Nominations were sought from branch members for the 2010-11 Ballwin-Chesterfield Named Gift Honorees in January, February, and March. The nominees were considered on the basis of dedicated service, their leadership, and their significant commitment to the AAUW Mission and the Branch. Contributions to the Ballwin-Chesterfield Silver Anniversary Research and Projects Grant have been made in their honor.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE OUTSTANDING BRANCH MEMBER: BETTE BUDE
Bette has served on the Ballwin-Chesterfield Board continuously since 2005 when she accepted the position as Public Policy co-chair, continuing as Vice-President of Programs and then as Co-President.
Bette strives for excellence in all she does. Her newsletter columns have been artful and informative. Despite her busy schedule as Co-President, she has taken the time to sponsor Dollars for Scholars events to demonstrate her strong support for this program. Bette has helped us clearly define who we are in our branch from her work on Branch Goals and Strategies, to revision of Board Job Descriptions, and monthly program evaluations to assist program planning.
Bette is an innovator. She instituted the first “New to the Board” Orientation Coffee last June and created a comprehensive Board Members’ Folder to help board members be their most productive.
Bette is a strong supporter of STEM. She facilitated branch participation in the annual Expanding Your Horizons conference to expose young girls to opportunities in math and science. She was a mentor in both Wellston science projects and the key developer of the branch’s BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS finalist project Growing STEM Girls: A Why So Few Toolkit for Turning Awareness into Action. In this effort, Bette has worked tirelessly to connect with academic and scientific entities to educate key people and distribute Toolkits.
Bette is always ready to listen and was able to make everyone feel an important part of the branch. She is constantly doing her homework on all facets of AAUW and has made our branch stronger in doing so.
We are extremely honored to present Bette Bude with Named Gift Honoree award as the Outstanding Branch Member for 2011.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: BARBARA BUTCHART
BARB BUTCHART is a fundraiser extraordinaire and a gracious hostess with excellent organizational skills. As co-chair of the LAF committee, she is involved in many activities, but the fundraising event at the Rep to see “Beehive” is one that stands out for this year. It is an event that she coordinated and planned for the entire year.
In addition we are able to hold our lovely Spring luncheons at the Whitmoor Country Club because of Barb’s membership there. She attended the planning meetings with the Luncheon Co-chairs and the Whitmoor Staff to be sure that everything is beautiful and organized. Dollars for Scholars was able to have a very successful Canasta and Luncheon event at Whitmoor, also because Barb was willing to be the hostess.
Barb is there to take on new challenges and supports AAUW with both her heart and her purse. She is always willing to share her time, energy and her creative talents.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: BARB TACKITT
BARB TACKITT is the queen of field trips. As a new member of Ballwin Chesterfield, she was drawn to AAUW because of the Dollars for Scholars program and its scholarships for local students and was very eager to help with that program. In her first year of membership, Barb attended several events and even sponsored a few. This year she readily accepted the position of Dollars For Scholars Co-chair with her good friend, Judy Green. The two of them immediately started their own “field trip Tuesdays” which have resulted in at least four very interesting Dollars for Scholars events. One of their first events last year was a tour of the Central Library before it closed for remodeling and lunch at Maggie O’Brien’s.
Barb also was happy to sponsor a table at High Tea for the past two years, in addition to the great outings that she planned and led.
Barb Tackitt is a wonderful example of someone who shares her interests and love of the St. Louis Community with us.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: CAROL DERINGTON
We are pleased to recognize CAROL DERINGTON as a Named Gift Honoree. Carol is always willing to go the extra mile necessary to do her part in whatever position she holds. Currently the branch Historian, Carol has carefully tended our archives and creatively preserved memories of recent activities and distinctions. Carol has served on the Ballwin-Chesterfield Board in multiple capacities. She is active in Expressions, Play Readers Too, Saturday Night Singles and Bridge Interest groups. She attends many Dollars for Scholars events and is an all-important cashier at our annual Auction.
As a dual member with Creve Coeur, Carol is interested in all phases of AAUW: she attended the National Convention in St. Louis in 2009 and is currently the Creve Coeur Branch delegate to IBC. A retired educator, she believes heartily in our mission and works diligently to see that it is carried out in all of our endeavors.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: HELEN FICK
When we mention the Eleanor Roosevelt Walk – you think of HELEN FICK. She has co-chaired the Walk for 2009 and 2010 and actually leads the group on the path that she uses for her daily walk through Faust Park.
In less than three years of membership, Helen has quickly become known to other members through her participation in many Branch activities. She serves on the EOF committee and assisted with the EOF Dollars for Scholars Book Sale. She generously supports the fundraisers for LAF and EOF and serves on the Membership Committee.
Helen enjoys participating in the Dollars for Scholars programs and this year, with the help of a hard-working committee, sponsored the very successful Lunch and Canasta event at Whitmoor Country Club. She is always willing to lend assistance to other members needing help with AAUW projects including the Holiday Auction.
Helen is a great example to new members because after first joining, she quickly became active in the association and made AAUW a very fulfilling experience.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: JAN HORNER
We are pleased to recognize JAN HORNER as a Named Gift Honoree. For the past two years, Jan has co-chaired our branch’s Educational Opportunities Fund in a thorough and conscientious manner. Her background in college admissions and scholarships has been invaluable, providing university contacts and funding information. All of our six local scholarships at four institutions are organized and overseen by Jan. This year Jan researched and led the way to establish a scholarship at St. Louis Community College, thus supporting a goal set by both our branch and the national organization. Through Jan, we discovered the SLCC New Traditions Program, a program that reflects AAUW’s goals in providing scholarships to mature women.
