AAUW hosts showing of The Invisible War

The AAUW is pleased to present the award-winning documentary "The Invisible War" at a free showing on Aug. 25.  

Hastings/Wass named best and brightest Minnesota lawyers

We were thrilled to see that not just one but TWO of our members were named Minnesota Super Lawyers! Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Congratulations Kristi Hastings and Katrina Wass. 

Missy Hermes is Named 2014 Fergus Falls AAUW Woman of the Year

Missy Hermes

Missy Hermes, Fergus Falls, a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) since 1992, was named the Fergus Falls branch’s 2014 Woman of the Year. The honor is given annually to a member who exemplifies the AAUW’s mission to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

An education specialist with the Otter Tail County Historical Society, Hermes is quick to share her knowledge and talents with the AAUW and community/county-wide organizations. In particular, she has made extensive research and has shared the histories of people “whose stories are often left untold: women, minorities, veterans, people with mental and physical disabilities, and average people who have lived extraordinary lives,” Hermes said. Some of her presentations include Jewish Pioneers of Otter Tail County, The African American Experience in Otter Tail County, History of Women in Otter Tail County, and The Feminine Side of the Civil War and Otter Tail County.

Hermes writes the interesting, engaging histories of all the houses on the AAUW’s biannual Holiday Tour of Homes.    

Hermes and her husband, Paul, have two sons. She has been very involved in the Boy Scouts program, in which her sons were both active.

The Woman of the Year award includes a $100 donation to an organization of Hermes’ choice. She chose the Otter Tail County Historical Society.    

Science Girl Saturday becomes Destination: Discovery in 2014!

Inside the ExploraDome.

This year, the Fergus Falls AAUW is teaming up with the Dakota Horizons Girl Scouts, M-State AND the Bell Museum of Natural History to put on our biggest STEM Saturday event ever for 5th and 6th grade girls in Fergus Falls!

Destination: Discovery is Saturday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Minnesota State Community & Technical College--Fergus Falls.

Girls will visit several stations to learn more about careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math by trying out cool experiments.

The stations will include the Bell Museum of Natural History's ExploraDome--a portable planetarium that will transport girls to the realms of farthest space!

The event also include lunch.

Check out the flyer, and register at http://bit.ly/STEM-Saturday.

AAUW now accepting 2014 Scholarship applications

Each year the Fergus Falls AAUW is pleased to award four scholarships to area women--three $1,500 scholarships and one $1,500 Georgia Dieseth scholarship for a woman who has demonstrated an interest in the arts (music, drama, writing, art).  The applications are due March 21, 2014. To learn more, download the scholarship application information.

AAUW January Monthly Meeting

The January meeting will be held on Monday, January 20 at the Mill Street Residence.  Join us for Networking at 5:15 and dinner at 5:30.  The business meeting will start at 6:00 and our program will begin at 6:30.  The program is “A Toast to Your Health,” presented by Stacey Vaughn.  

From Donna Hendel, program chair:

I think we would all agree that major changes in the cost and insurance coverage for health care continue to be worrisome for us all. There are so many questions about how health care will be delivered in the near future and how we will pay for it.  The best thing we can do as individuals to contribute to controlling the cost of health care is to stay as healthy as possible.  I think we all know how important diet and exercise are in maintaining or improving our health and how difficult it is to fit these components into our busy lives.  Stacey Vaughn, the Heath and Wellness Coordinator at the Fergus Falls YMCA will be our guest speaker January 20 and will discuss some options for building exercise into our daily routines.  She will discuss options for all levels of fitness...from those of us currently doing no exercise to those with ongoing programs.  She will also discuss how diet and exercise work together to promote optimal health.  Let's do our part to beat the high cost of health care by staying healthy.  This would be our toast for 2014.  "Happy New Year!" Here is to good health and all the joy that will bring.

Stacey Vaughn is a NETA Certified Personal Trainer, a I.S.S.A. Certified in Fitness Nutrition, I.S.S.A.Certified Personal Trainer, Silver Sneakers Classic and Yoga Certified Instructor, ICG Indoor Cycling Certified Instructor, TRX Suspension Certified Group Trainer, Certified Group Exercise Instructor, Insanity Certified Instructor, Kettle Concepts Certified Instructor and KettleWorkX Certified Instructor