Below is the information about the members running for the board, and how to vote by proxy
Candidate Bios
Victoria Linssen:
Name: Victoria Linssen
Prior ECNA Board Member – 2018-2019
BIO: Officer of First Merchants Bank (First Vice President, Senior Director) with decades of experience in digital marketing, corporate and nonprofit business strategy and volunteer work (multiple boards, including ECNA, Search Dog Foundation and Friendly House, etc.)
Why I would like to rejoin the board:
I resigned from the board originally, because at the time I was on it, I was working full-time, while also trying to fix my house (which was a three-year project) and I couldn’t give the board and outside work the attention it required at that time. Now that the bulk of the work I can do personally on my home is complete, I have more time to dedicate to the neighborhood. Furthermore, I would like to bring a new perspective, make more rewarding and fulfilling connections and relationships, bring original ideas about how we can work more collaboratively together to help improve the neighborhood, to work to ensure that we have a much higher neighborhood awareness of and representation of voices for what needs to get done and why and to provide valuable assets in terms of my business experience in helping to run a smoother, more efficient non-profit function.
Erin Lovall:
My name is Erin Lovall. I am an editor for international law journals and books and a part-time floral designer. I have been honored to serve on the ECNA Board for the past four years. I have served as Secretary and Vice President and I have been in charge of the Neighborhood Beautification Committee and Neighborhood Communications Committee. I have also participated in the Old Washington Street Festival Planning Committee for the past four years. I have volunteered at numerous neighborhood events, including neighborhood cleanups, home tours, the Festival, bat box building workshops, kids’ events, and more. This year I was also a volunteer on the Muncie to Munich Oktoberfest Planning Committee and I created the Mary’s Miles 5K, which benefited Recovery Café of Muncie. I have learned so much about our wonderful neighborhood and have had the immense pleasure of meeting so many lovely neighbors. I am running for re-election because I would like to continue to work hard to improve our neighborhood for everyone in East Central. It means so much to me to be an active member of the neighborhood.
Matt Lowe:
Matt Lowe stood at the crossroads of his past and the vibrant pulse of the future he envisioned. Born and raised in the heart of Muncie, Matt had walked the streets of his neighborhood with a sense of reverence, each crack in the pavement and rusted gate a story of resilience. A product of the very community he now sought to serve, his roots ran deep. The son of a factory worker and a secretary, Matt learned early the value of hard work, education, and the kind of quiet leadership that builds a strong, thriving neighborhood. His parents, stalwarts of the community, instilled in him the belief that transformation happens from within—that a community’s heart is shaped by the people willing to champion it.
Matt has been called to serve on several neighborhood initiatives. He moved through the East Central streets not just as a resident, but as a steward. His unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities the neighborhood faces and his newfound ability to leverage ChatGPT for simple, time-consuming tasks provides novel value to the committees on which he serves. His work illuminates the belief that progress should respect history—that in revitalizing a neighborhood, one must honor its soul.
Now, as Matt is prepared to take his place on the board of the East Central Neighborhood Association, his vision is clear: to preserve the rich heritage of the community while guiding it into a future that embraces sustainability, inclusivity, and growth. He wasn’t seeking a title but an opportunity to serve more deeply, to be the voice that spoke for those who often went unheard. His journey had led him here, to this moment, ready to help shape the neighborhood he loved, not just for today, but for generations to come.
Dorothy Neff:
Hi! I am Dorothy Neff – my husband, Derek, and I have lived on Washington Street since 2017. Living in the neighborhood for the past 7 years, and previously serving on the board, have given me some insight into a number of aspects of life in the East Central neighborhood.
I am seeking a seat on the board because I would like to make a positive contribution to our neighborhood as a whole – improving safety & cleanliness and protecting and improving our property values will benefit everyone, and by extension, the City of Muncie. I would like to see better, advanced notification of upcoming neighborhood events, and I would like these events to be relevant to the growth of our community. I am also interested in talking with residents, on and off of Washington Street, to see what needs exist and how we can direct people to the resources that will serve them – especially in the realm of historic preservation.
Life is busy and I would like to be part of a community that works together to support one another.
Thank you.
Lynn Ranieri:
Hello,
I am Lynn Ranieri and I am interested in running for a seat on the ECNA board. My husband and I will have lived in the neighborhood for 41 years in December. We raised our daughter here. We are both retired. I was a teacher and elementary school principal and my husband is retired from the BSU Dept. of English. Our home has been on both the festival and Christmas house tours several times. Now that I am retired I would like to get a bit more involved with the neighborhood association.
