President: Lynn Bornstein: 1983 + 2000/2001

I was a young mother of twenty-six when my Mill  Valley neighbor, Mrs. Zaida Hartman, invited me to join, what was then known, as Marin Charitable Foundation: an organization which granted seed money for worthy children's projects. Funds for these grants were made by way of a Debutante Ball. My first task, upon joining, was with the Ball but, due to the Vietnam War, many girls invited, opposed to the idea of coming out. Hence, we were obliged to discover new means of funding. We did this through various events: fashion shows, a Christmas Dance and approaching foundations for grants. Because of this we changed our name to Marin Charitable Association.  

During the following years, I was very active in writing grant proposals and visiting our own prospective grantees; something no other funding organization did. As years went by, I chaired various committees:  Membership, Grants, Ways and Means, wrote the Newsletter and served as Secretary.  BTW in those days, we hand-wrote all invitations for both board and general meetings!   

In 1983 I received a phone call from our president, Barbra Geisler, asking if I would serve as President. Barbie and I were both in our very early forties which, back then, especially in Marin Charitable Association, was very young to hold such high office. 

Proudest moment was leading my first meeting with some of the oldest members present.  I admired and loved those women especially Mmes, Maud Linder,  Marge Mawaring and Eleanor Mosden.: mentors in my future life as a community volunteer. 

Serving as president was central in my knowledge and confidence to serve, and lead, many other organizations in Marin County, including  Marin Heritage, The Henry Bothin Center,  Marin Environmental Museum, the Democratic Central Committee and the Library and Fine Arts commissions.   

Twenty years after my first term, now a grandmother, I was honored to serve two terms as president of Marin Charitable.