Our monthly Branch meeting will be held at the home of Branch member Karen Raschke, 8019 Riverside Drive, starting at 7:30 pm. Karen will be presenting the program, which features her roof. When they needed to re-roof their home several years ago, Karen and her husband looked at the options and decided to go green. A green roof is a roof of a building partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil, or another growing medium, over a waterproof membrane. Often the green roof is a component of a completely autonomous building. In any case, the green roof will reduce heating and cooling loads, as well as reducing the urban heat island effect of a standard roof.

Karen will tell us the decision and design process, and will also show the videotape of the HG TV program that featured their roof. Join us at Karen’s home to observe this innovative approach and learn what they have discovered and how they are reducing their carbon footprint.

Karen says her driveway can accommodate about 10 cars, so as many as can car pool, that would be very helpful. It will also be in keeping with the green aspects of our program!

Directions to Karen’s house: From Bon Air, on Huguenot Road, going toward the Bridge, turn right onto Riverside Drive – go 4/10 of a mile to 8019.

-Marcia Phillips

It was wonderful to see so many members and guests at the September program meeting, and it was a great way to start our new year – a joint meeting and pot luck dinner with the Richmond branch. Good food – good company – and an update on the state of affairs in AAUW.

With many thanks to a great branch board, the program year is developing into something special and interesting for all. Do join us in October for a very unique program at the home of one of our members – see the October program description for details.

As you will see, in addition to the program notes, this newsletter is packed with information – including the branch operating proposal for 2007-08 for discussion and approval, and information about our primary fund raising event in November for the Educational Foundation and ways that you can help make it a very special event.

Since I will be “away from my desk” for awhile I want to recognize and thank the branch board members for their fantastic display of leadership in taking care of business. I know that we all benefit from and appreciate their work.

And if you are interested in using your leadership skills, especially during these ever so very interesting times for AAUW, join our board – or join the state board! You know about our branch positions (because I have talked about them multiple times…but I’ll be happy to talk to you about them again!!!) and you can check out the job descriptions for President, VP Program, VP Public Policy, and VP Communications for the state board at www.aauwofva.org. You can self nominate for the state board up to December 1, 2007. And while you are on the web, check out the new look of http://www.aauw.org – you will be pleasantly surprised at the improvement.

Mary Farrell
Branch President

The 2006-2007 year ended with a positive balance of $261.95 as expenses were kept below the budgeted amount.

The 2007-2008 Budget Proposal was drafted by the Board and is presented to you by the Finance VP; it will be discussed at the Oct. 9 meeting. Comments, questions, and suggestions can be submitted to Susana Hernandez-Kurtulus, Finance VP, at iskurtulus@comcast.net, 804-323-1916.

Book Group routinely meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. In October we will be reading The Tortilla Curtain, by T.C. Boyle at a place to be announced. For more information, call DeAnn Hubicsak at 233-5352.

About the book: In his explosive and timely novel, The Tortilla Curtain, T. C. Boyle explores an issue that is at the forefront of the political arena. He confronts the controversy over illegal immigration head-on, illuminating through a poignant, gripping story the people on both sides of the issue, the haves and the have-nots. In Southern California's Topanga Canyon, two couples live in close proximity, yet worlds apart. High atop a hill overlooking the canyon, nature writer Delaney Mossbacher and his wife, real estate agent Kyra Menaker-Mossbacher, reside in an exclusive, secluded housing development with their son, Jordan. Camped out in a ravine at the bottom of the canyon are Candido and America Rincun, a Mexican couple who have crossed the border illegally. On the edge of starvation, they search desperately for work in the hope of moving into an apartment before their baby is born. They cling to their vision of the American dream, which manages to elude their grasp at every turn.

A chance, violent encounter brings the two men together, instigating a chain of events that eventually culminates in a harrowing confrontation. The novel shifts back and forth between the two couples, giving voice to each of the four main characters as their lives become inextricably intertwined and their worlds collide.

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.

Thanks so much to everyone who helped with the program September 13th. Pat and Len Mallahan who helped set up and later Gay Olson, Mary Farrell and Pat who brought water and whoever brought the lime drink. And anyone I forgot.The food was great and everyone did an efficient job cleaning up. Of course we need to thank Laura Wimmer for her excellent help.

During the business meeting I asked for sign-ups for refreshments for the October meeting. Unfortunately I left the list on the table and I believe it got discarded. If you signed up for or can provide refreshments for the October meeting please let me know at bookie002@yahoo.com or 330-5588.

Kathy Kelley

The gourmet group will meet Sat. Oct 6 at the home of Cheryl Kapec and Bob Lepore, for dinner based on the recipes of Gourmet and or Bon Appetit magazine. Please call Cheryl at 804-364-1718 for further information or directions.

-Cheryl Kapec

Welcome to the latest edition of LAF Express, LAF’s monthly update to keep our states and branches regularly informed on all the latest LAF activities, deadlines, and programming resources. If your branch or state has LAF news or programming ideas you would like to share, please email the LAF program assistant, Joan Jupiter, at jupiterj@aauw.org. You can also read the LAF Express archives for past issues.

