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 |