Photo: Richmond Hill South Civic Association President Margaret Finnerty (l.) was honored last December by Joann Ariola and the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic after Finnerty retired from the city Department of Education. Finnerty announced last week that the RHSCA will be closing its doors next Thursday. File Photo
The Richmond Hill South Civic Association will meet next Thursday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the South Ozone Park Knights of Columbus hall on Lefferts Boulevard.
It will be the longstanding community advocacy organization’s last confab.
After serving south Queens residents and business owners for 40 years, the RHSCA is closing its doors, according to President Margaret Finnerty.
“I have opened the floor for [leadership] nominations in April and May,” said Finnery, who has led the group for 21 years. “However, at this time none of the members are prepared to dedicate their time to the civic.”
Since retiring in January from her position as parent coordinator of District 27 in the city Department of Education, she said that she is now “looking forward to traveling with my husband and possibly relocating in the near future.”
Finnerty said she is proud of the myriad projects to which she and the civic have contributed during her presidency, including donating gifts to the River Fund, Inc.; representing the community on the Air Train and Resorts World Casino committees; organizing a drive which sent millions of dollars in coupons to soldiers overseas; and raising money to have an electronic information sign installed outside her alma mater, John Adams High School.
Finnerty said none of it would have been possible without the support of her husband and children, and the help of her executive board.
“I feel that I had the right civic to move the community, protect the community, and be the voice of the community,” she noted, before adding, “I think it’s going to be bittersweet and very emotional on Thursday night. This has been something I’ve loved. It was never a job to me.”
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