MISSION: AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy,

education, philanthropy, and research.VISION: AAUW will be a powerful

advocate and visible leader in equity and education through research,

philanthropy, and measurable change in critical areas impacting the lives of

women and girls.VALUE STATEMENT: By joining AAUW, you belong to a community that breaks educational and economic barriers so

that all women have a fair chance.In principle and practice, AAUW values

and seeks a diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full

participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin,

disability, or class.

2016-2017 Branch OfficersCo-Presidents

Diona Koerner (914) 472-9136Linda Swann (914) 723-1099Program Co-Vice Presidents

Sandy FlankStephanie Lemnios

Membership Co-Vice PresidentsPhyllis Hirth

Pam MargandRecording Co-Secretaries

Marge KingsleyNatasha Rose

Corresponding SecretaryAdie Shore

Co-TreasurersCarol McMillan

Jane Pendergast

CHIPS EditorSue Lambert, slamb47@aol.com

Circulation-Jean Havens

Branch Web Sitewestchester-ny.aauw.net

State Web Site www.aauw-nys.orgNational Web Site

www.aauw.orgFacebook at AAUW Westchester NY

The AAUWLegal Advocacy Fund

provides funding and a support system for individuals seeking judicial redress

for sex discrimination.

The AAUW Educational Opportunities Fund

provides fellowships and grants to aspiring graduate women scholars in the US

and around the globe.

Vol. LXI, No. 4/December 2016

CHIPSThe monthly newsletter of the Westchester Branch of the American Association of University Women, Westchester County, New York State

BEVERLY JORDAN AAUW SCHOLARSHIP

by Stephanie Leminos & Diana Kent

Due to a generous bequest from Beverly Jordan, an AAUW Westchester member for many years, AAUW Westchester will have a new scholarship program. Beverly Jordan worked for IBM for 25 years in sales and marketing field offices. At IBM she worked on numerous projects; mentoring, teaching others about new products, and being a hardworking team member. She was a very active member of AAUW and is well remembered for the gourmet group that

she started with Sue Lambert and Phyllis Dale. Some thoughts shared with me about “Bev” were: her Love of Life, “foodie”, warm, caring, hard worker, and always having a wonderful attitude even through tough times. In her memory, the scholarship will be awarded annually to a female freshman at Westchester Community College (WCC) pursuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM). There will be a one time matching funding drive to support the Beverly Jordan AAUW scholarship. After the one time drive, an annual scholarship will be provided based on the income of the investment only. It is anticipated that we will award $2,000 each year. This is 50% of WCC freshman tuition. It is a life changing award for many. We will be providing additional information on this drive in January.

The Beverly Jordan AAUW Scholarship will be in addition to our twenty year local scholarship program that awards three $1,500 scholarships to female students at WCC who will continue studies at a four-year college or university. Many of you have heard the impactful stories these students share at our Spring Fling dinner. Funding for these annual scholarships is raised each year and will continue. Thank you to all of you who donate to these scholarships.

Helping young women reach their potential through these scholarships, provides us with an opportunity to make a difference too.

To capture the essence of Beverly Jordan, here are Diana Kent’s “recollections of Bev”.

“I first met Bev at IBM. We had similar jobs, but in different divisions.  I remember her as an intelligent vivacious woman. 

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ANOTHER NEW MEMBER!

Subm it t ed by Phyllis Hirt h

I would like to introduce our newest member Kristine Budhill. She is a graduate of Yale and MIT with degrees in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Management and is presently the Director of Architecture, Engineering, and Design at the School of the Holy Child in Rye. Her interests are in Ladies Who Dine and STEM, wants to mentor tech savvy girls and has an extensive list of volunteer activities. Welcome Kristine.

I re-met her later at an AAUW morning lit group meeting.  By then we were both retired from IBM.  Bev had taken a disability retirement after she was diagnosed with MS.  She was married to Bernie, and they lived in a condo in Hartsdale.  AAUW had many social events at that time, and we shared several meals at different ethnic restaurants in Westchester.  Bernie was a life master in Bridge and they were well suited to each other.  Unfortunately Bernie later developed Alzheimer's, which added to Bev's own health problems.

When she joined AAUW, she was just beginning to show the effects of the MS which later led to her complete disability.  She was a very active member of the lit group and led many discussions, and contributed to the lively discussions we had.  When it became more difficult for her to drive to some of the members’ homes, we would meet at an easy location and I would drive the rest of the way.

