Linda Fox, Past President

I'm the overseer for all Community Service projects who started on the Board around 2010 and worked her way into many positions of service over 16 years: Co-VP of Membership, VP of Programs, President for  two 2-year terms, Executive Vice President, State Policy Advocate (SPA). I attended several Washington Institutes, several Leadership Conferences, several Conventions as well as Lobby Day in Sacramento multiple times. She also served as a representative for NCJW on the Long Beach Early Childhood Education Committee and its Festivals workgroup, as well as the Long Beach Human Trafficking Task Force.

 

There are so many memories over the 16 years, but three stand out for me: In 2016, all 6 California Sections were honored at the National Conference with the Champions for Social Change. I was given the Hannah G. Solomon the following year, and I felt very honored.

 

Lastly, in 2017, John Lewis received an award from NCJW National at the Convention for his tremendously important contributions in the  fight for equality, especially in voting rights, l will always remember the image of 300 (mostly) women rushing to him as he left the platform to dance with him as his theme song played (Be Happy by Pharell Williams). Lewis’s parting words were to "Make Good Trouble", his call to action. And our NCJW has answered!!​​

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Dawn Haldane, Treasurer​

I have been treasure since 2019 and served on the board several years prior. About twenty years ago, Diane Fike (of blessed memory) recruited me to be Recording Secretary when Elaine Warren was President. Several years after that I became co-Treasurer with Diane. I have the accounting experience, which has helped me manage the budgeting, prepare monthly reports, and work with our CPA. I also have been active on the Investment Committee since its inception. Now I am co-treasurer with Joanne Levy.

 

I am very much a “behind-the-scenes” worker and have:

• Spearheaded advances related to financial transparency

• Written and edited multiple communications and flyers both for the Section and for our members 

• Prepared handouts for mini-conferences 

• Helped plan dozens of activities especially related to annual Charter Days and Celebrations and Member Recognition events

• Worked with Welcome Circle to prepare and maintain the accounting for the three Afghan refugees we sponsored.

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When Adie Holzman was alive, I attended the NCJW national conference in Chicago with her and several other wonderful women from our Section. One of the most rewarding experiences has been leveraging my background as a project manager to help plan the Section transition to integrating with National over the last 1 ½ years! In 2023, I was surprised and honored to be chosen for the Hannah G. Solomon award in 2023!

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Judy Leff, Outgoing Recording Secretary and longest service continuous board member

In 1995, I joined the Sunday Branch of the NCJW Long Beach Section. As a working woman, this branch fit perfectly into my schedule, allowing me to attend Sunday meetings featuring speakers on a wide variety of Jewish issues, participate in outings to local Jewish sites—including the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles—and connect with like-minded Jewish women. Before long, I became President of the Sunday Branch and later served as Treasurer. During that time, we launched the Hug Pack Project, which continues to this day.

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When I retired as an elementary school principal in 2006, Barbara Wolfe recruited me to join—and eventually co-chair—the newly established Kindergarten Festivals. I was soon elected to the NCJW Board, where I have served in many capacities: Executive Vice President to Linda Calderon, President for one term, Treasurer for eight years, Financial Secretary, and currently Recording Secretary. Over the years, I have represented our Section at Lobby Day in Sacramento several times, at National Conventions in Chicago and Dallas, at the 2010 Washington Institute, and at a Leadership Conference in New Jersey. I was honored to receive the Hannah G. Solomon award in 2016.

 

I hold countless fond memories of working alongside dedicated women to help make the world a better place for women, children, and families—whether at Kindergarten Festivals, Hug Pack sessions, Comfort Kit packing, lobbying in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., or planning events such as Charter Day and Chanukah celebrations. It has truly been an honor to serve our Section and I have great hopes for its future.

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Joanne Levy, Co-Treasurer

I serve as co-treasurer and have had this position the past 2 years but I've been on the board since 2019. Prior to becoming treasurer, I served as recording secretary as well as executive vice president and have chaired our Investment Committee. Back in 2016,  Linda Calderon of blessed memory, suggested that NCJW would be a great group for me to get involved with to put my "progressive energy" to good use. I agreed to serve on her board and have served under 5 subsequent presidents. 

