LaPalma-Cerritos AAUW Administrator, Treasurer and Secretary
La Palma-Cerritos AAUW
Board Meeting Minutes
January 6, 2025
- Call to Order
Administrator Harriet Moses called the informal meeting to order at her home at 2:00pm.
Attendance: Marilyn Forsstrom, Harriet Moses, Chris Taxier
- The Minutes for the September 5, 2024 Board Meeting were distributed and read.
- Fund Discussion – There was discussion on our remaining Tech Trek funds. No decision was made. We will address the Treasurer’s Report at our January General Meeting.
- Program
The January program will feature Jodi Balma who will discuss her insights about the November 2024 Election and its potential consequences. Tobi Balma will introduce her as our speaker.
The February fundraiser will take place at BJ’s Restaurant in Cerritos on February 13.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated back to our branch. We are not planning to hold a major fundraising luncheon as we had in the past.
The March program was originally to be hosted by Jackie Shahzadi as a Women’s Month jeopardy game. However, since our loss of Jackie, we need to find members who would organize this activity. An alternative idea would be to give a presentation of lesser- known women who have played a role in American history.
The April program will include the election of our branch officers. Assuming that we can find a new Administrator for 2025-26, we would also have our Planning Meeting at this time.
The May program will honor the Academic Achievement Award recipients, to be hosted by Joan Pylman.
In June, we will have our Installation of new officers for 2025-26.
- Public Policy
In February we will be hosting the Cerritos City Council candidates’ forum, with the date to be confirmed soon. The election for Cerritos City Council members will take place on March 4, 2025. Harriet has agreed to send letters or emails to the candidates. Sondra Cohen will select a moderator. Other volunteers will be needed to help with various tasks during the forum.
- Announcements
The next General Meeting will be on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at the Cabrillo Lane Adult School auditorium, with a social gathering at 6:30pm and the meeting starting at 7:00pm.
The next Board Meeting will be on Thursday, March 6, if it is decided to have a Women’s Month program.
- Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:04pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Taxier, Secretary
Note: These minutes have not yet been approved.
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La Palma-Cerritos AAUW
General Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2025
- Call to Order
Administrator Harriet Moses called the meeting to order at 7:03 pm in the auditorium at the ABCUSD Adult School Cabrillo Lane site. She asked Tobi Balma to introduce the program speaker Jodi Balma, Professor of Political Science at Fullerton City College. Her topic was the November 2024 Election, the results, and the possible consequences. Using a PowerPoint presentation, she explained some of the changes in American society over the last four years and why voters shifted in how they voted. Ms. Balma also gave results for both national and state elections. Finally, she spoke about some critical issues for the American people and what may happen in the future with this new Administration.
Attendance: 21 (including the guest speaker and 1 guest)
- Business Meeting began at 8:10 pm. Harriet recognized the birthday of an AAUW member this month. She also welcomed a guest from ABC Unified School District.
- Minutes for the November 21 General Meeting were distributed. Three signatures were obtained to approve the minutes a submitted.
- Treasurer’s Reports dated December 31, 2024 were accepted as submitted.
General Account $5,752.35
Fund Account $ 649.47
Marilyn Forsstrom stated that $152.62 currently remains in the branch Tech Trek account. These funds will be transferred to the CA-SP Fund for Tech Trek, specifically designated for the Whittier Tech Trek Summer Camp.
As a result of the cruise that Gail Ross arranged, she is donating part of her commission to our AAUW Fund. 24 people have signed up for this cruise. Thank you, Gail!
- Reports
Public Policy – Sondra Cohen announced that there will be a Cerritos City Council Candidates Forum on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from 7pm to 9pm at the City Council Chambers. She requested volunteers to assist with running the Forum. Celia Spitzer, Chris Taxier and Marilyn Forsstrom offered to help. Tobi Balma will be the moderator.
Lobby Days will be April 8 -9, 2025. Training for Lobby Days will be done via Zoom at the end of March. Sondra requested that interested members contact her.
Fund – Mary Ann Quinn announced that the next restaurant fundraiser will be Thursday, February 13 at BJ’s in Cerritos. 20% of the profits from our patronage will go to our branch.
We will not be having a February Fund Luncheon as a fundraiser this year.
Named Gift Honoree – Harriet requested volunteers to serve on the committee to discuss a Named Gift Honoree for this year. Committee members must be previous recipients of this award. The members who volunteered are: Tobi, Marilyn, and Celia.
March Program – Chris asked for assistance in creating a program for Women’s History Month – either a Jeopardy-style game about famous American women or a presentation about unheralded but fascinating women. Faith Herschler, Celia and Sondra offered to help. Cathy Niederman mentioned that she has posters about women from a presentation a few years ago.
Nominating Committee – Harriet announced that a committee is needed to recruit next year’s elected officers. Marilyn and Chris stated that they plan to continue in their roles as treasurer and secretary, respectively. However, we need a new administrator for our branch; the branch cannot continue without one. Harriet will write a statement about the administrator’s duties and send it out to members.
