As Directors for Membership, Linda Wiessler-Hughes and Michael Hughes are responsible for recruiting and welcoming new members as well as overseeing the ballot of prospective members for the Governing Board’s vote. They also serve as chairs of the Membership Committee and as ex officio members of the Young Dems Committee.
Linda worked for 33 years in the Intelligence Community (IC) on an wide array of national security issues, including environmental security, Soviet and Chinese strategic forces, and counter-terrorism, where she recognized the importance of women in counter-radicalization efforts. She spearheaded the IC’s work against biological threats for several years, involving threats from naturally occurring infectious diseases that might pose a national security threat as well as from bioterrorism and state biowarfare programs
Michael taught English in public schools for 33 years, mostly at Deal Middle School in Washington, DC where he also coached fencing. As Scoutmaster for Troop 52, he appointed the first girl, a Venture Scout, to lead a Boy Scout Troop in America.
Since retiring in 2015, Linda and Michael have been involved in so many protests that they have lost count. They hope to make the need for protesting obsolete by voting in the right candidates in November. They are both very active in their church, participating in and chairing a number of groups and committees. They are also competitive fencers who met decades ago through fencing and have competed on the national and international (Michael) circuit.