Any girl from the Acalanes High School District is eligible to participate as a program facilitator, however girls who have attended Sister-to-Sister Summits as middle schoolers will be given priority. Applications are placed in the Career Centers in September each year. There are six trainings of three hours each; girls are required to attend at least four in order to attend the summit day.

The activities of each training include the following:

• Facilitator Training – Girls are taught to lead small group discussions, which includes listening skills, observation skills, and managing different personalities.
• Summit Planning – Girls plan every aspect of the summit including the theme, decorations, games, presenters, gifts, ceremonies and food. Adults make sure their ideas are carried out.
• Discussion Topics – Experts are brought in to give workshops on the topics that are chosen for discussion such as advertising and body image, sexual harassment, bullying, values, relationships, stress management, sexuality and peer pressure and drugs or alcohol.
• Leadership – Girls are given the opportunity to be part of a steering committee for the planning meetings and take extra responsibility for the summit planning and the event day.
• Dinner – A complete, well-balanced dinner is part of every training.

The Trainers

• Valarie Burgess has more than 20 years experience working with girls and has co-chaired the Sister-to-Sister Summit for seven years. She has raised 3 daughters and is a past president of AAUW-OML.
• Gail Tsuboi is a professional graphic recorder, a longtime Girl Scout trainer, and a former Girl Scout leader. She brings tremendous experience and creativity to the Sister-to-Sister training.
• Jenifer Jimenez is currently working on her master’s degree in counseling at St. Mary’s College, is a marathon runner and kick boxer.
• Mary Holzheimer designs and manages corporate incentive programs.  She is a Girl Scout Leader, high school class parent advisor and PTSA Vice President.

Be a sister! Be a mentor! Be a friend!
Make a difference in the life of a younger girl.

AAUW is looking for young women who will help plan and lead a one-day conference for middle school girls. complete and return the application package to be a part of this important community project. Deadline for application: Friday September 28, 2007

Planning/training sessions will start on October 14.


The 2008 Sister-to-Sister Conference will be March 15 at Acalanes High School in Lafayette. Registation forms will be available soon.




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