AAUW Manhattan (KS) Branch
Branch Meeting Minutes
Bison Room, Meadowlark Hills
September 9, 2024, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
After an optional dinner, members gathered in a discussion group called to order by President Usha Reddi. She asked members to introduce themselves with names, family, reasons for joining plus the length of each one’s membership in AAUW, and professional information. This meeting’s goal is to give members purpose in AAUW, to personalize participation, and to align our AAUW goals with members’ interests. Eighteen members replied.
Usha continued with Branch information. All members are invited to the Board meetings on the first Monday of the month, the Branch meetings are the second Monday of the month with optional dinner, and we meet May through December. Members choose their level of activity. Members pay dues of $93.00 per year with all but $15.00 of that going to the state and national organization. Anyone who wants to join may do so on aauw.org, where we should all register. Our budget for this year will be $3,589.45, and Usha will send the full budget by email.
Susanne and Dede told the group of the monthly programs for the 2024-2025 year:
September Introduction/Meet the Members
October TBD
November Phyllis Pease, Her Artistic Work
December Vickie James, Food and Farm Council
January Elected Officials, State and Federal
February Barb DeSanto, Public Relations
March International Women’s Day
April TBD
May Awards, Recognition, Reflection
The speaker for International Women’s Day in March is in flux at this moment. Possibilities are Melinda French Gates, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill. We will hope to bring in partnerships and grants to help with this 10th anniversary IWD celebration.
AAUW Kansas began in 1920 in Manhattan, Kansas. We aim to align AAUW Manhattan Branch with AAUW National in the following ways. Our mission and focus areas include gender equity and economic security. Our values are intersectional, intergenerational, and to be inclusive and empowering. Our primary focuses are economic security, education, and advocacy for these and for women. Our priority issues are removing bias from education, fair pay, economic equity, and advancing women in leadership. Our programs are always concerned with AAUW’s mission, focus areas, values, and priority issues.
Usha invited each member to add ideas for programs and activities that would adhere to the local and national ideals. Members variously suggested advocating for women’s rights with, for instance, letter-writing campaigns to the legislature; advocating for women’s safety on campus and in the city; promoting the skilled trades and bringing them into AAUW, encouraging and mentoring young women in leadership roles; and keeping abreast of federal changes on DEI, especially in the area of women’s rights.
Barbara announced that AAUW offers fellowship and career development grants and provide over $6,000,000 a year to pursue graduate education for women. Those applications open September 16 and close in November 15. Our branch provides scholarships for KSU graduate women students and non-traditional students in the amounts of $1,000 and $1,500.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. The next Branch meeting will be Monday, October 14, 6:00 p.m. optional dinner and 7:00 p.m. meeting and program by Anna Burson, Riley County Appraiser.
Chris Herald, Membership Chair: 2024 September AAUW membership chair activity over the summer months
- We have 63 members, but several still need to renew.
- Sent emails to members reminding them to renew. Included reminder to two Lifetime Members to pay State and Branch dues ($21).
- Sent “thanks for joining” emails to our new members that included links to our website, Facebook page, and how to sign up for community rewards at Dillon’s.
- Created a spreadsheet with members’ birthday month.
- Updated our membership form with our new Treasurer’s information. As of January 2024, all National dues are FULLY tax deductible!
- Created step by step directions for KSU students interested in joining National AAUW for free. Our state requires a $3 fee
- Sent emails to three members that received free membership last year.
- Join National AAUW on September 10, at 4 p.m. ET for a special Member Gathering.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Ripple
Board Secretary
AAUW Manhattan (KS) Branch
Branch Meeting Minutes
Bison Room, Meadowlark Hills
October 14, 2024, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
AAUW Branch Members met for an optional supper at 6:00 p.m. and continued with the October meeting at 7:00 p.m. This meeting’s video will be available on the AAUW Manhattan Branch Face Book page.
President Usha Reddi opened the meeting by reporting briefly from the business of the board meeting October 7, 2024. The celebration of AAUW Manhattan Branch’s 10th International Women’s Day continues to be planned and details will be announced when the plans are complete. We have sufficient money in the treasury for the budget and will have a more specific report next meeting. The November 11 meeting will be Phyllis Pease, Manhattan and Kansas artist, who will speak of her art and her mural at the Capitol Building in Topeka. Usha reminded members of the upcoming November 5 elections to be held at the Riley County Courthouse and K-State Union. Advanced voting begins Wednesday, October 16, and continues through noon on November 4, 2024.
