Climate Winners or Losers? How Svalbard Reindeer are Responding to the Fastest-Warming Place on Earth
Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 6:45 Social time, 7:00 Program Via ZOOM
The high-Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is warming faster than any other place in the world. While most Arctic species are struggling to cope with rapid warming, Svalbard reindeer appear to be one of the few animals benefiting from a warming tundra…for now. Dr. Samantha Dwinnell will share her research on how climate change is affecting food supply for Svalbard reindeer, providing nuance to the ways in which climate change can impact Arctic wildlife.
Dr. Dwinnell produced a 15-minute film about her research that she will share during the presentation. It is called Reindalen and is currently in film festivals in Nort America, Europe and Asia. Dr. Dwinnell has been involved in wildlife research since 2007, studying an array of species, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, Canada lynx, and songbirds. The main focus of her research is on how human activity influences the connections between large herbivores and their environment. In 2025, she received a PhD in Ecology from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
Members will receive a ZOOM invite via email. Non-members who wish to participate should email us at: contact@aauwowatonna.com. You will then be sent the link to join the program.
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It’s time to pay our dues!
Dues for the coming year are:
$74 Association + $9 State + $10 Branch = $93 total. Please send a check for $93 to Kay Oberle, 50 18th Place NE, Owatonna, MN 55060. Check payable to AAUW Owatonna Branch. (deadline is June 30, 2025)
For the coming year $84 of your annual dues will be tax deductible.
Membership voting concluded and did NOT pass on AAUW Bylaws Change to open eligibility to remove degree requirements for membership. Thanks to all who took the time to vote. Per the AAUW Election page:
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- The open membership initiative did not pass. Changes to AAUW’s bylaws require 2/3 majority (66.6%) to pass. AAUW members voted 65.1% to approve the measure, just shy of passing.
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Our officers for 2025-2026:
President: Mary Schwanke
Co-Program VPs: Alana Bunkers & Julie Fiske
Membership VP: Mary Overlee Olson
Secretary: Sandi Tobin
Treasurer: Kay Oberle
Co-AAUW Funds: Trudy Severson & Shelly Rockman
Finance: Eileen Newhouse
Visibility: Nancy Vaillancourt
Webmaster: Linda Hoffman
Fundraising (Taste): Mary Cronin & Linda Hoffman
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Dues for the coming year are:
$74 Association + $9 State + $10 Branch = $93 total. Please send a check for $91 to Linda Boorman, 1250 Edgewood Place, Owatonna, MN 55060. Check payable to AAUW Owatonna Branch. (deadline is June 30, 2025)
For the coming year $84 of your annual dues will be tax deductible.
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Here are the vendors for this year’s Taste event.
Be sure to thank them for their support – and support them!
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- Basilleo’s Pizza
- Candullo’s Coffee
- Costas
- Grapeful Wine Bar
- Mizuki Fusion
- Mon Ferment
- Old Town Bagels & Café
- Owatonna Eagle’s
- Owatonna Elk’s
- Spare Time Entertainment
- Steve’s Meat Market
- Taqueria Jalisco
- Torey’s
Thanks to Thrivent Financial for supporting some of our Taste-related expenses.
Attendees gather at the Owatonna Eagles for Taste of Steele County, sampling a wide array of offerings from local businesses. (Josh LaFollette/southernminn.com)
Rachel Lee, of Steve’s Meat Market in Ellendale, serves up snacks at Taste of Steele County, an AAUW Owatonna fundraiser that supports scholarships for local women and girls. (Josh LaFollette/southernminn.com)
Jennifer Candullo, of Candullo’s Coffee, hands out samples at Taste of Steele County. (Josh LaFollette/southernminn.com)
Tom Lester from Basilleo’s Pizza dishes up some his delicious pasta at the Taste of Steele County.
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