Bev started our very long running evening gourmet group along with Sue and Phyllis.  I joined about a year later.   Bev was an excellent cook and very organized.  For many years we distributed recipes at our dinners and she kept all of them.  She also did much experimenting outside the group and kept a diary of the food she prepared.

When it became impossible for her to continue hostessing, she continued to attend the dinners.  I remember renting a ramp so that she could be wheeled into my home.  She enjoyed the dinners and companionship very much.  She continued to live in her home with the help of aides who tended to both her and Bernie until his death. 

Later it became impossible for her to be cared for at home , and she moved to a nursing home that had other MS patients.  I remember visiting her and finding 2 other MS women visiting her in the room..   We continued to have the occasional dinner at the nursing home particularly around her birthday.  When she died of a rampant infection, she was completely helpless.  However her personality and intellect remained unimpaired, and although her voice had become a whisper, she loved to speak of memories of her early days living in Manhattan, traveling and working at IBM.

A memorial was held after her death, and perhaps unpredictably it was a very happy occasion.  Many of her very old friends spoke of the happy times she shared with them, and the lovely memories they had.  I remember leaving feeling very uplifted, because it reminded me that even with her terrible disability, which she handled with great courage, she had lived a happy and fulfilled life.”

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IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY CONTRIBUTED TO THE AAUW FUNDS FOR 2016, IT’S NOT TOO LATE!

If you have already donated, thank you!

Yes, I would like to contribute to the AAUW Funds in the amount of:

$1000 $500 $100 $50 $25 Other _____If you do not designate a specific fund in your check memo line, your contribution will be applied to the AAUW Funds, # 9110.

________________________________________Name: ______________________________________Address: _______________________________________Phone:

Please make your check out to AAUW Funds and specify in the memo line AAUW Funds or a specific fund and send to Mary Logan, 1204 Hall Ave, White Plains, NY 10604. Thanks for your support!

❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂

CURRENT ISSUES GROUP

The next meeting of the Current Issues Interest Group will be on Friday December 2 at 10 a.m. in the home of Selena Barron. We will discuss the Results and Consequences of the 2016 Election. For further information, please call Marie McKellar 914 591 4899.❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂

EDUCAT IONAL ISSUES GROUP( FORMERLY COMMON CORE)

The group will meet on Wednesday, November 16 at 10 a.m. in the Greenburgh Public Library to discuss recent events and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). In December the group will meet on Wednesday, December 21 to continue this discussion.❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂

POET RY INT EREST GROUP

The Poetry Interest Group will meet at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday November 15 in the home of Janice Rabinowitz. For further information please contact Mary Ellen LeClair. ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂

ST EM INT EREST GROUP

The STEM Interest Group will meet on Wednesday, December 14 at 10 a.m. in the Greenburgh Library. Group members will present favorite books flavored with science, technology, engineering and math. All are welcome at our meetings. For further information please contact Sandy Flank.❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂ ❂

OUR AAUW HOLIDAY PARTY ON 12/4/16 AT 12 NOONLA CATENA 871 SAW MILL RIVER ROAD, (9A), ARDSLEY N.Y.

The Restaurant is located in a strip mall opposite Macy Park next to the Ardsley Post Office. It is handicap accessible and there is ample parking.

The menu for this year includes salad, chicken marsala, tilapia oreganata, penne Bolognese, vegetable platter family style, dessert, coffee or tea. There will be a bottle of wine for each table and a cash bar. Cost: $36.Community Service: Please bring unwrapped toys and gifts or a cash donation to the luncheon. Adie Shore, who generously volunteers her time and efforts, will deliver the gifts to the Bedford Hills Prison for the children of incarcerated mothers.Please send $ 3 6 c hec k m ad e o u t t o A A UW W est c hest e r t o Caro l Mc Millan 1 4 Ly o n St ree t , Ry e Bro o k , NY 1 0 5 7 3 .

