Mom started as a Brownie Leader when Debra was about six, and continued her involvement as the District Commissioner. That early training helped Mom to realize herself as an effective leader in volunteer and paid positions. At the same time, Mom was starting to take distance Education classes, and then, when available, classes at the (then) East Kootenay Community College.
Mom's great gift as a board member of the Golden Community Resources Society, and the Golden and District Community Foundation is, I think, her willingness to state her opinion and truth, even when it goes against the popular trend. She recognizes that the strength of a volunteer board is in its diversity and open discussion of issues. Although Mom has left the Foundation board, she still is giving to a cause she believes in. She recently donated one of her lap quilts to the first Foundation raffle, which was a great success.
When Mom graduated with her Master's Degree, in Applied Behavioral Psychology, she put that to work with a group looking to organize counseling for abusive men. I know I am leaving out many of the initiatives she was involved with; mainly because I don't know enough about them.
Mom volunteers for fun, too. Every time Kara organized a community of readers for a school, Mom would be first up to read. When Kara wanted to create a quilt with a school, (the Virtues project) Mom helped many of the 100 students make quilt blocks, and then put the quilt together.
Our mom has been a model of life long learning, and life long giving.
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