The Program committee is responsible for scheduling entertaining yet educational programs each calendar year which may include an “AAUW Adventure”, speakers, and/or dining out. We pride ourselves on offering diverse and stimulating programs to our members and the community.

Current Highlights:

• Special Interest Group Activities
• Great Decisions
• Two members-only book groups
• Local Scholarship for women living in St. Tammany, Washington, and Tangipahoa Parishes attending area Community Colleges
  

Recurring Special Activities:

• Benefits for local scholarship
  

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Activities:

Past Highlights:

• 2011-2015 “Spooky Science” at the St Tammany Parenting Center’s Monster Mash
• 2012 , 2015, 2017 and 2018 – STEM Programs for Girl Scouts
• 2018 – Tour of Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)

Past Program Highlights:

We have hosted several interesting speakers at both our annual Salad Supper and our May Luncheon/meeting. Also our book groups occasionally host speakers:

Past Yearly Highlights

2019 – 2020

Due to the COVID-19 shutdown in March of 2020, our activities were suddenly and severely curtailed. Great Decisions covered only 4 of 8 scheduled topics, book groups no longer could meet and all planned activities were stopped. Our local scholarship could not be awarded because the schools shut down and no applications were received. Before the shutdown we were able to accomplish the following:

• Featured Speaker at the annual Salad Supper was Kim Bigler, founder of James Storehouse, support for foster children
• Assisted LWVST, NAACP, and others to register students at the area high schools to vote
• Stephanie River discussed her research into women’s pay equity.
• Fundraising tea for our local Scholarship fund
• Name change to Northshore AAUW was approved by AAUW

2018 – 2019

• Featured speaker at the annual Salad Supper was Sheba Turk, WWL-TV Morning News Anchor and author
• Financial Awareness Booth at the Girl Scout B.I.G. Event at UNO
• Panel discussion on Human Trafficking with D.A. Warren Montgomery and Beth Salcedo, Director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Human Trafficking
• Discussion of AAUW’s Work Smart and Pay Equity
• Local Community College Scholarship awarded
• 2019 Annual Meeting vote to change the name from AAUW Covington-Mandeville to Northshore AAUW; National office and State AAUW were petitioned for the name change

2017 – 2018

• Kelly Rabalais presented St. Tammany Parish’s  Safe Haven
• Financial Awareness Booth at the Girl Scout B.I.G. Event at UNO
• Adventure to the Bayou Gardens Camellia Open House at the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Museum in Lacombe
• Adventure to Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)
• Local Community College Scholarship awarded

2016 – 2017

• International Women’s Discussions in collaboration with the Abita Springs Women’s Center
• Louis Fitzmorris, St. Tammany Assessor as featured speaker at our annual Salad Supper
• Discussion of the Zika Threat
• Brigitta Malm presented the History of the Kindergarten Movement
• Presentation of Nutrition as You Age
• Local Community College Scholarship awarded

2015 – 2016

• Poppy Tooker discussed her research for the book Tujaque’s Cookbook
• Financial Literacy both at Girl Scout Event in Hammond, LA
• Spooky Science booth at the St. Tammany Parenting Center’s Monster Mash
• Karla Glynn presents Time Matters: A Women’s Retirement Outlook at Chenier Center in Mandeville
• Pat Clanton discussed Ten Historical Sites in Covington
• Local Community College Scholarship awarded

2014 – 2015

• Monthly Women in the World’s Cultures collaboration begins with the Women’s Center for Healing and Transformation in Abita Springs
• Silver Jubilee Anniversary Celebration at the Salad Supper – time capsule opened
• Spooky Science booth at the St. Tammany Parenting Center’s Monster Mash
• Martha Gonzalez presented My Life as a Russian Expat
• Mosquito-borne Infectious Diseases at Lakeview Hospital
• Adventure: tour of Tulane Primate Center, celebrating 50 years
• First Health and Wealth Conference at Chenier Center in Mandeville
• Women Re-entering the Workforce
• Deborah Burst discussed her book Sacred Places: Churches, Cemeteries, and Voodoo.
• Local Scholarship to Community College initiated

