Neighbors Driving Neighbors gets new leadership

MOUNT VERNON — Over the past seven years, three members of the Neighbors Driving Neighbors Board of Directors have led the way — Dan Onion, Sandy Wright and Shelly Fitzgerald. All three helped launch Neighbors Driving Neighbors in 2015 and have been active leaders ever since.
While all three are staying on the board, new leadership will take the reins.
“After seven years of starting up, we senior board members are ourselves aging in place, and as much as we’d like to live forever and lead NDN, we must gradually turn the leadership over to a new generation,” Onion said.
The new generation of officers includes Harald Bredesen, of Mount Vernon, as president; Peter Roderick, of Rome, as vice president; Kelli Burnham, of Fayette, as secretary. Bill Rosenberg, of Mount Vernon, will continue as treasurer. Ken Elliot of Mount Vernon was voted in as a new board member at the annual meeting in January, as well.
The new officers express their appreciation to the founding leadership for growing NDN into a valued volunteer-driven community organization — including maintaining services through the pandemic.
“We are glad Dan, Shelly and Sandy will continue as members of the board for now to advise the new leadership and staff as we continue to navigate a COVID environment while providing a safe and often critical service,” Bredesen said.
The board also named two co-executive directors, Misty Beck, of Fayette, and Joe Austin, of Farmington.
Beck has been NDN’s ride coordinator since January 2021, and said she is excited about moving into a new collaborative leadership position. She teaches writing and environmental humanities at the University of Maine at Farmington. She has also been president of the Basin-David-Tilton Ponds Association and vice president of the Friends of Starling Hall, and she is a volunteer member of the Vienna Union Hall Association.
Austin, who worked in student affairs at UMF, is active in the career development field and is president of the Maine Career Development Association. He holds a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Maine.
Neighbors Driving Neighbors provides free rides to those who need transportation in Belgrade, Fayette, Mount Vernon, Rome and Vienna. As COVID-19 cases remain high, rides are currently only for medical appointments only. Pre-paid grocery and pharmacy orders can be picked up and delivered as well.
Contact NDN to sign up for assistance at 207-860-0677 or neighborsdrivingneighbors@gmail.com