Twenty-Five Years of AAUW Long Valley (ID) Branch

 prepared by Gwen Kimball

This review is to see where we’ve been and to stimulate ideas for where we are going.  Some years I’ll mention many activities, some years I’ll mention a few.   Usually I’ll mention a project or program the first time it’s held and not in subsequent years.  Therefore, you need to fill in the blanks.  For example, two events that have become tradition are our Labor Day weekend used book sale in Cascade, and our December Holiday dinner & silent auction.  Here we go events in our 25 year history:  

Twenty-five years ago, AAUW Long Valley (ID) branch was formed.

* On May 13, 1977, the 1st organizational meeting was held with 33 charter members.  Officers during that first year were Pansy Jensen (President), Alberta Smith, Marie Bell, Wilmina Phelps, Hannah Willard, Marion Johnson, Bev Ingraham, Phyllis Remaklus, Carol Arnold, Linda Webb, Jo Ann Wheeler, Linda Pittenger, Sandy Cottrell, Barbara Isaksen, Margery Moser, Kasey Fry, Linda Dunlap, Merle Kantola, and Sandra Keeth.  

LV Branch made the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) its highest priority.  

In July, during Idaho State Convention at Shore Lodge, we received official recognition as the Long Valley Branch and were presented with this gavel.  

Kasey Fry was nominated by Long Valley Branch and was subsequently selected to serve on Association for Humanities in Idaho Board (AHI), currently called Idaho Humanities Council.  

We held the 1st December Holiday Dinner & Silent Auction as a social and a fund raiser for EF & branch expenses.  

* In 1978, the 1st branch newsletter was published by Editor Kasey Fry.  Another institution that we continue today.  

Program topics that year: A Woman in Valley County Politics, History of Education in Valley County, Rape: A Public Crisis.  

Dues: $15/year = 8.50 National, 2.50 State, 4.00 Branch; There were thirty-five LV Branch members; Branch received $90 for AHI survey work.  

Events: Ran a spin-painting booth to raise funds; Supported HR #638 to extend ERA ratification dates; Opposed 1% Tax Initiative; Helped with school bonds; the 1st LV AAUW Book Club met in Cascade at Phyllis Remaklus' home; Held August meeting at Warm Lake Lodge.  

* During 1979: National study topics were Families Facing Change; Managing Resources for Tomorrow.  Wilmina Phelps, Kasey Fry, Mike Hendricks, & Martha Chitwood presented a public forum: "Library Freedoms & Responsibilities." Marie Bell attended Association Convention at Albuquerque, NM.; we held the first AAUW Used Book Sale in Cascade at the Merc.  Since then our Used Book Sale has been held in front of Wheelers' Pharmacy during Labor Day Weekend.  

For a fund raiser we catered breakfast & lunch at State Board Meeting held at University of Idaho Forestry Camp, McCall.  

* During 1980: Great Decisions 8-week study program was held in Cascade & in McCall during Feb. & March.  

"Action for Equity Fair" was LV Branch response to national AAUW week (March 16-23).  It was held in the Old Depot & attended by 40-50 people.  Objectives were to focus on ERA & what women do in our area, and to celebrate Susan B. Anthony's birthday (actual 2/15).  

State honored LV Branch for the highest per capita giving to Educational Foundation (EF).  

Velma Shoemaker & Hannah Willard presented  "Roseberry Reminiscences" at the County Museum, a historical program with a capacity crowd that was taped and transcribed. 

Candidate forum scheduled was canceled by Idaho Republican Central Committee.  LV Branch Yearbook cover designed by Kasey Fry, which we are still using.  Writing Workshop led by Wilmina Phelps.  

* In 1981,  Jr. Great Books Program was started. Eighteen 5th & 6th grade Cascade students completed the course led by Anne Wilkins & Kasey Fry.  

Women's History Week, (March 8-14) activities: Wrote letters to the editor; prepared a window display in Cascade; listed books by & about women available at McCall Public Library; and presented "A Celebration of Famous Women: Readers Theater," written by Kasey Fry.  

Pansey Jensen, founding president & organizer of LV Branch died.  The community & the branch contributed money toward an EF named gift in her honor.   

ERA Mother's Day Rally was held in Boise; Meryl Kantola was honored by LV Branch with brass apple for 37 years of teaching; Jinny Bailey was named McCall-Donnelly Teacher of the Year.  

* In 1982, ERA died.

Jr. Great Books Basic Leader Training Course was made possible by an AHI grant, with Marilyn Arp, grant-writer & project director.  The training course was co-sponsored by McCall Public Library & attended by 37 people from throughout the state.  

Marilyn Arp elected State Treasurer for 1982-84; Sketch drawn by Kasey Fry selected by State for fund-raising post card; Candidate forums scheduled in Cascade & Donnelly but not in McCall, because there was no place for "political" activities there.  

