Ralf (Debora) Shaw was a faculty member in the IU School of Library and Information Science. Before coming to IU, she worked for the Indiana State Library and the University of Illinois. Now retired, Ralf is the LWV-BMC spokesperson, co-chair of the Voter Service Committee, and a member of the DEI Unit. She has worked on our League’s newsletter, redistricting efforts, legislative updates, and voter guides. (league@lwv-bmc.org)

Marion Krefeldt joined the League in 2020. She is semi-retired after a varied career stretching from Germany to the US. Trained as a nurse in her native Germany, Marion moved to the US in the 1970s and to Bloomington in 1980. Marion moved into information technology in the 1980s and digital art in the 1990s. Marion remains active in business today, renting a small number of affordable houses in Bloomington. Marion has always been actively involved in her community and has served on several nonprofit boards. Her political activities include as a volunteer in three presidential elections and making sure elderly residents in Monroe County have a way to vote. 

Marion became a naturalized US citizen in 2008 so that she could participate in voting personally. Today she is particularly focused on the problems facing the unhoused in Bloomington and the economics of home ownership in Bloomington generally. As a grandparent Marion is also very concerned about global climate change. Marion’s hobbies include running, kayaking, biking, and swimming. The organizations in which Marion has volunteered include Area 10 for the Aging, Habitat for Humanity, and Beacon. 

Annamaria Mecca is a retired speech pathologist who has resided in Bloomington for over 40 years. She joined the National League of Women Voters in 2017 and later joined the local chapter. Her main interest has been in the area of voter service, which reflects her years of having worked for Monroe County at Election Central. Additionally, Annamaria would like to help the League move toward more diversity in its membership.

She is involved with the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, The Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and The Boys and Girls Club. She enjoys reading, puzzles (crossword and jigsaw) and bicycle touring. She has one son who also resides in Bloomington. (team@lwv-bmc.org)

Nancy Boerner is a retired IU librarian, co-author of Goethe: Journeys of the Mind, and translator from German to English of a biography of Goethe as well as various articles. She has been a League member for more than 50 years, first in Madison, Wisconsin, and then in Bloomington, holding positions including president, secretary, and treasurer. Currently, in addition to serving as secretary, she is a member of the DEI unit and the Communications Committee, where she is responsible for writing press releases. She has also served on the board of the Local Council of Women, writing and editing their newsletter. (secretary@lwv-bmc.org)

Ted Emigh (pronounced “Amy”) retired from college teaching at NCSU. He has taught statistics, computer science, human genetics, population genetics, and general genetics. He and his wife, Gini, decided to retire near grandchildren in Bloomington. Recently, he has been studying how to bring statistical analysis into the problem of gerrymandering, which is not as easy as it may seem.  (treasurer@lwv-bmc.org)

Alec Blake is a native of Bloomington but spent some time living in Indianapolis with her family. After returning to Bloomington to attend IU in 2019, Alec was immediately drawn to nonprofits and social services. She has worked with Middle Way House, Monroe County Public Library, and Bloomington Developmental Learning Center. She is the Program Coordinator for Girls Inc of Monroe County and feels particularly passionate about providing empowering services to young women and girls of our community. She became a member of the League in 2023, interested in expanding voter services and education, especially to young people who do not have much experience in voting or political engagement yet and to those who do not feel represented. 

George Hegeman is a retired microbial biochemist. He joined the League in the 1990s when his wife, Sally, was president of the local League. Drawn first to the League by Sally’s interests in health care policy, he has always found appealing the League’s thoughtful, nonpartisan approach to good government through voter service and advocacy. He is particularly interested in health policy, environmental issues, voting systems, and voter education.

George and Sally came to Bloomington in 1972 with their son and daughter. They have four grandchildren. George is an avid gardener, orchardist, and beekeeper. He is also a member of the Monroe County Health Board, the Bloomington City Tree Commission, and serves as a student advocate at IU. 

Becky Hill has been a freelance writer for the past twelve years, writing on topics such as science, science education, literacy, education, and parenting. She joined LWV-BMC in 2019 when she moved to Bloomington from Indianapolis She was a member of the Indiana League of Women Voters while in Indianapolis. Her main interest in joining the League is to promote voter and civic education. Currently, she chairs the Communications Committee, manages the League’s social media accounts, designs artwork for use in League publicity, and produces the podcast “Civic Conversations.”  

She is a graduate from Purdue University. She has a J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law and a Masters in Information and Library Sciences from IUPUI. She serves on the Purdue University Library Dean's Council and also as a board member and writer for the Limestone Post, a nonprofit journalism organization. She enjoys reading, biking, hand embroidery, and spending time with her family.  

Nancy Riggert has been a Bloomington resident for almost 40 years, ever since she and her husband, Bill, moved here as newlyweds in 1986. Her interest in LWV-BMC stems from the respect she has held for its reputation for defending democracy through nonpartisan efforts to facilitate voter education and protecting voting rights.

Nancy currently serves as an advocate in the IU Student Advocates Office. She is also a member of the Bloomington Animal Care and Control Board. Before making the choice to stay at home with their two children, Nancy worked at Indiana University as Director of the Alcohol-Drug Information Center. Prior to that she was a health educator at Planned Parenthood.

Diedre Todd was born in Bloomington and received her education degrees from IU. She taught in Columbus, Indiana, where she met her Australian husband. They lived in Columbus and in Perth and Adelaide, Australia, and in Bloomington. She has two sons and two grandchildren. While in Columbus she was active in the Indianapolis Museum of Art in Columbus, a satellite of the Indy museum. She joined the League in the early 2000s.

Pearl Vinard is a junior at Indiana University in Bloomington and a student member of the Leadership Team. She is studying two majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, criminal justice and political science. She is working toward the Political and Civic Engagement (PACE) certificate, which will build upon both majors. She is from Greenwood, Indiana, and has loved learning about and watching both state and federal government since she was younger. Her parents have always taken her to the polls even before she was able to vote. She loves to go to sporting events and concerts in her free time. 

She became an active member in the LWV-BMC in 2023 as a student director. She wants to be a connecting voice from students at IU to the League. She wants young people's voices to be heard in the local community of Bloomington. These opportunities open up with being involved as a student employee within PACE in the BIG10 Voting Challenge. She also is involved with the PACE leadership board. Both of these activities provide growth in her leadership experience as well as making her a well-rounded human being.

Janani Eswaran grew up in Carmel, Indiana, and is currently a sophomore at the Indiana University – Kelley School of Business. At IU, she is pursuing a major in economic consulting and business analytics, and a minor in philosophy.

Upon entering college, she was one of just five students awarded the prestigious Thomasson Scholarship from the Kelley Institute for Social Impact (KISI) – an office which connects business students to opportunities surrounding community service and sustainability. Through KISI, she has served as a vice president for two student organizations, planned and hosted 17 educational events, worked and consulted with nonprofits at the local and international level, and even traveled to Greece to participate in a service-learning trip.

As for her League involvement, she joined the board of the statewide League (LWVIN) in mid-2023 and joined the leadership team of the Bloomington League (LWV-BMC) in 2024. She serves on the LWVIN Investment and Social Media Committee, on the LWV-BMC Budget Committee, and has served as an observer for the national League organization.