Two Medina County residents appointed trustees for the Western Reserve Masonic Community

MEDINA — The Western Reserve Masonic Community appointed two Medina residents to its board of trustees. The WRMC is an organization dedicated to the idea of helping people age respectfully. It provides both Medina residents and beyond with senior living arrangements and has three different campuses, one of them in Medina. Colleen Rice and Mark Jackson are two longtime Medina residents with a special connection to WRMC. "We had a family member who stayed at the memory care unit and we had a wonderful experience with the Western Reserve Masonic Community and the care they provided our family member was outstanding," Rice said. "And so, when they reached out to me about this opportunity to serve I jumped at it because it was an opportunity to continue to provide wonderful experiences and programs for people staying at the Western Reserve Masonic Community." Jackson expressed similar sentiments as to why he wanted to work for the branch. "My mom has lived alone until last year and had some health issues and so now she is a resident there," Jackson said. "Also last year, both my in-laws had some health issues and they, likewise, were located up there. … I couldn't have a tighter tie to wanting to help over there." In addition to these connections, both Rice and Jackson have a rich history of volunteering with local nonprofits and civic groups, along with a past of constant contribution to the Western Reserve Masonic Community. Rice works as the executive director at Leadership Medina County, a nonprofit focused on maintaining a large group of leaders in Medina County, educating them about issues in the county and working with the leaders to fix these issues. Jackson also is a member of the Wadsworth Masonic Lodge, a branch of the Freemasons, a religious organization that tends to focus on helping people. "They both have been supporters of Western Reserve Masonic Community for several years," WRMC President Jason French said. "And they both have family members that reside on our campus. The other important piece is that until these two joined, we did not have any members that resided inside Medina County. So, we were really looking for persons that were connected specifically to the greater Medina community and that also had an affinity and showed respect for our campus." The appointment is additionally important as Rice is the first woman and non-Mason to join the Board of Trustees, marking a step in a more progressive direction for the WRMC as a whole. "She's actually volunteered on our campus before with our Silver Songbirds," French said. "And knowing who she is as a person and what she represents, I think she is the perfect person to be the first person to be a nonmember of our fraternity." Both Rice and Jackson plan on helping the projects the other trustees were already working on. "Right now, I'm interested in learning about where they're at and what plans they have for the future," Rice said. "And then I'm sure that there will be opportunities for me to contribute from my experiences in the nonprofit realm. But right now, I'm just looking forward to listening and learning." To learn more about the WRMC, visit bit.ly/3GiYxxS. Contact reporter Caleb Hurley at (330) 721-4049 or churley@medina-gazette.com.