On April 6th the 100 High School Girls annual scholarship award program honored 100 young ladies from area high schools on their academic success. The event was held at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center in Kansas City. Three young ladies were awarded scholarships for their community service, leadership skills and academic success. Pictured left to right: Dixie Robinson from Northeast High School plans to attend Avila University to study Advertising and Public Relations; Candace Cunningham from Center High School plans to attend the University of Missouri Columbia to study Occupational Therapy; and Cynthia Odu from Lincoln College Preparatory Academy plans to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study Computer Science. Thank you to our guest speaker Barbara (Barb) Shelley, a columnist for the Kansas City Star and advocate for the education of girls and women. 

On April 19th the InterBranch Council presented the annual Reentry Woman of the Year scholarships to six women who best exemplify the courage, effort and perseverance to return to the classroom after an absence of five or more years. Pictured above, left to right: Ashley Parker, MCCC Longview; Donna Young, UMKC; Angela Blackmon, MCCC Penn Valley; Rachelle (Shelly) Hardin, MCCC Blue River; Sunday Hatten, MCCC Penn Valley; and Rebecca Lassiter, MCCC Longview. Everyone enjoyed a delicious brunch at Unity Village and left inspired by the stories shared by the honorees.

Authors, members and guests gathered at the KC Central Library for the 35th Annual Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award on Oct. 5. The award was established in 1979 by AAUW-KC to honor Thorpe Menn, longtime book editor of The Kansas City Star, who supported all aspects of Kansas City’s cultural life, especially local authors and artists.

The 2013 Award was presented to Samuel Arbesman for his book The Half-Life of Facts.  The finalists were: Hughes Keenan, The Harvest Is Past and Debra McArthur, A Voice for Kanzas. Congratulations to all 17 nominated local authors!

“35 Authors: Where Are They Now?”, a special tribute to the past winners, was presented by guest speaker Vivien Jennings, president of Rainy Day Books. The tribute was a compilation of author interviews, research and a video produced by event and reading committee members.

We are already making plans for the 36th event in October 2014.  If you would like to nominate an author for the 2014 award, please visit “Thorpe Menn” under the “Events” tab for qualifications and submission details. Or you may contact Linda Daugherty at (913) 449-1130 or lindadaugherty2000@yahoo.com.

One wonders what it must have been like back in 1920 when women gained the vote. I can only guess at the excitement, the strong sense of camaraderie, the pure joy felt by those ‘pioneering’ suffragists! Some nine decades later, Aug. 25, 2013 at Mill Creek Park on the Plaza, like-minded women gathered to again celebrate that historic date. The kick-off Rally was titled “Women’s Equality:  Pushing Back/Marching Forward”. Despite the hot weather, all were inspired by speakers, music, the Wall of Women’s Achievements, and the Call to Action.

AAUW-KC held a tabling event promoting the 3-State Strategy:  ERA, the Equal Pay Day Rally to be April 8, 2014, and a membership drive.

Sponsoring WEW were 20 organizations including AAUW, League of Women Voters, Greater KC Women’s Political Caucus, KC Public Library, KKFI Community Radio and many others. Additional events were scheduled throughout the week.

On Aug. 27, AAUW-KC and LWV, KCJCP partnering with the National Archives, hosted a panel discussion on “3-State Strategy:  Understanding Equal Rights Amendment Ratification”. Our distinguished panelists (pictured above) responded to such questions as:  Why is the ERA not ratified yet, and what is the 3-State Strategy? Why do women need it more than ever now and what can we do to enable ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment? The evening concluded with a Q & A session and engrossing, lively discussion.

New and renewing AAUW members gathered at the Waldo Branch Library for the annual Fall Fling Membership Kick-Off event. Thanks to Renee Carlson, the meeting room was transformed into a café-style setting, perfect for lively conversation among the members and guests.

Board Member and MO State President Linda Berube gave a run-down of all the activities currently underway at the State and National AAUW levels; Branch President Nicky Stanke did the same for Kansas City’s year.

Doretta Perna came as a guest and left as a member – Welcome, Doretta! Past member Marilyn Bables also attended and was greeted warmly at the prospect of her rejoining.

The three-state strategy to ratify the E.R.A. was the most discussed initiative of the morning, and those present were invited to sign the petition urging its ratification. The petitions will be gathered and sent on to Jefferson City as the momentum builds.