| Home | About Us | Community Action | Interest Groups | Members | Membership | Newsletter | Program | Photos |

Community Action


For many years we have organized and sponsored community candidates night for local offices. Several of our members have been selected as Citizen of the Year at their annual recognition dinners. Seven current and past branch members have served on a local school board, some in the capacity of President, and three are past or current members of the City Council and Planning Commission. These past few years, several of our members have been honored by Pleasant Hill and Martinez. During local, state and national elections, many of our members have worked at polling places.




Carlyn Obringer serves on the Concord City Council, as the District 2 elected representative and served as Concord's youngest elected mayor in 2019.






Bobbi Horack has served on the Martinez school board for 8 years and was elected to a third term in 2018. She is excited to see what our community has done for our schools in passing bonds and shouldering taxes that allow us to continue to provide an exemplary education and to ensure safety in well designed schools.






The 2016 Alhambra High School Homecoming Grand Marshal was Harriett Burt, one of our community superheroes. Many Martinez residents call her Ms. Martinez. She emcees at most public events, including the Alhambra High School Homecoming Parade, Martinez Youth Baseball Parade, the Italian Street Painting Festival, and Martinez Arts Association s Art in the Park Festival. She was a teacher and later vice principal at the high school from 1962 to 1980. She was a reporter, acting society editor, community editor, and later managing editor of the Martinez News Gazette, from 1969 to 1978. And from 1983 to 1990, she was the community, society and feature editor.

She has been in public service, as a City Council member from 1992 to 1996, and was on the Parking Place Commission from 1988 to 1990 and the Planning Commission from 1999 to 2013. She became the first woman chosen president of the Martinez Boys and Girls Club, and has been president of our Martinez AAUW, Martinez Soroptimist Club and Martinez Education Association. She often welcomes prospective jurors to jury duty on Mondays. Harriett is a volunteer at the Martinez Historical Society, and also volunteers at the Contra Costa County History Center. Congratulations, Harriett! You deserve this honor.




Barbara Chambers had been chosen Martinez 2015 Woman of the Year. Besides being a Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW member, she is the Treasurer and Chair of the City Easter Egg Hunt in the Martinez Lions Club, the 1st Vice President of the Martinez Lioness Club, the Secretary of the Martinez Historical Society Board of Directors, and on the Board of Directors and past president of the Lions Center for the Visually Impaired. For her part in the Main St Martinez Promotions Committee, she welcomes and greet jurors once a week and tells them about our history and the highlights of Martinez. She also works hands on for many of these organizations in other capacities and is involved in many community projects and fundraisers. Congratulations, Barbara.



Suzanne Salter received the 2013 PHCF (Pleasant Hill Community Foundation) Cornerstone award for her work with The Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District's Capital Campaign to raise funds to furnish the new Teen Center, Senior Center and Community Center. Suzanne has served on the Board of Directors of the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation for 12 years. The past 5 years she has been their Treasurer. The mission of the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation is to strengthen our community by, annual each Spring, giving grants to educational, recreational and cultural organization in our community. Since 1995 the PHCF has accepted tax deductible donations to be distributed back to our community.



Our members are active in community organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club, the Friends of the Library and the Education Foundation. We have participated actively in the annual Pleasant Hill City Service Day, a city wide day of improving chosen projects throughout the city. For many years, branch members have actively participated in extending fine arts education in local school districts and awarding individual student achievement in all classes at the high school level. We have also organized community forums to educate parents and the community at large about such subjects as the impact of the internet on our youth and worked to support school bond elections.

Scholarships to local girls

At our 2023 June Brunch, we presented college scholarship awards to five young women from our local schools. It is the mission of AAUW to break down barriers for women and girls by promoting education and supporting their personal and professional growth.

College Scholarships
Five very deserving High School Seniors were recognized for excelling in their high school years, not only with excellent grades, but also in community service and leadership ability. They were each awarded a $1,000 AAUW scholarship in recognition of their achievements. This year s recipients of Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW Scholarships are: Erin Hurley and Lauren Cardinale from College Park High School, and Monica Morrison, Yara Hassan, and Khin May May Lwin from Alhambra High School.

