Team Message

Here’s your chance to make a difference in the work load that the Book Fair Committee and Section Chairs must fulfill. We are accepting donations, beginning April 3 to April 25th, Monday through Saturday from 9-12. There are many opportunities for you to pitch in and help; just show up, sign in, and ask where we need you.

The sale begins on April 27th and runs through May 1st. You can contact Myra Jones (phone number and email are in the Membership Book) to be put on the schedule to help in that department.

This is our only fund raiser, and the Lehigh Valley community supports us with their donations and comes back to purchase  books. The wider Lehigh Valley looks forward to our Book Fair. But we cannot accept the donations, sort them, price them, arrange them on tables, and be ready for the sale without all of us pitching in to do the work.

There is a Kick-Off Koffee/Celebration on April 4th at 10:00 at the Bethlehem Ice Rink. Come and join in the enthusiasm that other members of the Bethlehem Branch of AAUW and community volunteers have as we open our 61st Book Fair.

Bethlehem Branch History

1929	Officially recognized by AAUW on April 4 with 55 members
1931	Study groups organized
1934	Co-founded Children’s Theatre; support continues through 2001
1940s	Provided child care nursery during World War II
1946	Sponsored city-wide art contest
1954	First scholarship of $300 given to female graduate of Bethlehem High School
1962	Began one-on-one tutoring program for elementary students
1963	First annual Book Fair held
1966	Published a college guide for high school students
1987	Presented “Women’s Work, Women’s Worth” lecture series
1988	Formed inter-branch committee on women’s economic issues
1992	Established program of community grants
1992-99	Supported Math Con, an annual math fair for middle school girls
1995	Introduced local educators to Educational Foundation’s Gender Equity Model
2001	Branch has 123 members and offers 8 study groups
2002	Fortieth annual Book Fair proceeds continued Branch’s support of education for women and girls by adding to the $270,000 in scholarship monie awarded since 1963
2004	Bethlehem Branch celebrates 75th anniversary
2007	Bethlehem Branch and community volunteer workers at the 45th annual Book Fair celebrate surpassing the $500,000 mark in total money raised for scholarships to local women and girls
2008	Bethlehem and Allentown Branches join together to present Let’s Read Math program in Bethlehem Area School District, to be continued as service learning for the branches