WELCOME
to the website for the Poway/Penasquitos branch of the
American Association of University Women
We are a vibrant group who are committed to the AAUW mission of promoting educational and career opportunities for girls and women. We meet monthly to explore and discuss topics related to our mission. We offer scholarships to women returning to education, run math & science camp for girls and also hold a public speaking contest for high school students.
We also like to have fun. Members have formed interest groups that share our enjoyment for hiking, books, wine tasting, travel, and current events. If you’d like to know more, please read on. To Join Us, scroll to the bottom of this page for membership information, or click on the blue Join Us button in the heading.
GENERAL MEETING on Wednesday, Novenber 12th.
Democracy in America: Understanding and Responding to Challenges.
We are privileged to have Jeanne Weidner, the League of Women Voters Speaker Bureau Chair (and our own AAUW affiliate member), scheduled to speak at our November meeting. She will be accompanied by two of her colleagues, Mary Hanson and Ellen Carr who will lead a discussion on “Democracy in America: Understanding and Responding to Challenges.” Informed and active citizens are democracy’s greatest assets.
In keeping with the League’s long history of level-headed, nonpartisan information they are offering a new presentation outlining the unique challenges currently facing our democracy. During this non-election year, they believe this is an important moment in the history of our country for people to understand:
- how democracy and the balance of power work,
- how fundamental rights are impacted by executive orders and actions,
- how current litigation is an important arena for resolving disagreement, and
- what advocacy can and should be done by citizens and voters.
The meeting is open to the community, so please feel free to invite friends and family. We will begin at 1:00 pm for social time with the presentation starting at 1:30 pm. Light refreshments will be provided by the Games Group.
Location: Rancho Bernardo Eastview Community Center, 17520 Drayton Hall Way, San Diego, CA, 92128. If you plan to attend, please RSVP by Monday, Nov 10th to aauwboard@gmail.com.
On October 8, 2025, over 40 branch members listened to AI Instructor and consultant Eamen Hameed explain the basics of Artificial Intelligence, its current and future uses, and the potential impacts on our world. Our Great Decisions interest group provided refreshments while the speaker gave everyone food for thought!
Our new MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY 2025-2026 will be available at the General Meeting if you have not already received yours.
Speech Trek 2026
Our branch is hosting a speech contest for all California high school students on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Pacific Highlands Ranch Library. The contest will start at 10 a.m. https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/locations/pacific-highlands-ranch-library
The topic is Artificial Intelligence – What does the Future look like? Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three contestants. The contest is open to the first 10 contestants.
Do you know a high schooler who may be interested? Contact us at aauwboard@gmail.com for more information.
FIRST LADIES IN HISTORY
The first lady role is really difficult. It has no job description. You have to create it for yourself. -Hillary Clinton
A first lady’s role is much more of a 24-hour job than anyone would guess. Now that I realize what they’ve had to put up with, I have new respect and admiration for every one of them. -Betty Ford
The First Ladies Exhibit at the National Museum of American History explores the unofficial but important position of First Lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. The First Ladies | National Museum of American History (photo: Martha Washington’s gown on display in the First Ladies’ Gallery) Visit the National First Ladies Library & Museum at 205 S. Market Ave., Canton, Ohio 44702. Or delve into the museum’s website, which is full of fascinating information: https://firstladies.org/
Starting with Martha Washington even the title of the role was unknown, going from Mrs. President, Ladyship, and many other terms before finally settling on First Lady.
There have been 57 First Ladies and not all of them have been spouses of the presidents. For example, Rose Cleveland, Grover Cleveland’s sister, served as First Lady until he got married while in office. Also, John Tyler and Woodrow Wilson each had two First Ladies, as their wives died while they were in office, and they remarried. Finally, First Ladies do NOT receive a salary for the many jobs they do! Would you want this job?
Their lives mirror the nation’s political and social growth, and the museum has organized the First Ladies into six categories based on the type of work they undertook. Here are just a few of the ladies listed in each category:
- Director of Social Affairs: Martha Washington, Dolley Madison, Julia Tyler, Sarah Polk.
- Symbols of Strength: Eliza Johnson, Lucretia Garfield, Barbara and Laura Bush.
- Policy Advocates: Abigail Adams and Hillary Clinton. Note: Not all first ladies were successful in their efforts, for example, Abigail Fillmore urged Millard to veto the Fugitive Slave Bill or risk losing the northern Whig Party base.
- Social Reformer: Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, Michelle Obama.
- Keeper of “The People’s House”: Edith Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, Pat Nixon, Melania Trump.
- Presidential Partner: Ida McKinley, Bess Truman, Frances Cleveland, Mamie Eisenhower.
Happy Healthy Hikers exploring Annie’s Canyon
Our Interest Groups have exciting new plans scheduled for this upcoming year. Visit the Members Only section or your monthly Adelante! for full details.
Happy Healthy Hiker’s will visit San Diego Botanic Garden for the docent led butterfly walk on Nov 14th. Join Travel Group for lunch at Lorna’s Italian Kitchen on Nov 15th. Bring a friend and sample wine with Grape Expectations at Speckle Rock Vineyards on Nov 21st. Or join one of our Book Clubs to discuss How the Penquins Saves Veronica by Hazel Prior, Abundance by Klein & Derek Thompson, or Smilla’s Sense by Peter Hoeg.
And Great Decisions, a world affairs policy discussion group assisted by reading material from the Foreign Policy Association, will discuss American Foreign Policy in the Middle East: Taking stock and looking ahead, on Nov 6th.
We welcome potential new members to participate in a few of these activities. Please contact us if you are interested. You may reach us via email at aauwboard@gmail.com.
MEMBERSHIP MATTERS – Contact us to get involved!
“Our mission is to advance equity of women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research”
Chartered in 1971, our branch has over 120 members residing in the Poway, Penasquitos and Inland North County communities.
Need to renew your membership? Most memberships expire each year on June 30. You have until then to go to the AAUW website to renew by credit card. Currently the membership dues are $117: $74 for National; $20 for CA; and $23 for our affiliate.
The first step is to log into the AAUW website. You may be asked to reset your password so you’ll have to enter your email address, then request to reset your password, which will be sent through your email account. Once you log in with your new password (remember to write it down and keep it for future use), click membership, and then renew national membership. Locating our affiliate is a bit tricky because they are listed by state, so look for the code CA0159 for Poway-Penasquitos. Once you check the branch, make sure you scroll down to the bottom and click submit. From there it will prompt you to the state, choose CA again, and scroll down to the bottom to submit. Then the process will take you to the payment page where you will enter your credit card info. Bingo, you are renewed for another year!
If you run into any problems, let us know. If you can’t pay on-line, you can send a check to our affiliate’s treasurer. Thank you to those that have already renewed!
Anyone interested to Join Us, please follow the link or contact us at aauwboard@gmail.com. We are happy to invite you to a few meetings and/or activities so you may see why you should Join Us.
Updated: 21 Oct 2025.