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AAUW BOOK GROUP MEETINGS!❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

DAYT IME LIT ERAT URE GROUP

The Daytime Literature Group will hold its annual holiday luncheon at the Kittle House in Chappaqua on Thursday December 8 at 12 noon. Advance reservations necessary. Contact Doris Lowenfels for further information.❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

T UESDAY MORNING LIT GROUP

The Tuesday Morning Lit Group will meet on December 13 at 10 a.m. in the home of Marilee Scheuneman. We’ll discuss the novel, The Marriage of Opposites, by Alice Hoffman. Sadly, our group is closed to new readers for now. ❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

EV ENING LIT ERAT URE GROUP

The Evening Literature Group will meet at Terra Rustica Due in Mt. Kisco at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14. Betty Stratton will lead the discussion of The Boys in the Boat by Daviel J. Brown. Please let Ellen Eschmann know if you plan to attend.❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊❊

JOIN AAUW W EST CHEST ER BRANCH

Membership is open to anyone with an associate or equivalent, baccalaureate, or higher degree from an accredited college or university. To join, please complete this form and send a check payable to AAUW Westchester Branch to the address below. New Member Dues for 2016-17 are $75, of which $72 are tax deductible. When you join the Westchester Branch of AAUW, you also become a member of the AAUW New York State and National organizations. The Membership team can also provide you with more information about AAUW-Westchester’s activities on our branch record form.

______________________________________Name:

____________________________________Address:

________________________________City:State:Zip:

______________________________________Phone:

______________________________________Email:

College/University, Degree, Graduation Year

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

Send check and/or branch record form request to: Phyllis Hirth 29 Forest Blvd. Ardsley, NY 10502 Or email: phyllishrth@gmail.com or phone: (917) 494-8494

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i HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR CHILDREN pAt our Holiday Brunch we will collect gifts and monetary donations for the children of mothers in the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. This year, it is anticipated that over 200 mothers at Bedford Hills Correctional will select gifts for about 500 children. Gifts should be for children between birth and eighteen years of age, and they should remain unwrapped.

The following items are not permitted:• No electronics (Such as Gameboys, Video

Games, iPods, DVDs, etc.).• No Play-Doh, clay, or pencil sharpeners.• No scissors, mirrors, or nail polish.• No items made of glass or in glass containers.• No gift certificates.• No clothing that is blue, black, gray, or orange.• No teen/adult clothing. (Only clothing for babies

and toddlers is permitted.)• No items that promote violence.• No stuffed animals.• No rhinestones on any jewelry or watches.

If you cannot attend the brunch, you can send donations to Adie Shore at her home (8 Oakstwain Rd, Scarsdale, 10583).

Thank you for your generosity.

PUBLIC POLICY: THE POSITIVESBy Selena Barron

After the too long, too divisive race for the presidency, we have a new president. We did not break the glass ceiling, but we can be grateful that our American constitution and our culture provide for an orderly transition from

one administration to the next. AAUW is non-partisan and we will continue with the new administration to advocate for girls and women for equal pay at work, equal opportunity, and an end to gender based discrimination.

Election results did yield positive outcomes. Maggie Hassan, from New Hampshire, Tammy Duckworth from Illinois, Catherine Cortez Masto, from Nevada and Kamala Harris from California

were all elected to the U.S. Senate. Their elections resulted in a shift of 2 more women in the Senate thus creating a total of 47 Democrats, 2 Independents and 51 Republicans in the new Senate makeup. As described below, these women are qualified, experienced and passionate about their opportunity to advocate for many of the same policies that are AAUW priorities.Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire governor, won a close election for U.S. Senator over Kelly Ayotte. She is an attorney who has served 3 terms in the New Hampshire State Senate. As a leader in the Senate,

she helped pass universal kindergarten and increased the legal school dropout age to 18. She successfully advocated for passing marriage equality in New Hampshire. Now in her second term as governor, she has successfully worked across party lines to create jobs, create a health expansion plan to include 50,000 more state residents, invested in bridges, roads, and a stronger mental health system, and restored the Children in Need of Services program.

Tammy Duckworth, is a veteran who lost both legs in Iraq when her helicopter went down. During her career she has been head of the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs and a Congresswoman in the House of Representatives. Veteran’s issues will be one of her priorities. The Senate seat she won was once held by President Barack Obama.

In Nevada, with the backing of retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Catherine Cortez Mastro

won a U.S. Senate seat. It is the first time a Latina has been elected to the U.S. Senate. Senator elect Cortez Mastro served two terms as Nevada’s attorney general. In that role she successfully advocated for the passage of laws that combat the manufacturing of methamphetamines. In her victory speech

she said she will champion equal pay for equal work, the increase of the minimum wage and paid family leave. Her election was supported by President Obama, Michelle Obama, and Vice President Biden.

