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September 2007
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Vol. 2 / Issue 9
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The 29th Annual International Sports Jamboree was held the
weekend of July 20-21, 2007 at the beautiful North Bend State
Park in Cairo, WV. Twenty-five visually impaired and/or
wheelchair bound participants ranging in age from 10 to 25 came
from MO, Canada, OH, NJ, PA and WV to enjoy a weekend of fun and
fellowship. They enjoyed competing in wheelchair relays, races,
basketball games, beeping basketball, beeping horseshoes,
Frisbee toss and other events geared especially for these young
people. Some were there for a repeat competition; others were
experiencing these new activities for the first time. They had
the chance to run, ride a bike or play softball for the first
time in their lives. Plus, they had the opportunity to make new
friends. The West Virginia Chapter provided many volunteers and
designed special sporting events tailored to the children's
individual needs.
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by: Nancy Rebar
Northern Virginia Council President,
AGB Chapter
It is hard to believe that we have just completed our 25th
season of Pioneer Beep Ball. Two of our players and several of
our volunteers have been a part of the team since 1982 when it
all began under the direction of Frank Hickerson, a dedicated
Pioneer Partner.
Volunteers and players, along with their parents and/or guests,
come together every week during the summer months for a
competitive game of Beep Ball. Each season, we have new players
joining in on the fun while the senior players grow more
competitive, but are always willing to help the newcomers. It is
a lot of fun watching the players grow and become stronger from
year to year. The Pioneers work with the players on their mobile
skills such as hitting the beeping ball and running to the sound
of the base trying to reach it before the outfielder grabs the
ball off the ground for an out.
Mary Navarro, who has been our chairperson of the Northern
Virginia Team for the past 22 years, takes roll call each week
while Coach John Dozier divides up the players and assigns a
volunteer to each player. The volunteer stays with the visually
impaired player he or she is assigned to throughout the game
making sure of the player's safety.
At the end of the season, players and volunteers from AGB's
Prince Georges Council Beep Ball team, under the direction of
Life Member Joyce Peay, come together for a competitive game
with the Northern Virginia Council players and volunteers. After
the game everyone is treated to lunch at a local restaurant.
It's a fun afternoon!
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Dickey Hill Elementary Principal Joyce Hughes, along with the
bright and eager students of the Building Educated Leaders for
Life (BELL) Summer programs in Baltimore, MD, welcomed the
Verizon Foundation and its brand ambassador, famed actor James
Earl Jones, on Friday, August 10. The BELL students participated
in a summer-long literacy camp in partnership with the Baltimore
City Schools and Johns Hopkins Center for Summer Learning
Opportunities. The program's goal is to improve and enrich the
reading, writing and math skills of the children so that they
begin each new school year ready to learn.
A large battalion of Maryland Chapter Pioneers came to Dickey
Hill Elementary ready to serve. They stuffed goodie bags with
school supplies, Thinkfinity.org T- shirts, dictionaries and
autographed copies of Disney's "The Lion King" books, which were
given to every child in the school.
James Earl Jones entered the school's multi-purpose room
quietly, but not unnoticed. The kids watched wide-eyed through
his introduction by William R. Roberts, president, Verizon
Maryland. For the next 15 minutes, they were enthralled by the
celebrated and instantly recognizable voice of the famous actor.
The children followed along in their autographed books, even
stopping him once to correct his pronunciation of one
character's name when Jones called him "TIM-on" instead of
"Ti-MON."
The visit was all too brief. As he left, he took a moment to
shake a few of the children's hands, pose for photos, and to
leave a lasting memory in their young lives. The most important
memory of the day, however, is that of the everyday Verizon
bill-paying customers who took a moment to check a little box
and make a $1 donation grow into $341,000 to support literacy
programs that could make a real difference in someone's life.
Click here to view a video from Channel 13
http://wjz.com/video/? id=30275@wjz.dayport.com
Click here to view a video from Channel 11
http://w ww.wbaltv.com/video/index.html
(Story excerpts from The Baltimore Times Online, August 20,
2007, by Ellen Andrews)
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Project Wildbird is the first comprehensive study of wild birds
in the United States and Canada regarding feed and feeder
preferences. The ongoing project monitors the preferences of
common birds specific to geographic regions during different
seasons in the year. Project Wildbird began September 22, 2005
and will continue through September 20, 2008; the study is
presented by the Wild Bird Feeding Industry (WBFI) and the WBFI
Research Foundation. The scientific study will provide advice as
to which product will attract the types of birds consumers want
to attract, therefore maximizing their bird feeding and
observing experiences.
