San Bernardino County Supervisor's Office Report

Rancho Cucamonga Resident Helping Recognize Mothers

Rutherford Report

San Bernardino County Supervisor’s Office. May 2013

When Bev Nelson learned about some inappropriate activity that took place during her oldest son’s overnight trip with his high school chorus, she went straight to the principal to let him know how she felt about the lack of supervision. 

“He said something that really made me stop and think,” Nelson said. “He said, ‘Where were you?’” 

For the next 15 years, Nelson—a Rancho Cucamonga resident and the mother of eight planned—organized, and chaperoned countless chorus trips, including journeys to competitions in Canada and Europe. 

“I made sure that the parents who went on the trip knew what their responsibilities were in terms of supervising the students,” she said. 

Nelson’s involvement in the chorus trips as well as her active role in her children’s schools, scouting, sporting, and other activities helped her earn the California 2012 Mother of the Year award from American Mothers Inc., a national nonprofit group that recognizes the important role of motherhood through educational programs and community outreach. 



Each of the women selected as Mother of the Year for their state are featured in online videos produced by American Mothers. In her video, Nelson encourages young mothers to surround their children with “wonderful adult role models.” 

“They need to look at other people besides you for encouragement and wisdom,” said Nelson, who serves as president of the California Association of American Mothers. “It only validates what you as a mother teach them.” 



Now, she is working to start a local chapter of American Mothers to work on local community service projects, such as collecting donations for domestic violence shelters, and to host events to educate young mothers and to recognize local mothers for the work they do. 

“Most mothers are the unsung heroes of the world,” Nelson said. “They do so much for their families without any desire for recognition.” 

About a year and a half ago, Nelson helped start the Upland Community Service Council to bring local service organizations such as Rotary,Lions, and Kiwanis clubs as well as local churches together to cooperate on community projects. 

“This kind of effort just builds unity in the community,” she said. “And isn’t that what you try to do when you are a mom?” 

If you would like more information about the Upland Community Service Council or the local chapter of American Mothers, send an email to Nelson at bevpnelson@gmail.com.

Chapter Area Happenings

Temecula, Hemet, San Diego: When considering what type of service project to do, I felt inspired to keep it local and invite women in the community to help. I came across a foster agency called Angels, which is specific to San Diego County. They are an amazing nonprofit organization that works tirelessly to make a difference in our foster system. They place young children in homes where the foster parents are physically and financially responsible for caring for the child. No state or federal money is given to these families for assistance. I was touched by the mission of this organization and decided to make and donate tag blankets that will be used as security blankets for children being placed through their foster agency. These children are usually moved around a few times before finding their long term placement with Angels and I wanted to provide the children with a source of security that will travel with them wherever they go. The tag blankets are underway! I have gathered materials and have made a few examples. With a wonderful group of women from my church and the community, we are planning to get together in May and make as many tag blankets as we can to donate to Angels!           Stephanie McKnight

Upland, Fontana, Rancho, Redlands, Loma Linda, Yucaipa, Calimesa, Beaumont: We will be attending the tour of Casa Colina Rehabilitation Hospital in May. This is the facility that Eleanor Francis Smith started as her project when she was national Mother of theYear in 1936.  What a wonderful project it was... one that has helped thousands of children and adults over the years.  We also are planning a meeting in June to have a speaker inviting other mothers in our area to attend.  This next week we are delivering 50 blankets to a women’s family shelter that also teaches mothering classes to unwed mothers.  When the girls complete the course they receive a blanket for their new baby. We are also starting a monthly lecture series at our local library on different topics of parenting taught by professionals in their topic area. Finally in November we have made the initial contacts to honor mothers whose sons and daughters are serving in the military.  We will keep you posted on this idea and let you know how it is going.

                                                                                                                                 Bev Nelson 

Chapter Area Happenings

What’s Happening in our Different Areas!

La Canada: Lois Johnson (she played the violin during lunch at the gala) will speak at our local meeting here.  She has agreed and I just need to set a time. She is a great mother, has 5 amazing children, the 4th of which is leaving soon to serve as a missionary.  She is losing her eyesight but continues to lead the choir, cook, travel and be very involved in her children's lives.  She also volunteers taking suicide crisis calls.  Time and location to be announced.                                                                                                                   Dorothy DeVore                  

LaVerne, Glendora, San Dimas, West Covina and Covina:  We had a neighborhood meeting where my husband spoke about each home being prepared for a minimum of 3 weeks to 3 months in the event of an emergency.   He then announced me, Renee Starr, as Mother of the Year and asked me to speak.  I told them that one of my neighborhood projects is humanitarian aid for distressed babies at L.A. County Hospital starting next month at my house.  People are wanting to help and are wanting to donate material.  I need flannel, but I will take what ever I can get at first.  Eventually I can pass on cotton fabric if any other chapters could use that.  Fliers sent out to neighborhoods regarding needed things are a great way to supply each chapter with what they need.  People really want to donate.  I asked for material, thread, yarn, newborn onsies and sleepers, new or barely used.  I'm getting excited. Please share that with the other chapters. A meeting is also planned on June 20th. We’ve asked Bev Nelson to introduce CAAMI to those who are interested in joining. Time and location to be announced.                                                             Renee Starr

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.