Holiday Party

Gosh, time has flown by, including Christmas.  Guess it's time to add a few pictures from the Holiday Party.  We enjoyed festive appetizers and desserts.  Peg Meier entertained us with passages from two of her books.  Everyone had an enjoyable evening.

Holiday Party Tomorrow

The recipes have been selected and tested, and we're making preparations for the holiday party tomorrow night. We're looking forward to hearing from Peg Meier, author of Wishing for a Snowy Day.  Hope you will be there.

Here's the bad news that may make travel more challenging for some.  I-494 will be closed between 100 and 212 for the weekend (for work at 169 intersection).  Anyone coming from the east will need to make adjustments.  Here is the link from MN DOT: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/169/.

The Role of Technical Education

A good group gathered for the November branch meeting on the 17th to hear Carole Carlson speak about the topic of the role of technical education in society today.  Carole is recently retired from Hennepin Technical College, and helped us understand how important technical education is to providing trained employees and making our economy run effectively.

Here are a couple pictures from the evening.

Celebrating AAUW

These folks gathered at the Gold Nugget on November 8 to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the founding of AAUW.  From those of us where were working (at our job, or as election judges), it looks like everyone had a good time.  Door prize winners were Vicki Z., Jane S., Diane C. and Barb C.

Thoughts on "Elegance of the Hedgehog"

Lois K. shares these thoughts on Elegance...:
I try to be a member of the first Wed AM group

but I have a conflict in Nov & Dec because of 10:00 am practice

@Mntka Senior Chorale.  I did read Elegance of the Hedgehog.

Very interesting but kinda weird or should I say unusual.  I

wish I knew the French language and Japanese food.

Women's Drum Center Concert

For those who enjoyed the drumming program we had last year, here is a concert you might be interested in attending.  Appologies for the short notice.

The Women's Drum Center will give a concert on Saturday November 5 at 7 p.m. at St. Catherine University, Jeanne d'Arc Auditorium.  Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door, and $12 for students or seniors. More information here: http://www.womensdrumcenter.org/wdc/concerts-performances/shes-got-the-beat-concert.

Did You Know....?

On this date in 1782, Deborah Sampson was dismissed from the Continental Army after serving for more than 17 months, when her disguise as a man was discovered.

She's One of a Kind!

What a dynamo!  Betty Wall Strohfus wowed us with her experiences as a WASP pilot in World War II at the October branch meeting. A large group was present to hear her life story and accomplishments, buy her book, and get her autograph.

What happened in September?  If you weren't there, we had a wonderful luncheon at Medina Country Club, and our speaker Bill Arden entertained us with stories about several well known constellations--some stories were more familiar than others--and also described how the signs of the zodiac came to be and their connections to the stars. 

It's a Party on November 8

Never mind the posting on September 7.  Metro West is going to be part of the national AAUW anniversary celebration.  We will gather from 5:30-7:30 at the Gold Nugget Tavern and Grille, 14401 Excelsior Blvd. (corner of Excelsior Blvd. and Co. Road 4 in Glen Lake area).  It will be dutch treat, ordering off the menu, eat together, socializing and making merry.  Come wearing your "I voted" sticker and you will be eligible for a door prize.  See you there.

"Women in Aviation" at October meeting

Betty Wall, from Faribault, a 91-year old WASP who served in World War II will present our October program on October 20 at 7 p.m. at the Minnetonka Community Center. Betty will recount her experiences as a pilot and flight instructor during World War II.  She will have copies of the book about her (And Still Flying--The Life and Times of Elizabeth "Betty" Wall, by Patrick Roberts) for sale and autographing.  Please join us for this opportunity to meet one of the last of her kind!

Brigadoon reminder

Marty is still looking for people interested in attending Brigadoon on November 9.  Details follow.

Wayzata Public Schools Older Active Adults

Join us for a Special Senior Performance of

“Brigadoon”

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Performance: 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Wayzata High School

Reserved Performance ~ Seniors age 62+ only please

Seating is Reserved ~ Tickets are FREE

Marty will  make reservations for up to ten people; if more want to attend, we can order more tickets in another name.  Sign up with Marty Elstrom  with your full name; you will be responsible for finding a substitute, if you are unable to attend. Please email rather than telephone; that way she will have a written list of names.  She will take the first ten respondents, and has only 4 so far. She would like reservations as soon as possible to be sure of getting seats.

Unusual author portraits

Marty shared this link to a page of portraits of authors created by using their own words.  It's worth checking out.

National AAUW Month in November

AAUW will celebrate its 130th anniversary on November 28, 2011.  November has been declared National AAUW Month. The national office is suggesting that each branch host a "Cocktails and Convos" event at a popular restaurant.  The recommended date is November 8 (approximately one year before the 2012 election). Given the late announcement date from national, we probably won't have a branch activity, but you might toast the Association with some friends during the month of November.

Fall Kickoff

Plan now to attend the September kickoff on Saturday September 17 at Medina Country Club.  Details in the newsletter.  Bill Arden will speak about the constellations and the stories that go with them. Everything starts at 11:30.

Summer Get-together

We will be visiting Como Park in St. Paul where you can choose to visit the Como Ordway Memorial Japanese Garden and/or the Summer Flower Show in the Conservatory.

We will carpool to St. Paul at 10:30 am from the parking lot at Zion Lutheran church at 241-5th Ave N in Hopkins, meeting at Como Park for lunch at 11:00 am and self-guided tours of the Japanese Garden or the Flower Show at 12:15 pm. Volunteers are available to answer questions at both venues.

Reserve (by August 15) a spot on the tour and/or in a carpool and indicate whether you would prefer to drive or ride to the park and whether you are interested in the Japanese Garden or Flower Show.

Reservations will be taken by Barb Cohen at mrschick1981@yahoo.com or 952-447-8434.