Category: Spotlight

by Ramya Subrahmanian   Sylvia’s journey in Florence began in 1979 when she came from the US to attend a semester of study abroad with Syracuse University, stayed a year, and then returned to Florence …

by Ramya Subrahmanian Jane has been a member of WIN for the past three years, but she has been living in Lucca since 2008 where she founded and runs ‘Tuscany Arts and Healing’ a centre …

by Ramya Subrahmanian   An introduction to one of WIN’s first members – she can’t remember when she joined, and definitely way before the current Board and membership – starts with the story of an …

by Liz Wicks* Longtime WIN member and former WIN President Mary Westerman first arrived in Florence in 1971 after graduating from U C Boulder, to take part in a summer school session hosted by Sarah …

by Liz Wicks Our April Member spotlight, Monica Osborne, joined our group this September. Monica moved to Fiesole from Los Angeles with her husband Jay Karas and 9-year-old son Leo in August of 2021, and …

by Liz Wicks Jane Fogarty has been a vital member of our group ever since it began over 30 years ago, as well as serving with Mary Westerman as Co-President for 4 years. Jane writes …

  by Liz Wicks Vibrant travel industry professional Brenda MacKellar has been a member of WIN since November of 2020. Members Suzy Gray and Joyce Barnett first introduced Brenda to WIN, and she is a …

by Liz Wicks Our October meeting spotlight featured a dynamic new member of our group, Ranah Farkhondeh. Ranah, born in Los Angeles and of Iranian descent, is a health + fitness specialist formerly based in …

by Elia Nichols Giulia is the eldest of two daughters of an Istrian Exodus exile and a Sardinian doctor, who fell in love at first sight, married, and started their family in Florence. Giulia grew …

by Elia Nichols She went to Australia, which radically changed her life Today I’d like to spotlight one of our newest members, Linda Turrini! Linda was born in Florence and has quite an interesting story. …