Executive Committee Members Current Executive Committee Members: Edwin H. Pert, Georgetown, President Peter Ezzy, Augusta, First Vice-President Mary Richard, Bangor, 2nd Vice-President Isabella Thurston, Falmouth, Past President Emeritus Hilary Fleming, Freedom, Treasurer Margaret Ross, Lewiston, Secretary Judy Carlton, Augusta, Member-At-Large MAR’S CURRENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:  WHO ARE THEY?   MAR members “voted in” the new MAR Executive Committee (EC) members in May 2008 at the MAR Annual Meeting in Augusta, Maine.  The new EC member appointments became effective July 1, 2008, and the current EC remains in place for two (2) years.  The MAR Executive Committee members are active MAR members who volunteer (unpaid, limited expenses only paid) to serve on the EC for 2-year terms (all positions on the EC may be held for one or more 2-year terms, except the positions of President and Immediate Past President.  The MAR President may serve only one 2-year term, and then they automatically move to the EC member position of Immediate Past President for one 2-year term.    This is a highly responsible position.  The actions and decisions of the Executive Committee help to move the organization forward (final approval on governance issues remains with the members).  The goals and objectives of the Executive Committee compliment the goals and objectives of MAR.  MAR was established, and exists today, to protect the rights and benefits of Maine State retirees (retired teachers, state/county/local government workers).   MAR’s current Executive Committee (2008-2010) members are:     Edwin H. Pert, President:  Ed Pert currently lives in Georgetown, Maine.  He is a Bath, ME native, a graduate of the University of Maine at Orono, and served in the US Army in Korea from 1955 to 1957.  Following brief stints as a newsman for the Bath Daily Times and News Director for radio station WMMS-WJTO in Bath, he began 14 years of service as Executive Director for Maine voluntary health agencies, including The Arthritis Foundation and the March of Dimes.  A former legislator, he served for 2 years as Secretary of the Maine Senate and nearly 18 years as Maine House Clerk, retiring from state service in 1992.  In addition to serving on the MAR Strategic Study and Implementation Committees, he has served MAR on the Executive Committee as Secretary and most recently as 2nd Vice-President.   Peter J. Ezzy, 1st Vice-President:  Elected as 1st Vice President of the Maine Association of Retirees effective July 1, 2008. Peter Ezzy lives in Augusta, Maine.  He is a Van Buren, Maine native, graduate of the University of Maine, Orono, and served during the Vietnam Conflict in the USAF.  He worked in state government in Augusta and retired after 33+ years of service in positions related to health research, planning, and program management.  He also worked concurrently as a reserve officer with the Maine Emergency Management Agency operations center in Augusta.  He is also a past member of the Maine Teachers Association.  Prior volunteer service and experience with MAR includes serving on the by-laws committee, and as immediate past 2nd vice president.  Primary areas of interest include: health benefits for retirees; consumer advocacy; and educational programs for the benefit of retirees.  He is also active in the Maine Senior College system and continues to work towards improving the linkages between MAR members and the various Senior College Programs available to members throughout the State of Maine.  Mary J. Richard, 2nd Vice-President:  Mary is a native Mainer, born in Bangor, ME.  She is also a retired Teacher.  Her teaching career began after graduating from Husson College in 1967.  She spent 33 wonderful years at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln, where she taught Business Education and was Senior Class Advisor for 25 years.  While in Lincoln, she was active in the Credit Union Movement – serving on the Board of Directors for several years.  Upon retiring, she moved to Bangor where she became active in St. John’s Parish and Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery – serving on the Pastoral Council and the Executive Board of the Cemetery.  She holds memberships in the Maine Association of Retirees, National Education Association, Maine Retired Educators and Penobscot Retired Teachers.  She is a Test Administrator for the Office of Personnel Management.  Mary enjoys reading, traveling, community service, and (along with her sister) enjoys spending time at their cottage.  Hilary Fleming, Treasurer:  Hilary worked for 13 years in hospital nursing in Massachusetts, Colorado, and Maine with focus in the Emergency Department and Operating Room services.  She began her career in Maine State Government in 1978.  She worked for 24 years in different positions within the Department of Human Services.  Some of the positions she held in DHS were:  Nurse Consultant for the Medicaid Program (now called MaineCare), Director of Claims Processing, and Assistant Bureau Director in the Bureau of Medical Services; Director of Medical Review Team, Management Information Systems, and Quality Assurance in the Bureau of Family Independence.  She retired from state service in 2002 and joined MAR at her retirement celebration.  Shortly after retiring, she and her husband Tom traveled to visit friends and family from Maine to Arizona, via Louisiana.  