In the Fall, Erin is going to University of Puget Sound and completing a double major in German and International Relations, and Lauren will attend St. Mary's College and will major in English. Monica is headed to University of California, Irvine majoring in Philosophy and Astrophysics/Astronomy. Yara will attend UC Berkeley and will be studying Data Science/Business. Khin May is off to UC Merced majoring in Human Biology/Molecular Biology.

Our branch is proud to award these young women our 2023 scholarships. As a branch, we strongly support the Local Scholarship Fund through several fundraisers including our Silent Coffee Klatch, Gourmet to Go, DVC plays, as well as individual member donations.

2024 Local Scholarship applicants: Print the Criteria and Guidelines document and the Local Scholarship Application here.

AAUW Local Scholarship 2024 application  

Tech Trek

Tech Trek, a program of AAUW California started in 1998, is a Science and Math camp aimed to encourage girls who will be entering eighth grade in the fall to consider careers in (STEM) science/technology/engineering/math. The camp features hands-on activities in math, science, and related fields. All sleeping, eating, instructional, and recreational facilities are located on a variety of university campuses throughout California where camps are held. Campers are exposed to programs in fields such as astronomy, engineering, chemistry, marine biology, and environmental studies to enhance their learning experience and introduce the students to a variety of potential career areas.

The six 2023 finalists are: Maggie Kramschuster and Kayli Wright from Pleasant Hill Middle, Ivy Kohn and Belle Lemesh from Sequoia Middle, and Addison Young and Tarra Massollo from Valley View. Congratulations to these young women!

Our Tech Trek Campers had the opportunity to live the life of a college student for a week in June 2023 at Sonoma State. Tech Trek is designed to provide every camper with exposure to a core subject, as well as a selection of rotating labs designed to explore individual specialties more deeply. Hands-on activities in core classes, rotating labs, and field trips at Tech Trek camps helped to make math and science fun as well as educational. Instructors included credentialed middle school teachers and women currently engaged professionally in math, science, or technology fields. Campers were exposed to evening programs in fields such as astronomy, engineering, chemistry, marine biology, and environmental studies to enhance the learning experience and introduced students to a variety of potential career areas.

Our branch is proud to award these girls our 2023 tech trek scholarships. As a branch, we strongly support the Tech Trek through several fundraisers including Gourmet to Go, DVC plays, as well as individual member donations.



Annual Layette Shower

Our January 2024 Layette Shower was a very successful event. Janice Walker hosted with delicious food and drink. Our donated items included many handmade items like quilts, blankets, sweaters and hats, and other adorable clothing and diapers for new Moms and their newborns. Janice took our donations to Hillcrest Church where they collect all donations and make baskets for New Moms. In a time when there is so much need, our gifts will help reduce stress to Moms and bring lots of joy. Thanks to everyone who participated.









Our January 2023 Layette Shower was a very successful event. Janice Walker hosted with delicious food and drink. Our donated items included many handmade items like quilts, blankets, sweaters and hats, and other adorable clothing and diapers for new Moms and their newborns. Janice took our donations to Hillcrest Church where they collect all donations and make baskets for New Moms. In a time when there is so much need, our gifts will help reduce stress to Moms and bring lots of joy. Thanks to everyone who participated.













Our January 2022 Layette Shower had to be cancelled for in person attendance because of covid. But even so, it was quite successful. Janice Walker coordinated everything for us. Seventeen members brought baby items to Janice's home. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to oogle and ahh over all of the baby items so here is everything: handmade items like quilts, blankets, sweaters and hats, as well as books, adorable clothing and needed diapers for new Moms and their newborns. Janice took our donations to Hillcrest Church where they collect all donations and make baskets for New Moms. These baby items are so appreciated. Thanks to everyone for your generosity.









Our January 2021 Layette Shower via ZOOM was a very successful event. Janice Walker coordinated everything and Reba Siero set up our Zoom meeting and created a slide show for us, featuring each item donated. Our Layette Shower was a great way to make a positive beginning to the new year. Over 20 members either made handmade items like quilts, blankets, vests, booties and hats, or bought adorable clothing or diapers for new Moms and their newborns. Janice took our donations to Hillcrest Church where they collect all donations and make baskets for New Moms. Our donations included a bag of brand new board books, 6 large bags of clothing, 7 quilts and over 400 diapers! In a time when there is so much need, our gifts will help reduce that stress and bring lots of joy. Thanks to everyone who participated.



















