The May Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting was the Annual Wrap-Up and Celebration which included a special dinner prepared by the Meadowlark staff at Meadowlark Hills Community Room on May 8, 2017 with dinner at 6:00 pm.  Awards have been given to the following: AAUW Scholarships were given to three students from K State. They are Jarah Cooper from Salina, Senior in Personal Finance Planning, Sarah May from Manhattan, senior in Computer Information Systems & Cyber Security and Eliza Weber from Manhattan, Masters Degree student in Fine Arts.  STEM Scholarships were awarded to Kathryn Hyde, 8^th grader from Anthony Middle School and one may be used at Eisenhower Middle School.

Indira Mohanty brought new member Sujatha Prakash who is in engineering at K State.  Maurine Pruitt brought Gail Chalman a new member also.  We presently have 62 members.  Our AAUW Branch put on two coffees for potential new members, and four members worked at the Community Fair taking names of potential new members

From a Survey sent out for new ideas Connie Noble won $15 toward her dues.  In the silent auction Nancy Bolsen won the Gift Card from Planet Beach and the Basket of items and Gift Card from Hair Designs.  Claudia announced Grow Green income was $945 and the matching amount was $472.50.

The following were recognized: The Manhattan Branch of AAUW Branch won the Five Star Award for Overall Projects.  Five- year pins from National were given to Nancy Bolsen and Barbara Gatewood. Outgoing Elected Officer –Nancy Bolsen – Past State President and State Liaison from our board. Continuing Officers – Connie Noble, Teresa Landis, Marilyn Bunyan and Claudia Jones, Shauntia Rippee.  New officers – Mary Stamey – President and Maurine Pruitt – Secretary.  Outstanding Member –   Claudia Jones who has been treasurer for nine years. She received a beautiful bowl made by Ned Gatewood. President’s Award – Usha Reddi who gives so much to the community as Mayor, works full time, and does many things for AAUW.  Outgoing President Recognition – Karen Tinkler.  Thanks for her hard work these last two years. She worked for our branch meetings, made members welcome, supported STEM and the National Conference of College Women Student Leaders Scholarships in a sincere and caring manner.  She was also presented with a beautiful bowl made by Ned Gatewood.  A big Thank You to the First Congregational Church for all meals cooked for our members at our many programs presented this year. Our next meeting will be in September.

Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.

The April 10, 2017 Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting was held at First Congregational Church at 700 Poyntz Avenue at 6:00pm. Katrina Porter from Katie’s Way in Manhattan was here to inform us on how they provide youth, young adults and their families an opportunity to face mental health challenges as they work with psychiatrist and psychologists.  Christina Schadegg director of No Stone Unturned was also able to provide us with information about their treatment with children who have neurological or developmental impairments.  They work with occupational, physical, speech and behavioral therapies.  Teams from both Katie’s Way and No Stone Unturned work together to diagnosis and set up therapies for special children and special young adults.  They collaborate using all of their staff with all of the children. Both treatment centers work only with outpatient therapies.

No Stone Unturned now serves 225 people and desperately needs a new building.  Both treatment centers keep their rates reasonable and take insurance which covers many of the charges.  No Stone Unturned has been open in Manhattan four years and Katie’s Way has been open since 2015.  Katie’s Way works with a staff of 10 and No Sone Unturned works with a staff of 14.  They now have a 9 to 12 months waiting list. Katie’s Way will remain at the home with their care as they make the atmosphere comfortable while they work with youth, young adults and their families who face mental and behavioral disorders.  Shirts are given to the children and teenagers get to be separated from the younger kids.  Anxiety and depression is greatly diagnosed and therapies developed with their children or young adults. They will work with individual, family and group therapies.

Both organizations do great work with mental, behavioral, social, emotional and developmental health challenges for our families in Manhattan.  We are so pleased that Manhattan has two special places like this who work together with special children and special young adults.

