Looking back over the year in Asheville, several things stand out. The most recent event occurred Saturday, April 5, when AAUW members partnered with the YWCA to host the first Women’s Confidence Day at the YWCA. The program consisted of six seminars including personal safety, strategies for making lasting changes in life, visualizing your dreams, and body chemistry. AAUW members interacted with participants as well as helping with planning, providing food, conducting registration, acting as room hosts for the seminars, hosting and setting up breakfast and lunch, and doing cleanup.

Our branch meeting programs focused on the theme of “Asheville in the 21st Century: Issues and Opportunities.” We added three new study and interest groups for a total of nine: an evening world affairs group, a film group, and an international dining group.

We continued our fund raising events for the Educational Foundation as well as local scholarship awards by holding “Private Collections” events at various members’ homes and an afternoon tea and silent auction at an historic inn with magnificent gardens. To attract new members we had a tea at the home of our Co-President and monthly “Lunch Bunch” get-togethers at local restaurants. In celebration of support and participation by our members, we had our second annual Friend Raiser in November at the Governor’s Western Residence, when we celebrated and networked with each other and invited guests to get acquainted with AAUW. Our membership increased from 147 in September to 158 as of April 1.

LaDean Peterson and Judi Peterson, Co-Presidents
April 9, 2008
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