Members of Local AAUW Branch Discuss Disbanding

Photo by Ruth SOWBY
Leaders of the AAUW Glendale branch (from left) Treasurer Laura Guillory, Recording Secretary Susie Robinson, President Cathy Zitnick, and Corresponding Secretary Elaine Smith celebrate the national AAUW’s 100th birthday.

By Ruth SOWBY

Founders’ Day 2023 may be the last one for the Glendale branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).  On Saturday Jan. 14, about 50 longtime AAUW members met over Zoom in the Oakmont Country Club to hear from Branch Support Group leaders. Sharon Siebert and Carol Holzgarfe, speaking from a conference hotel in San Diego, discussed disbanding strategy after 75 years of local branch activity. The national AAUW organization was founded 100 years ago.    

Branch President Cathy Zitnick and Treasurer Laura Guillory plan to step down from their posts at the end of the year. Since the branch can’t continue under those circumstances, as well as a dwindling membership, disbanding is necessary according to national AAUW rules. In the works is a possible merger with the Pasadena branch.     

The meeting concluded with a presentation of the 75-year history of the Glendale branch by Past President Florence Chase. 

Nationally, over the last 25 years, 20,000 13-year-old girls have attended AAUW’s Trek Teck weeklong, science camp. Many of them were from Glendale.