2004 TelecomPioneers Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame was conceived to honor the Best of the Best.  These Pioneers continue to contribute their time and efforts to their communities, serve in Leadership roles and "Answer the Call of those in Need"

Alexander Graham Bell Chapter # 15  -  Linda Sutak

Linda has been involved with the organization for over 30 years serving as council president and numerous council committee chairs.  Linda has helped with fund raising activities, the annual Easter egg hunt, summer beep ball, map painting and Special Olympics.  Linda has received recognition as the Pioneer of the Year in 2002 for her continued dedication.

Excelsior Chapter #98  - Sheila Dilmore

Sheila has been a pioneer since 1978 serving as educational chair, chapter life member rep., and club president.  She has been a volunteer at the Bath VA Hospital for the past 12 years and is a deputy rep., on the Veterans Admin. Volunteer Advisory Board representing the TelecomPioneers.  Sheila has been a major contributor in this years chapter project excel 2004, she has spent days at the children's home painting, unpacking and setting up computers.  She makes and decorates Christmas stockings that are filled with educational items and basic necessities.  She has participated in E911, painting maps, making hug a bears, smart bears and helping repair talking books.  She has received an award from the Veterans Admin. for her club being the longest consecutive volunteer group.

Fort Pitt Chapter #13 - Maxine Lauer Kelley

In her 22 years as a Pioneer she has been president and vice president of the chapter and life member clubs.  Maxine is one of those people that you will see at all the events or building projects.  She has received many accommodations for her dedication.  Her motto is "A smile is my only thanks."  Unless you get involved you will never know the pleasure of helping others, the list of smiles are endless.

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Genesee Chapter # 37 - Sally Colletta

In her years as a pioneer there hasn't been a problem or situation that Sally could not solve or handle.  Sally participates in just about every event.  A few years ago Sally started the "Keep Rochester Warm" project for the homeless in Rochester.  Sally and her troops knitted and crocheted afghans and blankets.  This is just one example of Sally's go getter style.

H G McCully Downstate #81 - Denise Hodges and Group VP Steve Kohn

Denise served as chapter president, vice president, council president and chapter membership chairperson.  As chair of the pioneer patriotism project she helped send 900 care pkgs to our service men & women.  She re-instated the chapter fundraising letter for life members, which raised funds for the chapter.  She started the Edupack project & participated in the E-Map program.

H G McCully Upstate # 12 - Barbara Hamilton

Barbara has been involved with pioneers since 1981 as a future pioneer.  She has been council secretary, council president and chapter president.  She has organized parties and donations for the United Hospital's Children's Ward, Clara Mesa Geriatric Hospital and conducted food drives for Salvation Army.  She has helped build a bike shed for the Bruce Street School for the Deaf and raised funds to help build a ramp for a Newark boy.  Barbara helped reorganize chapter functions and developed new chapter guidelines in order to continue operating without a Pioneer Administrator and staff.  During her term as chapter president, the chapter received Chapter of the Year, National Educational Excellence Award and two Pacesetter Awards.  She is currently the chapter education chair and a member of the literacy walk committee.

Jasper N Keller Chapter #33 - Cindy B Black

Cindy as been involved for the last 18 years as president of the Maine council and chairperson of various council committees.  She has chaired the Summer Olympics for many years bringing together the community and handicapped athletes.  She is involved with I Like Me, ABAM and 911 demonstrations.  She assembles and distributes holiday baskets to the Veterans Home and Salvation Army.  Her fundraising efforts raise lots of money for Special Olympics and other charities.

L H Kinnard Chapter #7 - Robert Kraft and VP Steve Kohn

Robert has been a member since 1970 serving as chapter president, life member rep., club president as well as chapter member at large.  He raised thousands of dollars for the Statue of Liberty, volunteers at the Veteran's Center, participates in Verizon Reads, E-maps and the sports jamboree.  Robert received the Pioneer of the month award in 2000, appreciation from bell of PA and served on committees that created and implemented two Association award winning environmental projects.

Liberty Bell Chapter #6 - Harvey A Woods Jr

Harvey has been involved since 1970.  He has served as life member club president, vice president, chapter treasurer and chapter member at Large.  He is an active participant of the Diamond State Club Toy Modification Project otherwise known as the Mod Squad, repairs talking books, involved with playground maps and E-maps, 911 simulators and has over 50 years of scouting experience.  Harvey has received recognition for his contribution of the indoor handicapped access ramp at Valley Forge National Historic Park and an award for outstanding assistance by the Family Court of Delaware.

