Prospective members welcome at AAUW wine, cheese mixer

The Aiken branch of the American Association of University Women plans a get-together for members past, present and future.

The AAUW's annual wine and cheese mixer is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, in room 116 of the Business and Administration Building at USC Aiken.

The event is open to AAUW members, guests, and to prospective new members, according to branch member Gina Dowd.

"In order for women to join AAUW, they only need to have a two-year degree, an associate's degree, which a lot of people don't realize," Dowd said. "I think it would increase our membership greatly if they did. Dues are $60 a year, most of which goes to the national forum."

The AAUW will announce the recipients of the branch's 2011 charitable donations. In the past, the group has given to Public Education Partners and other education charities. The branch also has two scholarships at USC Aiken and Aiken Technical College.

Plans for the AAUW's annual Books N' Things Fair will also be under discussion at the mixer, Dowd said.

This year's sale, held each year on the first weekend of March, will be located at the former Belk Department Store building in Kalmia Plaza on Richland Avenue.

"That's where we make most of our money for the community donations and scholarships is with the book sale," Dowd said.

The branch will move its overstock of books from storage into the building on Jan. 27, and then will announce a schedule of times for donations of books and household items for the Attic Treasures section from the public.

The American Association of University Women is a national organization founded 130 years ago to advance equity for women through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research. The organization provides a network for its more than 100,000 members and more than 500 colleges and universities that partner with the AAUW.

For reservations to the wine and cheese mixer on Jan. 9, call Sara Lightner at 226-0298.

Suzanne Stone is a general assignment reporter at the Aiken Standard. Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com, or follow on Twitter at #SuzanneRStone and on Facebook at Suzanne Stone | Aiken Standard.