2013 – 2014

• Batina Brockcamp presesnted Project Elevation: Climbing Mount Kilamanjaro for Women’s Issues
• Spooky Science booth at the St. Tammany Parenting Center’s Monster Mash
• Newcomb Art Gallery adventure for Women, Art & Social Change: The Newcomb Pottery Enterprise
• Lisa Jacob presented Asperger’s Sydrome, a High Performing Autism
• Yvette Karcher presented Human Trafficking

2012 – 2013

 2011 – 2012

2010 – 2011

• Women’s Health Alzheimer’s and Dementia / collaboration with NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
• The Doolittle Family hosted a benefit for Covington Food Bank: Holidays in the Virginia Vineyards
• Update on BP Oil Spill and Wildlife – Newest efforts and results emphasizing wildlife, resources, and St. Tammany Parish
• “Function and Future of the Office of the Coroner” / Speaker: Dr. Peter Galvin , STP Coroner
• “90th Anniversary Celebration of right to vote” dressed in period clothes holding voting rights protest signs / collaboration with local women’s groups & girl scouts.

2009 – 2010

2008 – 2009

• Benefit for St Tammany Artist Association / Roberta Bruck: “History Of Women In Art” & AAUW Women In Art
• Ann Pressley, St Tammany School District & Dana Wolcott, CASA: “Homelessness in St Tammany Parish”
• Mandeville author, Pam Ewen, The creation of the novel, “Moon over the Mango Tree”
• Local chemist, Sharon Vercelloti: “A Question of Good Taste: The Perception of Flavor”

2007 – 2008

• New Orleans author, Christina Vela: “Ben Butler: The Occupation of New Orleans”.
• Ellen Miller: “Iso-breathing and Relaxation”
• Herbal Workshop with Sarah Liberta
• Joan Doolittle & Robin Leckbee: “Bernard Marigny’s Economics”

2006 – 2007

• Dr. Ivor van Heerden, LSU scientist and hurricane expert – “Hurricane Katrina” (what happened and recommendations based on his extensive flood studies).
• Pat Brister, US ambassador to the UN on Women’s issues – “International Women’s Affairs”
• Eileen deHaro, AAUW SE Regional Director – “Celebrating AAUW’s 125th Anniversary” (and a skit by members)
• Malise Prieto, St Tammany Clerk of Court – “Mobilizing Women to Make a Difference in Elections” & Voter Registration

2005 – 2006

• Dr. Bruce Bunnell, PhD; Tulane Primate Center – “General Application of Stem Cell Research”
• Kevin Davis, President of St. Tammany Parish – “GOALS 2025 and Parish Issues” after hurricane Katrina.

AAUW Adventures

AAUW Adventures are field trips around the region always including a special stop for lunch. Initiated by branch member Annette Doskey-Williamson then known as “Saturday Adventures”, these excursions are now planned by our Program Committee. Many AAUW Adventures were truly memorable. Here are a few:

• 2018 – Tour of LIGO in Livingston Parish
• 2013 – “Spooky Science” & Newcomb Pottery Exhibit and lunch
• 2012 – “Spooky Science” & Viewing of “The Invisible War” at Tulane-Newcomb
• 2011 – “Spooky Science”, New Orleans “Saint Joseph Altar Traditions” by Sandra Scalise Juneau & “Northshore St. Joseph’s Altar Tour” with Sandra Scalise Juneau
• 2010 – Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Lacombe
• 2007 – Herbal Workshop with Sarah Liberta & New Orleans Museum of Art – Femme, Femme, Femme
• 2006 – Washington Parish Fair
• 2005 – Laura Plantation

Some of Annette’s Saturday Adventures:

• Alligator Annie’s Swamp tour
• boat trips to the mouth of the Mississippi River
• canoe trip to Bayou Savage
• tour of Pontchartrain Vineyards
• Phantom of the Opera
• Cirque du Soleil’s Allegria at Beau Rivage
• Audubon Species Survival Center
• and many more

Spread The Word!

If you enjoy our programs, interest groups and adventures, then please tell people about our AAUW branch! If you get any personal press, then please proudly mention that you are a member of the Northshore branch of AAUW. Or invite your friends and family to our programs especially our annual Salad supper in September for free food and friendship.