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Joe Maron
Joe became a Pioneer in 1973 and served as a member or chairperson
on several committees including the Olympic Torch Run, Book'em and
Challenger projects. He served as first vice president and chapter
president and two years as region vice president for Region 8.
Joe represented the Association in its development of activities with the Challenger Center for Space Science Education with other national organizations headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area. He is still involved with the Challenger Center where children learn about air and space through a hands- on educational program. Joe volunteers with the Read-to-Me program, reading to children at local schools and handing out a new book to each child when his is finished. He also helps with the delivery of "A Student's Dictionary." He mentors Pioneers to take on leadership roles for the chapter and councils and assists with the yearly training seminars. Joe assists with weekly fundraising sales and helps with the set up for vendor sales. He worked to obtain and install a telephone system for the AGB Association for the Deaf at their headquarters and participated in the renovation work. Joe has received the Bell Atlantic Chairman's Award, Pioneer of the Year and Life Member of the Year Awards. To this day he remains strongly committed to the Verizon Pioneers. His professionalism, leadership, and commitment to serving others make him an ideal Pioneer Hall of Fame recipient for 2009. |
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Carol Baker
Carol, joining the Pioneers in 1991, is the president of the
Providence Club. Carol's leadership efforts have directly affected
employee volunteerism in the local school system by having employees
and Pioneer volunteers distribute 800 Verizon Pioneer branded
dictionaries, Scholastic books, backpacks and pencils to inner city
school children. She champions domestic violence prevention and
awareness by enlisting employees and members to be involved in
projects such as the creation of Health Kits and Pajama
distributions to shelters and the Women's Center of Rhode Island.
Carol has been the driving force for two related projects over the past three years. C.A.S.T. for Kids partners with agencies that treat children with chronic illnesses and the Rhode Island Bass Fisherman's Association for a day out fishing. Carol and her team purchase and assemble goody bags for all the children, provide breakfast and lunch for more than 200 children and adults. They also take pictures of each child for a picture button and a plaque. After the first year was such a success, the organizers from C.A.S.T. asked Carol if Pioneers would consider funding and volunteering for a June Alumni cookout. Without hesitation, Carol and her team agreed. Each year this event has grown and this past year Carol and her team cooked and served more than 100 attendees of the Alumni Cookout. For the past two years, Carol assisted with the distribution and reading of Fairy House Books to more than 100 campers at a local Girl Scout camp. Each year the returning campers have asked to build Fairy Houses. She works closely with the RI Women's Center by providing much-needed supplies by conducting drives at company locations in conjunction with the "Shower for Shelters" program. During her club's luncheons, she solicits for food, health and beauty aids, pajamas and books for the clients at the shelter. Carol assists with membership drives during Pioneer Open House and Pioneer Week. She partners with local Union sponsored events such as Verizon's Work & Family day. Each year Carol assists with the 20 Week Club fundraiser. Carol has received the Pioneer of the Year Award and the Chapter Spirit of Service Award. |
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Andrea M. Freeman
Andrea joined the Pioneers in 1986 and has served as the Life Member
Club vice president. She currently serves as the president of the
Troy Life Member Club. For five years, she has participated in the
Oakwood Cemetery Clean-up. Andrea orders "A Student's Dictionary"
through The Dictionary Project and sets up the delivery to the
schools in her club area.
Andrea does the budgeting and disbursement of the Verizon Literacy Grant funds for the Troy Life Member Club. She organizes the basket raffles at the annual holiday luncheons of which the proceeds support many of the club projects. She prepares and distributes "Love Kits," which contain a wash cloth, soap, comb, toothpaste and brush and other personal items for the many clients that come to the homeless shelters. For six years, she along with her club members, provide weekend meals to the Joseph House Shelter during the summer months when it is difficult to get volunteers. During the Christmas holidays, she volunteers with the club to deliver poinsettias and Christmas stockings to Resurrection Nursing Home in Castleton, NY. She has received the Life Member of the Year Award. The chapter recognizes Andrea for her dedication to what Pioneering is all about - helping and improving the lives of others. |
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April Schad
April, now a retiree, has been a Pioneer since 1982. She has served
as Future Pioneer vice president and president, Council vice
president and president, and has held every position at the
council/club level. April has been participating in the Clown Troupe
since it started, paints Pioneer playground maps and helps provide
electronic maps for schools in her area. For the 27th year, she has
volunteered for the Children's Christmas party. April volunteered at
many vice president projects over the years - Paul Newman's "Hole in
the Woods" Camp, 4-H camp (when traveling to Long Island, their van
was broken into and their clothes stolen), camp in Sharon, MA, and
many more. April volunteers at the YMCA Folksmarch, which is a
non-competitive walking event for people of all ages and abilities
in Central New York. She also volunteers at the Special Olympics in
Syracuse, Buffalo and Albany.
