Hudson Valley Office
About Us
The Hudson Valley Regional Office of the New York Civil Liberties Union serves Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties. It was organized in 1962, as the Westchester Civil Liberties Union, and has actively supported the constitutional rights of the people in our area for more than six decades.
We work to protect and defend the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution and the New York State Constitution, including freedom of speech and religion, and the right to privacy, equality and due process of law for all Hudson Valley residents.
We accomplish this through:
- Public Education: The office provides programs for local schools, community groups and professionals. We help arrange forums on civil rights and civil liberties. Additionally, we provide a wide range of know your rights trainings.
- Legislative Advocacy: The office is very involved in advocating for the passage of legislation that will protect, promote and defend our civil rights and civil liberties. We organize lobbying trips to Albany and in-district meetings with elected officials. Additionally, we send action alerts and emails to help keep people informed about legislation that affects their rights.
- Monitoring: The office monitors the actions of local governments. We seek to prevent violations of rights before they occur by testifying on proposed legislation, participating in public hearings, and commenting on the civil liberties aspects of proposals.
- Intake: The office receives and screens complaints of possible civil liberties violations. We log these complaints and provide advice and referral.
How You Can Become Involved
- Become a Member: When you become a member of the office, you receive simultaneous membership in the NYCLU and ACLU. Members receive the NYCLU and ACLU newsletters as well as periodic announcements of regional office events and programs.
- Volunteer: The regional office is an organization of committed volunteers representing a wide range of professional experience. Some of us are lawyers; some are teachers, social workers, business people, students or retirees. We welcome you to join us.
- Join our Board: The regional office Board of Directors works with the office director to expand our reach and amplify our voice. We are always looking for board members to provide new energy and skills. We invite you to add your ideas and energy to help us increase the presence of the NYCLU.
Hudson Valley Regional Office Board
Chair:
Susan Elan
Vice Chair:
Anthony Wynne
Secretary:
Joann Prinzivalli
Board Members:
Alicia Weissman
Andrea Callan
Anthony Wynne
Arlene Popkin
Raymond Gilliar
Barbara Hickernell
Barry Skura
Carter Lard
Charles Auerbach
Clare Degnan
Joann Prinzivalli
Kenneth Chamberlain, Jr.
Lorraine Lopez-Janove
Margaret Yonco-Haines
Maria Valentin
Marianne Artusio
Mark Scheffler
Nikki Woods
Saad Siddiqui
Susan Elan
Tracy Givens-Hunter
Marsha E. Koretzky
Members Emerita:
Mayo Bartlett
Julie Davis Carran
Connie Hogarth
