MERF Welcomes New Executive Director

A local non-profit focused on life-long learning has announced the hiring of a new executive director.

Alyce Kenney

Alyce Kenney has joined the staff of MERF, the board of directors recently announced. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Alyce to the team,” says Tom MacMichael, who leads the board’s personnel committee. “Her attitude, work ethic, and love for this community will help us continue MERF’s good work while tackling new initiatives ahead of us.”

Kenney retired from the medical profession, a career that gave her many skills that will be helpful in her new role.

Kenney and her husband, Frank, moved to the area five years ago to be closer to family. “I was a nurse,” she says, “so caring for others, educating others, and communicating were part of my job.”

She found great joy, she says, in helping others learn, grow, and heal, and she sees parallels with the MERF executive director position. “It’s sort of the same — reaching out, connecting, communicating, providing education, working with the school and with the seniors,” she says. “It’s about supporting … supporting growth and good things.

“I was put on this earth to do that,” Kenney adds. “I’m most happy when I’m doing something for others. So MERF is a nice fit, as I am in a semi-retired space, and I’m enjoying my life with my husband. It’s time that I can give, but it doesn’t take up all my time.”

Kenney enjoyed teaching students later in her nursing career, so she looks forward to engaging with Valley Head School through MERF scholarships and other education initiatives. She’s also excited about MERF’s role as publisher of The Groundhog. “That was our introduction to learning about this community,” she says. “When we first moved here, we were like ‘how do we know anything?’ We found The Groundhog, and every month we couldn’t wait for the newspaper to come out to give us more information. It fed us. It was really a wonderful thing.”

The senior lunches provided by MERF also helped Kenney plug into the community the past few years. “I’ve participated in the MERF lunches through other community agencies,” she says.

“When I was in the Garden Club and Saint Joseph’s Church, we always served lunches each season. I love what happens there. It’s fun to meet people and talk with them, and just see their joy and learn about their lives. There are some cool stories to be told and there’s history in that room.”

Music lovers may recognize Kenney from local art shows, where she often sets up with her husband as he sells handmade stringed folk instruments. Billy Goat Guitars specializes in cigar box guitars.