Sandi Mende, with the help of friend Katie Hoepke, formed the Pleasanton Mother’s Club in July 1992, making it the 22nd mothers club in the Bay Area.

 

In the beginning, Sandi dutifully approached local businesses and organizations to help fund a workshop to get the club off and running. The Pleasanton Police Department generously contributed half of what they needed to start the group, the rest Sandi personally funded.

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She designed a flyer and distributed it to local kid-friendly establishments, the Stoneridge Mall, and to any woman she saw with a stroller. Her hard work and dedication paid off. She received 50 calls from women interested in joining the club within a two-week period.

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Fifteen women attended the workshop and became the first Board of Directors: Sandi Mende, Kristi Hausmann, Jennifer Koolhoven, Susan Lopez, Kim Maslana, Frances Vaculin, Yvonne Hoppe, Andrea Holmquist, Elaine Swerdon, Rose Deming, Leslie Prud'homme, Tammy Schoonover, Cheryl Sankary, Helen Ott, and Cheryl Burleigh.

 

Their first official PMC meeting was October 20, 1992. They organized playgroups, holiday parties, kids’ outings, and the newsletter. And with each meeting, they grew larger and larger, gaining approximately 10 members a month. They set a maximum of 100 members and reached it in just eight months. Over the last thirty years, PMC has continued to provide a village in the Tri-Valley for both mothers and children to create lasting relationships.   

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Each year at our Mother’s Day Brunch, we honor a member of the PMC with the Sandi Mende award for outstanding service to the club.

 

Thank you Sandi!