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Newsletter of the Rancho Los Alamitos Volunteer Service Council

Co-editors Dorothy Russell and Roxanne Patmor

May 2026

There are many ways to measure the strength of a place like Rancho Los Alamitos. We can point to the number of visitors who come through our gates, the students who experience the site on school tours, the public programs we offer, the gardens we care for, the animals we steward, and the historic buildings and collections we preserve for future generations. But one of the most meaningful measures of the Rancho’s strength is you: our volunteers.

Recently, it was announced that the estimated national value of a volunteer hour has increased to $36.14.

That number is more than symbolic. It gives organizations like ours a way to quantify the extraordinary gift of volunteer service in language that grant funders, donors, and community partners understand. It helps us demonstrate, in real dollars, the level of community investment that makes Rancho Los Alamitos possible.

When we apply for grants or report on the impact of our programs, volunteer hours help tell an essential part of our story. They show that the Rancho is supported not only by staff, donors, and institutional partners, but also by a deeply committed community of people who donate their time, talents, knowledge, and care. In some cases, documented volunteer hours can also strengthen applications by helping us show in-kind support or matching value.

That is why logging your hours matters so much. Every tour given, every school group welcomed, every garden tended, every special event supported, every task completed behind the scenes becomes part of a larger story of service. When those hours are recorded, we are better able to advocate for the Rancho, secure resources, and show the full scope of what this volunteer community makes possible.

But let me also say this clearly: your time is worth far more to us than any hourly figure could ever capture.

The value of your service is seen in the visitor who feels welcomed, the student whose curiosity is sparked, the garden path that remains beautiful, and the programs that run smoothly because volunteers are there to help.

Your time helps Rancho Los Alamitos feel alive. You bring warmth, knowledge, patience, humor, and generosity to this place. You help connect people not just to history, but to one another.

So yes, we can and should count volunteer hours. Those numbers matter. They help us tell our story, strengthen our grant applications, and demonstrate the remarkable support behind Rancho Los Alamitos. But the true value of your service lives beyond any spreadsheet or report.

From the heart, thank you. Rancho Los Alamitos is stronger, warmer, and more meaningful because of you.

Tim

Something about May just makes me happy. I know it is not spring cleaning, so it must be because it is the height of Spring with warmer weather and blooming flowers. What could be better? Everything seems to just come alive. It brings to mind a Maypole around which people dance and sing. May boasts of many celebrations of others including Mothers, teachers, nurses, and people of all nationalities and cultures.  May speaks to health causes and animal protection, as well. May just brings us together and makes us stronger as we value one another. In addition, did you know that the 1st Sunday in May is “World Laughter Day”? Something that puts a big smile on my face. No wonder May makes me happy.

 Speaking of happiness brings to mind a special group of Rancho volunteers with a unique contribution whose efforts result in making all volunteers feel valued and as a result happier. Have you guessed yet? It is our Hospitality group. A simple definition of hospitality is welcoming others with a warm smile, providing personalized service, offering food and drinks, and anticipating guests needs. Sound familiar? It should, as it is something we do in our homes for those who we care about because we want to make them feel welcomed and special. We often go to great lengths to purchase special foods and provide a warm atmosphere when gathering for special occasions.This same feeling is important at the Rancho for both volunteers and staff members, as well, simply because they feel like family. Our Hospitality group fills this need.

 Although being hospitable can seem to be an innate response to those we value, it is not always an easy task. In fact, it requires a lot of planning and effort. So let’s take a look at what goes behind our Hospitality Group’s efforts. To better relate to this, keep in mind what you go through when hosting events in your home.

  VOLUNTEER BREAKFASTS
BEHIND THE SCENES

The Hospitality Representative, Mary Ann Cullen, in partnership with a small number of Steering Committee members and sometimes others, plans and coordinates a memorable bi-monthly Volunteer Breakfast for you, our very special guests. It begins with a meeting where a theme is selected, and the location and set-up are determined, always with the comfort of the attendees as the deciding factor. 

Once the group agrees on a theme, paper goods and utensils are purchased, and centerpieces are discussed and created. Arrangements are made for background music to give a special touch to the event. The group discusses options for a guest speaker, and arrangements are made to ensure a relevant, meaningful, and enjoyable experience for volunteer. 