Kamala Harris ran and won her fight for U.S. Senate for the seat held by retiring California Senator Barbara Boxer. Ms. Harris is an attorney who was the Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County and

then District Attorney of San Francisco. In 2011 she was sworn in as California Attorney General, becoming the first woman and black person to serve in that position. She is the second black woman U.S. Senator. As listed on her website, her platform includes criminal justice and immigration reform,

creating good-paying jobs, enacting family leave and equal pay policies, college affordability and universal pre-kindergarten for children and tackling climate change.

An AAUW supported policy was enacted in 4 state propositions. Arizona, Colorado and Maine passed

legislation to raise the minimum wage to $12.00 per hour by 2020. Maine tied the wage increase to the consumer price index of inflation after 2020. Arizona guaranteed paid sick time leave. Washington State raised the minimum wage to $13.50 by 2020. South Dakota rejected a law lowering the minimum

wage from $8.50 to$7.50 for anyone under the age of 18.

As AAUW members we continue to work for equity for women and girls through advocacy, education,

philanthropy and research. We are women making a difference!

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OPEN DOOR FAMILY MEDICAL CENTERS: FUTURE OF NEW YORK HEALTH CARE BY: MADDY KROL, SUNY PURCHASE AAUW INTERN

In our current political climate, many matters of everyday life have been at the upmost concern to Americans. One issue in particular is Health

Care. Lindsay Farrell, CEO and President of Open Door Family Medical Centers, spoke at the November meeting on the current environment and future plans of NY’s health care system and the role Open Door Family Medical Center plays in improving the health care system overall as well as people’s lives.

Farrell introduced NY State’s DISRIP program or Delivery System Re-Design Incentive Program. Basically, DISRIP entails issuing $8 billion to NY health care systems to focus on and develop Medicaid redesign. Within

this redesign, there are two main goals to improve health care experience for patients.

The first is moving away from “fee for service” payment that primarily focuses on the quantity instead of the quality of procedures a patient undergoes which Farrell described as “the more that is done to you, the more everybody makes.” Farrell went on to say that “we have to be better informed

as consumers. A fee for service system has basically been a blank check and we cannot afford that as a nation.” In order to combat fee for service, the idea is to implement more of a “value base payment” for medical procedures which will allow patients to efficiently pay for and afford their doctor’s visits while improving health outcomes. Farrell also touched upon the second goal of Medicaid reform which encourages moving out of hospitals and into an ambulatory care setting. Cost of health care service in a hospital setting is sky rocketing so with DISRIP Medicaid is working toward ridding excess hospital capacity, improving technology (e.g., sharing patient info electronically rather than by fax), and making urgent care an

alternative to an ER.

When talking about the current environment of the healthcare workforce, Farrell raised a couple of key points. First, she talked about how there is currently a greater number of specialists in the

workforce and an insufficient number of primary care providers. Farrell explained that a disproportionate number of primary care providers is what causes people to seek out hospitals and specialists for health care when a primary care doctor or even mid-level provider such as a

physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner is much more financially beneficial to those specific situations. Farrell also mentioned the evolving concept of accountable care organizations such as WestMed, and changing insurance arrangements, e.g., provider systems becoming insurers. Both accountable care organizations and insurers delegating more functions to medical professionals could make the health care experience for the patient not only more feasible but also more

accessible.

So where does Open Door play into all of this? Serving Westchester and Putnam counties, Open Door’s mission is to make health care as affordable as possible and to serve the health needs of the

people in these communities regardless of their ability to pay. Farrell said that 95 percent of the Open Door patients are low income so Open Door tries to make their services as accessible as possible. They achieve these goals with programs like a sliding fee where the amount you pay is based on an

individual’s income, diagnosing and treating students in school where Open Door clinics can be found and focusing on illness prevention and wellness instead of solely sick care. Farrell stated that “When we all recognize we have a stake in this system we can work on making the people of the community healthy.”

