Volunteers are the heart and soul of any volunteer organization, and the League of Women Voters of Alachua County (LWVAC) is no exception. While many volunteers are visible in their roles as leaders, advocates, and organizers, there are also those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the organization run smoothly. These unsung heroes often perform critical tasks essential to the success of the organization. As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week, it is important to recognize and thank these dedicated individuals for their selfless service and the vital role they play in advancing the mission of the LWVAC. Without their hard work and commitment, the organization would be unable to achieve its goals and make a meaningful impact in the community.
During this Volunteer Appreciation Week, we thank all of our volunteers and would like to introduce you to:
Candy Birch
Anne D’Amico
Diane Dimperio
Elaine Francis
Linda Mussillo
Winnie Perez
Marcia Storch
These are just a few of the volunteers who you may not know but play an important role in LWVAC and the community. If you meet them, be sure to thank them for their service.
What to get involved? info [at] lwv-alachua.org (Contact us)!
Not a member yet? Join today!
Candy Birch
About
Candy has assisted VS co-chairs in tabling events, petition drives, VS meetings and attended Lobby Days with the LWV group in Tallahassee. She also served as moderator for both candidate forums.
Favorite Thing about the League
LWV is a well-respected national organization that is widely admired for its commitment to well-researched nonpartisan positions and advocacy on issues that affect all Americans from local to national. There are so many intelligent, compassionate women and men working together for good causes!
Fun Fact
Now that she has retired from her short stint as a DCF Children's Legal Services paralegal specialist, Candy can devote more time to her three grandsons. She has also done on-air fundraising several times for NPR stations (KCUR in Missouri and WUFT in Florida).
Anne D’Amico
About Anne
Anne has helped collect petitions for the Right to Clean Water amendment and she also volunteered for this year's Budget Committee. There she was very interested in the process and made several helpful comments during the meetings. She's a valuable member of the team.
Favorite Thing about the League
The League Women and Men are smart, and respect facts and ideas. Every day, they do the hard work to find out what it going on so we can be better informed, to give citizens a voice, and keep democracy alive. Working together gives me is hope that we can do something to make this a kinder, and a fairer world.
Fun Fact
In the 1970’s, Anne first heard of the LWV when her mother became President of her local Missouri chapter. As a teenager, Anne first heard the debates about the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and saw some of the first televised nonpartisan presidential debates. It was a politically conscious era, and Anne found the League to be a force for reliable and trustworthy information.
Diane Dimperio
About
Diane is one of this chapter's most hardworking members. She has done everything from distributing Voter Guides to serving on the Board. Diane is also a continuous voice for Medicaid expansion in the state and local LWV. Recently, she was the impetus for the program on Moore v. Harper, which really set a model for the sort of educational activities the LWV should be doing.
Favorite Thing about the League
One of the things I like best about the League of Women Voters is our commitment to study and action. Our core activities of advocacy and education are based on policies resulting from data driven research and thoughtful analysis.
Fun Fact
Diane likes to start her day drinking a cup of coffee while watching deer grazing in her front yard, squirrels scampering around her oak trees and birds gathering her feeders.
Elaine Francis
About
Elaine has been a consistent and instrumental volunteer for both Voter registration tabling as well as petition drive efforts.
Favorite Thing about the League
I feel really fortunate to be involved with an organization that is held in such high esteem by the public. The nonpartisan focus on issues so essential to the health and welfare of our democracy is important work. Engaging with strong women and men in this pursuit is uplifting!
Fun Fact
Elaine learned to fly in a Piper Cub on a grass strip….a tail dragger which required a three point landing…
Linda Mussillo
About
Linda was an active and consistent tabling volunteer who single handedly organized the Moore vs Harper panel held at Santa Fe College on March 2.
Favorite Thing about the League
I am awed and inspired by the level of commitment and engagement of the League of Women Voters members and can't think of a better or more important mission!
Fun Fact
Linda is a native New Yorker and an avid opera buff who enthusiastically returns to the city annually for an opera/girlfriend weekend at the incredible Metropolitan Opera.
Winnie Perez
About
Winnie has taken part in many tabling opportunities in the past year as well as taken the initiative of distributing fliers and posters advertising our election forums
Favorite Thing about the League
Meeting other like-minded women and men who feel a call to action to make this a better state by being pro-active regarding political decisions by our elected officials and the means to have our voices heard.
Fun Fact
Winnie thinks keeping the body and the mind active is important in the aging process. Use it or lose it!
Marcia Storch
About
Marcia has done many tabling events in the past year, and in addition has collected many petitions for the RTCW at the Haile Plantation farmers’ market
Favorite Thing about the League
My favorite thing about the League is the sense of community and the impact on democracy in my community it has. I consider them a reliable resource to make clearer many things in our government that confuse me. I also like to be part of voter registration and especially impactful to remove voter suppression. They make me proud to be part of them, and the ability to volunteer for an ethical and honest group like the League is awesome.
Fun Fact
Being a retired educator, Marcia has tutored at the Pineridge Community, facilitated the spelling bee at a local middle school, but has returned to quilting, doing community work, and enjoying nine grandchildren who range from 23-2.
