The Pioneers organization has introduced a refreshed logo to enhance its image, awareness and presence. This will help broaden the organization's purpose, reflect today's business environment and be more engaging to younger and potential members.

As part of its rebranding campaign, Pioneer Headquarters has updated its website's domain name to www.pioneersvolunteer.org. For more information on branding guidelines and group specific branding, visit the rebranding homepage.

Runa Skar brought smiles and comfort to children at a Montessori School in Nepal. The children come to this school from remote villages in the Himalayan Mountains. Runa is marketing director at Providence Place, a retirement community in Holyoke, MA. On a trip to visit her daughter and newborn granddaughter, she took a suitcase full of Hug-A-Bears to the Nepal children. Since everything is new and strange to them, they were glad to welcome the snuggly bears. The Hug-A-Bears were made at Providence Place in conjunction with a group of Pioneers from the Tri- County Club of the WJ Denver Chapter in Northampton, MA.

The Caesar Rodney Council of the Liberty Bell Chapter built a 200-foot-long ramp on the side of the Children's Beach House in Lewes, DE, to allow youngsters easier access over a 12-foot-high dune to the Delaware Bay Beach. The ramp consists of three straight ramp sections, two turning decks and a final deck with a hinged ramp section that adjusts with the varying sand levels. Between 35 and 45 Pioneers and Partners worked four weekends to complete the ramp. Since 1982, the Caesar Rodney Council has built numerous ramps for individuals who cannot afford to have one built by contractors.

Our Life Member Spotlight is on...
Rebecca Farabaugh of the Fort Pitt Chapter

Rebecca joined the Pioneers in 1974 and immediately began to make major contributions to the Fort Pitt Chapter. She served in many capacities including Member-At-Large, President of the Gateway Life Member Club and two terms as Chapter Life Member Club President. She became active in the Hug-A-Bear project when it was introduced in 1989 and has served as chairperson for the past 10 years. She has volunteered in the Pioneer office since the early 1990s keeping membership records current. She has co-chaired the quarterly mailing of the chapter's "Tele-All" newsletter for the past five years. In spite of suffering serious injuries as the result of an auto accident requiring numerous corrective surgeries, Rebecca continues to maintain a busy Pioneer schedule. She also donates extensive volunteer work to her church and cashiers at a local hospital gift shop on a weekly basis. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame several years ago and continues to serve as a role model and an example of Pioneering at its finest.

Our Life Member Spotlight is on...
Carol Bigelow of the Excelsior Chapter

Carol retired in 1994 and became a life member. Her pet project is Camp Good Days and Special Times, where she has been very active since her retirement. Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges. She loves to be involved with their fundraising events: the yearly Camp Gala, the Kazoo Fest at the Galleria Mall and at the annual golf tournament.

Carol became involved in projects to benefit Kids Escaping Drugs : the Erie County Fair spinning the wheel for prizes, the Rosa's Charity Golf Tournament and at the Galleria of Treats during Halloween. She also has been involved on several of the region projects in past years. She likes to get other people involved as well with her friendly manner, her ready smile and her "let's get it done" attitude.

She volunteers twice a month to meet at another Pioneer member's home to work on projects for the vets and nursing homes, making favors, crocheting lap robes and making fleece blankets. Carol is involved with Benedict House, which is a home for people with AIDS. She tends gardens, makes desserts periodically, helps out with their fundraisers and attends their Christmas Party.

She is an active member at her church. She gardens, works Bingo and decorates the church for different holidays. Carol volunteers at various fundraising events, such as Carly's Club, to benefit Roswell Park's cancer hospital, at the Buffalo Zoo, at Junior Achievement's Bowl-a-thon and at Special Olympics each year. Carol was "Pinky" the clown and active at many functions during the clown troupe years volunteering 20+ years and was one of the original clowns when the Pioneer Clown Troupe was started.

