March 2008 - Vol. 3 / Issue 4
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Dear Jill,
If you're receiving this issue at work, the design might be compromised because Verizon firewalls are blocking the coding. You may view a clean version on the Verizon TelecomPioneers' website. If you'd prefer a version be sent to your home e-mail address, please e-mail newsletter@verizonpioneers.org and we'll exchange your e-mail addresses.
March Smartness Participants
On March 7, Pioneers Jim Crosbie, Diane Rodger and Deb Foley participated in Rhode Island's MarchSmartness competition held at the Rhode Island State House. All three were judges in this day- long consumer knowledge competition with students from 11 Rhode Island high schools. This year, the Pioneers provided the morning and lunch break refreshments. Denver Chapter Pioneers partnered with the Cranston West High School culinary program and they provided a terrific spread for all the students, coaches and officials at the event.

The Honorable Frank Caprio, general treasurer for the state of Rhode Island, was one of the moderators during the final round of competition. After lunch, the Pioneers sat in the House Chamber and heard Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis speak to the students about getting involved in their communities and their government. This was followed by presentations of certificates and pictures of all the teams.

LifeSmarts is a nationwide program of the National Consumers League (NCL) designed to teach and reward teenagers for consumer knowledge. Teens study and answer questions in five areas: personal finance, health & safety, technology, environment, consumer rights & responsibilities. Teens compete online, then qualifying teams of four (plus one alternate) compete in the fast-paced, college-bowl style state competition, nicknamed "March Smartness" in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island state champion each year claims the "Consumers' Cup" and earns the right to compete in the national LifeSmarts competition, held in April. This year's national competition is in Minneapolis, Minn.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Deb Foley at 508-624-1397.
Brighter Tomorrows Backpack volunteers
The Brighter Tomorrow backpack campaign is a project that the Old Dominion TelecomPioneers take to heart. This project provides filled backpacks to children of domestic violence. Last fall, the Tidewater Council gathered supplies through donations and box collections at local Verizon centers. Pioneer life members, active members, and employees joined together in 'stuffing' the backpacks. Contents included a branded Verizon TelecomPioneer dictionary, smart bear, coloring book, crayons, tissues, and other school supplies. A total of 75 bags were stuffed. Of those, 50 were donated to the YWCA of Hamptons Roads, which serves five cities and has its own secure domestic violence shelter. In addition to the backpacks, the council donated a brand new computer and printer-combo, which will be used by the YWCA Shelter. The Brighter Tomorrows backpacks, computer and printer-combo were all purchased with Verizon Foundation grant money. The other 25 Brighter Tomorrow backpacks were donated to the Alternative Treatment Services program.
 
Pictured left to right: Devra Culver, director of development at the YWCA, Carol Warburton, and Yvonne Merritt.
Pam Senkow
The Excelsior Chapter recognizes Pam Senkow of the Elmira-Corning Life Member Club.

Pam Senkow started Pioneering many years ago as a Future Pioneer. When asked when that was, she would only say "a looooong time ago." There isn't anything that she hasn't done in the name of Pioneering. She has worked for the Wyoming Conference, a school and home for orphans. Pam raised money for blankets, sheets, comforters, towels, washcloths, toys, and toiletries for more than 100 children that live at this facility in Binghamton, N.Y.

Pam has served as president and past president of the Elmira-Corning Life Member Club. She coordinated the playground maps at several locations. Pam organized collections for the military overseas and partnered with a local church group to ship the donations. She is active in the Bath Veteran's Hospital in Bath, N.Y. On a monthly basis, she and a group of Pioneers offer a Welcome Wagon for the ambulatory patients. The Pioneers usually serve cookies, cake, fruit, coffee and punch to about 50.

She also helps with Casino Night, delivers dictionaries to local schools, and distributes hug-a- bears to the local fire and police departments. She has organized the backpack project for domestic violence shelters, created "read to me" layettes, donated food for the local food bank, and made greeting cards for door prizes at the Pioneer Christmas luncheons and August picnics. Pam has a real knack for getting involved and enlisting helpers. She also ensures the chapter member newsletter is published on schedule.
Support for the Kids donation check presentation
Mary Wellington, president of the R. Parker Sullivan Life Member Club, Verizon West Chapter, and Julia Cooksey, director-Government and External Affairs, Verizon California, recently presented a $5,000 check to Lynda Miller, president and founder of Support for the Kids. Based in Thousand Oaks, Cal., this non- profit organization provides underprivileged and foster children with one-on-one tutoring for educational enrichment. For more information, please visit www.supportforthekids.org. The R. Parker Sullivan Club raises funds and assists a number of charitable organizations in Ventura County. The Verizon Foundation is proud to help promote education and recognizes the importance of its partnership with Support for the Kids. For more information, please visit www.verizonfoundation.com.
 