THE DAY OF THE BREAKFAST EVENT

A small group of Hospitality volunteers arrives early to set up the tables, ensuring they are visually inviting, functional for serving, and that there is a logical flow for volunteers filling their plates and getting their beverages. The tables are set with the tablecloths, centerpieces, plates, cups, utensils, and materials that showcase the theme selected in the first meeting. 

After the serving and dining tables are ready, the Hospitality volunteers arrange the food prepared by the designated volunteer groups, don their gloves and aprons, and prepare to dish up the culinary delights. For hospitality volunteers, no detail is too small to be considered, from signage to ensure a smooth flow of service to accouterments for the beverage table. Included as well, are our written ingredients for the prepared dishes to address the food requirements of those dining.

AFTER THE BREAKFAST ENDS

After the event ends, the Hospitality team moves into clean-up mode. They ensure tables are cleared of food, drinks, and utensils. Leftover food is consolidated and placed in the volunteer room, where donors can pick it up or volunteers can enjoy it. Disposable items are taken to the trash cans. What isn't disposable is sorted into things that can be laundered, like tablecloths and aprons, or items like silverware and serving trays that need to be washed and put away in the storage area. It's much like cleaning up from Thanksgiving or a party. When all is finished, the Rancho is back in order and ready to receive the public for the day. Whew!

December 2025 VSC breakfast, Sara Forster, Mary Ann Cullen, Pam Santelman, Donna Ingleson, Janette White

June 2025 VSC breakfast Pam Santelman, Roberta Rogoff, Donna Ingleson, Mary Ellen Kunoth, Dorothy Russell, Connie Najera, Carol Masters, Sherry Sands, Shonnie Spina, Mary Ann Cullen

Halloween table decor, October 2025 VSC breakfast. Dorothy Russell, Mary Ann Cullen, Andrea Burchett

August 2025 VSC Breakfast Mary Ann Cullen, Dorothy Russell, Andrea Burchett, Vicki Newcomer, and Connie Najera

Preparation of August 2025 VSC breakfast table centerpieces, Vicki Newcomer, Mary Ann Cullen, Andrea Burchett, Connie Najera, Dorothy Russell

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

Seated Mary Ellen Kunoth, Pam Santelman. Standing Dorothy Russell, Roberta Rogoff, Andrea Burchett, Mary Ann Cullen, Janette White, Donna Ingleson, Sherry Sands, Carol Masters

Other Hospitality volunteers include Marilyn Fox, Tracy Lane, Janice McAuley, Joanne Tajima, Normajean Janssen, Sandy Mitchell, Jane Nunn, and Yesmean Rihbany.

 Aside from the bi-monthly Volunteer Breakfasts, Hospitality volunteers are also involved in other Rancho events during which food is served to volunteers. These include but are not limited to Summer Concerts, Artisan Events, Voices during the Holiday season, and Cottonwood. To make all of us welcome, the Hospitality volunteers prepare the Volunteer room for food service, monitor volunteer needs throughout the event, and clean-up after the meal provided has concluded. 

Also noteworthy during the “Voices” holiday events, the Hospitality volunteers distribute cookies, hot chocolate, coffee, and other beverages to our visitors, in addition to, coordinating the volunteers meal.

The Hospitality group is always there for us! They greet us with smiles and ensure that all of us are taken care of much like we do for valued guests in our homes. Please reach out to these important volunteers when you see them. You know who they are now and what they do.

I continue to look forward to showcasing the impact and importance of all volunteers within our community because that is what we are - a community.  Some might say a special family or an incredible group of friends. I lean toward thinking of you as another special family. Each of us are important for who we are and what we do. Always remember this.

Believe in yourself - you’re amazing!  (Unknown)                           

With much appreciation and admiration for each of you,

Dorothy Russell

Hospitality volunteers pictured at 2025 Holiday event are Rosa Ranaud, Shonnie Spina, Sherry Sands, Sue Schweiger, and Mary Ann Cullen

Recently, Kaj Malmsten volunteered and was selected to serve as the Guest Host Representative on the VSC Steering Committee.

Guest Hosts are an important part of the visitor experience. Posted in the barns area, gardens, and near the entrance, they welcome visitors, share information about the Rancho, direct guests to specific parts of the ranch, and answer questions. It is a role where many new volunteers begin their service because it helps them get to know the Rancho before attending Docent Training or venturing into other volunteer activities.

Kaj began volunteering here in 2015, shortly before he retired from teaching 4th grade. Now, he is a Thursday Docent and does the Footprints tours for school groups. In May 2024, Kaj was our Volunteer in the Spotlight. You can read his answers and see the great photos he shared from his travels!