When SantaLand was hosted by the Buffalo/Niagara Region Life Member Club in 2007 and 2008, partnering with the Erie County Parks Department, Carol was on the Planning Committee and was instrumental in the successful run of the event to benefit area domestic violence shelters. Currently, Carol volunteers at Messinger Woods, a sanctuary for injured birds and animals, where they are rehabilitated and returned to their environment. She volunteers at their event throughout the summer at Thursday in the Square, to raise funds and awareness for their organization.

The Pioneers and Life Line Screening, the nation's leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, believe in the power of prevention. That's why we've partnered to offer Pioneers these screenings at a discount not available to the public.

In less than an hour, you can be screened with painless, non-invasive, advanced ultrasound technology for stroke and other disease prevention in the convenience and comfort of your own community. The screenings are performed by highly qualified and skilled technologists and reviewed by a board-certified physician. You'll receive a confidential written report within 21 days and are encouraged to share the results with your doctor.

Prevention is empowering, and may even be life- saving. To help you take control of your health, Life Line Screening offers the following screenings:

Stroke / Carotid Artery Screening: Strokes are most commonly related to plaque build-up in the carotid artery. This ultrasound test is performed by applying gel and a transducer along your neck to view the carotid arteries for blockage.
Atrial Fibrillation: A ECG device is used to determine whether or not you have Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB), or an irregular heartbeat. Adults over 40 have a 1 in 4 chance of developing AFIB in their lifetime. A diagnosis of AFIB mans that your risk for stroke increases five-fold.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening: An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a "ballooning" of the wall in the abdominal aorta. The majority of people with AAAs have no symptoms. If an AAA ruptures, the mortality rate is 80-90 percent. More than 15,000 U.S. residents per year die of AAAs. The good news is that AAAs can be identified via an ultrasound screening.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Screening: Eight to twelve million Americans suffer from PAD. It is 4-5 times more likely that you will die from heart disease if you have PAD. Ultrasound technology is used to screen for PAD (plaque buildup in the arms and legs).

Pioneer members receive special discounts on two different packages:

Stroke, Vascular Disease and Heart Rhythm Package - includes screening for Stroke/Carotid artery, Atrial Fibrillation, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Peripheral Arterial Disease. $135 for members.
The Complete Wellness Package - includes screening for Stroke/Carotid artery, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Peripheral Arterial Disease and Osteoporosis. $125 for members.

Visit www.LifeLineScreening.com/TelecomPioneers for more information and to make an appointment. The discount will automatically be applied to your appointment. Call 1-800-690-7485 and mention code BDHW-073.

As a member of the Pioneers, whether you are refinancing, buying a home or needing to tap into your home's equity, the Pioneers Home Financing Program provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage can be a powerful resource to help you improve your financial outlook by offering you a wide array of home financing options including:
· Purchase and refinance loans
· First-time homebuyer programs
· Low down payment options for qualified borrowers
· FHA and VA loans
· New construction and renovation loans
· Second home and investment property programs
· Reverse Mortgages
And home equity financing to help you leverage your most powerful asset. Use your home's equity for home improvements, bill consolidation, large purchases or virtually anything else.

Right now you can take advantage of historically low interest rates! View our current rates or call 1-866-262- 1505 for an instant rate quote or a free refinancing break-even analysis to see if refinancing makes sense. Let the Pioneers Home Financing Program help you make the most of home ownership!

Join the Maryland Chapter at the Verizon Pioneers' 17th Annual Pioneer Day at HersheyPark Sunday, April 26, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. It is $26 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. 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. For more information, visit the Maryland Chapter website.