Pictured left to right: Amy Commans, executive board member of Support for the Kids, Mary Wellington, Julia Cooksey, and Lynda Miller.
Valentine's Party volunteers
On February 14, Joan Carney and Jim Crosbie of the W.J. Denver Chapter and Jim's daughter, Jenn Bergeron, visited the Soldier's Home in Holyoke, Mass. They presented Beverly Blanchard, volunteer services coordinator, with $408 in phone cards to help veterans stay in contact with family and loved ones. While there, they also visited veterans and several of their spouses in the recreation room to give out Valentines cards.

The Valentine cards were made by Mrs. Quezda's fourth grade class at the Center School in Stow, Mass. The children wanted to do something special for the soldiers and sailors during National Hospitalized Veterans Week. While running for the fourth grade class president, a student encouraged his class to participate in making Valentine cards to donate to a local veteran's group. This student's mom heard about Jenny, with whom she worked, and the Pioneers visiting the soldiers at the V.A. hospital and asked if they would bring the cards along to give to the soldiers.

"Their cards were well received and it was a privilege to deliver them for Mrs. Quezada's fourth grade team," said Crosbie.

After their visit to the Soldier's Home, they went to the Veteran's Medical Center in Leeds, Mass., to present a Nintendo Wii system to Peter Galante, voluntary program officer. The patients use the system for entertainment and as a physical rehab tool.

PS: The student who engaged the fourth grade class in making the cards was elected class president.
Roller Coaster
Join the Maryland Chapter at the Verizon TelecomPioneers' 16th Annual Pioneer Day at HersheyPark Sunday, April 27, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. It is $20 per person. Children two and under are free. The park will be closed to the general public on this day. Concessions will be open and free parking provided. For $13 for adults and $8 for kids, families can enjoy a picnic lunch from 12 - 3 p.m. Lunch includes a flamebroiled all-beef hamburger, hot dog, potato chips, pasta salad, fruit salad, ice cream novelities, soda and lemonade.
 
Special lodging is available at Best Western (717.533.5665) and Quality Inn (717.583.5151). Reservations must be made by April 19.
 
Tickets may be ordered online or by money order or certified check payable to Maryland Chapter TelecomPioneers. Mail money orders and checks to Pioneer Office, 99 Shawan Rd., Rm. G-8, Cockeysville, MD 21030. For more information, visit the Maryland Chapter website.
Girl Scouts and Christmas Stockings
For the fourth year in a row, Madge Philion, a member of the Liberty Bell Chapter's West Council, has coordinated the partnership of her daughter, Nicole's Girl Scout troop with the Pioneers' Annual Salvation Army Christmas Stocking & Dressing Teddy Bears Project. The troop dressed the teddy bears and their picture was published in the local paper. Some of the girls also made placemats for the Annual Special Needs Christmas Party.

Dressing the teddy bears and filling the Christmas stockings for the Salvation Army is a very popular project for Madge's co-workers at Lansdowne. West Council collected more than 150 stockings and 75 bears through their members, co-workers and friends at various locations. Many of the councils also supported the Salvation Army in the Philadelphia/Delaware area on these two projects again in 2007.
April Calendar
thank you graphic
Dear Verizon TelecomPioneers,

You are the angels who flew into Cross Bayou for a day and left "footprints" for our school. Words don't express our appreciation.

Thank you so much,
Marcia Stone, principal
Family Center on Deafness
 
During the Verizon TelecomPioneers Annual Meeting in Tampa, Fla., in Nov. 2007, the Pioneers painted a playground map and delivered dictionaries to the Cross Bayou Elementary School. More than 40% of the children at the school are deaf.
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Verizon TelecomPioneers
P.O. Box 4406 . Salem, MA 01970
 
phone: 978.745.9600