Stanley will take reservations.
• Dev reported that the AAUW members who are doing the Title IX visits are in the process of making the visits and reporting back.
• Sandy Seabold reported that the Book Fair will be held the first part of April.  We will be setting up on Saturday mornings in March.  She will get exact dates to members in the near future.

New Business

Sandy Seabold presented to the group the concept of AAUW sponsoring a concert with performances from local women during Women’s History Month which is the month of March.  The concert titled “Hear Me Roar” would be held on Saturday, March 4 at the Grand Theater.

The financial commitment from AAUW would be approximately $600.  AAUW members will need to also sell tickets.  Proceeds will be used to send young adults to a STEM Camp held during the summer months sponsored by the Storm Lake AAUW.  Any additional proceeds would go to the national AAUW Fellowship program.  Sandy has been in discussion with Mary Lynn Arms who would be interested in directing the concert.  Dianne Stanley offered to work with Mary Lynn Arms to coordinate readings for the concert.

Barb Tuttle moved that we proceed with the planning of the concert and that the Keokuk Chapter of AAUW designate $600 for the concert and Louise Orozco seconded the motion.  It was passed.

Dev reported that there are two National AAUW Members who live in Fort Madison.  Since there is no longer an AAUW Chapter in Fort Madison or Burlington these two women have been “at-large” members.  Dev suggested that we contact these two people and invite and encourage them to attend meeting and events in Keokuk.  Barb Casady, Membership Chair, will make contact and offer the invitation.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.  Dianne Stanley lead a tour through the Grand Theater.

Submitted by  Barbara Casady

Keokuk Branch of AAUW     September 2016 Meeting Minutes     Keokuk Art Center

The Keokuk Branch of AAUW met on Tuesday, September 6, 2016. The September meeting marks the beginning of the 2016-2017 year with the annual salad supper.

Members in Attendance:  

Jane Abell, Pru Backlin, Barb Casady, Mary Cassidy, Gail Clark, Mary Dennis, Susan Dunek,

Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Dev Kiedaisch, Jan Long, Kay Morgan, Bonnie Peevler, Geni Peterson, Sue Prochazka, Carol Richardson, Sandy Seabold, Janet Smith, Barb Tuttle

Guests: Veronica Demmel, Thea Dennis, Jim Dennis, Regina Hayes, Ed Kiedaisch, Marlene Short

Minutes: The minutes for May 2016 were emailed and will be resent for approval at the October meeting.

  Treasurer’s Report: Janet Fife-LaFrenz reported that there is $1,933.95 in the checking account and $1414.94 in the saving account.  All books are up to date and reconciled and the 990 has been filed with the IRS.  To date, there are 28 paid members.

Program committee:  Program calendar is complete for the year however, we still need individuals to sign up for refreshments. On October 4, Dr. Deb Hedger will lead a discussion about public policy important for the upcoming election.  The meeting will be open to the public.  The March program – Women in History Month – may include concert or speaker – see Sandy if you have any ideas.

Old business: none

New business:

Dev Kiedaisch present information about Title 9 requirements; every school should have one employee/Title 9 Coordinator who is responsible for compliance, training, and distribution of materials.   AAUW is working to make sure each school has designated a coordinator and is aware of compliance issues.  AAUW National states that 60% of schools report zero for sexual harassment and bullying.  Committee volunteers to contact schools:  

Bonnie Peeveler, Gail Clark, Dev Kiedaisch. Information will be sent out with the minutes.

AAUW website article by Lisa Maatz encouraging Congress to act regarding the Supreme Court vacancy.  See link: www.aauw.org/article/merrick-garland/

Anniversary pins recognizing 5 and 10 years were distributed.

Books continue to arrive on a regular basis.  Contact Sandy Seabold if you can help deliver to the church.

