MaineBusiness.com

PORTLAND – The Institute for Civic Leadership has awarded its 2009 Distinguished Alumnae Award to a pair of Portland area leaders well-known throughout the state for their combined 50 plus years of service to Maine’s nonprofit organizations and communities.

Rachel Armstrong, of Falmouth, and Anne Jackson, of Yarmouth, were presented the award by ICL Executive Director Steve Schuit and ICL’s Outgoing Board Chair Mary Schendel at the organization’s Annual Recognition Celebration on Wednesday, June 17 in Portland.

Together, the two women co-founded The Board Network and remained on the ICL board after its merger with The Board Network, with Armstrong terming out from the board in 2008 and Jackson this spring.

Both women are also graduates of ICL’s Leadership Intensive, with Armstrong graduating from the organization’s first intensive as part of the Alpha Class in 1993, and Jackson graduating as part of the Delta class in 1996.

In her career of community service, Armstrong has served on the boards of the Maine Community Foundation, the Portland Museum of Art, the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Piper Shores and the Portland Symphony Orchestra. She was also a former director of the Maine National Bank, making her the first female to sit on the board of a Maine bank.

Jackson became chair of the board of the Maine Community Foundation in May. She also currently serves on the board of the Waynflete School and in past years, has served on the board of the USM Foundation, Kieve and numerous other New England organizations.

At the celebration luncheon, Meredith Jones, the new CEO/President of the Maine Community Foundation, introduced the two award recipients, who then gave an address to the 34 members of the Pi class graduating from ICL’s latest Leadership Intensive that same day.

This is the ninth year the Portland-based nonprofit has given this award, but the first time it has been bestowed upon joint honorees. The award is given to those who leverage their ICL Leadership Intensive training in the workplace to create a work environment distinguished by outstanding performance and personal satisfaction and/or in the broader community to create meaningful change that has benefits at a local, regional or statewide level.

Past recipients have included Michael Dubyak, Chairman, President and CEO of Wright Express; Dr. Bud Higgins, Chief Medical Officer at Maine Medical Center; Layne Gregory, Executive Director of Boys to Men; and Scott Simons, of Scott Simons Architects.

“These two amazing women have gifted Maine a legacy of leadership that has, and continues to, cascade through our communities,” said ICL Executive Director Steve Schuit. “They are pioneers and models of exemplary leadership and we are fortunate to have them within our communities.”

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP- The Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL) was founded in 1993 to build Maine’s civic capacity by training, supporting, engaging and convening a growing network of skilled leaders. In 2006, ICL merged with The Board Network, an organization founded in 1999 to build stronger nonprofit Boards of Directors in Maine. ICL brings innovative and inclusive models of leadership to Maine’s communities and organizations by providing a broad range of civic leadership offerings, as well as programs specific to nonprofit boards. At the Institute for Civic Leadership we are committed to opening doors, building new relationships, and inspiring leaders. We move Maine forward. For more information, contact 773-3254 (extension 100) or visit www.civicleadership.org.


-END-