SCC Bulletin - July/August 2026
- brookemhubbard
- Jul 28
- 6 min read
July/August 2026
Welcome to the 2026-2027 Year!
As we begin the 2026-2027 year, we have a lot to look forward to for the Summit College Club. We're welcoming new board members Andrea Stein and Brooke Luger as co-chairs of our Program Committee. Karen Weis has stepped up to take on Public Policy — a position the Club has needed to fill for some time. Our Communications Committee is gearing up to expand our presence and impact through social media and more, under Lorna Ness' leadership. Our Membership Chair, Janice Hartman, anticipates a busy year as we focus on the current membership experience and on welcoming new members.
The next phase in implementing our Strategic Plan is the operational phase, where there will be more opportunities than ever to make a difference. The more you do with Summit College Club, the more enjoyable your membership is.
Get involved! It's not too late to sign up for a committee or interest group! Click the button below to access a sign-up form for online submission or download, fill it out, and send it to us to indicate how you'd like to be involved this year.
Fall Luncheon
Save the Date: Sunday, September 27 | Baltusrol Golf Club
Save the Date!
This year, our Fall Luncheon will be held at the Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield on September 27, 2026.
More information on the time, lunch cost and speakers will be coming later this summer. For now, please mark the date on your calendar and plan to enjoy a great time with members and guests.
Our Own Hometown Hero: Judy Jenkins Gaudino
Exiting the Summit Train Station on Railroad Avenue, across from the Village Green, the first Hometown Hero banner you see features a familiar face. Judy Jenkins Gaudino served with the Department of Defense - Army Special Services in Viet Nam from September 1967 to August 1970 — just 22 years old, fresh out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Social Work. A mentor there, impressed by Judy's creativity with delinquent teens, urged her to volunteer for overseas service. "I signed up for Germany, thinking I could ski in Switzerland on weekends. But the only option was Viet Nam." Read Judy's full story on our blog.
Our New Strategic Plan Sets a Course for the Next Three Years
At the June 22, 2026 Annual Meeting, Lynne Rogerson shared highlights from the report prepared by the Strategic Planning Committee. Work by Committee members - Lynne, Hedy Tukey, Karen Weis, and Diane Russo - began in November 2025 with a review of nine functional areas: 1) Leadership; 2) Membership; 3) Programs; 4) Communications, including External Relations; 5) Recognition/ Awards/ Scholarships; 6) Funding and Development Strategy; 7) Operations; 8) Partnerships and Alliances; and 9) Public Policy and Advocacy.
The Strategic Plan has two components:
Strategic Plan Goals for the next three years, beginning at the start of the 2026-2027 fiscal year;
Operational Plan, which converts the strategic goals into clear action steps, with assigned responsibility, resource allocation, and metrics to monitor and assess progress.
The Committee identified three key priorities for the next three years:
Strengthening and improving administration and governance
Retaining and increasing membership
Improving programs and services to members.
Many of our current activities and practices — our scholarships, monthly programs, and operational practices — will continue. They are what has kept us going for over 100 years! We will be building on these basics to attract and retain members while being more firmly aligned with our mission.
More details on the Operational Plan will be shared in the coming months.
Welcome New Members!
We're so excited to welcome three new members over the summer! Below is a short excerpt of their bios, read their full bios on our blog.
Beth Krawczuk has been an active member of the Madison Area AAUW branch for about 15 years, managing their website and helping with social media. When she renewed her AAUW membership this year, she thought back to the Summit College Club luncheon she attended last fall, featuring three Tech Trek graduates as speakers. "I decided to become a dual member," she said, "I want to contribute to the Summit branch as well."
Lauren Lawrence grew up in Summit, and after 10 years in NYC, she returned with her husband and young daughter, looking for a home. They ended up purchasing Erna Hoover's home when Erna moved to Massachusetts. Lauren and Erna stayed in touch, and at a recent party for Erna, she met other Summit College Club members — and decided to join!
