AAUW of SC and Its Branches Named Gift Honors
for Donation Year 2016
AAUW of South Carolina
The state organization recognizes one of the strongest leaders our organization has had in recent years. Carol Stoj Tempel has shown by her example how being an informed voter and educated activist can truly make a difference in one’s community. She is tireless in her efforts to ensure that citizens in her community or her purview of influence have the information necessary to make decisions that create an atmosphere of inclusion and caring. As a woman scientist is a predominantly male field, she can speak personally to the importance of ensuring more women and girls take a path through STEM, a mission very close to AAUW’s. Carol has communicated untold amounts of information to so many and spurred many of us to be much more involved in AAUW’s mission and in the issues affecting our own communities and citizens. As a relatively new member to AAUW and service at the state level of our organization, Carol volunteered to serve as AAUW of SC state president and she has done a phenomenal job under stressful circumstances. She has done all in her power to push us forward ensuring that AAUW of SC continues to be a viable organization that works to help AAUW members and the AAUW mission in our state. We are so very, very grateful for her commitment to AAUW and the hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of work she has given to AAUW.
Aiken Branch
Gary and Ginny Albrecht have a lifetime of service to the communities where they have resided. Their philanthropy has also extended to Aiken where, 12 years ago, the Albrechts generously funded the building of the new SPCA facility for animals. Gary now serves on its Board of Directors. They have also created a scholarship fund through the Rotary Club of Aiken which will give 15 scholarships to deserving young people, a commitment renewable for the next 20 years. Around town the name Albrecht is not just associated with a name on a building or a scholarship fund from long ago; it represents the involved family of Gary and Virginia Albrecht and their five children: Dawn, Gayle, Karl, Joy and Anne. Our world is better because of the Albrechts and their contributions. We honor them as Named Gift Honorees because their help and contributions are not only on-going but immeasurable.
Harriet Boyden is a long-time member of the Aiken Branch. Harriet has served our branch for many years as the Legal Advocacy Chair. She effectively and faithfully communicates to our membership the legal support that AAUW gives to the women of our country. She has been primary in translating those actions to our membership and encouraging involvement on the part of individual members and our branch as a whole, when needed. The Aiken Branch appreciates Harriet’s dedication to this important activity of AAUW and is pleased that she has been designated a Named Gift Recipient after many years of active and loyal service.
Fran and Don Bush became partners in Booklovers Bookstore in 2003. Fran said, “Owning Booklovers Bookstore changed our lives. We started going to trade shows, book festivals, and book gatherings of all kinds. We met other booksellers and publishers. We learned more about books. And, most importantly, we met a lot of authors.” The couple brought authors to Aiken for book signings, two Aiken Branch fundraiser luncheons, and many author visits in the Aiken County Public Schools. The couple created the Aiken Children’s Book Festival and hosted the large, free community event for three years. Booklovers Bookstore thrived for over a decade. The couple officially retired (sort of) in 2016. They have donated many hundreds of leftover used books from their store to children in area schools and the AAUW book sale because it supports education and community scholarships.
Linda Endler has been an active member from the day that she joined the Aiken Branch. The Aiken Branch appreciations Linda’s dedication to our goals and is delighted to honor her this year as a Named Gift Recipient.Linda Endler
Linda has been an active member from the day that she joined the Aiken Branch of the American Association of University Women. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and is active in the congregation of her church, St.John’s Methodist Church.
Linda has been a tireless worker with the Book Fair, giving leadership to the large category of books, hardback novels and fiction. The support of her husband, Rick,
has been noteworthy.
Linda is serving as the Vice President for Membership for our branch. Her enthusiasm for our activities in the support of education within our community is helpful in growing our ranks.
The Aiken Branch of AAUW appreciations her dedication to our goals and is delighted that she is being honored a Named Gift Recipient.Linda Endler
Linda has been an active member from the day that she joined the Aiken Branch of the American Association of University Women. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and is active in the congregation of her church, St.John’s Methodist Church.
Linda has been a tireless worker with the Book Fair, giving leadership to the large category of books, hardback novels and fiction. The support of her husband, Rick,
has been noteworthy.
Linda is serving as the Vice President for Membership for our branch. Her enthusiasm for our activities in the support of education within our community is helpful in growing our ranks.
The Aiken Branch of AAUW appreciations her dedication to our goals and is delighted that she is being honored a Named Gift Recipient.Linda Endler
Linda has been an active member from the day that she joined the Aiken Branch of the American Association of University Women. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and is active in the congregation of her church, St.John’s Methodist Church.
