Meet the New Steering Committee Members
by Pamela Smith
This year’s OWF Steering Committee features some familiar faces, providing continuity and institutional memory, and others new to OWF leadership roles. In this and future newsletter issues, we’ll introduce you to some women carrying on OWF's established tradition of community leadership. Short stories about two of our new Co-Chairs - Aryna Swope and Polly Nelson.
As is true of so many of our members, these four leaders’ activities reach into many parts of our Ojai community. Therein lies the true strength of the Ojai Women’s Fund. We know our Valley and OWF is a great place to land if you want to know about the Valley, too. Thank you, Polly and Aryna for your leadership, your energy, and your giving spirits!
Today’s Steering Committee has grown to eighteen women. These women have been role models and leaders, helping to further one of OWF’s stated goals—to train leaders in Ojai’s philanthropic community. The Steering Committee comprises the Co-Chairs of OWF, the Chairs and Co-Chairs of the seven working committees, and a recording/executive secretary. The role of these leaders is to develop and disseminate OWF vision, policies, strategies, and actions to members and the public, decide on issues by consensus, develop and maintain the master OWF planning calendar, and determine the size of the annual grants funding pool. Here’s a link to the 2023 Steering Committee members and the roles in which they serve.
https://www.ojaiwomensfund.org/steering-committee
by Pamela Smith
This year’s OWF Steering Committee features some familiar faces, providing continuity and institutional memory, and others new to OWF leadership roles. In this and future newsletter issues, we’ll introduce you to some women carrying on OWF's established tradition of community leadership. Short stories about two of our new Co-Chairs - Aryna Swope and Polly Nelson.
As is true of so many of our members, these four leaders’ activities reach into many parts of our Ojai community. Therein lies the true strength of the Ojai Women’s Fund. We know our Valley and OWF is a great place to land if you want to know about the Valley, too. Thank you, Polly and Aryna for your leadership, your energy, and your giving spirits!
Today’s Steering Committee has grown to eighteen women. These women have been role models and leaders, helping to further one of OWF’s stated goals—to train leaders in Ojai’s philanthropic community. The Steering Committee comprises the Co-Chairs of OWF, the Chairs and Co-Chairs of the seven working committees, and a recording/executive secretary. The role of these leaders is to develop and disseminate OWF vision, policies, strategies, and actions to members and the public, decide on issues by consensus, develop and maintain the master OWF planning calendar, and determine the size of the annual grants funding pool. Here’s a link to the 2023 Steering Committee members and the roles in which they serve.
https://www.ojaiwomensfund.org/steering-committee
Polly Nelson, Co-Chair, Grants Committee
After a long corporate career in retail and extensive global travel, Polly decided to retire and head for the hills. The Ojai hills, to be exact! Ojai wasn’t new to Polly. Her husband, Scott’s family, lived here, and she had been coming to visit since 1980. In 2018, Scott’s mother, Elaine, moved to The Gables, and Polly and Scott bought her home. (Elaine is now the eldest resident in The Gables at age 101!) A longtime friend of her mother-in-law invited Polly to join an OWF giving circle, Girls Just Want to Have Funds. Polly calls these groups “a magnificent model, to gather together diverse women to make philanthropic decisions together.” They are an instant friendship circle, too! From there, she got involved in one of the Research Teams on the Grants Committee—first as a member, then as a team leader. The Grants Committee is at the core of OWF’s mission and is an excellent opportunity to learn about community needs and the nonprofits trying to help the valley. The grants are life-changing for these organizations. Polly says, “There is more need in Ojai than people might think. OWF can make a huge difference. Food insecurity, unstable housing, and children in poverty are significant problems. The list is long. I was so affected by the story one nonprofit leader told me about children can’t play on the soccer team because they can’t afford to buy the cleats.” The five research teams of the Grants Committee often remark on how impressed they are with our community’s smart, dedicated, inspiring nonprofit leaders. The committee’s work is just starting to ramp up for the 2023 granting cycle. You can read more about it and contact Polly and Catherine Meek, the Co-Chair. https://www.ojaiwomensfund.org/volunteer Polly can attest that the volunteers on this committee find it fulfilling to do this meaningful, collaborative work with other women. So often, lasting friendships are formed. “Working with wonderful, dedicated women for a common cause is so gratifying,” says Polly. Polly’s career in management with retail giants like Disney, Louis Vuitton, Esprit de Corps, and Fredericks of Hollywood prepared