Co-Presidents’ message: 100th Anniversary
To those of you who attended the Anniversary, once again Thank you! Your participation really made the day! It was hoped that we would have a great turn out and we had an even better turnout! The Committee is once again thanked for making the Anniversary Celebration special and for all the hard work that they did. A special thanks to Carol Toomey for chairing the event, providing her expertise on reading the script, and providing costumes for the models; and to Pat Hummel for writing the script and also for some of the costumes. And a thank you to Ellie Hunt who stayed involved for the long haul, editing the production and preparing the quiz and so many other tasks. And to many others who pitched in to decorate, table set, and manage the parking lot, thank you!
Although I was deeply involved in outlining the history of the Reading Branch, Pat’s script and Carol’s reading really made it come alive! I couldn’t help but think what an amazing legacy of activity and achievements the Branch can look back on. I can only speculate on the future but my hope is that we can use this to attract new members and to recommit ourselves to advancing women in the coming year.
We plan to make the presentation and slides available on-line in a PDF format suitable to download and print. We are also looking forward to doing the presentation on BCTV to keep a permanent record of the events of the past and of 2023. We will let you know when you can see the program on TV or online at BCTV.org.
If anyone would like to borrow a copy of the book we were gifted: 50 Years of Ms. The Best of the Pathfinding Magazine That Ignited a Revolution, please contact Karen Parish. This is a compendium of articles that span 50 years. Feel free to read one or more.
Here’s to us! Happy Anniversary!
AAUW Reading will be celebrating our 100th anniversary in 2023.
Saturday, September 30, 2023. 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Albright’s South Lounge Student Center
Luncheon $25
Albright will provide a luncheon while we entertain you with stories of the past.
The celebration includes an historical review of our first 100 years including models from the fashion department of Albright College displaying fashion trends of the day.
If you have not received an invitation contact Carol Toomey aauwreadingpa@gmail.com
Reading’s 275th Anniversary
On Sunday, October 1, the city of Reading will celebrate their 275th anniversary with a community parade from RAAC to City Park at 10 am. Since it’s our 100th Anniversary of AAUW, Reading Branch, we will join the parade with members walking and/or riding in 2 cars: Toomey’s 1930 Model A, and their 2013 Pontiac Convertible, bearing banners with our AAUW 100th Anniversary logo. There’s minimal room to ride, but the first 5-6 members who would like to participate in the parade can indicate they would like to ride the mile, instead of walking. We’d like to wear white blouses, like the suffragists did 100 years ago. Anyone who can walk the mile is warmly welcomed and appreciated. Please let Carol Toomey know if you are interested.
Reading FilmFest
Although our LunaFest, held in May was last minute (due to Cliff Bars pulling their support of LunaFest after May 31), we had a supportive audience enjoying the films and dessert and Luna Bars on May 30th. We are disappointed that there are no plans at this time for Cliff to continue this LunaFest by and about women, but our branch will be supporting a Women’s block of films, including 4 of those LunaFest films, at the ReadingFilmFest on Saturday, October 28, at 7:30 pm, at the Reading IMax. We will be holding our jewelry sale at the Imax from 12-3pm and 6-7:30 pm on that day also. From 3-6 pm, the ReadingFilmFest is showing the original Wizard of Oz, with the movie’s historian, John Fricke, as special guest and workshop presenter. We hope you will be interested to join us at the movies, so get your tickets online at readingfilmfest.com. Stay for the entire day and volunteer to help sell the jewelry. Call Carol Toomey or Eileen Ritz
LUNAFEST
The American Association of University Women, Reading Branch presented LUNAFEST® for its 4th consecutive year as part of the 2021 ReadingFilmFEST! This exciting film festival was held live on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at 7 pm at Reading IMAX, 30 N. 2nd St., Reading, 19601. Virtual screening was also available September 30-October 10.
Congratulations to Carol Toomey and her team of AAUW volunteers for another very successful year of LUNAFEST®
LUNAFEST® is a unique inspirational film festival that features short films by and about Women. These short films will make you think, laugh, cry, and above all, marvel at the talents of these amazing filmmakers. All of them are presented with the goal of raising awareness of, and funds for, women’s issues. The films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women’s health, body image, relationships, cultural diversity, and breaking barriers.
Book Bonanza Update
It was a lot of hard work, but Book Bonanza 2021 was a bonanza of successes. AAUW Reading Branch received a significant check for their scholarship fund and the Friends of Berks County Public Libraries received an equal amount to help support libraries throughout the county. Our patrons were delighted to purchase books, puzzles, CD’s, DVD’s, records, and audio books for very low prices. Some made return visits during the 5 day sale. Donations of surplus materials were made to nursing homes, Berks Encore, Goodwill, Jubilee and other charities to use or sell. Old and damaged books were kept out of landfills and were sent to be recycled.
All these successes were made possible by a wonderful group of volunteers who worked tirelessly before, during, and after the sale. If you were one of these take pride in what you helped to accomplish. As a member of the Executive Committee, I encourage all of you to support Book Bonanza 2022 by donating, volunteering to
sort and sell, and making purchases at the sale.
Suzanne Churgai
AAUW in Action, where we are with Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, protecting staff and students in any educational institution or program that receives federal funds.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of Title IX, its regulations, and its guidance. AAUW believes OCR must receive adequate funding to strengthen its Title IX enforcement efforts, and advocates thorough investigation of complaints and proactive compliance review.
All AAUW public policy actions take direction from the AAUW Public Policy Priorities, voted on by members every two years. AAUW is a nonpartisan organization—but nonpartisan does not mean “non-political.” Since its first meeting in 1881, AAUW has been a catalyst for change. Together, through our coordinated and strategic advocacy, we’ve enacted invaluable legislation at the federal, state, and local levels. The 2021-2023 Public Policy priorities directly identify strengthening and vigorously enforcing Title IX.
