Weekly update: anniversary, convention, and a little sewing

 

One year.  How I miss him!

I'm grateful to everyone for their love, support, and kind thoughts.

# # # # #

The 101st  AAUW-Illinois convention was in Rockford this past Friday evening and Saturday.  (I didn't go last year because (see above).  The last time it was in Rockford was 2002 and I didn't go because my mother passed away.  Hmmm...)   Helen drove and we roomed together. (It was a test because in October we will travel together. We got along quite well.)  

The Rockford Women's Suffrage Monument was unveiled in 2020 for the centennial of the 19th amendment.   The Rockford AAUW branch was a leader in the project from conception to fundraising to creation to installation. 

Barbara S. told us all about the design process (ceramic mosaics created by an artist in Marseilles, Illinois) and each element.  It uses the suffrage colors. It is three-sided (suffragists, black women's rights, and looking to the future). There were so many ideas that the mosaic benches were created. 

 It's beautiful!

Back at the hotel:  the convention began at 5:00 with a public policy update by AAUW-IL's lobbyist, an opportunity to mix and mingle (so many long-time friends and many new acquaintances), and the keynote "Vote, Voice, Advocate" to turn concern into change given by former state rep. Litesa Wallace. 

AAUW national director of public policy Meghan Kissell spoke to us by Zoom. (She was at the AAUW-MN convention.) 

AAUW-IL's annual business meeting was brief and uncontroversial.  We voted for the new officers online.  Branch fundraising was recognized in the program booklet.  The Agent of Change winner was profiled in the program book; she spoke to us online because she was at a conference for her advocacy group.   

All of that efficiency means there's time for great programming. 

Journalism educator Ellen Austin and Rockford PL Community Engagement Director Anne O'Keefe told us about the alarming news-desertification [my term] and how RPL is providing opportunities for teens to fill the gap.

(I didn't get good photos of the two speakers!)

"You can't be a thriving, connected community without local news," said Austin. She cited Rockford where the Register-Star went from 100+ reporters in 2000 to 2 reporters now. The only school newspaper is at a local elementary school. But Austin has led initiatives for high school journalists and has brought that to her hometown, Rockford.

High school journalists are a news source and youth newsrooms serve their communities. "Student journalism IS journalism, with output held to a standard. It's not just writing for your mom." One out of every two American high schools have a news/journalism program but that number drops to one in four for small rural or majority-minority high schools. The Rockford Public Library has stepped up as a partner for youth journalism as part of RPL's community engagement and teen programming. RPL has collaborative workspace and media production facilities. The teens benefit from civic engagment, learning about finding and using sources, fact checking, and showing up in person to get the story.

The Rockford Peaches and women's baseball. Dr. Cathy Headley (professor at Rockford University and baseball fan) told us about the team and Rockford's contribution to both sports and women's history. The Peaches were the winningest team in the league.

The legacy lives on!  

 The closing activity of the convention is the quilt raffle drawing.

I've donated a quilt every year since 2005, with the exception of 2020 (convention cancelled).  The proceeds to AAUW initiatives for equity and education for women and girls.  

This year was the best yet:  $645!  The quilt raffles (convention and holiday) have raised over $10,000.  

# # # # #  Helen and I got to her house at 5 p.m. and I was home at 5:30.  Not much time in the studio --  I took a long nap Sunday afternoon!

  I prepared two quilt backs, got one basted and to the binding stage.  More progress reports in a couple of days.

Linking up with Sew and Tell  Oh Scrap!  Design Wall Monday   Monday Musings