1980 -1990

Term: 1980-1982
President: Joan Hogan of Ocean City
Members: 62

Officers:
Program VP: Bettyne Hull
Membership VP: Carol Ann Williams
Recording Secretary: Emma Warren
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Ann Nyblade
Treasurer: Joyce Archer-Bauer
PROJECTS:
• Began donations (diapers, clothes, etc.) to Women’s Abuse Center.
• Scholarship Awards to the five local high school students
EVENTS:
• County Freeholder resolution was passed proclaiming the AAUW Centennial Celebration week March 15-21, 1981
• First Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon at Mulford’s Corbin House (Spring 1982)
• Joint end of year celebration with Atlantic City Branch at Atlantic City Country Club
• Wine and Cheese event for new members at the Wetlands Institute
• Lecture by Professor Sharon Coady about Contemporary Women’s Issues
• Lecture by Paul Stefanik titled “The Multinational Corporation on Whose Side?”
• Christmas Crafts event at Harriett Reardon’s home
• Presentation by Thomas Johnson, Project Director of H.O.P.E.
• Dinner with Atlantic City AAUW and lecture by Larry Strange a Marine Biologist

Term: 1982-1984
President: Carol Ann Williams of Ocean View
Members:
Officers:
Program VP: Eve Morrison
Membership VP: Cynthia Donahue
Recording Secretary: Elizabeth Littman
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Ann Nyblade
Treasurer: Barbara Chojnacki
Historian: Ruth Hand

PROJECTS:
• Support of Coalition Against Rape and Abuse two years in a row with $500 donations
• Scholarship check to American Red Cross of Cape May County
• Publication of “Directory of Childcare Facilities in Cape May County” – 1984. (Task Force: Barbara Chojnacki, Marilou Rochford, Nancy Vecere, Kathy Mortenson)

EVENTS:
• Fashion show at Whitebrier Inn by Goodwill Industries featuring dress from the 18th century to the 1920’s (Spring 1983)
• International luncheon at the home of Cindy Donahue

Term: 1984-1985
President: Barbara Chojnacki of Ocean View
Members: 119

Officers:
Program VP: Cindy Donahue
Membership VP: Marilou Rochford
Recording Secretary: Helen Trudell
Corresponding Secretary: Charlotte Miller
Treasurer: Frances Carter
Historian: Eve Morrison

HONORS:
• Received from New Jersey State Division the highest award for membership increase under direction of Membership Vice President, Marilou Rochford
PROJECTS:
• Sponsored three organizational meetings with other women’s groups to form County Women’s Commission
• Establishment of Cape May County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women by Freeholder resolution at the request of AAUW
• Participated in a countywide voter registration drive that netted over 350 new voters. (Donna Szemcsak, Chair)
EVENTS:
• First annual Champagne Dessert for prospective members organized by Marilou Rochford at her home in Erma
• First annual political candidates’ reception at Wetlands Institute. Joan Wright, Director of New Jersey Division on Women was featured speaker
Term: 1985-1986
President: Cindy Donahue of Ocean City
Members: 121

Officers:
Program VP: Marilou Rochford
Membership VP: Donna Szemcsak
Recording Secretary: Helen Trudell
Corresponding Secretary: Charlotte Miller
Treasurer: Frances Carter
Historian: Barbara Chojnacki
HONORS:
• Cape May Branch received award from New Jersey State Division for membership increases (2nd year in a row)
• Awarding of first Education Foundations Public Service Grant to Cape May Branch for revision and updating of Childcare Directory, (Project Director – Barbara Chojnacki)
PROJECTS:
• Active support of environmental groups to ban ocean burning
• Establishment of “Second Chance” Scholarship
• Planned monthly cultural calendar in addition to monthly branch meetings
• Initiation of “Kids on Block” Puppet show
• Members reported election return for the News Election Service (NES)
• Sponsorship of half-day seminar on Women and Chemical Dependency
EVENTS:
• Began annual “Musical Afternoon” for members at the home of Marilou Rochford
POLICY:
• Monthly meetings changed from County Library to Wetlands Institute due to increase in membership
Term: 1986-1987
President: Marilou Rochford of Erma
Members: 128
Officers:
Program VP: Karen Stephens
Membership VP: Gayle Daniel
Recording Secretary: Debbie Dodson
Corresponding Secretary: Mamie Todd
Treasurer: Nancy Vecere

Term: 1987-1988
President: Marilou Rochford of Erma
Members: 164
Officers:
Program Vice President: Susan Smith
Membership Vice President: Gayle Daniel
Recording Secretary: Charlotte Todd
Corresponding Secretary: Mamie Todd
Treasurer: Nancy Vecere
Historian: Ruth Wheaton

