MEET THE OFFICERS
MARY MACDAID
PRESIDENT ELECT






JOAN McCARTHY
PRESIDENT
2011-2012







I enjoy being a planner, a risk-taker, a problem-solver a traveler and a mentor as I've traveled the journey of my life.  In 2008, when my husband and I moved to Palm Harbor, I thought I'd just quilt and get back to my genealogy research.  That didn't last long!

In my life before Palm Harbor, my Husband Jim and I lived in 4 states and 2 foreign countries.  We have one daughter who lives in Tampa with her family.  Travel highlights include:  walking across the Bridge on the River Kwai; standing in Red Square in 1974 and 2004; and being in the home of my great-great-great Grandparents in Scotland.

I've taught kindergarten in Missouri, gifted in Florida, second/third grade in Europe and Thai ladies English in Bangkok.  I graduated from the University of Missouri, the University of West Florida and Southern Illinois University.  After 18 years as principal of a year-round school in Missouri, I moved to the Chesapeake Bay to be an instructor for Towson University and the administrator of Graduate education programs.  For fun, I conducted tours of Historic St. Mary's City, MD.

I've enjoyed working with the ladies of PHNC to promote interactive, informative and entertaining programs and events that touch the head and the heart.  I am honored to serve as the 30th president of Palm Harbor Newcomers Club.


NANCY LINTON
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT









The road leading south was a very long one.  I moved from Chicago and left the snow and ice behind.  I was meant to be here, but it took more than 25 years.

I grew up in the North Shore area and worked in a number of different positions, including eight years for a commercial interior design firm, one of the finest in the Country.  I wore a number of different hats, from Assistant to the President, supervisor of the clerical staff, newsletter editor, marketing assistant, PR and even planned a reception for the Queen of Jordan.  Who needed to change jobs when I had so many!

Over the course of time I decided I was happy being single and still had my eye on Florida, so I bought a condo in Sarasota and rented it out.  I decided to go back to school and when I graduated would move to Florida and become very successful selling real estate.  During this process friends arranged a party so I could meet a wonderful fellow named Bruce.  It's amazing how plans change.  We married 18 months later!  I continued working and going to school, both full time, and graduated from DePaul University in Chicago.

I left the design firm and we decided to start a family.  We have a wonderful daughter who resides in Clearwater.  How's that for fast forward?

It did take a long time to move to Florida.  My husband traveled extensively, as he designed trading floors and communication rooms for a large banking concern.  I was self-employed so I could stay local for our daughter.  In the mid 80's I wrote a couple of Off Price and Factory Outlet guide books for the greater Chicago land area.  The experience opened up a number of doors for me, including the opportunity do some free lance writing for the Chicago Sun Times.  My research and organization skills ended up landing me a position with Sears Technology Services, which morphed into IBM Worldwide Telecommunications Council.  Then, somehow, I became a Project Manager.  We still lived in the Chicago area but finally both Bruce and I managed to transfer to Tampa.  This brings us to the end of the bio because we settled in Palm Harbor in 2000.

I retired from IBM in 2005 but still needed a challenge.  I started a program at our Church bringing in speakers, on a variety of subjects, nine times a year.  I joined Newcomers in 2006 and have held several positions.  This is the second year serving as First Vice President, Special Events.  Yes, I still love to plan and organize.  I also enjoy Mah Jongg, attending fine art and craft fairs, cruising and travel in general.  I'm also a small business "entrepreneur", as I have a handbag and jewelry business...Nancy Has Bags.
MARGUERITE NELSON
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY









I was born and raised in the coastal town of Westerly, Rhode Island.

I met my future husband at the Submarine Base in Groton, Ct.  We just celebrated our 45th anniversary.

I have four adult children, three daughters and one son.  They were all born within the span of five years.  I was a stay-at-home mom.  Our second oldest daughter has Down's Syndrome.  Life was hectic, but also very rewarding chasing them all around.

I was very active in our community in Massachusetts being a volunteer at my church, being on the Steering Committee for an organization called "HELP" and a charter member of the Littleton Newcomers Club.  I feel I have come full circle being in the PHNC, a wonderful organization again. 