When you see Kaj, please thank him for taking the role of Guest Host Representative!

Over the past several years, the number of active docents had declined from 65 to 42 due to age, retirements, and relocation. Last year, to rebuild the Rancho's volunteer community, Susan Bradley-Barta, working with Chris Fountain, put together a plan to recruit and train new volunteers. The result was 15 new volunteers serving as Guest Hosts, Docents, and Gardeners. Now, building on last year's success, a new recruitment effort is about to begin.

A Volunteer Fair is planned for Wednesday July 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Recruitment efforts include social media outreach, promotional materials placed in public locations, distribution at Community Outreach events, and at RLA's check-in desk. Docent Training is planned for four consecutive Sunday mornings from August 3 to 23.

We need your help! One of our most effective recruitment efforts is having all of you share RLA's uniqueness and volunteer opportunities with your friends, family, and colleagues!

On April 19, Rancho Volunteers gathered to mix and mingle with friends, family, and staff to celebrate their contributions to Rancho Los Alamitos.



In 2025,150 VSC members donated 12,855 hours valued at $447,00!

CSULB Public Program Intern

Alyssa Savath is majoring in Communication Studies with a minor in Political Science. Alyssa is enthusiastic about advocating and ensuring there is a community for everyone. She is eagerly awaiting the experience she'll gain developing captivating programs to ensure visitors at Rancho Los Alamitos have a pleasant time.

She will work closely with staff to plan, create, and implement public programming for our public visitors, specifically expanding RLA’s engagement by surveying local colleges to see what type of programs would interest potential visitors. After researching public needs and wants, Alyssa will work with Public Programs Manager Margarete Villalobos designing a series of programs and interactive events that fit with her research and with RLA’s mission and vision framework. This position involves research, activity planning, and reflection. Alyssa will gain experience in outreach, public engagement, research, and event planning.

Long Beach City College Social Media and Marketing Intern

Renard “Brandon” Smith is a community organizer, media producer, and lifelong cowboy from Compton, California and majoring in Communications. He has competed in the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo since the age of 12, helping preserve and celebrate the legacy of Black cowboy culture and Western heritage. He is passionate about cultural storytelling, history, youth development, wellness, and economic empowerment. He is dedicated to creating projects that educate, inspire, and open opportunities for underserved communities while highlighting the untold stories of Black history and culture.

He will work closely with staff to create a calendar of social media posts that elevate the Rancho’s online presence. These posts will be academic in nature, highlighting important aspects of the site’s history with careful consideration paid to underrepresented narratives and cultural heritage celebrations. Apart from social media posts, Brandon will research and create strategies for expanding RLA’s engagement beyond our current reach. He will gain experience in outreach, public engagement, and research.

This year's Cottonwood Award Luncheon was a successful celebration with more than 400 people gathered to honor Mayor Rex Richardson and Harry Saltzgaver. There was music, great food and drink, and a festive vibe that made the 14th Annual Cottonwood Awards a great day!

Volunteers, staff, and guests gathered to enjoy the day beneath the Moreton Bay trees.

Thank you to Deborah Castro for photos of band, the group paddle wave, RLAF board, Rex Richardson, and Harry Saltzgaver

Beginning in 2023, RLA added Rancho Voices to its annual holiday event. It featured actors, directors, and costumes from the Long Beach Playhouse. Now, it's a favorite part of the holiday event.

Another annual event is the Long Beach Playhouse's Radio Show, with a script written by past RLA board member Harry Saltzgaver and featuring cast members whose day jobs are as elected officials, city staff, and this year, Tim Roberts as a modern Long Beach cowboy.

The Radio Show is a collision of comedy, politics, and city leaders. It takes place on June 11 from 6 to 8 pm at the offices of Keesal, Young, and Logan. The event features enough comedy and sly jabs at the city to keep guests laughing while enjoying drinks from the hosted bar and delightful appetizers and desserts. More information available here. 

While we all know Docents, Hosts, Gardeners, Crafters, Hospitality, Curatorial, and other volunteers who keep visitors happy and the site looking great, there is another group of volunteers who are less well-known: the Rancho Los Alamitos Board of Directors. We've featured board members in Spotlights, including Jeff Green, Harry Saltzgaver*, Henry Taboada, and Joan Van Hooten, but recently volunteers asked if we could introduce others.

