Advancing Gender Equity through Research, Education and Advocacy
- Received 4 Stars of AAUW’s 5 Star National Recognition Program in 2022-2024.
- Instrumental in the building of the first library in St. Johns County.
- Spearheaded the formation of Learn to Read in St. Johns County.
- Established scholarships for students who have completed their first year of college.
- Initiated a Read-A-Loud Program in local schools.
- Started STEM Spark, a STEM career event for middle school girls to meet women STEM professionals.
- Instrumental in supporting three research studies on Women’s Economic Security.
- As a non-partisan organization, encouraged every citizen to vote.
Download Our Strategic Plan – Strat Plan digest 2024
October Branch Meeting Info:
When: October 14 from 10-1pm
Where: A 2 hour tour by the specialists who operate the center.
Buckle up for the flight simulator, buzz into observation beehive, and uncover the world of disease vectors with real microscopes!
Cost: $15 for lunch provided by Publix. Assorted sandwiches, fruit, cookies, water, unsweetened tea
50/50 raffle: all proceeds to Tech Trek
RSVP: by October 10. Text or call 954-850-6154, email gayle123@bellsouth.net
Send: check to arrive by October 10 for $15, payable to AAUW St Augustine to
Gayle Diamant Holland
167 Montiano Circle
Saint Augustine Fl 32084
AAUW St. Augustine File Festival
September 26, 2025, 6:30-9:30 PM, The Waterworks. A celebration of films by women for women. Proceeds from this event support St. Johns County girls to attend Tech Trek, a one week on campus STEM summer camp.
Below: Nola D. Oracle, branch member and
Director/Producer of two of the films and. Below: Nola D. Oracle answers
Lisa Hermon, branch co-President and questions about her film
event organizer. “African Diaspora Hidden Kulture”
Branch co-President Cathie Altman
September Meet ‘n Greet
Speaker Pat Ross, former AAUW state president and current state board member for stem “tech trek” camp spoke about the future of STEM camp and how we can maintain sending campers.
Attending members donated canned/boxed foods for the Homeless Coalition, Saint Augustine, to replenish their food bank.Homeless Coalition’s Food Pantry Board Chair, Jeanne Moeller provided an update and accepted the donations.
Flagler College welcome freshman table provided by the sponsor of the AAUW Student Branch
Hosted by branch Director of Programs Gayle Diamant-Holland and Director of Finance Linda Andiric
Program Schedule for 2025-26
Equal Ground on the Ground Tour
August 24, 5-8 PM, Solomon Calhoun Community Center
Branch Annual Meeting and Scholarship Awards 2025
President Cathie Altman welcome attendees and offered opening remarks and a slide show highlighted our year in review. Scholarships were awarded to six recipients (see details and photos below). Incoming officers; Lisa Carlson – co-President, Gayle Diamant-Holland – Program Director and Reesa Fassett and Teri Gass co-Secretaries were installed by Past President Anne Laure Wagner, and end of year officer and committee reports are recapped.
Scholarship Recipients:
Aubrie Dean – Lisa Brisero continuing scholarship in nursing. She attends Saint Leo University.
Gracie Garris – Jean Luoma scholarship. She attend Florida State University.
Ula McCarthy – Diane Boyce scholarship. She attend Florida International University.
Gabrielle Monk – Susan Letizia nursing scholarship. She attends the University of Florida.
Megan Rodriguez – Amy Kasper scholarship. She attends the University of Central Florida.
Jordan Strauss – Alice Bosselman scholarship. She attends the University of Florida.
AAUW Condemns Actions to Undermine the U.S. Department of Education
read letter here: AAUW condemns cuts to Dept of ED
take action: take action by contacting Congress
April 15th Branch Meeting
Speakers and Film
April’s meeting featured two speaker guests from Compassionate St Augustine and Council on Aging who updated us on their organizations and what they are doing in the community.The speakers were followed by a screening of the wonderful 2019 -14 minute short film- A Child Again produced by our own member, Nola D Oracle founder of Diaspora Whispers Studios.
Nancy Murphy and Arthur Culbert, Co-Founders Compassionate St Augustine
Amy Robinson, Development Manager, Council on Aging
Nola D Oracle founder of Diaspora Whispers Studios
March 18th Women’s History Month Meeting and tea
Speaker UNF Professor, Dr Elizabeth Brown, Asst Chair and Associate Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences discussed how stereotypes influence perceptions of partisans and women political leaders
Thursday March 20th AAUW St Augustine along with JAX NOW and the League of Women Voters, First Coast, celebrated women’s (un)Equal Pay Day with facts about pay inequity and steps we could take to bring awareness to this issue. Link below to info on pay inequity: The_Not_SoSimple_Truth_Gender_Pay_Gap_2025-1
February Black History Awareness Month
Nevertheless, She Persisted!
