From Hawaii to Cheyenne, we have the Air Force to thank for Mary Schwem's dedication to Cheyenne and Rotary...
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Mary Schwem, Rotarian since 2005
Other than Rotary, which community organizations are you involved in? How does that involvement reflect what you most value about Rotary? Laramie County Master Gardeners, Cheyenne Audubon Society, Rooted in Cheyenne and Air Force Association. Being a Master Gardener, a member of the Audubon Society and a Rooted In Cheyenne volunteer helps me take care of the environment.The Air Force Association allows me to network with others and work with those in the Air Guard and Air Force.
Why did you join Rotary? I was asked to join by Lt Col Coyote Smith.
What has been your favorite speaker or event with Rotary? Bob Womack gave a presentation on the Children of the Dump shortly after I joined.It made me aware of the international projects in which Rotary is involved and what projects our Club was involved with in Central America.
Have you attended a District Convention? If so, # of times and what did you enjoy most? Yes, I have attended 3 District Conferences.I enjoyed meeting other Rotarians in the District.
What is your favorite winter or summer activity and why? Swimming.I swim all year.It is good exercise and I get to meet such nice people.
How long have you lived in Wyoming and what do you like most about living here? We moved here from Hawaii in December of 1984 courtesy of the Air Force.When my husband retired two of our children were still in High School.We stayed to allow them to finish and then stayed after they had finished. I’ve worked as a floral designer for a local florist, served as the director of the Volunteer Center under the NEEDS umbrella, and was campus administer for outreach offices of Lesley University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Warren AFB.I’ve got ties here - In 1985 we found that my great Grandfather was a blacksmith for the railroad and helped lay the tracks through Wyoming.His common law wife and two of their children are buried in Laramie’s cemetery.
What do you like to do in your spare time? In the summer I garden, take advantage of horticulture lectures, help others with their gardens, swim and attend Silver Sneaker Classes. In the winter I attend garden lectures, swim at LCCC, attend Silver Sneakers classes and plan my next year’s garden.
Tell us about your family? My husband and I met studying to be Chinese Linguists for the Air Force in 1973. My husband, Bill retired from the Air Force in 1994 and then from St. Mary’s Hospital last year.We have 3 children: Susan is a Law Librarian at Ohio State, Mary is a Nuclear Engineer at the Idaho National Labs and Brian is an Epidemiologist with the Philippine NIH
What is one thing about yourself that no one knows? In 1990 I was the foreman for the jury of the retiral of Tom Horn.
If you can meet face to face with one person (dead or alive), who would that be and why? Mother Teresa. She did such wonderful work during her lifetime
