President’s Message

Greetings and Salutations!

Ho Ho Ho… Well, almost.  If you’ve been out and about lately, you’ve begun to notice we are approaching the holiday season; we have skeletons decked out in orange and purple (probably half priced by now), turkeys strutting their stuff, and no shortage of Christmas trees, gift wrap, and life-sized reindeer.  

These dressings of the season are always popular, but as we become older and wiser, the holidays seem to take on a different significance.  We appreciate more time with family and friends, sharing cherished traditions, and enjoying the act of giving more. 

Our membership at AAUW-Prescott is an excellent example of those who enjoy giving.  In the past year, our members have contributed $1,455.12 to the Opportunity Award, $5,000 to the Mary Alice Moulton Childcare Assistance Fund, and $4,882 to the AAUW Centennial Scholarship Fund.  Those are some impressive numbers, and you will have the opportunity to contribute again this year at our annual Red Envelope fundraiser held at our annual Holiday Brunch (December 13) at Prescott Lakes Clubhouse.

Of course, AAUW is our favorite place to contribute, but there are plenty of charitable organizations in our community that would also appreciate your assistance.  The list is several pages long on Google, so there is likely a group that you would find worthy.  You can contribute to assist the homeless, animals, educational groups, religious groups, or senior centers.  If a monetary donation is not in the cards, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities.  

I often see bags of non-perishable food left in areas where the unhoused congregate, at Granite Creek Park or at the gazebos behind Founding Fathers.  Maybe all you need to contribute is kindness.  A smile or a food donation may make someone’s day.

Happy Season of Giving!

Upcoming Programs

General Meeting: November 8

“From Gloves and Girdles to the Glass Ceiling and Beyond!”

Debbie Hansen and Bonnie Boyce-Wilson, co-chairs of the AAUW Arizona We Made History! Project, will lead members on a fun, interactive journey down memory lane. Using vintage artifacts and guided questions, they’ll help participants reflect on how each has contributed to progress for women and girls. They’ll also share an easy method for remembering, recording, and sharing personal stories.

The We Made History! Project—launched during National Women’s History Month in 2023 at the Northwest Valley Branch and funded in 2024 by an AZ AAUW grant—aims to collect and preserve the stories of AAUW members whose actions, large and small, have improved the lives of women and girls.

Bonnie and Debbie will encourage members to join a We Made History! writing circle or similar group and to read Gail Collins’s When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present. They also plan to compile member stories into a book or blog collection.

Debbie Hansen is a retired PR professional, nonprofit executive director, and author who has taught life story writing to thousands.
Bonnie Boyce-Wilson is a retired clinical social worker and former graduate school professor who directed the Colorado Department of Child Protective Services, ran for the Arizona legislature, and remains a committed political activist.

General Meeting: December 13

The AAUW-Prescott Holiday Brunch is on December 13 from 9 am to 11 am at the Prescott Lakes Clubhouse, 311 Smoke Tree Lane, Prescott.

The cost of the Holiday Brunch is $28. This year, a buffet selection of scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, French toast, sausage, fruit, and assorted pastries will be available. Coffee, tea, juice, and water will also be available. Pay at the November 8th General Meeting by check, cash, or PayPal (an additional $2 will be charged), link below. Checks may also be mailed to AAUW-Prescott, PO Box 10881, Prescott, AZ 86304 by December 1st.

LINK to PAY PAL

Past General Meeting Highlights

At October’s General Meeting, the speaker was Noel J DeSousa, the board co-chair of the Imagination Library of the Prescott Area (ILPA), a local affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL). He also shared how Prescottonians can access the library for children from birth to 5 years old. AAUW-Prescott Board Members Carol Clayton (newly appointed President-Elect), Kimberly Richards, and Edi Taylor-Richards updated the audience on member activities and Branch history.

AAUW Prescott Business

AAUW Branch Award Nominations

Nominations are open for our yearly awards to be presented at the Holiday Brunch. Please complete a nomination form and submit it by Monday, December 1. Contact Miriam Haubrich for more information.

Mover & Shaker- for members who have belonged to our Branch for more than 3 years and exhibit personal integrity, leadership, initiative, sustained dedication to the Mission of AAUW, and personal growth opportunities within the membership.

Rookie of the Year – for new members (within the last three years) of the Prescott AAUW Branch who have quickly stepped up to promote our mission. Criteria for selection can include personal integrity, leadership, and initiative.

Ongoing Stamina Award – for a member who has served AAUW for ten or more years. And, like the Energizer Bunny, she just “keeps going and going and going.” Criteria for selection include personal integrity, leadership and initiative, sustained dedication to the Mission of AAUW, and personal growth opportunities within the membership.

Membership

Membership Team

Would you like to assist AAUW-Prescott on the membership team? Two members share the job, which makes the job easier. We need you! Read the job description below:

Membership Co-Vice President
2-year elected term; 2 Co-VPs will serve staggered terms
Members, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee

RESPONSIBILITIES: (SHARED)
• Assist in the recruitment of new members. Seek new ways to recruit members, including emailing information to prospective members.
• Process new members. When new members join, enter information into the electronic spreadsheet.
• Maintain Membership records and database. Includes sending information to appropriate individuals and committees for their records maintenance/information.
• Provide greeter presence and information at General Meetings. Inform new members of events as appropriate. Facilitate membership renewals.

