Mary Ann Buchanan was named Board Chair Emeritus on June 1, 2015 after serving 8 years as QSpot’s Board President. Reverend Bruce Davidson was elected QSpot’s new Board President.  During her tenure from 2007-2015,  Mary Ann was responsible for some of QSpot’s most significant milestones including the opening of our first community center in 2013 and the acquisition and move into our current home – one of New Jersey’s largest safe spaces for the LGBT community.

Mary Ann arrived in Monmouth County in 2006 and soon thereafter began attending QSpot workshops on issues impacting the LGBT community. She started volunteering at the agency and eventually was asked to join the board of trustees.  In July 2007, Mary Ann was elected Board President focusing on fulfilling QSPOT’s mission; to establish a permanent LGBT community center in Asbury Park, NJ.  While in office, some, but not all, of Mary Ann’s achievements include; increasing the volunteer base from 4 to 25 and increasing the database from 100 to 1800, establishing an LGBT Older Adult program called GLOW 50+,  expanding QSPOT’s visibility by increasing QSpot’s participation in the Asbury Pride Festival and creating Asbury’s 1st LGBT Marching Band in 2010 and creating QSPOT’s community based service “QSquad”. 

In September 2012 , Mary Ann found a rental space at the Jersey Shore Arts Center which became QSpot’s first physical home. In February 2015, Mary Ann signed the lease for QSpot’s current home, one of NJ’s largest safe spaces for the LGBT Community.

Mary Ann’s contributions to the LGBT community and her work at QSpot will have a far reaching impact for many years.  We thank her for her tremendous contributions and will celebrate her at this year’s Jubilee Party, Saturday, June 6.  Please join us for a wonderful event.