Littleton-South Metro Branch works hard to ensure that all our branch programs are in alignment with our strategic plan, which is also directly aligned to AAUW National’s strategic plan. This means that each program’s focus falls into one of the following four areas:
- Education & Training: Addressing the barriers and implicit biases that hinder advancement of women.
- Economic Security: Ensuring livelihoods for women.
- Leadership: Closing the gender gap in leadership opportunities.
AAUW’s fiscal year runs July 1 – June 30, with our end of the year annual meeting taking place in April. Below is a synopsis of our most recent programs followed by a summary of the programs held September 2020-May 2021. Last year was particularly challenging due to COVID restrictions. However, all meetings were held successfully via Zoom which enabled us to keep branch members engaged during this difficult time. We hope you will consider joining us for one of our 2021-22 programs.
Recent Programs
NOVEMBER BRANCH MEETING
Wednesday, November 20 @ 7:00pm on Zoom: Nuclear Energy: Where is it Going? by Christine King – in conjunction with the League of Women Voters.
2024 COLORADO CONVENTION ATTENDEES
See Presentations here: February 3,2024 Public Policy Day
SUPPORTING MATERIAL: BringingLaudatoSiToLife-Sept2016
Laudato-Si Pope’s letter BILLS-118hr598ih climate
Our Student Scholarship Fundraiser raised over $4000!
The December White Elephant gift exchange was a great success!
View the pictures here:
At the November 2023 Branch Meeting,
we received a presentation from the Rose Andom Center.
Click here to view this presentation.
September 2023 Fall Kickoff Meeting addressed overview of the Littleton-South Metro interest groups and website and introduction to our scholarship fundraiser to be held this fall.
April 2023 Branch Meeting: Featured Branch members from the Writing Group who shared many of their interesting writings.
March 2023 Branch Meeting: Exploring Inclusion
January 2023 Branch Meeting
The branch viewed “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story,” a 2017 American biographical documentary film directed, written and co-edited by Alexandra Dean, about the life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. It had its world premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival and released theatrically on November 24, 2017. This film exploredLamarr’s life which included escaping a loveless marriage on the eve of Nazi Germany’s conquest of her nation to a new career in Hollywood. However, her intellectual contributions were denied their due even when she offered them in the service of her new home during World War II. Only after years of career and personal decline in her troubled life would Lamarr learn that her staggering aptitude created brilliant engineering concepts that revolutionized telecommunications, which forced the world to realize the hidden abilities of a woman it had so unfairly underestimated.
December 2022 Branch Meeting
We gathered at Barb McDaniel’s home for lunch followed by Gail Beaton’s portrayal of “Gail Murphy: Colorado’s Rosie the Riveter.” This was a fun and festive afternoon, in addition to an annual fundraising event as donations for our Scholarship Fund were collected!
Rosie the Riveter is the name given to US women during World War II throughout the country who worked as welders, bullet makers, and at a wide variety of factory jobs vital for the war effort. During this program, we learned about the character Gail Murphy, a bullet case worker at the Denver Ordnance Plant and other great contributions that women made to World War II efforts.
November 2022 Branch Meeting
Teressa Gehrke
We had an engaging program and conversation on cyber security on Saturday, November 12 , given by Teressa Gehrke, the founder of PopCykol. An emerging cyber security awareness company, PopCykol stands for Protecting Our Precious Curious Kids Online. For additional information, click here. To view the presentation, click Protecting Yourself Online.
September 2022 Branch Meeting
AAUW Littleton South-Metro Fall Kick-Off Meeting & Program
Commitment to Equity & Title IX Processes at Arapahoe Community College
June 2022 Branch Meeting
The Summer Picnic on June 11, 2022 was a Great Success! Two of our 2022 scholarship winners were in attendance.
President Donna Zimmerman with Scholarship Winner, Sloane Smith: Sloane is graduating from Littleton High School where she participated in the LHS STEM program. She will be attending the University of Kansas, double majoring in exercise science and dancing.
