2023 State Named Gift Honoree
Sharon Westafer
Long Beach and Stockton Branches and the California Online Branch
Los Angeles County Interbranch Council
Sharon Westafer was presented with the 2023 State Named Gift Award at the virtual Annual Event on April 22, 2023.
Sharon Westafer is one of our most active long-time members. She has been a member since 1992.
A 5th generation Californian, she was born in Auburn, CA and graduated from CSU, Sacramento with a degree in Social Work. She then received a nursing degree from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, and a limited X-Ray license from U.C. Berkeley.
Acknowledgements
Congratulations to AAUW California members and branches for generously donating $506,133 to AAUW Funds in 2022!
Contributions – Ten Top Branches
- Hayward-Castro Valley- $ 46,150
- Marin – $ 38,452
- San Jose – $ 27,715
- Morgan Hill – $ 21,121
- La Mesa-El Cajon – $ 20,474
- Sacramento – $ 17,482
- Danville-Alamo-Walnut Creek – $ 13,562
- San Francisco – $ 11,872
- Napa – $ 11,252
- Ontario-Upland- Rancho – $ 10,660
Per Capita—Ten Top Branches
- Hayward-Castro Valley – $ 757
- Berkeley – $ 395
- Marin – $ 287
- San Francisco – $ 186
- Woodland – $ 173
- Victor Valley – $ 168
- San Diego – $ 167
- Ontario-Upland-Rancho – $ 150
- Alhambra-San Gabriel – $ 144
- San Fernando Valley – $ 128
She has lived in Auburn, Sacramento, Stockton, and Long Beach. She assisted with her physician husband’s private family practice as the office manager, R.N., and x-ray technician until they retired in 2000.
Sharon has held most branch positions in leadership roles, but is also unfailingly present to help with any task that needs to be done, such as stuffing Tech Trek student bags. When in Stockton, she participated with the branch in the Reading Is Fundamental program, helping to distribute books to elementary schools.
Her leadership style is always inclusive, and she doesn’t stop until the task is completed.
She is always thoughtful, precise, and goes beyond the basics required.
Sharon is an active member of Long Beach Branch serving in multiple roles with decades of leadership including:
- President 2010-2011
- Co-President 2016-2018
- VP Fund for six years
- Co-Chair of the branch’s Stem Conference 2008-2016; committee member 2006-2007; current student packet and snack bag stuffer
- Co-Chair AAUW Work Smart 2018-2019
- Leader and participant in branch interest groups: Literary Ladies and Book Chat
- Participates on the Scholarship Committee, helping to select scholarships for both Long Beach City College and CSU, Long Beach students
- Volunteers to support new members as a New Member Buddy to improve participation and member retention
- Served as Nominating Committee chair
- Served as a member of the branch’s Teck Trek Committee
Sharon has also been an active member of the Stockton Branch:
- President 1999-2001; President-elect 1998-1999
- Branch Named Gift Honoree 1995-1996
- Co-VP of Program Committee 2003-2004
- Co-VP or Membership 1996-1998
- Additional leadership roles include Secretary, Fund VP, and Home Tour Chair
- Responsible for updating, printing and distributing the Branch Directory and Discovery Brochure
Additionally, Sharon is a member of the California Online Branch, currently serving as Secretary.
Sharon is also an active leader in the Los Angeles Interbranch Council, where she continued her commitment to AAUW by serving as IBC Co-Chair and as the Treasurer and member of the Steering Committee for 2022-2023.
Sharon has volunteered for many years at the state level, supporting AAUW California.For six years she served successfully as a member of the AAUW California Board of Directors in the role of AAUW Fund chair and was responsible for coordinating the bi-annual AAUW Fund luncheons.
She currently serves as Treasurer and board member of the California Special Projects Fund.
Sharon stepped up to serve at AAUW National for six years on the AAUW National Development Committee.
In addition to her extensive involvement with AAUW, she is a long-time participant in the Woman’s Club of Seal Beach, where she will serve as Secretary next year, and a member of the Philomathean Club of Stockton and Friends of the Los Alamitos-Rossmoor Library, where she served as Membership Vice President since 2012. In her spare time, Sharon enjoys reading, gardening, crossword puzzles and travel.
Click HERE to view previous honorees