The next Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting will be the Annual Wrap-Up and Celebration which includes a special dinner prepared by the Meadowlark staff at Meadowlark Hills Community Room at 2121 Meadowlark Road on May 8, 2017 with dinner at 6:00 pm.  The evening will be a celebration of excellent programming, philanthropy, friendships made, community involvement, new members registering and installation of officers.  A Silent Auction will be held with proceeds benefitting the branch’s operations. We will hear the president’s highlights of the year, and branch awards to outstanding members will be distributed.

Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, AAUW first a sponsored a breakfast for four international women March 8, 2017 and had them as a panel for the Manhattan High School students who asked great questions of them.  In the evening the Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting was at the Holiday Inn Manhattan at the Campus in the Landon Room.  We first had a wonderful dinner at 6:00 pm and the Public Forum was at 7:00 pm.  The speakers for the Public Forum were Dr. Paola Paez, from K-State’s Center in Excellence in Human Ecology, Maria Fernando Rivero Perez a senior at KSU in Marketing and International Business from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Dr. Fatlma Radhi, a neurologist with Medical Associates was from Iraq, Sneha Gullapalli, KSU Master’s degree student in Computer Science from India. They were asked to speak about why they came to the US, political climate in their home country, barriers here in the US and have they been affected by the pending travel ban here in the U.S.?  Mary Stamey moderated the panel discussion at Manhattan High School and Usha Reddi, mayor of Manhattan made opening remarks and moderated the panel discussion at the evening meeting.

In summary, the women spoke about their countries being very, very poor as we have never known. They did remark that men do not help with jobs in the home as many do here. Children do stay at home longer in their countries as many stay at home until they a re married. Here people are much more independent as they often move many times with their jobs.  Women are given at least three month pregnancy leave when a baby is born with the mother, mother in law or grandmother staying with you for six months after a child is born.   There are many, many teen pregnancies. Men often discriminate with having women get everything for them in the home.  In some countries the marriages are still arranged, but they are changing this slowly. The women do like America but are scared of hate crimes and are amazed that we are so obsessed with sports in America.

The next Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting will be held at First Congregational Church at 700 Poyntz Avenue at 6:00 p.m. on April 10, 2017.  Katrina Porter from Katie’s Way in Manhattan will inform us on how they provide youth, young adults and their families an opportunity to face mental health issues as they work with psychiatrist and psychologists.  Christiana Schadegg from No Stone Unturned will also provide us with information about their treatment with children who have neurological or developmental impairments.  Both organizations do great work with Social-Emotional Health Challenges for our families in Manhattan.

Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.

Unconscious Bias was the topic chosen by Mary Stamey and Pat Hudgins.  Pat first defined several different types of biases.  Explicit Bias as social or political bias that people see every day.  Implicit Bias implies prejudices that we hold inside.  Uncommon Bias are those we are born with and are in our thinking.  Internalized Bias are messages about oneself that we hold. External Bias are those that are clearly seen and heard.

What can we do about these biases? Ask yourself “What if my actions pertain to someone I love or to me?”  How would you react? Ask for open feedback.  Ask a person about their hair if different from yours.  Teach others about differences.  With Barbie dolls from different ethnic groups you can show that people are different.  Exam your organizations policies.  Some may be harmful to others as they attempt to progress in their job and in the community.  Have courage to change some things.  Be forward in your thinking.  We need to work toward inclusion.  Work toward eliminating bias when we find it in our lives or workplace.

Mary showed many items with a power point display that showed biases in today’s world.  A Pantene commercial – smooth, dedicated and persuasive were the males while females were labeled bossy, etc. In the slide “Nevertheless she persisted “we saw biases such as – clothing is distracting, that’s a man’s job, she was asking for it, will your kids get in the way of your work, I didn’t think you would want that much responsibility……..We must teach our girls to say, “You cannot do that to me”.  With sexist jokes use silence or humor. What is a good comment? I don’t get it.  Don’t get combative. Is this factual? Help the person move to something else.

