AMERICAN  ASSOCIATION  OF  UNIVERSITY  WOMEN FREMONT,  CA

TRI-BRANCH LUNCHEON

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The Tri-Branch Luncheon was a very successful event enjoyed by all that attended

By Kathy Garfinkle

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Randy Fewel introduces featured speaker Wendy Walker.       Some 76 AAUW members and guests from the Fremont, Hayward/Castro Valley, and Livermore/Pleasanton/Dublin (LPD) branches gathered for the annual Tri-Branch Funds Luncheon at Sunol Valley Golf Club on Saturday, February 5th from 11:30 – 2:30 PM. Fremont Branch had about 25 members in attendance.   The efficient registration and nametag team from Hayward/Castro Valley greeted attendees.   Everyone enjoyed the glorious balmy weather as they looked out on the beautiful golf course and visited with friends old and new.  The tables were very festive with Valentine centerpieces provided by the LPD branch.       The MC, Patricia Kohnen from the LPD Branch, welcomed everyone as they sat down to enjoy a delicious lunch.  RoseMarie Everett, Fremont Branch’s outstanding facilities manager, was seen circulating around to ensure that everyone was settled comfortably.  Jo Harberson from the Danville/Alamo/Walnut Creek Branch and co-chair of the California Membership Committee pledged to match funds donated to the Leadership Programs fund.  Thanks to the generosity of Jo Harberson and 15 members who purchased pins for $100 each, $3,000 was raised for the Leadership Programs fund that afternoon.  Six Fremont Branch members purchased pins at the luncheon.       Our own Randy Fewel eloquently introduced featured speaker Wendy Walker, recipient of the AAUW Career Development Grant.  Wendy is a student at UC Berkeley’s MBA program majoring in Sustainable Business and Finance.   Many were surprised to learn that Wendy spent the first ten years of her career as an actor in New York.  Today she is studying at the Haas School of Business where she has served as a leader of both the Berkeley Investment Club and Haas Women in Leadership.  Wendy spoke passionately about her work and her plans to dedicate her career to sustainable and responsible investing.

The lucky winners of the gift baskets are: Rita Hammer,Hayward-Castro Valley/Fremont, Erica Campisi, Hayward-Castro Valley, Peggy Robinson's Daughter, Hayward-Castro-Valley, and Roberta Harris, Hayward-Castro-Valley       All three branches donated gift baskets for our fundraiser.  Mary Lynn Pelican arranged a lovely basket filled with plants and yummy goodies that caught everyone’s eye.  The raffled baskets won by four lucky Hayward Branch members raised about $240 that will be donated to AAUW Funds.       The Tri-Branch Luncheon was a very successful event enjoyed by all that attended.  We were again reminded of our mission to “advance equity for women and girls” as we were inspired by the work of Wendy Walker and all the women AAUW supports in their efforts to continue their graduate studies.

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