Elmira - Corning Branch

Elmira - Corning BranchNews & ViewsOctober 2012AAUW Advances Equity for Women and GirlsThrough Advocacy, Education and ResearchJulia Lavarnway and Janet Winfield, Co-PresidentsCalendarSun., Oct. 14, 2012, 1:30 pm - Fall Fashion Show, Downtown Holiday InnSat., Oct. 20, 2012, 2-4 pm - Books & Bites, Steele Mem. Library, ElmiraTues., Oct. 23, 2012, 6:30 pm - “The Junction Canal,” Chemung ValleyHistory Museum, Elmira, NYTues., Nov. 6, 2012 - Election DayMembership Corner NewsLenore LewisPresidents’ LetterHere we are into the busiesttime of year. That goes for AAUW,too. Our fashion show is comingalong. The models are choosingtheir outfits. I purchased an outfitthat I will wear to host. So manypretty things to chose at the DressBarn. I love sweater and jacketweather. We have Beautiful baskets to raffle. We will have a Halloween, Thanksgiving, Grandma'sGarden, Bath and Body, Children's, Wine, and Cooking basketto raffle. Kerry Lippincott will talkat the History Museum on the 23,and I have offered my house forthe Silver Bowl Tea in November.Motivation to clean is always welcome. I hope to see you all at thefestivities.Warmly,JanetOur Interest Groups arestarting up. Bridge, Mah jonggand Let's Eat Out groups willmeet soon. If you would like tostart an Interest Group, pleasecontact me: Lenore Lewis at739-2290.The Membership Committee would like to thank everyonefor renewing their membershipsthis year. We know you will enjoy the presentations our Program Committee have plannedfor you. If you know anyonewho might like to join our branchyou can contact your Membership Committee at 739-2290.We have two new membersto introduce this month:Heather ScherbWe'd like to introduceHeather Scherb to our branch.Heather has an undergraduate(Continued on page 3)News & ViewsOctober 2012Page 1

Books & BitesBetty Reiter, ChairButterfly by Jean-DominiqueBauby, Gone Girl by GiullianFlynn, The Guernsey Literary andOur firstPotato Peel Pie Society by Marymeeting ofAnn Shaffer and Annie Barrows,Books andTag Man by Archer Mayor, Toys byBites was aJames Patterson, Five Little Pigsgreat sucby Agatha Christie and D.C. Deadcess. Weby Stuard Wood.enjoyed talking about both ficOur next meeting will be ontion and nonfiction books thatSat. Oct. 20th at Steele Library atwe had read during the sum2 PM. I hope you can come.mer. The nonfiction included:The Story of a Common SolAAUW VALUE PROMISEdier of Army Life in Civil Warby L. Stillwell, Tent Life in SiBy joining AAUW, we belongberra by George Kennan,to a community that breaksPitch Uncertain by Maisiethrough educational and ecoHoughton, Death by Petticoat nomic barriers so that all womenby Mary Miley Theobald, Thehave a fair chanceGreat Game by Frederick P.Hitz and The Secret in BuildAAUW VISION STATEMENTing 26 by Jim DeBrosse andAAUW will be a powerful adColin Burke. The fiction booksincluded Blaze of Glory by Jeff vocate and visible leader in equityShaara, People of the Book by and education through research,Geraldine Brooks, Hotel on the philanthropy, and measurableCorner of Bitter and Sweet by change in critical areas impactingon the lives of women and girls.Jamie Ford, Diving Bell andBon Ton Community DaysPhyllis ShoreWe will again be selling the Bon Ton Community DayBooklets for 5.00 each. Remember, AAUW keeps the entire 5 we receive from the sale of each booklet.I signed up AAUW to sell on November 9th (a Friday)from 10:00 am to 12 Noon in the Bon Ton store.We need your support. Please call or e-mail as to whenyou can help sell in the store. My telephone no. is 607-7960108. My e-mail is PhShore@stny.rr.com.News & ViewsOctober 2012Page 2

