The Cahuilla Chapter celebrated its 70th anniversary at the December 2018 monthly luncheon meeting held at a country club facility in Rancho Mirage, CA. The chapter was formed by a group of twenty-six Palm Springs area women in 1948, and was named for the indigenous people of the Coachella Valley. The word means master or powerful—not only physical, but mental, spiritual and deep inner strength.
The anniversary meeting was dedicated to the memory of the 26 founding members by Regent, Noma Bruton. A speech originally delivered by Past-Regent (and founding member), Clarice Joseph, on the occasion of the chapter’s 45th anniversary, was read to those in attendance by current Vice-Regent, Alice Barnhart.
The program, “Pioneering Women of Cathedral City” was presented by Peter Paladino, co-founder of the Agnes Pelton Society. Agnes Pelton was a modernist painter whose work will receive recognition in 2019 during a Phoenix Art Museum exhibition, “Agnes Pelton: Desert Transcendentalist”. Ms. Pelton lived and worked in the Palm Springs/Cathedral City area from the 1930s-1960s and was one of the chapter’s 26 founding members.
Anniversary cake and a fun gift-basket raffle topped off the celebration.
The Cahuilla chapter is active in the Coachella Valley through participation in veterans’ commemorative events, the American History essay contest, JROTC programs, scholarship/good citizenship recognition of local students and Community Service and Outstanding Teacher awards.
Photo L to R: Past Regent, Peg Ellington, Regent, Noma Bruton, Honorary Regents Mona Lowe and Joanne Hardy.