2003 TelecomPioneers 

Hall of Fame

Valley Forge, PA

Alexander Graham Bell - Chapter #15

Judith E. Ware

            Over the 22 years Judith has held the following offices both as an active and life member: DC Council Executive Committee, Chapter Fellowship and Participation chairperson, Life Member Club president, Fundraising and Nominating Committee chairperson.  On a chapter level, she has been the chairperson for “A Book About Me,” Vials of Life and 911 Disaster relief. In addition to staffing the store at Pioneer sales and signing up new members, she also set up and wrote the operations manual for the front desk responsibilities at the National Rehabilitation Hospital.  She also Volunteers with the DC Chamber of Commerce.  As a retiree, she has set up a schedule for playground maps, Beep ball teams, and the Pittsburgh Pioneers General Assembly. She also assisted with the National Education agreement between the TPA and the Department of Education of the Brookland Elementary School for the “I Like Me” books.  At the Woodland Terrace Community Center in S. E. Washington she collected so many books for their library that they had to build more shelves even   before they opened. Following the Sept. 2001 attacks she contacted the three local schools that were affected by the plane crashing into the Pentagon. She established a working relationship between the schools and the Pioneers that still is in effect today.  Judith supports the walkathons.  She completed a three-day, 60 mile walk and with the chapters pledges, she raised over $5,200.  In August, 2002, Judith walked 25.7 miles in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, raising $1,945.  Judith has received the AGB Life member of the Year award in 2002 and others from her community.

Excelsior - Chapter #98

Midge Brandao

            Midge in her 30 years as a pioneer she has been a Council VP, Chapter VP  and President, Group Rep, 911 Co-ordinator, Life Member Rep, Life Member Club President, and also the Environmental Chair person.

            Midge has demonstrated the 911 to thousands of children and seniors.  She has worked on many rehab projects for handicapped and mentally challenged youths, soup kitchens, fire prevention training, literacy projects, community cleanup projects, annual Christmas festival for underprivileged children and also is a clown.

            She has used her fund raising skills on the council, club and chapter level with lotteries, calendars, bake sales, collectable trucks and bells and apparel.

            Midge has held numerous positions in the community volunteer organizations and has been  presented the 911 recognition award for fire Prevention and the Pioneer of the Year.

Fort Pitt - Chapter #13

Art Fedele

            Within the past 31 years Art has held the office of Council President and as a life member he has been member at large, 1^st VP and President and chapter photographer.  He has chaired and still continues to be active with the annual Life member Picnic Committee, St Patrick’s Day Party, established the highway cleanup team.  As council president along with Dee McCoy they started the 1^st Bay Bag Packing for Sharing and Caring which still remains one of the main chapter projects.  Art also gets involved with the Easter egg hunt for the School for the Blind, Christmas in April, Sharing and caring boat ride, toys for tots drive and the Golf tournament for the Western Penn. School for the deaf.  His latest project is the Lifeline Program for St Claire’s hospital. Art is always on a mission to raise funds with pop tabs, selling tickets or organizing events.  He is known to conjol, con and compile fellow pioneers, friends, family in attending and supporting the spaghetti dinners.  Besides the numerous recognition and appreciation awards he has collected the one that stands out the most to him is the Regional Pioneer Partner of the year from Region 8 in 1996

Art is always there when you need him.

H.G. McCully Downstate – Chapter # 81

Albert F Schneider

            Al has been a Pioneer for 29 years and within those years he has held he following positions:

            Chapter President, Vice President, Secretary and Auditor.

He also was on the General Assembly committee in Atlantic City and Pittsburgh, and also was the assistant to the telephone pioneer association President John Motusesty.

            His specialty is construction and he helped construct Mini-Parks throughout Southern New Jersey and worked on numerous community service projects for physically handicapped children and adults.  In the past 5 years he personally co-ordinated and distributed a total of more than 1200 I like me and A book about Me books to 68 classes of Kindergarten students in the Forked River, N.J. school district. 

            He has received the Bell Atlantic Chairman’s award for gaining the acceptance of the telephone Pioneers of America Association for the proposal to restructure Pioneer Region 8 as a Bell Atlantic Pioneer Region.

HG McCully Upstate - Chapter #12

Dorothy Browning

            Dorothy has held the position of the council secretary, Co Chair Community Service for Life Member Club in her 36 years of Pioneering.

            While on a Council club level she has chaired the fundraising seat for 22 years and 8 years for the Life member club.

            She continues to be a leader of her club with her commitment to her fellow pioneers and to her community.  She also delivers “ Be my baby baskets”.  She was awarded the Pioneer of the year award in 2002.

