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Newsletter of the Rancho Los Alamitos Volunteer Service Council

Co-editors Doug Cox and Roxanne Patmor

June 2025

Looking back on my first two months at Rancho Los Alamitos, I’m grateful for the warm welcome, the beautiful and historical landscape I now call a workplace, and most especially, for the remarkable community of volunteers who give so much of themselves to this site.

During my first two months here, one of the most rewarding parts of my work has been meeting many of you in person. Whether it’s been a quick conversation during a school tour, a chat in the gardens, or working side by side during an event, each interaction has been a reminder of how essential you are to the heartbeat of this place. Your knowledge, warmth, and unwavering dedication to the Rancho are genuinely inspiring.

It’s clear that Rancho Los Alamitos is more than just a historic site; it’s a living, breathing community stewarded by people who care deeply about its past, present, and future. I’m honored to be part of that story now, and I look forward to building our future together, with transparency, collaboration, and shared purpose.

As we continue our work this summer and beyond, please know how much I value your insight, time, and commitment. I’m excited for all that lies ahead and grateful to walk this path alongside each of you.



With sincere thanks,

Tim

When Pam Lee announced she was stepping down as Executive Director, it was clear a change was on the horizon. In October, Christine Petit arrived as the Rancho’s Interim Executive Director. She came to us from Third Sector, a company that trains qualified individuals to step into non-profit organizations on an interim basis.

Now, eight months later, it seems like we’ve known Christine for years. She arrived with a bright smile and an energy that made us comfortable immediately. She answered questions in this newsletter, gave us her direct phone number if we wanted to talk to her, came to VSC events, brought her daughter to the Voices Preview Night, and we all came to see her as a wise friend and leader.

In April, after a lengthy national search, Tim Roberts joined as the RLA Foundation's third Executive Director. He arrived armed with 20 years of experience at historic sites ranging from Florida to Montana and New Mexico. Just like Christine, he seemed immediately at home, ready to work, and appreciative of the Rancho's Volunteer Service Council. We knew immediately we were lucky to have him leading us into the future.

On June 5, at the RLAF board meeting, both made presentations giving insights and direction for the site's continued work and, importantly, for ways it could grow and flourish.

Christine began the meeting by presenting one of her final deliverables: an overview of organizational staffing, capacities, and resources, along with her recommendations for moving forward.

She created staff surveys, had one-on-ones, and group meetings with volunteers, staff, and board members. It turns out, Christine is a master observer with a keen eye and an ability to explain what she sees, put forth recommendations, and make it look easy to have done so much in so little time.

Christine noted that while there was much to be celebrated about what’s working well at Rancho Los Alamitos, this presentation had a heavier focus on areas for improvement. Following are some of the highlights:

Staffing Overview & Recommendations

Christine started out by sharing that in comparison to the last comprehensive organizational analysis done in 2017, significant progress has been made in the areas of building up the staff leadership team, raising the compensation of staff, updating HR processes, and raising staff morale. Her headline for this area was “halfway home, a long way to go,” noting that there were significant areas to continue strengthening the RLA’s staffing and processes to support staff that are underway.

Organizational Capacities

In this section, Christine looked at the areas of information technology, financial management; programs (education and public engagement); fund development; and marketing, communications, and external relations; and board operations and infrastructure.

●    IT has been a pain point and both process and infrastructure upgrades are underway.

●    Financial management is also improving, board members and staff have a clearer process for budgeting and reporting, and future budgeting will align with nonprofit best practices.

●    Programs and public engagement remain strong, supported by volunteers, with targeted staffing and evaluation needed to enhance outreach.

●    Fund development is an area that needs to be better resourced as are marketing and communications.

●    Overall, the focus is on stabilizing core operations, documenting processes, and building capacity to support RLA’s mission more efficiently and effectively.

Board Governance & Next Steps

Christine noted that the board has made significant progress in recent years, especially with bylaw updates and new structures to support its work. The evolution from an honorary board to a true governance board has also changed the kinds of members being recruited, with a greater emphasis on expertise, engagement, and capacity. Going forward, Christine made recommendations to fully engage the entire board in strategy and development, set clearer expectations and support for the executive director, and invest in board education and development.

Strategic Recommendations

Christine highlighted that this is an important time for Rancho Los Alamitos and that in many ways RLA is at a crossroads with new leadership and an opportunity to strengthen the organization and site’s impact. To help RLA grow into a more resilient and effective organization, Christine recommended that the board and leadership focus on the following areas:

●    Ensuring Adequate Staffing, Compensation, and Development

●    Building the Board of Directors and Honorary Board of Governors

●    Strengthening the Volunteer-Staff Partnership

●    Leveraging the Existing Financial Portfolio

When it comes to strengthening the volunteer-staff partnership, Christine suggested surveying volunteers to see how people are experiencing their service at the Rancho. Additionally, the VSC Steering Committee and Lead Docents will come together with staff in the coming months for a retreat/planning session facilitated by Christine.

