Newsletter of the Rancho Los Alamitos Volunteer Service Council

Co-editors Doug Cox and Roxanne Patmor

In this issue

VSC Perspectives
A Very Special VSC
Thanksgiving in the men's dining room
Artisan Event in the Museum Shop
Rancho Voices Update
Meet Intern Angela Silva
Just for Fun, Photos from the Rancho
Upcoming Community Events

October 2024

In the Spotlight

Pam Santelman
Christine Petit

VSC Perspectives

Doug Cox, VSC President

"You can't really know where you're going until you know where you have been." — poet and author Maya Angelou.

The Rancho community breathed a genuine sigh of relief when we learned that as Pam Lee was stepping down from the Executive Director's role, she agreed to become the Historic Site Curator and not leave the Rancho outright.

With her would have gone not just the megawatt smile but also literally decades of institutional Rancho knowledge: how things once were and how they got to be how they are, and what didn’t work and what really, really did.

Far worse than the how and what, though, would have been the loss of the priceless, nuanced understanding of why.

This would have been a terrible loss to the Rancho at yet another gigantic inflection point in its long history as Christine Petit labors long into the night to help the Rancho not only prepare for a new executive director but to also set it on a course to thrive as it pivots to meet challenges for which words didn’t even exist when Pamela Seager departed in 2019.

So, we’re out of the woods? Not so fast.

In the past year we have all endured the departure and, yes, passing of too many fellow Rancho volunteers, some of whom were here before Pamela Seager started feeding Tux, the honorary Rancho cat, in her office. With them went their institutional knowledge, every bit as priceless and all of it irretrievable at a moment like now, when the Rancho needs it the most.

This is the time for every one of us remaining to step up and help the Rancho build for the future by considering how the Rancho, right now, might benefit from hearing our personal understanding of how the place works - and sometimes doesn't work.

In her Meanwhile Spotlight this month, Christine rather bravely welcomes us, the Rancho volunteers, to contact her: christinep@rancholosalamitos.org and on her direct line at (650) 887-1006.

Take her up on her offer. Ignore those who insist that giving advice is above our pay grade or that no one’s listening (both of which are profoundly untrue). And speak up for those who aren’t around anymore to do so themselves, too.

It will be our legacy, if we have the courage and the candor to claim it.

October 19: A Very Special VSC

VSC President Doug Cox reported a record crowd for the meeting, with more than 100 people attending, some spilling into the hall outside the room.

The group enjoyed the delicious brunch and then took their seats in the Rancho room for a riveting conversation with Virginia Sisneros LeGaspi who grew up in the worker housing along Palo Verde Avenue.

To the delight of all, she generously shared memories of her and her family's experiences at the Rancho.

A big thank you to Roberta Rogoff who coordinated the invitation and helped ensure it was a wonderful experience for the Sisneros family and the volunteers.

Several members of the Sisneros family, were on hand to hear Virginia talk about her life at the Rancho.

Front row, left to right: Helen LeGaspi, Laurie Sisneros, Virginia Sisneros LeGaspi, Tom Sisneros,

Olivia Sisneros, Alex LeGaspi

Second row, left to right: Fred Sisneros, Richard LeGaspi, Natalie LeGaspi, Christina LeGaspi

Thanksgiving in the Men's Dining Room

Thanksgiving feast includes turkey, dressing, cranberries, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and two pies for dessert!

November 9, 2024

Rancho Volunteers & Members 9:30 a.m. until Noon

General Public 1:00 until 4:30 p.m.

Rancho Voices Update

December 5th and 6th from 4 to 8 p.m.

VIP Preview December 4th from 5 to 6 p.m.

Plans for December's Rancho Voices program are taking shape! Last year's stories all took place in the early 1930s, while this year, we will present stories covering the 1880s through the late 1960s. Stories will include short anecdotes from Katherine Bixby Hotchkis' 1957 book, Christmas Eve at Rancho Los Alamitos.

Locations and Storytellers

Secret Garden: Landscape architect Virginia Russell and ranch worker Mike Hernandez tell about preparing the site for the transfer from the Bixby family to the city. Storytellers are Jill Prout and Giovanni Navarro.