The SAM Program - Student Art & Music
Mary Walters was a very active and beloved member of the Pleasant Hill AAUW branch. In addition she was involved in many Pleasant Hill community activities for many years. An awards ceremony was held at Fair Oaks Elementary School to thank Ken Walters for providing annual funding from the Mary Walters Memorial Fund, established through the Pleasant Hill Community Foundation following her death in 2003, to the SAM program at the school.

The program was created and presented for many years by Mary McGhee with the assistance of the Pleasant Hill-Martinez AAUW members. It focuses on a hands-on art project and a major musician during the school year for students grades K-5.

A tribute to Marilyn Tubbs was displayed prominently on the Fair Oaks campus. Marilyn, who passed away in 2013, was the greatest advocate of the program and dedicated her time and energy assisting the students and staff, and coordinating our volunteer effort. She is missed by all.



This year for our 2024 SAM Program, we included artist, Charley Harper, who was known for drawing pictures of animals using geometric shapes and our composer, Sergei Prokofiev, who wrote the musical score of Peter and the Wolf. We combined the two to tell the story for our art and music program. The students created pictures of animals using geometric shapes. Sherrie Moore, Barbara Minneman, and Helen Pereira presented the PowerPoint Presentation. We had 15 volunteers who helped us with set up and clean up, distributing supplies, and oohing and awing over the pictures created by the students. We visited 14 classrooms and 300 students in TK thru 5th grade and special ed classes. All of the students and teachers truly appreciated the program.









Our SAM (Study Art and Music) Program in March 2023 for Fair Oaks Elementary School was very successful. We presented our lesson to TK (Transitional Kindergarten) thru 5th grade classes, and 3 Special Ed classes (SDC). This year we studied the artist Carmen Lomas Garza and Rebeca Mauleon was our composer. We had the students draw pictures of a family activity using watercolor crayons and brushes. We partnered with the music department. Their music teacher incorporated salsa music and syncopation into her curriculum for all grades.

The students and the teachers all appreciated our presentation and art and music lesson. They drew pictures of their families eating together, cooking, hiking, going to the park, the beach, playing games, and so much more. The students enjoyed playing the salsa percussion instruments, and some classes even played together as a band. Thanks to all of our volunteers. We couldn't have done it without you!















March 2020, Barbara Minneman, Sherrie Moore, and Diane Coventry taught SAM classes at Fair Oaks for TK - 5th grade students. We studied the artist Henri Matisse and the composer Ravel. Matisse is known for his vibrant colors, patterns and cutout work of "drawing with scissors". We listened to Ravel's Bolero. This year we partnered with the music department. Their music teacher incorporated Ravel and Bolero into her curriculum for all grades. And the orchestra teacher performed string music selections for several classes. By cutting out shapes from bright and patterned paper, each student created a different, interesting composition. Thanks to all of our volunteers. We couldn't have done it without you!





















March 2019, Barbara Minneman, Diane Coventry, and Sherrie Moore conducted SAM classes at Fair Oaks. We studied the artist Wassily Kandinsky and the composer Modest Mussorgsky. Kandinsky drew shapes and used vibrant cool and warm colors. We listened to Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. The primary grade students drew colorful shapes on white tagboard, and the intermediate grades painted birch rounds with tempera paint. Look at this beautiful artwork.















February 2018, Suzanne Mesetz continued the SAM program by engaging the Fair Oaks students in cave painting and chanting. The students in each classroom used charcoal to draw animals that may have been found in caves millions of years ago.















Macy's Fashion Show to support Tech Trek

In December 2018, our branch held a fashion show fundraiser at Macy's to support Tech Trek. The 9 fabuous models were members of our branch. Lots of fun and excitement, and we raised $340. Thanks, Elena, for organizing this awesome event.

























