Prime Poway Woman No. 8: Pauline Getz

She has a slogan: “Live, work, play, pray and pay in Poway!” And, by living by her slogan, Pauline Getz has found success enough to be named a Prime Poway Woman.

Getz, a business attorney, is involved in various groups including the Rotary Club of Poway, Palomar Pomerado Health District, Women In Business, Business Executives Council, St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Church, the Martin and Delia Gold Health Center, Junior Achievement and Poway Community Leadership Institute.

Though her involvement in Poway is deep, Getz said to be nominated for the PPW honor is a “little embarrassing.”

“But it makes me feel really proud and very grateful,” she said. “If you have a heart for service, you don’t do it for the gratitude, but everyone enjoys being appreciated. It is also a little humbling because in Poway there are scores and scores of amazing women. It’s one of the hallmarks of this town. I think I’m in pretty good company.”

Getz said for women to find success in a male-dominated world, women need to “rise above it and simply get the job done.”

“My advice to other women is to be the best you are capable of being and focus on the job you are doing, not on someone else’s opinion,” she said. “I learned a long time ago that it does you no good to focus on the opinions of people who you do not respect.”

What does Women's History Month mean to you?

“About 30 years ago, I was a member of the Council of 100, which was a group of 100 women who underwrote and spoke for a yearlong exhibit at the Fresno Arts Center and Museum, celebrating American women artists. It was a powerful experience because it taught me some very important things I had never been exposed to, and gave us the chance to bring those things to the attention of the community. Until this kind of knowledge and appreciation are ubiquitous, we must continue to find ways to shine a light on them. It makes a statement about what is important to us, and about what we are capable of.  It is important that we continue to take seriously our responsibility as role models for girls and young women, as well as our responsibility as community citizens.”