American Association of University Women (AAUW) Oak Ridge
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Newsletter
Page 2 of 4
Holiday Tea attendees may also bring items for ADFAC. Most needed are items not covered by
food stamps such as toiletries and basic personal hygiene items, shampoo, deodorant, soap,
toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, and laundry detergent.
MONTHLY CALENDAR – NOVEMBER:
GENERAL MEETING: No General Meeting in November.
MONTHLY CALENDAR – DECEMBER:
GENERAL MEETING: Holiday Tea, Sunday, December 11, 2011, 3:00-5:00 p.m. United
Church Chapel on the Hill Fellowship Hall, 85 Kentucky Avenue.
BOARD MEETING: No Board meeting in December.
GOURMET GROUP: Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. The group will meet for
lunch at Burchfield’s, 215 S. Illinois Avenue. Chair: Charlotte Odell (482-5142).
BOOK GROUP: No meeting in December.
LUNCH BUNCH: Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 11:30 a.m. Meets at Burchfield’s, 215 S.
Illinois Avenue. (NOTE this is the third Wednesday.) Chair: Elinor Brown (483-5570).
MONTHLY CALENDAR – JANUARY:
GENERAL MEETING: Monday, January 23, 2012, 11:30 a.m. in the Social Hall of the Oak
Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.
LUNCH: The Soup Kitchen. Cost to be determined. The menu includes a choice of
soups, sandwiches, and desserts. If you have not been contacted by the Telephone
Committee by noon on Thursday, January 19, please call Joanne King, 482-5549, or
Freddi Johnson, 435-0460. Members who have made lunch reservations but are unable to
attend are expected to pay for their lunches unless canceled before Sunday night,
January 22.
PROGRAM TOPIC: “Tax Tips and IRS Changes.” Presenter: Maggie Slankas,
Tax Professional & Enrolled Agent. Maggie is also an active member of our Oak Ridge
Branch.
BOARD MEETING: Monday, January 9, 2012, 10:00 a.m. Place: The Nook at Roane State
Community College (located in back of the Grill).
GOURMET GROUP: Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at noon. Hostess: To be determined.
BOOK GROUP: Friday, January 20, 2012, 10:00 a.m. Place: Library at Greenfield of Oak
Ridge, 360 Laboratory Road. Book: Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership from the Idealist General
by Marc Leepson. Discussion Leader: Mayme Crowell. Sponsor: Connie Battle (483-1483).
Page 3 of 4
LUNCH BUNCH: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 11:30 a.m. Place: To be determined. Chair:
Elinor Brown (483-5570).
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
I wish to welcome our new member Charles Jones and returning member Larry Dresner.
Women’s education and welfare is important to them, and they wish to work with us. I just
finished reading Gayle Lemmon’s The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, which emphasizes how
important education is to women in oppressive environments.
Our first AAUW evening meeting at Lincoln’s Sports Grille was successful with nine people
attending. We discussed Police Chief Akagi’s noon presentation and the Chief himself dropped
by to answer questions. The next evening meeting will occur in March, as wintertime evening
meetings do not seem appropriate for our group given the early darkness and possible inclement
weather.
Invite your friends and family to a lovely event—the AAUW Holiday Tea at the United Church
Chapel on the Hill on December 11 from 3-5 p.m. Your Board sponsors this annual event. I shall
hope to wish you Happy Holidays at this event.
--Mayme
PLEASE WELCOME OUR TWO NEW MEMBERS and add the following information to your
2011-2012 Yearbook:
Lawrence Dresner Charles Jones
111 Stanton Lane 103 Burgess Lane
482-2800 483-8944
ldresner@comcast.net cavjones@bellsouth.net
SHADES: On Saturday, November 12 the 31st SHADES (SHaring ADventures in Engineering
and Science) workshop was held at the L&N STEM Academy in Knoxville. Forty girls from
middle schools in Anderson, Knox, Blount, and Campbell counties registered for a day of fun
and hands-on learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. Oak
Ridge AAUW was represented by Peggy Emmett, Ray McDonough, Karen Fuhrman and Mary
Uziel. Thanks to each of them – Mary for providing drinks, Karen for helping with registration
and design competition, and Ray for making pictures and hauling materials from place to place.
[Editor’s Note: Many, many thanks to Peggy, who organized and presented this unique
workshop.]
