Mar 12, 2019
Before
a long trip road, Wanda Stadum brought her dog to stay with a
friend in Yucca Valley. After her trip, Wanda returned to retrieve
her dog only to find he had gone missing. Wanda looked
around, liked what she saw and decided to move to the
desert.
Wanda
was no stranger to the Hi-Desert. She and her sister had tagged
along with their Scoutmaster Dad when he'd bring his troops to camp
and hike at what then known as Joshua Tree National
Monument.
With a
background in graphic arts and a knack for hand-lettering signs,
Wanda opened a sign business with her new found love, Bob. From her
tipi, pitched in the backyard of her Yucca Valley friend, Wanda had
waved at Bob as he rode by on his bicycle one evening - the rest is
history. The business thrived for 30 years - their love, even
longer.
Since
her arrival to the hi-desert, Wanda has been very active in her
community and her involvement and dedication has been recognized by
many organizations including the San Bernardino County Board of
Supervisors, the California Legislature Assembly, the Elks,
Soroptomist International, the
Basin Wide Foundation and the organization she now leads as
President/CEO, the Yucca Valley Chamber of
Commerce.
Wanda
loves being physically active as well - she's voluntarily taught
water aerobics at two local pools for 35 years. She credits health
and fitness as one of the main reasons she has the energy, attitude
and time to give to her community.
Wanda
is currently reading 'First Colony', a sci-fi fantasy
series by Ken Lozito and her recommended desert reading, especially
for a view of life as a single woman homesteader, are books by
Susan Lang.