By Edna Ethington
Past La Palma-Cerritos AAUW Branch President and current Administrator Celia Spitzer served as facilitator for the Branch Planning Meeting on Monday, June 29, 2026, at the ABCUSD Adult School Auditorium at Cabrillo Lane from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Spitzer treated members to a lunch buffet before the Branch Planning meeting. The buffet included tortilla wrapped ham and chicken “pinwheels,” coleslaw, potato salad, and a variety of cookies purchased from Ralph’s. Sue Carruthers helped with hospitality by providing decorations, paper goods, utensils and bottles of water.
While members were eating their lunch, Secretary Christine Taxier distributed copies of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence and information about the Nineteenth Amendment. She made copies of these documents to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America on July 4, 1776. The 250th Anniversary year in 2026 will now be known as the Semiquincentennial Anniversary. Taxier also prepared a Trivia Survey to have members test their knowledge about the 19th Amendment and facts related to the Declaration of Independence, the people responsible for its creation, and the symbols that have come to represent the United States of America.
At 1:10 p.m. Administrator Spitzer began the Branch business meeting by introducing Past President Harriet Moses. Moses installed Saurabh Deedwania as the new Administrator for the La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the AAUW for the 2026-2027 year. Administrator Deedwania said that she hoped new members will join the Branch this year. She also said that she wanted our Branch to highlight current outstanding women in one of our programs this year in addition to women who were honored in the past for their achievements years ago.
Administrator Spitzer then showed her expertise in organizing and facilitated the remainder of the meeting by providing an agenda, a list of past program ideas, and a possible calendar of events listing dates available for meetings by month. She then asked members for their input and suggestions for what activities and programs they wanted to support during the 2026-2027 year. Secretary Christine Taxier assisted her by writing members suggestions on a chart and then asked members to mark the programs and activities they wanted to have in 2026-2027. Members will be receiving a list of the programs and activities that were chosen after the facilitators of each program or activity have been confirmed.
The first program for La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the AAUW in the 2026-2027 year has been confirmed for Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the ABCUSD Adult School Auditorium at 20122 Cabrillo Lane in Cerritos. There will be a social time starting at 6:30 p.m. followed by a presentation at 7:00 p.m. by the four Interest Group Leaders explaining what was required to participate in each group and inviting members to join. The four Interest Groups in the Branch are Cover to Cover, Great Decisions, Gourmet, and Readers Theater. Each of the groups meets on different days and times.
1) The Cover to Cover Group meets on the second Thursday of the month at 3:00 p.m. at the home of Group Leader Thea Siegel to discuss books of interest.
2) The Gourmet Group meets on the third Saturday of October, January, March, and May for dinners with Joan Flax as leader of the Gourmet Group. Flax’s home is one of two homes used by the group for their dinners. Eight couples take turns as hosts of the dinners and provide main dishes and side dishes for the meals. The Gourmet Group is full at this time but interested members can join the substitutes list.
3) The Great Decisions Group meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month of October and from January through June at 3:00 p.m. at the home Group leader Dorothy Edwards. It is the oldest and largest grass -roots world affairs education program in the United States. It encourages debate and discussion of global issues.
4) Readers Theater Group is a fun group that meets at the home of Group Leader Esther Aronson on the first Monday, from October through May at 6:45 p.m. to read plays aloud. Each person takes a character’s role and any number can participate.
Members are invited to Join the Interest Groups to meet members socially and enjoy friendships and fellowships as they explore new areas of study.
Persons, who are interested in learning more about the programs and activities of the La Palma-Cerritos Branch of the AAUW in the 2026-2027 year, can contact Administrator Saurabh Deedwania at 562-552-5577, or read about future programs and activities in the La Palma-Cerritos Branch Website at lapalma-cerritos-ca.aauw.net.