You likely didn’t know that Phyllis’ remarks at a luncheon of a group of professional women were the catalyst for starting the Association for Women in Communication Santa Barbara. Before the AWCSB was formally organized, Publisher Mindy Bingham and Producer Deborah Hutchison and Lois Phillips believed that the networking between women working in diverse communication fields, industries, and disciplines would be dynamic. To test the waters, Mindy hosted a luncheon held at La Cumbre Country Club to which each of them invited friends. The purpose of the luncheon was twofold: to explore interest in the formation of AWCSB and to provide a dynamic role model, honoring someone who demonstrated communication and leadership skills. 

Our choice for speaker was Phyllis De Picciotto. We asked her to speak about her experiences in the film industry and the process of founding and funding the SB Film Fest. Phyllis’ took her assignment seriously, producing a Power Point slide show and regaling the group with interesting and amusing events. Her remarks describing her career and founding the SBIFF were fascinating to everyone and the event honored her with a gift and bouquet as a model for what then became the “Women of Achievement” events.

We had invited 35 women that day, everyone showed up, and because of the excitement in the room, immediately encouraged us to go forward with formalizing the organization and everyone signed up to be a member! We quickly joined AWC, a national organization at the time. The Association of Women in Communication owes Phyllis a debt of gratitude for her willingness to help us produce a pivotal event in the founding of our organization. Phyllis’ legacy will continue to inspire other women. As she said in her interview, her motto is “Imagine the possibilities. Dare to do the impossible.” At this time of loss, the Board of AWCSB sends our most sincere condolences to her husband, Stan Roden, and her family.