Thank you for your consideration.
Lynn Ranieri
Kyle Reninger:
Hey neighbors! My partner Amanda and I have been hanging out in East Central for 16 years, and honestly, we couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. We’ve got friendly faces, a tight-knit community, and enough charm to make anyone want to stick around (like us).
I’ve been on the East Central Neighborhood Association board for a few years now, where I mostly try not to cause any chaos. My goal is to bring a little perspective, some laughs, and to make sure everyone—yes, even the grumpy cat down the street—feels included in what we do around here.
When I’ve not been helping out on this board, I’ve helped with volunteer gigs like Muncie Young Professionals, The Old Washington Street Festival, helping at the ECNA booth at various events, Muncie OUTreach, Muncie Pride, and Muncie Civic Theater. At my day job at Easterseals Crossroads, I’m also working in multiple committees (because who doesn’t love meetings, right?). But don’t let all that fool you—I’m just a neighbor who loves this place and wants to give back however I can, even if it’s just bringing Pickle Pasta Salad to the next block party.
So, whether or not you all decide to keep me on the board, Amanda and I aren’t going anywhere. We’re here to keep showing up, keep helping out, and keep loving this neighborhood that’s been our home for 16 wonderful years. Let’s keep the good vibes going, ECNA!
Veronica Santoyo:
Hello. My name is Veronica Santoyo. I live on 901 E Washington Street, here in Muncie. I have lived in the neighborhood for nine and a half years now. I work at Ball State University, as a faculty member in the Theatre and Dance Department.
I decided to buy a house in downtown Muncie because I enjoy the atmosphere and the history of the area. I also like the diversity of people who live in this area. I appreciate the way homeowners on my street take care of their old homes and organize the Washington Street Festival every year. I have been taking care of my home since I moved in, and taking care of the sidewalk in front of my house and along Hackley Street, picking up garbage each week that tends to land along the road from passing cars and people coming from the gas station on Hackley, between Main and Jackson. I care about our neighborhood and feel a calling to be more involved in the efforts to make our streets and living areas the best they can be.
My work as a teacher at the university level involves working with people: students, faculty, and administrators. I have led several university committees and believe in collaboration to get things done. I believe people deserve the best services and the best care.
For all of the above, I hope you will consider my petition to become a board member for our neighborhood.
Nathanael Snow:
I am willing to serve on the ECNA Board. Jessica and I have owned 704 E. Washington for three years now. We poured a lot of (sweat) equity into the house, and worked to preserve the historicity of the home while making it welcoming to our friends and neighbors. Our intentions are to practice hospitality and to be a source of kindness to our neighborhood and beyond.
I am an economist with experience in academia, industry, and government. I currently teach at Ball State University, and previously worked at the US International Trade Commission, and Criterion Economics. My personal research is less about stock markets and finance and more about how people collaborate through markets to reconcile differences. I also study how small groups govern themselves and interface with different levels of government.
In a previous career I was a house parent, tacher, and co-principal for a boarding school that served low income families in Durham, NC. I developed skills at creating schedules, organizing volunteer groups, and resolving disagreements.
I have no particular agenda for the ECNA. I would seek to simply offer my way of seeing things into the broader conversation and seek consensus on important decisions.