* In 1983, Dr. Margery Moser died. 

LV Branch Recipe Book spearheaded by Marie Bell was sold at Association Convention for EF fund raising.  

A $1,000 gift to the Idaho Golden Anniversary Fund (an EF endowment fund) from LV Branch was made possible largely through memorial gifts for Margery Moser, Marie Bell's mother, and JoAnne Wheeler's father.  Name gifts were made honoring Dr. Marge Moser & Hannah Willard.  

LV Branch President & State EF Chair, Marie Bell attended 3-day EF training in Washington,D.C.; We advocated boycott of Nestles Co.; Held public meeting on area education.  

Velma Shoemaker moved to Tucson, AZ.  

* In 1984, "Life after High School" program was a great success attended by 20 girls in Cascade, 34 in Meadows Valley, & 59 in McCall.   

EF named gift honoring Marie Bell; Banner given to LV branch for highest per capita giving to EF for 2 consecutive years.  

* In 1985--Increased membership 19%; donated copies of Girls Inc.,  "Choices" & "Challenges" to staff libraries in McCall-Donnelly & Cascade schools.  Marilyn Arp awarded EF Special Projects grant for "Life Choices for Girls."  She & Gayle Wilde produced a guide, much of it based on LV Branch "Life After High School" program, for statewide use. 

Hannah Willard moved to Oregon.  

Presented a public program, "Equity in Education"; Conducted McCall City Council Candidate Forum call-in, live on KMCL (a new concept).

* In 1986: On-going activism–participated in AAUW Legislative Action Day poster lobbying at Capitol building; took a stand on National Family Leave Policy; worked for Civil Rights Restoration Act with letters to the editor & other publicity.  

State Convention in Sun Valley with Barbara Morgan as keynote speaker; Marilyn Arp elected State President 1986-88; held Candidate Forums in May & October; Gayle Wilde won primary election; EF named gift honoring Marilyn Arp; LV Branch contributed to EF memorial fund for astronaut, Judith Resnik, an EF Fellow.  

* In 1987, we presented a public program celebrating the 200th birthday of the United States Constitution.  The program was Attorney Derr & the 14th Amendment, (Reed v. Reed case: in 1971 the Supreme Court struck down an Idaho law that gave fathers preference over mothers in the administration of their children's estates.).   

Membership Issue--Women's Work/Women's Worth; Membership Theme--Share the Power; Share the Pride.  A dramatic reading: Sexism in Religion: "Why we burn: Sexism exorcized."  

Association voted to admit men; AAUW actively opposed Robert Bork nomination to Supreme Court; Mary Ollie named Cascade Teacher of the year.  

LV Branch celebrated 10th birthday at Donnelly Club.  Readers theater performed, "Ladies against Women."  

In 1987-88, AAUW Idaho was instrumental in starting Idaho Women's network (IWN). 

* In 1988, LV Branch entered Winter Carnival Parade with Townley's antique snowmobile.  

LV Branch was acknowledged in AAUW's publication, Leader in Action, for its work assessing library policies for books challenged.  It was a state-wide project under our Association issue--Protecting Individual Liberties, and a sub issue--Censorship. 

* In 1989, LV Branch President Grace Townley died.   

Campaign to support a woman for Idaho Supreme Court was unsuccessful. Programs: Cascade Reservoir Pollution Problems; Beauty Pageants Who Profits?--Choices for Tomorrow's Women.  

Success story: LV Branch effected a major city policy change.  A McCall city policy that plagued us requiring that nothing political could be argued, debated, or petitioned on city property.  We argued that everything is political, although not partisan, and, therefore, we needed to use city property for non-partisan issues and debates, such as Candidate Forums and Pro-Choice petitions.  The city finally "got it."   

LV Branch supported and worked for National Organization of Women (NOW)'s proposed Idaho Reproductive Rights Initiative, as part of the Association Campaign for Choice and the Idaho Pro-choice Campaign.  

EF named gift honoring Grace Townley; co-sponsored AIDS community meetings, with Payette River Forum; co-sponsored a forum on Protective Orders, with Support for Women in Crisis; more than doubled EF contribution; Dues $35.  

* In 1990, Governor Andrus vetoed Anti-Abortion Bill #625; therefore, work on a State Reproductive Rights Initiative was discontinued; however, we continue to advocate for reproductive rights.  

We presented a public program "Comprehensive Health & AIDS Education, Grades K-12"; Lani Tingey of Twin Falls was one of the first of 4 teachers nationwide to receive AAUW Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Fellowship; Dues $45.  

* In 1991, we participated in Legislative Action Day (now called Women’s Advocacy Day) at the Capitol with our poster--"Pre-natal Care not Punishment."  

We co-sponsored with Idaho Women's Network (IWN) a "Learn to Lobby" workshop; EF named gift honoring Gayle Wilde.  

