January 1963 – Our Charter
Dr. Althea Kratz Hottel, Vice President of the International Federation of University Women and a distinguished leader in education, returned to her hometown of Lansdale to sign the charter establishing the Lansdale Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

April 1968 – First Annual Book Sale
The Lansdale Branch held its inaugural book sale to support the AAUW Fellowships Fund, marking the beginning of a cherished tradition of fundraising through community engagement.

February 1970 – Art Goes to School Program
Introduced in the North Penn School District at the elementary level, the Art Goes to School Program aimed to introduce students to renowned artworks and artists. AAUW Lansdale volunteers, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Junior League of Philadelphia, brought this enriching experience into classrooms.

October 1972 – Green Circle Program
AAUW members presented the Green Circle Program to North Penn School District students to foster appreciation of diversity and promote self-worth. Inspired by Edwin Markham’s poem:
He drew a circle that shut me out—
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in.

October 1972 – Extra Hands in the Classroom
At the request of the North Penn School District, AAUW volunteers began serving as classroom aides, providing much-needed assistance to teachers and enriching the educational environment.

April 1980 – Excellence in Writing Contest
Recognizing the importance of celebrating academic achievement, the Lansdale Branch launched the Excellence in Writing Awards. Open to students from North Penn, Souderton, Wissahickon, and local private high schools, the contest encouraged young writers to showcase their talents.

1981 – Women in History Project
To highlight the often-overlooked achievements of local women, the Lansdale Branch initiated the Women in History Project. Ten women from fields including business, religion, education, community service, and science were honored in the booklet In Celebration of Women, which was distributed to schools, libraries, and historical societies. The project earned Second Place in the Pennsylvania Division’s Publicity Contest.

1981 – High School Scholarships Established
The Lansdale Branch began awarding scholarships to local high school students in recognition of academic excellence and as a way to thank the community for supporting the annual book sales. Each year, 5 to 7 students are selected from a pool of approximately 50 applicants across the region.

1982 – Laurel House Project Begins
Following a powerful presentation by the director of Laurel House—a safe haven for abused women and their children—the Lansdale Branch initiated hands-on support. Members contributed by cleaning, wallpapering, and painting a bedroom and two children's playrooms. Over time, the effort expanded to include supplying requested essentials and organizing generous gift drives during the holiday season, ensuring the women and children felt remembered and supported during Christmas and Hanukkah.

October 1982 – Hosting African Educators
Through the AAUW African Educators Program, the Lansdale Branch was honored as one of only three branches nationwide selected to host two African educators—secondary school principals from Sierra Leone and Ghana. During their week-long stay, they were welcomed into members’ homes and engaged in a range of formal and informal activities. This cultural exchange fostered mutual learning and understanding, as the visiting educators gained insights into the American educational system to take back and enrich their schools at home.

May 1984 – Career Shadowing Program Launched
Recognizing the importance of career awareness for young women, the Lansdale Branch launched the Career Shadowing Program at North Penn High School. Approximately 75 students were paired with professional mentors in fields of their interest, spending a day experiencing potential careers firsthand. The program was met with enthusiastic acclaim and has since been adopted by other school districts.

October 1986 – “Peace Child” Theater Production
The Lansdale Branch led a community initiative to bring the inspiring play Peace Child—a story of cross-cultural understanding between a Soviet and an American child—to local audiences. Collaborating with the North Penn and Souderton school districts, the production featured adult actors and children, including three from AAUW member families. The event was a tremendous success, with proceeds supporting future performances through the Peace Child Foundation and funding local peace initiatives via the Souderton Community Education Council and the Lansdale Branch.

March 1987 – Children’s Cultural Event Debuts
In partnership with the North Penn School District’s Community Education Program, the Lansdale Branch presented its first annual Children’s Cultural Event. The featured performance was The Wizard of Oz, brought to life through a captivating puppet show by Nick Swindon Productions.

1989 – National Recognition for Career Shadowing
The Career Shadowing Program received national acclaim when it was honored with a C-FLAG (Center for Family Learning and Guidance) award from President Ronald Reagan, recognizing its positive impact on career education for young women.