Dede Brokesh of the program committee introduced Anna Burson, Riley County Appraiser, who was accompanied by Vivienne Leyva, Riley County Public Information Officer. Ms. Burson has appraisal certifications gained from many trainings over her 10 years of experience. She is in charge of 17 employees and enjoys the statistical and math aspects of appraisal. Part of her job is to help people understand the process of appraisal and to educate them on the purpose and work of appraising, which is not budget setting or tax collection.
Anna’s thorough power point and handouts provided complete information in appraisal terms. Specific points she made included
· explaining the use of market value in appraisal
· ensuring accuracy, fairness, and equity
· the appeal process
· sales reviews and new home inspection
· the three types of taxes, which are property, income, and sales
· mill levies
· the various classifications and assessment percentages, for instance, land devoted to agricultural use versus real property used for residential purposes
· the appraiser’s job is ruled by statutes and laws set by state legislators and has been since 1985 (Anna believes Kansas has a good system that is fair across all counties with accountability and supervision at the state level.)
Anna answered questions about appraising after her presentation.
The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m. The November 11, 2024 meeting will be at Meadowlark Hills, Prairie Star, with an optional supper at 6:00 p.m. and meeting commencing at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Ripple
Board Secretary
AAUW Manhattan (KS) Branch
Branch Meeting Minutes
Bison Room, Meadowlark Hills
November 11, 2024, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
American Association of University Women Branch Meeting on November 11, 2024, Prairie Star at Meadowlark Hills. Members and guests enjoyed a dinner, conversation, and networking, followed by a short meeting and presentation by Phyllis Coon-Pease.
President Usha Reddi gave a brief overview of upcoming programs. Co-VP of Programs Lynn Ewanow announced that Vicki James, Food and Farm Council of Manhattan will talk at our next meeting on December 9. VP of Membership and STEAM Chair Chris Herald announced that Girls On the Run – Flint Hills needs assistance with their Run 5K on Sunday, December 8th and prior to the event (visit https://www.gotrflinthills.org).
Manhattan artist and entrepreneur Phyllis Pease was introduced by Co-VP of Programs Susanne Siepl-Coates. Phyllis grew up on a farm in Kingman County and received a BFA from K-State. Her beautiful historical mural “Rebel Women” (8 x 19 ft. oil on canvas) created for the Kansas Statehouse depicts dozens of figures, buildings, and icons representing Kansas’ role in the women’s suffrage movement. Phyllis also is a Manhattan entrepreneur and has opened with her daughter the Little Batch Company bakery and Parkside Station restaurant.
Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara Gatewood
Acting Secretary
AAUW Manhattan (KS) Branch
Branch Meeting Minutes
Bison Room, Meadowlark Hills
December 9, 2024, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
American Association of University Women Branch Meeting was held on Monday, December 9, 2024 at Prairie Star at Meadowlark Hills.
President Usha Reddi welcomed members and guests prior to the optional dinner at 6 p.m. and reviewed current AAUW activities. Program VPs gave updates on the spring meetings and plans for our 10th annual International Women’s Day celebration in March 2025.
Program VP Lynn Ewanow introduced Vickie James who spoke on “Building a Healthier Food System – Whose Job Is It?” (View recorded talk on AAUW Facebook page.) Vickie is a registered dietitian with 40+ years of experience, primarily with community collaboration to improve local food systems. She has been the founder and director of several nonprofits, including Healthy Kids Challenge, which led community collaboratives across the country in promoting healthy eating and exercise and numerous Food and Farm Councils. In January 2024 she was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Wellness which will be a three-year appointment looking at reducing hunger across Kansas.
In 2018 she helped establish the jointly appointed Food and Farm Council of Riley County and the City of Manhattan, Kansas and serves as the coordinator. Under the Nourish Together “umbrella,” the local food system work focuses on sustainable solutions for reducing food insecurity and food waste along with providing opportunities for food skills education. Their tagline to describe their work is: Access Food. Decrease Waste. Support Local Farms and Food Businesses.
Vickie described some of the programs under Nourish Together: Blessing Boxes, Flint Hills Food Recovery, Kitchen Restore, Konza Student Table, Power of Produce, SNAP, Ambassadors at the Market, KS Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and Healthy Food Prescription Program She ended her talk by encouraging community members to get involved by volunteering for one of their programs, spreading the word, and helping to sustain this work by donating money or needed items (visit https://nourishtogether.org).
Kay Stith presented Vickie with the children’s book “Sesame Street Let’s Cook Together” by DK that will be donated to the Manhattan Public Library on her behalf.
For more information about AAUW Manhattan Branch events, news, or updates please visit AAUW’s website https://manhattan-ks.aauw.net/, Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AAUW.Manhattan/, or email manhattanksaauw@gmail.com.