First public introduction to Association Initiative for Educational Equity locally with video, "Shortchanging Girls, Shortchanging America," and nationally with the Educational Equity round-table materials.  

On August 26, we celebrated with IWN, Women's Equality Day, ratification of the 19th Amendment.  The celebration took place at Mill Park where voter registration cards were available.  Popcorn and lemonade for refreshments because "when you are dealt lemons, make lemonade."  Suffragist songs made it a lively party.  

* In 1992: Six-week course, "Choices Curriculum for Girls" given at McCall-Donnelly Alternative School by Sarah Lau, Joyce Finley, & Marilyn Arp; AAUW banner carried by Marilyn Arp in Boise's March for Women's Lives, reproductive rights; EF named gift honoring Marie Bell; sponsored public workshops on Sexual Harassment, presented by Marilyn Shuler.  

* In 1993, we presented 2 public programs titled: "Valley County Comprehensive Plan & Public Involvement."  As well as two candidate forums: one for school board, and one for McCall City Council; Sponsored a day-long public field trip to Chinese Gardens, Warren.  

* In 1994, LV Branch publicly opposed Idaho Citizen Alliance's Anti-gay Initiative; Co-sponsored with Heartland Voices for Human Rights, a public information meeting on the anti-gay Initiative; Presented to the public, the film, "How Women got the Vote"; Dues $50;

Sponsored a public field trip to White Bird Battlefields near Riggins, coordinated by Irene Tallent.  

* In 1995: A year-long celebration of 75th year of Woman Suffrage, with Woman Suffrage posters displayed in schools & local libraries.  The first year of Profiles of Women Past & Present performances to elementary classes in Cascade, McCall, Donnelly, Meadows Valley, & Riggins schools, with special public performances at McCall Library & Ponderosa State Park; 1st time award of 5-Star Branch Membership.  

AAUW booth at McCall Arts & Crafts Fair (for exposure), feature posters, voter registration cards, and cookies & lemonade (for fund-raising).  

"Building Bridges to Equity," workshop created & presented by Heidi Miller; AAUW Hostile Hallways Workshop to Meadows Valley High School students by Gwen & Cynthia Kimball; Co-sponsored with Idaho Humanities Council: "A  Reader's Theater: Women's Experiences on the Oregon Trail," written by Janet Ward, AAUW Boise (ID) Branch.  

* In 1996, presented "Girls' Unlimited" program for 5th grade girls and parents, coordinated by Connie Harris & Gayle Wilde;  LV branch participated in Women's Health Fair in McCall.

A year long celebration of 100 years of woman suffrage in Idaho, with posters and profiles performances.

Focus on Voter Education: Distribution of Get the Facts from Association; Membership in IWN for state legislative activities; subscription to Action Alert; Lobby for educational equity, women's reproductive rights, etc.  

* In 1997, during Women's History Month we presented Profiles and we featured Star News articles, “Local Women in History,” written by Bev Ingraham.  Profiles of Women in History was enacted by AAUW members and  4 McCall-Donnelly High School drama students under the direction of Caroline Vallé.  

Phoebe Hershenow of McCall, received AAUW EF Career Development Grant.  The 1st person from Long Valley to receive an EF fellowship.  

Marilyn Arp was elected Mountain-Pacific Regional Director.  

At McCall Arts & Crafts Fair we had our first annual drawing with donated prizes a power saw bear by Sandy Cottrell, an off-loom wall hanging by Wilmina Phelps, and a bird house by Billie Walker & Mary Hart.  

Long Valley Branch celebrated our 20^th anniversary year as a branch, with special catered brunch and program at the Roseberry General Store.  

Co-sponsored with McCall Public Library performance by Oregon repertory actress, Melinda Strobel as Susan B. Anthony.  

Fall of 1997 named gift to honor Velma Shoemaker.  

The first ¡Adelante! Book study met at Gwen Kimball’s in Meadows Valley.  Cora Albright and Marlene Bailey attended.  

* In 1998, Kasey Fry died.  

Gwen Kimball elected state president 1998-2000.  

Co-sponsored with ACLU of Idaho, speaker Dan Levin on “Civil Liberties Issues Facing Idahoans.”

Eleanor Roosevelt Birthday celebration & fund raiser to celebrate 10 years of the AAUW Eleanor Roosevelt Fund.  Held at the McCall Cultural Center, since renamed Central Idaho Historical Museum, coordinated by Rosalee Wigle & Caroline Valle.

* In 1999, in celebration of Black History Month we co-sponsored Doll Maker and Storyteller Karen McKie at the elementary schools and at the Central Idaho Historical Museum. The program was funded in part by the Idaho Commission on the Arts, other co-sponsors were McCall Arts & Humanities Council, Idaho Black History Museum, and the Cascade, McCall-Donnelly, and New Meadows elementary schools.