Among the topics explored were nuclear engineering, math, life sciences, physical science, and
everyday engineering. Each girl designed her own T-shirt, made a bracelet related to DNA,
detected hidden sources of radiation, built solid geometric figures, and made sink holes. The
design competition was to build a Pasta Bridge and learn about strength of their design by testing
how much weight their structure would hold without breaking. Prizes were awarded for the three
strongest bridges.
The girls filled out evaluation forms in which they indicated their satisfaction with the sessions.
--Submitted by Peggy Emmett
Page 4 of 4
ITEMS FOR SALE at the Holiday Tea or by calling Barbara Walker ((482-2062).
2012 AAUW Calendars are available for $5.00. This new design by Karen Fuhrman
replaces the costly Scull calendars we’re grown to depend upon. The calendars measure
8½ by 11 inches, slightly smaller than previous calendars, and provide large daily spaces.
The AAUW logo and Oak Ridge Branch are printed on the front cover, with a blank back
cover. Profits from the Calendars go to our Operating Fund.
2011 White House Historical Association Christmas Ornaments, part of a series of
collectible White House ornaments, are available for $20.00. Each ornament is double-
sided, highly-polished brass in a picturesque box with a brochure describing the historical
event depicted. Profits from the White House Ornaments benefit our Roane State
Community College Scholarship Fund.
OAK RIDGE BRANCH MEMBER GAIL MATTSON recently received the Fellow Award from
the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The award was presented before more than 5,800
attendees at the Annual Conference in Chicago. Gail’s award citation reads, “for sustained
efforts in SWE and other professional and civic organizations to increase public awareness of
opportunities for women in engineering.” Gail, with PAI Corporation in Oak Ridge, has provided
more than 25 years of service to SWE at the section, regional, national, and international levels,
including serving as the 2000 SWE national president.
CITIZENS URGED TO TEST HOMES FOR RADON. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible,
odorless, tasteless gas that can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. It is the second
leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. The Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation contacted our Branch and asked us to distribute this message.
Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. Radon test kits can be
purchased at local hardware stores for under $25.00. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified
contractors for a cost similar to that of many common home repairs such as painting or having a
new water heater installed.
More information is available at The Tennessee Radon Program (1-800-232-1139) or
www.tn.gov/environment/ea/radon or www.epa.gov/radon/.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Holiday Tea attendees may also bring items for ADFAC. Most needed are items not covered by
food stamps such as toiletries and basic personal hygiene items, shampoo, deodorant, soap,
toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, and laundry detergent.
MONTHLY CALENDAR – NOVEMBER:
GENERAL MEETING: No General Meeting in November.
MONTHLY CALENDAR – DECEMBER:
GENERAL MEETING: Holiday Tea, Sunday, December 11, 2011, 3:00-5:00 p.m. United
Church Chapel on the Hill Fellowship Hall, 85 Kentucky Avenue.
BOARD MEETING: No Board meeting in December.
GOURMET GROUP: Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. The group will meet for
lunch at Burchfield’s, 215 S. Illinois Avenue. Chair: Charlotte Odell (482-5142).
BOOK GROUP: No meeting in December.
LUNCH BUNCH: Wednesday, December 21, 2011, 11:30 a.m. Meets at Burchfield’s, 215 S.
Illinois Avenue. (NOTE this is the third Wednesday.) Chair: Elinor Brown (483-5570).
MONTHLY CALENDAR – JANUARY:
GENERAL MEETING: Monday, January 23, 2012, 11:30 a.m. in the Social Hall of the Oak
Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.
LUNCH: The Soup Kitchen. Cost to be determined. The menu includes a choice of
soups, sandwiches, and desserts. If you have not been contacted by the Telephone
Committee by noon on Thursday, January 19, please call Joanne King, 482-5549, or
Freddi Johnson, 435-0460. Members who have made lunch reservations but are unable to
attend are expected to pay for their lunches unless canceled before Sunday night,
January 22.
PROGRAM TOPIC: “Tax Tips and IRS Changes.” Presenter: Maggie Slankas,
Tax Professional & Enrolled Agent. Maggie is also an active member of our Oak Ridge
Branch.
BOARD MEETING: Monday, January 9, 2012, 10:00 a.m. Place: The Nook at Roane State
Community College (located in back of the Grill).
GOURMET GROUP: Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at noon. Hostess: To be determined.
BOOK GROUP: Friday, January 20, 2012, 10:00 a.m. Place: Library at Greenfield of Oak
Ridge, 360 Laboratory Road. Book: Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership from the Idealist General
by Marc Leepson. Discussion Leader: Mayme Crowell. Sponsor: Connie Battle (483-1483).
