La Palma AAUW installs new officers

The La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) past Presidents Barbara Dunstan and Judy Figal installed new officers for 2014-15 recently.

The La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) past Presidents Barbara Dunstan and Judy Figal installed new officers for 2014-15 recently.

With a theme of “Women Super Heroes” for the installation, Figal challenged the 30 members to match the names of 18 famous women with their accomplishments. Many women listed lived many years ago, and others lived in more recent years.

The list included Betsy Ross, Marie Curie, Sally Ride, Harriet Tubman, Alice Paul, Sandra Day O’Connor and others. No one claimed to have known all the women listed, so Figal gave the correct matching of names with their claim to fame. 

After eating a delicious taco bar buffet dinner, past President Barbara Dunstan introduced AAUW Funds Chairperson Tobi Balma. Balma announced that a committee of past AAUW Funds Honorees had selected Sue Carruthers and Gail Wendland as AAUW Funds Named Grant Honorees for 2013-2014. 

Both Carruthers and Wendland were praised for their tireless efforts as they volunteered to serve on many committees and did whatever was needed to help with the AAUW’s activities. Balma presented certificates of appreciation and a special AAUW pin to each of the honorees.

The current AAUW President Barbara Atherton thanked each member of her Executive Board for 2013-2014, then presented gifts of appreciation to them and also to a few other members who were not board members but who assisted her or promoted the AAUW. Although board members, Funds V.P. Dorothy Edwards and Program V.P. Christine Taxier could not be present, Atherton thanked them in their absence. She also thanked everyone who served on the different interest groups and committees for the AAUW during the year who helped her and the AAUW in any way. 

Following the theme of “Women Super Heroes,” the Executive Board Officers were introduced and officially installed. They include President Barbara Atherton for her second term, President-Elect Paulette Smith, Program V.P.’s Nancy Kawamura and Barbara Dunstan, Membership V.P.’s Sue Solomon and Barbara Sparks, AAUW Funds V.P.’s Diane Hutson, Gail Wendland and Faith Herschler, Secretary Gail Ross and Treasurer Marilyn Forsstrom.

President Atherton said that she was looking forward to working with her new board members and the chairs of the various committees and interest groups at the 2014-2015 Board’s Planning Retreat to be held on June 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lestonnac Retreat Center in Tustin. She invited interested members to come to the retreat and help plan programs and activities for the 2014-2015 year.

For more information on the AAUW or reservations to the retreat, please contact AAUW President Barbara Atherton via email at batherton123@verizon.net.