The La Mesa-El Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will open their year with a meeting Sept. 10 featuring students from their Virtual Tech Trek camps.
This will be the first meeting since the local branch received a 5-star recognition award from the national AAUW organization. AAUW’s Five-Star National Recognition Program rewards affiliates (states, branches, and other organizations) for aligning their work with the AAUW strategic plan and other initiatives that foster the organization’s mission of advancing gender equity for women and girls.
The social hour begins at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting commences at 10 a.m. Members are encouraged to invite friends and family, co-workers, and associates.
Meetings this year will be held in King Hall at Foothills United Methodist Church located at 4031 Avocado Blvd. in La Mesa.
Tech Trek is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) camp designed to develop interest, excitement, and self-confidence in young women who will enter eighth grade in the fall. It features firsthand activities in STEM-related fields.
In the residential camps, all sleeping, eating, instructional and recreational facilities are located on a university campus where camps are held. Virtual Tech Trek is designed to provide campers with exposure to computer science and engineering, along with workshops that explore individual STEM specialties more deeply using a firsthand or interactive approach. Virtual camp became a necessity during the pandemic and was conceived and designed by Lakeside’s Dr. Mary (Mimi) Isaac.
Trained instructors and coaching staff including near-peer Tech Trek alums, work alongside credentialed teachers, and women in STEM-related careers. This year the branch sponsored 12 campers who will share their experiences at the September meeting. Though several camps will be residential this year, UCSD did not allow for this option. The branch’s Tech Trek Co-chairs are Heidi Doss and Jane Drinkwalter.
Sharing the spotlight with the campers will be the 2022-2023 membership committee, chaired by Ginger Lloyd. The group will view the slide presentation, “Why Join AAUW?” and applications will be available to join at that time. Membership is open to anyone with an AA degree or higher or who is currently enrolled in a degree program.
Prospective members can check-out what the branch has to offer by viewing the branch’s 2021-2022 year-in-review presentation on the website, lamesaelcajon-ca.aauw.net. There is a first-time member discount and those wishing to join but lacking a degree can become community supporters.