She is currently the Treasurer for the Town of Freedom, and has done an excellent job as Treasurer on MAR’s Executive Committee for the last 2 years.    Margaret Ross, Secretary:  The newly elected Executive Committee Secretary for MAR is a retired Registered Nurse, who attended the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Portland, ME and received her BS degree in Nursing at California State University in Long Beach, CA.  Her public service career was in the Maine Department of Human Services.  She spent 16 years in the Medicaid Program as supervisor, then Director, of the Surveillance and Utilization Review Program – and retired as its Division Director.  Since retiring, she travels, keeps busy with rug braiding, serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations, and is a Medicare Advocate at SeniorsPlus (the Area Agency on Aging for Lewiston).  At SeniorsPlus, she advises seniors and Medicare beneficiaries of all ages on matters of Medicare supplement insurance, prescription drug plan selections, and she aims to be a general problem solver for seniors on health care issues.  In 2005, Margaret was awarded national recognition and the Distinguished Senior Award from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.  This honor was one of only 5 awarded in the country to seniors who “make a difference.” Isabella Thurston, Immediate Past President:  Isabella was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland.  She attended medical school and earned an MBA in London.  She immigrated to the US (Boston, MA) in 1963, and held administrative positions at Deaconess Hospital, Massachusetts Blue Cross, and Massachusetts General.  Isabella married her husband, Ron, in 1979 and they moved to the Augusta, Maine area.  She worked for 17 years in state government administration, and retired 5 years ago from the position of Deputy Director of the Maine Workers’ Compensation Board.  Upon retirement, Isabella joined MAR.  Her first appointment within MAR was as Regional Representative for Cumberland and York Counties.  Isabella then served on a board that examined the administration of the Association.  She then became 2nd Vice-President, then 1st Vice-President, then President of MAR from July 2006 - June 2008 and, most recently, Immediate Past President of MAR   Judy Carlton, Member-at-Large: Judy is a native Mainer and currently lives in Augusta, ME. Her career in public service began in 1970 as a secretary with Southern Kennebec Valley Regional Planning Commission. She spent 10 ½ years there and the last 3 years as administrator. From 1981 to 1984 she worked at the Maine State Housing Authority as executive assistant. The last year was spent assisting the Director in setting up the newly created F.A.M.E. office. She then went to work for Augusta Adult & Community Education and retired in 2004 after 20 wonderful years as Business/Office Manager. She received the John B. Forster Award for dedication and commitment to students and staff and the Distinguished Service Award from the Maine Adult Education Association. Judy served on Augusta’s Planning Board from 1974 to 1987. She also was appointed to the Augusta Sanitary District Board of Commissioners from 1998 to 2003. In her leisure time, Judy enjoys quilting, gardening, taking day trips with her husband Don, and attending her grandson’s sports events.     John D. Wakefield, Legislative & Financial Program Manager (non-voting member):  John is responsible for MAR’s financial and accounting activities, and for the legislative program (including drafting legislation, testifying before legislative committees, attending work sessions, and tracking bills that affect public retirees).  John has been employed at MAR since 1998.  Prior to his employment with MAR, he was employed in the Maine Legislature as the Director of the Office of Fiscal and Program Review.  John also worked 8 years as the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Human Services and 6 years as the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Corrections.  John lives in Livermore, ME with his wife Nancy, and has served as Selectperson of his town for the past 8 years.   Florence Hoover-Johnson, Executive Director (non-voting member):  Flo is also a native Mainer, born in Hartland and raised around the Central Maine area.  She currently lives in beautiful Rockland, ME.  She graduated from Cony High School in Augusta, ME.  She joined the US Army in 1974, served proudly throughout the US and Germany (2 tours), and returned to civilian life in 1983.   She now has two grown children, Rachel and Wade, who continue to make her proud every day. Flo has a BS degree in Business Administration from University of Maine at Augusta, and has completed 27 semester hours in Master degree programs from Husson College and University of Maine.  She as held positions as Administrative Claims Examiner at the Veterans Administration; District Sales Manager at Central Maine Newspapers (KJ); Senior Personnel Analyst with Bureau of Human Resources, State of Maine; and Human Resources Director at Southern Kennebec Child Development Corporation.  Flo has received certification and has volunteered time as a Crisis Counselor, Group Facilitator, and Mediator. She was hired as MAR’s Executive Director in June of 2003.