Meet The Amherst Citizen Of The Year 2012

It takes a village to make a town great, but it can take just one person to make it even better.

May Balsama was for her longtime commitment to the surrounding community. She has been heavily involved in education, business and worthy causes in her 36 years as an Amherst citizen.

Balsama and her husband moved to Amherst in 1974, when many others were moving into the area during a building boom. This sudden population increase gave these new residents a chance to shape the town’s future.

“There were lots of other people who were brand new to town,” she said. “The town needed expansion and we were all anxious to make the town our own.”

Her first volunteer position was checking heads for lice at Wilkin’s Elementary, which turned into further involvement in the local PTA. From there she went on to serve as National PTA representative for four years, two of which she spent as the legislative chair

She was also involved with the building of Souhegan High School, working on the research and development for programing at the school before it was built in 1982.

Education truly has played a major role in Balsama’s life, and she is proud of the positive changes the state’s education has seen over the years. Former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu appointed her to a steering committee for Excellence in Education, and she also became involved with the New Hampshire Alliance for Effective Schools.

She regrets that politics have now gotten in the way of cooperation when it comes to schools.

“We have done a 180,” she said. “People are fighting against each other for their self interest and goals rather than the greater good. It is saddening after seeing how things can be and should be.”

Balsama has been involved in countless organizations and efforts in the community, including the Bean Foundation and the Amherst Junior Women’s Club. Of course, she credits much of the good done in the community to the many volunteers and leaders who have also given their time to these causes.

She is currently the president of the Souhegan Scholarship Foundation and has been Executive Director of the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce for seven years. Like education, she sees the growth of small businesses as a key to a successful future. 

“The whole idea of the small business person is becoming more viable and essential to the fabric of the business community,” said Balsama. “People have been online and now want to return to personal interaction.”

Balsama and her husband had taken over a store for the family business, Balsams Hallmark, when they moved up the New Hampshire. Since then, she has seen networking groups and collaborative efforts as the best tools to expand the business community.

“These are the people who support programs in the community,” she said.

Her philosophy is that “no man is an island” and hopes to see more and more people step up and help their community. She said that all of those volunteers who strengthen the community are each ‘private citizens of the year.’

Want to become involved at the Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce? You can contact the office at (603) 673-4360, by email, or by stopping by the Chamber office at 69 Route 101A in Amherst, New Hampshire.