her well for her post-career “job” as a volunteer coach with Executive Service Corps (ESC). She is part of a team of executive-level consultants who volunteer their knowledge and experience to support nonprofit clients throughout Southern California as they face their most pressing challenges – and impact the lives of those who depend on their services daily. “I was lucky to work for companies that invested in their people, and that helped me acquire skills I can share with others. It’s also fun to apply business skills to my work with the OWF Steering Committee.” In addition to her leadership role on the Grants Committee and her volunteer coaching, Polly loves to sing! She is active in the Presbyterian Church choir and the Ojai Community Chorus, which was founded thirty-five years ago and, until the pandemic, gave two concerts a year. She is delighted they plan to resume making music for Ojai for the 2023 holiday season. Polly and Scott, her husband of 43 years, have two sons living in San Diego, Matthew and Patrick, Polly’s mother is in Century City, and Scott’s mother, Elaine is keeping things lively at The Gables. |
Aryna Swope, Co-Chair Finance Committee
This isn’t Aryna’s first rodeo, as they say! She wrote in a 2022 article, “I was one of the Board’s founding members, and I joined because Karen Evenden asked me. The initial meeting at Karen’s house was in 2015, and the first event we did was in January 2016, where 200 women gathered to hear about Karen’s idea. My role on the first Board was as co-chair of the Education Committee with Judy Norris. We planned the initial events, which explained the concept of group giving as well as the needs of the community. What I learned right away was how much need there was and how fun it could be to be a part of a group that was so dedicated to making this concept work. Enthusiasm is infectious! And listening to speakers who explained why Philanthropy is so important cemented my initial interest.” In those early days of OWF, Aryna also did data entry on new members as the organization began to grow. Fast forward to 2023, and Aryna is again in leadership in a different role. Last summer, she attended a volunteer information meeting at Peggy Russell’s house and raised her hand to work with Linda Thomas to co-chair the Finance Committee. These are Steering Committee and Executive Committee roles. While Linda oversees OWFs finances, Aryna’s role is to line up sponsorships to maximize the number of donor dollars that goes to grant funding. Sponsorships allow us to cover our overhead expenses like costs to hold events, getting our message out to the community, technology, and more. “I have enjoyed learning about the needs in the community and conveying those to potential sponsors. I had no idea of the needs and scope of the organizations serving those needs in our community. I might have some valuable skills with my career in sales. But I learned that selling software isn’t the same as convincing companies to underwrite a nonprofit.” Aryna worked for IBM for thirty years, first in systems, then in sales – where the action is, she says, and finally in consulting. With her second stint on the Board, she has come to appreciate the organization’s evolution since Karen Evenden’s bright idea in 2015. Aryna loves the giving circle concept and leads the Bound to Give group. “This has proven to be a wonderful way to engage donors of all ages and interests and to create micro-communities within the broader organization. Philanthropy is for everyone! Our group enjoys working together to discuss our votes.” Aryna and her husband, Phil Caruthers, moved to Ojai in 2003. They were living in Los Angeles, retired around the same time, and realized they wanted to be in a quiet place away from traffic. They have kids and grandkids in Camarillo and Northern California. A good friend lived in Ojai and thought they should look at it. We said, “Yes! This is for us! Our friend said the people here are so nice. That has turned out to be true. Through our volunteer work, we have met so many people we enjoy. “ And volunteer they have! After first joining the Ojai Valley Athletic Club, an instant network and a way to stay active, they immediately jumped into the volunteer world with minimal experience under their belts. Aryna volunteered at the library once a week. They were opening the bookstore, so it was a busy time. She also joined the Ojai Festival Women’s Committee, which raises public school music education funds. She chaired the home tour for five years and is still on the Festival Committee Board, helping organize trips. She was on the Film Society Board for several years until the movie theatre flooded. Both she and Phil joined the Hospital Guild. She chaired the Nightingale Ball, and Phil chaired the Guild one year and is now on the Hospital Foundation Board. You might be curious about Aryna’s name, as we were. Aryna explains, “My name is “made up” and is supposed to be the feminine of Aaron, my grandfather, following the Jewish tradition of naming a child after a deceased relative.” We love your name, Aryna, and we’re glad to continue seeing it appear on Ojai Valley leadership rosters! |