Marcia A. Merrins was elected to a second term on the LWVUS Board of Directors in 2010. She is a longtime active member who has developed a profound, practical body of knowledge about leadership skills necessary to be a successful League leader. She has instituted the Ida Trager Regional Workshop throughout the state where League leaders receive leadership training and dialogue issues with state board members. She has also served as chair of the LWVNYS Education Foundation.

Ms. Merrins is a Brooklyn bred New Yorker, who has lived in Chautauqua County since 1974. She graduated from Hunter College in NYC with a dual degree in Biology and Elementary Education and continued with graduate work at SUNY Fredonia. She has served on numerous boards in her community. She is a “foremother” of the Chautauqua County Commission on Women’s Issues. Ms. Merrins serves on the Fredonia Academic Community Engagement Center advisory board. She has served on the local school board for five years.

Jogging and tennis are enjoyed almost daily. Ms. Merrins always finds time for bridge, mahjong, gourmet cooking, and a good book. She recently started a business showcasing her clay and fiber art, Kniti Griti Works. She has been a certified ski instructor. For fun, annually for 17 years, she portrays Elf Holly on the local access “Talk to Santa Show.”

Ms. Merrins and husband Jim enjoy day hiking on adventures around the world as well as crewing on the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race each fall. They are the proud parents of three adult children and three amazing grandchildren (of course), Mabel, Collin and Oliver Henry.