Front porch: Vaquero Pilar Linares and Sarah Bixby Smith tell of John and Susan Bixby's cattle ranch and the ways the discovery of oil changed everything. Storytellers are Lisa J. Salas and Noah Wagner.

Blacksmith shop: Al and Margaret Cosyns tell stories of Belgian tenant farmers from the 1920s through the 1950s including how Sister saved a choking cow in a sugar beet field. Storytellers are Madison Mooney and Rick Reischman.

Stallion barn: Jesus Vasquez and Angie Sisneros Mariscal talk about friends, relatives, and how the big pine tree accidentally met its end. Storytellers are Roxanne Martinez and Bob Fetes.

Carolers: Jewel Box Children's Theater

Director: James Rice

Costume Design: Donna Fritsche

Volunteer Hosts

Volunteer hosts will work at the story-stops in three-hour shifts. This is a very important role. The hosts "pull back the curtain" on the performances by introducing the story and the actors. Hosts keep the presentations running on time and help attendees navigate the self-guided tours. A script card will be provided that includes background on the stories and introduces the actors.

Before the training sessions, volunteer hosts will receive a short instruction sheet explaining their role and information to keep the story-stops running smoothly.

Thirty-minute training sessions will be held November 9, 16, and 23 between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Contact Steve Squire or Margarete Villalobos to sign-up for a rehearsal date and time.

Photos top to bottom: Mike Hernandez in 1967, Pilar Linares (on the horseback) with Sarah Bixby and other family members in 1887, Margaret and Al Cosyns with friends at the Belgian Club in the 1950s, Jesus Vasquez in 1945, and Vicki Newcomer at 2023 Rancho Voices.

Meet Cottonwood Intern Angela Silva

Please tell us a little about your Rancho internship and the projects you’re working on.

I am working on an audio tour on the labor history here at Rancho Los Alamitos. Right now, I am working on writing the different stops by looking through oral histories from the families that

worked on the Rancho.

Can you talk a bit about what your projects will do for the Rancho?

My project will share the experiences and stories of the working families that shaped Rancho Los Alamitos. I want to share that although the workers' stories may not be in plain sight their experiences and contributions are crucial to understanding the history of Rancho Los Alamitos

and Long Beach.

Can you share a bit about yourself?

I am a student at CSULB majoring in History and Minoring in Anthropology with a focus on

Latin America and Medieval history. I am graduating this fall and hope to go to graduate school

in something related to archival or museum work. Last year I interned at the Historical Society of

Long Beach which shaped my love for archival work and research.

Is there anything else you’d like to say to the volunteers reading this?

Volunteering is not only a great way to give back to your community but an experience that helped me find what I want to pursue after graduation. I always encourage everyone to volunteer because you may discover you love doing something you never considered and meet many amazing people and communities along the way.

Volunteer Spotlight

Pam Santelman

Pam Santelman has had many roles at the Rancho during her eight years of service. She volunteers as a docent, garden greeter, museum shop clerk, and is part of RLA's Outreach Committee. In September, she portrayed Florence Bixby at Pam Lee's "To be Continued" celebration.

Tell us a bit about what you do as an RLA volunteer?

After taking the class to learn the history of the Rancho, I became a docent. At the time, our training included the gardens and barns. Besides my regular daily docent assignments, I give tours for various pre-arranged groups. I have also done the Tongva program and am part of the outreach and hospitality teams, as well as the museum shop.

What made you decide to become Rancho volunteer?

I had retired and searching for volunteer opportunities. I attended a volunteer workshop and was immediately captured by the warmth and enthusiasm of the Rancho volunteers and the staff.

What do you like best about the time you spend at the Rancho?

I love the peacefulness of the Rancho's environment, but the people I work with is what really makes it special. I enjoy giving tours and sharing the vast history of the Rancho with our visitors.

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

One of the funniest questions was when I was asked if the Bixbys grew marijuana on the ranch. The most challenging question to answer was to explain the oil rights that exist today.

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

I enjoy taking exercise classes at various gyms. I am a member of three different gyms. I love to entertain, decorate, shop estate sales, and meet friends for outings.

