GEM FUND ANNUAL MEETING:  Tuesday, August 26 at 4:30 p.m. (location to be announced).  Contact Pat Argue for more information: 891-4521 or patargue@aol.com.

LUNCH BUNCH:  Thursday, August 28 picnic at the UNCA Botanical Garden.  Bring your own brown bag lunch and meet at 11:45 at the Visitor’s Center for great conversation and time to explore the gardens with interesting friends.  Contact Luisita at 258-8560 for more information.

GEARING UP FOR THE 2008/2009 YEAR:  Watch for specific information of the events slated for the upcoming exciting new year with the Asheville chapter of AAUW.  The opportunity to meet new friends, join a (or several) special interest groups that meet throughout the year, and attend monthly meetings with lunch and a speaker is just around the corner.  In September the first meeting will be a picnic and the chance to bring a friend or spouse for a social event. We’ll hear about the plans for upcoming meetings and activities planned for the year.  Plan to come and get a great start to making new friends and participating in interesting learning opportunities.

You and your guests are cordially invited to visit the Private Collections of Asheville AAUW Branch member Mara Pasternack and her husband Gerry on Sunday, May 18 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.  Space is limited to 40. To make a reservation, contact Sandy Bernard at 692-3620 or ssmreb@bellsouth.net.  Directions will be provided and carpooling is encouraged as parking space is limited.  Tickets are $20.00 each and checks should be made out to AAUW EF.  Funds raised by this event will be used to build the AAUW Educational Foundation’s American Graduate Fellowship named for former North Carolina AAUW President Ann Chipley to the stipend producing level.

The event will be held at their Mission style home, designed by Mara and Gerry, perfectly set into a beautiful spot in the High Vista Community, and built by Grasperge.  Mara’s collection of regional art is extensive and includes works by Steven Forbes-de Soule, Jon Ransmeier and Judy Duff.  Gerry is a world-class photographer who especially enjoys focusing on people and landscapes.  Both will be present to discuss their art.

   Co-President–Jan Schwartz

   Co-Vice President Program—Melinda Farr Brown

   Co-Vice President Membership—Shelley Freeman

   Treasurer—Eleanor Scott

   Publicity Chair—Peggy Dutton

At the April meeting, out-going Board members were also recognized:  Co-President LaDean Peterson, Co-Vice President Program Betty Anne Schenk, Co-Vice President Membership Jennifer Holmes, Treasurer Cynthia Earle, Past President Mary Lasher, and Public Policy Chair Dot Busey.

Reservations are required and a check for $15.00 for each attendee must be mailed to GEM Fund at 4B Long Shoals Road, #135, Arden, NC 28704 no later than May 23.  Guests, spouses, and the public are invited.  Contributions above $15.00 are tax-deductible and fund local undergraduate college scholarships for non-traditional women students.  Call 274-5120 or 645-1460 for more information. 

If you have auction items to donate (all items except large, framed pieces of art are welcome), please contact Eleanor Scott at 654-7005 or elscott@brinet.com. 

Wednesday, March 26, 11:30 a.m. at Amici Trattoria, 900 Hendersonville Road.  Edna Campos, lay minister at Iglesia Nuestro Salvador Church, will speak on “Social Ministries with the Immigrant Community of Asheville.”

Contact LaDean Peterson at 350-3005 by Thursday, March 20 to make your reservation.

3/30/08 NEW MEMBER TEA for all who have joined AAUW in the past year will be held at the home of LaDean Peterson, 3 Covewood Court, Arden, NC 28704 at 2:30 p.m. Contact Peg Steiner at 252-7328 or LaDean Peterson at 650-3005 if you plan to attend.

4/5/08 WOMEN’S CONFIDENCE DAY in association with the YWCA at 185 South French Broad Avenue. Take part in this project to help other women! Contact LaDean Peterson at 650-3005 to sign up to help or for more information.

4/23/08 ANNUAL BRANCH MEETING at the Country Club of Asheville at 11:30 a.m. The program is presented by Celeste Collins, entitled “On Track–Offering Financial Education and Counseling to Low-income Families in WNC.” The program will be followed by the annual meeting and election of officers. To make a reservation, please send your check for $22.00 to Cynthia Earle, P.O. Box 5445, Asheville, NC 28813 by Thursday, April 17.

4/13/08 LIVE ‘N’ LEARN, an afternoon with John James Audubon. This first event in the Live ‘n’ Learn Educational Foundation “Private Collections” fundraiser series will be held at Bill and Peg Steiner’s home. The Steiners collect original prints by John James Audubon and other 18th and 19th century natural history artists. Their collection ranks among the largest and most significant in the country. In 2003, the University of South Carolina Press published Bill’s book: “Audubon Art Prints–A Collector’s Guide to Every Edition.” It was hailed as the definitive book on Audubon’s art. Proceeds from this event benefit the AAUW Educational Foundations’s support of Graduate Fellowships, Career Development, and Community Action Grants for Women. Tickets are $20.00 each, limited to AAUW members and spouses/partners, and must be purchased in advance. For more information, call Sandy Bernard at 692-3620, or see the February newsletter for details.

6/1/08 GEM FUND TEA is the annual fundraiser for the AAUW-Asheville Scholarship Endowment, Inc., an endowment which provides scholarships for worthy women at AB Tech and UNC-A. The Tea will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Richmond Hill Inn. Additional details to follow at a later date.