Watch Out for Next LAF Update
The fall 2007 issue of the LAF Update will be in your mail soon. Features include a special interview with the three Feather River College plaintiffs, options for fighting sexual harassment, and highlights from the success of the 2007 Plaintiff Travel Grants. Also included are case updates and new cases recently adopted by LAF.

LAF Staff Goes to Virginia Tech
On September 26, 2007, LAF Director Lauren Kamnik and LAF Program Manager Sarah Warbelow will be participating in a panel presentation on Title IX at Virginia Tech. Specifically, Kamnik and Warbelow will be discussing the past, present, and future of Title IX. LAF looks forward to this event and is proud to help this university celebrate the 35th anniversary of Title IX.

Plaintiff Travel Grants Due October 15
Attention state representatives! The deadline is fast approaching for LAF Plaintiff Travel Grant applications. Thanks to your generous support, the 2007 recipients of these grants raised over $23,000 in contributions for LAF. If you are interested in having a plaintiff speak at your 2008 state convention, please complete your application by October 15. If you have any questions, please contact the LAF office at 202/7857750 or laf@aaow.org.

LAF 25th Anniversary Pins Still Available
If you didn’t have an opportunity to purchase your LAF 25th anniversary pin before the AAUW National Convention, don’t worry—the LAF limited edition pin is still available. With a donation of $250 or more, you will receive not only the platinumcolored pin featuring the 25th anniversary graphic but also the traditional LAF pin given to $100level donors. For further information on how to obtain your 25th anniversary pin, please contact the AAUW Development Office at 202/7283307 or the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund at 202/7857750.

LAF Celebrates Women in Transition Program and 20 Years of PIE!
LAF is proud to honor the Women in Transition (WIT) program at Charter Oak State College in Connecticut as our 2007 Progress in Equity Award winner. Program Coordinator Delores Bell says, “It is such an honor for the Women in Transition Program at Charter Oak State College to receive the AAUW 2007 Legal Advocacy Fund [PIE] Award and be recognized for its work in providing educational opportunities for women who are underserved. It has always been a goal of the program to ensure that lowincome women are provided all the tools needed to complete their fouryear degrees, which have positioned them for a more financially stable future as well as inspired many of them to continue their education to obtain professional degrees. It is exciting to receive the monetary award, as it will help us purchase new laptop computers as well as extended warranties for existing laptop computers.”

LAF also awarded the 2007 honorable mention to the Leaders in Residence program at the University of Toledo in Ohio, where AAUW members of the local branch work hand in hand with the university on equity issues important to the community.

The PIE Award got its start at LAF in 1987. Stay tuned for updates and features on historical legacy of the Progress in Equity Award and the journey it has taken over the past 20 years, awarding as much as $111,700 to 30 institutions across the United States to illustrate the ways programs that promote equity can make a difference.

Please welcome two new members to the Bon Air branch.

JANE D. NEWELL is a Life Member of AAUW who joined us in the summer after relocating from Atlanta. There she provided technical and project management for the state of Georgia. Now she is serving in a similar capacity in the Virginia's Information Technology group (VITA).

Jane is a graduate of Virginia Tech (Math Education) and George Washington University (M.S. in Computer Science). Jane grew up in Alexandria and so, considers Virginia her home.

GAY OLSEN joined AAUW and Bon Air at our September kickoff meeting. Gay is a "bus buddy" of Kathy Kelley as she commutes to the VCU School of Medicine where she is an Educational Coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine and directs the Inner City-Rural Program. Prevoiusly, Gay taught respiratory therapy in the community college system and developed a Distance Learning Program.

Gay earned a B.S. at Lynchburg College, an M.S. at Old Dominion University, and a Ph. D. at VCU. Her immediate family (husband and two children) and her relatives in Sweden make travel one of her priorities.

Preparations are under way for the annual Wine Tasting fundraiser. Those of you who did not have an opportunity to sign up for things to bring or things to do at the September meeting will have the chance at our October meeting.

Assigned tickets, flyers, and talking points to help you sell tickets will be mailed out early in October.

We are looking forward to another evening of fun, information, fellowship, and success in November. Start thinking now of friends, neighbors, co-workers and family members who would enjoy the party and be happy to raise money for our excellent cause – graduate fellowships for women.

Marcia Phillips

Our October program focuses on the environmentally green roof of Karen Raschke's home. Such an appealing and timely topic provides an ideal introduction of our branch to prospective members.

So, do a friend or colleague a favor. Invite her to our October meeting so she can learn what a focused, forward-thinking group we are. (Plenty of membership applications will be on hand!)

-Pat Mallahan, Membership V.P.

Be sure to visit our branch website at http://aauwbonairva.org. You will find a great list of resources: the schedule for the branch book group and the gourmet group; a page of links guiding you to information about government, reproductive rights, literature, libraries, books; current and archived copies of the branch newsletter; information on membership, public policy, Education Foundation, Legal Advocacy Fund, Eleventh House, and much, much more. Comments or suggestions? Contact Maggie King at maggie.king@yahoo.com.
Maggie King
Webmaster

AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research.
AAUW Member Helpline 800-821-4364
AAUW Website http://www.aauw.org
VA AAUW Website http://www.aauwofva.org