We are starting with four of our newest board members, and Deborah Golian Castro, who has served on the board for many years, and recently moved into the Chair position when Henry Taboada stepped down. Next month, we will feature Evan Braude, Brett Mascaro, and Chase McClung. We will continue featuring board members in this newsletter throughout the summer.

*Former RLAF board member

Deborah Golian Castro is the president and CEO of Creative Productions, an award-winning marketing and advertising agency headquartered in Long Beach for more than 25 years. An entrepreneur, Deborah started her first business while attending LBCC and earned both a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and a Master of Leadership in Public Policy from the University of Southern California. From research to results, she and her team have produced hundreds of programs, events, and campaigns for public, private, and nonprofit organizations, including Metrolink, Lexus, USC, Goodwill SOLAC, and FOX Sports. Her commitment to growing her business in Long Beach earned her recognition as the Long Beach Chamber’s Women's Business Council’s inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year, and she received the USC Alumni Association President's Award for her volunteer service. She serves as an Executive Partner for the USC Master of Business for Veterans with a decade of service and mentorship since its founding. In 2024, she was appointed to the Belmont Shore Parking and Business Improvement Area Advisory Commission and has served on the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Long Beach boards. Deborah admires the volunteers and the positive difference they make to the site and to all who spend time here.

Book Review

The Gardens of Southern California

By Helaine Kaplan Prentice (1990)

Reviewed by Joanne Locnikar

Gardens are dynamic spaces with plants and landscapes constantly changing. As a result, what was planted 36 years ago looks quite different today.



Levick and Kaplan-Prentice , through photos and text from 1990, present us with a snapshot at that time of various Southern California lavish gardens.

This colorful and informative book invites us to visit 25 gardens open to the public spanning five counties. They include estates, horticultural centers and botanic gardens. Specialized gardens are also included, such as, Japanese gardens, desert gardens, CA native gardens and special purpose gardens.

Our own Rancho Los Alamitos is featured in this book. You will see what some of the gardens looked like 36 years ago before the Master Plan for renovation of the site began. Some no longer exist like the beautiful wisteria arbor in the barns area (pg 48-49). Some changed due to the end of a life cycle or sudden diseases, such as the oleander walk, which is now planted with crepe myrtle trees. Page 46 shows the original oleanders – grafted as trees – in the photo.

Most of the gardens in this book are still open for the public to view. I encourage you to take a day or two and check out these lovely gardens. They remind us that we are surrounded by the beauty of nature in this land of concrete, glass, and steel.

Notes:

• Maps are located in the front and back of the book.
• Google the gardens first for up-to-date tour information.
• The UCLA Hanna Carter Japanese Garden, as of 2016, is now privately owned and no longer open.
• Quail Botanic Gardens is now the San Diego Botanic Gardens in Encinitas.
• Rancho Santa Ana Gardens is now California Botanic Gardens located in Claremont.

Photo right: Wisteria Arbor in Barns area before renovations.

At our historic Rancho Los Alamitos, Western Bluebirds have recently returned and are already busy foraging across the open ground for insects and other small bugs.

Their beautiful blue plumage and warm rusty chests stand out against the Ranchos landscape as they hop through the grasses or leaf litter pausing to spot movement before darting down for a meal.

The colors of the female bluebird are lighter than the males. The arrival of these birds in spring often signals the beginning of breeding season, and pairs can sometimes be seen exploring nesting areas nearby while calling softly to one another.

Smithsonian Magazine: Research suggests birding is good for brain health!

"The past actually happened, but history is only what someone wrote down. "

-Alan Whitney Brown

Comedian, Saturday Night Live writer and cast member 1985-1991

Forest Bathing: A Sensory Experience

Sunday, August 1

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Each session is $30 per person or $25 per member

Recommended for ages 16 years and above, all materials are included.



Forest Bathing is a guided sensory experience with certified Forest Therapy Guide, Meghan Pinyan. Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing means taking in nature through your senses.

As part of the experience, the instructor gives prompts to engage one's senses while sitting or lying down on the Front Lawn. Then, she invites people to go out to the gardens with a specific prompt, such as picking up fallen plant material that speaks to the person and bringing it back to the group. Together, the group creates a nature mandala. These slow and mindful walks offer an immersive sensory experience to explore your unique relationship with the earth. The group ends with light snacks and tea. And because these events are so popular, RLA plans to offer more of them in the future. 

