National AMI Convention 2013, New York City

Bev Nelson, California AMI President: The national AMI Convention was held this past month in New York City. I enjoyed attending meetings with the national leaders of each state where I learned what they are doing to make AMI stronger on their level.  I came away with the knowledge that AMI is strengthened not on the national level but in the individual states by what they do. To break it down even more, it’s what we do in our own chapter areas and even more importantly what we do on as individuals. An area can be strong even it has just one member; that strength is determined by individuals making a difference. I believe so strongly in the power of one in your own community. There are so many issues in the world that involve mothers and women in general but the only world we can really change is the world around us. That is where we have a real power, first in our own families, then in our communities, each in our own time and season of influence. Being a mother to your own children when they are young is the most important thing you can do to change the world. As your children get older branching out into the schools and community comes next. When your children have left your home your influence can then be used to enrich all around you. I also learned at Convention that no project is too small if it lifts even just one person.  I love the thought that everyone matters, everyone needs to be helped at one time or another, everyone needs praise and acceptance. We created the Dorothy Winder DeVore award to be given out annually because she is the example of “Changing The World One Child (or person) At A Time” so can you imagine a world where every wonderful mother did something to help in their own areas of influencing, one child at a time.  It would take away the social issues that plague our society today.  As Mother of the Year I was challenged to do a project that made a difference.  May I challenge you all to do the same.  This year individually find a project that will make a difference in your area of influence and do it, bringing your friends along with you. In my eyes you are all Mothers of the Year! That is how we will strengthen California. Thank you for letting me represent you at National Convention for AMI.  

Stephanie McKnight 2013 California Young Mother of the Year: The national convention was great! The highlight of the convention was meeting all of the wonderful mothers around the United States (and even Puerto Rico). We were able to share stories and bounce ideas off of each other for service projects and mothering our own children. I left the conference feeling inspired to be a better mom and make a difference in California. Thank you for the honor of being California Young Mother of the Year!

Renee Starr 2013 California Mother of the Year: Bev, Stephanie and I had a wonderful time at the AMI National Convention in New York City this last week.  Our national board went all out to make us feel special and honored.  The Mothers and Young Mothers of the Year from each state are amazing women.  We made plans to keep in touch and share ideas on Facebook.  There are so many good people in the world.  It was my privilege to associate with some women who are trying to make a difference in their corner of the world. We are now back and running with excitement with ideas to assist all of you in your own communities.  Some of my goals for the year are the following: Starting a humanitarian group in my neighborhood putting packets together for distressed babies at the Los Angeles Community Hospital.  The packets will include small flannel blankets, a sleeper and an onesy.  We will begin this project in June.  I would like to visit a meeting at each of your chapters to get to know you and help you with your projects.  So please invite me.

I plan on assisting Bev in building up members in California, coming up with project ideas and delegating responsibility for others to be active in making a difference in our communities. Last, but not least, I hope to schedule past and present Mothers of the Year, Young Mothers of the Year and Women of Achievement to speak throughout our communities and state. Please invite your friends and neighbors to join the California American Mothers organization.  Together we can do great things.

Article from the Los Angeles Independent Media Service

Los Angeles Independent Media

California Association OF AMERICAN MOTHERS, INC. Honors Local Mothers

by Bev Nelson, President Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2013

Honorees include: Robina Suwol, Renee Evans Starr, Stephanie Lynn McKnight,and Janice Rutherford-Lim

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE,CA - On Saturday, March 23rd the California Association of American Mothers,Inc. held their annual celebration honoring outstanding mothers.The festive,well attended event which included a beautiful luncheon, was held at the picturesque La Cañada Flintridge Country Club.

American Mothers, Inc., is an interfaith, non-political, no-profit organization that recognizes the important role of motherhood through educational programs and community outreach. It is also the organization responsible for annually selecting the National Mother of the Year and is the official sponsor of Mother’s Day.

Honorees included: Robina Suwol of Sherman Oaks who received the 2013 Francis Eleanor Smith, “Helping the Helpless Children” award ; Renee Evans Starr, of Covina, 2013 California Mother of the Year; Stephanie Lynn McKnight, of Ramona, 2013 California Young Mother of the Year, and Janice Rutherford-Lim, of Rancho Cucamonga, 2013 California Mother of Achievement.