Annual Layette Shower

Baby gifts are generously donated for the Hillcrest Church Social Service Program at our Annual Layette Shower . We receive so many beautiful items-- hand-made quilts, afghans, receiving blankets and hats, and adorable baby clothes---sleepers, newborn outfits, saques, sweaters, booties, socks, and undershirts. Toys and diapers as well. We send a big pile of newborn necessities for happy babies and grateful Moms.

December 2019









December 2018









November 2017













January 2016



January 2015















Fundraisers

A Salute to Spring was our 2018 spectacular May fundraiser. Proceeds from this event go to Tech Trek, Local Scholarships, and AAUW Fund. Janice Walker and Marlene De Laurenti would like to thank Cheryl and Dick Buscaglia for hosting this event in their lovely backyard. And a big thanks to the many committee members who helped by providing hearty appetizers, bitesize desserts, hand crafted specialty items, and baskets for our silent auction. All of the gift cards, baskets, paintings, jewelry, catered champagne brunch, hand made wooden items, quilted placemats, along with the 50/50 raffle, were a big success. Enjoyable for all.


























Painting with a Purpose for Tech Trek

We all enjoyed being an artist for the day at our November fundraiser, Painting with a Purpose, which raised $350 for our Tech Trek campers. The members who attended each painted Starry Night over the Golden Gate to support this wothwhile cause. Look how the paintings are all so unique. Everyone had a great time and came home with a masterpiece.








Bowling Blast Tournament for Tech Trek and AAUW Fund

AAUW Fund and Tech Trek hosted a Bowling Tournament at Paddock Bowl in November 2018. Fun was had by all! Although only 4 teams took part in the tournament, we raised $380 to be split between the two committees. The Alley Cats were the winning team, which consisted of Helen Pereira, Lorraine Wieder, Jean Wood, and Shirley Swan. Jennifer Apkarian won the 50/50 raffle in the amount of $97 plus a bowling ball that was donated to us by Paddock Bowl.











What a fun-filled afternoon when we held our Bowling Blast Tournament in November 2017 to raise money for AAUW Fund and Tech Trek. Happiness, excitement and joy spread between lanes 15 - 20. We made a profit of $523.00 to be shared between Tech Trek and Fund. The winning team, headed by Diane Coventry, went home with a bottle of delicious wine for each team member. Bob Bass was the winner of $125.00 from the 50/50 raffle.























A Taste of Fall was our 2016 spectacular Fall fundraiser. Proceeds from this event go to Tech Trek, Local Scholarships, and AAUW Fund. Sherrie Moore and Marlene De Laurenti would like to thank Margie and Lou Pruitt for hosting this event in their lovely backyard. And a big thanks to the many committee members who helped by providing hearty appetizers, bitesize desserts, hand crafted specialty items, and baskets for our silent auction. All of the gift cards, baskets, paintings, jewelry, catered gourmet dinner, hand made wooden trays, quilted placemats, along with the 50/50 raffle, were a big success. A beautiful day. Great music provided by a local College Park Jazz Band.



















The 2015 Festa Italiana was our Fall Fundraiser at Viano winery in Martinez. Proceeds from this event go to AAUW educational funds which provide local and national academic scholarships for women based on achievement and need.

























The SAM Program - Student Art & Music

The Spring of 2016, Mary McGhee had the Fair Oaks students recreate Claude Monet's The Water Lily Pond while listening to a musical piece by Debussy.



Fall 2014, students listened to Vivaldi's Four seasons violin concerto. Mary McGhee then showed them step by step how to create and paint Van Gogh's Sunflowers.









Spring of 2014, the students learned to recognize Beethoven's 5th Symphony and learn about his life and the time period in which he lived. Since there were no photographs yet, the students practiced drawing portraits like the famous artists at that time.

Piet Mondrian, a Dutch artist, who used primary colors in his paintings, was the inspiration for the art project last Fall. The students learned how to mix colors to create the Color Wheel using crayons and water colors. They listened to music by Duke Ellington and learned about Jazz and riding the A Train to Harlem. In the past, the students were able to work with clay.

























Some of our members and their husbands helped out at the Fair Oaks Breakfast with Santa in December. We helped with set up by putting together the book and food baskets for the raffle and organizing the craft table for the students. We served the delicious pancake and sausage breakfast, and then helped with the clean up at the end. A fun time was had by all. Come join us next year.