PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGE: Greetings, Members –

The state convention that the Wilmington Branch hosted in Wrightsville Beach was excellent. I know that everyone who was able to attend had a great time.
New state officers were elected and installed. Karla Atkinson from the Brevard branch and Lill Van Order from Wilmington will be serving as co-VPs for programming. I am looking forward to great events from that dynamic and creative pair!
Also, there are state funds available for one member from each branch who attends the National convention in June in St. Louis. I will provide details on that program at our April meeting.
Connie Gamble Ochse has graciously offered her home for our next meeting. We will meet Sunday, 26 April, at 2:00 p.m. We will review the highlights of the recent state convention, and discuss plans, programs and officers for the coming year.
On the topic of officers for next year, I will be happy to continue to serve as co-President of our branch. Katharyn Thayer will continue to serve as treasurer. Connie and Heather Ochse have agreed to continue to produce our monthly newsletter. Connie is also an integral member of the state Communications Team and she is instrumental in the Tar Heel News production process. Nelda Howell has done an excellent job as secretary this year, but she is unable to continue in that position for another year. So, we need a volunteer to serve our branch as secretary, and we also need someone to take charge of programming. It is extremely important for EACH member to take an active part in supporting the AAUW vision and mission in our area.

JoAnn Hall, Co-President
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OUR NEXT MEETING: Sunday, April 26, 2-4 p.m. we will meet at Connie’s house, 107 Epworth Drive, Jacksonville. Delegates to the recent convention at Wrightsville Beach will give a recap and our next service projects will be discussed. Call 346-8223 for directions.
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FREE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING: The city of Jacksonville and the Southwest Walmart are conducting a free electronics recycling drive on Saturday, April 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monitors, computers and other electronics will be accepted. (These items cannot be accepted at the landfill, so please don’t throw them in your household trash or leave them on the curb.)
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OUR BRANCH IN THE NEWS: In a letter to the editor of the Jacksonville Daily News, Connie Gamble Ochse described AAUW, the recent 100 Years in NC Convention, and the accomplishments of our branch in particular. If you missed the April 4 letter, go to www.jdnews.com and search the archives to view it.
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CALENDAR

April 26 (Sunday), 2-4 p.m. – Branch Meeting at 107 Epworth Drive, Jacksonville. Program: Convention Recap and Projects

May – Branch Meeting – TBA

July 17-18 – Summer Board Meeting, Hendersonville. Lodging: Quality Inn near I-26 (exit 49A). Registration. $12.
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PLAN NOW: To attend the 2009 AAUW Convention in St. Louis, MO, June 26-28, 2009.
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PAST AAUW Jacksonville Regional Branch newsletters and aricles about our branch can be viewed on our web site: www.jacksonville.aauwnc.org.
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Heather F. Ochse, Editor, hksalc@yahoo.com
*AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.*