Marilee has worked tirelessly on behalf of Community Preservation in her community of Bridgewater.  In fact, she's the only Chair the CPC has ever known. Those who know Marilee understand that consensus building is her calling card.  We'd all like to believe that there are never any disagreements in local towns. We should all take lessons from Marilee on how to lead in those situations.  

For example, imagine the politics of handling this CPA project. For years, the girls softball program did not have its own field. They could practice or play on the boy's field, so long as the boys weren't using it. That meant that if their game was running long and the boy's needed the field, the girls had to stop. Because of CPA and Marilee's leadership, a spectacular new girls softball complex was built in Bridgewater.  I want to quickly read a quote from what Marilee said at the dedication:

 "I don't even have any daughters young enough to play softball and my granddaughters don't live here... so why am I so excited today? 

I'll tell you why: because you are part of my community and I am part of your community.  And when your needs are fulfilled, MY community is better and THAT makes me happy!!!  

I'll bet Marilee is happy again today.  In the room here are four generations of her family:  Her Mom, who traveled from Missouri to be here, two of her sons and her granddaughter.  Stand up and please lead the applause for Marilee Kenney Hunt.