Membership Corner News(Continued from page 1)degree from Cornell, and has justearned her M.S. Ed. Degree inLiteracy from Elmira College. Shegrew up in Elmira and lived hereuntil she married her husband.They moved away for 20 years;but moved back to this area in2007.Heather began her career asa home economics teacher, fromthere she went on to work as anutrition educator, and then as aninstructor for a software company. She took quite a few yearsoff to stay at home with theirthree children, and then came fullcircle and taught home & careers. She says she isn't currently working but her schedule isFULL: Her main interest rightnow is her family. They have adaughter who is a junior at U ofRochester, and two boys who areat Horseheads high school.Heather volunteers for the Steuben County Literacy Programand is also working with an ESLstudent from China. She still findstime to tutor several students atSevern Elementary, and volunteers as a tax preparer for theVITA program.Among Heather's interests,when she has free time, arereading, traveling, and play mahjong. She tries to jog and practiceyoga whenever possible.Heather's friend Mary BethFrederick introduced her to ourbranch. She's looking forward toNews & Viewsmeeting people and getting involved with our activities.Heather we're so happy thatyou've taken a time from yourbusy schedule to become partof the Elmira Corning AAUW.We certainly welcome you.Dr. Geraldine F. Wolfe, PhDWe'd like to welcome Dr.Geraldine F. Wolfe, PhD as ournewest branch member. Her extensive Bio follows in her ownwords:"The education that I obtained at Corning Free Academyinstilled within me a love oflearning and inspired within methe desire to always aspire togreater and loftier heights.After graduating from CFAas the first African-American tobe inducted into National HonorSociety, I attended Keuka College, graduating with a degreein Biology. From Keuka in 1965,I enrolled in Mt. Holyoke Collegein Massachusetts, earning a MAdegree in Biology. Thereupon, Ireturned to Corning to teach Biology and Health at CorningPainted Post West High Schoolfor over 20 years. While teaching, I obtained another MastersDegree from Elmira College inEducation (MS Ed.), the equivalent of yet another Masters Degree in Educational Administration (CAS) from SUNY Brockport, and a Doctor of PhilosophyOctober 2012(Continued on page 4)Page 3

Membership Corner News(Continued from page 3)Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Cornell University.Resigning from West Highin 1990, I assumed various administrative positions, namely:Assistant Professor of Education for SUNY Plattsburgh, Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Saranac Lake Central District, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in Schenectady CitySchool District, and Superintendent of Schools in Catskill, NewYork.Since retiring from Catskill,I have served as a consultant/turnaround specialist for myselfor for the New York CharterSchool Association. In this capacity, I am called upon to provide services to charter schoolsthat are in danger of losing theircharters because of low academic performance in terms ofNew York State test scores andlack of strong discipline policies. I have been in the schoolsvarying for a period of from 3months to one year, dependingupon the time that it takes forthem to make a turnaround,working with the administrators,CEOs, Boards of Education, aswell as teachers and parents.Once I leave, it becomes theresponsibility of the principals/CEOs, etc. to continue to implement the strategies which INews & Viewshave established or risk losingtheir charters.In between assignments, Ihave traveled extensively toplaces such as East and South Africa, India, Greece, The HolyLand, Egypt, Turkey, Cyprus, Hawaii, Belize, Alaska, the Galapagos Islands and the Caribbean toname a few. I also make frequenttrips to North Carolina to visit myson, his wife, and my grandson.Although retired, I read educational journals and other literature such as the NYSCOSS newsletter to keep abreast upon the latest changes in education such asthe Common Core Standards, thelatest on NYS Assessments, andfollow very closely the newest findings on Teacher/Principal evaluations. In addition, I attend NYSCOSS conferences as time permits, have instituted the first Middle School Interact Clubs in NYState for Corning Rotary, serve onScholarship committees whichaward scholarships to minoritiesand other local students, the Literacy Committee for Rotary, andserve as Youth Exchange Counselor for the Rotary Exchange Students. Consequently, I am in theschool buildings on a regular basiswhich enhances my desire to return to educational administration."Geraldine, we are happy thatyou have also taken time fromyour busy schedule to join us. Wecertainly welcome you to ourbranch, also.October 2012Page 4

Public Policy & EducationalEquityPauline LeveenSilver Bowl TeaBonnie Chollet,Education ChairOn September 22, we held another Voter Registration at ElmiraCollege's Octagon Fair and as wehave done in the past, we reserved a table (shared with LWV).As most of you know, we havedone this in the past severalyears. This year we were, indoors in the Campus Center because of the possibility of rain.We managed to sign up about 20students who also filled out requests for absentee ballots. Together with a completed registration form, we mailed these to thestudents' local Board of Elections.The SilverBowl Tea will beheld at JanetWinfield's homeon Sunday November 18th from 1-3. We willhave three speakers. Two areAmerican Fellows at CornellUniversity and one is lastyear's recipient of the Leadership scholarship at Elmira College. It should be an informative afternoon along with lotsof delicious treats. Pleasemark your calendar, as thedate has just been finalized.Let's fill that Silver Bowl thisyear, so other young womencan take advantage ofAAUW's support in their variedstudies!(Continued on page 6)AAUW NYS DiversityIn principle and practice,AAUW values and seeks a diverse membership.There shall be no barriersso to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class.AAUW’s mission statementemphasizes its determination tomeet the needs of women of allages, cultures and abilities.Bringing a diverse populationinto programs and membershipis the feature that results in aninfluential organization that mirrors the community.News & ViewsBridge Interest GroupTopicsSteele Library AuditoriumWednesday, October 10th 10:30 - 11:45Topic - Opening all handsand rebids by openerWednesday, October 24th 10:30 - 11:45Topic - Responding topartner's opening bidOctober 2012Join us - please emailpstad145@aol.comPage 5