We relocated to Florida 15 years ago from Massachusetts.  I didn't have a prenup 45 years ago but when Rick's job asked him to go south, I wanted to continue to be a part of my grandchildren's (3) lives so....I fly up every 3 months to visit and be a Nonna!

My hobbies and activities that I enjoy are reading, antiquing, gardening Florida style in containers, collecting seashells and traveling.
LAURA McGARY
2ND VICE PRESIDENT
(MEMBERSHIP)

I'm deeply rooted in north Pinellas County, having lived here off and on since 1968 when my family moved here from Indiana.  At that time, Countryside was literally in the country and just a gleam in a developer's eye, while Palm Harbor was nothing but orange groves and unlit two-lane roads.  I graduated from Clearwater High School and St. Petersburg Junior College and then started on a tour of the United States courtesy of marriage and the General Electric Corporation.  I finally stayed put long enough to finish college at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and started my career as a registered nurse.

Nursing for 30 years has been an interesting journey, taking me from the ER, OR, and CCU to Director of Nursing and Executive Director of an outpatient facility.  But by far, the most satisfying and meaningful nursing work I have ever done began in 1999 when I started working with Suncoast Hospice.  That work and experience unknowingly prepared me for the sudden and unexpected death of my husband several years ago.  I'm still at Suncoast Hospice, no longer nursing but instead managing the 250 teen volunteers that work out of the north county office, easily the most fun job imaginable!

Today I am happily remarried to Michael, by high school sweetie.  My son just graduated from high school, and we will be transitioning to empty nesters when he  begins his studies at Florida State University this fall.  Life is sweet and interesting, but the days are just too short to enjoy all the gardening,  volunteering, movies friends, reading, travel and food that I would like.

Fay Altumura brought me to a St. Patrick's Day PHNC luncheon back in 2008.  Membership followed the next month, and five minutes later I was working on the Luncheon Committee with Kathy Jordan and Susan Wolf!  As even my mom, Dottie Hancock, can attest it was a wonderful way to get off the sidelines and become involved, immediately meeting people and feeling useful as a valued member of the organization.  Now as Membership VP, I have the opportunity to interact with all the new and renewing members, as well as help with recruiting the Board for the coming year.  This position allows me to use my computer, organizational, and social skills - it's never dull or boring!

I encourage you to consider volunteering with PHNC, either on a committee or as a General or Executive Board member.  In January we will start to fill the positions for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, so if there is a job you think would be interesting, I'll be happy to help you check it out.  Or if you just would like to become involved but don't know where to start, let me know and we'll find a spot.  PHNC - truly "No strangers, only friends you haven't met!"






I was born and raised in in South Portland, Maine.  My dad was a disabled WWII veteran and my mom was a homemaker.

I met my husband David in high school, when I worked at Dunkin’ Donuts and he worked down the street at a gas station.  After dating 1 ½ years we wed at age twenty in 1973.  We have been married for 38 years.  My husband is now retired from his job as area vice president for a gas company.

I worked as a unit clerk in a hospital intensive care unit for 12 years and later worked medical billing and Medicare billing in the same hospital environment.  I also worked retail sales extensively in a number of capacities where I gained extensive accounts receivable, billing and collections experience.

Due to my husbands transfers, we have lived in Maryland, Idaho, Massachusetts (twice) and Connecticut (twice).  I visited a girlfriend in Florida.  I loved the sunsets and saiboats and then I flew back to a New England ice storm.  We made a quick decision to retire here.  We have lived here seven years and still love the weather.

I have one daughter.  She resides in Connecticut.  She is the mother of our only grandchild, Joey age 18.

I keep active.  I am and avid reader.  To say we enjoy the theater is an understatement.  We are members of Francis Wilson Playhouse as well as Ruth Eckerd Hall.  My husband and I both enjoy guitar and piano after taking several lessons in retirement.  I also play Mah Jongg, belong to a book club and volunteer at Hospice every Tuesday.Our lives are full and wonderful.

I joined PHNC in 2007, after my neighbor, Jacquie Hassan, brought me to the club.  I have served as Book Sales Co-Chair and as a Newsletter Mailing Co-chair.  I look forward to contributing even more to this great organization.   I think this is a great club and super way of meeting very interesting friends!
Cathy Flaherty
Recording Secretary
Info to follow
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Joyce Seal
Treasurer
Info to follow
General Board