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 We
saw her name in last year’s headlines, but didn’t really
know her. We observed as she began a campaign to help relocate families
with no place to live. We watched closely as her efforts began making
a difference to many who needed to know that someone cared. We soon
became familiar with Lynne Mason, a compassionate woman who has
no conception of the word "no," and doesn’t back
down from a challenge. We’ve just introduced you to January’s
Woman of the Month, a deserving individual who is now being recognized
for her efforts by the Watauga County Council on the Status of Women.
Lynn
Mason is a soft-spoken woman whose energy is contagious. All who
know her value her as an incredibly sensitive and sincere individual
who places the needs of others far above her own. Her achievements
are many, though she is not one to toot her own horn. She doesn’t
have to - countless others have offered to share with us just what
Lynne Mason has come to mean to them, and to Boone and Watauga County,
as a whole.
Having
arrived in Boone just a few short years ago with her husband, Andrew,
and children Carolyn and J.P., Lynne Mason soon found her niche.
She accepted a position with New River Behavioral Health Care in
March 1995, and continues today in her role as Early Intervention
Specialist/Child Service Coordinator of the PACT program.
This
position is simply an ongoing extension of her previous work, and
puts to good use her Masters of Social Work Degree, (1983), as well
as her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Political Science Major, (1979),
both obtained at UNC.
Lynne
has held various positions through the years, including that of
Early Intervention Service Coordinator, working with infants and
toddlers with developmental disabilities; a Mobile Therapist who
provided services to children and adolescents at risk for hospitalization
or other placement due to mental health dysfunction. She has worked
as a Clinical Social Worker at the UNC-CH Hospital; Medical Social
Worker with Home Health in Durham; also, with Adolescent Pregnancy
and Parenthood programs, and as a SIDS Counselor, to name a few.
She
did her Post-Masters Internship at the Division of Disorders of
Development and Learning, at UNC-Chapel Hill, and was Graduate Research
Assistant at the School of Social Work, at UNC.
Her
professional resume is impressive, to say the least, with space
limiting our inclusion of her many accomplishments.
While
her chosen profession has always required her involvement and intervention
in complex situations on a daily basis, helping others improve their
way of life, it is perhaps her passion for her community and countless
hours of volunteer work that sets her apart.
In
nominating Mason for Woman of the Month, it was Pam Williamson who
first brought her civic activity to our attention.
"Long
before the plight of the Greenview residents really hit the media,
Lynne found out about plans to evict the residents and immediately
came to help. There was nothing in it for her, whatsoever. She did
this because she is a kind, caring and moral person who believes
that one person can make a difference and that it was her responsibility
to step up to the plate."
According
to Williamson, the Grandview residents were an "eclectic"
mix of families – including Viet Nam Vets, handicapped individuals,
migrant workers, elderly with disabilities and poor, working families.
"The $100 they paid in rent each month was a stretch for them
to afford. Many had lived at Greenview since the park was first
established some 25 years ago. They had no means and no contacts."
We
learned that Lynne Mason first approached the Boone Town Council
to speak out on behalf of the tenants, "when no one else was
really paying attention," Williamson added. "She then
contacted a lawyer to help out, got the media involved and began
to hold community-type meetings at the Park to review with residents
their options and to try to calm their fears. Through her efforts,
she was able to convince the Town Council members that something
had to be done to help the residents."
Williamson
said that "Many people would have stopped right there, but
Lynn joined the Relocation Task Force set up by the council and
began to get Social Services and Northwest Regional Housing Authority
involved. She was instrumental in getting the Council to hold an
"Opportunity Fair" and got almost all the families to
attend the fair to outline exactly what they needed in terms of
relocation. This included medical needs, pet needs, money needs,
etc. Problem was: there was no money. So Lynne, unassisted, began
to put out press reports asking for donations, and most importantly,
single-handedly got the faith-based communities together to raise
needed funds. She also worked with Cash Mobile Homes to get the
trailers moved at a much-reduced cost, and with utility and other
companies to waive fees and hook up temporary electric, etc. She
also contacted builders and contractors to get them to donate needed
time and materials for getting the trailers, many of which were
made in the ‘60’s, fit to move."
We
all know Mason did not stop there. "She then began to recruit
students and other groups to assist in the literal relocation of
residents."
Williamson
says she did not know Lynne prior to her involvement with Greenview,
"But suffice it to say, I consider her to be one of the very
finest people I have ever met. She puts her money and time where
her beliefs are. We could all learn a lot from her commitment and
energy."
Mason
says that she had "a lot of wonderful people" working
with her on the relocation project and considers this to be "truly
a very caring community, and one of which I’m glad to be a
part of."
Mason
believes strongly that it is an individual’s responsibility
to use whatever gifts he or she has to help others, "to give
back to the community."
Her
chosen career speaks volumes about her commitment to improving social
injustices. "It’s important to do right by people, and
it’s incredible, when in the process of helping, you see people
become a part of their own advocacy."
Mason
tells us that all but six of the families in the trailer park have
been permanently relocated at this time. "The renters were
first to relocate and were able to do so quite easily. It was more
difficult for the homeowners, however. Considering new codes, holidays,
the weather, etc. – moving mobile homes has not been an easy
task."
Mason
became personally involved with the tenants, and was especially
touched by one woman in particular, who had lived in Greenview for
twenty- five years.
Finally
seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, Mason can almost breathe
a sigh of relief. "It’s going to get done. I had to go
on faith – that has been a big part of this process. A greater
power other than myself was in charge here. I just did the legwork.
But, if I commit to something, I will see it through."
Mason
added that "most" of the money was raised to offset the
costs, thanks, in part to "a lot of community awareness, the
faith community, private individuals and even developers of the
location, who have made generous contributions. It turned out to
be a real cooperative effort."
Mason
is actively involved, with her family, at First Presbyterian Church
of Boone, where she serves as a deacon and does a lot of hands-on
mission work. She helped rebuild homes in Eastern NC following the
flood two years ago, as well as the construction of a seminary in
Mexico. "I like to see hands-on mission work. There are mission
opportunities all around us if we just look for them. It’s
real easy not to see the needs around you, sometimes in your own
backyard."
Mason
also volunteers with Habitat For Humanity, and serves on numerous
boards and committees. She was ecstatic to know that the people
of Boone had enough confidence in her to elect her to the Town Council
during the recent election. "It is both an honor and a very
humbling experience. I’ve got a lot to learn, but we’re
already wrestling with big issues. Boone is really an incredible
place to live and I look forward to the next two years of my term."
Mason
sums it up well when she says, "I have a real passion for community
work. I am very busy, but I am blessed. I wouldn’t want it
any other way."
In
her free time, Mason enjoys running, averaging about 15 miles a
week. She loves the out-of-doors and cross-country skiing.
She
and her husband recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary
and were enjoying a rare out-of-town get-away when her son called
to tell her about being named Woman of the Month. "He said
he hated to bother us, but he thought it might be an important message."
Thank
you, Lynne Mason for making a difference.
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