• How did you hear about the PPAGLA?

I was a member of the Orange County PRESS Club and my editor Don Clever encouraged me to join PPAGLA. I already knew LA Times photogs Ben Olender, Larry Sharkey and Cliff Otto when I covered the Ram home football games, USC home football games and the Angels home baseball games. I thought joining was a great idea to learn.

• When did you become a member of PPAGLA?

In 1976 I attended a board meeting as a visitor with Cliff Otto who drove into LA from city of Orange. Bob Duricka was president and welcome me. In 1977 I was a board member, 1978 Vice President, 1979 President, 1980 Chairman of the Board. 1982 Secretary.

• Who did you shoot for and when?

LaHabra Daily Star Progress 1971-1977 as their only staff photog. Knotts Berry Farm 1977-1990 as their first permanent media photojournalist. Q: How long have you been a photojournalist and how did you get started? 19 years. Not counting the two years I was shooting for my high school's annual Yearbook. I've always had the natural extinction to be a part of the news field. In 1971 the LaHabra newspaper was looking to fill the position of the photographer as the current one fled to Canada to avoid Vietnam. It took one assignment and I was hired.

• What are your memories of your presidency?

The wonderful support from TV cameraman John Milek, Times Joel Lugavere, my kid Rick Meyer and charming funny Delmar Watson and my Board of Directors all. Awed and honored for Mayor Tom Bradley to come to my president installation at the Biltmore Hotel and present him the 26th annual of Just One More. Following that being interviewed by Johnny Grant on channel 5 TV as taking the helm of once was all-male organization. I was cool, calm and collected. Thrilled to fly in twin engine Beechcraft airplane for an assignment from Ontario airport (10,700 feet elevation) to Sacramento capitol for an award ceremony that Governor Ronald Reagan is holding to honor California Boy of the Year who was from LaHabra. I was part of the sideline photographers at a USC vs Notre Dame football game. Quarterback Pat Hayden on 5 yard line couldn't find his receiver and ran off sides, missing Ben Olender and the 'bear' from UPI, Ernie Schwork and even tho I had stepped backwards 10 feet i got broadsided by Hayden. He helped me up and apologized. The Coliseum announcer publicly voiced his opinion saying "ladies and gentlemen that's why women should not be allowed on the field". Apparently he did not know I was a working photog just like the guys. Hayden connected on next throw and won the game. After all it was the 70's. I can't deny my infamous entry into the all male Angels baseball players locker room. On assignment from the Star sports editor to capture Nolan Ryan going for a no-hitter game. Rockwell International was monitoring his fast ball at 104 mph. Gene Autry sent word he was waiting to congratulate Ryan. Following the other newsman to the locker room, I had my battery operated Nikon camera ready for that one shot. I let my camera click away and shot a 36 frame roll of black and white. When quizzed why did I go there? "I wasn't there to play peek-a- boo, I was doing my job". Angels PR man George Lederer at the next home game called me from the field to the broadcast booth and presented me with a fancy black satin eye shade as the 1st woman photojournalist to enter their locker room. The LA Times jumped on the story and asked my editor if I can be interviewed. The story (at my age of 45) of my journey was featured on front page of LA Times Orange County section and my photo shooting at the World Football game in Anaheim stadium. I covered local drug busts, high school football players streaking across school grounds, fashion shows, auto accidents, local (terrible lighting) high school baseball and football, auto racing at Ontario's speedway. At Knott's I shot everything from chicken eating contests, highwire aerialist, Michael Jackson wanting free entry to 2 roller coasters (privately) for his 2 small boys, one was Shaun Lennon, to O.J. Simpson joking around with Knott's gunfighters stuntman to President Gerald conferencing with Russell Knott, an owner. 14 years of photographing of the small amusement park details to the large i.e. when Charles Schultz turned the dirt shovel to open Camp Snoopy.

• What advice do you have for students etc.

• Today's cameras are very high tech. No comparison to what I worked with 40 years ago. Advice.....know your stuff and don't give up. Listen to the professionals and your parents. Be ambitious. Be devoted.

  
  

• What is your favorite part of being a PPAGLA

  Friendships. Being the start of the Scholarship Fund with Rick Meyer. Ages ago the annual awards dinner was held at the Airplane restaurant called the Proud Bird near LAX. I foned photogs I knew to ask them to bring a bottle of wine for each table. Their donation and willingness to help gave Rick Meyer an idea to initiate the beginning of our scholarship fund campaign. His amazing tenacity continues today.....Ages later.

• What are your websites?

  NONE I'M RETIRED. I text, WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger.