The January meeting of AAUW Manhattan branch began with a program by Dr. April Mason, Provost of K-State, who spoke on “Women Leaders in Higher Education: A Place at the Table.” Mason reflected upon the experience of being the first female vice president of K-State and her realization that her position makes her a role model for younger women. Mason credited her parents with inspiring her to excel; their attitude was one of doing the utmost to help their children become educated in an area of the child’s interest. Mason offered three guideposts for leaders: acknowledge if you’ve done something wrong; praise others; and learn to accept praise.
Branch president Barbara Gatewood called the business meeting to order. Branch vice-president and state liaison, Nancy Bolsen, announced the state AAUW annual meeting will be held at Butler County Community College Saturday April 11, 2015. Board member Joan Strickler reported that in preparation for the branch 100th anniversary, the archive subteam has developed archiving guidelines with help of a National AAUW template and input from the Riley County Historical Museum.
Director-at-large Patricia Floros will represent the branch at the Community Fair, 10am-3pm, February 7th at the Manhattan Town Center. Public policy liaison, Jean Lee, announced that the AAUW is co-sponsoring an event with the League of Women Voters: award-winning Attorney F. James Robinson, Jr. will speak on current threats to the merit selection of our state judicial branch, February 14, 10am-noon at the K-State Union Little Theater.
The next Manhattan AAUW branch meeting will be held at the Congregational Church on February 9th at 6pm. The evening’s program will be “African American Leadership in the Community,” by speaker Patricia Hudgins, Associate Director of K-State’s Career and Employment Services. Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.