And we are actually losing it NOW!
Click here for a great video: What AAUW does Be proud!
The gender pay gap won’t close until 2119 at the current rate of change.
AAUW is doing something about it. Take action now!
Empowering women since 1881
June, 2025
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ADMINISTRATOR’S MESSAGE
From Celia:
Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 19, from noon to 4 pm (although we’ll probably finish earlier) for our planning meeting for the 2025-26 AAUW year. We will meet at our usual place, the auditorium at the ABC Adult School site at Cabrillo Lane School. Lunch will be provided. Closer to the meeting, I will send a reminder and ask for an RSVP so that we know how much food to buy.
From Marilyn:
Updated information on our 2025-26 California dues increase vote announced in mid May – CA state dues changed and will go up $10, which will be in effect starting next year.
💐🪻🌷
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Meeting & Program
Thursday, June 15
Noon -4:00 Meeting
Cabrillo Lane Adult School
Lunch will be served. Full information above.
Please remember to mingle with our guests. Volunteer as greeters at the door.
Board and general meetings are in-person with due respect to members who cannot attend in-person. Those members may choose to easily attend and participate in meetings by connecting via phone to another member in attendance.
Please welcome and support your new officers. Remember that their job is to lead and encourage other members. Please offer to help them when they ask.
Future meetings will be:
Place: Cabrillo Lane Adult School Auditorium
20122 Cabrillo Lane, Cerritos
Select HERE for map
Gourmet Group, Joan F
Gourmet Group is continuing for next year. We are currently full and will be accepting substitute members only. If you are interested, as a couple, or in joining us as a sub please let me know and I will put you on the list. We will be meeting 4 times this year: October, January, and March, the third Saturday of the month, except May which will be a brunch for the entire Gourmet Group. The date is to be determined.
(562) 860-0642- home
(562) 965-7902- cell
jmflax@aol.com
READERS THEATER, Esther
This coming year we will be reading plays on the first Thursday of the Month at 6:45 pm starting in October. If Monday’s did not work for you and you are interested in joining us, we welcome new thespians to the group.
The following is a list of the plays for the coming year:
TIME OF MY LIFE by Alan Ayckbourne
MARJORIE PRIME by Jordan Harrison
PLAY ON by Rick Abbot
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME by Heidi Schreck
THE CONSTANT WIFE by Somerset Maugham
MORNINGS AT SEVEN by Paul Osborn
LUNCH HOUR by Jean Kerr
APPROPRIATE by Branden Jenkins
THE LITTLE FOXES by Lillian Helman
COVER to COVER, THEA
Our book group meets to discuss a new book every month. Book schedule is posted HERE. Please contact Thea and join us at any time.
Membership, Saurabh & Joan P
We are looking forward to taking care of services for current membership. In order to increase membership for our branch, we request all members to bring one friend to our meetings.
Download AAUW Membership Application
AAUW Fund
Thank you for supporting our Fund Raiser at The Big Bear Diner in Buena Park.
Those who went really liked their simple tasty food. $152.53 raised to AAUW Fund . Also about $300 earned from the short cruise.
Please try to participate in our restaurant fundraisers. You will have a tasty lunch or dinner out with friends and while you pay the normal price, we get 20-25% back for AAUW Fund . What could be easier?!
Public Policy, Sondra
Check HERE for the latest Public Policy News
Check out our Public Policy Page on the AAUW California Website. You can read our current 2023-2025 Public Policy Priorities which can be viewed here: 2023 – 2025 Public Policy Priorities (PPP) – AAUW California. Find information on the Legislative Agenda, Lobby Days, Legislative Calendar and Coalitions with other organizations. You can also learn the latest about the School Board Project!
Academic Achievement Awards, Joan P
The La Palma-Cerritos Branch celebrated its Thirty-Second Annual Recognition and Awards Program at their meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the ABCUSD Adult School Auditorium in Cerritos. The Branch presented two Cerritos College women students with Academic Achievement Awards, they are: Ashley Ramirez and Lisamarie Lara.
Photos on our Academic Awards Page.
Ashley Ramirez was introduced by Committee member Thea Siegel. Her Academic Achievements included having a 3.85 GPA while enrolling in honors classes with her major in Computer Science and Information Science. She excelled in STEM classes. She joined the Mathematics Engineering Science Program (MESA) at Cerritos College successfully completing three missions of the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars Program (NASC). Ashley started the “Sending Sunshine” as Chapter President. The campus organization creates greeting cards which are sent to seniors in care facilities. Ashley is a first-generation person in her family to attend college. She plans to attend UC Irvine in the Fall of 2025 and eventually work for a Ph. D at Stanford University to eventually become a professor who can help students pursue their higher education goals.
Lisamarie Lara is a 23-year-old student who has overcome many obstacles in her own life including financial stress, homelessness at age 16, and managing mental health issues such as anxiety and ADHD. She overcame her obstacles and achieved a 3.66 GPA at Cerritos College with a major in Elementary School Education. She joined the Teacher’s Track Program and Grow Your Own Teacher Pathway Program (GYOTP) at Cerritos College. She was selected as one of twenty-five students to participate in the US Department of Education Grant Program. She has extended her teaching experiences with children by volunteering and interning in classrooms in various nearby school districts. She also volunteered time helping the Downey Kiwanis with community service activities such Food Drives and Relays for Life. Lisamarie works at two part-time jobs but needs financial aid because she is her family’s breadwinner. She is an outstanding role-model for female Hispanic students that she interfaces with and helps at Cerritos College. Lisamarie has already been accepted at CSU Dominguez Hills in the Fall of 2025.
Each AAA recipient will receive a scholarship in the amount of $1500 (or more. Donations will be accepted through the end of June for 2025.)
AAA Committee volunteers included Dorothy Edwards, Joan Flax, Gail Ross, Edna Ethington, Thea Siegel and Chair Joan Pylman.
For more information about the Academic Achievement Awards at Cerritos College, contact Awards Chairperson Joan Pylman at 562-865-6592.
Women Supporting Women. It is a beautiful thing.
Su Casa, Falcon’s Nest, Joan Pylman
We are now supporting Cerritos College Falcon’s Nest, with personal items and sundries, large and small.
International Issues
…through its global focus and reach, empowers all women and girls to create a secure and just world built on education, advocacy, friendship and mutual respect.
WG-USA is an online organization based in the United States focusing on global issues *Support and Advocacy for Refugee and Migrant Women and Girls
*Safe Access to Education
*Human Trafficking Advocacy and Action
*Women, Peace and Security
Join WG-USA at www.wg-usa.org
In 2019, Graduate Women International celebrated its 100th anniversary with a Centennial Celebration in Geneva, July 25-28. GWI was founded in 1919, by representatives of AAUW, and other international women’s groups. It used to be known as the IFUW, International Federation of University Women. Currently, Women Graduates-USA is the organization representing American women at GWI.
Link HERE to the Academic Awards for picture and more information
Please check out the LAF News page for current case updates. Tobi