User Profile

One of my greatest passions is travel. I have never had a bad trip. I always meet wonderful people, and if I have a problem, someone always appears and provides a quick solution.

I am most proud of my two lovely daughters and I am overjoyed that they have grown to be wonderful and caring adults. Of all the jobs I've ever had, my job of parent has always been and continues to be the most important.

I have done almost everything I have ever dreamed of doing:

Academically: I have four college degrees (in industrial engineering, general education, English, and a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology). My goal is to earn a Ph.D in Psychology.

Vocationally: I have worked as an industrial engineer; a teacher, a case manager and therapist, and a consultant and sales representative (during the 10 years I owned a business).

Socially: I have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. I am single. I can most accurately descibe my marital status by borrowing a quote (from An Ideal Husband): "I don't mind bad husbands. I've had two."

Spiritually: I was fortunate enough to have a father who told me, "I don't care which one you go to, but you have to go to church every Sunday!" Papa had no way of knowing that I would not limit myself to the Southern Baptist Church that I belonged to. I attended services conducted by Church of Christ, Presbyterians, Methodists, Buddhists, Mormons, Jews for Jesus Christ, Congregationalists...etc., etc. Until this day, I receive daily BeliefNet newsletters from the following religions: Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. If someone held a gun to my head and made me choose, I would probably choose Unity.

Politically: I have always been involved in the process, mostly on a small scale and mostly behind the scenes. Currently, I serve as a Merit Commissioner for McHenry County Police Officers. Basically, my commission oversees hiring, firing and disciplinary procedures. It's a privilege and an honor to serve on this commission and provide input for selection of our law enforcement personnel.

Achievements: They are too numerous to name. I am most proud of the following:

Publish or Perish—I wrote a column for five years for the Northwest Herald; a column for a year for the Daily Herald; an ethics column for a business magazine; a history column and a female entrepreneur column for a regional magazine. I sold several opinion editorial pieces to a number of newspapers and magazines including the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. I am qualified publisher and the owner of a publishing enterprise called, Riverside Press. For three years, I published my own writer’s magazine called “Just Write.” I wrote a primer called, “Heroes and Heroines of the Underground Railroad in McHenry County,” and a study guide called, “Contributors to the Cause.” I compiled and edited a collection of articles written by me and two other writers and published it under the title, “Hebron…The Wonder Years.” I wrote a chapbook of prose and poetry called "Making Rhyme."

Talk that Talk—I developed and hosted my own cable TV show called, “People You Should Know in McHenry County.” I have lectured widely on Underground Railroad at several libraries, historical groups and organizations, schools, colleges, and universities including Loyola University, Roosevelt University and the University of Chicago.

The Envelope Please—I have earned five academic awards for high grade point averages; a LUCI Award (Leading Us in Commerce and Industry); and the Athena Award (presented annually through the Crystal Lake Chamber to a wise woman); recipient of the 1999 Peace and Justice Award.

Starting Something—I founded a writer’s club called “Troubadours, for the Love of Writing.” The club is still active. I founded the Underground Railroad Museum and Ethnic Emporium. We are organized as a 501.C.3 and very close to acquiring a site. I was the co-chairperson and organizer of the first Underground Railroad tour in McHenry County. I continue to be the co-host of Diversity Day. I served as a board member of the Hebron Planning Commission, McHenry County Storytelling Festival, Northwest Area Arts Council, Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, Crystal Lake Rotary, and president of the Hebron United Methodist Church Mission Committee. I have volunteered for Unicef, Turning Point and Home of the Sparrow.

Desires—My goal is to write and travel for a year. I plan to visit France, Greece, Italy, and most of all, Ireland. I intend to own and live in the home that I saw first in my dream, and later in reality (a lovely Colonial listed for $699,000 in West Dundee). Ultimately, I would like to teach full-time at the University of Chicago. My goal and mission is to advocate for the rights of children, and develop an effective educational concept which combines intellectual achievement, emotional stability, ethical behavior, and social responsibility.

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