Branch Meetings and Programs

Branch Meetings are held in September through November and January through April. Meetings are generally held the first Wednesday evening of meeting months. Check each month’s Twigs for further details. All meetings are open to visitors.

The dates and topics of this year’s Branch meetings are listed below. For further information, click here.

BRANCH PROGRAMS 2024-2025

Welcome to the 2024-25 program year for our branch. We have an exciting lineup of speakers for your enrichment and entertainment. They are scheduled at local community meeting rooms such as the Glen Ellyn Police Department (65 South Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn) or the Wheaton Public Library. When possible, ZOOM access will be available.

For Wednesday evening meetings, doors will open at 6:45 PM to allow for some social time before the program begins at 7:15. Our business meeting follows the program. This year, the January meeting will be Zoom only.

September 4, 2024
Location: Glen Ellyn Police Department Community Room
Our guest speaker will be followed by a showcase of Branch interest groups and activities for our 2024-25 season.
KICK-OFF MEETING

Jelena Radovic-Fanta, PhD, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at Governors State University, Chicago  will deliver the following presentation:  You Leave the Family to Give Them a Better Life:  Migration, Gender, and Belonging in Chile’s Grape-Export Industry.  Associate Professor Radovic-Fanta’s research was enabled by her AAUW Fellowship grant awarded in 2018.

October 2, 2024
Location: Glen Ellyn Police Department Community Room
THE DUPAGE HEALTH COALITION: PARTNERS WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE HEALTH SERVICES FOR DUPAGE LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS

Joel Jara,Community Relations Coordinator, DuPage Health Coalition, works with a partnership of physicians, hospitals and community organizations to aid those in need. This important service saves lives as it makes medical procedures available to DuPage residents who are unable to purchase health insurance.

 

November 6, 2024
Location: Glen Ellyn Police Department Community Room
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARDS, NEEDED OR NOT?

How is DuPage County tackling the mental health needs of its population? Our speakers, Mike Murray and Hugh Brady, have both been instrumental in establishing 708 Community Mental Health Boards in DuPage County townships and other neighboring townships. They will address the need for the 708 Community Health Boards, the history of the boards, their objectives, their impacts and their services. 

Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 6:45 PM
Location: Zoom Only
A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON ILLINOIS’ POPULATION

Dr. Robert Bruno, Professor and Director, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will be our guest speaker.  Based on extensive research, Dr. Bruno has published a study which sheds new light on Illinois’ migration patterns and economic status. He found much information which indicates that Illinois is healthier than the media reports.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 6:45 PM
Location: Wheaton Public Library 
AN UNFINISHED JOURNEY:  AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC IN PIVOTAL DECADES

Clarence Goodman is a historian, musician, and radio personality.  Mr. Goodman will present a multimedia concert featuring key songs and stories of the Black experience. Learn how disparate voices united during critical moments of societal change in this entertaining presentation.

Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 6:45 PM
Location: TBA
TITLE IX EVOLUTION:  RECENT AMENDMENTS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO IX

Dr. Suzanne Chod, Professor of Political Science and Gender Studies, North Central College, will review how the changes in Title IX affect educational institutions and their handling of gender equity and sexual misconduct. She will highlight the implications for schools, students, and educators.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 6:45 PM
Location: TBA
DARK SKIES INTERNATIONAL

Adam Kreuzer, lawyer, Board Delegate, Dark Skies International speaker, will be our guest presenter.  The goal of Dark Skies is to restore and protect the dark skies.  Remember when you could see- with your naked eye- thousands of stars, the Milky Way, our galaxy, planets and the Man in the moon?  Adam Kreuzer will enlighten us on how light pollution has diminished our view of the sky and what we can do to improve our night vision.