Ronni Diamondstein Announces Library Board Candidacy

From Ronni Diamondstein: Ronni Diamondstein, a long-time Chappaqua resident has announced her candidacy for the Chappaqua Library Board of Trustees. The election is Tuesday, May 16, 2017. In a letter to friends and neighbors Ronni wrote:

“It’s National Library Week and School Library Media Month so it seems most fitting that as a Continuing Lifetime Member of the American Library Association I write to you to let you know that I am a candidate for the Chappaqua Library Board of Trustees. After living in Chappaqua for nearly twenty years and with over forty years of experience in public and school libraries, and volunteering in many civic and cultural organizations in the area, it is the right time for me to continue to serve the community in this way.”

Ronni, a freelance writer, public relations specialist and award-winning photographer, retired from the White Plains Schools as a Library Media Specialist in 2013. She has worked in public and school libraries in the US and abroad.

Ronni was voice behind the “Maggie Mae Pup Reporter” column, a regular feature of Inside Chappaqua for many years and wrote several cover stories on the Chappaqua Fire Department, Female First Responders, and the Chappaqua Interfaith Council. “My goal has always been to inform and to shine a light on the people and the good things that are happening in our town,” said Ronni. She bylines have appeared in The New York Times, Women’s News, USA Trade Today, Women’s News, Window on the Netherlands and WAG magazine.

In her business, Community Services Resources, LLC, she helps high school students craft their college application essays.

Her most recent volunteer activities are:

*League of Women Voters of New Castle Board of Directors, Program Director since 2016 Responsible for Women’s History Month celebration honoring former Town Supervisor Polly Kuhn, Media and Politics: The Impact on Our Democracy Forum and Nonfiction Book Discussion Group Leader

*New Castle Community Media Center Board of Directors since 2014: Secretary and Chair, Publicity Committee

*Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival, 2013-2016; Author Relations and Board Member—brought in many diverse and award-winning authors and illustrators to the festival

Ronni believes the Chappaqua Library is about to undergo a transformation and she can make a difference that way as a voice for the community:

“With the two major construction projects coming in the next few years—the parking lot and the building renovation—there is a need for solid support from the Board of Trustees to communicate to our community about the changes and challenges this brings. There are also financial challenges and I have many creative ideas for enhancing the financial resources of the Library. The Library’s Long Range Strategic Plan includes Community Connections and Public Awareness, two areas where my proven communication and networking skills will be an asset.”

Her other accomplishments are:

*Public Relations and Marketing Consultant: The English Stream School (H.S.) Rotterdam Municipal Schools, the Netherlands, 1990-1991

*Media Strategist: Games for Heroes student charity to collect video games to send to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan

*Temple Beth El of NW-Communications Committee 2003-present; Former Adult Education Committee Chair

*Year of the Reader Celebration and City-wide Readers Fair, White Plains; Co-chair 1996-1997

Photo courtesy of Ronni Diamondstein