Olive M. Smith (formerly known as Olive M. Sweet, born as Olive M. Flynn) is largely considered the La Mesa Branch of American Association of University Women’s first President. But Olive’s history with the La Mesa AAUW goes even further back then her tenure as the first President in 1951.
While 1951 is considered the formative year of the La Mesa Branch of the AAUW, the beginning of the La Mesa Branch of the AAUW actually starts in 1946. After a desire for a new clubhouse for the San Diego AAUW, a group of AAUW members formed the La Mesa Benefit Bridge Committee to raise funds. This group included Olive, who was a member of the San Diego AAUW as well as an alumni of San Diego State College. Olive and the Benefit Bridge Committee she joined ended up raising $175 dollars at their benefit. Accounting for inflation, they raised about $2,960 in 2026 dollars! After the success of the La Mesa Benefit Bridge, the committee all realized they had enjoyed meeting and working together so much that they wished to continue.
This desire led to committee member Joan Wilken writing a letter to the San Diego Branch of the AAUW requesting the formation of a separate La Mesa Branch of the AAUW. On May 1st of 1946, The La Mesa Benefit Bridge Committee met in Joan’s home to plan for the formation of this new La Mesa Branch, appointing Joan as the temporary Chairman. After the San Diego AAUW Branch returned Joan’s letter with words of encouragement, the new La Mesa Branch of the AAUW met for the second time on June 5th of 1946. At this meeting, they elected officers and started committees; Olive joined the Programs committee. Meeting times were decided for the First and Third Wednesdays, at the houses of members, with 24 women in attendance as the first members of the La Mesa AAUW. From May of 1946 until May of 1947, the La Mesa AAUW held more than 15 meetings!
On the 28th of May in 1947, the La Mesa AAUW held their first Installation meeting, voting for and appointing their first official officers. At this meeting, Olive was elected as Chairman, making her the first officially elected Chairman of the La Mesa AAUW! Olive wasn’t satisfied just being Chairman, however. She had a history in Fine Art, as she studied Art at San Diego State College and Pomona College under famous Mexican-American artist Alfredo Ramos Martinez and was a member of the SDSC Art Guild. Due to that, she submitted an oil painting named “The Flood” to the American Association of University Women San Diego Branch Creative Arts Award later that May, winning an award of high honors And in June, she joined a group of students from Scripps College for a tour of Mexico, including Mexico City and significant Mayan sites.
All this didn’t mean she shirked her duties, however! As AAUW Chairman, Olive led more than 20 meetings, including a joint-dinner with the El Cajon branch of the AAUW, the first contact between the La Mesa and El Cajon branches that would eventually join together. She presided over meetings on soil conservation with Mr. Dwight Ellison from US Department of Agriculture, the Domestic Arts courses offered at SDSC, Mr. Lloyd Ruocco giving a talk on art and architecture, and psychologist Miss Helen on helping the handicapped. By the time Olive turned the role of Chairman over to the next, the La Mesa AAUW had obtained 20 new members. But this wasn’t the end of Olive’s time with the La Mesa AAUW. She continued to be involved as a member, even leading meetings as part of the Membership Committee in her home at 8167 Pasadena Avenue in La Mesa.
On May 3rd of 1951, Olive received a letter from the President of the National AAUW Branch in Washington DC, Dr. Althea K. Hottel. In this letter, Dr. Hottel and her Board of Directors officially recognized the La Mesa Branch of the AAUW, making 1951 the first official year of the La Mesa AAUW. Later that month, Olive was elected the La Mesa AAUW’s first President. Over the five years between 1946 and 1951, Olive helped build the La Mesa AAUW from a humble beginnings as a Benefit Bridge Committee, becoming their first official Chairman and then their first official President. Under Olive’s leadership, the La Mesa Branch of the AAUW recognized their 100th member in February of 1952, one year after their first “official year” and 6 years after their first ever meeting. It took time for the La Mesa AAUW to blossom into its current success and reach, but Olive would’ve had it no other way. In the La Mesa AAUW’s first ever President’s Message, Olive writes:
“Greetings to our members in this the formative year of our A.A.U.W. La Mesa Branch Life. Epictetus, the Stoic philosopher, once said, ‘No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a fig or a bunch of grapes. If you tell me you desire a fig, I answer you there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit and then ripen.’
We shall endeavor by full membership cooperation and participation to personify the time element. Our process of organization representing the ‘Blossoming,’ our efforts through committees and study sections the ‘Bearing of the Fruit,’ and our achievements the ‘Ripening.’
A college president recently said that one of the prime purposes of education is to make the individual conscious that he or she is the Government. We heartily subscribe to this type of thinking, but go further and assert, as educated individuals, that we are conscious of the fact that through the aims and practical application of the members of the A.A.U.W. to the complex problems of modern living, we add an integral part.
By serving in my advisory capacity in civic and community affairs, and by our intelligent and strengthening influence in the sphere of education, we exemplify the role we have in the fine heritage that is America. Thus, guided by the wisdom of Epictetus, while we work and play throughout the year, let us be ever cognizant of the fact that we are following the path that in time leads to fruition.”