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EYO UPDATE

Wilma Gitchel, Co-Director

Our 14th annual conference, “Explore Your Opportunities̶The Sky’s the Limit!” will take place on April 1, 2017. Our reputation has grown: last year 242 students, our most ever, were introduced to many role models in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

We have, in fact, outgrown some of the facilities at our partner, the College of Mount Saint Vincent. The cafeteria where we gather for breakfast and for lunch was much more overcrowded than we expected. Today our Steering Committee met for our monthly planning meeting. The main topic was how to continue our mission while reducing the number of people in the cafeteria at any one time. Several ideas were considered, including staggering the students’ arrival for lunch, possibly having a separate location for the adult attendees, and, indeed, actually reducing the number of students. Our solution: have all the activities that were held in the cafeteria in a much larger facility: the “New Gym.” Registration, breakfast, and lunch will all be held here. There will be a secondary location nearby for the Mystery Women’s lunch and all-important networking session, and the luncheon we hold for the Workshop Leaders and Workshop Assistants for their networking.

A side benefit will be that gym is much closer than the cafeteria to the Auditorium where we hold the opening and wrap-up sessions.

There is a high cost to this, though. The estimate is roughly $5,000, an increase of almost 30% over last year’s costs. The college will rent tables and chairs at our expense, plus a floor covering for the gym floor. There will be considerable labor in setting this up and tearing it down after the event. Catering costs will be higher because of the distance from the kitchen. Additional catering staff will be needed.

Diona Koerner has nearly completed her recruitment for Leaders for 17 workshops. Sandy Flank has the keynote speaker and most of the Workshop Leaders for the Adult Program committed. We’ll have 15-20 Mystery Scientists and two Workshop Assistants for each workshop.

Our Westchester Branch members have been most generous in supporting us in the past and we definitely need your help again this year. We need referrals to women working in the STEM fields who would like to be Mystery Women. We need volunteers to help check-in the volunteers and attendees, and to guide the students around the campus on the day of the event.

You can help when making purchases with Amazon. To do this, go to our webpage, aauw-eyoconference.org where you’ll find the Amazon.com logo at the bottom of the page. Simply click on the word “Amazon” and you’ll be transported to their website where you can place your order as usual. This doesn’t cost you anything and we get a small commission, which can add up to significant amounts.

Your financial contributions continue to be vital. Your donations are tax-deductible. Kindly make your check out to AAUW-Westchester Branch, and write “EYO” on the memo line, as described in the tear-off coupon on the next page.

Once again, we thank you for your fine support. We couldn’t do this without you.

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"Explore Your Opportunities -­ The Sky's The Limit!" Conference Help AAUW Celebrate a Legacy of Leadership Through Service!

================================================================================================================ Yes . . . I want to help the American Association of University Women and the College of Mount Saint Vincent interest girls in opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through the Explore Your Opportunities Conference. Here is my tax deductible contribution for: $______________________ Benefactor ($500 or more) Supporter ($100) Contributor ($50)

Friend ($25)

Other $ __________

Donations totaling $25 or more, received by March 15, 2017, will be included in our Conference Journal Name: ___________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________

Please indicate below how your name should appear in the Conference Journal

__________________________________________________

Your contribution to the EYO conference is tax deductible within the limits prescribed by law. Please mail completed form and check payable to with EYO on the memo line to:

Carol McMillan, 14 Lyon St., Rye Brook NY 10573 Making a Difference - AAUW in partnership with the College of Mount Saint Vincent

WIZ GIRLS

By: Maddy Krol, SUNY Purchase AAUW Intern

On the early Saturday morning of October 29, 220 girls ranging from fourth to seventh grade flooded the halls of Ardsley Middle School for the second annual Wiz Girls: Building the Future conference hosted by the American Association of University Women Westchester Branch. The Wiz Girls conference gives young girls an opportunity to have a hands on experience with science, technology, engineering and math programs (otherwise known as STEM) by immersing them in workshops centered around these subjects hosted by women currently working in those fields. With only 1 in 5 women choosing to work and study within the STEM fields, conferences like Wiz Girls encourage young women to not only take classes and pursue careers in these fields

but also to be fascinated with the world of science and engineering and learn new skills to make a difference in the world.

The day began with parents dropping their girls off and signing into their groups. Parents Yolanda Johnson and Scherezade Hernandez both expressed what they were hoping their girls would take from the day. “I want my daughter to see new things she can do in the future” Johnson said. “It’s an opportunity to build social skills and start to enjoy science even more” said Hernandez. Both mothers said that their daughters begged them to come to Wiz Girls this year, since last year was such a positive experience for them.

