Monday, February 22, 2016

9:30 – 10:30 MONDAY INTEREST GROUPS

BOOK DISCUSSION Heritage Room Whisper Hollow by Chris Cander

Discussion Leader: Sheryl Sostarich

Catholicism casts a long shadow in Whisper Hollow where the secrets and choices of three women may challenge our own moral psyches.

GREAT DECISIONS Presidents’ Hall Topic: Climate Change
Leader: Joyce Prudden and Barb Taft

A changing climate has already made its footprint in the United States. What can the next president do to stymie this environmental crisis? Is it too late for these efforts to be effective?

HANDWORK/CRAFTS: Beading Dining Room Leaders: Ann Vanvick and Elaine Braun

Make a beaded badge holder for yourself ($5) or make one to be sold to raise funds for our branch.

WRITERS’ GROUP Library Leader: Bev Erickson

Join fellow members who enjoy writing of all kinds. No experience is necessary.

10:45 – 11:45 CULTURES, CLANS, AND COMMUNITIES

United States Immigration Policy Reform as a Social Justice Imperative

Speaker: Ryan Allen, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs

The United States has celebrated the work ethic and ingenuity of immigrants as important contributors to the nation’s success. A closer look at immigration policy indicates that we have become more restrictive over time. Recent debates raise questions about the ability of Congress to enact meaningful changes to our policies.

11:45 – Noon ANNOUNCEMENTS
12:00 – 1:15 LUNCHEON

1:15 – 2:15 EDUCATION

Zooniverse: The Sequel

Speaker: Dr. Lucy Fortson, Associate Professor and Head of School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota

During Fortson’s first presentation to AAUW, we learned how members of the general public sort through images and other data generated by telescopes, ocean sensors, satellites, and digitized texts to provide data for online research projects that require human pattern-matching abilities. Now that kind of research is being applied to ancient Egyptian papyrus fragments. Fortson and her associates are also doing research on the researchers: Who are they? What do they have in common? Where are they from? Could you become one?