Clifford Nilan is one of the good guys. Dedicated and concerned, he has served on the Board of Directors of Berkshire County Arc for 15 years with 13 of those years as board president. It was only fitting to present Cliff with a special award for dedicated service at BCARC’s Annual Meeting on May 29th.

   Reminiscing recently about his long association with Berkshire County Arc, Cliff said that he could still vividly recall visiting a group home on Grove Street and remembering how impressed he was with the dedication of the staff, the smiles on the faces of the residents and the pleasant atmosphere. This is when “it first hit me what a tre
                                              

mendous agency I was a part of,” Cliff stated.

   As “captain of the ship”, there was not always clear sailing for Cliff. But “ even during the difficult times, the staff, Board, and families rallied together,” and the ship was soon on an even keel again.

   Cliff, who has been the Chief Probation Officer at Superior Court for the past 26 years, said that he has “learned a lot through his association with Berkshire County Arc.” He has been able to apply his knowledge and experience to better serve individuals with disabilities                                         

nvolved in the judicial system.
    When I asked Cliff if he had any words of wisdom for the current Board members, he responded, “They don’t need my advice. Berkshire County Arc is in good hands; the Board of Directors is extremely knowledgeable and dedicated. It is undoubtedly one of the best Boards in Berkshire County.”