Speakers Cynthia Garris, Robin Thomas and Nola D. Oracle discussed their persistence in the face of challenges and obstacles.
Pictured: Robin Thomas, Executive Director, Compassionate St. Augustine (seated); Nola D. Oracle, CEO, Diaspora Film Productions; Carolyn Wilson AAUW St. Augustine Common Ground Chairwoman; and Cynthia Garris, City Commissioner, St. Augustine
January 2025 – Human Trafficking Awareness Month
St. Augustine City Vice Mayor, Barbara Blonder, presented a Human Trafficking Awareness Proclamation to AAUW St. Augustine President, Cathie Altman and Betty Griffin House Representatives during Janaury’s City Council meeting
Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder, AAUW Pres. Cathie Altman, 2 Representatives from Betty Griffin, Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, back row – Commissioners Jim Springfield and Jon DePreter
January 21, 2025 – General Meeting
Panelist, Jennifer Ryan, MPH, CEO of Volunteers in Medicine, Jax; Professor Derek Yonai, Associate Professor of Econonomics and Director of the Brown Innovation Center, Flagler College; Dr. Mary Gatta, Director of Research and Public Policy at the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The panelist discussed the potential impact from the inciting administration on women’s health, financial wellbeing and education.
December 17- Holiday Meeting and Party
Speakers, Twanna Swift from Alpha Omega Miracle Home and Niesha Taylor author of -“Divorce Habit: A Kind of Mothering”, were outstanding.
Neisha Taylor
Author’s Luncheon Tuesday Nov. 12
Guest and local St. Augustine Author Tara Lynn Masih spoke about her background, writing inspirations and process at our annual Author’s Luncheon. Her book My Real Name is Hannah is a bestselling debut novel for young readers and adults set in WW II Ukraine, and was a finalist in the National Jewish Book Awards. After a Q & A, Tara sold signed copies of this book and her novella and stories, How We Disappear.
Author Tara Lynn Masih
A raffle was held after the meeting to support our local scholarships. Thank you to all who donated items.
Game/Card Party and Buffet Luncheon 2024
Members Betsy Ford, Debbie Shepard (host) and Paula Gradwell
Members playing cards/games
Raffle Baskets raising funds for local scholarships
Speaker Nancy Tray, Branch Member and member of St. Johns County Voters for Strong Public Schools discussed Public Education in St. Johns County as well as other related topics.
St. Johns County School Board Candidate Forum
The St. Johns Public Library was the site of our recent school board candidate forum co-hosted with League of Women Voters Jacksonville/First Coast and moderated by Noah Hertz, from Jacksonville Today. Candidates from District 2; Anthony E. Coleman and Frank Cummings, and District 5; Lynn Strangham, Linda Thompson, Bethany Hilbert and Liliana “Lily Bee” Bristol (in order of photo below) participated. The event was well attended and the audience got to ask a few questions.
Moderator Noah Hertz, League of Women Voters Rhona diCamillo and AAUW Mary Gatta
District 2 Candidates
District 5 Candidates
Postcard Writing
2024 AAUW Florida Tech Trek Participants
Annual Meeting, Scholarship Awards and New Board Member Installation
President Cathie Altman and Scholarship Chair Cathie McGinn
Attendees
Member Carol Rothfeld introducing the Lisa Brasero Scholarship Recipient
STEM Spark at Anastasia Mosquito Control District – Middle School Girls interested in STEM April 27
Members Met with Sen Marco Rubio’s Staff
Gayle Diamant-Holland and Kristi Pierce met with Ashley E. Cook, Senior Regional Director for Senator Marco Rubio’s Northeast Florida Office. They advocated for the Paycheck Fairness Act and provided research done by Dr. Mary Gatta on Economic Insecurity in Florida. They asked Sen Rubio to watch House bill 7137 Trafficking Survivors Relief for criminal records from traffickers forced crimes.
UnHappy Equal Pay Day Hour – March 21, 4:30 -7:00
STEM Spark at Anastasia Mosquito Control District – Middle School Girls interested in STEM April 27, 9-12
NEW! AAUW 2025 Scholarship-App form
2024-2025 Branch Meetings
Branch Meetings 2023-2024
Branch Meetings 2022-2023
Recent Highlights and Initiatives
Gender Pay Gap by State
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