Robina Suwol, the first recipient of the Francis Eleanor Smith Award , was celebrated for her service to children. Francis Eleanor Smith was honored in 1936 as the California Mother of the Year and went on to be named the National Mother of the Year. Because of this distinction, friends and neighbors were so elated that they raised funds to start a rehabilitation center for crippled children in her honor. In 1938 in Chino, Califorinia, Casa Colina (she refused to let them name the center for her) opened its doors. Francis worked full time at the Center without salary until her death in 1952.

UTNE Magazine named Suwol one of “Fifty Visionaries Who Are Changing the World.” For decades she has spearheaded efforts to protect our most vulnerable population, including founding California Safe Schools (CSS), a children’s environmental health and justice non-profit in 1998. She achieved national prominence by spearheading the Los Angeles Unified Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy, the most stringent pesticide policy in the nation for K-12 public schools, and the first to embrace the “Precautionary Principle” & “Right to Know.” The success of the policy led to California’s Healthy Schools Act.

Today the LA Unified IPM policy serves as an international model for school districts and communities. In 2005 Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 406 (Montanez) sponsored by Robina & CSS. This bill bans experimental pesticides from California K-12 public schools if their health effects are unknown. As a result more than 6 million California children and hundreds of thousands of school children are protected from experimental chemicals.

Under Robina’s leadership CSS has facilitated changes at the policy level as well as at the grassroots which creates a lasting institutional protection. Robina is the proud mother of two sons, Brandon and Nicholas.

Kathy Ward, representing Casa Colina presented Suwol with the award.

Renee Evans Starr, 2013 California Mother of the Year and her husband, Jonathan, have six children, fourteen grandchildren, and helped raise seven other children both in and out of the Foster Care program.

She is a licensed real estate agent, has volunteered extensively in the community, schools and her church, but her real passion is singing ,and performing which began as a young child performing throughout southern California with her sisters.

She is now the lead singer for the “Sentimental Sisters with Jay C. Munns,” and has shared her talents recreating the sounds of the Andrews Sisters with tens of thousands of people for the past 18 years.

Stephanie Lynn McKnight, 2013 California Young Mother of the Year is married to Mitch McKnight, is a young mother of three children and a stay-at-home mom. She graduated with honors from California State University, San Bernardino in 2008 ,and completed an Education Specialist Clear Teaching Credential and a Master’s of Education in Moderate to Severe Special Education. She taught at risk youth and students with moderate to severe disabilities and now home schools her own children.

Renee Evans Starr and Stephanie Lynn McKnight will represent California at the national convention In New York.

Janice Rutherford-Lim , 2013 Mother of Achievement, serves as the 2nd District Supervisor for San Bernardino County, and the president of the San Bernardino County Associated Governments. She also serves on several boards, including: The Boys & Girls Club, Junior Statesmen and Chaffey College Foundations .She earned a BA from UC Riverside and a M.A. from Claremont Graduate University. She is married to Steve Lim and they are the parents of two sons. 

Message From Bev Nelson, New President of CA AMI 2013

I see wonderful things for California Association of American Mothers this year.  I want to see our Area Chapters get stronger and grow by finding the organizations in their communities that need our service and by doing projects to help them. 

I would like to encourage regular meetings and inviting others who are not members to join us as we celebrate motherhood by having speakers share with your group insights on their experiences and expertise of being a mother. 

Here is a step-by-step plan for your area. 1. Don’t work alone; contact friends who share your desire to promote motherhood. 2. Plan a meeting in your home and have everyone bring their ideas for American Mothers in your area.  Set at least five goals to accomplish this year. 3. Have everyone bring a list of organizations in your area for which you may provide service. Specifically identity service that your chapter could render for them. 4. Compile a list of additional mothers you could invite to a monthly meeting (Keep any meetings short so they can get back home to their families); agree on time and place.  Hold it consistently.  5. Write a list of names of women from your own area who could possibly speak or give a presentation.  Make sure they are women who have the ideals of American Mothers regarding motherhood and respect for family. 6. Reach outside your comfortable friendship circles and make sure these groups are inclusive to anyone interested. 

We are only as strong as our Chapters in the different areas of California.  Remember to meet regularly.  Be consistent and make the meetings worth attending. Stay on time and let them return uplifted and motivated to be better mothers and proud of what they do. Ask  your groups for feedback on what they want to hear.  

Please take pictures and send ideas back to me of what you are doing in your areas so I can place them in the newsletters providing an update on what each area is doing. Remember... great ideas are always borrowed.

A fun idea may be to have everyone bring something that could be used as part of a service project for one of the organizations that you have chosen to serve.  Above all.... have fun... enjoy meeting new friends and being together in a good support system.