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November 2009
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Vol. 4 / Issue 12
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More than 100 Pioneer leaders from 19 chapters came together for
training, fellowship and presentation of awards during the Annual
V/F/F/T Pioneer Assembly in Reston, VA, Nov. 6-8. This year's
assembly included a day and a half of training for chapter, council
and club presidents, presentations by Verizon Group coordinators for
PALS volunteer and membership entry system, identification of key
projects important to our sponsor company and Pioneer organization,
and a review of national Pioneer initiatives. Guest speakers
provided information about inter-generational projects and Verizon's
external affairs mission. A representative from Verizon Wireless
described the company's 20% discount for retirees and efforts to
communicate the savings. The weekend culminated with the Hall of
Fame banquet Saturday night honoring the best of the best of each
chapter. A special issue of the "Communicator" will be published
soon honoring the award recipients.
(Photo: l-r) Assembly Planning Committee - Gabe Olah, Cathy Ann
Dow, Diane Nelson, Ann Cove, Diane Rodger and Steve Kohn.
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The WJ Denver Chapter is proud to announce its debut on Facebook.
Add us as a Friend and become part of our Social Media and
Volunteer Network. We will regularly be posting pictures and project
information so check us out often. To learn how relevant using
Facebook and other social networking tools such as Twitter and
YouTube are to communicating Pioneer information to our members,
check out this
YouTube video.
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Our Life Member Spotlight is on...
Joan Carney of the W.J. Denver Chapter Joan is on the far right in the photo Joan Carney's commitment to the rural area called the "Berkshires" in western Massachusetts is to be commended. She has been the leader of the Tri- County Club for the past four years and has done a remarkable job in involving the employees and membership in her area. Her club is most noted for its Hug-a-Bear group that relocated to an assisted living center when one of the key ladies moved there. Now the residents are all engaged in making Bears. Joan does the running around acquiring material, stuffing and anything else the ladies need. This group of ladies has produced hundreds of bears that are donated to area hospitals, emergency vehicles and shelters. Joan is responsible for keeping her membership informed by having luncheons twice a year. During the luncheons, Joan keeps the members up to date with projects going on and opportunities for the membership to participate. She assists with many chapter projects such as membership drives, Dictionary and Scholastic Book deliveries to schools in her area, working with the local Foster Parents Association to purchase needed items and supporting our veterans every February by delivering needed items to the VA Hospital and Soldiers Home. Joan has been a long time supporter of the Clarke School for the Deaf helping with their annual auction and soliciting other volunteers to help throughout the years. She has come to several annual meetings and attended training to learn how to better serve her chapter and community though new projects shared by fellow Pioneers. She has been the recipient of the chapter's Life Member award and most recently the chapter's Spirit of Service award. Joan has been a driving force for Pioneers in the Tri-county area for many years and hopefully many more to come. |
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The Tampa Sunshine and Pinellas Pasco Clubs in Florida worked
together on a seven-year project to honor Almon Brown Strowger,
founder of the automatic telephone that revolutionized
telecommunications. Mr Strowger is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in
St Petersburg, Fla.
After a nationwide search for equipment and many committee meetings, skilled retirees assembled a working Strowger system at the Florida Museum of Regional History in Safety Harbor. The equipment was donated by Paul Wills from Coatsville, Penn., and came from a Western Electric 701 PABX in Philadelphia. Friends transported the equipment by private vehicle to Florida where former technicians and Pioneers Claude Eckenrode and Martin Miller activated the system. Included in the display are vintage telephones from all eras of telephony during the use of Strowger switching. An unveiling and associated reception was held Friday, Sept. 18, to celebrate the permanent display honoring the man who has meant so much to our industry.
(Photo, l-r:) Robert Stofflels, retired editor of "Telephone
Engineer and Management" magazine, and Lee Jacobs, former executive
with Winter Park Telephone Company.
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The Leatherstocking Council of Utica, NY is actively administering
911 training to various age groups. One of the largest was the
faculty and student body (grades K-4) at Reese Road Elementary
School in Frankfort. Each class was divided into two groups -- one
group received training while the other half visited the Frankfort
Fire Department's (FFD) Smoke House. Each year, the council is very
fortunate to be teamed up with the FFD and the Herkimer County 911
Center. This partnership spoke to about 280 students in 2009.
