Edna makes an impression.

It’s not just the red hair, either. Edna O’Neill Mattson lives by the words she used to end the speech she delivered Tuesday before 400 gathered for lunch at the Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln: “carpe diem,” or “seize the moment.”

Mattson, Community College of Rhode Island facilities coordinator for at least the last 30 years, was one of 13 Women of Achievement to be honored by YWCA Rhode Island. Mattson is a dean of women in politics. The walls of her office tell the story. They are festooned with photographs. There are pictures of her with presidents, senators, governors and state and municipal leaders going back years. Some are 8x10 pictures signed and obviously sent to her after some important occasion, but most are candid shots taken on the spur of the moment. Nor are they restricted to politicians and political events. They include family, co-workers, co-members of boards and organizations with which she works.

Now 79 years old, Mattson continues to be active in the Democratic Party and the community. She is the state’s Democratic National Committee Woman, a member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars executive board, and a member of the CCRI Foundation and the Rhode Island Academic Decathlon board. She has volunteered and worked for numerous organizations ranging from the American Red Cross to the Girl and Boy Scouts and the 143rd Tactical Air Group.

Mattson and the 12 other honorees personified how event emcee Rep. Deb Ruggiero described community members.

“Community does not mean somebody else takes care of it. We have to get involved and do our part one step at a time,” she said.

Mattson spoke briefly upon receiving her award, acknowledging her family, especially her “sunshine” granddaughter Anna, and colleagues who filled two tables. She spoke of Pope Francis’ visit to this country and urged, “Let us all take note and make every effort to follow the golden rule and make our planet a better place for all.”

In program comments, Mattson calls her mother her mentor and credits her with sowing the seed of her interest in politics, stuffing envelopes for John F. Kennedy when he first ran for Congress. She said it was the late Eleanor Slater who encouraged her to become involved in North Kingstown politics and the state Democratic Party. In 1973 she became the first elected town committee chairwoman and helped form the Association of Democratic city and town chairs.

And be sure to include “O’Neill,” her maiden name. She is a distant cousin of the late Speaker of the House “Tip” O’Neill.

“If each day we can learn something of value to benefit our world in a positive manner…how much better we all will be,” she writes.

Mattson joins a galaxy of women achievers who have been honored over the years.

This year’s class includes Aleatha M. Dickerson, project manager for the Rhode Island Senior Medicare Patrol Project; Sabina Matos, Providence City Council president pro tempore; Rebeca Filomeno-Nason, a high school guidance counselor at Sheila C. “Skip” Nowell Leadership Academy; Catalina Martinez, who with multiple graduate degrees has had a career with the federal government; Laurie Ludovici, division accreditation manager with the Rhode Island State Police; Carmen Diaz-Jusino of the Center for Women & Enterprise; Deborah DeBare, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Carlene Casciano-McCann, executive director of St. Mary’s Home for Children; Kathryn Quina, a psychology and women’s studies teacher at the Providence campus of the University of Rhode Island; Kim A. Ripoli, associate director of the division of Veterans Affairs for the state; Charon L. Rose, director of constituent relations for General Treasurer Seth Magaziner; and Cheryl Albright, a performer and singer.