Linda has been a tireless worker with the Book Fair, giving leadership to the large category of books, hardback novels and fiction. The support of her husband, Rick,
has been noteworthy.
Linda is serving as the Vice President for Membership for our branch. Her enthusiasm for our activities in the support of education within our community is helpful in growing our ranks.
The Aiken Branch of AAUW appreciations her dedication to our goals and is delighted that she is being honored a Named Gift Recipient.Linda Endler
Linda has been an active member from the day that she joined the Aiken Branch of the American Association of University Women. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and is active in the congregation of her church, St.John’s Methodist Church.
Linda has been a tireless worker with the Book Fair, giving leadership to the large category of books, hardback novels and fiction. The support of her husband, Rick,
has been noteworthy.
Linda is serving as the Vice President for Membership for our branch. Her enthusiasm for our activities in the support of education within our community is helpful in growing our ranks.
The Aiken Branch of AAUW appreciations her dedication to our goals and is delighted that she is being honored a Named Gift Recipient. Linda has been a tireless worker with the Books ‘n’ Things Fair, giving leadership to one of our largest categories of books: hardback fiction novels. She has also been instrumental in our annual Croft House Christmas Party for seniors in the community, serving as Co-chairperson in charge of the event. Linda also works as the Aiken Branch’s Vice President for Membership. Her enthusiasm for our activities in the support of education within our community is helpful in growing our ranks and she strives to make each new member feel welcome, needed, and involved.
Diana Floyd led an uphill battle to win approval of a penny sales tax option to rebuild, refurbish and update the county’s schools. Diana, advocate and Co-Chair of the 1 Cent Makes Sense Campaign, stepped up to convince a community of retirees that this tax would be in their best interest. Students who attend the new Aiken High School, Leavelle McCampbell Middle School, North Augusta High School and Ridge-Spring Middle and High School next fall must thank Diana Floyd for their good fortune. Diana is a leader within the Aiken community who strongly advocates for public education. She has been a Board member of Public Education Partners for four years and now serves as Board Chair of the organization which funds teacher grants and music education, among other efforts. She has helped bring more community involvement and activity to Aiken High School’s School Improvement Council, which she leads as Chairperson. Diana is a strong believer in the opportunities that public education provides all children. She believes that our community needs to be aware of both the successes and the challenges faced by those in our schools. Diana volunteers countless hours to improve the lives of the children in this county, allowing them to be more competitive in today’s world.
John and Nancy Meinhardt retired to Aiken in 2009 from Arlington Heights, Illinois. Before moving here, John owned a used bookstore in Arlington Heights after his first retirement as a foreign exchange trader at the Chicago branch of a major Dutch bank. Nancy worked as a customer service supervisor for American Express Travel and then later in human resources for Northrup-Grumman, a defense contractor. The Meinhardts love books and learning as is evidenced with both John and Nancy serving on the Curriculum Committee with the Academy of Lifelong Learning at USC-Aiken. Nancy has been an active member of AAUW-Aiken Branch for several years and both she and John have been hardworking volunteers each year, pricing and sorting books in the ‘Special Books’ session in preparation for the annual Books ’n’ Things event. In addition, they serve as cashiers and baggers during the actual sale weekend. In their spare time, John collects stamps and Nancy enjoys reading. Both love to travel, especially cruising. They have visited many places, including Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, South America and Antarctica.
Dr. Elisabeth Hardy has been an educator for nearly 24 years, with public school teaching experience across all grades. She recently earned honors as Aiken County School District Teacher of the Year for 2016-17. Her dedication has been recognized beyond Aiken; she is also a finalist for the SC State Teacher of the Year. Elisabeth is also a “teacher of teachers” in her role as a professional development facilitator. Her educational philosophy acknowledges that all students have the capacity to learn and progress, and the ability to become life-long learners. Education is Elisabeth Hardy’s passion. Regarding her students, she says, “They teach me humility most often. They teach me that laughter and empathy will get me further in life than any amount of knowledge that I will ever gain, and they teach me that our relationships with each other, at the end of the day, are what matter most.”