Upcoming Events

Sept 9:   Welcome back Students at SCC – Keokuk from 11 AM to 1 PM

Sept 19:  Supreme Court will hold a session at Grand Theater starting at 7 PM

Oct 17:   Candidate Forum 6:30 pm – volunteers needed

Program:  Thea Dennis, Smith College Graduate and Fulbright Scholar gave an interesting program about her experience in Leuven, Belgium.  Her power point presentation included information on the history of Fulbright, the Fulbright application process, her work experience conducting cutting edge breast cancer research, and life in Belgium.  She also discussed her returning trip to Belgium in October to give a TED Talk.   

Submitted by Sue Prochazka, Secretary

Officers: Dev Kiedaisch – President, Dianne Stanley – Vice President/Program Chair, Janet Fife-LaFrenz – Treasurer, Barb Casady – Vice President/Membership Chair, Louise Orozco – Branch Web Site

 

Keokuk Branch of AAUW     May 2016 Meeting Minutes     Home of Sandy Seabold

Members enjoyed the annual May Brunch at the home of Sandy Seabold, who hosted the meeting.

Members and Guests in Attendance:  Pru Backlin, Delores Lofton, Nancy Gaunt, Barb Casady, Dev Kiedaisch, Alka Khanolkar, Kris Moser, Louise Orozco, Sandy Seabold, Dianne Stanley, Barb Tuttle, Betsy Gardner, Nancy Gaunt, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Alice Hawes, Sylvia Mills-Echols.

Business Meeting

Nancy Gaunt and Delores Lofton were each recognized with a Lifetime Membership for 50 years of membership and involvement with the organization.

Pru Backlin of the nominating committee presented the slate of officers for next year as follows:

Dev Kiedaisch, President

Dianne Stanley, Vice President and Program Chair

Barb Casady, Vice President and Membership Chair

Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Treasurer

Sue Prochazka, Secretary

Louise Orozco, Branch Web Site

Pru Backlin moved and Sandy Seabold seconded to accept the slate of officers for next year beginning with August 2016 Program planning meeting (to be scheduled at the home of Dianne Stanley).  Motion passed.

Submitted by Pru Backlin and Dev Kiedaisch

Keokuk Branch  of AAUW  March 1, 2016 Meeting Minutes

An informal and abbreviated March 1, 2016 meeting of the Keokuk chapter of AAUW was held at Southeastern Community College after the conclusion of our soup and salad dinner with Keokuk Business and Professional Women and Southeastern Community College.  AAUW members present were Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Teresa Garcia, Delores Lofton, Bonnie Peevler, Louise Orozco, Carole Richardson, and Dianne Stanley.

Old Business

Upcoming Events

 AAUW Lobby Day – March 9, 2016

Dev Kiedaisch will be driving to Des Moines for this day and invites any other interested members to ride with her. Included on the agenda will be the 20/20 by 2020 and 50/50 by 2050 AAUW women in elected offices program goals.

Sister Cities International Dinner -March 18                                                                                        Dinner cost is $10 and will be held at the First Christian Church in Keokuk

Book Sale- April 1-3                                                                                                                                                                     Our annual book sale will again be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Keokuk. Members can help prepare for this sale Saturdays March 12, 19, and 26 from 9 am-12noon. Members are also needed to work during the sale.

Building a Brighter Future for College Women Seminars – April 12, 13,14.                                                                  These workshops on salary negotiating, networking, and financial planning and literacy are sponsored by the Iowa Department of Human Rights Office on the Status of Women and AAUW of Grand View and Des Moines. Register by calling 800-558-4427 or online at http://bit.ly/1JJp6v by April 1. Free and open to the public.

AAUW State Conference – April 16 and 17^th  – Grandview College Des Moines, Iowa.                                                 This year’s theme is “Women in Agriculture”. Members are asked to think of ideas and items to include in a basket donated to the conference.

Life Time Members Honor                                                                                                                              President Stanley recognized Keokuk members Delores Lofton and Nancy Gaunt who were invited as dinner guests and honored as 50+ year lifetime members in AAUW. Congratulations to both of these members who have been such a wonderful asset and inspiration to our chapter.

