Did you know that woman-owned businesses in Virginia currently employ over 320,000 people and generate $42 billion in sales?*

Join us on Saturday, January 12 to learn how a Richmond-based organization that mentors first-time women entrepreneurs is fostering this thriving segment of Virginia's economy.

That organization is the Women's Business Center at New Voices, New Visions. Staff member Artianna Morris, our featured speaker, will spotlight her group's various programs - - such as, "Get Started on the Path to Owning Your Own Business," and a new pilot program on personal economics for teen girls from 13 to 19.

You will want to spread the word about this local resource for helping local women achieve economic equity, so be sure to invite your friends and your daughters to join us at Henrico's state-of-the-art Tuckahoe Library, 1900 Starling Drive (off Parham Road). And plan on having lunch after the program at a nearby restaurant. (Topeka's anybody?)

* According to The Center for Women's Business Research

-Pat Mallahan
V.P. Membership

Looking forward to seeing you at our 1st program of the new year on Saturday January 12, focusing on women entrepreneurs and economic equity. A Saturday meeting is a great opportunity to bring a friend and introduce her - or him - to AAUW.

This is going to be a very long but important political year and the drama will continue, including where the prospective candidates stand on issues critical to women and how they would/did vote on proposals such as the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, the successful passage of the Higher Education Act Reauthorization in the Senate, which was also passed out of committee unanimously in the House, and the Family Medical Leave Act. And just what do they think of the AAUW report, Behind the Pay Gap??? We should be seeking answers to these questions. And we can do that by staying informed on these issues through AAUW’s web site and by keeping up with the Action Network’s postings sent to us by our Public Policy Chair. We can make a difference in 2008 that will carry us forward for years!

Mary Farrell
Branch President 2006-08

RECEIPTS

Money Collected

$1895

EXPENSES

Wine	$272.80
ABC license	55.00
Donation – St. Matthias	50.00
Postage	10.44
Printing	8.83
Decoratitons	16.23
Additional food	60.62

TOTAL EXPENSE           $473.92

PROFIT                             $1421.08

24 branch members participated in some way, whether it was sending in money for tickets, for donations, or both, or providing food and partygoers. Eight branch members did not involve themselves in any way. One of these has moved away, and joined the Branch to maintain her AAUW membership. Our three newest members did not participate. Two long-time members who have said (several times) they were sending a donation have yet to do so. We did raise the ticket price this year, and also sent the even number of tickets (6) since so many folks come in couples. This dual increase may have upset some of the non-participants.

Over 70 people attended. It was a good party. This year we had plenty of food, and a good variety. We also had more wine than last year. Once again, we did not use the overhead lights, but put floor lamps in the corners of the room and candles on the tables. We used little lights and foliage decorations to add to the festivity. The room looked great.

At least 16 members brought food, a nice range of dips, shrimp, meatballs, and chicken satay. Laurie Coulter sent a donation, as she was unable to attend, which we used to purchase 4 pounds of shrimp. We also purchased additional cheese and crackers, to be sure to have enough. Pat Mallahan and Samantha Haniffa brought non-alcoholic beverages in addition to the food they brought.

The wines were outstanding: Jeff Jenkins and his assistant from Total Wine did an excellent job presenting the wines, and providing some insights into the different wineries or the wines themselves. We had a white burgundy, (Sauvignon Blanc,) a Gewurtztraminer, an excellent choice for Thanksgiving, an Italian Primitivo, their version of zinfandel, a St. Emilion burgundy, and the blanc de noir sparkling wine. This year, Jeff started out with the sparkling wine, which seemed to get the party going well. Additionally, everyone who was bringing food was asked to get there early, meaning that by the time that actual guests, as opposed to organizing members, arrived, the food and wine were ready to go.

Several attendees called it the best one yet. One person said that the wine-tasting begins the Holiday season for her.

Thanks to everyone who participated. This is a great large-group event, and a good showcase for us.

-Marcia Phillips
EF Chair

Bon Air AAUW Book Group routinely meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. January’s meeting will be January 17 at the home of Dori Buckley. Contact Dori at dkbuckley@hotmail.com or phone 320-9729 to let her know you will attend. All Bon Air members and their guests are welcome.

Rather than focusing on a particular book this month, we will focus on the work of one highly influential twentieth century American author as we read and discuss works by Flannery O’Connor. Most of us were introduced to O’Connor’s short stories in high school. While she is an acknowledged master of the short story craft, she also wrote two short novels and many essays and articles on a variety of subjects. Even her letters are lively and fun to read. Though her life was cut short by lupus at age 39, she still left a large body of work. Her influence continues as up and coming writers study her work, and others simply enjoy reading her unique creations.

In February, we’ll be reading Fall on Your Knees, by Canadian author, actress, and playwright Anne-Marie McDonald.

Please check our Branch Website for an updated list of books we’ll be reading from now through July. You may click here: http://aauwbonairva.org/book selections 2008.html, or go to the Bon Air Website at http://aauwbonairva.org. Click on the Interest Groups link on the left column, then click on the link for 2008 Book Group Selections. Contact DeAnn Hubicsak at 233-5352 for Book Group information or to be included on the Book Group email list

-DeAnn Hubicsak
Book Group Coordinator

Happy holidays to every one! Feliz Navidad y prospero año nuevo para todos!
January 5th is just around the corner and the Mallahans and the Kurtulus will be hosting a Turkish-themed dinner that evening. Please call Susana or Pat for more details.