The Excelsior Chapter Pioneers invite you to join them at Camp Badger for a spring cleanup and playground upgrade June 5-7. Camp Badger, located in Spencer, NY, is a summer camp for speech, hearing and sight- impaired kids. All meals for volunteers are provided and there will be evening campfires. Bring your rakes, chain saws and sleeping bags. Cabins are available to stay the night or just come for the day. Register online to volunteer. Registration closes on May 14. If you have any questions please contact one of the coordinators:
Dawn Aikman, dmaikman@hotmail.com
Midge Brandao, maggieab49@aol.com
Michele Cavanaugh, michele.m.cavanaugh@verizon.com

P.O. Box 4406 . Salem, MA 01970

Hug-A-Bears in Nepal

Runa Skar brought smiles and comfort to children at a Montessori School in Nepal. The children come to this school from remote villages in the Himalayan Mountains. Runa is marketing director at Providence Place, a retirement community in Holyoke, MA. On a trip to visit her daughter and newborn granddaughter, she took a suitcase full of Hug-A-Bears to the Nepal children. Since everything is new and strange to them, they were glad to welcome the snuggly bears. The Hug-A-Bears were made at Providence Place in conjunction with a group of Pioneers from the Tri- County Club of the WJ Denver Chapter in Northampton, MA.

Children's Home Ramp

The Caesar Rodney Council of the Liberty Bell Chapter built a 200-foot-long ramp on the side of the Children's Beach House in Lewes, DE, to allow youngsters easier access over a 12-foot-high dune to the Delaware Bay Beach. The ramp consists of three straight ramp sections, two turning decks and a final deck with a hinged ramp section that adjusts with the varying sand levels. Between 35 and 45 Pioneers and Partners worked four weekends to complete the ramp. Since 1982, the Caesar Rodney Council has built numerous ramps for individuals who cannot afford to have one built by contractors.

Rebecca Farabaugh

Our Life Member Spotlight is on... Rebecca Farabaugh of the Fort Pitt Chapter Rebecca joined the Pioneers in 1974 and immediately began to make major contributions to the Fort Pitt Chapter. She served in many capacities including Member-At-Large, President of the Gateway Life Member Club and two terms as Chapter Life Member Club President. She became active in the Hug-A-Bear project when it was introduced in 1989 and has served as chairperson for the past 10 years. She has volunteered in the Pioneer office since the early 1990s keeping membership records current. She has co-chaired the quarterly mailing of the chapter's "Tele-All" newsletter for the past five years. In spite of suffering serious injuries as the result of an auto accident requiring numerous corrective surgeries, Rebecca continues to maintain a busy Pioneer schedule. She also donates extensive volunteer work to her church and cashiers at a local hospital gift shop on a weekly basis. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame several years ago and continues to serve as a role model and an example of Pioneering at its finest.

Carol Bigelow

Our Life Member Spotlight is on... Carol Bigelow of the Excelsior Chapter Carol retired in 1994 and became a life member. Her pet project is Camp Good Days and Special Times, where she has been very active since her retirement. Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, adults and families whose lives have been touched by cancer and other life challenges. She loves to be involved with their fundraising events: the yearly Camp Gala, the Kazoo Fest at the Galleria Mall and at the annual golf tournament. Carol became involved in projects to benefit Kids Escaping Drugs : the Erie County Fair spinning the wheel for prizes, the Rosa's Charity Golf Tournament and at the Galleria of Treats during Halloween. She also has been involved on several of the region projects in past years. She likes to get other people involved as well with her friendly manner, her ready smile and her "let's get it done" attitude. She volunteers twice a month to meet at another Pioneer member's home to work on projects for the vets and nursing homes, making favors, crocheting lap robes and making fleece blankets. Carol is involved with Benedict House, which is a home for people with AIDS. She tends gardens, makes desserts periodically, helps out with their fundraisers and attends their Christmas Party. She is an active member at her church. She gardens, works Bingo and decorates the church for different holidays. Carol volunteers at various fundraising events, such as Carly's Club, to benefit Roswell Park's cancer hospital, at the Buffalo Zoo, at Junior Achievement's Bowl-a-thon and at Special Olympics each year. Carol was "Pinky" the clown and active at many functions during the clown troupe years volunteering 20+ years and was one of the original clowns when the Pioneer Clown Troupe was started. When SantaLand was hosted by the Buffalo/Niagara Region Life Member Club in 2007 and 2008, partnering with the Erie County Parks Department, Carol was on the Planning Committee and was instrumental in the successful run of the event to benefit area domestic violence shelters. Currently, Carol volunteers at Messinger Woods, a sanctuary for injured birds and animals, where they are rehabilitated and returned to their environment. She volunteers at their event throughout the summer at Thursday in the Square, to raise funds and awareness for their organization.