Which is the one word your friends and family would use to describe you?

I'd say "foofoo," meaning I like to dress up and over-decorate for the holidays.

What else do you want us to know?

I received my master's degree in dance from UCLA in 1973. For 41 years, I taught both high school and various colleges. I chaired the Fine Arts Department at the high school as well as began a small dance company for the high school. My last 14 years of teaching was a El Camino College where I was a full-time professor of dance. I taught the modern dance, improvisation, dance appreciation, choreography, and advanced dance classes.

I was married for 38 years and have one son and a grandchild from that son. I also have two stepchildren and three grandchildren between the two of them.

Top right: Pam as Florence Bixby at Pam Lee's September celebration. Photo by Doug Cox

Leadership Spotlight Interim Executive Director

Christine Petit PhD

You have an impressive background as an Executive Director and community partner with various organizations. Now that you’ve spent some time with the board, the employees, and the volunteers, how do you see your past experiences helping shape your work at the Rancho?

Thank you. My past experiences have equipped me well to serve as the Rancho’s Interim Executive Director and I’m so excited to take on this role. I won’t repeat my bio and resume here, but in addition to my professional experience, I'm an active member of the Long Beach community and have a personal connection to Rancho Los Alamitos (read more about it below!).

I also enjoy and am comfortable working with the diversity of people connected to the Rancho, including staff and volunteers, board members, public officials, community members, teachers and students, visitors, and neighbors. I love challenges and complexity, learning, and accomplishing big, juicy goals.

With a few weeks under your belt, as you look around, can you give us an idea of what you hope to accomplish in your first few months here?

I’m here to support the Rancho as it goes through a thoughtful and intentional process of selecting its next long-term Executive Director.

My role is—in partnership with the Board of Directors, our staff, and you—to ensure that during this interim period, we are maintaining and strengthening our operational excellence and staying focused on the advancement of our mission and organizational sustainability. I am also assessing and will make recommendations about our organizational structure and processes and am here to support the Rancho team throughout the succession process.

Almost everyone who comes to the Rancho is surprised and delighted by the ambiance of the ranch-setting. What was your first reaction? Were you surprised or just delighted to “step into a world” so unlike the rest of the city.

The first time I came to the Rancho was about 10 years ago. I was facilitating a retreat for the volunteer steering committee of the organization I was leading at the time and absolutely fell in love with the place.

I was in awe of the gardens and trees especially. Being originally from Oregon, I was thrilled to find a special slice of nature in Long Beach. Since my first visit, I have come to the Rancho many times for leadership programs that I have been part of—Leadership Long Beach and The Nonprofit Partners’ Emerging Leaders Program—as well as community events. I appreciate being here regularly now and learning about the history of the Rancho and its daily realities.

If it could be said there is a "fuel" for the Rancho, it's the volunteers. There is no part of the public-facing operation that doesn’t have volunteers central to the work. What’s the message you’d like to send to them?

Since my very first day on staff at the Rancho, I could see how important volunteers are to the success of our mission—inspiring a sense of community by educating and engaging visitors with our rich history, our compelling stories, and our authentic connections to California’s past. You are often the people who visitors first encounter, the people who guide visitors through our historic buildings and gardens, and who do crucial behind-the-scenes work to make history come alive for our guests. You also help bridge the past to our guests’ current experiences.

From what I can tell you’re also a fun group of people! I appreciate the invites for pie and snacks in the volunteer room and for the conversations I’ve had with some of you about what drew you to the Rancho and what keeps you coming back. I look forward to more of those conversations.

Thank you for all you do!

Can you tell us a little bit about your hobbies and interests? When you’re not working, what restores your energy and brings you joy?

Spending time with my family and friends brings me joy. My partner and I met at Rancho Los Alamitos if you can believe it! We were in the same Leadership Long Beach cohort and now have a seven-year-old daughter whom some of you have already met. I also love being in nature, eating good food, and singing karaoke on occasion.

Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

Thank you for the warm welcome. I truly appreciate it. Please feel free to reach out if you’d like to connect. My email is christinep@rancholosalamitos.org and I can be reached on my direct line at 650-887-1006.