Program

Earlier in the evening Teresa Garcia introduced our guest speaker, Janine Cavicchia, Director of the Western Illinois University Women’s Center and board member of the Macomb Illinois Feminist Network. She provided the group with information on the history of the women’s center and programs related to women’s issues at WIU, as well as Illinois and the nation. We also heard from an additional founder of the Macomb Feminist Network regarding issues and challenges faced by that group and discussed efforts by local and state governments to place more women in elected office.

During the program discussion Janet Fife-LaFrenz noted that the website www.statusofwomendata.org is a great source of data regarding women’s issues.

Submitted by Secretary Pro-tem Louise Orozco

Keokuk Branch of AAUW     Tuesday, November 3, 2015 Meeting Minutes     Home of Dianne Stanley

 Members in attendance: Dev Kiedaisch, Dianne Stanley, Louise Orozco, Barb Casady, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Sue Prochazka, Jane Abell, Nancy Gaunt, Barb Tuttle.

Minutes: The minutes for October 2015 were emailed and distributed at meeting. Two corrections were made:

• Brent Haage name was corrected.
• Keokuk Association for Rights and Equality, organization name corrected.

Dev Kiedaisch moved and Jane Abell and Janet Fife-LaFrenz seconded to approve the minutes. Motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report:  Nancy Gaunt reported a balance of $3,862.02 in the checking account. Dues totaling $1,225 were paid to national and $250 in state dues were paid. The 990 EZ report was filed.  Louise Orozco moved and Dev Kiedaisch seconded to approve the treasurer’s report. Motion passed.

Membership: Barb Casady requested a list of members who have paid dues.  She will update the Keokuk AAUW Branch membership book.

Program Committee/Website: Barb Casady will email Sandy Seabold about March AAUW Book Fair dates given Palm Sunday and Easter holiday weekends.  Possible dates: March 18-20.

Old Business: There are mandated changes in bylaws from AAUW; branches are required to review and update any local bylaws accordingly.  Janet Fife-LaFrenz recommend we send a copy of our bylaws to AAUW Iowa; they have offered to update our local bylaws in order to be in compliance.  Janet Fife-LaFrenz will send bylaws to Dianne Stanley to forward on to the state level.

New Business:

Dianne Stanley gave an update about AAUW Iowa. All branches were asked to promote next year’s State AAUW Convention April 16-17, 2016 in Grandview Iowa. AAUW Lobby Day in Des Moines will be held on March 9, 2016.

AAUW Iowa also asked about our progress regarding gender balance on local boards and commissions.  Dianne Stanley reported that city commissions still do not have gender balance.  It was suggested that we meet with the new city administrator about progress to date including AAUW recommendations regarding individuals who could serve. We will also check in with Susan Dunek, AAUW member who serves on the city council.

AAUW Iowa is asking for a report to be filed quarterly or annually.  The report would include a financial report as well as a list of annual activities.  Pictures are welcomed.

Jane Abell informed members about local school board/community task forces that are forming and is requesting members consider joining (facilities, open enrollment, academic rigor, grants, etc.) Jane Abell will email information to the list serve.

Program:  Sue Prochazka, Volunteer Center Coordinator gave a presentation about Big River United Way Volunteer Center and Service Enterprise, a national volunteer center certification that expands an organization’s capacity for recruiting and using volunteers.

Submitted by:

Sue Prochazka

Keokuk Branch of AAUW     Tuesday, October 6, 2015     Keokuk Art Center

 Members in Attendance: Dev Kiedaisch, Diane Stanley, Sandy Seabold, Prue Backlin, Betsy Gardner, Carole Richardson, Louise Orozco, Barb Casady, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Sue Prochazka, Jane Abell, Mary Dennis, Polly Falcon, Gail Clark.

Presentation: Keokuk Branch of AAUW hosted a salad supper followed by a presentation from Keokuk Sister Cities. Students, Tyler and Emily joined Sister Cities President, Brent Higge for a presentation followed by questions/answers about their travels to Kai, Japan.  Both students spoke about how their experiences staying with host families and visiting Japan broadened their knowledge of another cultures.  The students passed around photos, clothing and souvenirs from their trip.  Brent Higge provided the following information about Sister Cities, an all-volunteer organization the start in 1991:

• Students 6^th-9^th grade participate with 12-15 in a group on each trip,
• Funds raised cover travel, trip, and host family costs,
• Applications are being accepted now for 2016.