We planned and carried out a Sister-to-Sister Summit in coalition with Silver Sage Girl Scouts, McCall Memorial Hospital, and St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center.  Held at the Spring Mountain Ranch.  

Carried the AAUW banner in Boise’s Pride Parade.  

Long Valley Branch ¡Adelante! Book Group cited in Association’s publication, Diversity Tool Kit (p 31).  

Marilyn Arp elected to national board as co-finance officer 1999-2001.  

Conducted forum on Social Security Reform at Cascade Senior Center. Participated in IWN’s Network Action Team project during legislative session. 

Participated in state & branch e-mail network.  

* In 2000, hosted 40^th Biennial AAUW of Idaho State Convention at Best Western, McCall.  Sponsored ARA (Anti Racism Action) McCall-Donnelly High School students to attend State Convention for the 2 key note speakers.  Gwen Kimball elected State Public Policy chair 2000-2002.  Marlene Bailey appointed International Federation of University Women (IFUW) liaison.  

Co-sponsored with newspapers 2 candidates forums at McCall & Cascade Senior Centers before the May Primary.  

Sent colorful Get Out The Vote (GOTV) postcards before November election.  

Attended McCall-Donnelly school board meetings to support inclusive language in proposed Anti-Harassment Policy.  

* In 2001, Phyll Remaklus died.  

Supported GOTV for school board election & both candidates, who reflect AAUW’s principles were elected.  

Eight AAUW members participated in the Communities Overcoming Hate workshop, and the subsequent West Central Idaho Citizens Task Force for Human Rights (CTF).

At Association Convention, Marilyn Arp elected as an at-large-director of the Educational Foundation 2001-2003. 

For the 7^th consecutive year Long Valley branch received the 5-star branch award.  This is the last year of that particular award.  

Linda Corder created our Long Valley Branch web site with links to state & national web sites. 

September 21 & 22, held our first annual Planning Retreat! Held in Riggins at the Youth With a Mission (YWAM) conference center. We will remember that as the productive retreat that it was, with one criticism -- we worked! Someone called it "the boot camp" planning retreat. Nevertheless we developed a strategic plan with a vision, goals, and operational objectives, not only for the year 2001-2002, but also goals for the next 2-3 years. The vision statement we developed reads: "We are committed to a community in which education is highly valued. We look to live in an atmosphere characterized by nonviolence, tolerance and appreciation of diversity."

Fall of 2001 & winter of 2002:

Our programs in the fall of 2001 and winter of 2002, reflected continuation of past programs with some decidedly new, innovative programs.

Leslie Ray developed a branch recongnition for scholars in the McCall-Donnelly High School, which she can describe to us.

Sarah Jessup investigated coalitions for nonviolence, and we became part of Women's Action for New Directions (WAND). Also, as a result of our need to discuss problems of the world, Sarah subscribed to the Great Decisions program, prepared by the Foreign Policy Association and recommended by AAUW. We started the study in January, inviting men and women from the community, and a dozen, sometimes more people attended until the end of the series in May.

Our branch supported the McCall Arts & Humanities Council when they brought a panel to discuss the Middle East history and crisis after the September 11th event.

Linda Corder created a diversity tree for the Festival of Trees to support the McCall Library. The tree received a prize in the group category.

Our branch has taken the lead in starting the West Central Idaho Citizens Task Force for Human Rights or CTF or Citizens Task Force in our area. Three of our member along with 3 people from the law enforcement community attended the Tools For Tolerance Training at the Simon Weisenthal Center in Los Angeles in December, and have been working to develop and promote the CTF mission, which is: "to insure human rights for all through education to prevent hate and bias and through promotion of healing responses to acts of hate." To date our work as been monthly in education and we are working on responses with the law enforcement officers.

Linda Corder obtained a greant through the Idaho Humanties Council to bring Dr. Steven Shaw back to McCall to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. and to talk about Terrorism in Idaho. Linda prepared a MLK historical time line, which display was used for the program, and then taken to our school and public libraries, during Black History month.

We continued to provide candidates forums for McCall City Council election and for the primaries in May. Lisa Wood directed M-D high school girls, who performed Women in History profiles for the M-D elementary students.

Other activities, our fund-raising efforts--December Silent Auction, 4th of July Arts & Crafts Fair booth, Drawing of art work (this year by Kathy Golden), Labor Day Used Book Sale.

We honored Kasey Fry with a named grant to Educational Foundation.

Using the Phyl Remaklus memorial Scholarship Fund, the LV Branch provided $250.00 to support a M-D High School girl's participation in Girls' State this summer.

We continue to facilitate the Adelante Book Study and invite the public to read and discuss with us. We are developing our own book list while maintaining the integrity of our purpose, which is to read books that increase our understanding of people whose life experiences are different than our own for whatever reason.

Updated August 2002.