Meet our new WCA Co-Presidents

Debbie Lurie and Darlene Muller

Note: Debbie Lurie and Darlene Muller will become Women’s Cultural Alliance Co-Presidents as of Sept. 1, succeeding WCA President Patti Boochever. Shelly Bell will become WCA Vice President of Programming. WCA expresses its deepest appreciation to Patti for her extraordinary leadership as WCA President from 2020 to 2025. The following messages are from WCA’s new co-presidents.

From Darlene Muller

I am honored to be leading WCA into the future, along with Co-President Debbie Lurie. I want to first thank Patti Boochever for her inspired leadership during the last six years. Through her hard work, and that of her predecessors Elaine Soffer and Jane Hersch, WCA has achieved tremendous growth in both the size of our membership and in the breadth of programs and activities offered since our humble beginnings in 2009. Debbie and I are well aware that we are standing on the shoulders of women whose dedication and devotion to WCA have been instrumental in getting us to where we are today.

Following in these women’s footsteps, we are committed to doing the best job we can, but we cannot do it alone. We are very fortunate to have a remarkable Board of Directors as well as numerous capable and caring volunteers dedicated to making WCA even stronger and better. With such a wonderful team supporting us, Debbie and I are very excited about the future of WCA.

Our organization has a huge impact on the lives of the women who comprise its membership. I know this from firsthand experience because WCA made a huge difference for me when I became an active member over a decade ago. When my husband Rabbi Frank Muller and I built our home in Naples in 2014, I didn’t know many women other than those who lived in my development at The Quarry or were friends from Youngstown, Ohio. That changed very quickly through WCA. I started going to lectures and programs, played Canasta and Mahj, and attended several social gatherings, making friends each step along the way. Women’s Cultural Alliance truly helped me to feel a part of the Naples Jewish community. The friends I made have become my extended family.

In regard to my own family, I am the proud mother of three daughters and their husbands, and the grandmother of six wonderful grandchildren, all of whom live in Ohio. I originally hail from Newcastle, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Youngstown State University, I became very active in the Jewish community, beginning what would become a lifelong commitment to giving back through volunteerism. I served as Sisterhood President of my synagogue and President of our local chapter of Hadassah. Professionally, I worked with nonprofits for many years, concluding my career at the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation.

As Co-President of WCA, I want to make our organization as meaningful to every one of our nearly 1,700 members as it has been for me. I think we can accomplish this by not only encouraging women to actively participate in our social activities, educational programs and interest groups, but also to get involved in helping to plan them. There is truly something for everyone in WCA!

I look forward to continuing the progress and success of WCA that we have enjoyed in the past.

From Debbie Lurie

I was born and raised in Milwaukee and graduated from the University of Wisconsin. My husband, Marc, and I have three married children and are the proud grandparents of six grandchildren. We first came to Naples nine years ago, where I knew only one person, and she quickly told me to join WCA. What a wonderful piece of advice that was. It was like a miracle. I met so many women right away and continue to be friends with them to this day.

WCA Co-Presidents Debbie Lurie and Darlene Muller

Several years ago, Darlene Muller and I were asked to plan a fashion show for WCA. We jumped in with both feet and never looked back. This past season we co-chaired this very popular event for the third time. We have also coordinated several WCA Fall Welcome Back Luncheons. It’s a huge undertaking, but we were up to the challenge and thoroughly enjoyed doing it, thanks to the help of so many dedicated volunteers.

As Co-President of WCA, I look forward to expanding our event base to accommodate more of our growing ranks of members. Darlene and I, along with new Vice President of Programming Shelly Bell, have been working diligently to come up with ideas for new programs that will appeal to all ages and interests.

Patti has been an amazing mentor, including us in every meeting and discussion about the upcoming season. Her leadership is greatly appreciated. She will be a tough act to follow, but Darlene and I are determined to do our best. We look forward to an exciting year with the help of all of you, our devoted members, as WCA is nothing without your support! It is each and every one of you who makes the Women’s Cultural Alliance one of the most unique and vibrant Jewish women’s organizations in the country.

From Darlene and Debbie

We both look forward to a wonderful year ahead for WCA, especially getting to know more of you. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with us to share any ideas, concerns or anything else you might want to talk about. Working together, let’s continue to enhance WCA’s very special “Community of Friendship.”

We wish you and your loved ones a Shanah Tovah, a good and sweet New Year.