Letter to American Association of University Women, Whatcom Branch

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