Minutes: The minutes for April, May 2015, and August 2015 were emailed for review.  Betsy Gardner moved and Louise Orozco seconded to approve the minutes. Motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report:  Dev Kiedaisch reported a balance of $4,900.02 in the checking account.

Membership: A new membership list will be generated based on dues deposited.

Program Committee/Website: Information about programs for 2015-2016 was emailed to members.  Barb Casady will send out any updates or changes.

Old Business: There are mandated changes in bylaws from AAUW; branches are required to review and update any local bylaws accordingly.  Copy of bylaws will be emailed.

New Business:

Dates for March AAUW Book Fair are being finalized.

Polly Falcon informed us about the need for volunteer tutors at SCC to help students with writing and math skills.  Currently there are only 2 paid staff (one for math tutoring, one for writing).  If anyone is interested in tutoring during the semester, contact Julie Barron, Coordinator Academic Support Services at 319-208-5137.

Keokuk Association for Race Equality will host a program to watch the documentary, White Like Me followed by discussion. Date: Oct 8^th at 6 PM at Keokuk Oddfellows, 1720 Blondeau.

Big River United Way Volunteer Center is looking for a literacy volunteer to help at 10:30 AM on Thursdays or Fridays (3^rd grade).

Hannah Fine from Hillary Clinton’s campaign will be in town on Oct 26 to meet with local women.  Mary Dennis will send out more information.

Submitted by:

Sue Prochazka

Keokuk Branch of AAUW Monday, August 10, 2015 Diane Stanley’s Home

The following members met to plan the program calendar for 2015-2016: Nancy Gaunt, Dev Kiedaisch, Barb Casady, Sandy Seabold, Louise Orozco, Diane Stanley, Prue Backlin, Sue Prochazka.

A draft schedule was compiled to later distribute to members and list on the website once programs are confirmed.

 

Keokuk Branch of AAUW Tuesday, May 2, 2015 Keokuk Art Center

The Keokuk Branch of AAUW met on Saturday May 2, 2015 at the home of Sandy Seabold. Members enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at the home of Sandy Seabold.

Members Present: Barb Casady, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Kris Moser, Prue Backlin, Diane Stanley, Randi Peterson, Nancy Gaunt, Carol Mardis, Louise Orozco, Sue Prochazka.

The slate of officers was discussed and proposed. It was decided that instead of a program chair, planning would be referred to a committee and/or programs arranged by having members each take a month to schedule/coordinate a program. The follow slate of officers was proposed:

Diane Stanley, President

Barb Casady, Membership

Sue Prochazka, Secretary

Nancy Gaunt, Treasurer

Louise Orozco, Website

Janet Fife-LaFrenz moved and Barb Casady seconded that we pull suggestions for programs from membership. Motion passed. Sandy Seabold moved and Louise Orozco seconded that the slate of officers be approved. Motion passed.

Nancy Gaunt reported that there was $3,687.02 in checking and $1,411.44 in savings. Dev Kiedaisch will follow up and assist Nancy with process for sending in money for scholarships. Janet Fife-LaFrenz moved and Sandy Seabold seconded that we approve Treasurer’s Report as submitted.

Meeting was adjourned for a program about the State AAUW convention. Diane Stanley provided information about some of the presenters and workshops including a presentation on human trafficking by the Iowa Attorney General’s office.

 

Keokuk Branch of AAUW     Tuesday, April 7, 2015     Keokuk Art Center

The Keokuk Branch of AAUW met on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at the Keokuk Art Center.

Members in attendance: Barb Casady, Sue Prochazka, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Barb Tuttle, Kris Moser, Diane Stanley, Nancy Gaunt, Theresa Garcia, Betsy Gardner, Bonnie Peevler, Sandy Seabold, Becca, Carol Mardis.

President, Diane Stanley called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM. Minutes from February will be emailed.