Tim Takes the Baton

Tim's presentation focused on his first month as Executive Director and actions he'd taken to understand the internal and external priorities and the individuals and organizations involved in them. He began with a list of interviews that included city leadership, the Tongva Culture Collective, the ED for Rancho Los Cerritos, the RLAF board, site staff, and volunteers. Although not part of his presentation, Tim has spent time with volunteers in the garden, in meetings, and personal interactions in the Volunteer Room, which included some guitar and banjo jamming with Friday docents.

Tim discussed the immediate future plans he has for the Rancho which amplify and support the findings Christine presented, including an audit of existing policies and procedures and kicking off strategic planning followed by interpretive planning in the coming months.

When Christine and Tim wrapped up their presentations, board members asked questions and applauded the work and the recommendations. Going forward, the focus is on keeping what works and fixing what doesn't. Tim and Christine both highlighted that volunteers are key to making that happen. As Christine transitions from a staff member to a project-based consultant, Tim will work with the board, staff, and volunteers to keep the momentum going.

Upcoming VSC Brunch - June 28 - Celebrating Accomplishments!

-Brunch begins 9:15 sharp.

-At 10 in the Ranch Room, arborist Nick Araya of TreeCareLA will give a virtual tour of RLA's recent tree care projects.

-Following the presentation, volunteers can join Assistant Curator Robin Herrera for a tour of the newly restored Business Office. (11:15 - noon)

-Following VSC meeting, the "New Volunteer Orientation" will take place with Steve Squire and Chris Fountain in the Ranch Room from 12 to 1.

New Position Created: Volunteer Experience Coordinator (VEC)

When hired, this person will work Wednesday through Sunday, and will always be available to help volunteers with guests and tours.

First Summer Concert a Success!

Attended by 413 community members, the event raised $1100 in donations and $800 in Museum Shop sales. A big thank you to the volunteers who worked the event!

New Docent Training

Chris Fountain, Doug Cox, Pat Coil, Susan Bradley, Dorothy Russell, and Karen Reggiardo are revising the Public Docent training program. There is not currently a date scheduled. The revisions are based on lessons learned from previous years’ training.

Volunteer Training Handbook

The updated 2025 edition will be delivered by fall!

Walking through the site, we see many examples of David's craftsmanship and never stop to wonder if the objects are new, old, or maybe both.

The beet wagon (top photo) was falling apart. The wood was rotting and broken but the chassis and wheels were strong. David was part of the team (along with RLA volunteers Steve Christensen and Scott Charmack) who restored the wagon with new wood that sits upon the original chassis. David recently repainted the wagon green to stand out from the barns and corral.

The bench pictured above showcases the theme of the Shell Garden. The legs with the fish carvings are original (c.1930), the bench's shell back is one of David's expert reproductions. (Far left photo, by Virginia Russell, c. 1967)

The fencing that surrounds the Cutting Garden, including posts and finials, needed to be replaced. A wood turner in Signal Hill replicated the original finials. David installed new trellis-like fencing in between the posts, using thin copper cord embedded in the wood and running through the posts to keep the narrow rails in place.

Another of David's restorations is the Bixby children's Pony Cart, which sits in the back of the Stallion Barn.

Blacksmith Dave Carrol hand-forged the gate hinges in the Rancho Blacksmith Shop.

David Quinn designed the hinges based on historic photos of the gates. The latch is original; the hasp, lock and cane bolts are modern.

For the past two years, David has been part of the team involved in restoring the historical business offices.

Repairing and restoring original office furniture and equipment, re-creating window screens, and accurately reproducing the adding machine stand for the Bookkeeper’s Office are just a few examples of David's work in the business office restoration.

In September, the business office will be added to the tours with new interpretive materials prepared by Chris Fountain, Director of Education. Docent training for the business office tour will take place in August.

In the Friendly Garden, another bench was faithfully reproduced to match Florence Bixby's original vision (top photo by Virginia Russell in June, 1967).

The open circles in the bench design mirror those in the fencing that surrounds the "Friendly."

We will cover the new tour addition and more of David's work in the office in a future issue of this newsletter.

Photo credits:

Beet Wagon by Kim Campanelli

David Quinn by Doug Cox

Benches and fencing by Kim Campanelli and David Quinn

Pony Cart and Gate by David Quinn

Shell bench by Virginia Russell, c. 1967. RLA# 2004.4.104

Friendly Garden bench by Virginia Russell c. 1967 RLA# 2004.4.25

Reception Office (color) by Robin Herrera

Bookkeeper's Office (b&w) by Stewart Green, 12 April 1986, RLA# 95.55.43

In March, we showed the Gardening Team replanting the cutting garden with seeds and plants they donated to RLA.

