AAUW celebrates 75th birthday

The Jamestown Branch of the American Association of University Women celebrated its 75th birthday last month with a member potluck hosted by Jody Larson at her condo’s community room.

AAUW began in Boston in 1881 when eight women college graduates decided to form a group that would promote equity and lifelong educational opportunities for women and girls and which would also be a supporting network of college educated women. From this small group the national organization has grown to more than 100,000 women and men in local branches throughout the United States. Jamestown formed a branch in November 1934, and at that time only graduates from the University of North Dakota, NDAC (now North Dakota State University) and Jamestown Colleges were eligible for membership. It wasn’t until 1963 that the other state colleges were approved. In its 75 years Jamestown Branch has had many state officers and has traditionally led the state in membership numbers. Monthly programs to promote equity and education and offer leadership opportunities to members and the community have continued throughout its history. The branch is a strong supporter of the AAUW Educational Foundation which provides funding for fellowships and grants as well as research projects related to its mission. Locally the branch contributes annually to the AAUW Jamestown College Endowment, the Arts Center and Alfred Dickey Library Foundation and other educational programs. The annual Garden Tour and the AAUW Used Book Store help to fund these donations.

The January meeting will be a 9:30 a.m. brunch on Jan. 9, at the James River Senior and Community Center. The cost of the brunch is $5 and it will be followed by a workshop titled: “In Her Shoes: Living With Domestic Violence Economic Justice.” This workshop is an interactive educational tool that demonstrates the complex ways in which lack of money and access to other resources impact domestic violence survivors and their children. Following the interactive excise several survivors of domestic violence will share the impact these experiences may have had on them. The brunch/workshop is open to the public and questions and/or reservations may be made by contacting Kelly Krein at 252-4690 or 4107 by Jan. 4.

Tags: community, clubs, aauw