In addition Jan participates in numerous Dollars for Scholars events and the Eleanor Roosevelt Walk; is active in the Reading Reality Book Group; has organized the EOF Individual Giving campaign; her most recent contribution was a co-chair of the successful Used Book Sale.
Jan Horner gets things done. Her quiet manner belies her perseverance and a clear sense of mission for AAUW and the Educational Opportunities Fund.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: JAYNE KASTEN
JAYNE KASTEN has served the Ballwin-Chesterfield Branch with dedication, enthusiasm,
and creativity for many years. During her two terms as Branch secretary, she pioneered the posting of the board and branch minutes on our website.
Jayne eagerly volunteered to chair the Fall Brunch in 2010. Her creativity was evident in all elements of a very successful event, which Jayne views as a key in branch recruitment.
Jayne is a very strong supporter and frequent sponsor of the Dollars for Scholars. She’s had key roles in one of our most successful scholarship fundraisers — the High Tea. Jayne is an active committee member for Spring Luncheon, Expressions, Literature II and Play Readers, Too!
Jayne takes the time to research and share information on current areas of priorities for AAUW. Her dedication goes beyond our branch – she is an active member of the Creve Coeur Branch, attended 2009 National Convention and represented AAUW as a judge in last year’s Women History Projects.
Jayne Kasten demonstrates her dedication to AAUW’s Mission in a consistently outstanding manner.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: JUDY GREEN
Some people are born teachers and will always care of the needs of students. JUDY GREEN is the perfect example. She joined AAUW in the spring of 2004, after retiring from Parkway. She was still teaching several afternoons a week in a special gifted math program. Even though she was not as free to be active, Judy was moved to take the special training needed to be a helper at the Kathy J. Weinman Center for Abused Women.
Judy also attended numerous Dollars for Scholars events as her work schedule allowed and became a Wellston mentor, devoted to helping the students have a positive experience. For two years, she has volunteered to co-chair a table for the High Tea. This year she took on the daunting task of Co-Chair of Dollars for Scholars. She is not only the co-chair, but personally organizes and attends many of the events.
Judy Green, in her quiet way, has supported the mission of AAUW with her service to students and the scholarship program.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: KAREN FRANCIS
If we had a “Rookie of the Year” Award, KAREN FRANCIS would be the perfect candidate. Since joining our branch last spring, Karen has been a dynamo – joining committees, participating in and sponsoring Dollars for Scholars events, and joining
numerous Interest Groups.
Karen’s background in education makes her a valued member of the Educational Opportunities Fund Committee. This year, she mentored one of the scholarship recipients, helped with the Individual Giving Campaign, and assisted with the EOF Book Sale. In addition, Karen sponsored the Dollars for Scholars Talbot’s Fashion Show, eagerly accepting the task without hesitation.
The LAF Committee, Public Policy, and Holiday Auction Committee are other areas where she has become involved. Karen is a strong example of leadership and commitment. She says she feels lucky to have found AAUW Ballwin-Chesterfield, but it is we who are the lucky ones to have Karen as a member.
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: RUTH GRIFFIN
RUTH GRIFFIN is the face of LAF at Ballwin-Chesterfield. As long-time Co-Chair of LAF, Ruth’s dedication to LAF and AAUW is evident. She consistently produces outstanding articles for the newsletter to educate branch members on LAF. To keep her committee informed, Ruth does her homework with ongoing research of current cases and perseveres even when faced with complex legal terms.
Last summer, Ruth accepted the responsibility to organize an IBC steering committee, which was charged with investigating the feasibility of bringing $mart $tart to St. Louis. As a result of Ruth’s work and that of her committee, this September, the co-director of the WAGE project (AAUW’s $mart $tart collaborator), will conduct a $mart $tart salary negotiation workshop to give women students the skills to negotiate fair salaries as they enter the job market and to train facilitators to expand the program. Ruth’s work is serving to advance AAUW’s Vision and Mission in a most meaningful way.
In her typical understated way, Ruth proceeded on this successful project citing the ‘need for patience’ and her ‘pleasure in the learning it provided.’ This is typical Ruth: always under the radar, but highly effective!
2010 – 2011 NAMED GIFT HONOREE: YVONNE MORRISON
What do you get if you combine a generous dose of Southern charm with outstanding organizational skills and long term dedication? Well, of course, that is Named Gift Honoree YVONNE MORRISON.
Yvonne is a tireless worker for AAUW. Her warm personality makes her the perfect ambassador for the branch and new members as Membership VP. But, did you know that whenever the Co-Presidents need an important job done, they turn to Yvonne? Whether it is to build a slate of elected officers on the Nominating Committee or to interpret branch bylaws, Yvonne always graciously agrees to assist. There are few branch positions that Yvonne has not held: President, Hospitality, Newsletter, Dollars for Scholars, Recognition and By-laws – she has done them all. Yvonne also participates widely on many committees and co-founded the Biography Book Club – our own BBC.
Beyond our branch, Yvonne serves on the AAUW MO Board as Administrative Assistant, By-laws/Parliamentarian, and is a member of the Task Force for state recognition and AAUW National Fund Raising Committee.
We are proud to recognize Yvonne Morrison for her MANY contributions.
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