PROGRAM
What a terrific way to begin AAUW’s one-hundred-year anniversary! Our September Kick-off with football-themed table décor, and a hearty breakfast of delicious quiche was an unadulterated victory, with our raffle adding to our fundraising. This is all thanks to our many dedicated members and, of course, our new President, Paula Ocampo. We even got a tutorial of how to join AAUW on Facebook so we can post pictures and get the latest AAUW news at the click of a button. I’m sure our next Branch meeting will be just as successful.
First up to speak at our October 11th Branch meeting will be our GWA-AAUW Public Policy Chair, Margo Reeg. She will explain the upcoming special election on November 4, 2025, and the importance of everyone voting. Margo has worked on Public Policy for our branch for a few years, but her experience far exceeds that. She has been a member of the League of Women Voters for over 50 years, has held Whittier League offices since 1979, including several terms as President. She is passionate about Voter Service and has been VP for Voter Service for the LWV-LA County board, producing the Voter Guide. Margo even arranged tours of one of the voting centers last Spring for AAUW members, allowing us to witness the counting of votes. We look forward to her savvy understanding and objective presentation on the upcoming election.
Our featured speaker, Dr. Nancy Cowardin, is a new AAUW member. She will speak to us on “Fundamental Fairness”, focusing on criminal clients with disabilities, and her job as a forensic assessor and advocate at trial. Nancy Cowardin, Ph.D., has provided assessment and expert witness testimony in over 900 criminal cases nationwide, and served as the plaintiff’s principal expert in several class action lawsuits that secured disability accommodations for inmates and parolees in the California prison system. Dr. Cowardin has been honored as “Educator of the Year” by the California Learning Disability Association for training more than 3,500 justice system professionals in identifying and accommodating disabilities in victims, parolees, and criminal defendants. She will be highlighting a few cases for us. We hope you will join us for this opportunity to hear her insightful perspectives on this important issue!
Claire Koehler, AAUW VP Program Director