Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Citizen of the Year: Saratoga's Marlene Duffin says community involvement is a natural way of life for her.
Citizen of the year says it's fun to be involved
By Leigh Ann Maze
Marlene Duffin, a Saratoga resident for the past 32 years, seems to have her fingers in all of the pies around town. The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce has taken notice of her outstanding community service and involvement by naming her Saratoga Citizen of the Year for 1999.
Each year, a selection committee chooses one person from many nominees to be the Citizen of the Year, based on the quality of his or her community service and dedication, according to Chamber director Abby Krimotat.
"She's not just a member of various organizations," said Duffin's longtime friend Marilyn White of Saratoga, who nominated her for the award. "She participates in a hands-on, dedicated, let's-get-the-job-done way. She is definitely a born leader."
Duffin, 63, credits much of her natural leadership and community involvement to the example set by her parents, when she was growing up in Alameda.
"My parents were very active in their community and so I don't really know any other way of life," Duffin said. "Once you get involved, it just keeps growing. It's a lot of fun, but there is also a purpose in the things you do."
Currently, Duffin is chair of the annual Saratoga Hometown Celebration on July 4, an event she has helped coordinate for several years. White previously coordinated the event before turning it over to Duffin. "She's the kind of person you need when you're looking for someone to get things done," White said.
As a member of the League of Women Voters, Duffin is involved in coordinating a study on state and local voting systems. Duffin has been active in the Good Government Group since 1992.
Duffin is a member of the American Association of University Women and is active in coordinating its annual fundraising dinner and scholarship awards. This year's scholarships were given to two re-entry women attending West Valley College on May 13.
"I believe strongly in helping women, especially in the fields of math and science," Duffin said.
Duffin doesn't just believe in things--she works for what she believes in. For many years, she was a political consultant for her home-based business, Campaign Associates. She has been active in the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, The Foothill Club, the Friends of the Saratoga Library, the Saratoga Sister City board, the Hakone Foundation and the West Valley Republican Women, among many other groups.
Duffin has a long history of volunteering for education, a subject she feels strongly about. Over the years, she has served on the boards of trustees for every level of local public education. From 1977 to 1990, Duffin was a board member for the Saratoga Union School District, then the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District and, finally, West Valley College. She was also president of the Saratoga High School PTSA when her two sons were in school.
Duffin became the first female president of the Saratoga Lions Club in July 1997, where she has been a member since 1994 and now serves as regional chairwoman.
In between her many civic responsibilities, Duffin and her husband take any opportunity they can to travel. They are planning a trip to Thailand and Cambodia later this year.
In fact, when Duffin found out she had been named Saratoga's Citizen of the Year on May 1, she had just returned after two weeks in France and Germany.
A dinner in Duffin's honor will be held at Manhattan's Restaurant on June 9 ,at 7 p.m. The event costs $40 per person. Reservation deadline is June 5. Call 408.867.0753 for more information.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
