11/11: Last day to sign up for 12/5 Met Museum bus trip!

Call Lynn Gore (845- 687-9210) today (November 11)
to let her know your check is on the way! 

AAUW Kingston NYC bus trip to
the Metropolitan Museum of Art
with a stop at Trader Joe’s in Paramus, NJ
on the way home!

Itinerary:
8:00 AM: Leaving Kingston Plaza (near Hannaford)
8:20 AM: New Paltz Park and Ride Thruway area
10:15 AM: Arrive at the Metropolitan Museum of Art- 81st street entrance
10:30-2:30 Time to explore on your own with your headset
Lunch your choice of venue: click below:
Check out the different dining options here
2:45 PM: Meet at assembly point
3:30 PM: Shopping Stop at Trader Joe’s
4:15 PM: Re-board the bus
5:30 PM: Return to New Paltz Park and Ride
5:50 PM: Return to Kingston Plaza

Please spread the word and help AAUW Kingston continue our bus trips,
which support much-needed local college and high school scholarships
for women and girls.

Cost (includes museum entrance and headphones, coach bus, tip, snacks):
AAUW member: $70
Non-member:    $80

Send payment, including your name, email, and phone number
– and the same information for your guest(s) – to:
Lynn Gore, 400 Chestnut Hill Road, Stone Ridge, NY 12484
Make checks payable to AAUW Kingston.
Please pay by today, November 11!

Questions? Call Lynn Gore at 845-687-9210 or email lynngore54@gmail.com

11/5/19: Election Day!

Today, Tuesday, November 5, 2019, is Election Day!
Thanks to all of you who voted early – for the first time in NYS!
If you haven’t yet, today’s the day, so please get out and vote.
Encourage your friends, family, and co-workers to vote too.

In Ulster County, for example, we have many important county
and local races, three state Supreme Court Justices to elect,
and ballot propositions in Gardiner, Marbletown, Rosendale,
and Shandaken.

Polls are open in our area until 9 PM.
Call me if you need a ride to the polls.
Susan H, 845-389-3961, susan-holland@usa.net

Board of Elections websites
– Dutchess County:
http://www.dutchesselections.com/
– Greene County:
http://greenegovernment.com/departments/board-of-elections/
– Ulster County:
http://ulstercountyny.gov/elections
– NYS:
http://www.elections.ny.gov/

What’s up this fall?

Here’s some of what’s happening with the branch this fall! (See our website calendar for more details.) —

– Fri., 11/22, RSVP to Adele by today for The Realistic Joneses on 11/24.

– Sun., 11/24, 1:30 PM, The Realistic Joneses, Community Center, 56 Rock City Road, Woodstock.

– Thurs., 12/5, Bus trip to Met Museum, NYC

– Sun., 12/8, 5 PM, Potluck and film, ViVi’s home, Kingston.

– Thurs., 12/12, Winter branch meeting and holiday party with Energy Dance Company, Kingston Library, Community Room (2nd Floor).

Come to one, come to all! See you soon!…Susan H.

Our 2019 annual meeting was an enjoyable success!

The Kingston Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) held its annual meeting, open to all members, at 5 PM on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at the home of outgoing President Adele Calcavecchio. An election of officers for the 2019-2020 term was held. Lynn Gore will be our new Kingston Branch President and Karen Aspromonte will replace Lynn as Membership VP.

Treasurer Marjorie Bot reported that income and expenditures this past year came very close to what was forecast. The Kingston Branch was able to donate $2000 to SUNY Ulster and $1000 to Kingston High School for scholarships, and $500 to the Kingston Library. The Gift Card Program proceeds of $500 was divided evenly among students in need at Kingston and Saugerties High Schools as part of their Holiday Gift Funds.

The SUNY Ulster donation contributed to scholarships for two women, Brittney Partridge and Ava Hricisak. Ava attended the meeting, thanked the group, and described her future plans as she pursues an English degree in adolescent education. Brittney sent a recording of a vocal piece that represents her talent as she pursues a degree in Fine Arts.

President Adele Calcavecchio has completed five sequential one-year terms. During her tenure, she organized events with other groups, including the League of Women Voters and the Center for Creative Education. As an actor, she was successful in encouraging members to attend shows by Coach House Players and Performing Arts of Woodstock as a group. Adele provided her leadership and skills organizing our Fall and Spring luncheons, which are major fundraisers for the scholarship program.

Past Membership VP Lynn Gore also organizes trips that have earned profits for the group. Our branch will host the AAUW New York State District IV Annual Conference on Sunday, October 20, 2019, and Lynn is working with a committee planning this conference. She was instrumental in designing tote bags and a branch banner that can be used as a background for photos. Lynn debuted the banner at the meeting.

When Lynn was asked about her plans for the next year, she replied that “I look forward to carrying on the good example of my predecessor. I am happy to take on the position of President of AAUW and work with the executive board to hold successful fundraisers.”

Members attending this picnic meeting brought salads and desserts to complement the entree prepared by our host. Jazz musician Dennis Yerry provided background music as members enjoyed the evening.

