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On June 17, Greg and Kathy Crawford of the Southern Tier Council
from Excelsior Chapter presented the 21st Century Literacy Grant
to the Cincinnatus Central School District. Funded by the
Verizon Foundation, this Verizon Pioneers Competitive Grant will
provide the district's libraries with books; media equipment,
listening centers, audio materials and the web-based learning
programs, Power Up to Read and Project Connect. The Chapter also
donated Scholastic Books, dictionaries and presidential rulers
to the district. At the presentation, the children stamped the
books donated by the Chapter. Two students from the Honor
Society read to the 4H Group that was also present. Phil Hahn,
group coordinator - Project Connect, taught Martha Tunning,
library media specialist, and Jeff Waite, computer technology
teacher, how to use Project Connect and Power Up to Read.
(Photo, l-r:) Mary Wright, Principal Cincinnatus Elementary
School [holding plaque] and Kathy Crawford, project co-chair.
Not pictured: Kathy's husband, Greg Crawford, Verizon employee
and project co-chair.
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Our Life Member Spotlight is on...
LaMoss Messinger of the Kinnard Chapter On May 13, 2009, Life Member LaMoss Messinger was still celebrating her Nov. 24, 2008 birthday. Those attending her party agreed that at age 102, LaMoss had earned the right to celebrate. The Kinnard Chapter organized a party at the Gracedale Nursing Home in Nazareth, PA, complete with all her friends, a beautiful cake, music and gifts. During the party LaMoss told stories about when she started at the phone company as an operator in 1926 when it was privately owned by the Connelly family. She said she actually lived with several other operators in an apartment above the office. If calls were coming in too fast, they called the girls down in pajamas and hairpins to answer the calls. LaMoss said a man had called in asking for a directory assistance lookup of a Mr. Perkins. There were big books of directories to look in. LaMoss asked her co-worker, " Would you pass me the P's?" The customer on the other end said, "Oh, Operator, you are eating your dinner; I will call back later." Then there was the person looking for a radio station telephone number. LaMoss asked, "Is it an AM or FM station?" The person said, " It must be AM because they are on in the morning." In 1971 at age 65, LaMoss retired after completing 37 years in telephone communications. She traveled to many places in the early years of retirement including the Caribbean and Oberammergau, Germany to see the Passion Play. In 1996, to celebrate her 90th birthday, LaMoss ventured to Atlantic City, NJ. LaMoss is a serious Boston Red Sox fan. When LaMoss was 98, she was quite thrilled when they finally won the World Series on Oct 30, 2004 after an 86 year drought. |
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Since 1994, Pioneers participating in Book'em have impacted
291,545 children to the delight of their parents and teachers.
When any volunteer reads aloud in any classroom in Maryland,
Book'em presents the children with a new Scholastic book.
Book'em has been a winning project for all involved over the
years. The children receive a new book, the school gains new
volunteers, and the Pioneers attract new and younger members.
Seven new members joined the Pioneers this year because of this
literacy effort. Verizon used Book'em as their model for Verizon
Reads.
The Maryland Chapter was the first Scholastic literacy partner in 1994 and persuaded Scholastic to offer free books for their continued support. The Chapter selected pre-kindergarten through sixth grade to support. Grade-specific book collections are purchased from Scholastic. Because each book is different, the students exchange books within the classroom until each student has a chance to read all the books. Eventually each book goes home with a child. The Chapter's volunteer readers contact the school of their choice and schedule a reading date that is convenient for them and the teacher. Then they email the Pioneers with the reading date, school, school address, county, teacher's name, grade, and number of students. The Chapter's book packing volunteers pack book orders and affix book plates to each book every week during the school year. Boxes of books are then mailed to the reader in time for the scheduled reading date. Volunteers read to a different grade each month, often covering the entire school during the school year.
(Photo:) Mary Weber, vice president - Maryland Chapter, reads
to the students.
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Many years ago Mary Belle Fabe, Diamond State Council life
member, introduced a new project to Liberty Bell Chapter. She
taught the members how to make placemats from used greeting
cards. The project took off and now thousands of mats have been
made and given to area nursing home residents. Every December,
the chapter hosts a "Special Needs Holiday Party" where each
guest receives lunch, wrapped presents, and a holiday placemat.
For some, these are the only gifts they receive each year and
they are very grateful. Each council is asked to make 50-60
placemats and Upper Darby Council got a head start this year. On
June 18, Joan Rafferty, community services chair, hosted a
workshop to assemble the placemats. With 18 volunteers that
included Pioneers, Partners and children, they met their goal
well before the December deadline. First the graphic on the card
is carefully cut out, then sorted by subject, such as angels,
Nativity scenes, Santas, etc. They are then placed on a Dollar
Store mat in an attractive, overlapping pattern. Once that is
done, a clear sheet of contact paper is carefully placed on the
cards. The mat is flipped over, the actual placemat removed, and
the back covered with a patterned piece of contact paper,
sealing the cards in place. After trimming the edges, the mat is
done! It's a very rewarding project, bringing together members
who would not ordinarily be able to do more strenuous tasks.
(Photo, l-r:) Council President Barbara Caldwell, Eileen
Murray and Janice Burpee.
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On May 29, the Suffolk Council of Paumanok Chapter held its
annual life enrichment BBQ picnic for the 56 residents of the
Ridge Rest Home. Everyone enjoyed the hot dogs, macaroni salad,
garden salad and soda. The food, beverages and most of the paper
goods were purchased using the funds from the Council's annual
Mother's Day flower fundraiser. The garden salad and napkins
were provided by Mary (Ridge Rest Home's cook).
(Photo, l-r:) Luz Tryller (housekeeping), Debra Terry (social worker), John Polosino, Tammy Kuey and Brooke Newman. |
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Not interested in hearing about long term care options? You
might want to listen to this good news. The Pioneers are
partnering with Long Term Care Resources to offer a
comprehensive Long Term Care Program that allows its members to
look forward with peace of mind. Through this program, enjoy:
**Buying through the Pioneers provides an advocate for the life of your policy. While insurance agents come and go, your organization is here for the long term. If any issues arise with your coverage, your group and the insurance professionals behind it, are there to help. |
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Our Estore manager would like to hear your recommendations on new products. Please e-mail bruceyennie@verizon.net with your feedback. Verizon/Frontier/FairPoint/Telcordia Pioneers
P.O. Box 4406 . Salem, MA 01970
email:
info@verizonpioneers.org
phone:
978.745.9600
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