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ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS

Elizabeth "Betty" Poirier
Community Impact Award
2014

When considering all of the alumni of North Attleboro High School who have in large measure dedicated their lives to serving our community, it is hard to imagine a graduate who has served as much or as well as Elizabeth "Betty" (Ross) Poirier. A proud member of the Class of 1960, Betty has quite possibly touched the lives of more citizens of our community than any other graduate.

Currently our State Representative for the 14th Bristol District in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Betty was first elected in 1999 and is now serving her eighth term in office. In 2009, the Republican Minority Leader appointed her to be part of his leadership team as the Assistant Minority Whip, a key legislative position she continues to hold. Her career in representing North Attleboro on Beacon Hill is one of steady and successful advocacy for the town she has called home her entire life. Her legislative accomplishments include membership on the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, the Foster Care Committee Caucus, the Special House Committee on Ethics, and a special appointment to the House Commission on Child Abuse and Neglect. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the House Women’s Caucus.

Betty’s political acumen and accomplishments, though, are merely a small part of a life spent giving back to the community she holds so dear to her heart. Growing up in North Attleboro, she attended St. Mary’s School and then North Attleboro High School. She furthered her education at Johnson and Wales University. She and her husband, Kevin, himself our State Representative for 23 years, raised their three boys, Sean, Ryan and Brendan in their hometown, and all three graduates of NAHS embody the spirit that makes the fabric of our community. That spirit now extends to her five grandchildren, Aya, Skyler, Casey, Brayden and Ellie, as well, with the eldest now an NAHS student and member of the girls freshman basketball squad.

Betty has always been very actively involved in the community in ways that go well beyond her role as our State Legislator. She served as committee liaison for many school councils, including the committee charged with the development of the code of conduct handbook for the high school. Betty also served as a board member of the North Attleboro/Plainville Chamber of Commerce, including a term as Vice President, as well as a board member of the Downtown Associates of North Attleboro, which included a term as that group’s president. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Madonna Manor and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Attleboro YMCA.

Betty is the recipient of many awards including the State Police Association Award and the Good Scout Award presented by the Boy Scouts of America. She spearheaded the local Adopt-a-Family charity for many years in addition to being actively involved in the annual collection of Supply Sacks for foster children in our area. Also, she has instituted a group called "Betty’s Angels" to benefit Lenore’s Food Pantry, she is on the Board of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a program that benefits local residents’ winter home heating needs, and she has been at the forefront of a new charitable non-profit called "Make-a-Splash" to save the cherished WWII Memorial Pool.

When asked to explain the source of her love and commitment to the community, she points to the community itself. "North Attleboro is a very special community because of the people who live here," she says. "They continue to inspire me with their dedication to the community and all the things that make North Attleboro. We are a community that just cares so much about each other and it inspirers me every day."

For her inspired service and enduring commitment to our town, we honor Elizabeth "Betty" Poirier with the 2014 NAHS Alumni Association Community Impact Award.