On May 16, the Pioneers were honored for their half century of support for the Talking Book Program by the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) at its annual meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. Gabe Olah, co-head regional coordinator, accepted the plaque recognizing the Pioneers for dedicating 50 years to the Talking Book program. To date, Pioneers across the nation have saved NLS, a branch of the National Library of Congress, more than $216 million by repairing 3.6 million machines.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Olah said, "This represents 50 years of volunteering to better the quality of life of people that we don't even know. Next year, the Pioneers celebrate their 100-year anniversary in Boston. We will be here at least another 100 years answering the call of those in need. On behalf of all Pioneers nationwide, we thank you for this plaque."

On April 24, Pioneers, partners and friends both volunteered and attended New Hope's Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tasting Friendraiser event. New Hope is a domestic violence agency that supports more than 75 cities and towns in Massachusetts. This event was to bring an awareness of the agency's mission to the Central Mass area.

More than 200 attendees gathered at the Asa Waters Mansion on this beautiful spring evening. Twenty vendor stations, including eight wine and beer vendors, five cheese purveyors, seven chocolatiers, Honey Dew Donuts and a small string orchestra helped make the evening a success. Pioneers supported the event by donating etched souvenir wine glasses branded with the Verizon Pioneer logos, five flower arrangements and two huge raffle baskets. The Pioneers also volunteered 50+ hours planning and working the event.

Civil War re-enactors helped to bring this Civil War era home to life. As the guests arrived, Pioneer Diane Rodger took pictures for each guest to keep as a souvenir. In addition the beautiful flowers were a donation by the Framingham Club and created by Denver Chapter Vice President Ann Cove. A huge raffle and live auction helped the agency raise much-needed funds that will help support the many necessary services the agency provides to its clients.

MSG Chad Rhinehart, grandson of Connie Rhinehart of the Warren Life Member Club of the H.G. McCully Upstate Chapter, is currently stationed in Panjshir, a northern Afghanistan province with a warm season lasting only four months. In April, MSG Rhinehart wrote his grandmother that he has noticed the local children are in desperate need of winter gloves, hats, coats, boots and shoes. In addition, the children greatly require school supplies, such as pens, pencils, sharpeners, and notebooks. If you'd like to make a donation, please contact Barbara Hamilton with the H.G. McCully Chapter at erthakitten@embarqmail.com.

At the V/F/F/T Face-to-Face Meeting in Reston, VA, June 5-6, the Verizon Foundation awarded 10 grants to chapters that supported one of the Foundation's four core initiatives: Domestic Violence Awareness, Education, Literacy, and Internet Safety. They are:

$5k grants w/o technology
· Denver - 100 Ways of Giving
· Paumanok - Empowerment Thru Education
· Denver - Happy Feet & Minds
· Maryland - Life's Lesson One - Let's Say Thanks

$5k grants w/technology
· ODC - Bedtime Story to My Children on the Homefront
· Paumanok - Primary Media Studio
· Liberty Bell - Upgraded Technology for Hope Partnership for Education
· Nova 5 - Students' Pledge Against Domestic Violence

$10k grants w/technology
· Excelsior - Afterschool Program
· Maryland - Bridging the Digital Divide

Debbie Bargo of the
L.H. Kinnard Chapter!
Homegrown with the opportunity to fly around the world, the Honorable Mayor Deborah A. Bargo chose to return to her hometown of Lewistown Borough, PA, and left Washington, D.C., to begin her lifelong career of service. Pioneer Life Member and town mayor since December 2007, Debbie grew up in the family home just blocks away from her present home and within walking distance to her mayoral seat in the Municipal Building. She started in the Lewistown office and finished her career in State College as a Service Representative and a Trainer in the Business Office for 27 years before an early retirement in 1996 when her office was closed.

While at Bell, Debbie was president of the Pioneer Seven Mountains Club in the late 1980s. She kept involved with Pioneer programs such as Adopt a Highway, picking up litter for a two-mile stretch along Seven Mountains, and the Dictionary Project, where she once remembers donning a Raggedy Ann costume as an added draw for the children. At Christmas time, Debbie participated in the Adopt A Family program. Especially memorable was the time they delivered a 40-lb. turkey to a family that had 14 adopted handicapped children. But the soft spot of her heart is in the Annual Pioneer Sports Jamboree, which she has supported for 26 out of 28 years.

Karen Arruda, president of the Southern Mass Council of the Sherwin Pioneers, visited the Bristol County Agricultural High School April 30 to deliver 82 Peterson Field Guides funded by a Verizon Foundation Pioneer grant. Peterson Field Guides have long been the tool of choice by many amateur nature lovers, conservation professionals and biologists. These new guides will be integrated with the Natural Resource Management (NRM) curriculum so students may learn to use this and other diagnostic tools. NRM students and teachers were very excited and appreciative to receive this donation.

(Photo: NRM students with Karen Arruda on far left.)

George Butler of the
Liberty Bell Chapter
George Butler is a true and loyal Pioneer who has continually demonstrated outstanding Pioneer leadership and commitment with a contagious Pioneering spirit. In total, he has been associated with Pioneering for more than 42 years. With his vast Pioneer experience, he has become the "Go To" person who has mentored the incoming council presidents and Executive Board members. He has served as: Headquarters Council president and vice president; Chapter assistant treasurer and life member rep; Club member-at-large, life member treasurer and life member Pioneer partner chairperson. In addition, George has served as the Council's chairperson for the Social, Program, and Community Service Committees. George is currently serving as Chapter member-at-large.