The treasurer’s report was given by Nancy Gaunt. The checking account total is $3,687.62 and the savings account total is $1,410.53.  The book fair raised $2,201.57.  There was a brief discussion about when funds will be distributed to SCC Foundation and AAUW Education Foundation. Diane Stanley will follow up Dev Kiedaisch before we decide on number of scholarships. Janet Fife-LaFrenz moved and Kris Moser seconded to accept the treasurer’s report.   Motion passed.

Membership Report: Election of officers is due in May. Membership and Program chairs need to be filled as soon as possible so we can distribute a slate of officers before the May meeting. Barb Casady is willing to become the new membership chair.  

Program Committee: Saturday, May 2 is the final program for the year and the breakfast meeting will be held at the home of Sandy Seabold at 9 AM.

Old Business: Women in History Month went well.

• Women’s Panel discussion was held at SCC and moderated by Shelly Oltmans, Chamber Director;
• Terra Ferma Film was offered at the Keokuk Public Library.

New Business: Dev Kiedaisch and Diane Stanley will attend the State AAUW Convention.

Program:  Sue Prochazka gave a presentation on trends in volunteerism and recent discussion about how to evaluate the impact of volunteering in communities.  See www.volunteeringinamerica.gov

Respectfully Submitted by:  Sue Prochazka, Secretary Keokuk AAUW Branch

(Note: Buckner – last name of individual who removes leftover books after the book fair).  

 

Keokuk Branch of AAUW     Tuesday, February 3, 2015     Keokuk Art Center

The Keokuk Branch of AAUW met on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at the Keokuk Art Center.

Members in attendance: Betsy Gardner, Nancy Gaunt, Diane Stanley, Debbie Marion, Dev Kiedaisch, Susan Dunek, Sue Prochazka, Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Alka Khanolkar, Bonnie Peevler, Sandy Seabold, Barb Casady,Guests: Heather Wayson, SCC student

President, Dianne Stanley called the meeting to order at 7:05PM. Betsy Gardner moved and Sandy Seabold seconded to approve the December 2014 meeting minutes. Motion passed.

The treasurer’s report was given by Nancy Gaunt. The checking account total is $1642.31 and the savings account total is $1,410.53 for the scholarship program.  Betsy Gardner moved and Dev Kiedaisch seconded that we accept the treasurer’s report and award two $500 scholarships. Motion passed.

Membership Report: none

Program Committee: The March dinner meeting will be held on Wednesday March 4 at SCC Keokuk campus at 7pm. The curator of Iowa Women Archives will present and the meeting with be sponsored by AAUW, BPW, and SCC.   Prue Backlin moved and Janet Fife-LaFrenz seconded to cater a light dinner prior to the presentation; dinner will start at 6 pm. Motion passed. Barb Casady will ask members to RSVP in order to get a count for number of meals.

Old Business: Book fair is scheduled for the last weekend in March; Sandy will put together a work schedule. We are currently collecting books.

New Business: Janet, Dev, Sandy and Diane are working to make sure we have gender balance on city and county boards and commissions.  If anyone knows of women that have skills, time and talents to offer, please encourage them to fill out an application.

Upcoming State AAUW Convention activities were highlighted.  In additional, AAUW has online resources on membership and fundraising.  Betsy Gardner would like help with securing items for the silent auction basket from our branch. Dev and Diane encouraged members to attend.  Dev spoke briefly about topics this year such as women in agriculture, STEM, and pay equity.

Nominations for Title 9 champions are being collected and each branch is encouraged to nominate someone from their community. For more information, see https://www.aauw.org/resource/title-ix-champions/  

As a reminder AAUW offers free memberships for students and some branches are giving membership to new graduates to encourage participation.

For Women’s History Month, AAUW, SCC and the Keokuk Library will sponsor the movie, Terra Ferma.  Barb Casady moved and Alka Khanolkar seconded to split the cost of the movie ($89) with SCC and Keokuk Library. Motion passed.

Program:  SCC Student scholarship recipient, Heather Wayson gave a presentation about her experience at college and use of the AAUW scholarship.  Alka Khanolkar gave an informative presentation about growing up in India and her recent travels to visit relatives.  She and her husband also answered questions about the social, economic and political climate in India.

