Words from our outgoing CA President Dorothy DeVore

I remember very well the 2007 Gala in Moorpark where I first became involved in American Mothers. Also very memorable was the one in 2009, the first one for which I was responsible. And I’ll not soon forget the feeling I had on March 23 at our Mom to Mom Conference when I announced that Bev Nelson as the new president. It is definitely time for a change and I feel very confident Bev will do an outstanding job, but nonetheless, I have enjoyed the past 5 years immensely--Galas, events, National Conventions, phone calls, emails, meetings-- and look forward to continuing to work with Bev and her board.

I want to recognize my husband, Greg, the very generous sponsor of the California group during the past five years, and most likely the reason I felt I could be president when asked. He is a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist (he calls himself a fetal baby sitter) so he has a particular love, respect and admiration for mothers going through pregnancy and then loving and nurturing their children. Impressed with the women in American Mothers he has been very supportive and helpful with our activities. But mostly, he knew this is something I felt was important and he wanted to support me. I thank him.

I give a big thank you to Lisa Woodruff who has been vice president. I was very new to AMI and needed help and Lisa and I were volunteering together on another project so I asked her to be VP. She had never heard of AMI, but I have been very grateful she said yes. She is known for her beautiful floral arrangements and gift bags, but I also counted heavily on her input and she always knew just what to do.

As each year passed and new mothers were honored, they added strong support and became committed and promoted AMI in creative ways. Delegating is not my forte, but they offered to take positions on the board or help with specific assignments. They have introduced friends and family to AMI. I thank Cherry Field for volunteering to be the Search Chair, Tina HoChing the 5th Grade Essay, Sara Dawn Mayer secretary, Julie Sears Treasurer, Myrna for starting a chapter in Santa Clarita, Dianne in Palos Verdes. And so we have grown. Those we have honored are:

2009 Myrna Condie, Mother of the Year, and Cherry Field, Young Mother of the Year
2010 Dianne Callister, Mother of the Year and Sara Dawn Mayer, Young Mother of the Year,

Meichelle Arntz for Outstanding Service to Children, Susan Funk, Santa Barbara, Young Mother of the Year
2011 Karen Nelson, Mother of the Year and Christine “Tina” HoChing, Young Mother of the Year

Carol Waddle, Mother of the Year from San Diego, Mandana Anvaripour, Young Mother of the Year

from Los Angeles, Diana Haskins, Outstanding Service to Children

2012  Bev Nelson, Mother of the Year, Darcy Ure, Young Mother of the Year, and Margaret Finlay, Mother of Achievement, Sonja Brown for Outstanding Service to Mothers and Sara Vance for Outstanding Service to Children. 

2013  Renee Starr, Mother of the Year, Stephanie McKnight, Young Mother of the Year

 Janice Rutherford-Lim, Mother of Achievement

and Robina Suwol, Francis Eleanor Smith, “Helping the Helpless Children” Award 

I want to thank all of you who are part of AMI for your support and love, for the difference you have made in my life and I look forward to many more years of happy associations.