University Women of Cambria             

Newsletter, MAY 2020

NEWS FROM THE PREZ during the PANDEMIC

   

As we appreciate being in the bubble of shoreline and sunshine which we call Cambria, we are very much aware of the underlying turmoil caused by COVID-19.  Many of our neighbors are financially strapped or worried about family members in other parts of the country.  Indeed, many of our own members are fearful and lonely in this time of isolation.  

As you may have done, Julian and I have found that the only antidote for us is helping:  Sorting rice for the food packages for needy families in Cambria and San Simeon; delivering school lunches to San Simeon families and writing notes to, or checking in with, neighbors and relatives who live alone; and Sewing Masks!   

Also important is the ability to RECEIVE help.  Our children, concerned for our health as seniors, have arranged for periodic grocery deliveries by their energetic and altruistic young friend who lives in Atascadero.  We feel blessed. 

(Check out the link for giving/receiving help towards the end)

 YOUR INVITATION:  UWC SCHOLARSHIP EVENT    
Let’s Celebrate our Scholarship Recipients!
 Although we cannot have a lovely plated lunch with all of our members, scholarship recipients, their parents, counselor and teachers present, we can ZOOM !   

You are Most Cordially Invited to Join in our

UWC SCHOLARSHIP ZOOM MEETING

Monday, May 18, 2020

11:00am-12:30pm

Featuring our 22 Coast and Leffingwell Scholarship Recipients

Hosted by Karen Crocker Snell

And the 2020 Scholarship Committee Co-chairs, Penny Johnson & Avril Allan and members Jackie Hogan, Sharon Delp and Sharon Jordan-Evans

                  Allocation of $ 22,000 for 22 $1000 Scholarships

Presentation of the 2020-2021 UWC Slate of Officers

PRACTICE ZOOM SESSION:  We will send you a link for a practice ZOOM session to be held on Wednesday, May 13, at 11 am.  You will see ZOOM in your inbox; in this email there will be a lengthy site number AND a password.  Write down the password, just in case.  Most likely, just clicking on the site number will gain access to the ZOOM meeting.  Then you will need to click on your audio and video to see/ be seen and hear/be heard.  Easy/Peasy

UWC Coast and Leffingwell Scholarship Recipients are:

David Amodei, Maria Castillo, Fiona Cloward, Anahi Cuevas, Trent Ferguson, Damian Fernandez, Angelique Gutierrez, Sujey Gutierrez, Jacqueline Happel, Elizabeth Kennedy, Spencer Magnuson, Nathan Markham, Holly McHaffie, Alondra Mercado, Luis Mercado, Angelina Perez, Emma Sison, Abigayle Spradley, Julie Vasquez, Ruby Villars, Riley Volz and Annika Wharton.

2020-2021 UWC SLATE OF OFFICERS

President:  Donna Crocker

First Vice Presidents (Programs):  Corrine Zinn and Rebecca Hendricks

Second Vice Presidents (Fundraising):  Kim Maston & Debbie Markham- Humphrey

Secretary:  Nancy Allen

Treasurer:  Rosemary Flamion

Webmaster:  Gayle Jenkins 

Past Presidents:  Cindy Bitto and Margie Sesser  

Note:  Debbie is also serving as our Communications and Publicity Chair

The UWC Nominating Committee, composed of Eunice Wilson, Helen Pitton and Jennifer Lawson, admits that their task was easy this year:

All Board members agreed to stay on for another year.  Treasurer Rosemary Flamion and Second VP of Programs Corrine Zinn will be completing their second two-year terms in 2021.  It is UWC policy that officers serve two-year terms.  I had breeched this policy by agreeing to only one year as president, but decided to stay on in light of this weird pandemic year, when most spring and summer events were cancelled.  

TECH TREK

The saga of Tech Trek 2020 has ended with Tech Trek being cancelled at all university campuses throughout the nation.  It’s another fallout from COVID-19.  The excitement of having the first-ever Trekkers from Santa Lucia Middle School has ended in disappointment for UWC, Rotary and the SLOCO AAUW Interbranch Council who sponsored our two selected campers.

Our major concern is for the disappointment of our selected Tech Trekkers, Emily Reed and Sofia Sison, who filled out applications, wrote thoughtful essays and starred in ZOOM interviews, graciously accepting the new technology forced by COVID-19.  Emily and Sofia should be very proud of themselves for being selected.  They will receive recognition at their school and in their Cambria community.  I’m hoping that the press release I sent for the Tribune and The Cambrian will be published, so that the girls’ achievements will be recorded.

The good news is that the SLOCO AAUW Interbranch Council, Cambria  Rotary and our UWC have agreed to roll over the camp funding for Tech Trek 2021.  

 



SAY “HELLO” TO SOME of OUR NEWEST MEMBERS 

Membership Chair Helen Pitton has been the super sleuth, gathering information about new members:

PAT COWDERY

New member Pat Cowdery is originally from Boston, but came to California as a 21-year-old, and never looked back!  She lived in Encino and Woodland Hills for most of her professional life, and worked as a proposal writer and software quality assurance representative in Santa Monica and Camarillo.  Her husband, Dick, worked for the Jet Propulsion Lab.  He died in 2003, but his three children have continued to be a tremendous addition to her life.  Pat and Dick moved to Cambria in 1991, and she is grateful for that every day.  She spends most of her time reading, walking, quilting and enjoying her wonderful friends. 

VALERIE HOPKINS

Valerie has lived in Cambria for 23 years.  She is pretty sure she knows at least half of the members of University Women!  Valerie has been involved in many volunteer activities over the years, but currently works with Cambria Anonymous Neighbors.  She transports patients to appointments and delivers equipment, such as walkers, to local residents.  She serves as a church elder and participates in several bridge groups and social groups through the Cambria Neighbors Club.

Valerie enjoys gardening, reading and wonderful travel experiences.  She and her husband, Ray, lived in coastal Orange County before moving to Cambria.  Valerie spent 20 plus years in the classroom , both in public and private education.  Pat Cowdery sparked Valerie’s interest in joining the University Women of Cambria.  

RUOK is now an Important Resource in Our Community

University Women of Cambria:  Please spread the word about this service to your friends and neighbors!  

Can you volunteer to help?

If you would like to volunteer to help pack food bundles for the 70 plus needy families in Cambria and San Simeon, contact Rotary coordinator Sue Robinson at 805 927-2597 or sueincambria@gmail.com.   This project, facilitated by Miguel and Judy Sandoval at San Simeon Restaurant, also requires the assistance of those who drive SUVs and trucks, for food deliveries.

Stay safe and give a thought to our members who are not well or are grieving the passing of loved ones: 

Joan Wilson and her husband, Jim, need our healing prayers.

Cynthia’s husband. Gary Lee, has not been well.

Josie Jarvis’s husband, Ferris, is not well.

Theresa MacKinnon has not been well.

Marj Sewell scared everyone but herself going into Sierra Vista with a cough that was, thankfully, not due to COVID-19

Corrine Zinn had a scare which ended in gall bladder surgery.

Rosemary Flamion has had to put off knee surgery due to the pandemic.

Gayle Oksen and Mary Fay Zenk are grieving the passing of spouses:

    Lloyd Oksen and Joe Zenk

Rebecca Hendricks and husband, Ted Key, are mourning the passing of Ted’s mother.  

 Love to You in the Time of COVID-19, Donna & your UWC Board