Jeannette Colflesh has known about AAUW since childhood, when her mother was a member of the former Westfield branch. About ten years ago, Jeannette moved in across the street from Erna Hoover, and they became good friends. At a recent celebration of Erna, Jeannette and her new neighbor, Lauren Lawrence, were seated with Lynne Rogerson. By the end of the party, they had decided to join the Summit College Club together.
Welcome to all our new members. We're excited to have you with us!
Want to Help? Sign Up for "1 & Done"
Not everyone can commit to a full committee or board role, and that's totally fine. If you'd still like to pitch in when your schedule allows, join our "1 & Done" list (an idea we borrowed from another local nonprofit — credit where it's due).
How it works. Add your name to the list. When we need an extra hand for something specific, like staffing a table at a community event, helping set up before a program, or pitching in on a mailing, we'll email everyone on the list. No pressure, no obligation. Just reply if you're free, help out, and you're done. Really!
Ready to pitch in? Click below to add your name. Thank you for your help!
Co-presidents Karen and Hedy at Summit Community Night
Mid-Summer Lunch Bunch
By popular demand, we're having a drop-in member lunch on Wednesday, August 5, at 12:30 p.m. at Winberie's.
It's an opportunity to see friends and meet members you might not know yet, share summer adventures, and enjoy a lunch out. If you don't want to eat lunch, you can still join us for an iced tea and conversation — we always request separate checks.
Please send an RSVP to Karen Kaplan (karenbarnes.kaplan@gmail.com) by the evening of August 4 to ensure you have a seat at the table.
Upcoming Programs
Don't forget: If you need a ride to an in-person College Club event, email karenbarnes.kaplan@gmail.com the day before & a member will be happy to pick you up!
We Declare: Words that Shaped a Nation
September 14, 7:30 PM
Shakespeare Theater of NJ
The Madison Area AAUW branch has invited us to an evening at the theater!
A limited number of tickets are available for $42.50, a 15% discount secured by the Madison branch and not available to the general public.
Please make checks payable to Madison Branch AAUW and mail to their Treasurer, Becky Moody, at 15 Page Street, Madison, NJ 07940.
Tickets are nonrefundable, and payment is due by July 31.
We Declare: Words that Shaped a Nation is a powerful theatrical journey through the speeches, documents, and proclamations from our nation’s origin. We Declare brings to life the most influential and world-changing documents in American history. From the Declaration of Independence to the musings of prominent American luminaries, the event will feature two and a half centuries of diverse American voices, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Maya Angelou, Robert Frost, James Baldwin, and others. This engaging presentation reveals the drama, debate, and enduring impact behind the ideas that shaped the American experience.
In addition to mailing your check, please RSVP to Susan Mennella (cell: 201-424-1267 or email: smennella@verizon.net).
AAUW Atlantic Regional Conference
AAUW NJ is part of the AAUW Atlantic Region, and the biannual AAUW Atlantic Regional Conference is taking place during the last weekend of September. This year, the three-day conference will be held in Lancaster, PA. It will feature speakers, workshops, networking events, and plenty of inspiration. All members from participating branches are welcome to attend.
AAUW Atlantic Regional Conference
September 25 - 27, 2026 Learn more about the conference here.
Or register for the conference below:
Notes from National
National Announces Over $6 Million in Scholarship Grants
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) announces its 2026–2027 class of fellowships and grants recipients, awarding $6.1 million to 259 outstanding women scholars, researchers, and community change-makers across the country and around the world. For 145 years, AAUW has invested in women’s education, leadership, and economic security, awarding more than $150 million to scholars, researchers, and community-based organizations.
“These awards are a powerful expression of AAUW’s mission in action — supporting the women who are advancing research, pursuing their education, and strengthening communities across the country,” says Gloria L. Blackwell, CEO of AAUW. “We are proud to invest in their success and in the broader impact their work will have for generations to come.”
Are you getting AAUW News and Updates?
Stay connected with all that AAUW has to offer—webinars, resources, news items, and more—by signing up at this link. You can also find a link on the AAUW website at the bottom of the home page. Sign up again if you're unsure if your current subscriber information is up to date.
Need help logging in? Send an email to connect@aauw.org and enter LOG IN HELP in the subject line.
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