Thank you,
Nathanael Snow
Lynn Thornburg:
My name is Lynn Greiner Thornburg and I am seeking election to the ECNA Board of Directors. I have lived in ECNA for 63 years and in Gilbert Historic just west of ECNA for 9 years prior to moving into ECNA in 1957. I attended St Lawrence School K-9 and then to Muncie Central. Both were within walking distance of my homes in the neighborhood. I was involved with the planning committee of the First Old Washington Street Festival and have been heavily involved in all aspects of the festivals, except for the second year when my first husband’s employment took us out of state for two months and in 2023, because we moved to a smaller one story home across from my oldest daughter. I was at the early meetings of the ECNA at Washington Carver (now Washington Academy) as we had just recently begun our incorporation. I was elected to the ECNA board at the first chili supper in 1977 and have served in various capacities on the board, including a Community Development paid position as Neighborhood Outreach Worker in 1979-1980, and the ECRC liaison for several years. I had been the Democrat Precinct Committeeperson for about 20+ years, serving our area and bringing concerns to the various City Administrations over the years. Because of this, I have developed relationships with all of the City Departments through numerous Administrations, both Democrat and Republican, beginning with Alan Wilson and lately Dan Ridenour. I have also served on numerous political campaigns, including Delaware County Evan Bayh for Governor Committee in 1987, which I helped plan his official announcement of his campaign, held at the ‘Mansion’ at Hackley and Washington. There was a preliminary fundraising dinner at our home at 622 E Washington. That was an exciting time for our neighborhood!! I served the city in the Carey Administration as Community Development Planner and Code Enforcement Person, where I authored and established the current Unsafe Building Ordinance and the UB Hearing Authority and the Muncie Homestead Ordinance. I was able to establish connections with other neighborhood association and Not for Profit agencies. I was appointed by Mayor Canan to be a member of the Muncie Park Board for 12 years. I was appointed by Dennis Tyler and continued the appointment by Dan Ridenour to be a member of the Muncie Historic Preservation Commission. I am a very active member of St Lawrence Church in our neighborhood and through this I have been able to form many ecumenical connections with other churches in our neighborhood and elsewhere. I was the Executive Director for the East Central Reinvestment Corporation (1991-2007), which acquired and rehabbed 44 houses in the ECNA boundaries. Another 10 homes were rehabbed outside our boundaries, as those projects assisted our mission by providing Developer’s fees and equity from the sales to match grant funds to fund other ECNA projects. Of these 54 properties, 30 ended up being Homeownership projects. We also were the NFP partner in the Canopic Apartment development that included scattered-site single-family homes. I have served on numerous committees and organizations, including Muncie Delaware Clean and Beautiful for 20+ years. During that tenure, the Community Enhancement Committee came into being and the White River Walk and numerous river overlooks were built as well as downtown cleanups and coordination of the various neighborhood cleanups. We also formulated the Give a Gift for a Lifetime, which allows people to plant trees in their deceased family member’s names. And, through my relationship with MDCB, ECNA was able to receive a grant to plant all the trees in Washington Park. I also served on the first NO NOISE Committee that established the guidelines that eventually were used to create the NO HORNS RR crossings. I have been the organizer or coordinator or whatever term we used over the years for the ECNA cleanup since 1978, our first year, when we met in the old Marsh parking lot and walked those horrible alleys. I was nominated by Tisha Gierhart, who at the time was my Supervisor at IU Health Ball, to be nominated for a Jefferson Award, a National Honor began by Jackie Kennedy and having board members ranging from Sandra Day O’Connor to Whoopie Goldberg, Michael Douglas, to Teresa Heinz Kerry (John Kerry’s wife). I was so honored to be nominated and was surprised when the President of IU Health presented me with one of only two awarded in Indiana that year!!! It is an award given to outstanding volunteers for their efforts! I truly love my neighborhood. I am passionate about it. I have lived here when it was family friendly and then when it wasn’t so nice and family friendly….and now, thanks to many of those I joined with in 1977 and all those who followed, we have managed to resurrect this beautiful area and we can listen to kids up and down the streets.
Last winter, ‘homesickness’ for my ‘old neighborhood’ spurred a search for a home for my daughter, Judy, and I to move back “home”. We found a cute stucco, tudor style in the east end of our neighborhood, in the Kirby Historic District. I had tried over the years to encourage participation in this area of our neighborhood. Hopefully, I can work to get more neighbors involved in the organization. There are many issues that affect our area and I would like to continue to work on those and have a better quality of life. I want to continue to increase our Code Enforcement Efforts, because when we speak as a neighborhood association with one voice, we are given a little more attention.
This involvement has not been easy and all of my family ask me “why”. I cannot answer this. It has been on my heart since I can remember. I felt called to get involved in this effort as a young person growing up at Washington and Vine and I am now asking for your vote and affirmation that we are going in the right direction. Please consider me as you cast your vote for this year’s ECNA Board of Directors. Thank you
Voting By Proxy
If you are unable to make it to the annual meeting but would like to pay dues and vote, you may do so via proxy. You may pick someone who will be going to the meeting to vote for you, each member can only bring one proxy vote. You will need to print the form out below and fill it out. Let your proxy know how you would like to vote and they may do so at the meeting. You may give them your dues payment or you can pay them online here https://muncie-ecna.org/?page_id=261
Voting
Voting is open to any dues paying member of ECNA, you may pay your dues here https://muncie-ecna.org/?page_id=261 or at the membership meeting. You may vote via proxy if you are unable to attend the membership meeting.