Our program for March 13 at the Bon Air Library at 7:30pm will be our Annual Meeting, when we will elect officers for the 2007-09 board, followed by a 20-minute video produced by Bon Air Branch members in 1985 entitled "Choices: Lifestyle Planning For Your Future". This project, featuring Bon Air Branch Members, was supported by the American Association of University Women, featuring Bon Air Branch Members, and under the direction of Marsha Carter.

As Branch Historian, I discovered several videos in our collection and when I viewed "Choices" was impressed with how professional the topic was presented, and how current the issues remain. Barbara Wood, Learning Disabilities Specialist, Carol Mazur, Financial Analyst, and Marge Rosum, Retired Teacher are featured branch members. Although their vocations may have changed, I suspect their shared observations, personal choices, and values are still pertinent for choices women may be faced with in 2007.

Carol Mazur has graciously agreed to facilitate a discussion, following the video. Please join us, and bring a friend.
Sharon Davis
Program VP

Welcome to March! Spring flowers, daylight savings time, Women’s History Month, and a very exciting March program. On Tuesday March 13 the branch will be voting on the slate of branch officers for two very key positions for 2007-09, Membership Vice President and Finance Chair. Please make every effort to attend and cast your vote - we know the power of the vote! The election of officers will be followed by a video - "Choices: Lifestyle Planning for Your Future" -- and I am very excited about it because it was produced by our very own branch members. The discussion should be lively!

And because we are "all about change", we are adjusting our meeting times for the programs that we have throughout the year. Beginning in March, for those who are able to arrive at 7:00 pm there will be refreshments and an opportunity to visit with other branch members prior to the start of the program, which will begin promptly at 7:30 pm.

Maggie King, Kathy Kelley and I traveled to Newport News on 2/24 to attend the Hampton Roads District meeting, and we are very glad that we had the opportunity to do so - we enjoyed meeting and talking with women from the other district branches -- from Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach. These are energetic and interesting women facing the same challenges in regard to attracting and retaining members. And we also have to be very creative and knowledgeable about what younger members are looking for in an organization to which they will devote their time and energy. The same membership concern was voiced by Neola Waller, AAUW Educational Foundation board member (and former AAUW of VA President). It was a component of her talk addressing the Strategic Planning process that is taking place at the Association level, and the possible changes & impact on branches. The talk was an eye opener for me, especially in regard to the structural changes that will be voted on at the national convention 6/29-7/2/07 in Phoenix, AZ. Do go to http://www.aauw.org and look up the strategic planning process and see what our future AAUW may look like.

And the future is looking a bit brighter in the area of women in higher education according to Dr. Sally Sledge, the other speaker at the meeting and a Norfolk branch member and Assist. Professor of Management & Marketing at Christopher Newport University. There are now more women in top positions at universities both nationwide and within the commonwealth, and there are more women undergraduates at most colleges and universities.

The state convention in April will be hosted by the Virginia Beach Branch with combined efforts of all the branches in our district, and we found out that they are well prepared and that the convention will be an excellent one. I hope that you are planning to attend and that the Bon Air Area Branch will be well represented. Look in the March 1 spring issue of the VISION for further details and registration forms, etc. - and I trust that you received the information sent to you via email along with the registration form. I am sure that there will be email messages to all throughout the month of March! Registration deadline is April 1.
Mary Farrell
President

For more information about the Bon Air Book Group's selections, click here: http://aauwbonairva.org/book_selections_2007.html, or go to the Bon Air web site at http://aauwbonairva.org, click on the Interest Groups link on the left column, then click on the link for 2007 Book Group Selections.

DeAnn Hubicsak, Cheryl Kapec, David and Nancy Alwood, and Sharon and Chris Davis attended the "Go Read" program at St. Paul's Church on February 8th. Author William Henry Lewis read selections from his book I Got Somebody in Staunton, and answered questions from the audience. We all agreed he was an outstanding speaker and very interesting author. We also learned he was a soccer player and teacher! After the program there was a reception with refreshments, and book signing. This was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the author of our Book Group selection. An extra bonus was that the program, parking, and refreshments were all free! Thank you DeAnn for publicizing this event for AAUW Bon Air members.
Sharon Davis
Program VP

Gourmet Group is preparing to enjoy a "San Francisco treat" at the home of Maggie and Glen King on March 3. For information, contact Maggie at maggie.king@yahoo.com or call at 269-0275. Rice-a-roni, anybody?

Bon Air Branch extends a special thank-you to Susana Hernandez-Kurtulus for guiding us during the month of February, while we learned about life in Cuba before and after Castro. We began with delicious Cuban food, served in Susana's home and Pat Mallahan's home, for our Gourmet Group. Next came an incredible Book Group discussion at Sharon's home, which also included Kathy Kelley's guest, whose son is in Cuba. The closing event for February was our incredible program, "Operation Pedro Pan" with a panel format. Susana Hernandez-Kurtulus, Dulce Lawrence (prior branch member) and Aida Dean told us riveting stories of their lives, growing up in Cuba, and how life drastically changed for them. They told of their journey to America and how they relied on their own inner strength, love, intelligence, and determination to forge a new life in a new country, with a new language. They had to leave a lot behind; loved ones, homes, professional credentials, beautiful countryside, and a way of life.

Susana's handout of the History of Cuba outlines the progression of events in Cuba that started 100 years ago, and brought us through October of 1962, with the Cuban Missile Crisis. After the meeting ended, Aida Dean gave me a poem she wrote, to share with you.

Children of Peter Pan
Found children lost
      for a time amidst
      the grey morning of a never ending
      dream of lost possibilities.
Floating children
      carried by the waves
      of the well-meaning
      oceans filled to overflowing.
Drowning children
      asking for a truth
      from a land
      not in their grasp.
Lost children found
      eternally waiting
      in the foreignness
      of a reality unraveled.

Sharon Davis
Program VP

Membership Sale!

Calendar of Events

March 13   Annual Meeting. Guests Welcome.  Elections, followed by a 20-minute video produced by Bon Air Branch members in 1985 entitled "Choices: Lifestyle Planning For Your Future".

In lieu of an April program, branch members will be attending the AAUW State Convention. 
Book Group, Gourmet Group, and Board members will meet as usual.
April 20 - 22   AAUW Virginia Convention, Virginia Beach. Plan to car-pool, room-share, and represent the Bon Air Branch at the state convention in Virginia Beach.
May 8   End of Year Celebration, and Installation of Officers

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