Deborah Wechsler

(September 2024) So hard to believe that autumn is here! Especially when we are still experiencing the extra heat!

I hope you saw our recent email about the Membership Brunch on September 14. We will be trying an exciting new venue. Please join us to socialize with your DAW buddies and prepare to be wowed again by some of our 2024 Tech Trek campership recipients. In the same email was a request to review and vote on the 2024-25 budget to support our many activities. Speaking of which, later in this issue of the Advocate is a superb summary of some of our plans for educational events about the coming election, thanks to our Programs VPs Monika Witte and Ogie Strogatz and our Public Policy Chair Laurinda Ochoa.

We also are committed to continuing our presence at the San Ramon Valley Unified School District meetings, advocating for excellence and equity in our public school system. Consider attending these meetings; the next one is on September 10. Remember to proudly wear your “Equity for All” t-shirt! I am so grateful to our DAW board and committee members who have started this year with so much energy and enthusiasm, planning some excellent learning opportunities for our branch members and the public. And I am also grateful for the hard work done by Joanne Quijano, who not only edits this Advocate newsletter, but also is our Webmaster and maintains our DAW membership database.

See you soon at the upcoming brunch meeting or one of our programs.
– Deborah

(July-August 2024)  Welcome to the start of our year! Like all of you, I am often overwhelmed with the “busyness” of my life. Was this what I really wanted retirement to be like? Nevertheless, I volunteered to be the DAW Branch President again. I did this for several reasons:

• I do not want to lose the momentum and energy created by our most recent past presidents, Monika Witte and Ogie Strogatz. Our branch has been strengthened by their dedication to Advocacy, Public Policy, and modification of our approach to one of our main mission projects – Local Scholarships. I think that their work enabled us to become more attractive to potential members, as well as carry out a very successful Garden Tour fundraising for our mission projects.
• Our branch membership (you!) has been showing up – at our Third Thursday Programs, at the School Board meetings, and volunteering for our committees. The energy and dedication is inspirational.
• It is always an honor and sometimes even fun (!) to meet and work with intelligent, caring women.

My goal for this year is to tone down the “busyness” but maintain the energy! I will continue to need your help and support to make this another great year.
– Deborah

Click here to see past 2023-2024 Co-President’s Messages