Branch Highlights

2023-2024 NAMED GIFT HONOREES – ROCHESTER BRANCH

Every year the Rochester AAUW Branch likes to honor its members who do something extra.  AAUW suggests a good way to do this is to choose a member for every $500 the Branch contributes to the AAUW Educational Funds.  Since our Branch and members have contributed over $1,500 to AAUW Funds which goes to educate women through grants and programs, we have chosen to honor this year these three Outstanding Women.

GOLDEN Members (50 yrs.)
Rochester, MI AAUW Branch 2022

PHYLLIS RELYEA
Phyllis joined AAUW upon graduating from Ohio University in July of 1961. She became a member of the Sandusky, OH Branch, later the Flint, MI Branch and finally settled at the Rochester Branch in 1984. There she is holding the positions of historian, bylaws/procedures committee member-both branch and state, monthly council president and posting the calendar of events page for the branch Newsline. Phyllis has a B.S. degree from Ohio University and a M.M.E from Indiana University in Music.

MARGE SHEPARD
Marge Shepard became a Rochester AAUW member July 1, 1970. She was involved in the Branch’s Children’s Theatre, designing and sewing costumes, wrote the grant to finance the first Heritage Festival in Rochester, MI each Memorial Day weekend and was an editor of the branch Newsline along with being its legal representative. Currently Marge is involved in the Branch’s STEAM projects. She has a B.A. from Alma College and a M.L.S. from U of M in Library Science.

NANCY RICE
Nancy Rice is an original member of the Rochester, MI Branch since July 1, 1967. She joined because of the excellent speakers and wanting to help women and girls succeed. She has been president of the Branch and involved in projects like Children’s Theatre and more recently chair of the Hospitality Committee. Nancy’s education career took her from teacher to principal to Director of Education and finally a professor at Saginaw Valley College. She has B.A. from Wesleyan College in education and a M.A. and Ph.D. in reading from MSU.


ROCHESTER AAUW
AAUW EDUCATIONAL FUNDS
NAMED GIFT HONOREES

(*Chosen 2nd time)

1980 *Sandra Everill 
1981 Diane Ebinger, Janet Heuerman, Jane Lahy, Barbara Solverson
1982 Jean Storm    
1983 Deborah Griffis    
1984 Kristine Beckmann
1985 Ronda Kline  
1986 Audrey Kowalak  
1987 Irene Bleisch
1988 Beverly Paurazas
1989 Bonnie Fantini
1990 Eleanor Feeley, Marie Moren
1991 Barbara Bonsignore, Jan Gibson, Sylvia Gallagher
1992 Linda Balas, Judy Gordon, Brenda Mullaney
1993 Marlene Gardner, Sharon Postnieks, Joanne Stroebel
1994 Sharon Gunton, Dee Fordree, Barb Eagen, Nancy Rice
1995 Jan Alverson, Jane Kelly, Mary Ann Reidinger, Jody Shevin
1996 Sharon Krumrei, Joyce Moffatt, Edie Paradowski, Betsi Schad
1997 Ruth Johnson, Maureen Kennedy, Barbara Rosalik, Joyce Slowik
1998 *Barbara Bonsignore
2001 Marie Beilfuss, Jean Smetana, Colleen Barkham, Judie Wurges
2002 Kathy Benore, Mary Jo Towns, Elizabeth McIntyre, Linda Rodrick
2003 Jill Greimel, Karin Bickle
2006 Joanne Blaszkowski, Kim Enders, Teri Allbright Wildrick
2007 Anita Gaydos, Rebecca Oetjens, Phyllis Relyea
2008 *Sylvia Gallagher, *Ruth Johnson, *Mary Jo Towns
2009 Mary Anne Kennedy-Haney, Lucinda Sabino, *Kathy Watson
2010 Debbie Fordree, Mary Ann Naito, Josetta Wood
2011 Karen Craven, Kathy McCoskey, Caroline Taylor
2012 Diane Kosuda, Priscilla Leach, Shirley Sikov
2013 Nadine Harvey, Linda Pannuto, Arlene Wanamaker
2014 Carol Quintal, *Lucinda Sabino, Irene Walter
2015 Sharon Bazoian, Karen Hyre, Regina Lawler
2016 Judy Garrett, Anne Kucher, Claudia Mullen
2017 *Kim Enders, Dody Machnee, Mary Mazure
2018 Kathleen Hearne, Lynn Standfest, Linda Thomas
2019 Marilyn Brown, Judy Holmes, Donna Moaveni
2020 Rosemary Myers, *Beverly Paurazas, *Sharon Postnieks
2021 *Joanne Blazkowski, *Jean Smetana, *Josetta Wood
2022 *Phyllis Relyea, *Nancy Rice, Marge Shepard
2023 *Judy Garrett,*Diane Kosuda, Nancy Mead

