The Canoga Park / West Hills Republican Women Federated welcomes you to our website. We hope you find visiting our site useful and informative.
We are an active group of women and men – yes, we have several men as Associate Members – in the western end of the San Fernando Valley. We get together at least once a month to discuss political issues, hear informative speakers, meet Republican candidates for office, and socialize.
Do continue to check us out, as new information will be added to the website each month.
President
Pat Hicks
You can reach me at my website
prettypatti@sbcglobal.net
Here is some of our 52 year history:
Noted speakers at our monthly General Meetings have been such people as: Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich; Ron Kaye, former editor of the DAILY NEWS; Jesse Lee Peterson, founder of the nationally recognized BOND program; Tom Del Beccaro, vice-chair of the California Republican Party; Lieutenant Colonel Robert “Buzz” Patterson, former Senior Military Aide to President Clinton; California State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore; and Wendy Borcherdt, former special Assistant to President Reagan.
Our 50th Anniversary was celebrated at the General Meeting on September 17, 2008, with a beautiful cake and proclamations from Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, California Republican Party Los Angeles County Chairman Linda Boyd, and San Fernando Vally Republican Club chairman Gary Aminoff. We were congratulated for our many years of Republican effort by CRP Chairman Ron Nehring who spoke to us about continuing our efforts for another 50 years.
A highlight in July of 2008 was our fashion show held at Elizabeth Waldo’s lovely eight acre estate in Northridge. It featured fashions from three stores located at Alley in the Valley. They were: DRESSED UP, MY FAIR LADY, and WILD ROSE. Also there were SULMA’S HANDBAGS and jewelry from BONITA CHAMBERLAIN.
Club members take pride in their Political volunteer work, both at the headquarters and at home, toward electing our member Armineh Chelebian to be a State Assemblywoman and John McCain to be President of the United States. As a volunteer, Member Sue Abato is co-chair of the VALLEY REPUBLICAN HEADQUARTERS of 2008, located at 20121 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 106, in Woodland Hills – a position she shares with Associate Member Nancy Spero. Call 818 704-0446 if you want to help with phone calls, mailings, precinct walking, etc.
Club members take pride in the Community Volunteer work. Pat Hicks, as the chairman, reports that the CPWHRWF has contributed many, many items to “Operation Gratitude” – items which are sent to the service men and women overseas who are making the peace in Iraq and Afghanistan. Contributions have been made to “Haven Hills”, a safe haven for women and children escaping abuse at home. And several members volunteer at “MY STUFF BAG” program which provides bags of essentials – and always a stuffed animal and a blanket – to children in crisis around the nation.
Cheryl Sullivan was President of the Canoga Park / West Hills Republican Women Federated several times in the 2000’s. One of the highlights for her is her annual Summer Party where Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine comes to speak to the Canoga Park / West Hills Republican Women Federated. He lets us know what is happening at City Hall and in our community. He reminds us that we, as individual citizens, have input into the decisions regarding our community.
Janet Fisher remembers the 90’s. There were some beautiful teas at the home of Patty Huffman. Margo Shoemaker, who was president, played the piano. She also played at our meetings, and that is when Andria Page began singing after the Pledge of Allegiance. There were fundraisers at the Santa Anita race track. As always, registering voters at the mall was a priority.
In 1981, Shirley Ames was elected president of Canoga Park-West Hills Republican Women, Federated (CPWHRWF) for the very first time. (She says “first” because she served as president another three or four times later on.) It was a very exciting time for her because the club sent her to the Convention of the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW), which took place that year in Louisville, Kentucky – a long ways away from Canoga Park, California. Members of our California Federation of Republican Women (CFRW) filled one of the top floors of our hotel and we were all so proud when our own local Congresswoman, Bobbi Fiedler, joined President Ronald Reagan on the stage of the huge auditorium. Even more exciting was the privilege of voting in support of Charlotte Mousel, from Los Angeles County Federation of Republican Women, (LACFRW), who was then elected to serve as President of the NFRW for the next two years.
Teddy Howell remembers dancing with her husband at the Richard Nixon Inaugural Ball held at the Northridge Women's Club back in January, 1973.
Pat Milham was very active in the 1960's, including being Club President. The highlights she remembers were that we sponsored a Junior Republican Club for junior high and high school students. She remembers "Take a Democrat to Lunch" at $2.00 per person for a delicious club catered meal. She remembers meeting Ivy Baker Priest when she was U.S. Treasurer. She remembers that our husbands joined us for monthly bridge sessions; holding bake sales; and meeting at the Jolly Roger Restaurant - the once popular eatery in Topanga Plaza. We also had book sales at Topanga Plaza and held our monthly board meetings at the Canoga Park Public Library.
Islay Gourlay was also Club President in the 60’s. She remembers the 1961 headquarters the club manned, running a campaign for Richard Nixon for Governor of California, and doing precinct walks and literature drops. She recalls the fund-raiser the club sponsored for Senator George Murphy at the John Wayne home in Encino. 1500 people attended this wonderful party. Entertainment included Cesar Romero in a booth selling kisses. The second party the club held for Senator George Murphy had a big crowd as well.
Some of our members did something called Poll Watching, going to where the votes were counted to make sure that all was well.
Jo Eshelby, one of the earliest CPWHRWF members, remembers being Recording Secretary, Ways and Means and Treasurer. She and others attended many conventions. She worked at Headquarters making telephone calls and stuffing envelopes and also walked precincts, all designed to get out the vote
Being formed in 1958, The Canoga Park / West Hills Republican Women Federated (CPWHRWF) has a long history. We started with primarily stay-at-home moms, children in school during the day and husbands working in the aerospace industry. Not only did the members work on campaigns, they were also involved in PTAs, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Little League, and Campfire Girls. Yes, volunteering was important not only to support our children, but socially as well.
OUR PRESIDENTS
Mary Anne Donat 2008-09
Cheryl Sullivan 2006-07
Janet Hart Fisher 2004-05
Cheryl Sullivan 2002-03
Shirley Ames 2001
Cheryl Sullivan 1999-2000
Margo Shoemaker 1999
Diane Nichols 1997-98
Shirley Ames 1996
Bea Anschultz 1994-95
Shirley Ames 1993
Celia Moore 1992
Ginnie Gillespie 1990-91
Dottie Ramage 1988-89
Bea Anschultz 1986-87
Donna Harris 1984-85
Shirley Ames 1982-83
Cymphorosa Purcell 1980-81
Evelyn Morlock 1979
Shirley Whitney 1977-78
Kay Burra 1975-76
Janet Hart 1973-74
Mary Robinson 1971-72
Bobby Jarnagin 1969-70
Islay Gourlay 1967-68
Pat Milham 1965-66
Eleanor Kong 1963-64
Jean Gertzen & Jeanne Good 1962
Jeanne Good 1960-61
Gloria Goodwin Taylor 1958-59
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