INDEPENDENCE BRANCH
Empowering women since 1940
Vol. 77 No. 1 September 2016
EMPOWERING WOMEN SINCE 1881
AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research.
Welcome Back!
Your Board met this summer and has planned a fun and exciting year of programs, outings with lunch, and community volunteer opportunities. By the time you are reading this a number of us will have already supported the “Get Out to Vote 2016 National Voter Registration Campaign.” We spent three half days at Blue River Community College (BRCC) Campus giving students the opportunity to register to vote.
All of our dreams and planning to begin a partnership with BRCC have come to fruition this summer. Our March meeting will be held on Campus, with an invitation to staff and students to join us. We have been invited to participate in their Spring Festival (more info later). There will be lots of opportunity for volunteering. In addition, plans are underway for the Annual Book Fair.
Our Brainstorming sessions proved to be very productive last year. Thank you to all who participated. This year again we will be putting our thoughts, suggestions and 'brainstorms' together as we continue to grow and expand our branch and community outreach. Start thinking about Book Fair, New Member Outreach and Fund raising ideas. Thinking outside the box is a cliche, however, you first have to be able to move from dead center of the box to the edges. That was definitely accomplished last year. So this year, we will see ourselves venture outside the
box with conversation and planning and action. Thanks to our past Presidents for leading our Branch to the level of success we now share!
Thank you all for your input and support. It was and continues to be very much appreciated. Please call me or email me with your ideas or thoughts that will help us to be successful. I look forward to seeing you at the September Pot Luck meeting.
Sue Shineman, President
Tuesday, September 27th at 6:15 PM
First United Methodist Church, 400 W. Maple, Independence, MO
TOPIC: Community Services League Benefits for Women
In 1916 a women's Bible Study group in Independence was inspired by the Bible verse, “it is more blessed to give than receive” to establish the Community Services League of Independence. Today the CSL is a non-profit organization that assists members of the Independence Community. Nicole Underwood, the Major Gifts Manager, of the CSL will be our speaker at the September meeting to explain to us how women of today benefit from their services.
Welcome to the 2016-17 program year for our Independence Branch of AAUW!
The program committee has been working hard to schedule interesting and informative presentations for our meetings this year. Many thanks to program committee members: Judy Tyson, Jolene Cervany, Nancy Comtois, Peggy Henry, Sue Raymond, Sue Shineman, Laura Vernon, and Kathy Vest. The work of this committee strives to honor the memory of our AAUW sister, Toni Thornton. When Sue Shineman asked me to serve as Program Vice President for the remainder of Toni's term, I was honored and humbled. If I can somehow achieve a fraction of Toni's energy, knowledge, and service to our branch, I will consider myself very fortunate. Her life and legacy are inspirations for us all.
Please join us on September 27th. We will gather at 6:15 PM at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall with a potluck dinner at 6:30 PM. After dinner our speaker will be Nicole Underwood from Community Services League. She will present the CSL update focusing on services benefiting women.
Karol Palmer, Vice-President Programs
Adelante Book Group
This group meets at 9:30 AM on the second Tuesday of each month at Barnes and Noble.
Contact Jane Campbell at for further details or see the calendar of events on our website All are welcome to attend. The next meeting will be
on September 13th and the book for discussion will be Opening Belle by Maureen Sherry. Patt Braley will lead the discussion.
The October book will be Louisa Catherine: The Other Mrs. Adams by Margery M. Heffron. The discussion will be led by Myla Gentry.
Jane Campbell, Adelante Book Group
2016 Woman of Achievement
The Woman of Achievement Award was established in 1957 and we have recognized a woman or women practically every year since then. We recognize their commitment to leadership, learning, career, volunteerism, community service and sometimes even service to our branch. By honoring someone we not only encourage her and support her endeavor but also provide increased public relations opportunities for the honoree, her efforts and our branch of AAUW.
Our AAUW Independence Branch Woman of Achievement honoree for 2016 is Marcie Gragg. Marcie is a life-long resident of Independence. She is graduate of Fort Osage High School. She received her Bachelor's Degree from UMKC in Secondary Education and Social Studies.
Marcie has been and continues to be a dynamic leader in the Independence Community and civic organizations. She is president of the 12 Blocks West Initiative which is a shared community effort involving
the Independence School District, faith-based and civic organizations, businesses and community leaders, the cities of Independence, Sugar Creek, and Blue Summit, and neighbors. Their mission is to build upon existing strengths, promote safe, stable multi-income neighborhoods where families, schools and businesses thrive.
She continued on the same leadership path as a board member of the Mid-America Regional Council; a member of the Independence Planning Commission for 10 years, with 7 of
those as chairman; and as District 1 Councilwoman on the Independence City Council.
A few of her favorite accomplishments on the City Council include obtaining a Community Development Block Grant to finalize funding for an all-inclusive playground for special needs children at McCoy Park, enabling the formation of Ennovation Center and Independence School District Central Office, filling the former Independence Regional Health Center facility, establishing the Employee Health Clinic and a special employees' insurance package; and assisting non-profits housing redevelopment. Several of her accomplishments flowed from challenges she faced in her family life as her husband dealt with cancer and as she advocated services for special needs children she found lacking for her own son.
Marcie's leadership flowed into her religious life, too, as a Worship Leader, guitarist and singer at the Woods Chapel Methodist Church.
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Lois Domsch, Woman of Achievement
Chair
THANK YOU!
One of the benefits of belonging to a group like AAUW is that, no matter what life
throws at you, there are probably a number of women who have weathered that same
storm and are generous with their support. Your cards have been a true comfort and I
thank each of you for your kindnesses. Please keep our family in your prayers as we
continue to adjust to the loss of husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
Patty Chadwick
Care NotesWe all have situations of joys and concerns in our lives, such as a new grandchild, an illness or surgery, or even a death of a family member.We would like to respect each member's privacy and yet let other AAWU friends know so they can offer support or positive thoughts.If you wish to let branch members know of any personal situations in your life please contact our president, Sue Shineman,r 365-1180.Sue will approve an email to be sent to every member with this information.Without your permission we will respect your privacy and not communicate your personal news to our branch members.
If you wish to have information included in the Branch monthly newsletter, please submit to by the first day of each month. Then look for the newsletter to appear in your email on the 15th of the month.
$7,767.47