Page 3 of 4
LUNCH BUNCH: Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 11:30 a.m. Place: To be determined. Chair:
Elinor Brown (483-5570).
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
I wish to welcome our new member Charles Jones and returning member Larry Dresner.
Women’s education and welfare is important to them, and they wish to work with us. I just
finished reading Gayle Lemmon’s The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, which emphasizes how
important education is to women in oppressive environments.
Our first AAUW evening meeting at Lincoln’s Sports Grille was successful with nine people
attending. We discussed Police Chief Akagi’s noon presentation and the Chief himself dropped
by to answer questions. The next evening meeting will occur in March, as wintertime evening
meetings do not seem appropriate for our group given the early darkness and possible inclement
weather.
Invite your friends and family to a lovely event—the AAUW Holiday Tea at the United Church
Chapel on the Hill on December 11 from 3-5 p.m. Your Board sponsors this annual event. I shall
hope to wish you Happy Holidays at this event.
--Mayme
PLEASE WELCOME OUR TWO NEW MEMBERS and add the following information to your
2011-2012 Yearbook:
Lawrence Dresner Charles Jones
111 Stanton Lane 103 Burgess Lane
482-2800 483-8944
ldresner@comcast.net cavjones@bellsouth.net
SHADES: On Saturday, November 12 the 31st SHADES (SHaring ADventures in Engineering
and Science) workshop was held at the L&N STEM Academy in Knoxville. Forty girls from
middle schools in Anderson, Knox, Blount, and Campbell counties registered for a day of fun
and hands-on learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. Oak
Ridge AAUW was represented by Peggy Emmett, Ray McDonough, Karen Fuhrman and Mary
Uziel. Thanks to each of them – Mary for providing drinks, Karen for helping with registration
and design competition, and Ray for making pictures and hauling materials from place to place.
[Editor’s Note: Many, many thanks to Peggy, who organized and presented this unique
workshop.]
Among the topics explored were nuclear engineering, math, life sciences, physical science, and
everyday engineering. Each girl designed her own T-shirt, made a bracelet related to DNA,
detected hidden sources of radiation, built solid geometric figures, and made sink holes. The
design competition was to build a Pasta Bridge and learn about strength of their design by testing
how much weight their structure would hold without breaking. Prizes were awarded for the three
strongest bridges.
The girls filled out evaluation forms in which they indicated their satisfaction with the sessions.
--Submitted by Peggy Emmett
Page 4 of 4
ITEMS FOR SALE at the Holiday Tea or by calling Barbara Walker ((482-2062).
2012 AAUW Calendars are available for $5.00. This new design by Karen Fuhrman
replaces the costly Scull calendars we’re grown to depend upon. The calendars measure
8½ by 11 inches, slightly smaller than previous calendars, and provide large daily spaces.
The AAUW logo and Oak Ridge Branch are printed on the front cover, with a blank back
cover. Profits from the Calendars go to our Operating Fund.
2011 White House Historical Association Christmas Ornaments, part of a series of
collectible White House ornaments, are available for $20.00. Each ornament is double-
sided, highly-polished brass in a picturesque box with a brochure describing the historical
event depicted. Profits from the White House Ornaments benefit our Roane State
Community College Scholarship Fund.
OAK RIDGE BRANCH MEMBER GAIL MATTSON recently received the Fellow Award from
the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The award was presented before more than 5,800
attendees at the Annual Conference in Chicago. Gail’s award citation reads, “for sustained
efforts in SWE and other professional and civic organizations to increase public awareness of
opportunities for women in engineering.” Gail, with PAI Corporation in Oak Ridge, has provided
more than 25 years of service to SWE at the section, regional, national, and international levels,
including serving as the 2000 SWE national president.
CITIZENS URGED TO TEST HOMES FOR RADON. Radon is a naturally occurring, invisible,
odorless, tasteless gas that can reach harmful levels when trapped in buildings. It is the second
leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. The Tennessee Department of Environment and
Conservation contacted our Branch and asked us to distribute this message.
Testing homes for elevated levels of radon is simple and inexpensive. Radon test kits can be
purchased at local hardware stores for under $25.00. Radon problems can be fixed by qualified
contractors for a cost similar to that of many common home repairs such as painting or having a
new water heater installed.
More information is available at The Tennessee Radon Program (1-800-232-1139) or
www.tn.gov/environment/ea/radon or www.epa.gov/radon/.
Happy Thanksgiving!