Richard (Rick) Knight is a coach who stands tall on and off the field, as well as in the classroom. He is beloved by many and certainly by all the students, their families, and his “working” family, the teachers and athletic support staff. He was a coach for 36 years and retired from Midland Valley High School after 25 years. “Coach Knight comes to work every day striving to make a difference in the lives of student athletes at Midland Valley.” Principal Carl White said. “He will leave an undeniable coaching legacy.” He has been named Region Coach of the Year seven times. Coach Knight was honored by the S.C. Coaches Association, being named to the North/South All-Star game in 2006, the South Carolina Shrine Bowl Team in 2009, and by being named AAA Lower State Coach of the Year in 2008. Coach Knight’s accomplishments off the field speak volumes for his care and concern for his athletes and the community in which he teaches. Following the death of his wife, he created “Debbie’s Dream Foundation.” Monies raised help athletes throughout the year, providing necessities that might otherwise be missing, such as: required athletic participation insurance, cleats for players, rings for athletes, school clothes and more. To date, 48 student athletes have received college scholarships to further both their academic and athletic careers with the foundation’s help. Rick is also heavily involved with the Golden Harvest Food Bank and yearly challenges his football teams to “Corral Hunger in the CSRA.” He is a strong advocate of community, and instills this in all of his athletes.
John and Nancy Meinhardt retired to Aiken in 2009 from Arlington Heights, IL. The Meinhardts love books and learning as is evidenced by both John and Nancy serving on the Curriculum Committee with the Academy of Lifelong Learning at USC-Aiken. Nancy has been an active member of the Aiken Branch for several years. Both she and John have been hardworking volunteers each year, pricing and sorting books in the “Special Books” section in preparation for the annual Books ‘n’ Things Fair event. In addition, they serve as cashiers and baggers during the actual sale weekend.
Aubrey Pompey has touched countless students and families in our community as an educator, counselor, and coach. He has earned numerous awards throughout his coaching career, from referees, his players, and the media. In 2013 he was named All Area County Coach of the Year for Aiken and Augusta. In 2016, he coached the 67th Annual North-South All Star Basketball Game and in March of 2016, he was inducted into the South Carolina Basketball Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame. Aubrey has a unique gift for motivating students and his teams to success. While still coaching the Aiken High School Lady Hornets in basketball, he now also shares his gifts as a guidance counselor at Lloyd-Kennedy Charter School and Aiken Performing Arts Academy. His legacy will leave a positive impact upon Aiken and the lives he’s touched for generations to come.
Dr. Frank Smith is one of our Aiken Branch’s most faithful and regular book sale volunteers for the last nine years. Frank and his wife Pat (who is a member of AAUW) have lived in Aiken for 35 years and during most of that time, Frank worked at the Savannah River Plant as a Chemical Engineer. Now that he is retired, Frank enjoys helping us out at the Books ‘n’ Things Fair because he enjoys reading, meets nice people, buys a few books, and in fact says that he looks forward to the sale each year. Frank is a congenial breath of fresh air among the volunteers, and he can be found every collecting and sorting day working in the “Special Books” area.
Linda Strojan recently retired from her position as Senior Guidance Counselor at Aiken High School, but she will never stop being an advocate for young people throughout the CSRA. Her entire life has been devoted to helping students as a teacher and as a Guidance Counselor. She was the first Guidance Counselor at Aiken High to be named Teacher of the Year. Her office door was always open to students where she would inform and educate every student who needed guidance at home or at school. She would not settle for second best from them and closely followed each one (and many after graduation), prodding her “babies” to reach their greatest potential. She served as the seniors’ counselor, writing thousands of personalized recommendations, and helping students to earn millions of dollars in college scholarships. In the community, Linda was instrumental in raising funds and awareness for the new state-of-the-art SPCA facility and served on their Board of Directors for over ten years. She and her family Foundation provided the surgical wing for the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare. She has served on the Aiken Chamber of Commerce where her voice lent expertise and persuasion for the acceptance of the one percent sales tax referendum for school improvements. She continues to work with the prestigious Watson Brown Foundation which grants scholarships to deserving students across GA and SC, returns to Aiken High to advise seniors in their college and scholarship application process, and leads the GEM program which guides, encourages, and mentors senior girls and pairs them with mentors in the community. Linda has been instrumental in educating and mentoring thousands of CSRA students over the years to reach their goals. She has made a difference in their lives and making Aiken a stronger, richer and more vibrant community.
