information: ... beautiful Library building is now in great shape, and upgrades to technology, security and infrastructu
2016 Plymouth District Library Trustee Candidates The Friends of the Plymouth District Library asked all trustee candidates to provide background, qualifications and reasons for wanting to serve as a Trustee. Candidate statements follow for those individuals running for the three available seats on the Library’s Board of Trustees. These seats are for four-year terms, beginning January 1, 2017.
Jacqueline George I am running for my third term as a Board Trustee of the Plymouth District Library and am proud to share the following information:
A member of the Friends of the Library since my initial election Practicing attorney in Wayne and Macomb counties Widow Lived in Plymouth Township since 1985 Sensitive to issues of senior patrons Faithful attendee of board meetings and library conferences Frequent user of library services and programs Proud to be a trustee with the continuing goal of library excellence Member of the Board’s building and goals committee
Please vote for me!
Mary Maguire Why are you running for office? I currently serve as the Vice President of the Plymouth District Library Board, and have gained institutional knowledge and the trust of my fellow Board members over the past four years. Having had a successful term in office, I would like to continue the progress and plans we have made.
I have always had a love of libraries in general and the Plymouth District Library in particular. My three children were raised on weekly visits for storybooks when they were very young, and over the years, our family has enjoyed all of the resources the library has to offer. What are your top priorities? The Plymouth District Library underwent a major building repair and renovation project during 2015 and 2016. Our beautiful Library building is now in great shape, and upgrades to technology, security and infrastructure are up and running. The final project involving the Lobby is ongoing, with the anticipation of a Pewabic pottery art installation, paid for with donated funds. We are about to embark on another project with Right Management group, to optimize our organizational effectiveness and help our library personnel with their career development. This project will enable us to work even better as a unit to provide an added measure of patron satisfaction with their overall library experience. I look forward to participating over the coming year if re-elected. The Library serves the needs of the community very well, including very popular programs for every age level. Our librarians understand the services people want and constantly anticipate and adapt to growing demands.
-continued-
What is the most pressing issue for this office? In my opinion, to serve as a Plymouth District Library Trustee is to endeavor to uphold the public trust in this great institution. Past and current Trustees have taken great care of the Library fiscally, operationally, and in planning for the future needs of the our citizens. It is up to those who would seek this office to continue to be a good steward of that trust.
John Morrison Hello my name is John Morrison. I am a candidate for trustee with the Plymouth District Library Board. My background is in Plymouth where I grew up. I graduated from Salem High School and went to church at First Baptist Church of Plymouth on North Territorial Road (Praise Baptist Church Today Pastor Jeff Noble). I studied at Schoolcraft College and the University of Michigan – Dearborn, where I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a double minor in History and Political Science. My better half, Anita, and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage in January. We are raising our daughters, Rachel and Sarah, in Plymouth Township and both are currently students at Salem High School in Canton. Currently, I am employed part-time in the shipping and receiving department at Performance Assembly Solutions in Livonia, Michigan. However, before the downturn in the economy, I was recruiting students at Concordia University – Ann Arbor. What qualifies me for this position as a trustee with the Plymouth District Library is that I love to read books and think about big ideas. I am basically an idea person. Ideas are found in books. Books are found in a library. Libraries are where I hang out to read books and look for new ideas. My wife, Anita, has said to me that books are what she competes with for my attention. Good books are my passion. My lifelong interest in books will lead me to grow into a great Trustee with the Plymouth District Library Board. Thank you.
Gordon Totty I received a great (and ongoing) education from Boston University (BS, accounting major) and the University of Michigan (MBA, industrial relations) as well as dozens of courses on line, on DVDs, and from community colleges and the University of Detroit. But, no, I don’t “know it all.” I spent 10 years in financial work, followed by 30 more years in engineering management positions, all at Ford Motor Company, retiring in 1995. I worked on the Finance Staff, Engineering Staff, Environmental and Safety Engineering Staff, and in the Technical Affairs Office. I started my Ford career at its Steel Division. I served for 10 years on the Walnut Creek Homeowners Association board in secretary and treasurer positions. Presently, I am serving as secretary on the Eaton Estates Condominium Association board. I taught a class for beginning computer users for four years in the Plymouth-Canton Adult Education Program and also taught one semester of management at Davenport University. For a few years I have been tutoring senior citizens in computing at the UMHS Turner Resource Center. -continued-
My hobbies are computing, reading, learning, and photography. I am an avid reader of about 60 books per year, mostly non-fiction with a preference for history. My military service consisted of six years in the Army Reserves, mostly serving with the 309th Civil Affairs Group. Six months of the reserve time was spent on active duty at Fort Dix, New Jersey. I like to be involved in administration of organizations and that is probably the main reason I would like to serve on the PDL board. I harbor no mission to propose great changes: I have no axes to grind. Perhaps a psychoanalyst might conclude that I miss work and being active.
