May 2011 - Vol. 6 / Issue 5
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volunteers
The W.J. Denver Chapter, IBEW Local 2324 and Girl Scout troop 20505 gathered on Sat., April 30, for Operation Cookie Drop. More than 200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies, Hug-a-bears, hard candies, gum and toiletries will be sent to troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. IBEW Members donated the Girl Scout cookies and toiletries to be shipped to our soldiers. The Pioneers organized the project, and one of their clubs donated the Hug-a-bears. The Girl Scout troop spent the morning at the Union Hall making thank you cards for the soldiers and packing the cookies. This is the fourth year the Pioneers have spearheaded Operation Cookie Drop. Last year, they sent eight large cartons of items to soldiers in Kuwait and Afghanistan.
Gold President's Award Pin
The Pioneer Association is now a certifying agency for the Presidential Service Awards. Established in 2003, the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation recognizes the valuable contributions volunteers are making in our communities. To date, the President's Council has partnered with more than 80 leadership organizations and more than 28,000 certifying organizations to bestow more than 1.5 million awards to the nation's deserving volunteers.

Last month for the first time, the Pioneers were honored for their generous volunteer efforts. Each award winner received a certificate signed by President Barack Obama and a pin. The awards were based on 2010 volunteer hours. Congratulations to the members from 32 clubs, 23 councils and 17 Verizon and FairPoint chapters who received:
248 bronze awards (50-74 hours)
106 silver awards (75-99 hours)
77 gold awards (100 or more)
June Weakley
On Sat., April 23, the Alexander Graham Bell Chapter and the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB), designed an EGG-stra special Easter Egg Hunt for visually-impaired children and their sighted siblings with beeping and chirping eggs. Nancy Rebar, a longtime volunteer with the Pioneers, said, "This event helps create a lasting memory for a child. Finding Easter eggs is such a cherished tradition, but it's not something visually-impaired children can do without special eggs, so this is a great way for them to have the same holiday fun as other children."

Jocelyn Hunter, communications director for the Columbia Lighthouse, said the idea for beeping eggs was hatched about a decade ago, and this year's event featured plenty of treats, Easter baskets for the children and a tour of the firehouse. A private non-profit, the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind enables people of all ages to overcome the challenge of vision loss and remain independent and active.
Arlene Heintzelman
Our Life Member Spotlight is on... Arlene Heintzelman of the Kinnard Chapter. A Pioneer since 1978, Arlene is always thinking. With her sparkling blue eyes and a smile, she seems to be always at the ready with an answer, an idea to uplift someone's spirit, or be available to help and support. That get up and go spirit of liveliness and the attitude of "anything is possible" is what ran the LH Kinnard Chapter office for the past 6-½ years. You would probably recognize the voice that answered the phone calls to your many questions, edited all the news that's fit to print in the Kinnard Konnection newsletter and recorded the news on the Pioneer Call-in Line. It has kept her very busy, especially updating the 5000+ member database.

She had also volunteered in the office for six years prior to gaining the official title of Office Manager. Taking time for a knee and two hip replacements, Arlene has officially retired after 12-½ years of working in the office. Since the inception of the Sports Jamboree at Fort Indiantown Gap in 1983, now in its 29th season, Arlene has celebrated most of her June birthdays helping there for the three-day weekend. Although her work weeks had been filled with plenty to do, Arlene still finds time to volunteer regularly at her church and the Mechanicsburg Library. One of Arlene's monthly services includes Adult Day Care Bingo.

She has served as Pioneer Council President, Club President, Chapter President, Life Member Rep, Member-at-Large and on numerous committees. Arlene's long career included retiring after 31 years from Bell Atlantic's News Bureau.
Earth Day
It was a cloudy, but warm day when 11 members of the Old Dominion - Peninsula Council gathered to participate in the spring cleanup day on Sat., April 16. A team of four military personnel also participated. They arrived at the Coliseum Central Business Improvement District office at 8:15 a.m., signed in and received color coded maps of the cleanup area and supplies. After light refreshments, the cleanup crew headed out into the Coliseum Central area. They collected 17-1/2 bags of trash. The cleanup was sponsored by Coliseum Central Business Improvement District, Hampton, VA. The supplies were courtesy of the Hampton Clean City Commission.
Centennial Cookbook
Be the first to own this once in a lifetime memento commemorating the 100 Years of Pioneers volunteering in their communities. Pioneers of the Verizon, Frontier and FairPoint companies have graciously taken the time to document and share their time-honored recipes, some of which have been handed down from generation to generation. Help celebrate the Pioneer Centennial Anniversary by purchasing this very special cookbook and know that you are helping to keep Pioneering alive in our communities through your purchase. Books may be purchased from your local clubs and councils for $10 or through the Verizon Pioneer Estore for $10, plus shipping and handling. Be the first on your block to own this piece of history which supports Pioneer Projects in your community. Makes a terrific gift for friends and family too!
Homeless man in snow
Dear President Mr. Seidenberg:

It is my great pleasure to share with you the wonderful works of generosity bestowed by the Nova 5 Chapter for the street homeless. These special East Bronx volunteers certainly take to heart the directive set by Verizon to "forge partnerships and to focus on the social issues of safety and health..."

This was an incredible winter blanketed by snow and blistery cold, and yet there was reason to celebrate. The Pioneers favored our community with gifts of long johns, socks, hats, gloves, scarves and personal items... Here are my silent partners, the Pioneers. This is the partnership, focusing on the safety of one in desperate need...

I want to extend my gratefulness to you, Mr. Seidenberg, being at the helm and continuing to invest fully in the mission of Verizon. I remain indebted to the Pioneers.

Sincerely,

Sr. Lauria Fitzgerald, O.P.
Highbridge Community Life Center

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Verizon/Frontier/FairPoint/Telcordia Pioneers
P.O. Box 4406 . Salem, MA 01970

phone: 978.745.9600