Upon entering the cafeteria where the girls had breakfast and waited for the day to begin, the excitement and energy was palpable. The girls were seated according to their first activity ranging from “Soda Science” and

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“Video Game Adventure” to “Spanning Great Lengths” and “Using Leverage To Get Super Powers”. Fourth grader Kaavya said she was most excited for “Rolling Drone Bots.” “I’ve been designing robots for a few months now on my computer,” Kaavya said, “So I hope I can learn more skills here.” Ten year olds Katelyn, Talia, Anna and Alyssa said they couldn’t wait for the “Happy City” workshop. When asked what their happy city would look like, Talia said, “All the buildings would be happy and bright and colorful.” Katelyn, Anna and Alyssa quickly chimed in and exclaimed that, “There wouldn’t be any problems. Everyone would be nice and kind and no one would hurt anyone.” Sheila Narayanan, the Wiz Girls conference director then spoke to the girls about what the day would entail. She encouraged them to take advantage of every opportunity that presented itself to them and emphasized that this was their day. Narayanan asked the room if they were excited to be here and after a unanimous and booming “Yes!”, the girls were off to their activities.

Some of the 6th to 7th graders went to “Span Great Lengths” presented by Jamey Barbas, a civil engineer who is the project director of the construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge. Barbas shared with the girls what she called “some of the secrets” of the construction which involved showing them the blueprints and plans of the project. She stressed how multifaceted the job of an engineer is and how to apply the skills you learn in STEM classes to real world events. After discussing the Tappan Zee project, the girls then recreated the model of the bridge using Legos. One precocious student, Emma, explained how curious she was about the project and her drive to learn new things. “Not many girl engineers in the world” she said. “And this can empower girls in the world I think.”

One of the activities the 4th and 5th grade girls experienced was “Soda Science” taught by representatives from product development at PepsiCo including Judith Vigar, Vice President, Deborah Bernardini, Senior Director and Jean Marie Jordan, Director. The girls learned how to create their own soda and were educated on the science and technology behind food. “My goal is that girls learn how fun and exciting science is” Vigar said. “It’s such a great experience and gives young girls ideas for their future opportunities,” she added. The girls left the soda lab with colorful smiles from the dye of their drinks and with excited energy from both the lesson and the sugar.

The girls ended the day by gathering together in the auditorium for their last group activity, “Design and Make”. Using pipe cleaners, life saver candies, cotton balls and other craft supplies, each group of girls worked together in building their own racing cars. Although they were using a much smaller scale, the girls were able to witness firsthand the amount of planning, trial and error and hard work that goes into a single engineering project.

As an observer of the day, it was an incredibly empowering and surreal experience. I even felt motivated to learn more about science and math. These young girls were completely uninhibited in answering any question thrown at them and confident in their knowledgeable answers. They were eager to learn and be inspired by the incredible women before them. Not only were they visibly proud of one another, but they were proud of themselves. They left the day with new friendships, new ideas and the knowledge of the possibilities awaiting them in the future. Every girl was anxious to share what she learned and took away from the day but 10-year-old Luma said it best: “Today proved girl nerds are cool!”

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c/ o Barbara Sarver3 4 Scenic CircleCrot on on Hudson, NY 1 0 5 2 0

DECEMBER 201612/1 Thursday Bridge Group 1 p.m.12/2 Current Issues Discussion Group 10 a.m.12/4 Holiday Luncheon La Catena, Ardsley 12 noon12/5 Monday Bridge Group 12 p.m.12/8 Daytime Lit Group Holiday Luncheon Kittle House 12 p.m.12/8 Thursday Bridge Group 1 p.m.12/10 Deadline for submitting for CHIPS12/10 EYO Planning Meeting College of Mount St. Vincent 9:30 a.m.12/12 Monday Bridge Group 12 p.m.12/13 Tuesday Morning Literature Group Marilee Scheuneman’s Home 10 a.m.12/14 STEM Interest Group Greenburgh Library 10 a.m.12/14 Evening Literature Group Terre Rustica Due, Mt. Kisco 6 p.m.12/15 Thursday Bridge Group 1 p.m.12/16 Pay Equity Group Greenburgh Library 1 p.m.12/19 Monday Bridge Group 12 p.m.12/20 Financial Interest Study Group Sophie Keyes’ Home 10 a.m.12/20 Poetry Interest Group Janice Rabinowitz’s Home 1:30 p.m.21/21 Educational Issues Group Greenburgh Library 10 a.m.12/22 Thursday Bridge Group 1 p.m.12/26 Monday Bridge Group 12 p.m.12/29 Thursday Bridge Group 1 p.m.

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