Sheila Firestone is a composer, holds a M.S. Ed degree, is the Music Chair of the Boca Raton NLAPW since 2003, and was Branch President from 2014 to 2018. As a Delian Society member, Sheila’s orchestral works were performed in Seattle WA, France, England, and Japan. Sheila’s Trio and Dance was performed in Washington DC. Her choral work, Abraham Lincoln, was published in the NLAPW, Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln Commemorative Collage.
In 2016 Sheila won 2nd Place in the National Vinnie Ream Music Competition. Sheila was Patroness President of the University of Miami Music Fraternity (1996-2005), which dedicated annual concerts to her works. She founded Songs for a New Day, publishing whole-language songs and activities. Web site: www.sheilafirestone.com
Email: sheilasong@mac.com
1st VICE PRESIDENT, Programs
2nd Co-Vice President, Membership
Louise Parente, PhD, LCSW, CEDS
Letters
Dr. Louise Parente is a certified eating disorder specialist, psychotherapist, educator, supervisor and personal coach. She was an Assistant Professor at New York University School of Social Work. In 2020, Dr. Parente was awarded the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. She is the author of Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow: Saying goodbye to an eating problem.
Louise conducts presentations on her specialty topics at conferences, symposiums, hospitals and other venues. She is a native of Staten Island and now resides in Florida and New Jersey. Visit her website to read an excerpt of her book.
Email: lparentephd@yahoo.com
2nd Co-Vice President, Membership
Marilyn Davis
Letters
Email: marilyndavis1205@gmail.com
Co-TREASURER
3rd Vice President, Website Administration
Elaine Bossik
Letters
Elaine Bossik is a novelist and screenwriter. Her debut novel, The Last Victim, is a literary romance about a family dominated by a mother obsessed with hoarding money. As a staff writer for Scriptologist.com, Elaine wrote articles for aspiring screenwriters. After receiving BA and MS degrees from Brooklyn College in NY, Elaine pursued multiple careers – teacher, advertising copywriter, magazine editor, and medical writer.
Elaine conducts book talks, book club and panel discussions, and writing workshops.
Email: elainebossik@yahoo.com
Co-TREASURER
Carol White
Letters
Carol White has been a member of the Boca Raton Branch for over 20 years. She is an award-winning novelist, playwright, photographer, and freelance writer. Carol is the official photographer for the Boca Raton Branch as well as for two other organizations. Her essays and columns have been published by The Sun Sentinel, Writers Journal, Insight for Playwrights, Working Writers, Woman’s World, The Florida Writer, and Senior Scene.
Her organizations: South Florida Theatre League, Florida Writers Association, Florida Mystery Writers, and National Women’s Book Association. She was the former Executive Producer for the Boca Raton Theatre Guild.
Email: polowhite@aol.com
Dayle Herstik
Letters
Dayle Herstik has been writing since her teens. Her collection of poems, When We Were Perfect, reflects her thoughts and feelings which evolved over the years. Her collection of flash fiction, Life Happens, is based on her true life experiences. She is presently working on her next publication, based on her philosophy of life as it relates to nature. It can be said that she was influenced by her mother, Ruth Grande Halle, who was a member of the Boca Raton Branch of Pen Women.
Email: Dayle227@aol.com
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
Letters
COMMITTEES
Art Chair: Phyllis Elrich
Website Editor: Elaine Bossik
1976-1978 Gay Diss*
1978-1980 Athea Duron*
1980-1982 Julie Malear
1982-1984 Mildred Reid*
1984-1986 Katherine Sisson*
1986-1988 Edith Mize Louis*
1988-1990 Joyce Stedelbauer
1990-1992 Rozanna LeWinter*
1992-1994 Betty Feder*
1994-1996 Jean E. Holmes
1998-2000 Bea Doone Merena
2000-2002 Dori Popenoe*
2002-2004 Phoebe Marner
2004-2006 Pat Wilson
2006-2008 Pat Wilson
2008-2010 Myra F. Levick, PhD and Diane-Brenda Bryan (co-presidents)
2012-2014 Mary F. Twitty
2014 -2018 Sheila Firestone