Life Line Screening

The Pioneers and Life Line Screening, the nation's leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, believe in the power of prevention. That's why we've partnered to offer Pioneers these screenings at a discount not available to the public. In less than an hour, you can be screened with painless, non-invasive, advanced ultrasound technology for stroke and other disease prevention in the convenience and comfort of your own community. The screenings are performed by highly qualified and skilled technologists and reviewed by a board-certified physician. You'll receive a confidential written report within 21 days and are encouraged to share the results with your doctor. Prevention is empowering, and may even be life- saving. To help you take control of your health, Life Line Screening offers the following screenings: Stroke / Carotid Artery Screening: Strokes are most commonly related to plaque build-up in the carotid artery. This ultrasound test is performed by applying gel and a transducer along your neck to view the carotid arteries for blockage. Atrial Fibrillation: A ECG device is used to determine whether or not you have Atrial Fibrillation (AFIB), or an irregular heartbeat. Adults over 40 have a 1 in 4 chance of developing AFIB in their lifetime. A diagnosis of AFIB mans that your risk for stroke increases five-fold. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening: An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a "ballooning" of the wall in the abdominal aorta. The majority of people with AAAs have no symptoms. If an AAA ruptures, the mortality rate is 80-90 percent. More than 15,000 U.S. residents per year die of AAAs. The good news is that AAAs can be identified via an ultrasound screening. Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Screening: Eight to twelve million Americans suffer from PAD. It is 4-5 times more likely that you will die from heart disease if you have PAD. Ultrasound technology is used to screen for PAD (plaque buildup in the arms and legs). Pioneer members receive special discounts on two different packages: Stroke, Vascular Disease and Heart Rhythm Package - includes screening for Stroke/Carotid artery, Atrial Fibrillation, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Peripheral Arterial Disease. $135 for members. The Complete Wellness Package - includes screening for Stroke/Carotid artery, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms, Peripheral Arterial Disease and Osteoporosis. $125 for members. Visit www.LifeLineScreening.com/TelecomPioneers for more information and to make an appointment. The discount will automatically be applied to your appointment. Call 1-800-690-7485 and mention code BDHW-073.

Home Financing

As a member of the Pioneers, whether you are refinancing, buying a home or needing to tap into your home's equity, the Pioneers Home Financing Program provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage can be a powerful resource to help you improve your financial outlook by offering you a wide array of home financing options including: · Purchase and refinance loans · First-time homebuyer programs · Low down payment options for qualified borrowers · FHA and VA loans · New construction and renovation loans · Second home and investment property programs · Reverse Mortgages And home equity financing to help you leverage your most powerful asset. Use your home's equity for home improvements, bill consolidation, large purchases or virtually anything else. Right now you can take advantage of historically low interest rates! View our current rates or call 1-866-262- 1505 for an instant rate quote or a free refinancing break-even analysis to see if refinancing makes sense. Let the Pioneers Home Financing Program help you make the most of home ownership!

HersheyPark

Join the Maryland Chapter at the Verizon Pioneers' 17th Annual Pioneer Day at HersheyPark Sunday, April 26, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. It is $26 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. 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. For more information, visit the Maryland Chapter website.

Camp Badger

The Excelsior Chapter Pioneers invite you to join them at Camp Badger for a spring cleanup and playground upgrade June 5-7. Camp Badger, located in Spencer, NY, is a summer camp for speech, hearing and sight- impaired kids. All meals for volunteers are provided and there will be evening campfires. Bring your rakes, chain saws and sleeping bags. Cabins are available to stay the night or just come for the day. Register online to volunteer. Registration closes on May 14. If you have any questions please contact one of the coordinators: Dawn Aikman, dmaikman@hotmail.com Midge Brandao, maggieab49@aol.com Michele Cavanaugh, michele.m.cavanaugh@verizon.com