Rochester Branch
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Celebrates 55 Years (1962-2017)

The Rochester Branch of AAUW was chartered April 16, 1962 by thirty women from the Greater Rochester area with Margaret Slingerland as its first president in 1962-64.  Meetings were held in various locations, finally, settling in at the Rochester Community House in 1975.  The Branch membership was composed of women until 1987 when an AAUW bylaw change allowed men to join.  The Branch continues to support the AAUW Educational Funds which grant graduate scholarships and the Legal Advocacy Fund which supports judicial redress for

sexual discrimination.  For every $500 contribution, a member is recognized for her significant contribution to Branch activities at the May Dinner Meeting.

The Branch over the years has participated in many community events including Arts and Apples, the Town Hall Series with the League of Women Voters, The Art Train, Children’s Theatre, Picture Lady Program and the Heritage Festival. The first successful Women’s Workshop was held in 1983 at West Junior High with Lieutenant Governor Martha Griffiths as the keynote speaker. To celebrate the Branch’s 25th Anniversary in 1987, a local scholarship program was instituted.

Today honoring the 55th Anniversary, the Branch financially helps Oakland University women undergraduates attend the National College Conference of Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) in College Park, MD each spring.  The Branch also partners with Oakland University in establishing and maintaining the student organization AAUW-OU since 2016.

Also the Branch addresses women and girls needs through their annual March History Month projects:  Sundaes & Science – An Evening of Science, Math and Technology for Middle School Girls and Their Moms has evolved into a STEAM workshop co-sponsored with the Rochester Schools PTA and the 8th Grade/Oakland University Student Essay Contests “A Woman of Significance To Me” is in cooperation with the Rochester and Auburn Hills Libraries.

The Rochester Branch of AAUW continues to advance equality for women and girls through advocacy, education, research and philanthropy.  Happy 55th Anniversary!


THE 2015 SUNRISE PINNACLE DIVERSITY AWARD
Sponsored by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce
Friday, October 23, 2015 – Royal Park Hotel

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) of Rochester is honored to receive the 2015 DIVERSITY AWARD for its work advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, research and philanthropy.

Our most proud moments come when we sponsor each year these diverse programs in the greater Rochester area:

…..STEAM SAVVY – ESCAPE FROM THE SCIENCE LAB (3/23/16)
A middle school girl science night where mom, dad or a grandparent spend an evening participating together in STEAM hands-on workshops (science, technology, engineering, arts and math). The goal is to encourage girls to enter science career fields. The Women’s Fund of Greater Rochester has provided two grants to further this goal.

…..EIGHT GRADE ESSAY CONTEST: “A Woman of Significance To Me” (4/28/16)
Students write during March, Women’s History Month, about a famous woman, a favorite female teacher or beloved “mom” telling how that woman has influenced her/his life.

…..WILL ROGERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL & LIBRARY, Pontiac Schools
Members tutor students and also staff the very popular TUESDAY IS LIBRARY DAY! where K-6 students check out books, enjoy storytelling/music and learn library/reading skills.

…..NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR COLLEGE WOMEN STUDENT LEADERS (5/16)
Attendance is offered by AAUW of Rochester through scholarships to women leaders on the campus of Oakland University. This year we partnered with two community businesses to support the program – the Barnes & Noble Book Sale and the Mystery Author’s Luncheon at the Avery Tavern Restaurant- sending eight students to the conference. As a result, an AAUW-OU Student Organization is being organized on the OU campus. The women students hope to sponsor an AAUW $TART $MART $ALARY NEGOIATIONS workshop for graduating seniors.

…..2015 ROCHESTER AAUW DIVERSITY CHAMPION – IRENE WALTER
The Race Relations & Diversity Task Force of Greater Detroit gave the award to Irene for her lifelong commitment to appreciating cultural differences.

Sharon Postnieks, October President/Communications Chair – Rochester AAUW
248-651-7337 spost451@gmail.com rochester-mi.aauw.net 10/3/15