Without hesitation, whenever there is a call for volunteers, George is the first to participate. Some of his significant volunteer contributions are: Valley Forge Historical Park Work Days, Placemat Project, Fort Mifflin Cleanup Days, Ingles House Special Event Days, various Charity Golf Tournaments, Chapter Special Needs Party, charity events at the Carousel House, Maps Project, Wills Eye Hospital Registration Day, Council-sponsored community service, education and domestic abuse projects, and the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia.

A new national PBS documentary aimed at raising awareness of domestic violence premiered at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., May 18, before an audience of domestic violence prevention advocates. Based on a powerful true story, "Telling Amy's Story" was funded by a grant from the Verizon Foundation.

Hosted by actress and advocate Mariska Hargitay, and told by detective Deirdri Fishel, "Telling Amy's Story" follows the timeline of a domestic violence homicide that occurred on November 8, 2001. Telling Amy's Story can serve as a catalyst to bring communities together to talk about domestic violence. Click here to view a 14 minute clip and pre-order your DVD.

Friendraising at New Hope

On April 24, Pioneers, partners and friends both volunteered and attended New Hope's Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tasting Friendraiser event. New Hope is a domestic violence agency that supports more than 75 cities and towns in Massachusetts. This event was to bring an awareness of the agency's mission to the Central Mass area. More than 200 attendees gathered at the Asa Waters Mansion on this beautiful spring evening. Twenty vendor stations, including eight wine and beer vendors, five cheese purveyors, seven chocolatiers, Honey Dew Donuts and a small string orchestra helped make the evening a success. Pioneers supported the event by donating etched souvenir wine glasses branded with the Verizon Pioneer logos, five flower arrangements and two huge raffle baskets. The Pioneers also volunteered 50+ hours planning and working the event. Civil War re-enactors helped to bring this Civil War era home to life. As the guests arrived, Pioneer Diane Rodger took pictures for each guest to keep as a souvenir. In addition the beautiful flowers were a donation by the Framingham Club and created by Denver Chapter Vice President Ann Cove. A huge raffle and live auction helped the agency raise much-needed funds that will help support the many necessary services the agency provides to its clients.

Operation Panjshir

MSG Chad Rhinehart, grandson of Connie Rhinehart of the Warren Life Member Club of the H.G. McCully Upstate Chapter, is currently stationed in Panjshir, a northern Afghanistan province with a warm season lasting only four months. In April, MSG Rhinehart wrote his grandmother that he has noticed the local children are in desperate need of winter gloves, hats, coats, boots and shoes. In addition, the children greatly require school supplies, such as pens, pencils, sharpeners, and notebooks. If you'd like to make a donation, please contact Barbara Hamilton with the H.G. McCully Chapter at erthakitten@embarqmail.com.

Competitive Grants Recipients

At the V/F/F/T Face-to-Face Meeting in Reston, VA, June 5-6, the Verizon Foundation awarded 10 grants to chapters that supported one of the Foundation's four core initiatives: Domestic Violence Awareness, Education, Literacy, and Internet Safety. They are: $5k grants w/o technology · Denver - 100 Ways of Giving · Paumanok - Empowerment Thru Education · Denver - Happy Feet & Minds · Maryland - Life's Lesson One - Let's Say Thanks $5k grants w/technology · ODC - Bedtime Story to My Children on the Homefront · Paumanok - Primary Media Studio · Liberty Bell - Upgraded Technology for Hope Partnership for Education · Nova 5 - Students' Pledge Against Domestic Violence $10k grants w/technology · Excelsior - Afterschool Program · Maryland - Bridging the Digital Divide

The Life Member Spotlight is on...

Debbie Bargo of the L.H. Kinnard Chapter! Homegrown with the opportunity to fly around the world, the Honorable Mayor Deborah A. Bargo chose to return to her hometown of Lewistown Borough, PA, and left Washington, D.C., to begin her lifelong career of service. Pioneer Life Member and town mayor since December 2007, Debbie grew up in the family home just blocks away from her present home and within walking distance to her mayoral seat in the Municipal Building. She started in the Lewistown office and finished her career in State College as a Service Representative and a Trainer in the Business Office for 27 years before an early retirement in 1996 when her office was closed. While at Bell, Debbie was president of the Pioneer Seven Mountains Club in the late 1980s. She kept involved with Pioneer programs such as Adopt a Highway, picking up litter for a two-mile stretch along Seven Mountains, and the Dictionary Project, where she once remembers donning a Raggedy Ann costume as an added draw for the children. At Christmas time, Debbie participated in the Adopt A Family program. Especially memorable was the time they delivered a 40-lb. turkey to a family that had 14 adopted handicapped children. But the soft spot of her heart is in the Annual Pioneer Sports Jamboree, which she has supported for 26 out of 28 years.

Southern Mass Council donates field guides

Karen Arruda, president of the Southern Mass Council of the Sherwin Pioneers, visited the Bristol County Agricultural High School April 30 to deliver 82 Peterson Field Guides funded by a Verizon Foundation Pioneer grant. Peterson Field Guides have long been the tool of choice by many amateur nature lovers, conservation professionals and biologists. These new guides will be integrated with the Natural Resource Management (NRM) curriculum so students may learn to use this and other diagnostic tools. NRM students and teachers were very excited and appreciative to receive this donation. (Photo: NRM students with Karen Arruda on far left.)

Telling Amy's Story

A new national PBS documentary aimed at raising awareness of domestic violence premiered at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., May 18, before an audience of domestic violence prevention advocates. Based on a powerful true story, "Telling Amy's Story" was funded by a grant from the Verizon Foundation. Hosted by actress and advocate Mariska Hargitay, and told by detective Deirdri Fishel, "Telling Amy's Story" follows the timeline of a domestic violence homicide that occurred on November 8, 2001. Telling Amy's Story can serve as a catalyst to bring communities together to talk about domestic violence. Click here to view a 14 minute clip and pre-order your DVD.