November Program Topic:

Guardian ad Litem

 

A Guardian ad Litem is a volunteer appointed by the court to protect the rights and advocate the best interests of a child involved in a court proceeding. The volunteer Guardian ad Litem makes independent recommendations to the court by focusing on the needs of each child. They advocate for the best interests of the child they represent. The unique perspective of volunteers, as well as their often creative solutions, are highly valued by dependency court judges.

 

Our speaker, Judy Evers, has been with the Guardian ad Litem Program since July 2013. Prior to that, she was a regional coordinator for After School Programs, a 501 c 3 nonprofit that provided tutorial services to children attending Title I schools. This December Judy will earn a masters degree in public administration (MPA) from UCF. Originally she is from Connecticut and has a BA (English) from Southern Connecticut State University. Judy moved to NSB in 1984 and is a former secondary school English teacher and she was a community editor of the local newspaper in New Smyrna Beach. She is also a former member of AAUW in New Smyrna Beach.

 

 

 

Get In the Holiday Mood

With some

 Razzle –Dazzle

Choreographed dance selections presented by

Absolutely Ballroom Studio

Featuring Music by Virginia Minutolo

AAUW Holiday Social

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Palmetto Club

1000 South Beach Street, Daytona Beach, Florida

Food, Cash Bar, and Entertainment

$25 Donation Supports Local Scholarships

For reservations and tickets

Dolora Petteys at 763-5490

 

Luncheon Choices:

Stuffed Shells or Blackened Chicken Salad

Cost: $14

Call (673-1425) or e-mail (Baxelsen@cfl.rr.com)

to place your order.

There will be no lunch orders in December. (see above)

***INTEREST GROUPS ACTIVITIES***

——————————————————————————————————————

***AAUW BOOK CLUB***

We will meet November 11, 10:30 a.m., at City Island Library, Daytona Beach, and will discuss two selections this month:

“Zelda” by Nancy Milford. This splendid biography traces Zelda’s fiery trajectory from her Southern child- hood and her years as “the most spectacular belle Montgomery would ever know” through her wild marriage, where her antics shocked literary Manhattan, to her eventual institutionalization.

Ginny Minutolo will review.

“Tender is the Night” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The underlying theme involves one person becoming stronger to the detriment of another.

Ginny Sultzman will review.

 

**CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION**

     Join us to discuss “hot topics” in a safe environment. A healthy democracy requires intelligent, educated voters. Share your opinions and learn more about others perspectives.

We will meet November 19 at 10:30 a.m. at 1900 N. Atlantic Ave, DB 32118.

RSVP Pat 252-1659

********DAYTRIPPERS********

     City slickers can see how the other half lives during Volusia County’s 32^nd annual Farm Tour Friday, Nov. 22.

Each year Volusia County’s agricultural enterprises open their doors to the public and the hundreds who attend are not only entertained but also surprised by the many unusual agriculture operations in the county.

The tour is sponsored by the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension and the Volusia County Farm Bureau to showcase the county’s agricultural industry, which has a $781 million annual impact on Volusia County and represents 3% of the county’s economic activity.

The county’s 1114 farms cover 229,000 acres and produce the area’s fruits, vegetables, honey, cattle, sod, fish, timber and plants.

We will visit five farms and need to meet at 8:15 a.m. so we can be in Barberville for the first farm at 9 a.m. If you are interested in carpooling to the farm tour, call Pat Ross (252-1659).

 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, AAUW!!

 

This year we celebrate the 125^th anniversary of AAUW’s first fellowship, $350 to American scholar Ida M. Street. Since that time, AAUW has awarded nearly $100 million to 12,000 fellowship, grant, and award recipients from more than 130 countries. Fellowship and grant recipients perform research in a wide range of disciplines and work to improve their schools and communities. Their intellect, dedication, imagination, and effort promise to forge new paths in scholarship, improve the quality of life for all, and tackle the educational and social barriers facing women worldwide.              In 1920, AAUW helped to raise the funds to purchase 1 gram of radium for Marie Curie. Last year the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach received a community action grant to help fund the Archeology Lab Project.

Our spring fundraiser will help support future AAUW projects. For 125 years, AAUW has provided resources to empower women. This month we honor this exceptional past and look forward to an amazing future. I encourage all of you to make an individual donation to celebrate this important anniversary.

The Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF) works to challenge sex discrimination in higher education and in the workplace. Our resources range from community outreach programs to legal referrals to the backing of major cases involving these issues. The book exchange/sale at this month’s meeting will benefit the Legal Advocacy Fund.

On another front, I am pleased to announce that Daytona State College has become a College/ University Partner of AAUW. Students of the college automatically become e-affiliates and have access to the resources on our website.

In addition, the Daytona, Flagler, and New Smyrna branches of AAUW have agreed to partner to provide a STEM scholarship for a female student of DSC. Our branch also provides a scholarship to a woman returning to school after an absence. Funds raised at the Holiday Social will support these scholarship efforts. Invite your friends to get in the holiday mood with music by Virginia Minutolo and a dance performance by Absolutely Ballroom Studio. It will be a wonderful start to the holiday season!

I look forward to seeing you at our November meeting to learn more about the Guardian Ad Litem program and to celebrate the 125^th anniversary of AAUW Fellowships. At that meeting, we will be electing two members to the branch nominating committee. Please consider stepping forward to help identify the future leaders of our branch.

Patricia Ross

 

HR 2374 is expected to come up for a vote this month in Congress. It would delay the Dept. of Labor from updating its rule requiring investment advisors to be free from conflicts of interest that might benefit them at the expense of YOU the client. Our National is urging all of us to contact our respective representatives NOW and urge them to OPPOSE the bill.

 

 

 

 

*****WANTED!*****

Two members from the general membership to serve on the branch Nominating Committee. (Our bylaws designate that three additional members will be appointed from the Board of Directors). Members will be elected at the November meeting. Please let me know if you are interested in serving on this important committee.

 

Three members who care about process and details to review the branch bylaws and recommend possible changes. The committee will meet in January.

 

Please contact me if you would be willing to serve in any of these short-term positions. Thank you for helping to make AAUW Daytona a stronger branch.

 

Patricia Ross

Paross@aol.com

386-252-1659

 

 

ADDRESS CORRECTION: DROP THE #5 FROM M. SANTORO’S ADDRESS, PLEASE.

 

 

AAUW STANDARDS

Mission Statement – AAUW advances promotes equity women and girls, through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.

 

Vision Statement – AAUW will be a powerful advocate and visible leader in equity and education through research, Philanthropy, and measurable change in areas impacting the lives of women and girls.

 

Value Promise – By joining AAUW, you belong to a community that breaks through educational and economic barriers so all women have a fair chance.

 

Diversity Statement – In principle and practice AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership.  There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or class.