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
March 20, 2025
- Call to Order
Administrator Harriet Moses called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm in the auditorium at the ABCUSD Adult School Cabrillo Lane site. She introduced the presenter for the Women’s History Month Program, Chris Taxier.
Attendance: 17 (including 2 guests)
Program – All attendees received a four-page “quiz” with names of remarkable women in American history, who had made important accomplishments in our society but had gone largely unnoticed. Brief descriptions of their deeds were listed at the bottom of each page, and attendees were challenged to match the deeds with the names of the women. After five minutes of table discussion and completing matches for each page, Chris gave the short answers. Then the longer narratives were read aloud by Tobi Balma, Celia Spitzer, Faith Herschler and Chris.
- Business Meeting began at 8:10 pm. Harriet recognized the birthdays of AAUW members this month. She also encouraged people to participate in the upcoming fundraiser.
- Minutes for the January 25 General Meeting were distributed. Three signatures were obtained to approve the minutes as submitted.
- Treasurer’s Reports dated March 20, 2025 were accepted as submitted.
General Account : $6,402.41
Fund Account: $845.30
Marilyn responded to questions about donations given in Jackie Shahzadi’s memory. Some were designated for the Academic Achievement Awards (under the General Account) and some for the Fund Account. Because additional donations are still arriving, a final count is not yet available.
Recent fundraisers at local restaurants resulted in the following profits:
BJ’s $103 Cypress Fish Grill $60 Hof’s Hut $117
- Reports
Public Policy – Tobi reported that AAUW was sued for discrimination regarding its professional awards going to women of color, even though there are no federal funds involved at those institutions. Even though the courts will probably dismiss the case, AAUW is still required to pay court costs. All branches may experience a backlash due to our DEI programs being banned by the current Administration.
Regarding National dues, the fees will go up to $2 per year as of April 1.
It has been observed that younger people prefer to join national organizations instead of local ones (such as Soroptimists). This means that AAUW may attract many new members. But in order to remain functional, our National headquarters needs to maintain its physical plant site, staff members, utilities, and all that is required to be viable. It is essential that we continue to donate toward AAUW Greatest Needs.
Tobi requested that members pay attention to their emails regarding important issues. Please contact your representatives in state and federal government to let them know your views.
Academic Achievement Awards – Joan Pylman announced that she has received the award applications from students at Cerritos Community College. There are 40 applicants for continuing students, and 4 applicants for re-entry students. The Selection Committee will meet next week to begin evaluating the applications.
Volunteers serving on this committee are: Dorothy Edwards, Edna Ethington, Joan Flax, Joan Pylman, Gail Ross, and Thea Siegel.
The current amount of funds available for the Academic Achievement Awards is $2,580.82.
Nominating Committee – Harriet announced that Celia Spitzer has volunteered to serve as Administrator for our branch in 2025-26.
Bylaws – Marilyn proposed an amendment to our bylaws.
Under Article XV. Section 2. Membership meetings, she moved that
“…there shall be at least five general membership meetings each year” instead of “at least seven membership meetings each year.”
Celia Spitzer seconded the motion.
It was commented that we could still have more than five meetings. The number of meetings depends upon the number of volunteers who would offer to do presentations for our meetings. The proposal was agreed with by a majority of members.
April Program – Thea spoke about our Game Night on April 17. She described the four games available for which people could sign up: Bunco, Mah Jongg, “Left Right Center”, and a card game called “31”. She distributed flyers for members to indicate which games they preferred.
June Planning Meeting – Celia spoke about the need to have a Planning Meeting for next year’s programs. One option was to schedule the meeting at Heritage Park from 11am-3pm, on either Saturday, June 14 or June 21. The second option was to schedule the meeting at Cabrillo Lane Adult School auditorium on Thursday afternoon, June 19. For this second option, we could not bring home-prepared foods, but only professionally prepared foods from a restaurant or shop (eg., pizza). No one seemed to have a preference, so Celia said that she would inform everyone which date and location for our Planning Meeting.
- Announcements
Fundraiser at The Stand in Long Beach, on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, from 11am-9pm. Please support our branch by purchasing a meal there.
The next general meeting will be on Thursday, April 17, 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 an election and a program featuring a Game Night.
- Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 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