Facebook post by Barbara Gatewood
AAUW Manhattan (KS) Branch
Branch Meeting Minutes
Bison Room, Meadowlark Hills
January 13, 2024, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
President-Elect Martha Mather welcomed AAUW members and guests. After guests had introduced themselves with some personal information, other attendees singly introduced themselves. Martha described AAUW as civic-minded, providing many programs that are community-centered, and invited all members to bring guests. She announced that the office of Branch Secretary still remains open and asked members to consider taking the position.
Martha reviewed recent programs. Phyllis Pease, who presented the AAUW Manhattan Branch November program on Kansas Suffragists, will be honored when her mural of Kansas Suffragists is hung in the State Capitol on Wednesday, January 29, Kansas Day. The Kansas Historical Society will host a reception for her at 12 p.m. Martha read a thank you from Vickie James, representing the Farm and Food Council. She thanked AAUW for their donations after her December program. Upcoming programs include February 10 when local AAUW member Barbara DeSanto will speak about public relations and her newly published book on the subject. The tenth celebration of AAUW Manhattan Branch’s sponsorship of the International Women’s Day event will be March 7. Piccalilli Farms representatives will present a program at the April 14th meeting.
Martha turned to the current program with a panel of elected officials. She noted that AAUW is nonpartisan but not values neutral. We advocate for gender equality and civil rights for all people.
Dede Brokesh, Co-Vice President of Programs, followed with AAUW’s history and information as an introduction to the program. AAUW National began in 1881 followed 40 years later by AAUW Manhattan branch in 1920 with the purpose of furthering gender equity in pay and opportunities throughout society for women and girls. Our organization urges women to pursue leadership roles. We create a culture of involvement. We are one of the largest supporters of graduate education. Among AAUW’s public policies are civil rights for all individuals, removing bias from education, economic equity, and strong public education. AAUW asks that local, state, and federally elected officials also support gender equity in all areas of society.
Dede introduced Senator Roger Marshall’s assistant Abbi Rankin, and three City of Manhattan Commissioners: Mayor Susan Adamchak, Peter Oppelt, and Jayme Minton. Abbi listed and explained the new Senate committee assignments and priorities for Senator Marshall. Mayor Adamchak focused on the priority of housing in Manhattan and gave details on the city’s massive snow removal effort. Commissioner Oppelt reinterated the focus on housing, and added a concern for needs in the Parks and Recreation Department and transparency in the budget process. He noted that there are currently three women on the city commission. Commissioner Minton said that her votes are focused on benefits for the future of Manhattan. Questions from the audience and a panoramic discussion followed about community, healthcare, housing, taxes, the community welcome to the refugees in Manhattan, and more topics.
The next AAUW Manhattan Branch meeting will be February 10, 2024, at Prairie Star, Meadowlark Hills, with an optional supper at 6:00 p.m. The meeting and program will follow at 7:00 p.m. You may find information on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=aauw%20manhattan , and also on our website, https://manhattan-ks.aauw.net/events/ .
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Ripple
Board Secretary
AAUW Manhattan (KS) Branch
Branch Meeting Minutes
Bison Room, Meadowlark Hills
February 10, 2024, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
President Usha Reddi opened the meeting, welcoming members and one new member. She implored AAUW members to keep in touch with legislators because they need to know our opinions and feelings about government. Barbara Gatewood asked about possible sources of information for a good overview of state government. Usha suggested the Sunflower State journal, a legislative newsletter; the Kansas Reflector; and the Kansas State Legislature website, especially the calendar. People can find all Kansas Senate hearings on YouTube. Martha asked about most effective way to reach legislators. Usha suggested directly calling legislators.
Barbara DeSanto, treasurer, reported that we have around $11,000 in the treasury and that we have received the grant for International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025, at the Manhattan Country Club.
Chris Herald encouraged members to create their own AAUW accounts on the national website to be able to keep track of dates for renewal of individual dues.
Usha recommended members keep up with AAUW and the League of Women Voters websites for coverage of government operations. Our April 14, 2025, program will be presented by the owners of Piccalilli Farms and will be held at Meadowlark Hills.
Susanne Siepl-Coates, Co-Vice President of Programs, introduced the program speaker, Dr. Barbara DeSanto, telling of her wide variety of work in various journalism fields and as a college professor. She retired from full-time teaching at Kansas State University in 2020 but remains as an adjunct faculty member. Barbara is a fellow of The Public Relations Society of America.
