Club News

The Washington, Iowa Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) met on Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at the City of Washington Municipal Airport with Patty Roe as hostess. Rose Ellen Stelton was introduced as a new member. Newly elected President Millie Youngquist conducted the business meeting. Youngquist began by sharing a thank you note from the WRAP Center students for AAUW?s role in providing career speakers to their group. She also shared an article about the organization Make it Work, working in eastern Iowa and focusing on equality for all and supporting women, children and elder care.

Youngquist reminded the group of the AAUW hosted Tuesday, Nov. 17, National Honor Society Reception for students and parents. A discussion followed concerning suggestions from Kathy Stender, NHS adviser. Patty Roe reported on the STEM event for eighth graders, co-sponsored by AAUW, Washington Community School District and Kirkwood Community College. This event will take place on Feb. 18, with Feb. 25, as the weather make-up date. Signup sheets to help with both events were passed around.

It was reported that all is going well with the Little Free Library located at Goodwill. Members were encouraged to continue to donate books to Virginia Bordwell or to take them directly to the library.

Karen Murphy handed out greenery and poinsettia information, due to Virginia Bordwell or Kitch Shatzer by the Oct. 20 meeting. She also reported on the upcoming AAUW bus trip focusing on entertainment venues in southeast Iowa. This highly popular, scholarship fundraising project will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 6, with historians Mike Zahs and Loren Horton leading the tour. For information about this interesting bus tour contact Karen Murphy 653-5139 or Linda Sturdevant 653-5818.

Virginia Bordwell handed out brochures telling of the proposed new Public Health Building to be voted on Nov. 3. Debbie Stanton informed the group of a Healthy Relationships panel discussion to place at the library on Oct. 20, at 11:30 a.m.

Youngquist reminded the group of the next meeting to take place Oct. 20, at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Karen Murphy. Marde McConnell has arranged the program, John Hays speaking on his Water for Life system, helping people in poverty areas around the world.

Mike Roe of the Washington Airport Commission, the evening?s speaker, told of all the exciting things happening at the airport and the plans for the future. He told that the Washington airport began in the 1920s as just a grass strip and now handles 11,900 aircraft operations per year and he proudly announced that of the 101 general aviation airports in the state, Washington is the 13th busiest airport! He said the airport seldom receives any subsidy from the city except for land purchases or special things such as the creation of runways. The airport is one of the few self-fueling airports in the state, having the ability to sell fuel to pilots 24 hour a day, seven days a week. He said the commission is also very aggressive and successful in applying for state and federal grants for airport improvements. He closed by saying that all their hangers are full with 27 airplanes and that the output impact from airport activity and visitor spending as a result of the Washington airport is $1.9 million dollars!

Anyone wanting more information about the American Association of University Women, feel free to contact Marde McConnell, 653-3884 or Jennine Wolf, 461-1497. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. Membership is open to all graduates who hold an associate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university.