Exploration Talk

In the Gardens of California’s Prison Landscapes

Thursday, June 25th

Doors open 5:30 pm; 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Reserve today! $10 per person, free for members

Volunteers can access one free ticket at the above link using code VOL26.

​ 

Based on Dr. Elizabeth Lara’s ethnographic research exploring relationships among people, plants, and prisons, this talk will focus on a series of iconic Californian landscapes. Dr. Lara’s work is concerned with the role of horticulture in public heritage sites that highlight distinct histories of incarceration, including Alcatraz Island and Manzanar. The talk will also feature a discussion of the work of Land Together, an organization that for over twenty years has been growing gardens in prisons to support the well-being and liberation of people impacted by incarceration.

Summer Concerts are coming!

The first is Sunday, June 28 and a second on Sunday, August 23. August tickets available in mid-June. Each volunteer can access one free ticket at the above link using the code VOL26.

We will also need volunteers to help with the event, information will be available later in May.

The public can purchase tickets for $8 per adult, $5 per child, free for 2 and younger.

The Rancho's gardens are ever-evolving. When Florence Bixby created her gardens, Rancho Los Alamitos was alone on this hill; later, the Bixby Hill residential community surrounded it. Other changes came as older plantings reached the end of their lifespans and new ones took their places.

Using photos from the RLA archive and those taken by Andrew Chaves, it's easy to see what has changed and what hasn't. Photos with catalog numbers in blue link to RLA's public PastPerfect website. Enjoy!

RLA# 68.1.10553 Geranium Walk and Vinca Slope,1931.Note the flat-topped trees at the rear.

RLA# 94.10.849 Geranium Walk, and Vinca Slope, taken from the Rose Gazebo, 1928. Photographer is Albert Cawood.

RLA# 68.1.10552 Geranium Walk. Vinca Slope, and Rose Gazebo, 1931.

RLA# 99.2.513 Vinca Slope and Geranium Walk, July 1967. The photographer is Virginia Russell, whose work and photos were featured in July 2024 Meanwhile.

These photos were taken on March 12, 2026 by Deputy Director Andrew Chaves.

In the Spotlight

Carol Masters

Carol Masters serves as a vice president of the Lakewood Women's Club and enjoys traveling and community service.

How long have you been volunteering at the Rancho?

I started my training in 2003.

Please tell us a bit about what you do as a volunteer.

I was a school docent for about two years. I helped where I could from 2005-2012. My husband had become a paraplegic. Once he died, I became involved with Hospitality. When Covid started, I would volunteer as a garden "director" for the many guest. The last three years, I have helped with Crafters and Hospitality.

What made you decide to become a Rancho volunteer?

My parents were volunteers at Descanso Gardens. I knew I wanted to volunteer after I retired.

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

The interaction with lovely people. The serenity of the place.

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

I mainly work with the children. We don't have a lot of time to talk.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A librarian.

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

Kind-hearted, thoughtful, organized.

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

I volunteer with the Lakewood Women's Club. I volunteer with the National Council of Jewish Women. We pack backpacks for foster children and "abortion love kits" for women coming in from out-of-state.

Excursions open to all Active Volunteers

For Field Excursions, an "active volunteer" means someone who has worked 40 hours at RLA in the past 12 months. New volunteers with less than one year can attend excursions with fewer than 40 hours until they've completed 12 months, after which they must meet the 40 hours worked threshold.  Only Rancho Los Alamitos volunteers or staff can participate in field trips.

*St. Isidore Catholic Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year!

In 1924, the Bixby Land Company donated the Los Alamitos land for the church, charging a $10 recording fee for the deed. The original St. Isidore Church was completed in 1926. Following the 1933 earthquake, the Bixby Land Company provided funds to rebuild it.

St. Isidore Church is mentioned in some of the oral history interviews in RLA's archive. In one, Petra Sisneros said, "When I was a child, my mother took us to church every Sunday, to St. Isidore. I didn't really like church. I'd look around at the people in the balcony, and my mother would pinch me to make me stop. There was a priest there who spoke Spanish. He celebrated the mass in Latin, but he heard our confessions in Spanish and made sure we all learned our catechism."

Roberta Rogoff said their tables "runneth over" with families wanting to make the craft "mom" or "dad" keychain (pictured above) for their special someone. And 445 people who attended the two events now know where RLA is located and plan to visit!