In our ever changing world we have many “Unconscious Biases”.  We have many leaders in this community. Some people are in different spaces now than before and we need to think differently. We need to continue paving a way for new thinking.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the next Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting will be on (change of day and location) March 8, 2017 at the Holiday Inn Manhattan at the Campus in the Landon Room.  Dinner is at 6:00pm with cost of $20 and the Public Forum (no reservation needed) is at 7:00 pm. The speakers are Dr. Paola Paez, from K-State in Food Safety Research in Child Nutrition, Maria Fernando Rivero Perez a senior at KSU in Marketing and International Business from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Dr. Falma Rahi, neurologist with Medical Associates from Iran, Sneha Gullapalli, KSU Master’s student in Computer Science from India, and May Altamimi. They have been asked to speak about why they came to the US, political climate in their home country, barriers here in the US and have they been effected by the pending travel ban here in the US?

Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.

The January meeting of the Manhattan Branch of AAUW featured Becky Catlin, Director of Manhattan STARBASE Academy as she made us aware that STARBASE is more than a fieldtrip. It’s an interactive experience. She gave us an informative talk about the collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Guard with the STARBASE program. After retiring from teaching middle school she taught at STARBASE then became the director of the Manhattan STARBASE Academy. Participation in the program by Manhattan area students showed a dramatic increase from 2012 in which 234 students from 6 schools participated to 1,328 students from 28 schools attending the STARBASE program in 2016. What great success that shows. There are five STARBASE programs throughout Kansas with Karen Whitacre serving as the Kansas Executive Director.

In 1993 the DoD funded a school year program for all youth. Thus the first STARBASE program began. The DoD works with students in 4^th through 6^th grade in this free educational program. Many of the schools served by STARBASE are Title 1 schools. Students attend 5 days such as 5 Mondays of programs that are designed to impact greatly our youth in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With hands on projects the students make and launch rockets, work with model spacecraft, work with hoover craft, make and launch Alka-seltzer rockets, work on CAD (computer aided design), study robotics, make compounds and elements with molecules and they study energy. With a minds-on atmosphere stressed, they are constantly shown how design of and working with the objects applies to daily life. This program is especially inspiring to young girls. Their confidence to pursue STEM fields increases and they develop a “we can do it” attitude.  The Air and Army National Guard in Manhattan will also let them become familiar with items they use for their daily routines.  Additional information can be found at dodstarbase.org   or www.kansasstarbase.org.

AAUW wants to thank the ladies and gentlemen of Trinity Presbyterian Church for hosting our meeting and serving a great meal.

The next Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting will be at First Congregational Church, 700 Poyntz Avenue with Dinner at 6:00pm and the program at 6:45 pm. The program will be on “Unconscious Bias” lead by AAUW members Patricia Hudgins and Mary Stamey. Prior to the meeting members are asked to read “The Science behind Implicit Bias” in the Spring 2016 issue of AAUW Outlook magazine. Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.

The AAUW members enjoyed immensely the music of “The Church Ladies Music Harmonies” at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. The three ladies who sang were Kati Collins associate pastor, Joan Nelson, secretary, and Mary Louise Stahl, a prior organist, all of the First Presbyterian Church.  Stahl who played the base violin was the daughter of a minister and had been a music teacher in Geary County for many years.  It was awesome to see them using computer tablets to view their music.   The trio had a guitar, a base violin, mandolin, flute, and clarinet with which they accompanied their vocals.

One of the most beautiful songs that they sang was a Celtic song.  The trio was really great with their harmonizing voices. These ladies have been singing together only one year, but what beautiful arrangements they have found for the three voices.  One beautiful song brought out the “Sound of one voice, Sound of voices two, and the Sound of voices three and the Sound of all of us”. “It Wasn’t His Child” was about Joseph learning to love Jesus. He wasn’t his child, He was God’s child. They continued with a remarkable version of “Mary Did You Know?” as well as “This is A Special Love Song”. These Church Ladies Music Harmonies of First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan are a group you will want to have sing for your organization.

After enjoying wonderful Christmas desserts, coffee and punch, the AAUW ladies enjoyed a fun Christmas gift exchange accompanied by a wonderful Christmas story.

