LAURIE BARRETT       RICHARD BENFER

BEATRICE FULLER       CAROLYN MORRISON

Name:  Laurie J. Barrett

Age:  54

Previous Offices Held / Community Involvement:  Thomaston Board of Education (1999-present; currently chairperson); Active Member, St. Thomas Church, Thomaston (Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, Parish Nurse, Faith Gardner, Small Christian Community group member); President, Education Enrichment Fund; Helping Haitians Heal Haitians Medical Mission; MATH, West Hartford; Past School Volunteer/Project Graduation (Thomaston Public Schools)

Marital Status:  Married to Bruce (32 yrs) who was elected to the Thomaston Board of Selectmen (2009); 5 children (Bruce Jr., Elizabeth, Ben, Michael and Cathleen)

Education:  Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing, Mount Saint Mary College

Current Job:  Preventive Care Coordinator, Ovation Benefits Group, Farmington, CT (2000-present).  Responsible for helping employers integrate health and wellness as a critical element of health benefits; Co-Owner, Barrett Family Oil (1996-present); Previous employment:  Case Manager and Discharge Planner, Waterbury Hospital (1996-2000); After graduating college in 1979, I worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury and then at The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington with a focus at each hospital in the Critical Care areas (ICU and Emergency Departments).  While raising my children, I worked as a home care nurse and also was a substitute school nurse.

Favorite Books:  Mountains Beyond Mountains:  The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer by Tracy Kidder; Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Age:  69

Previous Offices Held / Community Involvement:  Appointed member (to fill vacancy), Library Board of Directors (January 2011 - present); Active Participant in Library Book Discussion Groups; Coach, Thomaston 5th & 6th Grade Basketball (2009-2011); Volunteer Director of Thomaston Summer Basketball Program (2010 & 2011); Board Member, Tutor and Mentor – Children’s Community School, Waterbury; Referee, Jr./Sr. High School Basketball Games

Marital Status:  Married to Lois; 8 grandchildren

Education:  Master of Public Health, Yale University; Bachelor of Business Administration, Ohio University; Continuing Education through OLLI program at UCONN

Current Job:  Retired (34 year career in hospital administration – Executive Director, Winsted Health Center; Executive Vice President, 14 yrs, St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury)

Quote:   The Thomaston Library is one of the most valuable resources in our community.  It expresses the intellectual interest of the community, serves all community residents, and runs many valuable programs that address the academic and literature needs of our young people.  The Library Board must see that we have the resources to keep this vital organization strong and responsive to community needs.

Last Books Read:  The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough; Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond; Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond; Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It by Richard A. Clarke and Robert Knake; The Fifth Son: A Novel by Elie Wiesel; and Tabloid City: A Novel by Pete Hamill

Name:  Beatrice C. Fuller

Age:  85

Previous Offices Held / Community Involvement:  Elected member, Library Board of Directors (2007 - present); Elected member, Board of Selectman and Police Commission (1983-1993, serving with Eugene McMahon); Beautification Committee (founder and member); Hillside Cemetery Association (Secretary); Visiting Nurse Association (Treasurer); Library Volunteer; Trustee, Finance Board, Liturgy Committee and Parish Council, St. Thomas Church; Justice of the Peace; Helped Start "Light Up the Town"; Thomaston Democratic Town Committee (current Vice Chairman/former Chairman).

Awards and Recognition:  Rotary Vocational Award for Business and Community Leadership; Beautification Committee Founders Award

Marital Status:  Widow; 3 Sons (Peter, Don and Tim) and 2 Daughters (Suzy and Peggy)

Education:  Graduate, Hillhouse High; Whitney Secretarial

Current Job:  Retired; Previous employment: Owner/Operator Fullers 5&10 (1974-1996); Thomaston School Librarian (25 yrs) 

Quote:  My Kind of Town, Thomaston Is.  I love this Town.  The people in Thomaston have been very good to me, sharing my joy and sorrows through the years.  I would like to continue to do my share in maintaining this community spirit.

Favorite Book:  Clara and Mr. Tiffany: A Novel by Susan Vreeland

Name:  Carolyn Morrison

Age:  52

Previous Offices Held / Community Involvement:  Elected member, Library Board of Directors (2005 - present); Thomaston Planning and Zoning Commission (regular member)

Marital Status:  Married to Chris Morrison (21 yrs), 3 children

Education:  MBA, UCONN (1983); BA, Liberal Arts, UCONN (1981)

Current Job:   Vice President, Commercial Banking, Webster Bank

Last Book Read:  The City of Falling Angels by John Berendt

I moved to Thomaston in 1983 after graduating from UCONN with both a bachelors (Art History) and master’s degree (MBA).  After working in banking for 15 years, I left to stay home with my three young children.  That is when I first became involved with the Library and successfully ran for the Board of Trustees in 2005.  On the Board, I have served as Secretary for several years and most recently have served as Chairman.  As Chair, I have been involved in all Subcommittees including Personnel, By-Laws, Long Term Planning (including Technology) and most importantly Budget. 

The entire Board has been working hard to ensure the Library operates efficiently in these difficult financial times and still provide superior products and services to the patrons.  Use of the Library, from circulation of all materials, attendance at programs, internet usage, use of meeting space, etc. has increased.  Strong Board leadership, along with the dedicated, professional staff, allows the Thomaston Public Library to continue to provide valuable materials, programs and services to the residents of Thomaston. 

I currently reside in Thomaston with my husband of 21 years, Chris Morrison, and our three children, all of whom attend Thomaston Public Schools.  The Library has always played an important part in our lives, from infant and toddler story times to book discussion groups to up-to-date reading and research materials.  I will continue to work hard to see it remain a true asset to Thomaston.