I am so excited to begin my term on AAUW California's Board of Directors. My work in AAUW since 2016 focused on STEM opportunities for girls from underserved communities in a program called Tech Trek which began at Stanford over 20 years ago. Tech Trek provides seventh grade girls the opportunity to attend a STEM camp at various California university campuses. Many of them will be the first in their families to attend college after graduation. Being part of residential and virtual staff has been incredibly rewarding. Serving on the State Board will be an exciting adventure with a team of very accomplished women.My experience in Minnesota honed my skills to take this on. I retired from a long career in education as well as the Minnesota legislature. I found tremendous joy choosing organizations to dedicate my passion for serving others. I was the founding President of the Board of Directors for Prairie Care Child and Family Fund in the Twin Cities. I also served on the board of South Bay Children's Health Center here in California. Both of those organizations allowed me to participate with many wonderful people dedicated to bringing mental health to children, teens and their families. Looking at my life, I realize that my core values of service and caring about the lives of people have directed everything that I've done as a career and as a volunteer. If I can make just one life better, then my life will have had meaning. That is the only legacy that matters.