Here We Grow Again!

“Here we grow again,” smiles Elona Vaisnys, membership co-chair, as the Hamden-North Haven League of Women Voters welcomes new members. Ann Martinuzzi brings to the League a background in real estate, strategic planning, contract negotiations, and business. She relocated from Michigan where she owned a hair salon and was a broker. She was also a residential brick sales representative and for 21 years served on the board of Best Block, a family-owned manufacturer and distributor of masonry and landscaping retaining wall systems products. For 17 years she also volunteered as a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts years, which is not surprising, because Ann has a B.A. in graphic design from Michigan State University. She also has an M.A. in business communications from Eastern Michigan University. After moving to Hamden last year, Ann began volunteering for Arts for Learning Connecticut. She was soon asked to join the board and is now Development Associate for Arts for Learning Connecticut that promotes art in schools, libraries, community centers, businesses, and wherever else art can enrich lives. Diane Hoffman brings to the League extensive civic experience. She has served on the Hamden Clean and Green Commission, the Hamden Earth Day Planning Committee, and on Charter Reform Now (Hamden adopted a new charter in 2011). She was active in the Hamden Alliance for Responsible Taxation, volunteered for the Sage Services of CT money management program, and presented banking information at New Haven area senior citizen centers. She was also a facilitator for the UCONN Cooperative Extension System Women's Financial Management Seminar series, treasurer of the Shoreline Salvation Army, and serves as secretary for the Dunbar Hill Civic Association. Diane works at Chapel Haven Inc., an educational facility for adults with cognitive disabilities and was formerly with Civic Education Project Inc., an international organization providing western style education in Central, Southern and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Mongolia. Diane has a B.A. in social work from Southern Connecticut State University and an American Institute of Banking Diploma and a Williams School of Banking Diploma from Williams College. The League of Women Voters, active in all 50 states, seeks to increase citizen understanding of public policy issues and to make citizens more aware of how we are governed. LWV seeks to influence public policy through education and advocacy but is serious about neither supporting nor opposing political parties or candidates. Men have been joining LWV since 1974 and now head two of the 27 local Leagues (chapters) in Connecticut. To discuss joining the League, call 203/248-8035, write membership@lwvct.org, or visit www.lwvct.org