Title IX’s Work Is Not Done
Title IX has advanced gender equity in schools since 1972. The law not only impacted athletics, it impacts all educational programs and provided for opportunity for all females.
With 37 words, Congress changed the face of education. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
AAUW has always been a proponent of Title IX. “Title IX of the Education Amendments was enacted into law on June 23, 1972. It took another three years to develop sufficient regulations to enforce the law, leading AAUW to establish a coalition of 15 women’s and educational organizations. The National Coalition of Women and Girls Education (NCWGE) is still in operation today, providing Title IX guidance and enforcement recommendations to the U.S. Department of Education.”
but much work remains:
- AAUW’s own research revealed that two-thirds of college students experience sexual harassment. Studies have also found that approximately 26% of all female undergraduate students and nearly 7% of all male undergraduate students have experienced sexual assault. Additionally, AAUW research found that 56% of girls and 40% of boys in grades 7-12 face sexual harassment.
- Girls have 1.2 million fewer chances to play sports in high school than boys. Less than two-thirds of African American and Hispanic girls play sports, while more than three-quarters of white girls do.
- Only 21% of engineering majors and 19% of computer science majors are women.
- Pregnant and parenting students are often steered toward separate, less rigorous schools.
- The rate of women’s enrollment in certain nontraditional careers remains at low levels, with some fields well below 25% in women’s representation.
For more information https://www.aauw.org/resources/policy/position-title-ix/
Berks Women’s History Alliance holds “Curbside”
Celebration of the 100th Year Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage
The nonpartisan Berks Women’s History Alliance (BWHA) held a drive-through
celebration of the 100th year anniversary of women achieving the right to vote in America. The event, scheduled from 5:00 to 7:00p.m. (rain or shine) on Women’s Equality Day August 26, 2020, was held at the Berks History Center parking lot located next to the Berks History Center’s Henry Janssen Library at 160 Spring St., 19601.
Each participant was handed a free 100th Women’s Suffrage Anniversary commemorative tote bag filled with information and items celebrating this historic milestone. One of the items inside the bag was a video showcasing local suffragist reenactors who were on hand to
meet people and distribute the bags. In keeping with current state guidelines participants were asked to maintain social distance and wear masks. “I’m proud that the creative and determined members of the Berks Women’s History Alliance refused to allow the COVID-19 crisis to destroy our plans to acknowledge the 100th Anniversary of Women earning the right to vote in America,” said Penny Guido, one of the leaders of the Berks Women’s History Alliance. “Our curbside celebration may be a bit unorthodox but it offered the public a safe way to participate and learn about the 72-year fight for women’s right to vote.” AAUW members participating in the event were Judith Kraines as Susan B. Anthony, Ellie Hunt as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Carol Toomey as Anna Howard Shaw, Eileen Ritz as Lucy Burns, Suzanne Churgai as Abigail Adams, Nancy Wolfgang as Carrie Chapman Catt and former AAUW member Hallie Vaughan as Alice Paul. The Berks Women’s History Alliance canceled the Berks Suffrage 2020 Centennial Dinner originally planned for August 26 due to concerns regarding the health and safety of attendees due to concerns around COVID-19.
L to R AAUW members Judith Kraines, Eileen Ritz, Hallie Vaughan(former member), Carol Toomey, Nancy Wolfgang and Suzanne Churgai
Ellie Hunt and Judith Kraines as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
Judith Kraines and Carol Toomey
Carol Toomey and Suzanne Churgai hand out commemorative tote bags
AAUW members visit Brandywine Museum’s Exhibit, Votes for Women
AAUW members are finding fun ways to continue activities during the pandemic. Recently a group of members took a trip to the Brandywine Museum to see their Votes for Women Exhibit.
Vicky Heffner, Education Curator of Berks History Center, Eileen Ritz, Carol Toomey, Victoria Troutman, Ellie Hunt, Hallie Vaughan
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR AAUW READING BRANCH
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Fortunately we were able to celebrate the historical event of women’s right to vote. Our “suffragists” were able to perform their reenactment of these brave women who risked so much to get our government to grant women the right to vote 
. Unfortunately the subsequent presentations to be held at the Kickoff of the Centennial in Berks County had to be cancelled; the AAUW State convention to be held in Harrisburg in April of this year has also been postponed to July of 2020.
Stay abreast for news of cancellations and/or rescheduling of events by reading the Communications Memo emailed by Eileen Ritz, our Communications Director.
Read more about the role of AAUW in the celebration of the Centennial in Purple Sashes and Persistent Women, AAUW Pennsylvania 2020 Yearbook.
STEM presentation
Thursday January 21 AAUW held a Zoom presentation on STEM to learn about the Science Research Institute, where students in grades 5 to 12 create, innovate, invent, and get patents.
New AAUW member Adelle Schade developed and runs the Science Research Institute at Albright College. Last May it was named one of the top four STEM programs in the United States.
Thank you to all who participated in this exciting program on January 21st.
AAUW Statement on the Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
The following is a statement by AAUW CEO Kimberly Churches:
America lost one of our most beloved role models tonight, a pioneering jurist and iconic feminist who blazed new trails, not only in her own life, but in the lives of the countless women she championed — and inspired. On behalf of AAUW and its members and supporters who recognized Justice Ginsburg with a 1999 AAUW Achievement Award, we extend our condolences to her family, her colleagues and to every American whose lives and hearts she touched. The nation owes it to her — and to all women — to honor her final wishes and refrain from naming a replacement until after a new president is inaugurated.
Paying Tribute to a Feminist Trailblazer