CoastLines

Come hear a representative from Rainbow Services, a shelter for victims of domestic violence

Learn about the shelter’s mission and the impact of the current political and funding climate on their work.

Our Branch has a longstanding tradition of supporting this valuable community resource. In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we will be collecting gift cards at this meeting to support the survivors and families they serve.

Bring up to three books for the book exchange. Refreshments will be served; please bring your own water bottle

Witches, sailors, cowgirls and more! Come to the annual AAUW Bingo Hallowe’en Party! Enjoy food, drink, and prizes!

When: Friday, October 30 from 3:00–4:30 PM

Where: Hesse Park Fireside Room

Who: AAUW members and friends

What to wear: Costumes are optional, but so much more fun!!

RSVP to Diane Hembacher, RSVPs are appreciated, not required

We will no longer list personal emails in CoastLines or on the Branch website.

Please use your Directory to RSVP to events

Thanks to Rowie Wolf, our annual directory is in line to be distributed in the fall.

PLEASE double check your contact information to confirm it is correct. Note, as we will no longer be printing personal email addresses in CoastLines or on the website, the directory will be the only published source for contact information.

Deadline for changes will be Sept. 1, 2026. Please contact Rowie Wolf for changes.

Thank you!

MESSAGES FROM AAUW US

August 6 marks the anniversary of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. Over six decades later, the fight for our freedom to vote remains incredibly urgent. The U.S. Supreme Court has undermined the Voting Rights Act, states have enacted restrictive laws, and Congress is pushing legislation that would create more barriers to the ballot box.

AAUW supports the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This act would restore federal oversight of states’ discriminatory voting changes, increase transparency for voters, and modernize the legal tools used to challenge discrimination at the polls.

For decades, data on workers’ backgrounds, pay, and access to opportunity have fueled federal civil rights enforcement. Now, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is trying to end its workforce data collection that exposes unfair employer practices and uncovers discrimination.

Eliminating data doesn’t make discrimination disappear — it leaves workers more vulnerable and undermines equal opportunity. The EEOC’s reporting is especially critical to understanding the experiences of women of color, women in low-wage jobs, women with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ women, who face persistent barriers to economic security.

Students who report discrimination and harassment deserve to have their complaints taken seriously. Right now, that guarantee is at risk.

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) exists to investigate discrimination complaints from students on everything from Title IX harassment cases to disability access to racial discrimination. That work is now being routed to the Department of Justice, an agency with no track record in school civil rights enforcement.

Title IX and other civil rights protections are being undermined.

Educational equity cannot be optional. It requires strong federal enforcement, real accountability, and a U.S. Department of Education equipped to do its job.

AAUW is on Capitol Hill right now, briefing congressional staff on what this means for students. We're calling for OCR to retain authority over Title IX enforcement.

BRANCH

The Branch Policies & Procedures and Branch Strategic Plan have been updated. Copies will soon be posted on the branch website (palosverdes-ca.aauw.net)

Thirty-eight TTAG members from all three South Bay AAUW branches, along with TTAG Advisors and several parents gathered at Delthorne Park in Torrance on August 9 for our annual summer picnic. This is one of our favorite in person events of the year. We celebrated our graduating high school seniors, introduced our new board members, and heard from college students who shared how TTAG membership has benefited them on their academic path.

Specifically, one college student shared news of her transfer to Occidental College from Harbor College with a full ride scholarship, and informed us that the networking skills, knowledge, “sense of self-confidence and fulfillment. ” she gained through TTAG membership made her “proud to be a Tech Trek alum.”

TTAG members enjoyed chatting with girls with whom they had attended camp, making new friends, and having pizza, ice cream, and a variety of goodies brought by parents and Branch Advisors. It was hard to say goodbye, as evidenced by the many girls who lingered to share one more bit of good news or words of advice.

After their week at Tech Trek camp, alumnae campers automatically become TTAG members. During 8th to 12th grade, they have the opportunity to go on TTAG field trips, develop and attend speaker forums such as Women in STEM Careers and College Prep 101, and gain leadership experience by becoming a board member.