The plants were chosen based on research about cutting gardens from the era in which Florence's was created, as well as those best suited for our soil and sunlight. 

Their work is in full bloom, adding color for all to enjoy!

Planting plan (top) shows plots for dahlias and sweet peas growing along the wall. Heirloom sweet pea seeds bringing brighter colors.

Top left: "Before" photo was taken in March. All others taken in late May.

Brightly colored dragonfly enjoying the garden.

Photos by Kim Campanelli

From Susan Bradley: After a morning of pulling weeds in the Oleander Walk, several Tuesday Gardeners met at Bolsa Chica State Park to roast hot dogs. It was an opportunity to chat and get to know one another while taking in the beauty of one of Southern California's beautiful beaches. The weather was perfect, and the hot dogs had just the right amount of sand.

The Rancho's Golden Torch Cactus (Echinopsis spachiana) is in bloom!

Photos by Pam Lee

On the left is a Pride of Madeira (Echium candicans) with a Western Honey Bee enjoying its nectar.

On the right is a close up of the Golden Torch Cactus flower in the barnyard.

Photos by CJ Crockett, RLAF Board member

Honoring Juneteenth

Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. The word, first used in the 1890s, combines "June" and "nineteenth," referring to the day the Emancipation Proclamation was enforced in Texas.

The Rancho has a connection to the Underground Railroad and abolitionists through Reverend George W. Hathaway, whose daughter, Susan, married John Bixby in 1873. Susan and John lived at this ranch beginning in 1878 and were the parents of Fred Hathaway Bixby.

When Fred's granddaughter, Joan Hotchkis, set out to learn her family history, she started with the places they lived in Maine. There she found Rev. Hathaway's home. She convinced the current residents to invite her in, and they explained his house had been a stop on the Underground Railroad. They even showed her the small room where runaway slaves hid on their way to freedom.

Rev. Hathaway was a graduate of Andover Theological Seminary; when he became a pastor, he invited abolitionists to hold meetings in his church. He was also an advocate for women’s suffrage and invited suffragists to use his church for their meetings.

Source: Dr. Kaye Briegel

Now that the barnyard is dry and things are back to normal, we happily welcome the return of the animals that add so much to the ambiance of the ranch.

Guests will see chickens, goats, sheep, ponies, donkeys, and horses.

Photo of Karen Thompson and Sharon Conner by Doug Cox, others by Karen Thompson.

Cottonwood 2025 was an outstanding success! We brought in $189,000 which exceeded the revenue goal, we had 38 sponsors, and 81 people donated to our "fund-a-need" and several more raised their hands to donate during the live auction.

We couldn't do it without the help of so many volunteers who helped with every aspect of the event from welcoming guests to adding ribbons to the shire horse ornaments all our guests received from Mark Schneider Fine Jewelers as a remembrance of the day.

We thank Shirley Wild for her great photo and article she wrote for the Press-Telegram!

We thank all of our table sponsors and donors for their generosity and support of Rancho Los Alamitos and our 13th Annual Cottonwood Awards Luncheon.

Erin Wilson, RLA's Fund Development Director, was recently elected to the board of directors for the Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership. It is a prestigious organization with a great reputation for strengthening the nonprofit sector through collaboration, capacity building, and advocacy. It isn't the only board on which Erin serves. She is also on the Leadership Long Beach board and a member of the Long Beach Gives Campaign Committee. We thank Erin for her commitment to helping the city's nonprofit organizations thrive!

Note from Erin: If you'd like to support the Rancho with a donation or by becoming a member, please click below! Thank you!

Volunteer Spotlight

Joanne Tajima

Joanne Tajima has found several ways to volunteer at the Rancho...and out of the Rancho, as we can see from photos of the Community Outreach Team. Joanne chats about the Rancho with those who come up to the table and smiles when someone comes around for a photo!

How long have you been volunteering at the Rancho? 

It’s been 10 years!!! I started when I retired from 38 years of teaching in the Los Alamitos Unified School District.



Tell us a bit about what you do as a volunteer.

I see myself as a “jack of all trades but a master of none.” I volunteer as a Thursday public docent, school docent (on site and virtual), Tongva Tovaave docent, community service docent, hospitality set-up and take-down participant and finally a “retail clerk” in the museum gift shop. 

I truly enjoy all of my volunteer opportunities because I firmly believe these opportunities maintain my cognition and physical well being as I age. Also, I appreciate the interaction with all the volunteers and most importantly, l appreciate learning how the Tongva, Spanish, Mexican, and Yankee (Stearns and Bixby families) histories transpired in my own backyard (I live in Los Alamitos.)

What made you decide to become a Rancho volunteer?

