Janet Comes to Morgan Hill

Janet had been living in Southern California when she retired in 2007 after 24 years with the Los Angeles Unified School District. After a trip to Japan to learn more about her heritage, she decided to move to Morgan Hill to be closer to a son and his family. Before leaving, a friend told her to join AAUW as a good way to find like-minded women. Janet followed that advice and later called her friend with the news, “I found my people!”

Background

Janet grew up in Hawaii before it became a state. She wanted to go to the mainland for college and so attended the University of Washington in Seattle where she received a degree in elementary education. She was married in Seattle and then moved to Southern California for her husband’s job. Later, after she was divorced and as a single mom, she went back to school and earned a master’s at Cal State Northridge in educational administration. While working for the LA school district, she was a principal and then a special education coordinator, her favorite job.

Janet and AAUW Morgan Hill

Janet first connected with AAUW when she was in BookSmart asking about local book groups. Margo Hinnenkamp (who was co-president) just happened to be in the store at that time and told her about AAUW’s evening book group. Margo also arranged a ride for Janet to attend her first branch meeting. She still remembers that the program topic was Women of the Cloth.

It didn’t take long for Janet to become involved with branch activities. She joined Evening Books and was recruited to be Interest Group Coordinator. She went on to be Membership Co-VP and in 2012-2013, she was Co-President with Margaret McCann and then continued for another year as president on her own. In 2014-2015, she and Margaret teamed up again as Program VPs. They were the ones who arranged for meetings to be held at the library on a set day each month. Janet and Margaret have remained close friends ever since they first worked together.

2013 Co-President with Margaret McCann

Janet has also served on the Leadership Development and Scholarship committees. She always volunteered for the Wildflower Run: She did flyer and postcard distribution, was on the sponsor committee, volunteer coordinator, and most recently in charge of greeters.

2014 Volunteering with granddaughters

2018 Wildflower Run Committee

2025 Wildflower Run Greeters

She had an Android eGals group (until everyone went to Apple), organized Arts Outings to museums and local plays, and chaired the DEI committee. Besides two book groups, she participated in Mamas in the Kitchen, Ukuladies (but that didn’t last long, as she said she cannot sing), and the Pilgrims Process meditation group.

Arts Outing to de Young Museum

Ukuladies

Pilgrims Process

2023 Parade with Margaret McCann

Margaret says, “When Janet moves, my life will be a little less interesting—and a lot less organized. From sharing the AAUW presidency to traveling to Ashland and beyond, she has a wonderful way of bringing out my adventurous spirit. She will be greatly missed, especially on our weekly trips to the Farmers Market.”

In thinking about what AAUW has meant to her, Janet states that the mission of education and equity for women and girls is very important, that we often only think about what we do locally and not that we are part of a national organization. She also will always value the many close AAUW friends she has made here. She will very much miss them, and we will certainly miss her.

Carol O’Hare

2023 80th Birthday

Note: Janet’s new address is in the Membership Directory. Her phone number remains the same.