Farewell Margaret! We wish you the best in New Zealand
An Interview with Margaret Donnelly
“I have loved what this job with Carbondale Parks and Recreation has afforded me. I have been able to use both of my main skills: organizing things and being creative,” said Margaret in a recent interview. “My husband, Quinn, was offered an ideal job in river management in Christchurch, New Zealand, and, having met in Germany, we’ve always loved experiencing other cultures. So, we decided to make this move; he is already there, and I’ll join him in early May. I love it here, I have a great community of friends, but we felt we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to live in New Zealand. I will miss Carbondale, the people, and the staff with whom I have worked.”
Margaret was raised in Northern California and Oregon where much of her family still live. She was granted an ROTC scholarship out of high school and it paid for her education at the University of Portland. Following college, Margaret served in the Air Force for five years as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, managing units that maintained A-10 and F-16 fighter jets.
When her military service concluded, Margaret wasn’t sure what she wanted to do next. She was certain that it should include both managing and something hands-on. At her local community college, she obtained three fitness certificates: Fitness Technology, Healthy Older Adult, and Personal Training and Group Fitness. Her first jobs in this field were at Recreation Centers in Portland and at 24-Hour Fitness. When she and Quinn moved to Carbondale for his job in November 2014, Margaret walked into the Recreation Center, interviewed, and was hired that day to be a Group Fitness Instructor and Personal Trainer.
A year later, Margaret was offered the position of Health & Wellness and Aquatics Coordinator. In answer to a question about job highlights, she said, “I tried to get everything organized and staff trained off-season so, in the summer, I could be out on the pool deck, greeting people by name, and getting in the water with other lap swimmers.” “Also,” she added, “It was fun to add elements to the annual Fourth of July Pool Party that reminded me of the small town where I grew up, like the Coin Dive, the Watermelon Relay Race, and the Cardboard Canoe Race.”
After seven years in that role, Margaret was promoted to her current position, Recreation Programs and Community Center Manager. “My years in the Air Force were very useful training for what I do now. You must know what it is you’re managing, and, fortunately, I have worked almost every role that I am now overseeing.” Margaret’s eyes lit up when she shared, “It’s been fun to create the Easter scavenger hunt, “Where My Peeps At?”, the Turkey Trot, Full Moon Winter Triathlon, Puzzle and Pie Night, and the sprint triathlon, Tri for the Sun.” And that doesn’t even mention the evening when Santa comes to town and all the Recreation Center staff put on Elf costumes! Margaret added, “We have a lot of fun. I’ve always liked recreation centers over private clubs because you get to help the most amount of people. I enjoy the community feel.”
When asked about the current Let’s Make a Splash! Campaign, Margaret had a lot to say. “The pool adds value to the community. It is a subsidized program that gives residents a place to go, everyone from babies-in-utero to eighty- and ninety-year-old swimmers. Grandparents bring their grandkids, middle-schoolers have safe, supervised play, it provides therapeutic benefits like non-joint-impacting cardio exercise, and recovery from surgeries. Plus, it all has a great view!”
“I was in on planning the design for the new pool from the beginning,” Margaret went on. “Because I had been listening to pool users for seven years, I understood what people wanted. I had listened to why people came to the pool, what people liked, what they wish the pool had, why people stopped coming to the Carbondale Pool, and what it would take for them to come back. This pool has been designed to be energy efficient, fiscally responsible, and able to expand with the community. When budget constraints caused us to consider cutting some of the planned amenities, we worked very hard to only cut things that would not impact the functionality and user experience at the pool. That’s why this campaign is so important. Donations will help us get a final product that will cause people to say, “This is beautiful. I want to be here.”
Please consider making a gift or pledge in appreciation for the ways you feel Margaret has impacted the Town of Carbondale over the last 10 years, for your respect for her many attributes, in thanks for the fact that Carbondale has a pool, and/or in anticipation of a beautiful new facility.