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October 2007
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Vol. 2 / Issue 10
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In This Issue
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Quick Links
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Dear Jill,
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If you're receiving this issue at work, the design might be
compromised because Verizon firewalls are blocking the
coding. You may view a clean version on the Verizon
TelecomPioneers'
website. If you'd prefer a version be sent to your home
e-mail address, please e-mail
newsletter@verizonpioneers.org and we'll exchange your
e-mail addresses. |
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The Berkshire Club of the W.J. Denver Chapter recently
participated in a scarecrow building community event.
Storefront Artist, Inc. held a seminar on scarecrow
building for anyone interested in the community. When
the scarecrows were completed, they were put on display
in downtown Pittsfield, MA, for the month of October.
Verizon Pioneers Chris Casino, Sydney Casino, Kim
Surbaugh, Jen Lennon, Jill Mitchell and Cathy Ellsworth
participated in this event. They outfitted their
scarecrow with a Verizon Pioneer volunteer t-shirt and
all of the gear that a lineman would need. He was placed
on a pole outside of the local Verizon C.O. Everyone had
a great time while increasing Pioneer visibility in the
community.
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If there is a Pioneer project or task to be done, you will most
likely see Pioneer and Life Member Diane Rodger involved. Diane
has been an exemplary active member of the W.J. Denver executive
board for more than 16 years. She has been a council and chapter
president, held many committee positions, and continues to
support and mentor the current board in her capacity as
Communications chair.
Diane is a doer. As webmaster, you'll see her taking pictures at
projects for both the chapter and the Verizon Group. She keeps
the websites fresh and exciting. Completely self taught, Diane
has mastered the art of website development.
Diane is responsible for collecting and updating the volunteer
hours and for getting new members input to the database. She is
the primary contact for painting playground maps and solar
systems and has coordinated more than 200 schools for the
chapter and has supported other chapters in Mass., NY and NJ.
She has sewn thousands of Hug-A-Bears and Smart Bears and
personally donated them to local police, fire and ambulance
agencies. As she travels in her motor home, she drops them off
at local police stations as far away as California.
Diane takes the time and effort to write grants and has received
thousands of dollars to support the projects in her chapter's
area. Without her efforts, the chapter would not be able to
execute the level of programs and projects currently provided.
W.J. Denver received the 2005 Chapter of the Year award based on
the application she submitted.
Although Diane is retired, she really isn't. She continues to
support the Pioneers on the group level by serving on the
Communications Key Operating Committee. She helps input
membership and volunteer hours for many chapters, delivers
training on PTS (old PA7 database) during conferences, and
assists with any requests for website support from the 17
Verizon chapters.
Diane is someone that you can depend on to support a project,
promote new projects, and provide insight on how to go about
tackling hard issues. Thank you Diane for all that you do as a
"retired" life member and driving force in the W.J. Denver
Chapter and the Verizon group of chapters. You and your efforts
are valued, appreciated and loved.
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The TelecomPioneers Association has begun receiving feedback on
the success of Power Up To Read (PUTR). Launched August 1, 2007,
PUTR is a high-tech multimedia program focusing on improving the
reading skills of 4th and 5th graders.
In Colorado Springs, the teachers at Trailblazer Elementary
School piloted PUTR with 28 students. A 5th grade teacher
divided his 14 students into two groups and is hosting two
half-hour sessions each week. The 4th grade teacher is tutoring
his 14 kids in one large group with two half-hour sessions per
week. Following are journal entries from the 5th graders after
their first session overview with PUTR:
Justice: I thought that was pretty cool. That was awesome! I
want to do that again!!!!!!!!!!
Matthew: I think this will be fun for me and it will help me
learn and get better at reading. This is the funnest learning
program I have ever been on. It is orginized with prediction and
definitions.
Chloe: The program seemed fun. I liked how you could perdict.
What I didn't like was we have to read 6 pages, but I like the
little dudes. They were cool and cute. One more thing to add is
I wish there were more things like this.
The online version of the PUTR program is located at
http://putr.telecompioneers.org. All materials are also
available to download for FREE in English and Canadian French.
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In 1991, the Blue Ridge Council of the Old Dominion Chapter
launched its Hug-A-Bear project . It quickly caught fire and has
been supported by members in the Leesburg, Fredericksburg,
Winchester, Manassas, Warrenton, Fairfax and Culpeper areas. The
bears are given to children in hospitals, doctors' offices, and
police stations. Some have even made it to Venezuela via local
church missions.
