FARMINGTON – LEAP held its annual meeting on Oct. 30th where the following board members were elected to leadership positions for the following year: Deborah Smith of Weld, board president; Carolyn Balsam of Industry, vice president; Douglas Walrath of Strong, treasurer; and Roslyn Ken of Farmington, secretary.

Debbie Smith and Roz Kerr were recognized for having served Life Enrichment Advancing People (formerly Western Maine ARC) for nearly 22 years each. LEAP Executive Director Richard Dorian shared the following praise for these two dedicated community volunteers: “These two ladies have seen the agency through decades of challenges and growth, and have remained steadfast in their commitment to seeing local community supports developed for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. They have both worked as diligent stewards to develop a stronger community system of support so that Maine’s Pineland Institution could be closed in 1996. These two pillars have shouldered much over the years and have remained hopeful, confident and poised for a bright future for LEAP. We owe them a large debt of gratitude for their time, support and vision.”

The two women were equally full of praise for LEAP’S dedicated and loving staff, who deliver outstanding supports every day of the year. They were quick to highlight the 22 plus years of support from Kathy Cordes as a long-serving program administrator at LEAP. Smith and Kerr said, “We have long worked as partners with the staff of LEAP, particularly Kathy Cordes. Kathy has been a visionary leader, full of advice and ideas to maintain and carry out high quality services. She has been a great mentor and teacher for the staff and the board.”

The other board members were recognized: Grace and Joel Denison of Strong and Stewart Durrell of Wilton. LEAP’S administrators and management team were also recognized for their support and efforts to conduct the necessary and vital work within the agency.

LEAP is a private nonprofit agency, which has been providing community and residential supports for people with developmental disabilities and mental retardation in western and central Maine and their families for more than 23 years. LEAP provides individualized and small group services: family support, information and referral, residential training and assisted living services, personal support services for individuals in their own homes and the D.R.E.A.M. Respite Program for Children and Adults. LEAP is a member agency of the Tri-VaIley United Way, the Maine Association for Community Support Providers, the Professional Providers Network of Maine and the Maine Associate of Nonprofits.

For more information about LEAP and its services, write to LEAP, P.O. Box 979, Farmington, ME 04938, or call 778-3443.