AAUW had its beginnings in 1881, when too few women were allowed to obtain college degrees. Some of those graduates knew they needed to have an organization that would speak out for educational and equity issues, and further their own craving for learning. AAUW is a national organization with more than 115,000 members today.
AAUW has always been a catalyst for change. When more than a century ago a Harvard physician claimed that higher education jeopardized women’s health, AAUW conducted research that proved he was wrong. When the number of female college students grew, AAUW funded fellowships to support them. When girls and boys were treated differently in school, AAUW research put gender bias on the national agenda. When women receive less pay than their male colleagues for the same job, AAUW continues researching, educating, and advocating for equity.
We invite you to learn more about the value of belonging and to become a part of this smart, passionate, and creative community.
Learn more about AAUW’s 130+ year history at AAUW History
Tillamook AAUW
AAUW Tillamook was formed in 1938, a few years before the Tillamook Naval Air Station
Blimp hangars, the two largest wooden structures in the world, were built here to house six
blimps each for WWII. Tillamook did not have a college, so members who joined had been
educated elsewhere. This brought great vitality, diversity, and talent to AAUW. To gather for a
meeting, Margaret Winslow shared she would need to fix dinner, wash dishes, put the children
to bed, and then meet other women to “sew.” Early versions of our roster listed the women by
the title Mrs. (husband’s name) Smith.
Per Claire Peterson, April 1, 1989: “AAUW Tillamook was the organization that
spearheaded the establishment of the County Library system in 1947. At Tillamook’s 50-year
celebration, the Oregon AAUW president, Janice Larsen of Gresham, reminded members of the
Oregon Division of AAUW had been the prime lobbyist for the bill which passed the legislature,
and is now the law, requiring Oregon school districts to provide kindergartens. Mrs. Larson’s
husband became the first male member of AAUW in the nation.”
AAUW Tillamook is most proud to have had five living 50-year Honorary members at the
same time: Claire Peterson, Marilyn Reynolds, Marilyn Rigterink, Alice Voges, and Margaret
Winslow. We are blessed to have the two Marilyns still.
After being a main advocate for a junior college in Tillamook, AAUW provided the first money for an endowment to be used to educate women. Money for scholarships and operations has been raised by starting and selling a kindergarten, food sales, plant sales, selling tree seedlings, planting seedlings and selling trees, having a mobile restaurant cart at the Saturday Market, holding art fairs, compiling recipe books, rummage sales, and dedicating landscape trees at one of the top community colleges in the state, Tillamook Bay Community College. We have multiple trees planted throughout Tillamook watersheds that can be dedicated to show honor, including at Kilchis Point.
Tillamook currently has three active book clubs that provide much knowledge and social
contact. AAUW is represented on most community boards in the county. A member can
attend events alone and be sure to meet with other AAUW members. Tillamook remains
committed to teaching leadership and advocating for equity in a non-partisan manner. When a
political forum is to be held, AAUW Tillamook is the usual trusted group to manage these.
Honoring local students annually nominated by teachers from each of our schools in the county
who excel in STEM and holding Tech Trek events is life-changing for them and their families.
We also donate to national Funds and honor deserving Tillamook members.
Our branch’s role in local education
Tillamook was without a community college for many years. Young women who wanted an education needed to move away, and many did not return. The past AAUW members were mainly teachers or newcomers to the community. With AAUW’s help and leadership through the years, Tillamook Bay Community College has a beautiful, successful college campus. The board chair is Kathy Gervasi, an AAUW Tillamook member. Other college presidents have been AAUW members also. We have an active scholarship selection committee. Tillamook has one of the largest endowment funds used for TBCC students. Some fundraisers included rummage sales, nursery plant sales, Saturday market food cart, catering private dinners, planting trees and offering naming rights, silent auctions, donations from members, and our most successful fundraiser the Wine and Chocolate Affaire with attendance at $35 per ticket. The pandemic slowed us down, but we have a fundraising committee meeting again. Once a year, the Tillamook Branch of AAUW also honors local high school girls whose teachers nominate them for STEM honors. This is such a rewarding activity. With AAUW, TBCC was the only community college in the nation to receive Tech Trek help from AAUW.