HONORS:
• Received New Jersey Division AAUW awards for membership increase (1 of 3 in state)
• Received the only NJ AAUW Public Information Award for Women’s Health Awareness Day
• Received the New Jersey AAUW award for largest increase in EFP donations.
• Received National AAUW recognition with the award for Branch Turnaround ’86-88 at the National Convention in Houston (1 of 10 awards in the nation)
PROJECTS:
• Establishment of AAUW sponsored FEM program (Nutrition for Expectant Mothers)
• Publication of “Directory of Childcare Facilities in Cape May County”
• Began support of AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund
• Networked with other women’s organizations
• Collected toys for children at Christmas
• Increased awareness and education for women’s work/women’s worth.
• Supported CARA, environmental and cultural concerns
• Established an EFP named unit in the name of our branch with scholarship monies raised
• Spearheaded the establishment of the Cape May County League of Women Voters (Marilou Rochford, chair)
• “Choices for Tomorrow’s Women” study groups with young girls and their mothers – Chairperson – Marilou Rochford
• First EFP Art Auction fundraiser at West Cape May Borough Hall – standing room only crowd, netted over $3,000 for scholarships
• Coordination and sponsorship of Women’s Health Awareness Day (1987 and 1988)
• “Women in Politics” and strong legislative focus initiated by Marilou Rochford, who served as AAUW representative to Institute for Public Leadership, Summit NJ
• Reported election returns for News Election Service
EVENTS:
• Third Champagne Dessert for new members with NJ State Division President, Bea McDonald
• Third annual “Meet the Candidates” night
• Sixth annual Fashion show and Luncheon for benefit of EFP at Whitebrier Inn
• Celebration of 20th Anniversary of Cape May Branch at Washington Inn, May 1987
• Initiated evening book group, dining out, crafts and environmental interest groups
• Hosted a visit from New Jersey Secretary of State, Jane Burgio
• Seventh annual Fashion Show for EFP at Whitebrier Inn with Bridal Gowns through the ages presented by Charlotte Todd and Sandy Miller. Event Chairs, Pam Smith and Sue Walton

Term: 1988-1989
President: Susan Smith of Cape May Court House
Members: 160

Officers:
Past President: Marilou Rochford
Program VP: Charlotte Todd
Membership VP: Rosemary Hartman
Recording Secretary: Greta Schmicker
Corresponding Secretary: Joann Van Horn
Treasurer: Diane Morton
Newspaper editor: Phyllis Dodd
Historian: Ruth Wheaton

HONORS:
• New Jersey AAUW Membership increase Award for the 4th year
• State recognition of $3,000 donation to the Educational Fund over the past two years
PROJECTS:
• Supported Clean Ocean Action
• Study groups included: Books groups, Women’s issues groups, Environmental group, Cultural, Crafts and Needlework group
• Environmental Study Group networked with the Oceanic Society in Washington DC and the Clean Action in Seabright, NJ
• Updated the AAUW Childcare Directory for Cape May County
• For the 3rd year, supported the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund (LAF), which provides financial assistance, support and advice to women in sex discrimination lawsuits in higher education.
• Five members participated in the “March for Women’s Equality/Women’s Lives in Washington DC with 600,000 people in attendance
• Christine Cole attended the AAUW – NJ Legislative Day. Branch goal of focusing on the lack of women in elected and appointed positions
• Participated in the News Election Service reporting for the Presidential Election which netted our branch $372
• Participated in the Stainton’s Department Store Merchandise Card program with 10% of all purchases going to our branch
EVENTS:
• Held a “Women in the Arts” program with Dorothy Truman, Director of the Washington DC National Museum
• Sponsored candidates’ forum
• Bus trip to Les Miserables, Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia
• Panel discussion on Teenage Pregnancy in Cape May county
• Program addressing “Personality Traits and Eating Disorders,” speaker Joanne Drane of CONTACT.
• Members participated in the “March for Women’s Equality/Women’s Lives” in Washington, D.C. It was the largest mass demonstration for women’s rights in this decade – 600,000 people in attendance
• International Luncheon featuring the country of Turkey
• Annual Education Fund Scholarship Fashion Show fundraiser at the Port O’Call, Ocean City
• “Sip & Dip”, Wine and Cheese reception at the Wetlands Institute
• Women’s Awareness Day event
• Women’s Health conference at Stockton College
• Attended the Philadelphia flower show
• Membership reception
POLICY:
• Bylaws changed to include the immediate Past President as a member of the Executive Board

Term: 1989-1990
President: Charlotte Todd of Cape May
Members: 143

Officers:
Program VP: Pat Rosenbaum
Membership VP: Phyllis Dodd
Recording Secretary: Greta Schmicker
Corresponding Secretary: Rosemary Hartman
Treasurer: Diane Morton
Past President: Sue Smith
Newsletter & Directory: Meryl Nelson

PROJECTS:
• Actively encouraged Freeholder support for establishment of Community College in Cape May County
• Researched, developed and printed Environmental Calendar (Charlotte Todd, Study Group Chair)
• Update of Childcare Directory, Marilou Rochford, Chair
• Continued support of environmental issues
• Food and Health Issues – Encouraged local Supermarkets sell only pesticide free food and did taste tests of organic foods
• Support of Pro-choice, petitions, newspaper articles, local radio programs
• Blue Ribbon Campaign” – public awareness of the enormous emotional, social and economic toll Teen Pregnancy is taking on our community. AAUW members encouraged to wear “Blue Ribbons” on their lapels and work with other community organizations to prevent teen pregnancy

EVENTS:
• Welcome Back Wine and Cheese at the Wetlands Institute
• Attended “Christmas in Greenwich.”
• Meeting on “Intergenerational Stress.”
• Continued “Women in American Politics” dinner program with keynote speaker Princeton Mayor, Barbara Sigmund, a recent gubernatorial candidate
• Celebration of National Women’s History Month
• Annual Education Foundation (EF) Fashion Show Luncheon at the Whitebrier in Avalon a fundraiser for the Marion MacEwan Second Chance Scholarship Fund
• Joined with the League of Women Voters for “Meet the Candidates Night”
• News Election Service at the Cape May County polls
POLICY:
• New AAUW Issue launched at National Convention, “Choices for Tomorrow’s Women”