Respectfully Submitted by:  Sue Prochazka, Secretary Keokuk AAUW Branch

 

Keokuk Branch of AAUW     Tuesday, December 1, 2014     Keokuk Art Center

 The Keokuk Branch of AAUW met on Tuesday, December 1, 2014 at the Keokuk Art Center.

Members in attendance: Diane Stanley, Prue Backlin, Sandy Seabold, Betsy Gardner,  Randi Henderson, Barb Casady, Sue Prochazka, Jane Abell.

President, Dianne Stanley called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM. Betsy Gardner moved and Sandy Seabold seconded to approve the November 2014 meeting as emailed. Motion passed.

The treasurer’s report was given by Dianne Stanley for Nancy Gaunt. The checking account total is $1,642.31 after the scholarship donations.  Betsy Gardner moved and Prue Backlin seconded to accept the treasurer’s report.   Motion passed.

Membership Report: none

Program Committee: There will be no meeting in January 2015.  For February 2015, Alka Khanolkar will present on the current political climate in India.

Old Business: The Big River United Way Weatherization Project sign-in sheet was available for members to sign in and review volunteer responsibilities/agreement form.

New Business: none

Diane Stanley moved and Randi Henderson seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 PM. Members adjourned for refreshments, evening  program by Sandy Seabold and book recommendations from members.

Program: Sandy Seabold gave a presentation on how to value a book for potential sale or worth. Her handout reviewed what makes a book valuable for resale and sites where you can find information about used books. She discussed her experiences using sites such as EBay. Sandy once found a book at the AAUW book sale clean up day about Herbert Hoover that was signed by the author; she sold it for $300.

Members shared their recommendation for books to read.  The continues on the following page.

Respectfully Submitted by:  Sue Prochazka, Secretary Keokuk AAUW Branch

AAUW Member Book List Recommendations – December 2014

Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson 1919

The House Girl by Tara Conklin

An Unseemly Wife by E. B Moore

My Name is Resolute by Nancy E. Turner

Into the Wilderness by Sarah Donati

The Widow’s War by Sally Gunning

China Doll by Lisa See

The Novel by James Michener

A Most Wanted Man by John La C…..

The Spy Who Came In From the Cold by John La

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Plantagenets by Dan Jones

All Girls Filling Station Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

Beowulf by Seamus Heaney

The Prose Edda by Snorrie Sturlson

My Bright Abyss by Christopher Wiman

Love and Treasure by Ayelet Waldman

Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan

The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman

The Bookman’s Tale by Charles C. Lovett

The Book of Great Books by John Campbell

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Lou Henry Hoover by Nancy Beck Young

The Source by James Michener

Alaska by James Michener

Series: Velva Jean Learns to Drive, Velva Jean Learns to Fly, and Becoming Clementine  by

Walking the Bible by Bruce Feiler

The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Barbara Casady

Keokuk Branch of AAUW     Tuesday, October 8, 2014     Keokuk Art Center

The Keokuk Branch of AAUW met on Tuesday October 8, 2014. The meeting began with presenter Kristin Rose.  Barb Casady wrote the following synopsis:

Kristin Rose Schulte of Keokuk spoke on her two and one half year experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cambodia.  Kristin grew up in Keokuk and is currently employed at Southeastern Community College.  She and her husband are parents of a six-month-old son, Coleman.

Kristin lived and worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in southeastern Cambodia near the border of Vietnam.  She lived about four hours from the Cambodian capitol city of Phnom-Penh. She lived in a small rural community where she was known as “famous” because she was the only Caucasian living in the area.  She lived with a host family and was an active part of the community.   She talked briefly about the history of the Cambodian country and the work she did.  Her focus as a volunteer was on teaching English, promoting community health and sharing different cultures.  Kampuchea is the Cambodian spelling and pronunciation of the country name.  The French name/spelling is Cambodge and in English, we spell and call the country Cambodia. Kristin talked about the training provided by the Peace Corps, the cultural differences between her rural community in Cambodia and the United States and how she adapted and loved the area – and she talked about returning to the U.S. and adjusting back to the our culture.  While she enjoys the benefits of living in the U.S. clean, running water – a refrigerator with many options for foods, living without sleeping underneath a mosquito net, driving a car – she believes that if she needed to return to the lifestyle of the rural Cambodians she could do it. The last six months in Cambodia Kristin was a trainer for a new group of Peace Corps volunteers coming to the country.

