"Maia lives up to being a woman of exemplary character, and is certainly a role model for other women in our community," said Joan Hartwell, coordinator for the Woman of Distinction program. Tamara Lieberman, the 2004 recipient, introduced Schneider before the standing room only crowd.

Schneider moved to Truckee in 1993 from the Bay area. She immediately immersed herself in community affairs. Schneider served as Truckee's mayor in 2000 after she had earned a seat on the Town Council in 1997. She spearheaded the Truckee Town Portrait 2000, hosted over 150 programs of Truckee Talks for local access television, and spearheaded the Capital Campaign for Tahoe Forest Hospital. The campaign resulted in $3.5 million for building the hospital's western addition. She is a member of Noon Rotary and has recently been named to be the hospital foundation's executive director after serving in management at Plumas Bank.

"I see an opportunity to do something and I do it. That's what makes Truckee such a great place to live. This community is filled with people who give back and make a difference," Schneider said at the event. She joked that her friends who have been patient with her over the years that the only reason she has time for all the community service is that she "has no kids".   --By MaryLou Sullivan

The enthusiastic crowd included Schneider's mother, Mary Lou Carson, who flew in from out of town.


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