Mary Lou was nominated by her club in part for the 18 years of service and as a co-founder of the Chicago Jitterbug Club in 1993. She has been a Director of the ABA, an Editor of the ABA newsletter and has served on the By-Laws Committee. She participated in Special Olympics Dinner Dances, Parish Without Borders, local Girl Scout troops and at Great America in Gurnee. She has been instrumental in getting cruisers to participate in the ABA Cruise.