For these young women, Tech Trek doesn’t end with their last day of camp; it continues through high school and beyond, with some going on to become members of AAUW. This is a big part of why our branch supports TTAG’s mission: to prepare young women for success in high school and college while exploring STEM careers and majors.

This summer our branch met its goal of sending twelve girls to Tech Trek camps, which were held at Whittier College, the University of San Diego and in Santa Barbara. These campers and their families will join us August 23 at Hesse Park from 2:00 to 3:30 pm for our annual Celebrate Tech Trek.

The event will begin with campers interviewing a few branch members, and they’ll then share their findings with attendees. Campers will participate in a brief panel discussion about their experiences and what they learned at camp and receive certificates of camp completion. We will hear from two TTAG members about the benefits of membership and wrap up the event with everyone making their own custom ice cream sundae.

Since 1998, the Palos Verdes Branch has selected and sponsored 309 Tech Trek campers. We can be proud that we have made possible for those young women, the opportunity to explore the world of STEM and see a future for themselves in that world.

Branch members are encouraged to attend Celebrate Tech Trek and hear more about this program that goes a long way toward fulfilling AAUW’s mission. And what could be better than spending part of an afternoon with bright, young, hopeful women and their aspiring families?

It is always important to vote and the upcoming elections in November are no exception. While most of us vote by mail, the members of the Ruth Bloland Women Helping Women group have offered to provide transportation to any of our Branch members who prefer to go to the polls and vote in person.

If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please let either Nancy Rayner or Jane Harris know!

Please join us as we welcome Andrea Moreno and Maria Saldana, our two wonderful young women who participated at the 2026 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) at the University of Maryland. They will share some of their wonderful experiences and how it will impact their futures.

Let's also have fun as we begin the kickoff for our holiday season with the Annual Gift Exchange. Bring your wrapped gift and enjoy the yummy treats. Don't forget to bring your own water and up to three books for the book exchange.

The Ruth Bloland Women Helping Women (RBWHW) group met in July to write over 100 postcards to 'Get Out the Vote' in several different states. Enjoying the day on Jane Harris' patio were Leann Roque, Lynn Sakamoto, Diane Hembacher, Susan Grimshaw, Fran Brown and Elayne Nahman.

Kay Odgers 9/1

Hazel Lord 9/2

Marilyn Brashear 9/3

Betty Ettington 9/3

Charlene Pickarts 9/6

June Kagdis 9/7

Nancy Mahr 9/14

Cecilia Rogers 9/15

Paula Bold 9/20

Eileen Bettman 9/21

Mary Watson 9/25

Patti Kitching 10/7

Virginia Whittier 10/7

Priscilla Wright 10/16

Susan Newman 10/22

Jan Cofer 10/24

Pat Goodman 10/24

Lynn Sakamoto 10/28

If we missed your birthday or a correction needs to be made, please inform Nancy Rayner.

Who said that work has to be dull? At the 2026 Planning Meeting, held at Hesse Park on July 14, members brainstormed, laughed, and enjoyed ice cream while thinking of ideas for the upcoming year!

The meeting was opened by Co-chairs Fran Brown and Diane Hembacher.

Joanie Gale, Membership Chair, passed around a sign-up sheet for volunteers for the Summer Social and bringing snacks for branch meetings. All slots were filled, thanks to our generous members!

Nancy Mahr explained the AAUW 5-Star program, a national ranking of each branch meant to encourage quality programs in line with the AAUW mission. Our branch has consistently received four or five stars; the credit goes to Nancy and the committee spearheading our submittals!

Denise DeVenuto shared that Tech Trek is looking for a co-coordinator for next year. Leslie Criswell will continue as a co-coordinator, but another person is required. Without another volunteer at the top, our branch will drop out of this mission. Denise invited members to attend Celebrate Tech Trek at Hesse Park on August 23, 2026

Members then brainstormed thoughts for the upcoming year. A white board was soon filled with suggestions for speakers, social events, field trips and charities. Ideas of how to support new members – including orientation sessions and a buddy system – were presented. The planning committee will meet later this summer to work on scheduling. Many thanks in advance to Shera Dolmatz who organizes the speakers and activities!

Members then mingled while enjoying a variety of Haagen Daz ice cream flavors, a fitting treat on a very warm day!

