Mera M. Archambeau Inducted into Cambridge Who's Who Executive, Professional and Entrepreneurial Registry

    FREEHOLD, NJ, October 3, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Mera M. Archambeau, After School Program Coordinator at the Freehold Area Open Door, has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership, initiative and excellence in all aspects of the program for development of children.

Mrs. Archambeau can draw upon over forty years of professional experience in working with children. The After School Program assists 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students with their homework assignments. Mrs Archambeau is responsible for: maintaining all records for the program; permission slips and attendance; procuring students; training high school, college, and adult volunteers who work with the children; overseeing all volunteers; all financial planning and expenditures; reporting to the Freehold Area Open Door Board of Directors; and communicating with the Freehold Elementary Schools. Her love for children and the desire to be part of their development inspired her to become involved in her profession.

After two years of being a volunteer working with the children, she became the coordinator of the program. When the first group of students who had attended the After School Program were in 9th grade, she presented a scholarship plan to the Open Door Board of Directors. The scholarships would be awarded to high school seniors who had attended the After School Program and who would be continuing his/her education post high school. The Board accepted her plan and has been awarding these scholarships since 1999. Her ability to instill self-esteem in children is the driving force behind her success.

Mrs. Archambeau received two awards from the Freehold Area Open Door. The first in 1991 for Volunteer of the Year, and the second, the Ann Marazita Volunteer of the Year Award, in 2008. This was the first year this award was given and it was presented in recognition of continuing outstanding service. Her professional interest in volunteer tutoring of children actually began while she was in high school. After graduating from American University, Washington, D.C., in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration, she continued to pursue volunteer tutoring on a one to one basis. In 1964 she expanded her tutoring endeavors by organizing volunteers to work with students at Dunbar High School, Lexington, KY for every hour that the school was in session. Dunbar was targeted because the drop out rate was worse than the worst state average. In 1966 she organized the Wynefield Library and Recreation Department Pre-School Program. She convinced the Recreation Department Officer to let her organize a pre-school program of two half day sessions a week. There were no two half day programs available in the area. She [with three other mothers] formed the Mother's Club of the Wynefileld Recreation Department, with her as President. They were responsible for hiring the teacher, setting the fees, purchasing supplies, procuring the three and four year olds; and making a donation to the Recreation Department. The program began with fifteen three and four year olds. Within six months there were four sessions: two morning sessions and two afternoon sessions, all with waiting lists. The sessions were either Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday or Thursday and Friday.

From 1968 through 1985, Mrs. Archambeau held many offices on her local and Council PTA Boards including President once at the elementary level and once at the high school level. In 1972, she received the National Congress of Parents and Teachers' Continuing Lifetime Service Award. During the same years, she was a girl scout leader. She organized the first ever Girl Scout Camporee for 189 scouts in 1974 in New Milford, CT. This was the first camping experience for many of the scouts and leaders. Her Cadette troop was responsible for allocating campsites in the undeveloped campground; teaching camping skills; planning activities; making inspections, and awarding prizes.

Mrs. Archambeau founded two businesses. The first in 1976, while pursing one of her passions, horseback riding, she designed, made and sold boot bags. These bags had compartments for each of the following: boots, boot jack, boot pulls, britches, and crop and could be personalized. In 1993 she developed a game, Math Match to reinforce math skills for her After School Program students. It was so successful that she obtained a copyright and sold the game under Mersco Games. She has since sold the copyright and the game is now being manufactured and sold nationally as Math Rummy. She is still receiving royalties.

Over the years Mrs. Archambeau has held various positions in her Church such as Sunday School Teacher, High School advisor, Jr. Warden, Usher and President of the Women of the Church. Mrs. Archambeau currently resides in Freehold, New Jersey with her husband, where they raised four children. She currently sews, quilts, knits and crochets and enjoys social dancing and traveling. She is a leader in her community and a true social entrepreneur and aspires to continue her profession by helping children in all possible ways. She coined the phrase Professional Volunteer while working with high school teachers.

About Cambridge Who's Who
Cambridge Who's Who is an exclusive membership organization that recognizes and empowers executives, professionals and entrepreneurs throughout the world. From healthcare to law, engineering to finance, manufacturing to education, every major industry is represented by its 250,000 active members.

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Contact:
Ellen Campbell
Director of Media Relations
[email protected]

Cambridge Who's Who is the fastest-growing publisher of executive, professional and entrepreneur biographies in the world today. Our accomplished members and extensive online database make Cambridge Who's Who a premier resource for networking.

The Cambridge mission is to deliver its members the recognition and competitive edge needed to network and do business effectively. Inclusion in the registry is an honor limited to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and achievement in their industry and occupation. The registry is distributed exclusively to our members around the world, making it the ideal vehicle for you to use to position yourself and your company.

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