President Donna Zimmerman with Joseline Vasquez: Graduating from
Sheridan High School, Joseline will be attending Metropolitan State University majoring in marketing. She hopes to transfer to another Colorado school and to study abroad to expand her opportunities.
May 2022 Branch Meeting
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Where Do We Go From Here
Candace M. Smith, Aurora Branch Member
Speaker, Candace Smith (photo top left), and other branch members at May branch meeting.
March 2022 Branch Meeting
December 2021 Branch Meeting, “The New American”
For a limited time only, enjoy the Living Voices video entitled “The New American”. Use the following Password to access the video: !mW7gr@73.
Check out the Video Recordings for the November 2021 Branch Meeting
Check Out the Presentations at October 2021 Branch Meeting and Other Relevant Information
Slide Presentation
Related Ted Talk by Dr. Theobald
GeoCivics of Colorado
Review of Questions Touched On
Historical Review of Colorado Redistricting
November 2021 Ballot Issues – Jo Feder, League of Women Voters
LWV 2021 Ballot Issues Brochure
League of Women Voters of Colorado
Vote411
September 2021 Fall Kickoff Meeting – “A picnic in the Park”
Past Programs September 2020- May 2021
SEPTEMBER:
September Kick-Off Meeting Focused on Zoom Training (September 12, 2020): Due to COVID-19 pandemic & the need to utilize online/virtual meeting platforms (Zoom), we held virtual meeting training to increase members’ comfort with utilizing the platform.
OCTOBER:
Voter Signature Authorization & Ballot Issues (October 10, 2020): Littleton-South Metro member, Jane Miller, spends election season verifying ballot signatures for the State of Colorado. This was an excellent presentation on what’s involved, how important this work is & also how important it is to participate in these types of roles. We also heard from League of Women Voter’s Jo Feder about important ballot issues.
NOVEMBER:
Dr. Dena Samuels & The Mindfulness Effect (November 14, 2020): To promote the well-being of our members & the important aspect of taking care of themselves first, we engaged Dr. Samuels to provide a bit more training on this, than was offered at the State Spring Conference.
EnCorps STEM Teachers Program (November 14, 2020): Presentation by Bethany Orozco, National Recruitment & Communications Director. This program recruits professionals (retired or not) to become teachers or fellows in the program & then trains & positions them in under-resourced community schools to give disadvantaged students access to high-quality STEM education. We also discussed ways to partner, including options for our members to volunteer in the program
DECEMBER:
Hear My Voice Annual Holiday Event & Fundraiser (December 12, 2020): In keeping with our usual tradition, despite the restraints of a pandemic, we moved our holiday event completely & successfully online. Additionally, Hear My Voicewas produced by award winning theatre company, Living Voices. The performance was both virtual & live, presenting a very engaging look at the Women’s Suffrage Movement. We had members attend from many other branches, plus League of Women Voter members.
JANUARY:
Video “Live with Carnegie Hall: Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsberg”
FEBRUARY:
Public Policy Day
MARCH:
AAUW National’s Equity Network (March 13, 2021): Presentation by Nischia McFarlane, Engagement Associate for Advancement & Partnerships. Members brought guests to this meeting as we learned more about this pilot program, how it’s engaging younger generations who don’t want to become members & also how we can help promote this program so that more young women can learn about the programs & opportunities offered by AAUW National on equity & how it factors into achieving economic security.
APRIL:
Andrea Bobotis, Author of The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt (April 10): Andrea is a Colorado author who not only discussed her book & the book writing process, she also discussed how she went about getting her book published, along with some of the barriers she had to overcome.
MAY:
CO Supreme Court Justice Monica Marquez (May 22, 2021): Justice Marquez discussed her journey to become a Justice, the obstacles she had to overcome & the rewards of having this career. She also sits on the Bench Dream Team, a group of judges dedicated to diversity & inclusion in the Colorado Judicial System.