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Excelsior's LMC works tirelessly for
literacy
Excelsior Chapter's Buffalo-Niagara Region Life Member Club (LMC) has
been volunteering for more than 13 years at Project FLIGHT (Family
Literacy for Intergenerational Growth & Home Teaching). Seventeen
life members and partners meet once a week to sort, stamp and box
books for Buffalo, NY, schools. The chapter handles about 5,000
books a week.
Project FLIGHT is devoted to promoting literacy in children
from pre-K through high school. A yearly community book drive, "Give
a Book, Touch a Life," nets 150,000 to 200,000 books. The donations
are distributed to schools and other non-profit organizations. Since
its inception 13 years ago, more than 1.4 million books have been
donated and distributed to over 1,210 school and agencies. Project
FLIGHT has also created or distributed to 539 on-site libraries.
Along with its Project FLIGHT commitment, the
Buffalo-Niagara Region LMC is working to ensure that every child has
a pathway out of poverty by having a book of his own, being able to
read it at grade level, and is living in a literate environment at
home. |
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Well-deserved recognition
Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi presented a citation to the
Paumanok Chapter for its work with homeless veterans. Mary Ann Wiese
(left), Paumanok Chapter Partner Chair, and Lorraine Gettis,
Paumanok Chapter President, accepted the citation on behalf of the
chapter. |
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The "Pioneer Press" rolls!
The TelecomPioneers Association is now
publishing a quarterly newsletter. The first issue was mailed to
your home in February. The six-page newsletter features stories on
international Pioneering initiatives, reminders of upcoming
deadlines, and two pages of Verizon TelecomPioneers specific
activities. The second issue will be published in May. After
receiving feedback about the first two issues, the TPA will
determine if this medium of communication is effective. Please
e-mail the editor,
kristinem@telecompioneers.org with your comments. |
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Blinkies - Back by popular demand!
You may now purchase the same Blinkies you saw at the
annual conference! These 2" blinking Pioneer logos are battery
operated with three blinking LED blue lights. What better way to
advertise your Pioneer membership! Price is $5.00 each plus shipping
or 5 for $20.00 plus shipping.
http://www.verizonpioneers.org/Estore.htm |
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The Life Member spotlight is on... Betty Rewkowski!
The Excelsior Chapter's Leatherstocking Club/Council salutes
Betty Rewkowski. Her continuous work throughout the past several
years is amazing. Betty has contributed so much to her community.
She has served as president and vice president of both the chapter
and council. Betty was editor of the chapter newsletter for more
than 11 years. She was chairperson for community service (during
which time she created new forms to be used and set up training),
naturalization ceremony (which hosts an event to welcome new
citizens into our area), and membership (which includes updating
retiree information). She has been a very important part of Talking
Books for many years, which enables the visually impaired to enjoy
reading. She has worked on Christmas Projects, map paintings,
fundraising, hug a bears, lap robes, and so much more.
Betty is currently co-chair of the group rep committee
(updating the fellowship list to keep retirees in touch with one
another). One of Betty's most valuable gifts is her ability to make
everyone feel good about themselves. She is always complimenting or
thanking others for the work they do. In reality, it is she who
graces us all. |
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Liberty Bell's HQ Council supports
veterans
Over the past three years, Liberty Bell's Headquarters
Council has sponsored bingo games and birthday parties at the
Philadelphia Veterans Nursing Home Care Unit. Under the
original leadership of Camilla Rice, the project has successfully
evolved into a year-round labor of love and respect for the
veterans.
To date, the Headquarters Council has supported 10 major events
at the nursing facility. Members have volunteered more than 1,300
hours at the facility and donated over 3,500 personal care
items. Each activity includes more than 100 hours of creating gift
packages as game prizes and coordinating the donations of lap robs,
baseball caps, socks and Tshirts. The gift packages have to contain
specific personal care items requested by the facility's
management to ensure the safety of the residents while meeting their
needs. Also, careful consideration must be given to the food and
beverages to meet the residents' dietary requirements and
restrictions.
Fran Spagna, Headquarters Council President, said, "It is very
rewarding and humbling to share some quality time with these
veterans. Many of the men and women do not have visitors, so our
visits become very special to them, and in turn, we become part of
their family."
(Pictured l-r: Eleanor Brown, Leroy Brown, Marie Yotsko,
Fran Spagna, and Linda Kane-Jones.) |
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Earth Day is April 22
Still searching
for some ideas to celebrate Earth Day? How about a No Waste
Lunch Day? Encourage fellow employees to bring lunches
containing reusable or recylable containers, cloth napkins and
reusable utensils. Or, how about an Aluminum Can and Bottle
Collection? You can donate the money you raised to support
local wildlife and environmental organizations. Distribute posters
and flyers on recycling throughout your building. For more ideas,
visit www.earthday.org. Earth
Day staff will even send you "Earth Day in a Box!" |
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Dates to Remember!
April 15-17 National Youth Service Days, POLF
April 21-23 Group Meeting
April 22 Earth Day
April 23-29 International Volunteer Week
April 23-29 2006 Telecom Challenge
April 30 Pioneer Day at Hershey Park
May 6 Join Hands Day
August 2-3 Beep Baseball Tournament in Cleveland, OH |
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Did you enjoy this issue?
If so... please consider forwarding this to a
friend. Please recommend that he or she use a home e-mail address
because sometimes the Verizon firewalls block the photos on this
newsletter. Just click the link to the right and follow the simple
instructions. Thanks for passing on the good word about Pioneering! |
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