Jasper N . Keller - Chapter # 33

Kim A. Paradis

            Kim has been an active member for the past 11 years.  She has held the position of Future Pioneer group rep for the Vermont and New Hampshire chapter.  For the new Hampshire council she has been the Member at Large Participation chair, Member at Large Fund Raising Vice President, President and past president.  She has chaired and or organized the following; A day at Water Country for handicapped students, Adopt a Spot in Dover, Twice a year a dance for handicapped individuals at the Great Bay training Center, Meals at Fall and Winter Special Olympics, Tent City at the Summer Special Olympics, Thanksgiving Baskets for the needy in the seacoast area, Canned hams at Easter, Christmas stockings and gifts at Christmas time for Dover Group Home.  Kim also volunteers at numerous camps and state parks and with her husband Ron they regularly volunteer at the Northwood State park a totally handicapped accessible Park. She also helped start a library at Rochester children’s home the only orphanage in New Hampshire. She also demonstrates the New Hampshire Water Project to school children as part of Homeland Security.  Kim also organizes Make A Difference day at work and collects soup labels, pop tops, paints maps and numerous clothing and food drives.  In her spare time she sells items for the New Hampshire Council at her work location, a yankee candle fund raiser and volunteers for numerous non profit organizations by collecting money at the renaissance fair and at Prescott park, member of a clown troop, and also maintains a bulletin board of pioneer activities at work.  She also runs the Pioneer week at 3 locations, and is also a member of the games organizing committee for New Hampshire Special Olympics.  Kim has won the following awards, Pioneer of the Year of New Hampshire council and received the Jean Tufts award for volunteer of the Year from Special Olympics.

L.H. Kinnard – Chapter #7

Arlene J. Heintzelman

As a pioneer Arlene has been chapter Pres. and 1^st vice pres. And also as Pres. of Life Member Club and president of the council. She has been the sports jamboree chairperson twice, chapter auditor, Nominating, News and Information Committee Chairperson and chapter member at large all within the past 25 years.  Her community service includes library volunteer, MS Bike tour, Blind Association Shrine Circus, Keystone games, Paxton home street Fair, Local Food banks, Distribution of I Like Me Books and Veteran Projects at Fort Indiantown Gap.  She is also the church Elder.  When it comes to fund raising Arlene has sold lottery tickets, raffle tickets, merchandise etc.  She also assists the fundraising chairperson as needed at the pioneer store. For her efforts she has been awarded the pioneer of the Month award.  But her biography would not be complete without reading what the Chapter Pres. Dan sanders said about her and I quote” I have observed her tireless efforts for the past six years working in the chapter office.  Whenever I think I can’t do one more thing, I think of Arlene and I know that she’d get it done. She is an inspiration and truly a volunteer—A person who is involved because she chooses to be involved and cares about people.”

Liberty Bell – Chapter #6

Emerson (Bud) Zeager

            In his 57 years as a pioneer he has been chapter Pioneer administrator, Council and Life members club President, Member at large, Chapter senior Life member representative, chapter treasurer, and he is also the Chapter Life Member Chairperson for Environmental.  Besides volunteering for many chapter projects Bud is also the Chapter Liaison for Valley Forge national Park, he also trains all new treasurers and handles the annual golf tournament, and prepares all the appropriate financial forms. He also volunteers at Fort Mifflin on the Delaware and the special needs holiday Party at Christmas. Bud is a strong supporter of all fundraisers.  Over the years bud has been recognized for his caring personality with the TPA Pacesetter Award, Pioneer In Excellence award, TPA Achievement award for the 1984 Olympics Torch relay and the Liberty Bell Chapter TPA Lifetime Achievement.  From the Valley Forge national Park he received awards for building of Handicapped Access ramp, Restoring the landscape, lighting of the memorial Arch, and the tree-planting project.  He also has received a certificate of Appreciation awards for his support of the WW2 memorial in Washington, DC, Patriot of the Year award on behalf of thousands of Veterans and a citation from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth by the House of Representatives for his true humanitarism.  He is still active with many Marine Corp activities.

Maryland – Chapter #44

Lillian Davis

            In the past 49 years of being a pioneer she has held the position of Metro East Life member President on and off since 1976.  Lillian now in her 90’s remains one of the most energetic and active pioneers in the chapter.   She oversees the production of thousands of hug a bears for disabled children at the Kennedy Krieger Institute.  She also oversees the vendors at the Baltimore Verizon office helping to raise thousands for the chapter.  She also regularly volunteers with the Red Cross and the national Dyslexia Foundation.  She still participates at the Maryland school for the blind.  She has received the Baltimore best award from the Baltimore Mayor, the Red Cross certificate and the Maryland pioneer of the year award.