Dr. DeSanto welcomed and introduced her writing partner, Dr. Danny Moss, who joined us online from the United Kingdom and spoke during the program. Their latest book entitled The Absolute Essentials of Public Relations is published by Routledge and provides a comprehensive introduction to public relations theory and practice. The two have worked together on five books, on studies abroad, and on different types of research. Dr. Moss described public relations as a communications discipline that works to merge relationships between organizations and groups of people, which we may call stakeholders. Public relations develop a degree of understanding between the organizations and the stakeholders. He continued with some history and examples of positive, negative, and misleading types of public relations. Barbara spoke of the principles and ethics of public relations, including personal ethics. Communication must be for the greater good. They made clear the difference between marketing, advertising, and public relations. It is imperative for the public relations employees to be on the management level so they may advise the organization’s leadership. In writing the book, the two considered their audience, their purpose, and how to delineate the various aspects of public relations. In the questioning period, Dr. Moss noted that public relations is one of the few professions where women dominate the careers. Barbara focused on public relations for our own AAUW branch, saying we need to identify stakeholders and determine the needs that AAUW could provide to them. Barbara left members with the public relations idea that each of us is an ambassador of any group to which we belong and our job is to ensure the groups reputation and to protect the organization from bad ideas that might come from within. We should think of the short and long-term repercussions of our words and representations.
Usha suggested that if a member writes to legislators, she could also share this communication with local press and all media outlets. They may publish it also, and we become part of public relations. She also suggested the idea of a public relations internship for a KSU student with our AAUW Manhattan Branch.
The next branch meeting is our International Women’s Day event on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at the Manhattan Country Club.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Ripple
Board Secretary
AAUW Manhattan (KS) Branch
International Women’s Day Celebration
Manhattan Country Club
March 8, 2024, 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
AAUW members welcomed over 80 women and men to the 10th Anniversary of AAUW Manhattan Branch’s celebration of International Women’s Day with a social at 5:00 p.m. Savory snacks and optional drinks were accompanied by keyboard music from Dr. SongHwa Chae. A buffet dinner of salmon, beef, salad, rice pilaf, and seasonal vegetables followed at 6:00 p.m. Delicious and decorated chocolate cake was served by members after dinner. At 7:00 p.m. President Usha Reddi welcomed guests and members noting the 10th anniversary of the celebration. She related a history of AAUW and of International Women’s Day. Usha also recognized Representative Sydney Carlin, former Board of Education Member Pat Hudgins, KSU students attending, and previous speakers before introducing the panel of women invited to speak on topics of current interest and concern.
Panelists:
Lana Oleen, who is a former educator and former Kansas State Senator from 1989 to 2005 for the 22nd District, served as the first woman majority leader of the Kansas Senate.
Dr. Chardie Baird is a Professor of Sociology at KSU, the Executive Director of the K-State Office for the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering (KAWSE), and Spainhour Family Chair.
Paige Vulgamore, agricultural economics senior student from Scott City, is Student Body President of Kansas State University and Vice President of Blue Key Honor Society, among other leadership positions on campus.
Sheila Ellis Glasper is a journalist, an inclusive branding consultant, a social media strategist, an advocate for economic justice, and Founder and CEO of the Black Hills Entrepreneurs.
Each of the panelists answered questions and gave their insights pertaining to the paths they took to their positions and the challenges they have faced in their careers and positions. They were asked how they balance between growth in their own lives and the needs of their families and communities, and, finally, they were asked what they see for the futures of our community and our country. After these questions from AAUW, the audience joined in with questions.
The panelists’ wisdom shone through their answers, (the highlights of which are restated here as the secretary heard and recorded them).
From Lana Oleen: “Never discount that you can approach someone to help you.” “Get to know your enemies or counterparts. [As far as those who can help,] don’t think in lines, think in circles.”
From Dr. Chardie Baird: “Women are expected to do the work; they should be able to put boundaries on that.” Sometimes we must “have a healthy mistrust of authorities.”
From Paige Vulgamore: It’s important to “bring Kansans back to Kansas, western Kansas, and K-State.” “We need help to bridge the gap between [leaving] college and [joining work in] the community.”
From Sheila Ellis Glasper: [Communities] “must be intentional and equitable….People must feel that they belong.” [To succeed in careers, women must] “research the pathway to a mentor, to leadership, to understand your role in your job.” [Know] “what are the steps to your goal…. Have a plan, have a strategy.”
The panelists and their thoughts were well received by the audience and the event ended on a positive note.
The next AAUW Manhattan Branch meeting will be April 14, 2025, at Prairie Star, Meadowlark Hills. Optional dinner is at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting is at 7:00 p.m. The program will be presented by Piccalilli Farms, a diversified market farm with sustainable products on McDowell Creek Road.
For information about AAUW Manhattan Branch, see our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AAUW.Manhattan/ or our website https://manhattan-ks.aauw.net
Respectfully Submitted,
Paula Ripple
Board Secretary