club NEWS – AAUW

The Manhattan branch of the American Association of University Women met Monday, April 8, at the First Congregational Church.  The meeting was called to order by the president, Nancy Bolsen.  She thanked the women of the Church for their gracious help with meals and meeting space throughout the year and presented them with a check for $50.

Scholarship chair, Claudia Jones, introduced two of the three branch $1000 scholarship winners for the year.  Tonya Hodson is a student at K-State’s Salina campus.  She will graduate this year as a pilot of manned and unmanned aircraft.  Angel Alvarado is studying Construction Science and Spanish and hopes to obtain her degree in two years.  A third winner will attend the May meeting.

Program vice president, Tresa Landis, introduced Dr. Noel Schulz.  Dr. Schulz is the Paslay Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering at K-State.  She serves also as Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Engineering Experiment Station; Director of the University’s Electrical Power Affiliates Program, and President (2012-2013) of IEEE Power Affiliates Program (an international technical society with more than 27,000 members worldwide).  The wife of K-State’s President Kirk Schulz, she is K-State’s First Lady.

In addressing the topic, “Balancing Professional and Personal Activities as a Woman Engineer,” Dr. Schulz spoke of the importance of balance in your life as a parent, a professional and a spouse.  If you are to succeed you also must be willing to turn over some responsibilities to others.  For instance, she is content to have the professional team available at KSU be the organizers and planners of events held at the President’s home and is glad to simply show up and enjoy the result.

She spoke of the importance of planning, to schedule professional and personal appointments on the same calendar.  Schedule planning time with your spouse and balance your schedule to include family time and together time.  It is also important to have an informal support system of friends through networking, organizations and extended family.  She is a strong supporter of women helping women and has initiated efforts at K-State to build and encourage that support.

Barbara Gatewood, membership vice president, noted updates to the branch website and the change in AAUW’s logo.   In her two year report on membership she said from 44 members in 2011 the branch has grown to 50 members currently with another 10 memberships in process.

She handed out PayDay candy bars with outer wrappings observing Equal Pay Day on April 9, to create awareness of the gap between men’s and women’s salaries.

New officers were voted on and elected.  President Elect, Barbara Gatewood; Membership Vice President, Kathy Borck; Treasurer, Claudia Jones; and Director at Large, Patricia Floros.

The next meeting will be held May 13 at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Center.  It will be a time of honors, awards, installation of officers and a Silent Auction.

Membership in AAUW is open to anyone holding an associate or equivalent (RN), baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university.  Student affiliation is open to anyone who does not already hold an undergraduate degree and is enrolled in a two or four year regionally accredited educational institution.  Students enrolled at K-State may receive a free e-Student affiliation.  For more information, go to http//manhattan-ks-aauw.net, email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com or contact Barbara Gatewood at 530-8804.