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December 2007
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Vol. 2 / Issue 12
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In This Issue
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Quick Links
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When more than 23 wildfires broke out in
seven Southern California counties in
late October, the Verizon
TelecomPioneers quickly responded.
Within days, 200 disaster kits were sent
to Escondido in care of Tom Best,
brother of Ann Cove, past president of
the W.J. Denver Chapter. Mr. Best's
church was providing housing for 200
displaced individuals. Each kit
contained a towel, wash cloth,
toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss,
razor, brush, comb, shaving creme,
shampoo, soap, sanitary products, and
Zip- Lock gallon bags. Many thanks to
the following chapters for their
support: Thomas Sherwin, Excelsior, and
Paumanok.
Photo courtesy of Denis Poroy/AP
Photo
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On Dec. 4, the Excelsior Chapter hosted its 25th
Annual Winter Festival for children who are
underprivileged or have mental or physical
disabilities. This year, the chapter invited 700
children from 17 schools in the Syracuse, NY,
area. The event was held at the Verizon Center
for Progress Building at the NY State
Fairgrounds.
The children received many gifts and treats,
sang, had their faces painted, saw Santa, and
had a book read to them. As part of Verizon's
Seasons Readings program to promote literacy,
each child received a book to take home in his
or her goodie bag.
"It is a sight to behold," said Kathy Fuller,
committee chair. "It puts you in the Christmas
spirit, and warms your heart for a long time to
see those happy children."
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Barbara became a Pioneer in 1975. She was a
member of the South Council of the Sherwin
Chapter. She held all positions at the council
level - secretary, treasurer, vice president and
president (several times). She set up the clown
group in her council to entertain and paint
faces at Special Olympics and at special events
for hospitals, nursing homes and veteran's
hospitals. She organizes monthly bingo and ice
cream parties at Long Island Shelter, a facility
for homeless men and women. She collects
clothing and personal toiletries for prizes.
Barbara retired in 1989 and became a member of
the Neponset Life Member Club. She held all
positions, including serving as president three
terms. She supports Meals on Wheels weekly and
more often if needed.
In 2002, Barbara started volunteering at Cradle
to Crayons matching outfits, organizing clothing
drives, and raising funds. For several years,
Barbara has been helping a friend with special
needs. Barbara takes her shopping and to
doctors' appointments. She has her for dinner at
all the holidays, special occasions and other
times during the year.
Barbara was life member representative of
several life member clubs. She has received
numerous certificates from the organizations
where she volunteers. Barbara is a hands on,
do-it person. She has a magnetic personality
that helps in recruiting volunteers. When she
sees or hears of an opportunity to help with
poor, homeless or disadvantaged, she is there
volunteering. When you think of a definition of
a true Pioneer, Barbara is the epitome.
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At the West Virginia Chapter's Annual meeting
this fall, two life members were honored as
charter members of the chapter's new Life Member
Angels program. They were Helen B. Simpson from
Parkersburg, W.V. and Patricia "Pat" Reveal from
Charleston, W.V.
Helen's dedication to Pioneering was always
there during her active years, but after
retirement and marriage she put her heart and
soul into the organization. Her goal was to keep
the Parkersburg life members active in their
community plus keep the fellowship a strong
component of the group. With her partner, Chet,
Helen set out to make Parkersburg a strong
supporter of the distribution of student
dictionaries. Every school in Wood County, W.V.,
has received dictionaries over the last three
years. Helen's volunteer efforts continue
through her church, women's clubs and the many
other organizations she and Chet support.
Pat Reveal may have retired 17 years ago from
the "telephone company," but there has never
been a day that she was not on the job for
Pioneering. Serving in the Charleston, W.V.
council and chapter positions throughout her
career, Pat's transition to leadership positions
after retiring was a smooth road. When the W.V.
Chapter office lost its administrator, Pat
stepped up to the plate and took on the daily
responsibilities. With her partner, Jerry, Pat
keeps the office functioning. This includes the
little issues, such as trash removal, as well as
the day to day processing of vouchers from all
over the state. She has served as dictionary
coordinator since the project began. Her work
with her church, her Bible study group, her role
as mother and grandmother and her dedication to
Pioneering are exemplary. As surrogate mother
and friend to all leaders of the clubs, councils
and chapter in West Virginia, she keeps them on
their toes through phone calls, e-mail messages
and snail mail.
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Another successful Pioneer Day was held at
Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown,
PA, by the L.H. Kinnard Chapter on September 22.
Almost 400 people from New York, New Jersey,
Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania attended
the fundraising event. Dorney Park was decked
out for Halloween with ghouls and surprises
around every corner. Young and old alike
delighted in the amusement park thrills. This is
the third year that Kinnard Chapter has held the
event, both as a fundraiser and fun day for
Pioneers, family, and friends. This year, they
raised $2,200.
The chapter reserved hotel rooms near Dorney
Park for those who wished to spend the night
after a busy day in the park. There are groups
in the New York City area who are talking about
getting buses together for next year's event. If
you would like more information for next year,
or want to get on a list for the buses, email
LeniHerr@aol.com.
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For several years, Dan MacDonald, a member of
the South Bay Life Member Club of the Paumanok
Chapter on Long Island, has been refurbishing
and repairing gently used watches and donating
them to various organizations. On weekends, Dan
can be found looking through yard sales for
watches in need of repair. In support of Dan,
chapter members collect old watches from friends
and neighbors and forward them to Dan, who
replaces their batteries, faces, and bands. Over
the last several years, 6,000 watches have been
donated to those less fortunate. Some of the
benefactors have been: American Legions, Autism
Speaks, Elks Club Cerebal Palsy Unit, nursing
homes, parish outreaches, and senior and
veterans homes. Time truly is a precious gift
from someone who when called upon responsively
"answers the call of those in need."
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All volunteer participation hours for 2007 must
be entered into PTS by January 15, 2008. There
can be no exceptions. This is due to the
transition to the PALS system where volunteer
hours will be reported for 2008 beginning in
January. Access to PTS will no longer be
available after January 15, 2008. Please plan
accordingly to enter all 2007 hours by this
date, and to begin using PALS at the beginning
of the New Year for all 2008 Volunteer
Management tasks, including reporting hours. To
enter Volunteer hours OR to Register for the
2008 Annual Meeting,
please log in.
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Dear Mr. Olah:
I would like to thank you and the Verizon
Pioneers for the wonderful job you did painting
the U.S. map on our playground. The Haldane
students are so excited to be able to identify
each state. Teachers will definitely use the map
as a teaching tool.
I would like to thank John Shuk for arranging to
have the Verizon Pioneers come to our school.
This is a wonderful program that supports
students' needs to learn in ways that are fun.
Sincerely,
Maggie Davis
Principal
Haldane Central School District
Cold Springs, NY
(Photo: l-r) Gabe Olah, Rich McQuade, John
Shuk, and John Hopper of the Mountain Valley
Empire Chapter in New York.
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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
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Forward email |
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Verizon TelecomPioneers | P.O. Box 4406 | Salem
| MA | 01970 |
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