Planned Parenthood Representative at Annual Meeting

We heard from a Jamie Burch Elliott from Planned Parenthood about how they are weathering the current political storm during our annual meeting. She focused on what they are doing, how they fight for reproductive freedoms, and how like-minded people might be able to help out. We also held general elections at that time and reported on our activities for the year.

Postcard Writing Event

Branch members hosted a postcard writing session on April 10th at Felix and Oscar’s in Des Moines. The branch provided postcards. stamps, and addresses for members to compose messages to elected officials. The goal was to let the people in power know what is working and what is not.

Holiday Tea

Kyrstin Shelley shared her homecoming storytelling project at our holiday tea. Kyrstin was selected to be part a Des Moines Storytellers Project participant.

Iowa Read to Succeed Presentation Oct. Branch Meeting

United Way’s “Read to Succeed” was the topic at our October meeting. Joy Talmon spoke with members during the meeting at Smokey Row. The goal of this program is to increase third grade reading proficiency in central Iowa to 90% by the year 2020. Joy organizes and prepares volunteers to mentor at-risk third graders once a week at 18 sites in the Des Moines, Ankeny, and Indianola public schools in cooperation with the principals and teachers involved.

Allie Tubbs Speaks at Branch Meeting

Johnston High School sophomore Allie Tubbs shared her winning presentation, “Grace Hopper Dared to Explore Computer Coding, Encounter the Glass Ceiling, and Exchange Intellectual Concepts.” Allie is a 4-time national qualifier for individual performance at the National History Day competition. Each year around 600,000 students enter History Day competitions across the nation in one of seven areas and move through school, regional, and state levels. Allie was one of seven Iowa state winners. Not only did she place 6th nationally in the senior division in College Park, Maryland, but she also received the Capt. Ken Coskey Naval History award and a $1,000 prize for the best entry on naval history. The meeting was held at Grand View University on Monday, Sept. 12.