Cecelia Rogers won the door prize, a bottle of hand lotion.

The next branch meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 2 pm at Hesse Park.

A Sense of Home (ASOH) strives to prevent homelessness by creating first-ever homes and a community for youth aging out of foster care

The ASOH Committee recently gathered to plan the purchase of kitchen kits and a bathroom kit for the future home of an ASOH recipient. Once the shopping for the designated items is complete, the kits will be assembled and delivered to the ASOH facility in Hawthorne. These kitchen and bathroom items are part of the complete furnishings provided for a new recipient's home as they begin their journey after leaving the foster care system. The look on a recipient's face when they walk into their home for the first time and the joy they express is truly a magical moment for everyone involved.

(From left to right: Elayne Nahman, Hazel Lord, Lynn Sakamoto, Fran Brown)

Women have long faced challenges in having their voices heard and their contributions recognized. Although women have always worked in various roles, they were often excluded from many professions and leadership positions. The Industrial Revolution expanded employment opportunities for women and began to reshape societal views about women's roles outside the home. Yet, despite the progress that has been made and the technology that allows us to share our ideas more widely than ever before, many women still encounter barriers to being heard. In some cases, their ideas are overlooked until they are repeated by a man and receive recognition. This phenomenon, commonly known as hepeating, reminds us that the journey toward equity is still ongoing. One notable example is Rosalind Franklin, whose groundbreaking work was essential to discovering the structure of DNA, yet much of the recognition for this discovery initially went to her male colleagues.

While there is still much work to be done to address this challenge, there are several simple ways women can support one another and make a meaningful difference.

Be a Role Model

Role models inspire others to believe that they, too, can achieve their goals. Seeing someone overcome obstacles, lead with integrity, and support others provides hope and motivation. With encouragement, mentorship, and guidance, the journey toward success becomes more attainable.

My own role model is my professor, Dr. Pattnaik. She was the chair of the Early Childhood Department when I began my master's program and generously gave her time to students far beyond what was expected. As I watched her teach, mentor, and lead, I found myself wanting to emulate her determination, dedication, and genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of her students. Her example shaped the educator I strive to be today.

A role model does more than inspire others through words. She leads by example, encourages others to grow, and reminds us that success becomes even more meaningful when we help others along the way.

Support One Another

A strong support system can motivate, encourage, and create opportunities for personal and professional growth. Unfortunately, there are times when women do not stand up for one another, and these missed opportunities can weaken the sense of sisterhood and community.

If you notice hepeating or see a woman's idea being overlooked or credited to someone else, use your voice to acknowledge the original contributor. Sometimes a simple statement such as, "I believe that was Sarah's idea," or "I'd like to return to the point Maria raised earlier," can ensure that credit is given where it is due.

When women support one another, they build trust, strengthen professional relationships, and create a culture where everyone's contributions are recognized and valued. These acts of support often extend far beyond a single conversation, inspiring others to do the same.

Create Opportunities for Others

For many years, the "old boys' network" has provided men with informal connections through which they exchange ideas, share opportunities, and support one another's professional growth. These networks demonstrate the power of relationships, collaboration, and mutual support in helping individuals succeed.

Some women in leadership positions may hesitate to recommend or promote another woman out of concern that their decision could be perceived as favoritism or gender bias. As a result, valuable opportunities for mentorship and sponsorship may be missed.

Creating opportunities for other women does not mean overlooking qualifications or lowering standards. Rather, it means recognizing talent, opening doors, making introductions, recommending deserving candidates, and ensuring that qualified women have an equal opportunity to succeed. When women intentionally support one another's growth, they strengthen not only individuals but also the organizations and communities they serve.

These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg and serve as a starting point for how we can support one another both personally and professionally. Every act of encouragement, mentorship, advocacy, and recognition has the potential to create a ripple effect that extends far beyond a single individual.

As you reflect on this article, consider the role you can play in strengthening our sisterhood. What are some ways you can help ensure that another woman feels seen, heard, valued, and supported? Together, we can create a community where every woman has the opportunity to thrive and where no one feels marginalized, invisible, or unsupported.