Joining Artesia-Cerritos Woman’s Club President Nancy Sousa at the Aug. 9 Rotary Club’s meeting were (l-r) Past Presidents Judy McNatt and Joanne Witt, Sousa and Artesia-Cerritos Rotary President Felix Lopez.
By Larry Caballero
When long-time resident Nancy Sousa was recently installed as President of the Woman’s Club of Artesia-Cerritos, she knew that she would have to speak in front of groups. “I’ve done many things in my life, but public speaking isn’t one of them.” Nevertheless, Sousa was well received by Artesia-Cerritos Rotary President Felix Lopez and its members at its Aug. 9 meeting at the Hometown Buffet in Cerritos.
Joining her were past Woman’s Club Presidents Joanne Witt and Judy McNatt who heard Sousa speak about her joining the club after her retirement. “My husband said that I was working harder than when I had a job…and for no money! However, my pay is in all the ways we are able to help the various organizations and people in our community, as well as meeting the wonderful members of the club.”
Woman’s Club of Artesia-Cerritos is celebrating its 95th birthday this year, having begun in Artesia in 1915, and is part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, a worldwide organization with member clubs located in many countries.
Locally, the Club awards Cerritos College Scholarships to re-entry women, is a member of the Friends of the Artesia and Cerritos Libraries, and tutors first to sixth grade students with their homework weekly during the school year.
The Club is also a member of the Artesia Historical Society and has assisted in providing buses to transport local school children to the Historical Society for a tour of its museum. The Club has also become involved with the Therapeutic Horse Program at the Buell Horse Stables. The club raises funds so that children are able to join the program. Another project is helping the Friends of the Cerritos Performing Arts Center in their endeavor to invite and bring grade school children to performances at the Center.
“One of our projects dear to my heart,” said Sousa, “is the way we support our soldiers and veterans. We have a group in the Club known as the Happy Hookers who crochet lap robes that are donated to the soldiers at the Long Beach Veterans Hospital.”
The Club is also a member of the Cerritos Committee that supports Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton. “We have several members attending the 1st CEB meetings where we help to fill the ditty bags with lotions, soap, cards, toothbrushes and other essentials that are mailed to the Marines deployed to Afghanistan.”
The Woman’s Club also works closely with the Su Casa Domestic Violence Shelter, Community Family Guidance and the Rio Hondo Temporary Shelter.
“It sounds as though it’s all work and no play,” said Sousa, “but we do have a chairperson who schedules trips to various events, and this week, members have signed up for a philharmonic orchestra performance at the Hollywood Bowl.”
The Woman’s Club of Artesia-Cerritos has a current membership of nearly 100 and among its past members was the late, former First Lady Patricia Nixon. Its brochure reads, “The Club welcomes all women of the community who wish to extend their circle of friends, share special interests, become enriched by the talents of others and make a difference in the community.”
Members meet the seecond Thursday of each month at local parks including Cerritos Park East, and they are already making arts and crafts and Christmas gifts for the annual Christmas Boutique held in December at the Cerritos Senior Center. All the money raised will go to worthy causes that the Club supports. For further information, contact Mabel Low at 562-865-8235.
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