She has been mentoring students at Edward Smith School since the program was started. April is always there to meet and greet new Pioneer members. April was instrumental in getting the council involved at Woodstock in 1999 selling water. The council made more than $20,000. It was hard working 24/7 for four days. The big fundraiser now is selling Christmas wreaths. April has received the Future Pioneer, Pioneer of the Year, and YMCA Folksmarch awards. |
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Gerry McLaughlin
Joining the Pioneers in 1975, Gerry has served as treasurer and
president of the Stephen Foster Club and is currently serving as the
chapter secretary, a position she has held for six years. Working
with Operation Save A Life, Jubilee Kitchen and Operation Safety Net
since 1994, Gerry has coordinated the collection of donated
toiletries and solicited help to pack more than 35,000 toiletry
kits, held drives for blankets, socks and clothing, and delivered
meals to the Emergency Weather Shelter during the winter months.
With the support of Marilyn Stevens, chapter president, Gerry
reached out to Womansplace, a domestic violence shelter to furnish a
family 'dormitory style' bedroom, provided 5,000 domestic violence
awareness bracelets that were distributed at concerts and school
programs, hosted a 'Shower for the Shelter' providing women and
children with everyday necessities, and provided welcome bags for
the incoming residents. Through Gerry's Pioneer Partner John, an
elementary school teacher, school supplies were donated to two
school incentive programs to provide reinforcement for student's
academic achievement, good attendance and proper behavioral choices.
Gerry coordinated the solicitation, packing and shipping of 91 care packages to soldiers in Iraq and 33 packages of first aid supplies for civilians in Afghanistan. Gerry developed a new project, "Hugs From Nan" named for her mother who was undergoing radiation treatments for breast cancer. Valentine's Day treat bags were prepared for each patient and each employee at the Inter Community Cancer Center in Monroeville, PA. |
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Jean Klem
Jean became involved in Pioneering after she retired in 1993. With
her children grown, sitting at home relaxing after working for 35
years was not in the cards for her. She became involved with the
Pioneers so she could help in the community and give back.
Jean became very involved in all aspects of Pioneering. She was a tutor at School # 19 for three years working with the adult community. Jean worked with the Hug-A-Bear program and has made more than 1,300 bears and is the current project leader. Along with making Hug-A-Bears, Jean's days consist of volunteering for many organizations throughout her community. She volunteers for Meals on Wheels, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Visiting Nurse Services, Health Call, fingerprinting children at different locations, Lifespan, U.S. Postal Health Fair, Volunteers of America book and jewelry sorting, Fraud Fighters and St. Rita's church. When asked what her favorite volunteer project is, she stated ALL of them! Jean has received the Frontier "Spirit Award" and the Life Time member "Award of Excellence." In her spare time she loves to work in her yard gardening and taking bus trips with her friends. Jean is a dedicated Pioneer and is always willing and able to help others. |
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Maureen Fogg
Maureen, still actively employed by FairPoint, has been a Pioneer
since 1997, keeping Pioneering active in New Hampshire. She chairs
the fundraising and participation committees and the Clown Troupe.
Clowning is Maureen's passion; she participates in several parades
including St. Patrick's Day, Christmas in Salem and Old Home Day.
She recently participated in Greenville in a "Walk for the Poor"
where she clowned for the two mile walk, had lunch with the group
and clowned some more. Maureen volunteers at the Beech Street School
assisting the students in the Kid's Voting Day where they vote in
the Presidential Election. She was a member of the Junior
Achievement Bowl-a-Thon for five years raising funds through family
and friends.
Maureen actively recruits new members for the New Hampshire Council and has been on the "Bring Your Kids to Work" committee for five years. She participates in painting Pioneer playground maps and is a committee member and volunteer for The Northwood Meadows State Park. Maureen is the contact for fundraising vendors for the New Hampshire Council securing the vendors and arranging for their set-up in the buildings. Maureen has received recognition from the American Cancer Society for her participation in "Daffodil Days" and from the Salvation Army for selling chocolate bunnies at Easter to benefit the "Kid's Café." |
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Charles E. Hoke III
Charlie, as he's known to us, has served as life member
representative, club president, Sports Jamboree chairman, chapter
vice president and chapter president for two terms.