-Pat Mallahan

Marsha & Reed King Carter, Maggie & Glenn King at the Christmas Gourmet

This month's membership news is not new. It consists of this truism: we need every member to invite one woman (or more) to attend our monthly programs or Book Group so she can learn what Bon Air and AAUW are all about.

Our upcoming programs (see Calendar of Events below) appeal to a range of interests. Thus, in January, we will learn the details of a local program - - New Voices, New Visions - - which offers coaching for women planning to start a business for the first time. (And the program takes place in the super modern, super spacious Tuckahoe Library on a Saturday morning.) A February Saturday will see us touring the Dooley mansion at Maymont and focusing on the lives of the women who worked downstairs in that Gilded Age country home. The optional lunch get together after each program will show off our branch's welcoming friendliness.

All you have to do is spread the word among your friends and colleagues...and be sure to join them.

Pat Mallahan
Membership V.P.

January 17, 2008

Works by Flannery O’Connor
Hostess: Dori Buckley
Discussion leader: Cheryl Kapec

February 21, 2008

Fall On Your Knees, by Ann-Marie McDonald

Hostess: Marcia Phillips

Discussion leader: Carol Mazur

March 20, 2008 – Women’s History Month

DESERT QUEEN: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell – Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia, by Janet Wallach

Hostess and Discussion leader: TBA

April 17, 2008

Empress Orchid, by Anchee Min (2004)

Hostess: Florence Tromater

Discussion leader: TBA

May 15, 2008

Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, by Kiran Desai (1998)

Hostess: Gina Turner

Discussion leader: TBA

June 19, 2008

March, by Geraldine Brooks (2005)

Hostess: TBA

Discussion leader: Pat Mallahan

July 17, 2008

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen (2006)

Hostess: Cheryl Kapec

Discussion leader: TBA

August 21, 2008

Party Time!! Annual summer social

January 12

New Visions / New Voices
Tuckahoe Library Saturday Time: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

February 16

Museum Tour and Luncheon Dooley Mansion tour followed by lunch at a local restaurant Saturday Time: TBA

March 11

Literacy in Virginia
Speaker: Barbara Gibson, Virginia Literacy Foundations and Institute
Annual Business Meeting and election of officers for 2008 - 2010
Tuesday Bon Air Library

April 11-13

State Convention and Leadership Workshops
Roanoke, VA

April

Branch Program Date, Location, Time: TBA

May 8

“What do you intend to do with the rest of your life?”
Speaker: Rita Ricks Annual Banquet and Installation of Officers
Tuesday Positive Vibe Café, 6:30 pm

June

Crossover – “Old Board / New Board” and planning session
Date, Location, Time: TBA

A new poll released by Lifetime Networks’ Every Woman Counts campaign and Zogby International shows that women across the nation are concerned with the issues AAUW works on year round. Nationally, education is the number one concern for likely women voters, followed closely by jobs and the economy. In addition, 93 percent of women surveyed said they planned to vote in November, a potential record-setting turnout if it holds true. The poll also found that while only one in five women nationally has considered running for elected office, three in five would want their daughter to run for president. Lifetime will be hosting an “If I Were President” forum in New Hampshire on January 5 in partnership with the Every Women Counts coalition. As their press release on the event mentions, the coalition includes Redbook, CosmoGIRL!, Marie Claire, as well as AAUW and other national women’s group.

Also, coming soon – AAUW State Lobby Day! Watch your email for information about this important opportunity to meet with your state legislators on Wednesday the 13th of February.
-Katherine Gallagher
Public Policy Chair

Maggie King is a Jersey girl (a native of North Plainfield) who readily acknowledges that she was a somewhat star-struck teenager. Exposure to movie magazines (remember them?) and lots of old movies fanned her admiration of Montgomery Clift, Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor, in particular.
          When considering a possible career at age 15, Maggie thought she might become a teacher. After all, she enjoyed reading, especially poetry. But closer to graduation, she wasn't sure she wanted to attend college.
          However, Maggie's parents strongly encouraged her. And she had the example of her mother - - an AAUW member since 1940 and a former teacher and social worker. Maggie decided to try a two-year associate degree program in retailing at Elizabeth Seton College in Yonkers, New York. She then went on to earn a B.S. at Rochester Institute of Technology, one of the few universities that offered a degree in business administration with a minor in retailing.
          Maggie's early retailing career took her from Boston, back to North Plainfield and finally to Los Angeles. Despite earning promotions, she decided that the 48-hour work weeks retailing demanded were just too much...so she made a career switch to computer programming.
          Two other milestones from her Los Angeles years: joining a large, active AAUW branch in 1985; and meeting and marrying Glen in the late eighties. Maggie and Glen moved to Virginia in 1996, living first in Charlottesville and subsequently in Bon Air.
          Currently employed four days per week as a Development Associate for the Alzheimer's Association, Maggie enjoys the satisfaction of making a positive contribution to a vital cause. She also uses her flexible schedule to focus on writing the first draft of her first novel. You didn't know? Ask her about it.

Pat Mallahan
V.P. Membership

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 Jane Newell at jane.newell@comcast.net.
Jane Newell
Webmaster

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