Maryland Chapter #44 - Bonnie Sue Staley

Bonnie Sue Staley (aka Sue) has been involved since 1979 as a future pioneer and has held numerous pioneer positions at both council and chapter level, including chapter president.  Sue implemented the Vial of Life Program in 1999, has gained recognition for her efforts at Winter Street & Lincolnshire Elem. Schools.  She has served on the school Community Action Council, participated in the book'em program & is a volunteer reader at local schools.  Sue researched and put together a book of facts of all of the states that has been reproduced and given to participating schools along with the map program.

Mountain Valley Empire Chapter #97 - Elaine W Person and VP Steve Kohn

Elaine has been involved with pioneers since 1985 serving as group rep., vice president, president and clown director.  She has worked on the PAL toy project, Christmas stocking project, bear buddies and love kits for the homeless.  Elaine's clown is Val-N-Tine and she has donated over 3,000 hours clowning around at various community service projects.  Her Clown troupe has raised over $10,000 to help fund community service projects.

Nova Five - Connie Augusta

Connie Augusta is the driving force that inspires her life members to help the disabled and under privileged.  She successfully started a soup kitchen, which feeds 300 people daily.  While working at the Abbot House in the Bronx she raised funds so the children can each have a suitcase to put their belongings in instead of a paper bag.  She also raised enough money to provide the children with two outfits.

Old Dominion Chapter #43 - Dorothy M Tolbert

Dorothy (Dot) has been a pioneer since 1966 and has served as President of the Peninsula life member club and served on numerous chairs.  she was C & P Community Relatin Team Business/Education Adopt A School project at the Hines Middle School.  This project received the Governor's award.  She donates numerous hours to the Riverside Regional Med. Ctr. by providing them heart pillows & baby caps.  Dot has also participated and been recognized for her efforts in the PT phone home project.

Paumanok Chapter #85 - Charlie Coll and VP Steve Kohn

Since 1966, Charlie Coll has been involved with talking books, his life member club, nursing homes and local soup kitchens.  He has devoted his time repairing talking books, serving on his life member club, assisting at nursing homes and local soup kitchens.  He can be found volunteering at the Lemon Street Soup Kitchen where he cooks, cleans, serves and speaks to the clients in their native tongue.  Clients have established a trusting relationship with Charlie.  Since his involvement with Pioneers he has donated more than 40,000 hours of community service.

Telcordia Chapter #99 - Rosemary Bahrenburg

Rosemary has served as  life member president, life member VP and life member at large as well as serving as project leader of hug a bears, dress a bear and donation coordinator.  She has been a weekly volunteer at the Pioneer store for 15 years as well as a volunteer at the senior citizens holiday party for 19 years.  She has earned recognition as the Life Member Pioneer of the Year and numerous certificates of appreciation for her ongoing Support.

Thomas Sherwin Chapter #14 - Mary LaGarde

Mary has been a pioneer since 1980, serving as president and vice president of councils and clubs as well as secretary.  She is currently serving as life member rep. and scholarship committee member.  She initiated the Coupon project and Shoebox Christmas project.  For the last 16 years she has been a volunteer at the Brockton Veterans Hospital and helping to feed the homeless at the Coalition for the Homeless.  She has helped raise funds through sales of calendars, helping at yard sales and volunteers at the 3-day auction.  Mary was recently awarded a service pin by the Brockton Veterans Administration Hospital in recognition of her 16 years of volunteer service.

Verizon West Chapter #25 - Marsha Young and VP Steve Kohn

Marsha has served at both the council and chapter level as president, vice president and secretary.  She organized the Alzheimer's Memory Walk for 3 years and has coordinated and participated in the March of Dimes Walk for 4 years.  She has worked on the golf tournament committee, raising $6,000 for community service projects.  Marsha designed a through commemorating the merger of GTE/Bell Atlantic that created Verizon.  She worked with Verizon's branding department to get the use of all logos approved.  The throws were sold in the former GTE area raising $3,000 for the California council Scholarship program.

West Virginia Chapter #42 - William Morrison

William "Bill" has served at the chapter level for 12 years and has been council president, life member president and chapter vice president.  His birdhouse pr4oject using old central office equipment has raised over $10,000.  He has just completed his 26th years as a volunteer in the WV International Sports Jamboree serving as Events and Historical Chairman.  He has been an advocate of "Year Books" for the councils and clubs, thus maintaining the history of all council and club events.  He has received numerous awards including Howard MacDonald Award, Chapter Marion Gillette Award and the Archie Smith Environmental Award.

W J Denver Chapter #20 - Elaine Dame

Elaine has been involved for over 20 years serving as president and vice president for both council and clubs.  She has recruited volunteers to help cook and serve meals at Ronald MacDonald House, participates in ABAM, supports playground maps, raised funds for the Veterans Home and participates in numerous walks for various charities.  Elaine has donated over 1,000 volunteer hours at St. Elizabeth's Home.  She has been recognized by the Rhode Island Association of Facilities and Service for the Aging with the "Quality of Life Award".