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Letter: Town served by ‘good people’
Wed Jul 18, 2007, 12:54 PM EDT
Hamilton -It was good to read the article in the July 12 Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle giving recognition to Margo Druschel, the earlier executive director of Community Service of Hamilton and Wenham, Inc., highlighting her recent service as director of School’s Out, and announcing her new position with the Greater Beverly YMCA.
Reading the accolades given Margo, it caused this Hamilton resident to reflect on the good people who have served our town and Wenham in the role of executive director at the Community House, during my residence here since 1980. Each one I have known faced enormous challenges in her time, yet kept the building and the organization going, making improvements whenever possible. I can remember brave Barbara Rigol, the executive secretary (as it was called then) when I moved here, and who spent many a day wading through deep water in the basement of the Community House, before pumps could be afforded. Barbara insured that programs continued, even when the building was in disrepair for the shortage of funds. Later, when her successor, the late Marie Saunders, came aboard, the community came to its senses and pledged its support for the necessary rehabilitation. With restoration came new spirit, and the Fourth of July celebration returned as the Two-Town-Fourth, a tradition still continuing. Betty Sweet, the next executive, gave life to programs for senior citizens and stretched elder horizons with excursions to interesting places. Margo Druschel’s special interests focused on the School’s Out program’s improvements on behalf of our community’s children — but she took also a personal interest in the Special Friends program for special-needs adults, which she continues to administer as a volunteer. Already we see the talents of the current executive director, Melissa Elmer, bringing us creative ways to spend our leisure time, while promoting such good causes as Operation Troop Support.
In combination and succession, these fine women have served all of us in improving our community’s quality of life, through Community Service and the Community House. We owe all of them our heartfelt thanks.