(In Memoriam)
A native of Ward, S.C., Ernestine Law lived in Aiken with her husband Don from 1952 until her death in 1999. She was a graduate of Winthrop University and the University of South Carolina. She was renowned in the journalism and education fields as a professor at the University of South Carolina–Aiken and had worked for newspapers in Greenwood and Spartanburg. She worked for the Atomic Energy Commission’s Public Affairs Office at the Savannah River Site for five years and was the author of And Then There Was Light, a 50th anniversary history of the Aiken Electric Cooperative. Ernestine lived and loved life to the fullest and left her family, her community, and her church much better because she lived and walked among us, sharing her wisdom and her generosity. Ernestine, as so many of us called her, was one of a kind—a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, a gifted musician, teacher, journalist, gardener, and a thoughtful friend. Her life lives on by contributions to the Ernestine Law Journalism Scholarship Fund at the University of South Carolina-Aiken.
Described as “one of Aiken’s greatest treasures” by Aiken Standard editor, Scott Hunter, Donald Law was a person of intelligence, loyalty, kindness and compassion. After retiring as an Air Force Reserve Lt. Colonel, Donald worked at the Savannah River Site and retired as a media relations specialist in 1982. He then became associate editor of the Aiken Standard newspaper and continued as a contributing editor after retirement at age 65. He was the author of two books of local history, Connections: The History of the First Presbyterian Church of Aiken and Forever Flourishing, the history of Aiken Preparatory School. He served as president of Historic Aiken Foundation, a member of the City of Aiken Historic Preservation Commission, and a member of the South Caroliniana Society.
Beaufort Branch
Barbara Mattingly is a native of Dayton, Ohio, and is a graduate of the University of Dayton where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education. Barbara has been a member of the Beaufort Branch since 2010. She has served on various committees and has been extremely active in all projects and activities implemented by our leadership.
Most notable is her work with “Books for Birthdays,” a five year program implemented by the Beaufort Branch that supported pre-school students in learning to read. With this project preschool students were given books on their birthdays. Barbara co-chaired the committee of branch members who visited each month the preschools of two local school districts, Jasper and Beaufort County Schools. During these visits the volunteers read to students from many different books that they then would receive in the month of their birthdays. Since 2012, Barbara also served our branch as treasurer, a very demanding position. She has done an outstanding job.
Charleston Branch
Charleston Branch chooses “The Charleston Nine” as its named honoree. “The Charleston Nine” refers to the nine members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston who were massacred during bible study on June 17, 2015 by an avowed white supremacist. Those killed were Clementa C. Pinckney, the church’s pastor and a state legislator, Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, Depayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Daniel Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton and Myra Thompson. The assault on “The Charleston Nine” did not lead to the race war the perpetrator hoped to start. Instead it brought an outpouring of support for Charleston from throughout the United States and abroad.
Due West
The Due West Branch honors our Mayor, the Honorable Charles Angel with a named to the Betty Bayless Research and Projects Grant.Charles Angel was elected mayor of Due West in November 2015. He was born and raised in Texas, moved to Greenwood when his wife, Dr. Alanna Angel, a family practice physician in Due West, started her residency. They moved to Due West ten years ago. Mayor Angel is focused on bringing the community together to create a vision for the town and expanding on the events the civic committee created, including a newly developed town park and community movie nights. A stay-at-home dad, Angel had spent about 12 years primarily as a software engineer, and created the Due West Robotics Club, which has grown to more than 120 children from four in 2012. His teams have won state championships and will be in the World Championship competition this year.
Mayor Angel has also made a special effort to involve young girls in the robotics program.
Gaffney Branch
The Gaffney Branch of AAUW is pleased to honor the Cherokee Alliance of Visual Artists (CAVA) for its contribution to the cultural life of Gaffney and Cherokee County. CAVA is the only venue for visual art in the county. With its yearly schedule of changing exhibits that are professionally presented, CAVA promotes appreciation and understanding of the visual arts. CAVA also contributes to visual education with its art classes throughout the year for children and adults. Looking at and creating art are fun activities that add to the recreational life of the community. Housed in the Gaffney Visitors Center, the CAVA Gallery significantly contributes to the first impressions visitors have of the city. Manned totally by volunteers, CAVA was founded as a non-profit organization in 2006. The gallery is free and open to the public six days each week.