Charlie was the vice president of the chapter team that made 75 master maps for the U.S. Playground Map project. These maps were distributed to the other chapters at the Annual Meeting. He has been the club Playground Map chairman for 14 years. He assists in giving out dictionaries and electronic maps to schools. Charlie is a charter organizational representative for Boy Scout Troop #196. He also helps the club with Talking Book repairs and assists continuously with numerous events throughout the year. He can be seen volunteering at membership sign-up tables and serving refreshments at central offices and garages during Pioneer Week. Charlie mentored teenage boys who recently lost their fathers. He participated nationally with a display and fundraising for the Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Charlie participates in Caitlin's Smiles which is a program to help children with chronic and life- threatening illnesses. He is also a rest stop chairman for the two-day bike tour for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and attended organizational meetings throughout the year. |
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Maryann A Murtha
Maryann became a Pioneer in 1983 and held several positions
including president, secretary, treasurer, member-at-large and group
leader for the council. She has been treasurer, member-at-large and
group leader at the chapter level. She is currently the chapter's
first vice president.
Maryann coordinates and supports the Project Nights program at Lott Street making placemats, Hug-A- Bears, electronic maps, breast cancer pillows, heart pillows and breakfast baggies for Aids for Friends. She also recycles cans and collects tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, plants flowers at Harry Taylor Memorial, and participates in the Valley Forge National Park and the Delaware Shore Cleanup Days. Maryann has initiated several domestic abuse efforts in support of Laurel House. This includes providing Hug A Bears and securing a wish list of needed items for the center, and collecting old cell phones. She helps out with the Hot Line Phone bill, and helps to deliver dictionaries and E-Maps to local schools. Maryann assists with membership drives and participates in the fellowship breakfast. She can be seen fundraising through nut sales, Yankee Candle sales and Tastefully Simple. She has received the Pioneer in Excellence award, a membership drive award and a recognition award from Laurel House Domestic Abuse House for her outstanding support and work with them. |
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John "Jack" Ritter (Deceased)
Jack became a Pioneer in 1974 and served as life member
representative, chapter president, and chairman of the Scholarship
and Vial of Life committees. Jack worked more than five years with
senior centers distributing over 136,000 Vials of Life which enables
Emergency Responders to quickly locate helpful information regarding
an individuals medical history. He also educated seniors on the
importance of having a list of medicines available for EMTs in the
event of an emergency. He worked with sight impaired children at a
Beeping Egg hunt during the Easter holiday and was the chief Beeping
Egg repairman.
Jack coordinated sports activities at Camp Basic and mentored numerous young men through Boy Scouts leadership roles for more than 20 years. He assisted in fundraising activities such as crab feasts, shrimp feasts and bull and oyster roasts. Jack received the chapter President's Award for his outstanding service to the Maryland Chapter and was recognized by the "Coalition of Geriatric Services" for his work with senior centers. He was always willing to help where needed to assure a successful conclusion of a project or fundraising event. |
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James T. Norberg
1973 was the year that Jim joined the Pioneers. Jim has served as
life member club president for several terms. He currently is the
South Ocean life member chaplain.
Jim volunteers with a group that repairs Talking Book Machines for the Library of Congress which supplies the machines to vision impaired individuals. He serves monthly communion to clients in the Arcadia Nursing Home. Jim spends his spare time telephoning, sending cards or visiting people who are ill. For 18 years, Jim chaired a group of co-workers who canvassed vendors on the streets of New York for articles to be used at their monthly bingo games. Jim is a life member in the Little Egg Harbor VFW and is vice president of AARP on Long Beach. Jim is a man who can't stop helping people. |
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Paula Wright
Paula joined the Pioneers in 1981 and has served as council
president, chapter life member representative and president. She is
currently serving as Morristown Life Member Club president.