In 1993, the Pioneers were asked by the Smithsonian Institute in
Washington, D.C., to add a Hug-A-Bear display in honor of
Volunteer Week. The Blue Ridge Council donated four bears to the
display. In 2006, the chapter began adding them to the Brighter
Tomorrow backpacks that members stuff and distribute to local
domestic violence shelters. Over the years, the bears have
evolved into 'Smart Bears.' These bears include a small book
attached by a ribbon around the bear's neck.
The Blue Ridge Council makes more than 100 bears a month. The
process takes about four hours to complete, which includes
drawing, cutting, painting and sewing. Since the project began,
the Blue Ridge Council has completed more than 33,444 bears for
a total of 133,776 hours of love and kindness for a sick or
frightened child.
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By: Ellen Freudenheim
Volunteering on a regular basis helps the volunteers as well as
those in need. Studies show that volunteering can significantly
improve physical and mental health. To find rewarding volunteer
activities, consider...
- Your time and physical limitations. Many volunteers
wind up exhausting themselves and compromising their personal
commitments. My suggestion: Start slow, with perhaps one or two
hours a week.
- The amount of structure and direction. In general,
larger nonprofits give volunteers more narrowly delineated tasks
and guidance. Smaller groups offer greater autonomy and
opportunity for creative input.
- Whether you want to employ your existing skills or develop
new ones. Some opportunities may require you to use
career-based abilities, such as those used in accountancy or
public relations. Others may afford you the chance to learn new
skills.
- What you hope to get out of the experience. Example: I
know one man who loves classical music. In exchange for
volunteering as an usher at his city's symphony orchestra, he
gets to see performances for free.
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Ellen Freudenheim, a
Brooklyn, New York-based author of six books, including, most
recently, "Looking Forward: An Optimist's Guide to Retirement"
(Stewart, Tabori & Chang).
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The Verizon Pioneers and the Verizon Foundation rely on the data
in PTS to accurately analyze the impact we are having in our
local communities through our volunteerism. If you need to catch
up on the entry of hours that have not yet been reported for
2007, please enter these as soon as possible. Going forward,
please enter hours on a regularly scheduled basis (no less than
monthly.) If you need assistance with this process or additional
PTS training, please contact the V/F/T Group Coordinator Diane
Rodger at
pioneerladydiane@verizon.net.
"Our community spirit is an important element of distinguishing
us from our competitors," said Stephen Kohn, vice president of
the Verizon TelecomPioneers. "These statistics help establish
our company as one that cares about our communities."
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The filing period for the 2008 TelecomPioneers Scholarship
Program opens Nov. 15, 2007 and runs through February 29, 2008.
The TelecomPioneers Scholarship Program is designed to help
further the organization's education focus and its efforts to
build healthy communities through individual and family
involvement in community service. Applications and background
information is posted on the
Association website.
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Charity really does begin at home for Pioneers with the Wells
Fargo Home Mortgage Sharing AdvantageŽ Program. After closing on
a new purchase or refinancing a loan, a $300 contribution will
be made to the non-profit or faith-based organization of choice.
For more information about the Pioneers Financial Center and how
it can benefit you and Pioneering, please visit
www.telecompioneers.org/ pioneersfinancialcenter.asp.
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Dear Very Special Group:
Thank you so much for the beautiful lap blankets. Our patients
certainly appreciate the time and effort you put into making
them for us. Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated not only by
our patients, but also by the nurses who provide for their care.
Again, many thanks.
Sincerely,
Maria, Supervisor, and the nursing staff of the Rome Branch
office of Visiting Nurses Assn.
Dear Pioneers:
Thank you for making all the beautiful lap robes for us. We
appreciate your kindness.
Stacy, Acting Director, and the residents at Betsy Ross Nursing
and Rehab Center (Rome NY)
These thank you notes were sent to Excelsior Chapter's
Leatherstocking Club/Council.
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Our Estore manager would like to hear your
recommendations on new products. Please e-mail
bruceyennie@verizon.net
with your feedback.
Verizon TelecomPioneers
P.O. Box 4406 . Salem, MA 01970
phone:
978.745.9600
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