Before I retired, Sara Forester (another Rancho volunteer) saw me gardening in the front of my yard. We chatted and she said I would be a good fit for the Rancho. Well, retirement for me happened in 2015, and Sara invited me to the Rancho to go on a house tour and visit the premises. I was hooked and that’s all she wrote. I was overtaken by the beauty of the property and felt like I was transferred to another world. I wanted to be a part of the Rancho and share it with others (young and old.)

What do you like best about the time you spend here?

For me, I love sharing the colorful California history with all that visit. It’s so surprising that many visitors do not have any idea about the Native American (Tongva) influence before the arrival of the Spanish, the Mexicans, and the Yankees.

An unexpected caveat which has occurred for me is the volunteer family that I have gained. The Rancho friends I have made are an unexpected social community which I love and see as “priceless” relationships. How good is that?!

What is the most interesting comment you’ve ever gotten from a visitor at the Rancho?

As I have participated in the virtual garden tours, many of the students ask repeatedly, “How old are the plants in the gardens?” Our answer is we do not know the exact age of the plants in the gardens but many are very old and some could have been planted by the Bixby family. For many students that answer suffices but when there’s another Q & A segment on our tour, the same question comes up again.

What do you like to do when you’re not at the Rancho?

When I am not at the Rancho, I am babysitting my grandson Caden (1 year old) and his sister Cammie (4 years old.) Babysitting takes a lot of my time so I am grateful my husband Mark willingly steps up to babysit so I can do my Rancho volunteering.

I also volunteer as an arts ambassador (usher) at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. If there’s any free time, I enjoy reading and my husband and I love to travel. Since we’ve retired, we have been to Hawaii, Alaska, China, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Japan, Scandinavia, South Africa, and Italy. This fall we will be going to Britain and Ireland.

What’s the one word your friends and family would use to describe you?

I love to engage with family, friends, and strangers so I would say the one word is “talkative.”

What else do you want us to know? 

I have been married to my husband Mark for 42 years and we have two sons Scott and Brett. I was fortunate enough to find teaching seventh grade a passion and lasted 38 years at the same middle school. My retirement has given me so many fantastic opportunities; the Rancho, Cerritos Center for Performing Arts, my travels and my family have given me the energy to approach my retirement years with zest and zeal !!!!! 

L-R Joanne with sons Scott and Brett

Grandchildren Cammie and Caden

In South Africa with her husband Mark

RLAF Board Spotlight

Joan Van Hooten

by Harry Saltzgaver

VSC Field Excursions

August 25th

Historic Wilmore District in Long Beach

10:00AM

Cost: $10.00

Please reserve a spot with Janice Wellsteed by July 7th. 

Sherron Leno, our own Thursday docent, has agreed to organize and coordinate a tour of the Bembridge House for all Rancho Volunteers. Sherron has an incredible depth of knowledge of Long Beach art and architecture, which is shared by other Long Beach Heritage docents and volunteers. These LB Heritage members, as well as Sherron, will lead our tours.

"The Queen Anne Victorian residence was built in 1906 by Josephine and Stephen Green. The Greens relocated to Long Beach from Seattle and Mr. Green was one of the founders of City National Bank.

The house is a magnificent and highly ornate example of late Victorian architecture, and both the exterior and interior exemplify the finest accomplishments of turn-of-the-century architectural designers and craftsmen. It is the single most important example of this style of architecture remaining in the Long Beach today, and is considered by many to be the most significant residential historic landmark structure in the City. Amazingly, the house is in almost pristine original condition, and contains many of the original furnishings dating from the early 1900s which were owned by the Rankin family when they purchased the house in 1919." https://www.lbheritage.org/bembridge-house/history/ 

Long Beach Pride Festival!

Kathy Manuel and Tracy Flaming at RLA's booth during the Long Beach Pride Festival!

On Saturday, June 7, the Outreach Team greeted 177 guests who visited their table, an exciting increase compared to 94 in 2024! Roberta Rogoff reports that many RLA members and foundation donors live in Naples and always come by the table to thank them for being there. 

From left to right are Parker Moore, Connie Najera, Nancy Schwartz, Roberta Rogoff, Norma Jean Janssen, Andrea Burchett, Dorothy Russell, Joanne Tajima, and Pam Santelman.

On May 30, Roberta Rogoff, Pam Santelman, and Dorothy Russell greeted 67 vets with RLA information and yogurt cups and tangerines.

RLA's Community Outreach Team was at the LBCC Child Development Career Exploration Day on Saturday, May 10th. It was their second time to be invited by Professor Fountain, aka Chris Fountain's mom.

Professor Fountain sent them her thanks saying "the students were gifted by their presence and had a renewed sense of purpose for working in Early Childhood Education."

Pictured are: Pam Santelman, Joanne Tajima, and Dorothy Russell working the table.