Westfield/Mayville News
Posted by Susan Hammond
GROWING...
The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville is pleased to welcome Barbara Fay and Mary Swanson as its two newest members. Fay, whose membership was sponsored by Rotarian Pete Bills, and Swanson, who was sponsored by Rotarian John Hamels, were inducted into the club on January 24 during a dinner meeting. The induction ceremony was conducted by Pete Bills, Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville Membership Chair.
Barbara Fay, a resident of Westfield since July 2016, previously resided in Boerne, Texas. When asked why she chose to join Rotary, Fay stated, “Being newly arrived to this area and state, I was interested in getting to know the community and meeting people engaged in the same. I was prodded by a fan of Rotary to consider this organization as a means to accomplish this.”
Since she is new to her community, Fay is just beginning to become active in local organizations. She is involved with the Westfield Academy and Central School Parent Connection Organization, and she has signed on to be its secretary.
She is a seasonal ticket agent at the Chautauqua Institution, and also a stay at home mother. Prior to raising her children, Fay was employed in various business administration functions in manufacturing, engineering, and software oriented companies.
Her hobbies include “being overwhelmed with renovating a much-neglected home,” and attending the activities of her three children, who are in the ninth and tenth grades. Her spouse is Ron Almeter.
Mary Swanson, a resident of Sherman and who has lived in that town for 34 years, is a retired school-based speech-language pathologist with 27 years of experience. She assists two of her sons, Nolan Swanson and Ryan Swanson, with their business, Pinehurst Golf Club Westfield, NY, and she helps care for several of her young grandchildren while their busy parents work.
Answering the question of why she became a Rotarian, Swanson said, “I joined Rotary because I look forward to serving others in a group of like-minded individuals. I believe in the adage “From whom much is given, much is required,” and Rotary supports this thought. My family has been blessed, and I’d like to “give back.” Through Rotary, and through other avenues as well, I hope to gain the satisfaction of assisting people who need a hand up.”
Active in her church, Swanson has served the Community Church of Sherman for many years as its chairman of the board of deacons and chairman of the board of trustees. She is a long-time sponsor in Compassion International, having sponsored children in impoverished countries for a number of years. Swanson also participates as a small group member and supporter of the North Point Community Church, and as a financial participant in furthering its endeavors.
She and her husband Mel Swanson, a long time recreational athlete, middle school teacher, and high school coach in Chautauqua County, support many overseas ministries, most of which originate from their former Sunday School students or athletes who her spouse has coached. They have four adult children, Nolan, Patrick, Lesley-Anne, and Ryan, and eight grandchildren, whose ages range from 1 to 12 years.