AAUW

The Sandhills/Southern Pines Branch of the American Association of University Women celebrated its 30th anniversary with a program and reception Saturday, May 17, in the Boyd Library on the campus of Sandhills Community College.

Special guest was Millie Hofler-Foushee of Summerfield, president of the North Carolina AAUW. She spoke about a special new N.C. AAUW project called STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), which is designed to attract girls into these four areas of study.

The Piedmont area of N.C. AAUW will be working on this project during the next two years. For the past 13 years, in the areas of STEM, the local branch has given the Sally Ride Award to students in the six Moore County Middle Schools.

Hofler-Foushee installed the officers for the Sandhills/Southern Pines Branch for the upcoming year. Lois McCarthy and Eleanor Chajkowski were installed as incoming co-vice presidents for program and Virginia Taylor was installed as treasurer. Special recognition was given to charter members and past presidents. Two charter members, Jane McPhaul and Sue Williamson, were in attendance. Past presidents present included Grace Damon, Jane McPhaul, Virginia Roth, Claire McConnell, Jo Gilbert, and Lois McCarthy.

The program for the event was planned by Fran Lee, Dee Fordree, Virginia Roth, Jackie Wilson and Eleanor Chajkowski. It encompassed the history of the local branch as well as the national AAUW organization which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

Among some of the projects AAUW has been involved in nationally was the awarding in 1920 of more than $156,000 to Marie Currie to help purchase one gram of radium to continue her research in the field of radioactive elements. AAUW has worked diligently to get the passage of legislation involving the 19th Amendment, Title IX, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Voting Rights Act. Up to $4 million in educational grants are being awarded annually to 7,000 women students in 110 countries.

Locally, the Sandhills/Southern Pines Branch supports the Ruth Pauley Lecture Series, a tuition scholarship for a Sandhills Community College student, the Sally Ride Awards and the Christmas Book Tree at the Country Bookstore.

Membership in AAUW is open to anyone holding an associate or baccalaurate degree from an accredited univerity or college.

For more information about membership, call Lois McCarthy at 295-2871 or Jackie Wilson at 949-4675.

OSU Sandhills Alumni

The Ohio State University Sandhills Alumni Club and each of its 198 charter member "Buckeyes" celebrated the club's first anniversary Tuesday, June 3, by announcing the awarding of its first scholarship to a local student enrolled or accepted into Ohio State University. This year's recipient is Jonathan Gribben, son of Patrick and Susan Gribben, of West End.

Gribben had dreamed since childhood of being the third generation on his mother's side of his family to attend and graduate from OSU. After starting his baccalaureate work at Wingate University, he received admission and an Army ROTC Scholarship to OSU, where he is currently a senior, and destined to graduate in the summer 2009 with both a bachelor's degree and a commission in the U.S. Army.

"The Sandhills Buckeyes are proud to be a part of Jonathan's dream," says a spokesman.

The first Buckeye Scholarship Benefit Golf Tournament will be conducted this year on July 25. Interested Ohio golfers should contact Bruce Miller at (910) 277-3745.

The OSU Sandhills Alumni Club welcomes any Buckeye fan, graduate or not, to join in the Buckeye camaraderie. For information on the club, visit www.sandhillsbuckeyes.net.

Kiwanis of the Pines

Peter Dyck is a Certified Emergency Room nurse at Moore Regional/FirstHealth. He was recently named "Nurse of the Year."

Dyck's other interest is woodworking, and he made a carousel for patients' charts, according to his friend Dottie Garman. Garman was a guest of the Kiwanis for his presentation. She is a retired charge nurse from FirstHealth, who worked closely with him before her retirement.

Dyck told the group that there are approximately 100 staff members that work in the emergency room. Some are nurses, doctors, volunteers, clerical folks and security. FirstHealth Moore Regional is growing rapidly, seeing about 65,000 folks in the emergency room each year.

Dyck mentioned that the nursing staff at FirstHealth Moore Regional is certified in Advanced Cardio Life Support, CPR Basic, Certified Emergency Room, and Board Certified Nursing. Many of the staff take advantage of new certifications, which are offered, so that they can become proficient to serve their patients.

Dyck said Sundays and Mondays are the busiest days in the ER. Friday is usually a discharge time, so it is less hectic. About 23 percent of all emergency room patients are admitted to the hospital.

SCWC

Sandhills Christian Women's Connection hosts its monthly luncheon on Thursday, June 19.

Speakers include Marian Caso, who is realizing her dream of owning a tearoom. Lady Bedford's Tea Parlour will be opening this summer in the Village of Pinehurst at 25 Chinquapin Road. Educator Ann Ridgeway, of Rock Hill, S.C., will ask "Can You Pass the Test?"

Violinist Ann Cockman will perform

All Sandhills women and their guests are welcome to attend the luncheon held at the National Golf Club in Pinehurst from noon to 1:30 p.m. Call Joan at 673-5146 or Anne at 215-0074 to make reservations.

"Be sure to let us know if you will be taking advantage of our free nursery," says a spokesman.

The cost of this month's luncheon is $13, all inclusive. A courtesy call is requested no later than Tuesday, June 17.

League Meeting

The League of Women Voters of Moore County will end its fiscal year with an annual meeting Tuesday, June 24. (Note that the meeting is on the fourth Tuesday of the month, rather than the regular third Tuesday.)

The luncheon meeting will be held at the Country Club at Longleaf, off Midland Road, in Southern Pines. The public is welcome to attend the luncheon and stay for the meeting, but nonmembers cannot vote. Interested people may reserve a lunch by phoning Charlotte Gallagher, at 944-9611 at least by June 20.

The total cost is $12, payable by check to LWVMC. (As the lunch is catered, to avoid being billed, the cancellation deadline is June 22.)

The check-in time is 11:30 a.m. and the business meeting will start at 11:45. The annual meeting of the League will include the election of officers for the next year, explanation and voting on the budget and discussion and voting on the program (issues for action) for the next year, 2008-2009, plus the year in review. The president of the League, Myrle Jo Nicholas, of Seven Lakes, will preside over the meeting.

At every League meeting, one or two short reports by the issues committee are given. According to Joan Zamaroni, of Whispering Pines, the current chair of the issues committee, "The committee makes short reports on things of interest happening anywhere: Moore County, North Carolina, or nationally." The reports are usually between 10 and 15 minutes long.

The June report, presented by Virginia "Ginger" Minichello, will be on "Security Freezes: Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft." The government of North Carolina enacted security freezes as a means of consumer protection, since 2006.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Any citizen over 18, male or female, may become a voting member of the League.

The League is political only in the sense it takes positions on selected government issues after study and agreement by members.

In accordance with the nonpartisan policy, the League shall not support nor oppose any political party or candidate.

Quilters

The Evening Star Quilters will meet at the Senior Enrichment Center on U.S. 15-501 Thursday, June 12, at 7 p.m.

"We will be discussing handbags and quilts for the Pinehurst show," says a spokesman.

For information, call Naomi at 692-0931.