ARCHIVES FIELD TRIP

Archivist Liz Bailey arranged a field trip to the Sharlot Hall Museum Library and Archives for Branch members.  During the tour led by Brenda Taylor, Librarian and Archivist, the attendees learned about the mission of the Library and Archives and the process of archiving information.  The ten tour members were escorted to see materials not available to the general public and learned about what materials were stored.  A very enlightening trip!

The Courier Chronicles Our Beginnings – 1949

The Archives Committee has begun searching our archives stored at Sharlot Hall Museum Library & Archives Research Center and other sources for information about details of our Branch’s history – speakers, events, projects, etc.  

The Committee began with researching articles from the Courier archives and discovered that the organizers of the Prescott Branch of AAUW had hoped to start 1949 by organizing the new group in January. According to the Courier, weather intervened, and they had to cancel the January organizational meeting.  Perhaps snow prohibited the AAUW representatives from Phoenix from coming up the mountains to Prescott.  The official organizational meeting was held in March, with 80 participants, including the AAUW State president.  Once AAUW-Prescott was organized, the group often met in members’ homes, with one “potluck picnic party” in June.  Meeting topics for the rest of 1949 included the history and needs of the local library, a breakout meeting to discuss “What the Value of a College Education to You”, and presentations about old age assistance and other welfare benefits to reservation Indians in Arizona and how the cost for those benefits should be split between Arizona and the Federal government, and a time management presentation.  

AAUW Arizona

AAUW Arizona’s Fall Forum is being held on November 1st, 2025, the same day this newsletter is distributed. This year’s Fall Forum emphasizes the critically important work done by women to create and advance societies in which equity exists for all people. The presentation, Advocacy Works!, is an example of just such work. The panelists will recount their successful effort before the AZ Legislature to protect funding in support of parents with disabled children (DDD).

Advocacy Activities

A mighty foursome — Miriam Haubrich, Penny Briner Ewell, Jet Sletten, and Marla Jirak — participated in the Alzheimer’s Walk on Saturday, September 27th. The ladies raised $270 for the Alzheimer’s Association. The Walk in total earned northwards of $170,000 for research on Alzheimer’s and other dementias. 

PRESCOTT AREA SHELTER SERVICES (PASS) OPEN HOUSE 

Several members attended the Prescott Area Shelter Services (PASS) Open House. PASS offers temporary housing to women and families, while providing survival skill resources, as well as medical and dental services, all with the goal of moving their residents to permanent housing.

Look for more information to come on ways individuals and/or the Branch can assist in the important work that PASS does in transitioning women to permanent housing. 

Not Pictured: Kathy Lewis, Sabrina Rara, and Mari Rimple.

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS 

Are you curious about what is happening in the local public schools? School board meetings are open to the public, and agendas, live and recorded links, and minutes are available on each board’s website.

Chino Valley – 3rd Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. 
Humboldt Unified – 3rd Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. 
Prescott Unified – 1st Tuesday of the month at 5:00 p.m. 

ADVOCACY RESOURCES 

Want to know more about the state of education in Arizona or what legislation is headed our way? Visit the following websites to learn more. You can also sign up to receive newsletters and updates from these organizations as well. 
Save Our Schools Arizona (SOS) – SOS 
Civic Engagement Beyond Voting (CEBV) – CEBV

ADVOCACY 

If you’d like to be on the Advocacy Committee or receive Advocacy Emails, follow these links to sign up. You may also contact Penny Briner Ewell, Advocacy Coordinator.

Advocacy Committee or Advocacy Email.

Scholarships

Kelli Klosterman reports the totals that AAUW Prescott has distributed in each of the scholarships during 2024-2025.

Opportunity Awards – Total given: $1,455.12

Mary Alice Moulton Scholarship – Total given: $5,000

Centennial Fund – Total Given – $4,882

Please continue your support of these Scholarships and Awards in 2025-2026!

Two Activities at this year’s Annual Holiday Brunch will raise funds for the Opportunity Award.

Opportunity Drawing

Donate unwanted gift cards for stores or restaurants at the November 8th General Meeting. All the collected gift cards will be part of a drawing at the December Holiday Brunch to benefit the Opportunity Award Fund. The gift cards will be placed in a basket. Tickets will be drawn, and each winner will select a gift card from the basket. Tickets will be sold for $5.00 each or 3 for $10. Buy a few tickets to participate in the lucky draw, tand hen claim a gift card prize!

RED ENVELOPES

This year, the Red Envelope donations will be used to raise money for the Opportunity Awards.  We have gotten great responses to the Awards and always look forward to hearing from our recipients.  

Interest Groups

GREAT DECISIONS

Published annually, the Great Decisions briefing book highlights some of the most thought-provoking foreign policy challenges facing Americans today. To promote discussion, Great Decisions provides background data, current data, and policy options for each issue. After individually purchasing the policy book, the discussion group meets once a month with different members organizing & facilitating the discussion. https://fpa.org/bookstore/

4th Wednesday at 1:30 pm via Zoom

The Great Decisions Briefing Book arrives in January, which is when our group discussions also begin. Members who wish to join this group should contact Stephanie Brown. The organizational meeting with the whole group will be on January 28th, 2026. At that time, members will decide which topic/chapter they would like to facilitate and whether the group will meet at a home, library, or on Zoom.

2nd Thursday at 7:00 pm

The evening Great Decisions meets at members’ homes on the 2nd Thursday of each month; as a result, the group is smaller. The host will lead the discussion and then provide dessert. Couples as well as singles are welcome to join. Contact Gail Shay if you are interested in joining this group. The first meeting will be on January 8th, 2026. At that time, members will decide the location of each discussion and the topic/chapter they would like to facilitate.

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