Club News

The Washington, Iowa, Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) met on Tuesday, Feb. 16, at the home of Kitch Shatzer with Addy Sents and Marie Dare as co-hostesses.

The program was Roberta Sloat sharing about the Washington County Public Health Family Connection Program. This child abuse prevention program works with families of kids under 4 years old. Most must meet certain guidelines: poverty issues, educational concerns or having a child with a disability. This program runs on a shoestring and has a small but very committed and dedicated staff who refer to themselves as ?Parent Educators.? They work hard to educate parents on how to help kids reach their potential. Many of the parents are young so staff models good parenting and helps parents develop family goals. There are individual family meetings, as well as opportunities for group play time. one hundred seven families participated in the program this year.

Highlights of the business meeting included treasurer Patty Roe reporting on the successful fundraising projects: the fall tour and the greenery and poinsettia sales. The group voted to once again offer two scholarships to women currently in a college setting. This is the 35th year AAUW has offered these college scholarships. Linda Studevant reported that advertising for the 2016 women?s local scholarships will begin soon. Additionally, the group voted to make funds available to help two girls attend Camp Invention, the summer STEM event for elementary students.

There was a discussion about the first, upcoming STEM event for eighth-graders to be held at Washington Kirkwood Regional Center the afternoon of Feb. 18. This event is being co-sponsored by AAUW, Kirkwood and Washington Community School District, with eight AAUW members helping the day of the event.

It was reported that Chad Dillon had asked AAUW members to once again help with coordinating career speakers for the WRAP (Washington Regional Alternative Program) students. Members offered to line up speakers in the following career fields: city employment; agricultural, day care and utility company opportunities.

In closing, the members were reminded of the next meeting on Human Trafficking to take place on March 15, at 7 p.m., at the Washington Public Library upstairs meeting room. This meeting will be open to the public and will include the following speakers: Deputy Chad Ellis, investigator with the Washington County Sheriff?s Department and Makenzie Crull, coordinator for Washington and Van Buren Counties Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP). Members were encouraged to inform others about this opportunity to learn more about this very important issue.

Anyone wanting more information about AAUW, feel free to contact Marde McConnell, 653-3884 or Jennine Wolf at 461-1497.