Welcome to the September 2022 chapter newsletter. 

Autumn is a time of transformation. As such, please listen to William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 2 in G minor, a standout entry in that quintessentially American genre of jazz-influenced classical music. Alternatively titled “Song of a New Race,” this symphony was composed to represent the African-American experience during the early twentieth century in which Still lived. Each movement chronicles a different facet of the African-American soul yearning for freedom and self-actualization. My favorite is Mvt. II “Slowly and Deeply Expressive” (9:55 in the video), which nearly dropped me to my knees the first time I heard it. 

Let us know what you think, and remember, you can also read it on the chapter website. You can find previous newsletters on the website as well.

In this issue:

CHAPTER NEWS

• Don’t forget! Meet your fellow chapter members at AMWA National Conference  

• We are seeking volunteers for Programming Chair and President-Elect, please see more information below and submit nominations now.

CHAPTER EVENTS

• Join us for the next book club meeting on September 26, 2022 via Zoom at 7 pm. 

• Chapter happy hour at Lake Monster Brewing, October 6 at 6 pm.  

FEATURES 

• Cybersecurity Discussion, by Kendra Hyland, PhD 

• Chapter Advisory Council Update by LeAnn Stee 

CHAPTER NEWS

Don’t forget! Meet fellow chapter members at AMWA National Conference 

The 2022 meeting of the AMWA National Conference will take place November 2–5 in Denver, CO. If you plan to attend, make a plan to meet up with fellow chapter members for dinner, drinks, etc. More conference details here.  

Volunteers needed for President Elect and Programming Chair

Volunteers are needed for chapter President Elect and Programming Chair positions Please consider volunteering! More information below. 

AMWA North Central is a volunteer-based organization. If members don’t take an active role, the chapter will cease to function, and members will lose access to programming, news, and networking opportunities. Consider taking your turn to lead (or join) a committee or serve as a chapter officer. Please submit your interest or nominations for any of the above positions to bod (at) list (dot) amwanorthcentral (dot) org. 

• President-Elect: We are seeking a President-Elect for the 2023 term. This position is critical to our status as a chapter!  Without a volunteer to fill this vital position, we will not be able to continue as a chapter. Please volunteer! As President-Elect, you will attend monthly AMWA NC chapter board meetings, take minutes, and chair the meeting if the president is unable to attend. Other duties may be assigned by the President or Board on an ad hoc basis. 

• Programming Committee Chair: The Program Committee Chair is responsible for organizing AMWA events throughout the year, including identifying topics of interest and recruiting speakers. This is an important role in AMWA and is valuable for both member engagement and education. Please submit your interest or nominations. 

Not ready or able to lead a committee? All of our committees invite members to share ideas and keep the workload light. 

In addition to keeping our group viable, volunteering with AMWA is a great way to network with your fellow members. It’s also a good way to fortify your C.V. with an extra line showing how you give back to your profession! If you can volunteer a few hours a month to help, please send a message to bod (at) list (dot) amwanorthcentral (dot) org. 

EVENTS

Book club meeting September 26th

Mark your calendars! On September 26, 2022 we will discuss The Premonition by Michael Lewis, via Zoom. Michael Lewis presents a succinct critique of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention function during the Covid-19 pandemic as seen by those who tried to alert the agency. Interviews with public health officials who recognized the pandemic trace the CDC’s lethargic response. Few at the CDC granted interviews but the silence, politicization, and inaction documented by others highlight the growing agency dysfunction and provide a warning for responses to future crises. 

Zoom link

Chapter happy hour at Lake Monster Brewing, October 6th at 6 pm 

Long ago, in a time told only in legend, tempest-tossed travels would seek shelter in public houses, or “pubs,” to drink, converse, and swap stories of lands visited and enemies vanquished. It was an age of myth and monsters, when giants walked the Earth and great serpents encircled the seas. The ancients called these gatherings “happy hours,” though the origins of this bizarre term have long since been lost to history. 

On October 6th at 6 pm, at Lake Monster Brewing, please join us for a reenactment of this strange and bygone tradition. Think of it as a Zoom meeting that takes place in a physical location and requires everyone to wear pants. While that might sound inconvenient, bear in mind that you can also order drinks and food! 

Lake Monster Brewing is located in the St. Paul Midway at 550 Vandalia St #160, St. Paul. Also in The Vandalia Tower is the delightful Gremlin Theatre, highly recommended to anyone looking to check out the local performing arts scene.