December 2006 - Vol. 1 / Issue 5
In This Issue
Sign Up
Quick Links
Paumanok members at Nashville Conference
More than 190 Pioneers, Partners and guests came together to learn, share ideas and accomplishments, and celebrate their best of the best at the Verizon/ Frontier/Telcordia Training and Recognition Conference in Nashville, TN., Nov. 2-4. The three-day event provided attendees with leadership training and opportunities for everyone to share best practices in five different workshops held by the Key Operating Committee chairs and co-facilitators. The Friday Business Meeting provided the Pioneer and Verizon leadership time to discuss the 2007 direction and partnership initiatives. Workshops on Saturday covered finance, recognition, awards, grants and 2007 key project initiatives. The weekend was summed up by the Hall of Fame banquet on Saturday evening when 19 Pioneers were recognized for their outstanding volunteerism and commitment to their Chapters and Pioneering.
June Weakley
Pioneers are never satisfied with simply learning more... they also have to volunteer! During the conference, there were opportunities for Pioneers and partners to be engaged in two projects. Attendees partnered with the local AT&T Tennessee Chapter to produce 300 Early Reading kits and folded 300 flags for the Pocket Flag project. These flags will be given to troops going overseas to keep in their breast pockets. Volunteers will bring these new ideas back to their local councils and clubs to implement in their areas.
Thank You Wreath
During the holidays, it is a time of reflection on those for whom we are thankful. We would like to honor all our life members. Without all their support and dedication to making our communities better places, many projects would not be completed and commitments unmet. It does not matter whether you played a large or small part - without you, we could not "Answer the Call of Those In Need." You have always been there to lend a helping hand, share a word of encouragement, and support our fundraising efforts. The triangle on which our foundation was built - fellowship, service, and loyalty - are the characteristics you have dedicated your lives to fulfilling. Although sometimes it may appear to go unnoticed, please know we, the active members, value, honor and thank you. Those whose lives you've touched over the years will never forget what you have done for them.
Camp Nawaka
During the May 18-20, 2007 weekend, Pioneers from all 19 chapters, family, and friends are invited to work as a team at Camp Nawaka, a Campfire Boys and Girls camp in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts. Projects include building bunks, cleaning the wooded area, rebuilding the beachfront, and building and stocking a nature resource library. There are projects for all skill levels and abilities. Meals and childcare will be provided. Over the past few years, the Denver Chapter has totally rewired the camp, painted and roofed buildings. They have repaired the beach area by spreading tons of sand and cleaned the walkways and tent areas by shredding brush and redistributing it along the pathways. Registration for this project will be available beginning in January 2007 on the www.verizonpioneers.org website. For more information on Camp Nawaka, visit their website at: http://www.campfireusa-emass.org/programs/nawaka/.
Freemont Armory
On November 20, the South Bay, Sagamore, and Nassau Councils of the Paumanok Chapter in New York participated in the Standdown at the Freeport Armory. The Sagamore Council prepared and served a turkey dinner for the veterans. Council members distributed 150 hats, 150 pairs of gloves, 100 duffel bags, 40 large bags and homemade cookies. Dan MacDonald, founder of the chapter's Watch Repair program, distributed more than 100 refurbished watches to the service men and women.
Dad works with daughter on computer
On National Family Literacy Day, Nov. 1, the Verizon Foundation announced three initiatives in partnership with the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). First, the Verizon Foundation created a new literacy portal – the Verizon Literacy Network (VLN) at http://literacynetwork.verizon.org – as a free, online resource that leverages technology to deliver training and information to anyone interested in improving literacy – at home, in the classroom or in the community. Second, the Verizon Foundation and the NCFL created the Verizon Tech Savvy Awards to recognize exemplary programs that demystify technology for parents and caregivers, and enable them to better guide their children in using new media. Four $5,000 regional awards and one $25,000 national award will be presented annually at NCFL’s National Conference on Family Literacy, with the first presentation in March 2007, in Orlando, FL. The deadline for submission is Jan. 12, 2007. For a complete list of criteria and a nomination form, visit http://literacynetwork.verizon.org. And third, the Verizon Foundation unveiled the Verizon Life Span Literacy Matrix, which will guide literacy instructors and learners as they implement research- based practices to achieve measurable outcomes in lifelong literacy and learning. For more information, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.
Each year, Verizon/Frontier/Telcordia chapter presidents and vice presidents volunteer to serve on committees that support all the V/F/T chapters. Following are lists of the 2007 committees. The first name in each list is the committee chairperson.
 
Administration - Ann Cove, W.J. Denver; Shirley Sergent, West Virginia; Cynthia Douglas, McCully Down; Jeannie Muller, Paumanok, Teresa Schumacher, Telcordia; and Joyce Peterson, McCully Up.
 
Communication - Audrey Harris, McCully Down; Lula Sisco, Nova Five; Deb Fasciano, Genesee; Kimberly King, Old Dominion; Rose Thomas, Sherwin; Diane Rodger, W.J. Denver; and Denise Darden-Woody, AGB.
 
Development - Jim Dowd, Kinnard; Allen King, Liberty Bell; Charlie Hoke, Kinnard; Doreen Dewitt, McCully Up; Bob Leonard, Keller; Elaine Henderson, McCully Down; Deb Foley, Denver; and Morrie Sachsenmaier, Verizon West.
 
Finance - Mary Lefebvre, Keller; Sue Eppler, Kinnard; Geneva Templin, West Virginia; Paul Redline, Maryland; Michael Fitzgerald, Excelsior; John Lynch, Nova Five; Linda Steuerwald, Paumanok; and Gabe Olah, Empire.
 
Volunteerism - June Weakley, AGB; Stephaney Laluzerne, Verizon West; Mary McCarthy, Keller; Kim Hosmer, Genesee; Linda Dudley, Old Dominion; Nancy Mazepa, Maryland; and Dawn Aikman, Excelsior.
Pioneer Card
The TelecomPioneers headquarters began mailing a 2007 Pioneer Card to all members Dec. 8. It replaces the PerksCard, which expires December 31, 2006 and will not be reissued. The card is intended to acknowledge and recognize members’ commitment to volunteering as a Pioneer and help promote retention among current members. It is also intended to promote awareness about the benefit rewards of being a Pioneer. The card entitles members to exclusive discounts and opportunities including the Pioneers Home Financing Program, savings on already competitive rates for home and auto insurance and much more. The first mailing of cards will be distributed to select members with a request for a financial donation. The second and final distribution will be delivered in the January "PioneerPress" mailing January 29th. For more information, please visit the TelecomPioneer website.