Marian Sacco, President

Labor Day is coming up - Our AAUW Mission of Gender Equity and Economic Security includes acting and advocating for women in the workforce today. Read Marian's message listing what you can do and recapping the last two months in AAUW Morgan Hill.

As of August 16, we had 163 members with twenty-three not yet renewed. Please welcome our eight new members who joined since our last newsletter.

The purpose of the summer board retreat is to set goals and strategies for the new year and engage in team building. On August 14, our branch discussed pre-identified top issues to help us create a strategic direction for the new year.

The Wildflower Run is our only annual fundraiser - ALL proceeds go to fund scholarships and other programs supporting equity for women and girls. Your support is needed more than ever during this pandemic.

Together we can make a difference!

AAUW Morgan Hill and all 7 SCC AAUWs are local advocates for Strong Start, the early childhood care and education program.

The first New Members Meet-Up hosted jointly by the Leadership Development and Membership committees was held on August 5, 2021, at the Jackson Oaks Clubhouse, and was a great success.

Read about it, and how we can all help our new branch members continue to feel connected. They are friends-in-waiting awaiting our friendship

The first Wine & Whine since the pandemic was held on August 18 at Betto's Bistro in the outside patio. We all had lots to catch up on.

See Elizabeth Mandel and Nancy Altman's hike up Mount Whitney - find out why Jean Pinard and Lori Mains went to Alaska!

We thank Chris Hopwood, immediate past editor of ‘The Wildflower’ and a 2020 - 2021 service honoree, for her years of exemplary service and wish her the very best for a speedy recovery as she takes time off to deal with her health concerns.

The Morgan Hill branch is starting the ‘Climate Action Team’, with a focus on legislation that will cut carbon emissions as well as other climate areas.

With women and girls at the highest risk, how can we not take it on.

The Morgan Hill Branch of the American Association of University Women was chartered on December 7, 1981, with forty-one members. This year we will celebrate our 40^th anniversary on December 5, 2021. Save the date!

We thank Lori Mains for her years of service as the Keeping in Touch (KIT) Scholarship chair and wish her the very best as she leaves to prepare for a new grandchild. We welcome Alexandra Mandel as the new KIT Scholarships chair.

Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Lauren Jenkins Healthcare and Fritts Family STEM Scholarships.

Community Action Grants are discretionary grants of up to $1000 each to local non-profit organizations requesting funding for a specific program or expense that aligns with AAUW’s mission of promoting equity for women and girls.

We are accepting grant applications from local non-profits for the 2021-2022 year. Deadline - November 15, 2021. Please help us spread the word to organizations you support.

Branch member, Tammy Parker, has been selected to attend Leadership Morgan Hill (LMH) Class of 2022. Tammy will be a great ambassador for AAUW MH and represent us in a positive light. Congratulations, Tammy! We wish you the very best.

Tech Trek went virtual this year. Our Morgan Hill branch sponsored twelve in-coming eighth-grade girls to learn about robotics and other STEM (and life) skills.

Save the date - September 19 at Villa Mira Monte - come to the Membership Brunch to meet the girls and hear about their adventures.

The Allocations Committee is proposing an allocation of $54,200 from our Wildflower Fund now, with an additional $3,000 to be allocated later in the year. This funding comes from 2021 runner registrations, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. Congratulations to all who made our second "virtual" Run a success, overcoming tremendous challenges!

The 2021 allocations continue our impressive array of scholarships and grants in support of local non-profit organizations, girls, and women.

Our first 2021-2022 program was held at the Community and Cultural Center on Tuesday, August 24 - a hybrid, interactive panel discussion with the new MHUSD superintendent, MHUSD administrator, teacher, parent & MH librarian, and student, along with a live & virtual audience. It was part of the 5^th Annual Morgan Hill Women’s Week Series.

Buy your tickets now - RSVP by September 15