Members in attendance: Diane Stanley, Sandy Seabold, Louise Orozco, Randi Henderson, Barb Casady, Nancy Gaunt, Bonnie Peevler, Jane Abell, Barb Tuttle, Teresa Garcia, Alka Khanolkar, Betsy Gardner, Sue Prochazka.

President, Diane Stanley called the meeting to order after presentation.   Bonnie Peevler moved and Alka Khanolkar seconded to approve the September 2014 meeting as emailed. Motion passed. The treasurer’s report was given.  The checking account total is $1837.31; Sandy Seabold transferred

treasurer information to Nancy Gaunt who will take over duties.  Barb Casady moved, Bonnie Peevler seconded to accept the treasurer’s report. Motion passed. Program Committee: Barb Casady distributed copies of the program schedule. February, March and April programs will be changed and Barb will update us. For March meeting, the date will be rescheduled to Wednesday March 4th at SCC to accommodate the presenter’s schedule.

Old Business: Discussion about how scholarships are awarded through the SCC Foundation was tabled to a future meeting.  There will be no candidates forum for the mid-term election.

New Business: Jane Abell encouraged members to pass on information about school board openings – there will be 4 positions available. Persons will financial background are needed.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sue Prochazka, Secretary Keokuk AAUW Branch

September 2 ,2014 Monthly meeting Minutes

The Keokuk Branch of AAUW met on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at the Keokuk Art Center. The meeting marks the beginning of the 2014-2015 year with the annual salad supper.

Members in attendance: Diane Stanley, Sandy Seabold, Louise Orozco, Dev Kiedaisch,Randi Henderson, Peggy Moss, Barb Casady, Nancy Gaunt, Debbie Marion, Bonnie Peevler,Janet Fife-LaFrenz, Sue Prochazka, Janet Smith. Guests: Mary Casady

President, Diane Stanley called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM followed by dinner. After dinner, Diane began the meeting by welcoming Mary Casady as this evening’s guest. Sandy Seabold moved and Debbie Marion seconded to approve the May 2014 meeting as emailed. Motion passed.

The treasurer’s report was given by Dev Kiedaisch. The checking account total is $1603.31 with 23 memberships paid. A donation of $25 for books will be added to the balance. In October,Dev Kiedaisch will transfer treasurer duties to Nancy Gaunt, incoming treasurer. Louise Orozco and Janet Fife-LaFrenz moved to accept the treasurer’s report. Motion passed.

Membership Report: 23 paid memberships to date.

Program Committee: Barb Casady distributed copies of the program schedule and asked for volunteers to sign up to help with refreshments. She will keep the group updated about October, February and March meetings when programs are finalized.

Old Business: Barb Casady asked if the group needs to revisit the discussion about how scholarships are awarded through the SCC Foundation. Barb contacted past recipients for the purpose of inviting them to a meeting and students awarded scholarships are outside the Keokuk area (Burlington). Janet Fife-LaFrenz will contact SCC to get more information about the process; a decision will then be made if we need to clarify/update scholarship guidelines.

New Business: A $50 donation will be made to the Keokuk Concert Association in memory of member Carolyn Peters who passed away. The check was given to Louise Orozco to deliver the donation.

Shelly Oltmans, Keokuk Area Chamber Director is willing to work with AAUW to organize a candidates forum for local and state elections. Members Sandy Seabold, Diane Stanley and Janet Fife-LaFrenz will help plan the event.

