CORA BAILEY AWARD WINDSOR-ESSEX 2017

AREA 3

Dark,dreary,dismal.ThosethreewordsprettywellsumupthemonthofAprilandevenearlyMaythisyear.AndthentherewasMother’sDay.Sunny,warm,wonderful.Invigorating,justliketherecipientoftoday’sCoraBaileyAward.

LowannaClossdefinitelyisourveryownwarmrayofsunshine.Fromherbrightandalwaysstylishoutfits(fromhersparklingearringsrightdowntothetipsofhertinymatchingshoes)toherwarmhugsandcloudlessdisposition,thisladyisarealsourceofsolarenergythatourWindsor-EssexRWTOBranchhasbeenblessedtohaveasourSocialConvenorforthepastthreeyears.WhenshetookoverfromtheverycapableanddedicatedEmyMcBride,LowannaClosshadalreadybeenwatchingandlearningfromhermentor.Lowannalearnedfromthebestandthenaddedalittlebitofhersunlitflairtothejob.ShecreatedtheTravelClubtoencourageasmanyladiesaspossibletobecomeinvolvedinouractivities.SheorganizedannualOctobertripstoplaceslikeStratfordandSt.Jacob’s,alwaysprovidinguniqueprizesandactivitiestokeepthetravellersentertainedalongtheway.Shecoordinateddaytrips(allwithcatchy,creativenames)includingaRumRunnersTour,KentGetEnough,ashoppingspreeinChathamandBlenheim,ChristmasDoubleTakeatWillisteadManor,ourownMurderMysteryevening,andofcourse,Treasures1and2,herownversionofTheAntiquesRoadShow.AndeachofthesevenueswasdecoratedwithherownpanacheaswereallherdisplaysattheluncheonswiththeexperthelpofthetwoVannas,asshecallsthem,DebbiePowellandGennyRudzinski.Andofcourse,whocanforgetthe80+teas,honouringsomeofourspecialmembers?Again,shedecoratedthevenue,SeasonsinLaSalle,withherfamousLowannaflairandaddedtheelementofavisualpresentationandatriviagametoinvolveouresteemedguests.Asatreasuredmemberofourexecutive,Lowannaisalwaysreadytohelpinanycapacitywhetherbyorganizinginitiativecommitteeoutings,writingnewsletterarticlesorsharinghercreativeideas.Lowannahasplentyofsunshinetogoaround.BeyondherinvolvementwithRWTO,sheisanactivevolunteerinthecommunity.Inthepast,shehashelpedHospiceandWETRA,Windsor-EssexTherapeuticRidingAssociation,buthermainvolunteerpassionduringretirementhasbeentheDivineMercyFoodBankwheresheiscurrentlytheChristmasandEasterprogramcoordinator,workingtirelesslytospreadsunshinetofamiliesinneedduringthoseholidayseasons.Sunny,warm,wonderful.That’sLowannaCloss,whoIamproudtocallmysister-in-law,myfriendandtodayamost-deservingrecipientoftheCoraBaileyAward.

Lowanna Closs on the right receiving the Cora Bailey Award from Pat Mulvey.