Founded: 1939	Members: 141 {Feb, 2009 National Report}	Branch dues: $13
Fort Wayne Branch Web Site is now active! Check that site for more information	President & Branch Contact: Marie Mattison 260-625-6967 or dmattis1@comcast.net	Co-Directors of Programs Pat Becker 260-484-9105 or tonypat41@msn.com Dorothy Woods 260-434-1586 or bndwoods@juno.com
Interest Groups Fort Wayne Trust	Director of Membership: Sandra Tucker 260-434-1586 or stucker65@comcast.net	More about Ft. Wayne
Andrea Tarbet, Mary Lou Thomas, Nancy Andrews Barb Kanning, Dorothy Woods, Thelma Bowles Phyllis Thompson, Juliette Spears, Marie Mattison Pat Becker, Judy Gillman, Janet Sharpe 2009 State Convention, Warsaw

Too often in history, those in power have determined who is "worthy" of
an education.  Women have routinely been deemed "unworthy", yet
progressive men and women have steadfastly provided underground
opportunities for learning - for the enslaved, religious minorities, and
women.  Come learn about the powerful history of under-ground
and populist education, and be among the first to hear about Fort Wayne's
own "Hedge School" project.

Menu for the Hedge Schools Program:
(Order box lunch, bring your own food, or don't eat)  Box lunch includes:
sandwich, chips, cookie, and cold drink, for $8.50. (Sandwich choices:
turkey club, ham and Swiss, or veggie burger; Chip choices: regular or
BBQ; Cookie choices: peanut butter or chocolate chip; Drink choices:
Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sprite, or bottled water)
When you send your check for the box lunch include your choice of
sandwich, chips, cookie and beverage. 

Program Co-chairs: Dorothy Woods & Pat Becker
Registration Information:
If postmarked by: Monday Oct. 13, $8.50; Oct. 14 or Oct. 15, $10.65.
No late registrations accepted.  Send check payable to AAUW  

To: Cathy Huff, Program Reservation, 4329 North Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46815

• December 6, 2008  HOLIDAY BRUNCH and LAF Silent Auction
  Pine Valley Country Club, 10900 Pine Milles Road
  9:00 a.m.  Gathering and Legal Advocacy Silent Auction
  9:45 a.m.  Brunch Buffet
  10:15 a.m. Announcements and Presentation
  The Future of the Legal Advocacy Fund by Phyllis Thompson
  Program Chairs:  Pat Becker and Dorothy Woods
  Reservations to Cathy Huff

• March 8, 2009 
  The Fort Wayne Branch will again be participating in the International
  Women's Day Celebration on March 8, 2009 at the Fort Wayne Museum of
  Art. Members Marie Mattison, Marcia Goheen and Dorothy Woods are again on the
  steering committee. More information will be forthcoming.

• March 31, 2009  RECOGNITION NIGHT and ANNUAL MEETING
  Mariott Hotel, 305 E. Washington Center Road
  5:30 p.m.  Gathering and Social Time
  6:00 p.m.  Dinner
  7:00 p.m.  Annual Business Meeting and Award Presentation
  Program Chairs:  Pat Becker and Dorothy Woods
  Reservations : Cathy Huff

• May 2, 2009  SPRING MEMBERSHIP BRUNCH
  Fort Wayne Country Club, 5221 Covington Road
  9:30 a.m. Social and Dues Payment
  10:15a.m.  Brunch
  11:00 a.m.  Program:  INTERGENERATIONAL PRESENTATIONS
  Program Chairs:  Pat Becker and Dorothy Woods
  Reservations: Cathy Huff
   

For more detailed information contact Pat Becker - tonypat41@msn.com  or Dorothy Woods - bndwoods@juno.com.
Check the Fort Wayne branch web site (aauwfortwayne.org) for monthly updates and additional information.

The AAUW Educational Foundation, a national arm of AAUW, has awarded our Mentoring program the maximum amount available for their one-year grant--$7,000!!!!! We can now have the mentoring program that we envisioned, with many of the facets we thought would enrich the program. The Whitington teens will truly benefit from AAUW's generosity and investment in our program.

Thanks to each of you who already has given so much in terms of time, money, talent and heart to make this program a success. This is an affirmation of our efforts, with very special meaning to the many from our program who are members of the Fort Wayne Branch of AAUW. A very special thanks to Phyllis Thompson who encouraged us to apply for this grant. Onward to a great year with our teens who are such special young women and who have so much potential to shape positive futures for themselves. {Mary McDonald}

Excerpt from the February 21, 2008 article by Kevin Leininger: "A lot of the girls at Whitington have been disappointed in relationships. We hope that, through nurturing and attentiveness, they will be able to gain inner strength, self-worth, confidence and empowerment," said Mary McDonald, a member of the local chapter of the American Association of University Women, which this week began a year-long mentoring program for residents of the transitional shelter at 2423 Fairfield Ave.

Don't let the program's touchy-feely debut fool you. With its nationwide network of more than 100,000 members, 1,000 branches and 500 college and university partners, the Washington, D.C.-based AAUW has advocated equity and education for women and girls since 1881 -- long before it became trendy. Most of Whitington's residents desperately need both, and the presence of AAUW mentors will open their eyes to unimagined possibilities....

Each young woman will be paired with two adults to assure continuity of the relationship and minimize potentially harmful disappointment should one mentor be unavailable.

"I'm excited. I've never had anything like this, and it will help lead me where I want to go," said 19-year-old "T" -- I'm not using her full name at Whitington's request -- who hopes to become a police officer one day. "I've been on the bad side of the law. I want to be on the good side."

"This will help me be more in tune with myself, to appreciate who I am," added "K," 17, who wants to be a cosmetologist one day. "I've never had anyone throw rose petals at me before."