April 2008:

It’s shocking and wonderful to realize that a meeting of nine women in the living room of my basement apartment at 32 Thompson Street in 1994 has resulted in the CineWomenNY organization of today! (The first “Cinebaby” – as she was dubbed – Silvie Reine Lefkovitz, was just bat mitvahed last weekend!)

The founding Board Members, which included Elizabeth London, Cecelia Gilchriest, Marcy Lefkovitz, Jennifer Lytton, Kim Martin, Christiane Siebert, Loren Segan, and myself, worked judiciously to fashion a structure and bylaws for an organization that would be able to survive and thrive for a long time. (We were aided tremendously in this process by John Ziaukas, our pro-bono attorney [and Loren’s husband].)

Our main goal in taking time to create CWNY’s governing principles was to ensure its ability to grow and change with time and membership. As we had all participated in not-for-profit organizations before, we spent time assessing possible pitfalls. Unanimously we agreed that possibly the most effective way to protect the organization’s longevity was to build rotation of leadership into its very core, both as tradition and as mandate. Looking at the long list of past presidents, it is clear that this notion has been acted upon and has served well.

It is amazing to read your newsletter and see the strides that have been made! Had we had email and web access when we started, it definitely would’ve ended those long night sessions of cutting and pasting the newsletter together (literally) and endless photocopying, folding, and post office runs!

Many thanks to all the women who have given their time, energy, and vision to this organization in the ensuing years, fashioning and refashioning CWNY in your own images and to suit your own needs. You have given CineWomen NY a rich and diverse legacy and a foundation that will serve it well in the decades to come!

Sincerely,

Beth Multer