Photos to be posted soon on our branch Facebook page.

Introducing our 2019 SUNY Ulster scholarship recipients!

The Kingston branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) participated as donors in the SUNY Ulster Scholarship Ceremony on May 19, 2019 at the campus.  AAUW Kingston Branch President Adele Calcavecchio and Membership Vice President Lynn Gore joined ~200 student recipients, their families, and other donors who gave to the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc.

A reception for donors and recipients was held before the award ceremony, giving Adele and Lynn a chance to meet the two SUNY Ulster students we sponsored this year – Brittney Partridge and Ava Hricisak.  Brittany will be pursuing an English degree in adolescent education.  Ava will continue her studies in Fine Arts. Both women attend SUNY New Paltz. Adele discovered that Ava’s father had been one of her students in the past.

In 1976, the Ulster Community College Foundation, Inc. awarded $15,000 in scholarships.  In 2016-2017, they were able to give approximately $400,000 to more than 260 students. AAUW Kingston is proud to be an annual participant in their growth and achievement.

Several branch events throughout the year raise money for these scholarships. Most recently, proceeds from our May 4 Spring Luncheon at Reginato Restaurant were donated to the Foundation. AAUW Kingston events are open to members and non-members. All are welcome.

The pictures (to be posted soon) on our branch Facebook page were taken by the official photographer at the reception, where appetizers, fruits, vegetables, and cookies were served in the SUNY Ulster cafeteria.

Friday, 6/21: Learn about the NYS Health Care Act at the Kingston Library

The NYS Health Care Act: Information Session 
Friday, June 21
1 PM to 3 PM
Kingston Library, 55 Franklin Street, Kingston

Gail Myers, Deputy Director of the NY Statewide Senior Council, will speak about the proposed NYS Health Care Act. With many years of prior experience working with aging and health care issues, Gail is the Council’s spokeswoman and representative on this important issue.

For more information about this legislation, go to:
https://www.nysenior.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/NY-Health-and-Medicare.pdf

Please plan to attend this session if you can.  There’ll be plenty of time for discussion, so bring your questions and concerns.

Sponsored by: Settled and Serving in Place (SSIP) Kingston

6/8: “Rise against Hate” Rally in New Paltz

A letter from New Paltz Women in Black:

We are very excited about the rally we are helping to organize this Saturday, June 8 from 1 PM to 2:30 PM, in front of Elting Library on Main Street, called “Rise against Hate”!

On the day of the event, a poster-making party will be held at Ryan Cronin: CronArtUSA in the Water Street Market from 11 AM to 12:30 PM. Some materials will be available, or bring your own.

rise-against-hate-FB-image.jpg
It all began when Lexy Zissu, mother of a New Paltz Middle School student, approached us with the idea. She and other parents and staff were disturbed by hateful incidents (swastika signs, the n-word) that have happened in New Paltz schools in recent months. They felt it was important for the students to see that the community was with them in denouncing hate and standing up for the rights of all students, especially those who were victims of bigotry and hate, or felt threatened by the incidents. Other schools and other marginalized and vulnerable members of our communities are also facing rising incidents of hate speech and hate crimes and they have been invited to have a voice on Saturday as well.
We really hope we will have a strong showing denouncing hate and celebrating our diversity, compassion and respect for all. There will be some amazing (but brief!) speakers and performances by the amazing TinHorn Uprising, the Resisterhood Choir and the Red Wing Blackbird Puppet Theater!
You can sign up here, Rise against Hate Rally and learn more about the event and our many great co-sponsors. The flier is also attached. We hope you can share it. If you can print it out and post that would be even better!
 
This is a family-friendly event that we hope will send a strong, uplifting and celebratory message of what a loving community looks like!
 
Hope to see you there!

8/20: Bus Trip to Cooperstown

AAUW Kingston: Bus Trip to Cooperstown
Tuesday, August 20, 2019

1. Fenimore Museum
Special exhibits:
Floating Palaces of the Hudson
Herb Ritts: The Rock Portraits

2. Show Boat at Glimmerglass Opera House

8 AM: Leave Kingston Plaza (near Hannaford)
7 PM: Return to Kingston

Cost:
AAUW members: $140
Non-members: $150

Payment is due by July 1, 2019.

Questions?
Call Lynn Gore at 845-687-9210  or email lynngore54@gmail.com

Vote in the AAUW National election by 6 PM on May 14

Did you get an email about the AAUW National election? For example, I got one on April 30 from AAUW CEO Kim Churches —   Subject: Two Weeks Left to Vote in the AAUW Election.

Check your in-box for this (or an earlier) election email from AAUW. Click on the big magenta VOTE NOW button in that email. Or, go to:

https://ww2.aauw.org/omov2019/

and enter your member ID and your voter PIN (listed on the back cover of your Spring Outlook).

Review the ballot and cast your votes.

For questions about the voting process, email connect@aauw.org or call 800-326-2289 (Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM ET).

So, please remember to vote by Tuesday, May 14!

Let me know if you need more information.

— Susan Holland, susan-holland@usa.net, 845-389-3961