For its 90th Anniversary this 2017 year, the Gaffney Branch of AAUW wishes to honor itself with a Named Gift for its long history of contributions to the educational and cultural life of Gaffney and Cherokee County. The Gaffney Branch was founded in 1927 primarily through the efforts of Limestone College faculty, the sixth branch to be organized in South Carolina. The founding members believed it was important for educated women to continue to grow intellectually and to use their intellect for the betterment of their community and country. The founding members thought it was equally important for a college town to have an AAUW branch and for a college to be associated with an AAUW organization.The Gaffney Branch began with ten members. The 1950-51 year was a high point in our history. Limestone College was finally accredited and approved for membership in AAUW making its graduates eligible for membership. In 1975 the Gaffney Branch spearheaded the organization of the Cherokee County Recycling Center, probably its most visible and long-lasting contribution to our community. The branch manned the recycling center for 15 years until it was turned over to the county in 1990. To encourage the county to take over recycling, AAUW contributed $3000.00 from recycling profits for a recycling coordinator.
Branch activities have been continuous and significant for Gaffney and Cherokee County. Highlights include spearheading the organization of the ongoing Cherokee County Laubach Literacy Society in the early 1970’s, tutoring in that Laubach program, helping start the Town and Gown series, helping start a children’s department and a children’s hour in the public library, supporting a pilot kindergarten program in the public schools, spearheading the campaign for securing funds for a new public library, starting the Cherokee County Friends of the Library, helping hold public forums for political campaigns, starting an education and voter registration campaign, recognizing significant scholarship of the county and college’s senior women, and campaigning County Council to pass an ordinance for publicizing vacancies in county boards and commissions. Gaffney Branch AAUW has a heritage of which to be proud and continues to play a viable role in the life of the community.
Greater Columbia Branch
The Greater Columbia Branch has selected State Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter from District 66 in Orangeburg, SC for this honor. Besides being in state government, she is a social Worker, Activist, and Champion for the People. During the current session, she is sponsoring bills for increasing the minimum wage, extending health care affordability for citizens who need it, sexual assault, and equal pay for equal work for women, etc. She fights for social and economic justice on many fronts. She believes that one should never give up the fight for what is right, and gave a strong, rallying speech to the Columbia January 21, 2017 rally for social justice. It was truly inspirational.
Greenville Branch
The Greenville Branch is pleased to honor two long-time members with Named Gifts:
Delia (Betsy) Moseley is a Life Member (42 years) of AAUW. As membership of this once dynamic branch waned in recent years, it has been Betsy Mosely, fulfilling all the positions of a board, who has held things together. We thank her for her tireless and outstanding efforts on behalf of women and girls, equity, opportunity and education in the Upstate. Betsy is Senior Planned Giving Officer at Furman University, Greenville.
Harriett McIntosh will be the first recipient in the branch of AAUW’s new Member Anniversary Pin designed to commemorate and celebrate members who have reached milestone years in AAUW as of 2016. Harriett will receive her 20 year pin at the branch’s Annual Meeting at the April meeting of the Branch Book Club. This Named Gift is to honor Harriett for her years as leader of this group of dedicated members and friends of AAUW which has continued to meet and prosper even in years when the branch itself has been relatively inactive. Thanks in great part to Harriett’s leadership, these lively book discussions continue to be a source of learning, sharing and attraction of new members to the branch.
Both Betsy and Harriett have “kept the AAUW fire” going in our community. Our entire branch membership greatly appreciates their ongoing dedication and commitment to the Greenville Branch.
Rock Hill Branch
Grazier Rhea is a woman who gives her all to benefit and beautify her community both through community development and an outdoor art movement. She is the Community Development Director for the Catawba Regional Council of Government, which is responsible for ten planning regions encompassing four counties. She is responsible for their grant work applications, and then manages the projects. She has been with the Council for nearly 40 years. She most recently has been one of the founders of the Women’s Art Initiative. When asked how this initiative came into being, Grazier said she has maintained her involvement with her alma mater Converse College and, as a result of a 2011 meeting, began to brainstorm with others about an outdoor art project for the city of Rock Hill. It evolved slowly and eventually became loosely patterned on a Spartanburg initiative. The mission of the group is “to enhance the quality of life for our community by reflecting its cultural values and artistic vitality through art.” This mission fits well with lifelong learning for the betterment of women and girls which AAUW promotes. The organization is open to all women interested in public art. The women of Rock Hill were invited to learn more and get involved. Donations were generous and the Women’s Art Initiative of Rock Hill was born. A committee of 17 was formed which began to look at possible locations and decide on the first piece of artwork. It all came together with the installation of an impressive sculpture “Ann Evolving” on the lawn of the White Home during the summer of 2016. Ideally, one such endeavor will occur annually.