The Herkimer & Oneida Counties Soil and Water Conservation Districts and 911 Centers each year have a Safety Day at both the Boonville and Frankfort Fairgrounds. These events are for 5th graders in every school in both counties. Because the children are older, the Pioneers were able to do more hands on training and listen to their ideas and experiences. The Utica Housing Authority invited the Pioneers to join Utica Fire Marshall Raymond Beck to speak to residents of the Parretta Twin Towers Apartments about 911 and address some of the issues facing high-rise building tenants during emergency situations. The Pioneers were joined by Kinney Drugs and distributed "Life Vials" to all of the residents in the facility. These vials contain all the information about a resident that EMS will need in case of an emergency. In Ilion, the Pioneers joined the Ilion Fire Department (IFD), Ilion Community Watch, Herkimer County 911 and Kinney Drugs at the John Guy Prindle Apartments . The original plan was to speak to the residents about safety but things changed when a major fire occurred at the apartment building and a resident had to be pulled to safety by the building security guard. The IFD and 911 Center's part of the program centered on the actual fire and the evacuation of the facility and how the mutual aid system was used to assist with evacuation and caring of residents. The Pioneers spoke about 911 and also distributed the Kinney Drugs Life Vials and answered questions from the residents. The Pioneers plan to speak to another 1,000 adults and children during Fire Prevention Season this fall throughout the Mohawk Valley. View photos of Ilion presentation.
(Photo, l-r:) Donald Peterson, Verizon; Amy Jacobs, Herkimer
County 911 Dispatcher; Michael Fitzgerald, Verizon.
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On Nov. 5, the Suffolk Council of the Paumanok Chapter visited the
Riverhead Charter School in Calverton, NY. A member dressed as
Mother Goose read to 36 students in kindergarten and gave a Mother
Goose sticker book to each child. The chapter gave a Verizon
Pioneers dictionary to 43 third graders and taught them how to use
it. Chapter members also presented a beautiful map rug of the U.S.
to the fifth graders and played geography games with them. The
school helped with the chapter's recycling project. Students and
teachers donated can tabs, cell phones, ink cartridges, clothes,
towels, blankets, eyeglasses and cancelled stamps.
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Dear Mr. Ivan Seidenberg,
The Nova Five Pioneer Chapter continues to bring delight to the hearts of the street homeless. This is reflected in their charitable gifts of socks and shirts for those who feel disregarded, alone and invisible. Andy Cooney, an Irish singer is quoted as saying, "The best classroom in the world is at the feet of the elderly." Often we must cope with and respond to life's challenges without the benefit of foresight or the wisdom of the elderly. I was called upon today to help an elderly couple, one in a wheelchair, both who suffer from ailments, deal with their impending eviction that would place them on the sidewalk or downtown in the Bellevue Shelter. Remarkably, as I knelt beside Lionel and listened to his tragic life situation, I was so touched by his deep faith and his belief that God will give light to his journey. Having very little to pack, I was humbled to share some of the gifts that the Pioneers donated. Imagine, being elderly and homeless and not even having socks to wear! I also am convinced that sitting at the feet of retirees can fill us with much joy and wisdom. As I listened to the ambassadors of the Nova 5 Chapter, Helen and Noreen, I was again humbled to be a recipient of their thoughtfulness and charitable works. The guiding principle in Verizon's mission statement is communication. How wonderful that Verizon's retired employees share their communication through generosity of heart. Sincerely, Sister Lauria Fitzgerald Highbridge Community Life Center Bronx, NY (Mr. Seidenberg is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Verizon Communications.) Photo of Sister Lauria Fitzgerald was taken by Marko Georgiev for the "New York Times." |
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If you're receiving this issue at work, the design might be compromised because company firewalls are blocking the coding. You may view a clean version on the Verizon Pioneers' 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.
Verizon/Frontier/FairPoint/Telcordia Pioneers
P.O. Box 4406 . Salem, MA 01970
email:
info@verizonpioneers.org
phone:
978.745.9600
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