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
April 17, 2025
- Call to Order
Administrator Harriet Moses called the meeting to order at 6:56 pm in the auditorium of the ABCUSD Adult School Cabrillo Lane site.
Attendance: 18
Harriet recognized the birthdays of AAUW members this month.
- Minutes for the March 20 General Meeting were distributed. Three signatures were obtained to approve the minutes, with one correction. In Part 5 REPORTS,
Public Policy section, the phrase in parentheses should be deleted in the first sentence of the third paragraph:
“It has been observed that younger people prefer to join national organizations instead of local ones (such as Soroptimists).”
- Election of Officers
Harriet reiterated the new Slate of Officers for 2025-26:
Administrator: Celia Spitzer
Secretary: Chris Taxier
Treasurer: Marilyn Forsstrom
A hand vote was taken. All voted in favor of the new Slate of Officers for 2025-26.
- Amendment to our Branch Bylaws
Harriet read aloud the proposed amendment to Article XV. Section 2 regarding Membership Meetings:
“…there shall be at least five general membership meetings each year”
Instead of “at least seven membership meetings each year.”
A hand vote was taken. All voted in favor of the amendment to reduce the minimum number of membership meetings to five each year.
- Reports
Public Policy
Sondra Cohen reported that there will be an ABCUSD Board Meeting which will be broadcast on Zoom in the near future. It will address important issues such as curriculum, book banning, and LGBTQ issues. When she obtains the scheduling and access information for Zoom, Sondra will request that Marilyn forward those details to the membership.
Academic Achievement Awards
Joan Pylman reported that the Selection Committee has chosen two recipients for the Academic Achievement Awards. At our May General Meeting, the ceremony to announce the two recipients will be held. Because Ceci Borja-VanZitter will not be available to do setup, Joan requested that members arrive early to assist in setting up the room. Invitations are being sent to professors of the recipients, to the Board of Trustees at Cerritos College, and to elected officials. Each recipient will receive a $1,500 Award.
Harriet spoke about how community colleges provide a tremendous service in providing technical training across multiple fields. These same colleges often provide scholarships to support students in their training programs. We should recognize how much these colleges do for our communities.
Fund
Gail Ross announced a fundraiser at Black Bear restaurant on May 13. Please look for a flyer to be sent out in an email in the near future.
- 50 Year Honorary Life Members
Harriet announced that two of our branch members have attained the status of Honorary Life Members through 50 years of consecutive membership in AAUW: Thea Siegel and Dorothy Edwards.
- Program
Thea organized a Game Night, with four options: Mah Jongg, Bunco, Left Right and Center, and 31 (a card game). She also prepared a basket full of prizes for the winners of each game.
- Announcements
“Hands Off” Protests – Esther Aronson reported about a recent Readers Theater piece on “What the Constitution Means to Me” and the subsequent discussion on relevant events. Given the current political challenges, some of us felt the need to do something constructive to make our voices heard. Esther and her husband attended an inspiring “Hands Off” protest near Lakewood City Hall several weekends ago. As she hears news of upcoming protests, Esther stated that she would forward that information to the rest of the membership through branch emails. She asked that others share similar information with her.
The next general meeting will be on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at the Cabrillo Lane Adult School auditorium with social gathering at 6:30 pm and the meeting beginning at 7:00 pm. The ceremony will be held to announce the recipients of the Academic Achievement Awards.
The Planning Meeting will be on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at the Cabrillo Lane Adult School auditorium site, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm (although we may finish earlier). It will include lunch with commercially prepared food like salads and sandwiches. The auditorium is reserved starting at 11:30 pm so we will have time to set up before the meeting.
- Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 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