Every year AAUW branches across the country recognize members by naming gifts to the AAUW Fund in their honor. This is a special way to pay tribute to an individual who has given extraordinary service to AAUW. This year, the Morgan Hill branch is recognizing these four exceptional members: Carol O’Hare, Susan Persing, Vicky Reader, and Amy Whelan. 

Carol O’Hare’s institutional knowledge and her precision in tackling any task have been invaluable to our branch and AAUW. She approaches challenges with a broad perspective, never losing sight of the national context and the bigger picture. Her leadership in governance and her openness to embracing new technologies is an example for us all. From leading the Bylaws (now Governance) committee, through organizing the mid-year retreat in January, acting as our branch historian, editing the newsletter, and other leadership and personal acts of help and kindness, Carol is a role model of continual learning, assisting where needed, and mentoring others.

Susan Persing is an outstanding member whose dedication and reliability have been instrumental to the success of the Wildflower Run. Susan consistently goes above and beyond in every role she undertakes. Last year, facing the daunting challenge of organizing the route for a sold-out run, she meticulously planned every detail to ensure a smooth event. In addition to being responsible for course marshals, she did contract negotiations with the county to develop a comprehensive safety plan for the Run. She also keeps our branch on track with our many events through her prompt follow through at keeping our online calendar up to date. 

Vicky Reader has chaired the Wildflower Run’s Muscle in the Morning (MIM) committee for fourteen years, with the responsibility of sourcing, scheduling, and keeping track of students to do the work of moving supplies, setting up tables, take-down, and helping at Finish Fest booths. Not only that, Vicky has also been involved with AAUW scholarships for many years, working on the committee for Keeping In Touch grants and as committee chair for Re-Entry/Deferred Entry scholarships. She’s reliable, dedicated, smart, and an excellent communicator.

Amy Whelan’s tireless efforts have made a significant impact on our branch, especially through the tough pandemic years. As the Wildflower Run Corporate Sponsor chair, she led her team with determination and energy. When Covid changed the world dramatically, especially for local businesses, Amy and her committee evolved right along with it, bringing in new sponsors. Her efforts helped raise record amounts of funds, ensuring that we were able to continue to award scholarships and grants. Her enthusiasm was infectious and encouraged us to strive for excellence.