We welcome new members. If you are new to the Merced, Atwater, or Livingston area, think about joining Merced AAUW. We have a variety of interests groups, and are always looking to add more. Our members are involved in a cross section of organizations in the Merced Area.
Merced Branch 2024-2025 Officers
President: Becky Tietjen
Vice President Elect : Sharon Spinardi
Program Vice Presidents: Ruth Wax
Linda Lucas
Jane Lawrence
Membership Vice President: Dee Near
Treasurer: Megan Anderson
Secretary: Kathleen McElwain
Scholarships: Nancy-Young-Bergman
Immediate Past President: Sue Chapell
Interest Sections: Nancy Barber
Newsletter: Dena Traina
Website: Kathleen Hull
Science Camp Liaisons: Dena Traina/Kathleen Hull
Merced Branch 2024-25 Interest Sections
Interest Sections are a fun way to meet new friends and add fun and variety into our lives! Members of these interest sections meet in the home of the hostess for that month. Some sections also have co-hostesses. When signing up for a section, consider being an active participant by volunteering to host or co-host a meeting.
Adopt-a-Highway: Chair – Kem Shrum, Co-Chair – Dee Near. Become a part of the group of volunteers who clean up AAUW’s 2 mile stretch on Hwy.140 just past Planada on the way to Mariposa. The group goes out usually early morning every couple months or so – about 4-6 times a year. The chair will send an email to let the group know date and time. Equipment is
provided. We enjoy the great outdoors, chatting, exercise (walking a mile or two), and providing a service. Email Kem if interested.
Almost Gourmet: Chair – Karen Wallace. This group meets 4 times per year (with spouse, partner, or guest included too). This section is currently closed.
Art Connoisseurs: Chair – Nancy Barber. Do you love wandering around Art Museums? Are you a lover of art? Interested members should contact Nancy. We will meet quarterly to plan our excursions.
Book Section 1: Chair – Kathy Berkeley. Meets the first Monday of the month at 2:00 p.m. from October through May at a member’s home. Members read a fiction or non-fiction book of their choice and different reviewers share a favorite book each month. Once a year we do a group read.
Book Section 2: Chair – Judy Smith. Do you love a good mystery? This group is for you! Meets the second Thursday of each month at 3:00 p.m. Call or text Judy Smith.
Book Section 3: Chair – Sharon Wainwright. Members meet the first Tuesday of the month at 9:30 a.m. and rotate between members’ homes. We select a book to read, to be read by all, for each meeting, and a volunteer guides us through the discussions. Due to a large membership, this section is closed, but you are welcome to sign up on our waiting list.
Book Section 4 (Evening Book Group): Chair – Dee Near. Meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at a member’s home. This group has been meeting for 20 years. Everyone reads the same book and discusses it. A wide variety of genres are read. All are welcome.
This section meets August through May. For summer 2024 the group read: Guardians of the Valley: John Muir and the friendship that saved Yosemite by Dean King and Husbands by Holly Gramazio.
Bridge Singles: Chair – Pauline Cuchna. Meets on the last Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. The group rotates between members’ homes. Table snacks are offered. Subs are welcome. This section meets September through May.
Bunko: Chair – Cheryl Burke. Meets the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. There is a lot of lively interaction for the members of this group. Since we have 12 members already, you are welcome to sign up for the substitute list. This section meets September through May with no meeting in December.
Chocoholics: Chair – Diana Alexander. Meets the third Wednesday of the month at members’ homes at 7:00 p.m. from October through May. Members should be prepared to either host or co-host one meeting per year. They prepare a special chocolate dish for the event. Chocoholics will be limited to twenty members in order to accommodate everyone in our homes.
Game Night: Chair – Dee Near. Who’s up for some Fun & Games? Game Nights will meet on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at a member’s home. Let Dee know if you would like to join the fun!
Knitting and Crocheting: Chair – Dena Traina. Meets the second Wednesday of the month at a member’s home between 6:00-8:00 p.m. Beginners and experienced knitters/crocheters are welcome. Refreshments provided. This section meets all year.
Lunch Bunch: Chair – Connie Brons. Meets the last Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m. at various restaurants. Members are notified by email as to the location. Be sure to RSVP by contacting Connie to ensure a reservation. This section meets all year round.
Play Goers: Chair – Robyn Farnsworth. Members will see 5-6 plays during the year on Sunday afternoons. This section meets September through May. Will start up again as soon as theater schedule is published. New members are welcome.
Sierra Trekkers: Chair – Jennifer Foster, Co-Chair – Judy Smith. Meetings will be held on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in members’ homes (except for December). The September planning meeting maps out the tentative dates for hikes during the year. Hikes usually occur once per month. The emphasis is on hiking – – usually easy to moderate trails and
occasionally a more strenuous trail. Weather permitting, a snowshoe hike in the winter months can be planned. The group occasionally travels for overnight /weekend adventures. One longer trip is scheduled each year to one of our State or National parks.
Together Women Rise: Chair – Jane Guerra. Meets the first Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at a member’s home for a potluck dinner. Money is donated in the amount that would have been spent on a restaurant dinner to the organization featured each month. The mission is to empower women and girls living in extreme poverty by funding programs that foster good health, education, and economic self-sufficiency. Members become educated to various
needs of women living in poverty around the world and participate in collective giving to make a positive difference. This group meets September through June. Members are asked to host or co-host one dinner. New members welcomed.
Wine and Cheese: Chair – Colleen Eisberg. Meets the last Friday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at various members’ homes. The hostess and co-hostess determine the theme and prepare a selection of cheese and hors d’oeuvres. Spouses are welcome. This section meets September through May with no meeting in November or December. Sept 22 is the first tasting event of the year. Come share the story of your wine and share tasting with the group. New members welcomed.
NOTE: If you have an idea for a new section that you would like to start, or if you have any
questions or needs that I can help you with, please contact the Interest Section Coordinator,
Nancy Barber.