Academic Achievement Awards – Joan Pylman announced that there has been a change at the Cerritos College Foundation regarding the guidelines who can apply for this award. Federally funded colleges must allow both men and women to apply, according to Eric Calderon, the new liaison at Cerritos Community College. Once the applications are received, the committee will finalize who will receive the two awards: a continuing student and a re-entry student. The volunteers serving on the Selection Committee are: Dorothy Edwards, Edna Ethington, Joan Flax, Gail Ross, and Thea Siegel.
Joan stated that $1,830 remains in the Academic Achievement Awards Fund. All donations made to the Awards Fund until the end of February 2025 will be matched by an anonymous donor, up to $2,500.
- Announcements
Falcon’s Nest Donations – All items to be donated to Falcon’s Nest at Cerritos College should be given to Joan Pylman by the end of the week.
The next general meeting will be on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at the Cabrillo Lane Adult School auditorium with social gathering at 6:30 pm and the meeting beginning at 7:00 pm. There will be a program honoring Women’s History Month.
- Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Taxier, Secretary
Note: These minutes have not yet been approved.
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La Palma-Cerritos AAUW
General/Planning Meeting Minutes
May 16, 2024
- Call to order
Co-Administrator Joan Pylman called the meeting to order in the auditorium of the ABC Unified School District Cabrillo Lane Adult School site at 7:00 pm.
Attendance: 20
- Business Meeting
Joan invited members to share a piece of good news while donating $1 to the AAUW Fund – via our Brag Box – for each announcement. Then Co-Administrator Gail Ross announced the May and June birthdays of our branch members and provided cupcakes for each birthday honoree.
- The Minutes for the March 21 and April 18 General Meetings were passed around on a clipboard and read. Three signatures were obtained to approve the Minutes as submitted.
- The Treasurer’s Reports dated April 30, 2024 were accepted as submitted.
General Account $9,198.89
Fund Account $1,732.92
- Reports
New Officers – The new elected branch officers were announced for this coming year. Appointed officers and support members were confirmed, and in some cases, volunteers were requested.
BRANCH OFFICERS for 2024-2025
Elected Officers
Administrator: Harriet Moses
Secretary: Chris Taxier
Treasurer: Marilyn Forsstrom
Appointed Officers
Membership/ Greeter: OPEN
AAUW Fund: Sue Solomon
Public Policy: Sondra Cohen
By-laws: Marilyn Forsstrom
College/University: Tobi Balma
Academic Achievement Awards: Joan Pylman
International Interests: Jackie Shahzadi
Bulletin/Website: Marilyn Forsstrom
Support
Hospitality: Ceci Borja-VanZitter (pending acceptance)
Telephone Tree: Sue Carruthers/ Pat McClelland
Historian: Pat McClelland
Interest Groups
Cover to Cover: Thea Siegel
Readers Theater: Esther Aronson
Gourmet: Joan Flax and Celia Spitzer
Great Decisions: Dorothy Edwards
Results of Recent National Election – The new national AAUW officers were announced. The proposed changes to the National Bylaws to open membership to non-university graduates did not pass. It failed by only 1% of the vote.
Fund – Tobi Balma reported that our branch contributed $2,000 to the National Fund. Jackie Shahzadi recently donated $300 to the Fund (for the Greatest Needs). Tobi then challenged our members to match her donation.
- Planning Session for 2024-2025
First, we reviewed the calendar and general meeting schedule for next year. We filled in programs or activities which were already planned in various months and who would be the facilitators. This left four months for which programs needed to be determined.
Members brainstormed ideas in small groups. Then each group reported their top ideas which were listed on easel paper. The idea lists were then posted across a wall. Each member voted for their top choices for programs using sticky dots. The top four program ideas and facilitator volunteers were: 1) LGBTQ information session (Esther Aronson), 2) Jodi Balma as a speaker – follow-up to November Elections (Faith Herschler), 3) Jeopardy-style Game Show with Famous Women (Jackie Shahzadi), and 4) Game Night (Thea Siegel).
TENTATIVE CALENDAR FOR BRANCH PROGRAMS AND FACILITATORS – 2024-2025
September 19, 2024 Potluck – Ethnic dishes preferred (Celia Spitzer)
October 17, 2024 League of Women Voters on Propositions (Need Facilitator)
November 21, 2024 LGBTQ Information (Esther Aronson)
December 2024 – TBD Holiday Party (Cathy Niederman?)
January 16, 2025 Jodi Balma to speak on after-election issues (Faith Herschler)
February 2025 – TBD Fund Luncheon
March 20, 2025 Jeopardy-style Game Show on Famous Women (?)
April 17, 2025 Branch Election; Game Night (Thea Siegel)
May 15, 2025 Academic Achievement Awards Ceremony (Joan Pylman)
June 2025 – TBD Installation
Some other ideas which were presented were:
- Favorite dishes to be shared at our potluck/ International Potluck – per Saurabh D. This could be done at September’s General Meeting or used for Gourmet.
- Acquire a new community outreach project like Su Casa (which ended) or like Falcon’s Nest (maybe continue this more robustly). This would be an ongoing project.
- Plan a travel event together as a branch, as a fundraising event – per Gail Ross
- Announcements
The memorial for Diane Hudson will take place on Sunday, June 9 at 1:00 pm in Huntington Beach.
The installation of new officers will take place on Tuesday, June 11 at 11:30 am at Panda Inn in La Palma. Please notify Gail Ross of your menu item selection.
- Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Taxier, Secretary