Our Tech Trek Girls

Tech Trek summer camp is over for our girls and they have written wonderful thank you notes that you should enjoy.

Dear Branch of Riverside AAUW,

Thank you so very much for this amazing opportunity to learn and go into more depth in math and science.  I a m having a lot of fun at camp.  At first, I was a little upset about getting exercise science for my core class, but I found it was really interesting and I love it.  The “mini classes” are cool because they are educational but they also make it exciting.  For example, we made chocolate ice cream with liquid nitrogen (I got to stir!  It was really cool!) and making bridge designs was an awesome experience.  But, one of the most energetic activities was Zumba (it was so much fun).  I especially love the fieldtrips to both sea camp and Viasat.  I also found meeting all the different women from an array of different careers exciting.  Tech Trek has opened my eyes to these careers and a whole new world of math and science.  This wonderful and inspiring event is one I will always remember!  Thanks to you!

Sincerely,

Carolyn Perez

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Dear Riverside Branch,

There are no words to express how thankful I am that you gave me this opportunity.  This trip has been incredible.  It changed my life and has opened ideas to what I want to be when I am older.  I’ve made friends because of you and these friends are incredible.

Thank you!

Fernanda Delgadillo

Back row: Carolyn Perez, Alyssa Saldana, Kaylen Gomez, Andrea Galvez-
McDonough
Front row: Audrey Dunn, Fernanda Delgadillo, Rachael Newhall

Dear AAUW Riverside Branch,

Thank you so much for sending me to this amazing camp!  Not only was the experience fun and exciting, but it was also the best learning opportunity I’ve had in my lifetime.

During my time at Tech Trek I have participated in many exciting activities.  Some of these would include forensic class, mini classes/experiments, field trips (such as sea camp), dorm life, the beautiful campus, and new fields (especially Ariel).  All of these aspects contributed to my wonderful time there.

My absolute favorite activity was my core class.  In forensics we studied fingerprints, blood spatter, and crime scene investigation.  The best experiment in this class was the blood splatter chamber.  While in the chamber you were given the choice of a hammer or a bat to beat sponges drenched in cow’s blood.  There was blood everywhere!

Once again, I really appreciate your graciousness in bringing me to Tech Trek when so many other applicants could have come in my place.

Sincerely,

Audrey Dunn

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Dear Riverside AAUW Branch,

Thank you so much for your hard work and dedication to Tech Trek!  Tech Trek was the BEST camp I have ever been too.  During my time there I was able to make a lifetime of memories with my roommates and dorm mother.  I was able to make a shark tooth necklace, dissect a fish, and a squid, and even make a tie-die fish print.  This is what has sparked the flame in my to want to become a marine biologist.  I want to be a future AAUW member and help kids do what I did!

Love,

Rachael Newhall

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There’ll be more later.

Women and the Olympics

In the last 40 years, since Title IX was signed into law, there has been a remarkable change in the participation in athletics by women and girls (6 to 10 times).  This has not only been true in the United States, but this increase has also had a profound effect on the Olympics.

Not only has the number of women participants  increased, but also the number of sports in which women can compete have increased.  The Olymics started with 19 women competing in two sports — tennis and golf — in the 1900 Olympics in Paris.  The 1970’s (after Title IX) saw a big increase in the numbers of women competing in the Olympics.  Basketball became an event for women in 1976.  1984 was the first cycling event for women and Gymnastics came in 1952.  The first women’s Soccer game was played in 1996 and wrestling in 2004. Boxing was the last event added for women — in 1908.   In 1991, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided that any new sport introduced for the Olympic program had to include both men’s and women’s events.

The 2012 Olympics in London will see a nearly equal number of male and female participants competing and women will compete in all 26 Olympic events.  In addition, there will be women competing from every country participating, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Brunei for the first time.  In the 2008 Olympics, Women won nearly half the American medals.  What do you think they will do this year when more than half of the United States’ participants will be women?

Title IX and Chico

Carol Holzgrafe, past president of the AAUW Chico (CA) Branch, gives Cindy Wolff a certificate of appreciation for her work to improve equity in Chico schools.

 In 2008, AAUW member Cindy Wolff noticed that there were more sports opportunities for boys than girls at her daughter’s high school in Chico, California. After realizing that the school was likely not complying with Title IX, which guarantees gender equality in educational opportunities, Wolff set up a series of meetings with school officials to bring the inequity to their attention. Her meetings went nowhere, so she worked with the AAUW Chico (CA) Branch to file a report with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in 2010.

 In late June 2012, OCR released a report stating that the school district was not compliant with Title IX and must institute changes. The report was widely publicized, and the whole community is working to ensure that the school becomes compliant. After the investigation, both high schools in the Chico school district are offering additional girls’ teams as well as improved fields, better game times, and additional training and support for the Title IX district coordinator.  AAUW’s Title IX Compliance: Know the Score Program in a Box was a helpful tool for Wolff and her branch as they successfully advocated for equity.

Stop Human Trafficking

Californians Against Sexual Exploitation, the CASE Act, Proposition 35 will be on the California ballot in the November election.  It will strengthen penalties against human trafficking and improve Megan’s Law against online predators.  Did you know that California harbors three of FBI’s 13 highest child sex trafficking areas in the nation:  Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego (and Riverside is not far behind).

The CASE Act will:

  • Increase prison terms for human traffickers.
  • Require convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders.
  • Require all registered sex offenders to disclose their internet accounts.
  • Require criminal fines from convicted human traffickers to pay for services to help victims.
  • Mandate law enforcement training on human trafficking.

We need to pass this law to help keep our girls from becoming victims of these sexual predators.  Be sure to vote for Proposition 35, the CASE Act and tell all your friends and acquaintances to vote for it too.