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Today's Featured Biography

Frances Westra

Highlights of the life I've lead:

Headed off to NYC at 19 where I starred in a short-lived Off-Broadway Show
Shared a 1 Bedroom Walk-up with 32 others while at Acting School
Missed Woodstock because I had to work that weekend
Became a Bank Teller when I couldn't find other work
Left NYC and worked for Ann Arbor Bank until 1975
Took a temporary position through the University of Michigan at the University of Stockholm as a Data Bank Research Assistant
Got to tour Sweden, Norway, and Denmark while waiting for computer printouts
Back in the States moved to East Lansing
Retired form East Lansing State Bank in 1985 as an Assistant VP and Operations Officer
Moved to Tucson, Arizona and own Organizing Helpers Inc
I am a fiduciary in private practice licensed by the Arizona Supreme Court
I have taught organizing seminars, emptied Hoarder's homes, re-organized small businesses, helped seniors transition from family homes to Senior Communities, and carried out final arrangements

In my non-work hours in addition to continuing my education (still at it)
I have performed with many Community Theatre and Musical groups
When I needed a few more credits for a degree I took a Clown Class and performed as "Cappy the Clown" for a few years
Years later, I took a class in Stand-up and did 5 minutes to a packed house at Laff's Comedy Club (I killed!)

My other love is volunteering with Non-profits handling social justice issues
I've worked with Women's Shelters, Camps and Activity Programs for Special Need Adults, Centers for homeless teens, refugees, and marched for so many causes for ________Rights
(fill in the blank)
While a volunteer with the Juvenile Courts as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for 10 years, I was appointed to the Governor's Committee on Adoption and Foster Care. Most recently I worked with Compass Affordable Housing and am currently on the Board for Project Insight,
(Respite Care for Special Needs Clients)
I am an active church member at St Mark's Presbyterian Church, ordained as a Deacon and then as an Elder. St Mark's is a social justice church; I headed up a Material Aid Distribution Center in Tucson in the summer of 2004 for NO MORE DEATHS, was part of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Team sent to New Orleans in the fall of 2008, and currently am actively involved helping the working poor and homeless of Tucson

Over the years I have shared my home with others, in East Lansing, one mile from campus, a rooming house; in Tucson, a Bed & Breakfast and then for 6 years took care of a marvelous person with Downs; this past year I was a Home-stay Mom for foreign students attending U of A, and am now FINALLY, downsizing from 5 bedrooms to 2

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