UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
January 2009
P.O. BOX 81776     FAIRBANKS, ALASKA 99708
www.uaf.edu/uwa

JANUARY DATES TO REMEMBER:
Sunday, January 11 at 7pm ------------ International Diners
Sunday, January 18 at 3 – 5pm ------ Book Club in Gulliver’s meeting room
Saturday, January 31at 8pm ------ FSAF Cabaret performance in Westmark Hotel’s Northern Latitudes room

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
Sunday, February 1 from 1 -3pm -------- Cabin Fever Celebration
Sunday, February 15 from 3 – 5pm ------ Book Club in Gulliver’s meeting room

INTERNATIONAL DINERS
International Diners is a fun way to collect some great recipes and the dinners are a feast. The participants are asked to choose a month they will host a meal and decide upon a cuisine theme. Those whose homes are unable accommodate a dinner party may partner with someone who can. When the theme and date are announced, diners interested in attending contact the host and indicate if they are bringing a guest. The host plans a menu and each diner receives one dish to prepare. The cost of the meal is divided evenly among the participants. Every dinner offers a unique culinary experience with an extensive variety of dishes to savor.

The International Diners next gathering is scheduled for Sunday, January 11th, at 7pm, at Schaible House. The menu is being created by August-Michelle Abukasis. The cuisine will be Israeli. August-Michelle
writes that, "There will be a variety of Israeli food, music and dance. I am looking forward to you and your guest joining us." Please let August-Michelle know if you are interested in coming as soon as possible. You may email her at fsaem@uaf.edu or call 799-3025. A recipe will be provided.

These directions assume that you are approaching from the Farmers Loop/ Ballaine Road area: turn from Ballaine Road on to Yankovich Road. Continue on Yankovich past the University of Alaska president's house. Turn right on Chatanika Drive and Schaible House is up the first driveway on the right.

CABIN FEVER CELEBRATION
Please join us Sunday, February 1, 1-3 pm, for the Cabin Fever celebration at Nancy Hausel Johnson's home. Many of us have seen Nancy's scenic Alaska tiles and we'll tour her studio in the Moose Mountain area. Two other presenters will also share their passions for keeping busy during the long winter months. Join us for an entertaining afternoon above the ice fog, glimpsing the Alaskan range, engaging in wonderful conversation, and enjoying refreshments. Please invite a friend and RSVP to Rita Osborne, 479-4535, by January 25. Car pooling will be encouraged. - Rita

MARY IS MOVING
We must say good bye for a while to long time UWA member, Mary Langan who tells us “I will miss the UWA group and the fun events.  I plan to go to Florida near my sister in St. Petersburg and look for one of those half price condos (as an investment).  The plan is to rent out the condo and come back to Fairbanks in the summers and RENT--never having to worry about MAINTENANCE and ANNOYING maintenance men again.  But once I get down there, I might be too exhausted from the packing and moving to want to travel back this year.  Maybe next year.  We'll see.  My email is snowqueenmcl@yahoo.com, and I will keep that even though I will be far from the snow.  I went to high school in Clearwater, west of Tampa, so I still know some people in the area. - Mary                                                                           

BOOK GROUP
At Gulliver’s bookstore, we had a good discussion of the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  Part of the discussion centered on alcoholism among American Indians as portrayed in the book. We also compared the portrayal of American Indians to the circumstances in the lives of Native Alaskans. 

For January, we chose two books, The Myth of Multi-tasking by Dave Crenshaw and The Renaissance Soul by Margaret Lobenstine.  The first book is short and is a quick read.  I have read it, so you can borrow my copy if you would like to read it.  The second book is longer and my copy comes from the library, so I am not sure what its availability is.  It will be interesting to compare the two books.

For February, our discussion strayed to an older book about the societal difference where there are significantly more people of one gender than of the other gender. Rita Osborne said she had read a book about what happens in a society where the sex ratio is significantly different from 100 men for 100 women (the standard measure).  I think the book she was referring to may be Too Many Women? by Marcia Guttentag and Paul F. Secord, which I have from the library. 

Related to the gender imbalance question, we chose two science fiction titles for February, The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri Tepper and A Door into Ocean by Joan Slonczewski.  Both of these titles should be available used  

On a slightly different note, I am in the middle of listening to Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, which is a memoir of a Somali woman who escapes war, poverty, and a forced marriage to become both an elected representative in the Netherlands and a spokesperson for women's rights and free speech.  It is a fascinating exploration of Islam and addresses questions of multiculturalism that are related to both December's and February's books. Non-members may be invited also, if you think they would be interested in these books. – Laura Walsh

SALAD LUNCHEON
Elizabeth Shapland hosted a delightful December lunch with a holiday feel. Her house is perfect for the group of nine who attended. Carol DeVoe brought Ruth Levey. It was good to see her again. We said farewell to Mariclare Langan, who is moving to Florida. She may be back, but has sold her house here. We wish her well

As of this writing, there is no planned January salad luncheon. If anyone would like to host one, please let me know by contacting hmh@acsalaska.net or phone 488-2314 (messages on answering machine only, please.) It is suggested that we wait until the weather is more inviting. – Helen Howard

FAIRBANKS SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL - Winter Edition
Laura Walsh reports the FSAF is offering a pair of week-long Cabaret classes, culminating in a performance at 8 pm, Saturday, January 31st, in the Northern Latitudes room of the Westmark Hotel.  The performance will cost $10, with tickets on sale at the door.  Check www.fsaf.org, if you are interested in the classes.  Also offered in the winter are the gospel choir and the singing workshops.

WALK/SKI GROUP - ALL WELCOME!
The walk/ski group meets in the Ballaine Lake parking lot at 11 AM Monday and Friday for skiing and on Thursday for walking at Big Dipper ice arena. We have a minus 5 cut-off temp for skiing, determined by a phone call to 844 around 10 am. If it is below minus 5 on Monday or Friday, we will meet to walk at the Big Dipper for walking instead of skiing.

No need to RSVP--just show up if you can--but if you have questions, please call Elizabeth at 474-4725. Our group includes beginners as well as more advanced skiers, so don't hesitate to give skiing a try.

WEBSITE
Current and past newsletters are available on the UWA website maintained by Uma Bhatt at www.uaf.edu/uwa .

Please send newsletter corrections, comments or interesting items to Georgene Nielsen at nielsen@mosquitonet.com or telephone 479-0988.