The next Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting (note change of location) will be held on January 9, 2017 at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1110 College Avenue, at 6:00 pm.  The speaker is Becky Catlin, Director of the Kansas STARBASE Manhattan Academy informing us about “A Kansas STARBASE in Your Hometown”. Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.

The November meeting of the Manhattan Branch of AAUW featured Kelly C. Sartorius, Ph.D., instructor at Kansas University speaking on Lessons in Leadership: Midwestern AAUW and Its Influence on Women’s Higher Education. She gave the history of Women in Higher Education as Deans of Women and their working with AAUW throughout our challenges to gaining access to all colleges. The Dean of Women on campuses has now changed to Dean of Students as they work with both women and men. Explaining that the first colleges in the South and Northeast of the United States were separate colleges for men and women she followed by noting that colleges in Midwest and Western United States didn’t have the money to build separate colleges so they joined men and women in colleges with dorms that were totally separated on campus. In the 1940’s Deans of Women on campuses engaged in discussing civil rights, sex education and other topics with students. In the 1950’s leaders on campuses finally realized that a woman could have both a career and a family. Sororities were the only groups on campuses that taught leadership skills to women for many years. Ms. Sartorius showed us that the Title IX amendment changed everything for women on the college campuses and in high schools across the United States. In the future with the help of AAUW the men and women on college campuses must have open conversations about dangers on campus, equal pay and opportunities for women, etc. Refreshments were provided by Women of K-State and this event was sponsored in cooperation with Women of K-State.

The next Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting (note change of location) will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1110 College Avenue, at 6:00 pm. The meeting will feature The Church Ladies Music Harmonies followed by a gift exchange, dessert, and coffee. Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.

The October meeting of the Manhattan Branch of AAUW featured Kansas Representatives, Sydney Carlin, District 66 and Tom Phillips District 67.  Each speaker spoke about Legislative Issues in National and Local Elections Impacting Women. Specifically they were to speak about Public School Finance, Health Care and Concealed Carry of Weapons on university campuses. Concerning Health Care both representatives voiced that Medicaid expansion may pass in the house this year. With the Concealed Carry of Weapons passing for public institutions, both representatives consider it a huge risk if allowed on College Campuses. The security cost of not allowing the Concealed Weapons in buildings on campus is huge. In closing, the representatives discussed the amendment regarding the retention of Kansas Supreme Court Judges.

The next Manhattan AAUW Branch meeting (note change of location and time) will be held at KSU Union in the Flint Hills Room at 7:00pm on November 14, 2016.  Dr. Kelly C. Sartorius, Adjunct Lecturer, College of Liberal Arts & Science from the University of Kansas.  She will be discussing Lessons in Leading: Midwestern AAUW and its influence on Women’s Higher Education.  This is sponsored in cooperation with the Women of K-State. Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.

The September meeting of the Manhattan branch of AAUW featured Dr. Annelise Nguyen, Associate Professor of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine/Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University. Her speech titled “Women’s Health: Understanding the Origin of and Therapies for Breast Cancer” highlighted genetics and environment as causes of the breast cancer developing and the proliferation of the cancer. Her group of researchers have discovered and patented synthetic compounds that are used to enhance breast cancer therapies.  Dr. Nguyen is also a speaker at the Holiday Inn at the Campus on October 21, 2016 for the Pink Power Luncheon for Breast Cancer Awareness meeting starting at 11:30. Reservations are needed at marcia@ksu.edu. A donation was given to the Johnson Cancer Research Center at Kansas State University from the Manhattan Kansas AAUW.

The next Manhattan AAUW branch meeting will be held at the First Congregational Church, 700 Poyntz Avenue, 6pm, Monday October 10. The meeting will feature Kansas House of Representatives Sydney Carlin and Tom Phillips discussing, in a non-partisan manner, Legislative Issues in National and Local Election that Impact Women. They will discuss in particular Public School Financing, Health Care and Concealed Carry of Weapons on university campuses. Persons interested in learning more about AAUW in Manhattan may go to manhattan-ks.aauw.net or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.