Program: Janet Smith and Debbie Marion of the Keokuk Union Depot Commission provided an interesting program about the history, restoration, and fundraising efforts to preserve the building as a unique and architecturally significant historic landmark. For details about upcoming open house and events, visit www.keokukuniondepot.org

Respectfully Submitted,

Sue Prochazka, Secretary Keokuk AAUW Branch

April 1,2014 Monthly Meeting

March 14, 2014  Joint AAUW/BPW Meeting

September 3, 2013 Minutes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 2, 2012

The Keokuk branch of AAUW met Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at the Keokuk Public Library lower level meeting room. Fourteen members and guests were present.  New members Ellen Norman and Barb Casady were welcomed.

President Sandy Seabold called the meeting to order.  Minutes were approved as e-mailed. The treasurer reported a current balance of $1,448.95 but after checks are sent to state and national offices the balance will be $1,212.95

Announcements are as follows:

The candidates forum will be held October 9 at 7:00 PM at the Library Round Room with Kim Boyd as moderator. Sponsors include AAUW, the Daily Gate City, and the Chamber of Commerce.

The December meeting will be at the home of Susan Storm on December 4.

The November meeting has been canceled due to a conflict with election night. This plan was proposed by a motion by Mary Dennis and seconded by Dev Kiedaisch. The motion passed.

Sue Prochazka asked for volunteers to assist with Family Fun Day. Bonnie Peevler, Prue Backlin, Sandy Sandy Seabold, and Mary Dennis will give assistance that day.

Sandy Seabold announced that the depot is holding a fund raising brunch on October 21, from 9:30 to 1:30. The cost is  $10.00 per ticket. She also reported the depot having received a generous but much needed grant.

Mary Dennis reminded us that the Lee County Health Department and the Conservation Department are in need of funds to construct a new building.

Louise Orozco promoted the Community Concert Association’s upcoming concert on October 28 at the Grand Theater.

Prue Backlin encouraged members to attend the November 13 concert of Friends of Simon Estes.

Louise Orozco presented the program about the Iowa Initiative to reduce unintended pregnancy in the 18-30 year old population. A Community Conversation on this topic will be held at the Round Room on October 23 at 7:00 PM.

Delicious refreshments were served by Dev Kiedaisch.

September 4, 2012

The Keokuk AAUW branch held the annual kick-off meeting on September 4, 2012.  The evening began with the traditional, refreshing salad supper.  Guests in attendance were Barb Cassidy, Polly Falcon, Julia O’Conner, and Julie Schilling.  Each was provided membership materials.

President Sandy Seabold called the business meeting to order.

Old business:

Betsy Gardner demonstrated on the computer how to access the web to secure AAUW Keokuk Iowa Branch and related links.  The web is available without having to have a password.  All are encouraged to check the data on the web and note any changes which need to be made.  Contact Betsy with the correct information so she can edit the document.

Dev Kiedaisch updated the membership on the Volunteer Keokuk grant application (Sue Prochazka assisted with the writing.), awarding of the grant (nearly $70,000), and the affiliation with the United Way, and the concept of a ‘clearinghouse’ for volunteers.  The grant funds will be used to hire a volunteer coordinator, promote agencies who need volunteer assistance, and provide opportunities for volunteers.

New business:

A candidates’ forum is being planned with the Chamber of Commerce and BPW.  Questions are being developed for the senate and house candidates and the county supervisors.   A date will be announced later.  If you wish to submit a question for consideration, contact Sandy Seabold or Dev Kiedaisch.

Program:

Sue Prochazka introduced TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design – Ideas worth spreading).  Four winning proposals were viewed:

• “A feminist response to Iceland’s financial crash” applies five “feminine values to financial services” demonstrating the “economic potential of women’s ways of doing business.”
•  “How to Succeed, Get More Sleep” focused on “the power of a good night’s sleep …shut our eyes and see the big picture … to increased productivity and happiness.”
• A storyteller relates “how she found her authentic cultural voice and warns that if we hear only a single story, we risk a critical misunderstanding.”
•  “What adults can learn from kids”   expressed “the world needs childish thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism.

Visit the web to hear more:  www.ted.com

Respectfully submitted,

Janet Fife-LaFrenz, secretary pro-tem