La Conner Rotary fundraiser a Mo-mentous event

In an era largely defined by self-service, Maureen Harlan has opted for a more time-honored approach.

It being unselfish service to others.

Those selfless efforts, carried out over the course of a lifetime both here in her home town and well beyond La Conner, have not gone unnoticed.

A retired La Conner educator who remains an active civic leader, Harlan will be feted as a Paul Harris Fellow recipient during the La Conner Rotary Club’s 12th annual Dinner & Auction at Maple Hall this Saturday.

Named for the founder of Rotary International, the Harris award recognizes persons who perform exemplary public service in their communities. So much so that they have either contributed – or have had contributions made in their name – of $1,000 or more to the Rotary Foundation.

“Maureen’s dedication to the community,” says La Conner Rotarian Cindy Tracey, “is self-evident in all the good works she has done for La Conner.”

It’s a list that would fill an entire newspaper, let alone a single article.

But let’s give it a try.

After graduating from La Conner High, she attended the University of Washington, later transferring to Western Washington University to complete a bachelor’s degree in English and Speech.

It proved an ideal major for someone never at loss for an encouraging word or three.

She returned to her alma mater as a teacher in the fall of 1974. Her assignment included an elective daily vocations class with students from freshmen through seniors of varying academic skills, filling a classroom in the since demolished La Conner Elementary building.

It was a daunting task that would have stressed any teacher, let alone one just starting out.

Harlan, though, wasn’t fazed.

She brought in guest speakers from a wide range of industries and government agencies, and arranged for student field trips to law offices, broadcast stations and county departments. They even went to the FBI regional office in Seattle.

All the while she – a long with her husband, Mit, and children Mike and Sara – made time to attend school sports and other extra-curricular events. In that way, Harlan showed students she cared about their success beyond the classroom.

Those former students, many now in middle age, haven’t forgotten. They flooded social media in the past couple weeks, after learning she was named a Harris Fellow, to praise “Mo” – as she’s fondly known hereabouts – for having been a positive influence during their formative years.

She did so in different roles at La Conner Schools.

Harlan took time in the early 1980s to earn a master’s degree from WWU, then again returned to the La Conner district, this time as the K-12 counselor.

Her next career move involved earning administrative credentials from Gonzaga University, and once more La Conner Schools benefited. Harlan served as middle school principal prior to a retirement that has been anything but relaxed.

Consider that she has:

• Served on the board of the Skagit County Boys & Girls Club;

• Filled numerous roles with the Leadership Skagit program;

• Helped found the La Conner chapter of Soroptimist International;

• Served as planning director for the Northwest Technical & Career Academy;

• Participated in ambassador leadership training for Skagit Valley Hospital; and

• Been actively involved with the Museum of Northwest Art as a docent and education committee member.

That’s just to name a few.

And no doubt there’s more to come.

“Maureen,” points out La Conner Rotary Club past President Susan Macek, “has dedicated her life to making the world a better place. She’s a role model for all of us.”