The Ironton Branch of American Association of University Women is celebrating its 80th anniversary and has several events planned before the end of the year.

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the group will meet at the new St. Mary’s Medical Center Ironton Campus for a tour of the facility. Individuals interested in the group may are encouraged to join the tour as well.

Some of the other programs for the year are a cancer survivor speaker, speakers from human services, a tea, a women’s forum and celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Any women who have graduated with an associate degree or who has graduated with a higher degree is welcome to join to AAUW.

Dues, which are $65 for the year, support the local branch, as well as state and national organizations. There are scholarships offered by the national AAUW.

Presently, the club sells Avon at Christmas and has book sales to raise money.

The club began 80 years ago with a meeting at the Marting Hotel. The first year the branch had 19 members.

The group held their meetings in their homes, the Marting Hotel, Kleins, Thelma Tea Room and Schachleiter Tea Room. At their meetings, they had musical selections, speakers, discussion groups, bridge groups or book reviews. They supported the library by donating books to the library.

During the following years, Christmas parties were held for the children’s home, teas were held for the girls going to college, and puppet shows were performed for children.

Later the branch held art exhibits at the library, sponsored career days for the junior high

students, honored the top students of area high schools with a dinner, and honored the senior women at Ohio University Southern with a luncheon.

Recently, the group supported the Golden Girls Group Home and the Academy of Excellence, gave a scholarship to an OUS woman and a junior high girl for Be Wise Science and Math Camp for Girls.

The American Association of University Women promotes equity for all women and girls, lifelong education and positive societal change.

AAUW also values and seeks a diverse membership. The Ironton branch usually meets on the second Thursday at 6:30 pm at OUS or in their homes.

For questions, call Kay at 532-5654 or Marlene at 532-2323 or by e-mail at marlene_koenig@ yahoo.com.