MARY-ANN, in a most unassuming way, shared with us different ideas of fundraising which her own Rotary Club undertakes, showed us a map of the area where she lives and works; and introduced us to the game of 5 pin bowling. Mary-Ann’s career starting as a secretary, worked on the railroads, and in a photocopying office. She was sought out to be a trainer and then later owned 4 UPS (mailbox) businesses.

Mary-Ann joined the Rotary Club of Collingwood South, Georgian Bay, Ontario CA in 2015 and was the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship award in 2017. Mary-Ann’s Rotary club focusses very much on youth programs supporting a Youth Centre and hosting exchange students generally from Scandinavian countries. The Club sponsors a hockey team, a community garden, and a youth radiothon. Their big fundraiser was the Taste of Town which gave local vendors the opportunity to display their wares & produce while raising funds for their Rotary projects. They sponsor a Santa breakfast for the children and grandparents. They support World Polio Day, Back to School projects in the Philippines and bought a container which was shipped to Tanzania and transformed into a library. Mary-Ann’s RC Club draws from a population of 22,000 where there are two Rotary Clubs. The average age is 55-60.