WHEATON-GLEN ELLYN BRANCH

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February Twigs

Book Lists

Branch Calendar

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Upcoming Events:

Feb. 1 Branch Meeting, 7 pm at Glen Ellyn Civic Center.

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Feb./March Reading

Jan. 25 Non-Fiction -- The Founding Gardeners by Andrea Wulf

Feb. 3 AM Lit -- The Parrot & Olivier in America by Peter Carey

Feb. 20 PM Lit -- Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough

Mar. 2 AM Lit -- The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson

Mar. 19 PM Lit -- The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

Mar. 28 Non-Fiction -- 1493 Uncovering The New World Columbus Created by Charles C Mann

February Branch Meeting

Half the Sky: Branch discussion facilitated by members Winifred Creamer and Peggy Connolly

Mao Zedong noted that, "Women hold up half the sky." Despite comprising over half the world's population, women from every part of the globe suffer horrendous abuse: sex trafficking and child prostitution, bride burning and acid attacks, honor killing and rape as a political tool, genital mutilation, maternal mortality, religious restrictions on human and civil rights.

For our February 1, 2012 meeting, we will experiment with our first ever Branch-wide discussion. To prepare for the meeting, in the AAUW tradition of informed discussion and action, Branch members are asked to read Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s bestseller, Half the Sky. Half the Sky not only documents abuse of women world-wide, but offers practical and low cost ways the issues can be addressed. The Branch has 10 copies of Half the Sky: If you would like to read a copy before the meeting, you may get one from Peggy Connolly.

This sounds like a difficult book, but it is fascinating, encouraging, and quick to read. The topics are heart wrenching, to be sure, but Kristof and WuDunn provide well-documented data and personal stories that make riveting reading. Even if you don’t have time to read the book, please join us for an important and lively discussion.

Dr. Peggy Connolly has been a member of the Branch since 1985. She served as President 1991-1993 and has served in many Board positions. She earned an Ed.D. jointly conferred by the University of Oregon, Portland St. University and Oregon St. University and chairs the national case-writing committee of the Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and immediate past President of the National Association of Academies of Science. To contact Dr. Connolly, Click Here.

Dr. Winifred Creamer has been a member of the Branch since 1994. She is currently the Branch’s International Relations chair and leads our Great Decisions interest group. At Northern Illinois University, Winifred is a faculty member in the Department of Anthropology and teaches courses in archaeology and anthropology. She is also an NIU Distinguished Research Professor and Executive Director of the NIU Anthropology Museum. To contact Dr. Creamer, Click Here.