Paula participated in painting an historical house at Speedwell Village and a room at the J.C. Medical Center. She also volunteered at holiday parties for challenged children. As a chapter "Verizon Reads" chairperson, she headed a chapter-wide campaign resulting in the accumulation of more than 1,000 children's books. She instituted the Valentine's For Vets project in the Morristown Life Member Club, organized Baby Showers for their "Be My Baby" project, organized Animal showers to benefit animal shelters, as well as introducing Lily's Pantry. Throughout her Pioneer career, she has established and participated in several membership drives, as well as implemented incentives for the membership during her chapter presidency. Paula mentored a member until she felt comfortable enough to accept a position on the board, and continues to mentor her as well as other club officers. Paula has been a member of the Chapter's Golf Committee, Tricky Tray Baskets, etc.; she has brought innovative projects to the Life Member Club, i.e., Linens & Things Gift Card sales, a Bakeless Cake Sale and others. Paula received the Council Pioneer of the Year Award, Life Member Pioneer of the Year Award, Certificate of Appreciation from Lily's Pantry for her dedication and leadership in instituting this project. Paula's consistently sweet, gentle, non-confrontational ways have made her liked and admired by all who have worked with or for her on a Pioneer project. She is not one who seeks out the limelight or center stage, but she is a shining star of the Pioneer organization. |
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Lula Fisher
Lula joined the Pioneers in 1983 and has served as council vice
president and president and as chapter vice president and president.
As chapter president, Lula successfully organized, created, designed
and stocked a library for a Title One day care center to enhance
preschool literacy. She effectively engaged more than 300 employees
to assist in making 600 Verizon Pioneer branded Hug-A-Bears and
donated them to hospitals and fire departments in the community. She
can be seen cooking and serving the homeless on Thanksgiving side by
side with her family and several other dedicated Pioneers in helping
the less fortunate.
Lula spearheaded a membership list team and was successful in signing up 99.5% of eligible employees in her building. She created a one-on-one mentoring program, "Educating our Children," that was implemented in schools throughout the five boroughs. As fundraising chairperson, she managed the Queens Pioneer store by being the bookkeeper, inventory tracker, buyer, banker and sales person as well as the facilitator of the life members for her council's lobby sales. Lula received the Leaders in Excellence award, the Association Educational Excellence award for the "Power Lunch" project, and the Raymond McFarlane Community Service Award. Lula goes out of her way to help with any request at any time. She is definitely a representative of a true Pioneer. |
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Jan Belote
Joining the Pioneers in 1986, Jan has been on every committee at the
council level. She is currently serving as president for a third
term of the Richmond Council. Jan served on the chapter level as
environmental chair and promoted a very successful poster contest
for elementary schools. She also served as education chair for the
chapter and council, and has kept track of volunteer hours for
several years. She is currently working with the chapter president
on the pilot National Environmental project.
Jan was very involved with a project at a school constructing raised beds in which to plant herbs. The children learned a lot about the environment. Jan volunteers with the YMCA and at a domestic violence shelter. She takes surplus food from chapter and council meetings to local shelters. She works with animal shelters and even adopted a cat from Mississippi after Katrina. She orders and delivers dictionaries to schools, recycles plastic rings, plants trees at the D-Day Memorial, volunteers and is an officer at "Friends of the Library," works with TOPS, the credit union and her church group. Jan can be seen at most every work location in her area hosting membership drives. She has been actively involved in PALS training at several councils. Jan has one of the most successful fundraising councils in the chapter. The chapter has a matching fund account where any council fundraising done for education/domestic violence is matched by the chapter. Jan has received certificates from schools, libraries, credit unions and animal shelters for the volunteer work she has done with these organizations. Jan always gets in there and gets down and dirty; she is not afraid of hard work. Jan truly shows the spirit of Pioneering in every way. |
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Ralf Krause
Ralf, a Pioneer since 1968, has held many positions with the
Paumanok Chapter -- council vice president and president, chapter
first and second vice president and president.
Ralf has been curator of the Paumanok Chapter Verizon Pioneer Museum since 1990. In fact, Ralf established the chapter museum in 1989. He provides guided tours through the museum for school children. He also conducts "911 Simulator" emergency calling training to school children on Long Island. He created miniature wall telephone kits for Boy Scouts to make for their merit badges and can be found at many local fairs displaying telephone memorabilia. Ralf went on to create a piece of equipment to assist with companion dog training for challenged individuals. This device was a box that when you pressed a button, the sound of a doorbell or telephone would be simulated and could be used to train the dog to lead the person to the front door if the doorbell chimes or bring the phone over to their owner if it should ring. As chapter president, he raised $10,000 for the Arthritis Foundation with an "Up-Up-and-Away" balloon program where balloons were sold for $1 each and released at fairs and other community events. Ralf has received awards for time spent repairing Talking Books for the Library of Congress and for creating Companion Dog Training equipment. |
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Cynthia A. Carnali (Deceased)
Cynthia Carnali began volunteering with the Pioneers in 1990 serving
as secretary, vice president and president of the Pilgrim Council.