 

That first year, I attended both Lobby Day in Sacramento as well as the National meeting in Washington DC. One of the highlights for me was a silent protest where, along with 400 advocates, I walked from the Supreme Court to the Capitol carrying copies of the US Constitution.  We then delivered these copies to Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa and others. Our message was to tell them do their jobs and give Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland a fair hearing. That year, our closing event speaker was a newer Senator, Elizabeth Warren, D-MA! I attended National again this year and the priorities and issues are even more critical than ever. I have also attended Lobby Day in Sacramento on two occasions. These experiences gave me the strength and skills to speak to people in power and be an advocate for women, children and families. For me, the state and national issues and the collective strength of advocates across the country working together are what make NCJW so valuable. 

 

As you can see,our Transition Team, having been so involved in the past, are suggesting that by being so involved with so many important issues brings joy and synergy and great results. With National, we believe that we are building synergy between National and local needs as well as creating more interfaith coalitions and lobbying for important legislation!

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Maria Osorio- Past President

Before becoming President I served as the Recording Secretary. Sherri Sobel recruited me while we attended Rabbi Abba Perelmuter's classes at the J. I joined soon after completing the Alpert New Leaders Forum (ANLF), a Jewish Long Beach program preparing emerging Jewish community members for leadership roles through year-long training in Jewish values, philanthropy, and community building, sponsored by Jewish Long Beach & the Alpert JCC. It's for rising leaders in the Greater Long Beach area, focusing on skills for synagogues and nonprofits, ensuring future community strength. 

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My current position is Past President but I joined the Board in 2020 and immediately accepted serving as Recording Secretary. After a few years in this position, I stepped into the position of President. While serving as President I attended Washington Institute with several other Board members.I most enjoyed participating in the Abortion Comfort Kits for Planned Parenthood and Family Planning Associates clinics events. I also enjoyed the letter writing campaigns.Most recently I chaired the Scholarship Committee.  I am very happy that I was able to update our Scholarship Application Process so that everything can be applied and reviewed online!

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Lisa Raufman, President

As co-VP Advocacy and also Programs, I lobbied City Council; coordinated programs on Meeting the Homeless Needs, on Immigrants’ Rights, and Childcare for Women (an NCJW/AAUW joint program); and testified at City Council on the need for a L.B. Commission on Women & Girls. In 2024, I was on the NCJW, Inc “Section Working Group” working on National Integration. Lastly, she was honored to be our Section’s “Woman of Vision” at a JLB event!

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Dale Strok V.P. Communications

I've been on the board since 2018. Ilsebill Wolfe who covered Communications until 2017 and my sister Linda, Co-President elect recruited me. But I joined NCJW in 1990 in Jacksonville, Florida! I became co-VP of communications with Harriett Ellis in 2018, replacing Ilsebill Wolfe; then co-VP with Ann Millman for a few years, with Ann handling Pillars. 

 

I've attended National Lobby Day at least once, a National Convention in New Orleans, and Sacramento Lobby Days at least twice. A wonderful memory was hearing John Lewis in person and meeting such dedicated and powerful women from all over the country at these events.

 

One of my favorite memories was our Charter Day event where I received the Hannah G Solomon award in 2022. I have lots of great memories: volunteering at YESS, JFCS Race with a View, JLB Purim Carnival, Comfort Kit packings, HugPack packings, ELK Festivals. I'm also proud of taking us technically through Long Beach Gives twice and helping for both to be very lucrative for two of our projects.

 

Perhaps, most important is that I helped others by being involved. I am honored that I could use my technical skills to help keep our communications going strong, especially during Covid years, rebuild our website to bring it up to date, keep our membership data accurate and updated, get us out of trouble when we were hacked, hire and supervise a contractor who created lots of PR content for us, and was also known for my proof-reading ability! Communications is never ending and always essential!​​​