Seventeen current and former members of the American Association of University Women met at Cary Library March 9 to celebrate the organization’s 80th birthday.
The guests enjoyed a cake and other refreshments while recalling events the group had participated in. Those attending the celebration looked through a variety of publications and scrapbooks that members had archived over the span of 80 years.
Member, Janet Bates displayed a semi-formal dress worn by Helen Estabrook Bates to the Ricker prom graduation in 1929. She also displayed several other items from that era.
The Houlton branch began in 1929 with the first president being Annie Barnes. Through the years the group worked on many issues pertinent to the times; influencing the community for the solution of social and civic problems and working on a number of issues for the betterment of education.
They worked to promote equity for all women and girls, lifelong education and positive societal changes.
The local AAUW group supported and introduced several beneficial programs in the local schools and also provided scholarships to graduating senior girls.
The current officers are: Alison Bossie, president; Laurel Pinales, program vice-president; Debbie Melvin, membership vice-president; Nancy Putnam, secretary and Jean Collett, treasurer.
Other members are: Janet Bates, Linda Faucher, Nancy Hutchinson, Marilyn Roper, Carol Whited, Frances Wirta, Mim Carter and Helen Woods. Bossie, Hutchinson, Collett, Bates and Woods have been Houlton AAUW members for more than 30 years.
For more information, on the celebration, contact Alison Bossie at 532-2518.