She also was the chairperson of the Chapter Scholarship Committee.
From 1990 to 2006, Cindy was involved in community service and
education programs such as the "I Like Me" program, the Dictionary
Project, and the Rug Map project. She took delight in the excitement
these gifts brought to the children. Cindy participated in many
clean-up projects at YMCAs and beautified the grounds by planting
flowers for everyone to enjoy. She encouraged new members by
engaging in membership drives at various company locations.
Cindy worked tirelessly to raise funds for her council and chapter. She donated countless hours of her time working in council stores, organizing yard sales, working with the auction committee, enjoying the Cape Cod Canal walks, as well as helping out with the calendar committee. Cindy received the VA Hospital Award for 1,000 hours of volunteer service as well as the very prestigious Thomas Sherwin Chapter Pioneer of the Year Award in 2001. Perhaps her proudest accomplishment was organizing and implementing the Conway House Shelter Christmas party for many years, seeing to it that every disadvantaged child received a toy and some clothing for Christmas. This was no small undertaking, involving her family in sorting all the gifts and wrapping each one to ensure each child received an equal amount of presents. Her living room was a flurry of bows, gifts and wrapping paper as she and her family worked diligently to ensure the task was completed on time. Besides being quite a philanthropist, Cindy was a devoted mother and dedicated wife. For 16 years Cindy devoted countless hours volunteering her time, a cause she was passionate about and one she firmly believed in. Cindy rose to each challenge and found such satisfaction in making a difference in other people's lives and bringing them such happiness. She is a shining example to all of us as a hard working, loving volunteer and we can all learn from her dedication and view her volunteer work as a model for our own philanthropic goals. |
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Eleanor Moore
Joining the Pioneers in 1969, Eleanor serves as club and chapter
secretary. She is the coordinator of the chapter's Health Kit
project for local charities and has helped put together hundreds of
kits over the past three years. These kits contain personal items
such as hair care products, toothbrush and paste, mouthwash, soap
and washcloth, etc. and are wrapped in a bath size towel.
Eleanor volunteers for the Dictionary Project where "A Students Dictionary" is given to each 3rd grade student. She coordinates candy sales for three buildings several times a year and coordinates the annual Christmas luncheon for the R. Parker Sullivan Club. Eleanor volunteers at many election functions at a local college. She works on yearly membership drives and helps new members with the Stitches from the Heart Project that sends handmade clothing, blankets and love to premature babies all across the nation. Eleanor has received the Pioneer of the Year award and was recognized by the election board for work during elections. She is willing to work on all club projects. |
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Howard Benedum (Deceased)
Howard was a valued member of the West Virginia Chapter for more
than 30 years. He and his wife, children and grandchildren
participated in many Pioneer activities. He was instrumental in
creating and improving games and devices for the West Virginia
International Sports Jamboree. He also introduced the Buddy Bike for
the Blind in West Virginia. Howard unselfishly spent his own time
and money to prepare a basketball goal trailer for the blind. If
something broke or malfunctioned, Howard was the one who was called
upon to fix it. Howard and his whole family would arrive at North
Bend State Park early to help prepare the grounds for the jamboree.
He also served as historian for years taking hundreds of pictures
and preparing the annual yearbook. Howard attended the NRA Air Rifle
Tournament for the Blind and Wheelchair Bound in Nitro, WV
representing the Pioneers.
Howard served the Clarksburg Council and Life Member Club as chair of many committees and was a member of the clown unit. For many years, Howard collected items and maintained the Pioneer Museum in Clarksburg. Many USA and WV maps were painted at schools and state parks in West Virginia under the guidance of Howard. Hundreds of West Virginia students learned what to do in an emergency situation from Howard as he demonstrated the Pioneer 911 program. Howard was a champion for the disabled. He could often be seen building wheelchair ramps around his community. He was a wise man with many talents who never failed to use them for the good of the less fortunate. He passed away suddenly early this summer and is missed not only by his family but by the Pioneer community and all who knew him. |
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