This is a great way to combine a favorite pastime with
volunteerism. WBFI will provide supplies (feed, feeders, poles,
and baffles) completely free of cost to interested, experienced
bird watchers in exchange for data for the scientific bird
feeding study. Participants just need to log their birdwatching
observations into a user-friendly online form. When an account
is set up and the application is submitted to Dr. David Horn at
Millikin University for review, his office will respond with a
personal phone call to the applicant to explain the research
protocol. Learn more at:
http:// www.wbfi.org/PROJECTWILDBIRD/
http://www.project wildbird.org
http:/ /www.wbfi.org/pdf/PWBYear1Flyer.pdf
Project Wildbird Headquarters: 1-866-WILDBIRD.
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Congratulations to the two Verizon TelecomPioneer recipients of
the 2007 TelecomPioneers Scholarship Program. Each has been
awarded $1,000.
Jacqueline Besanceney from West Islip, NY, plans to study
Education at Virginia Wesleyan College. Courtney Kapraun of
Hanover, PA, is looking forward to a double major in Elementary
Education and Art Education at Millersville University or
Kutztown State.
These two were chosen from among 193 applications, the highest
number ever submitted since the inception of the program in the
year 2000. "We're proud of our recipients, who are academically
gifted and are willing to regift by sharing their volunteer time
with those in need," said Stephen Kohn, president, Verizon
TelecomPioneers.
Scholarships are awarded annually to two students in each of the
five Pioneer groups. All applicants are judged by Scholarship
America, an independent judging organization, with winners
selected based on community service, school and leadership
activities, and academic achievement.
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Save up to 20% on Jenny Craig Programs through your Pioneer
membership. The Jenny Craig program is about balancing food,
body and mind. Together with one-on-one support, Jenny Craig
will design a personalized comprehensive program that fits your
lifestyle. Each day your menu includes three meals and snacks
chosen from over 75 delicious menu items.
Have you been following the successful weight loss of Valerie
Bertinelli? She's dropped 30 pounds and is going for the final
10! These results are not typical, but she can be your
inspiration. Please visit our Member Benefits page at
www.verizonpioneers.org/memberbenefits.htm . Check back
often for the most up-to-date list of Pioneer benefits as we
continue to develop new rewards!
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Tickets are on sale for the 28th Annual TelecomPioneers Day at
Paramount's Kings Dominion. Discount tickets are only $22.00 for
ages 3 and up. Children age 2 and under are free. Regular
general admission tickets cost $51.95. Don't miss this
opportunity to go to the park for a GREAT price!! This special
price is for company employees, family and friends of Verizon.
As in years past, there will also be an All-You-Can-Eat Picnic
Lunch. Lunch is served from 12 noon to 2 p.m. and consists of
fried chicken, pork BBQ with slaw, hot dogs, potato salad, fresh
cut fruit, rolls, soft drinks, iced tea and ice cream treats.
Prices are $14.00 for ages 3 and up and over 48" tall and $8.50
ages 3 to 61 and under 48" tall.
Please visit our website for more information -
www.verizonolddominionpioneers.org or email
hpycmpr@peoplepc.com. Credit card orders can be placed at
www.kingsdominion.com. Click on tickets, then corporate
partner. Your company ID is PIONEERS. There is a $5.00 service
charge per order. VISA, Mastercard, Discover and AMEX accepted.
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We would like to thank you for sending us a check in the amount
of $245.45 for the books for our Middle School age collection.
We really appreciate your generosity to our library. On behalf
of the Board of Trustees and the library, I again thank you for
this donation and the one you made in the past.
Sincerely,
Barbara Pezzella
Technical Services
Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library
Monticello, NY 12701
(left: A copy of the bookplate the library placed in each
book donated by the Kinston-Monticello Life Member Club of the
Mountain Valley Empire Chapter.)
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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.
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