Dear members of the AAUW,
I am writing to thank each of you who extended your hospitality toward me, my husband, Tony, and assistants
Kiana, and Angelica.
Thank you, Judi Edwards, President of the AAUW Whatcom Branch in Bellingham, and to Cathy Oberg for
her gracious attention to detail in preparing for the presentation of our documentary, Where Visions Meet.
I first read about the AAUW organization online in an article written by Gudrun Hutchins, a long-time member
of the AAUW Bennington, Vermont. It has a charming beginning that tells about her marriage and honeymoon
in Nova Scotia.
The Maria Montessori Language and Cultural Center (MMLCC), a non-profit organization presents our
documentary to build awareness of the need to expand and support CTE Family and Consumer Sciences
Departments (Home Economics) offering human and child development Lab schools in high schools.
We are seeking partnerships between Montessori Educators, Public High Schools and/or Colleges and
Universities to offer college credit and internships to students. Would you be interested in having this
presentation made to another local group to which you may belong? If so, please text or email me the location
and name of the group and their contact information.
It was a pleasure to share little nuggets of information about Dr. Ellen Swallow Richards, founder of Home
Economics, and later co-founder of the AAUW. She and Dr. Maria Montessori were both remarkable women
ahead of their time. Their vocations gave them freedom to explore a broad range of scientific thoughts. Their
educational lab schools opened all kinds of minds to the pleasures of discovery. They created practical and
advanced methods for educating a world of women and children from unemployed adults to children orphaned
or suffering from disease and war and living in unsettling times.
Their scientific contributions influenced changes in education by giving women and children opportunities to
learn about the sciences, ecology, chemistry, healthy home management, economics, sanitation, and marine
biology. When they taught college classes, her students studied important information about food production to
help prevent disease, the necessity of clean water, and related environmental sciences.
Lab schools benefit women and children to this very day.
One book you may enjoy adding to your book club is: The Secret of Home Economics by Danielle Dreilinger.
This book was praised by Virginia Vincenti, Professor Emeritus from the University of Wyoming. She writes:
“This is an extremely interesting and engaging page turner. It will stimulate important dialogue among those
within and outside the profession.”
The next book I recommend is a children’s book by Patricia Daniele. It is beautifully illustrated by Junye Wu,
The Girl Who Tested the Waters. It is a pleasure to read to children and grandchildren. Be sure to check it out!
The last book was written by an Italian Journalist, Cristina De Stefano. It is a biography that reads like a
novel, The Child Is the Teacher, A Life of Maria Montessori. “It’s easy reading from cover to cover.”
I appreciate the notes from members that I received after showing our video! Perhaps I could meet with a few
of you again for coffee or tea to listen to your stories about your backgrounds as University Women. Can we
put our heads together to find ways to gather new members to join our organizations and support a vision to
prepare for the future?
Sincerely,
Gail Longo | Director