              A quote from Pres. Ralph Blunt: “ She is legendary in Maryland for her spirit and enthusiasm, and for her dedication to Pioneering.” 

Mountain Valley Empire - Chapter #97

Euginia (Genia) Dragon

            In her years of being a Pioneer Genia has held the positions of President of the Glenn Falls Council, Member at large and is serving as co-president of the Glenns Falls Club.  She is also the chapter Participation chairperson.  Genia has been involved in many projects such as 911 in which she arranged for 8 elementary schools to participate.  So far this year she has gotten 2 schools on board for the Book About Me Project.  Besides dressing bears, knitting mittens and hats for children she organized the Electronic Map Project for club/council.  With the hug a bears, love kits, Nursing Home clothes and poinsettia’s and food pantry she has donated over 370 hours as a life member.  Genia is always there when you need her for volunteering or training.

Nova 5 – Chapter #5

Patricia McCormack

            Patricia has been a pioneer for the past 38 years.  She is retired now and is a member of the EB8 Life Member Club.  She has been both the President and Vice president of the EB8 Life member club and also the clubs Chairperson for contact calling and Co-Chairperson foe Education.  Through her leadership and the rest of the members of her club she helped start a soup kitchen at St. Peters Episcopal Church which has been named the Love Kitchen.  Many have benefited because of Pat’s efforts to reach out to help the handicapped., the hungry and the children in foster care.  The kitchen now serves 300 people but before Pats involvement it was only 30.  With the many members of Nova 5 she held a Make A difference day at the “ Love Kitchen”. They cleaned 2 kitchens including pots and pans, painted a children’s day care room and created a Love closet for which has been established as a receiving point for good clean clothing which is distributed to the needy. Along with the life members they have volunteered as servers at thanksgiving and continues to donate turkeys, hams and other essentials.  Pat has reached out to local schools in the Bronx and got them enrolled in the “Verizon Reads with the Pioneers”.  With her fund raising skills she was able to give a back pack to  each one of the  foster children at Abbotts House in the Bronx.  The children now have a sense of dignity with the Back Packs.  Before they just carried their belongings in brown paper bags.  Also she convinced the life members to adopt the 7 children at the Abbotts House and provide them with 2 sets of clothes, warm jackets, socks, hats and mittens and scarves.  Along with an additional fundraiser and with the help of the Bronx council members she was able to get a play station and an Easter basket.  Pat also gets sponsors for the MS and March of Dimes walkathons.   Patricia McCormack has won the Life Member of the Year award and also through her efforts the Life Member Club won the People Who Care Award.

Old Dominion - Chapter #43

Pat Curvan-Mose

          Pat has been a pioneer for 18 years. Within that time she has held the following positions; Council President, Chapter President, Council Member at Large, Council 1^st and 2^nd Vice President, and numerous other Chapter and Council seats.  

-          In 1994 she created and chaired a fright night for employees and their families.  The admission price was a canned good.  Over 700 people attended and the food went to benefit a local food pantry, for which she received the Pioneer Pacesetter award. 

-          She opened the first Pioneer store in her council area.

-          She also applied for and secured a $5000.00 grant from the TPA Association for wiring 2 area schools for the internet.

-          Even though she is retired she is currently serving as the Environmental Chair for Chapter executive Board and is a nominee for Chapter Vice Pres. And is currently leading a state wide membership drive.

Paumanok - Chapter #85

John Kaiser

            In his 25 years of being a Pioneer John has served on the executive Board of the Suffolk Council as fund raiser for five years, Community service member at large as well as fellowship member at large. On a chapter level on the executive board as fundraiser member at large for 15 years and historical member at large.  On the club level he has been Treasurer for nine years and Entertainment Member at large.  

In his spare time:

-          He has worked every week at soup kitchens and Nursing Homes for the past 11 years.

-          Helped establish 20 head start libraries on Long island. Worked on the renovations at the Hollis House for which he won the Pioneer Foundation award.

-          He also headed the annual Chapter Sweepstakes for the past 20 years, chapter calendar raffles for 10 years and also sold merchandise at company locations and town fairs for the past 10 years- raising over $500,00.00 dollars in the past 20 years.

-          John also volunteers at many walkathons such as Aids, March of Dimes, and M.S.

-          Besides selling food at the Mill Neck Apple Fest to help the Mill Neck School for the Deaf he also put his carpentry skills to good use at the 4H Camp, Hole in the Wall, and Camp Horizon.

-          In the past 25 years he was awarded the Pioneer of the Year, Life Member of the Year, the Bill Fundus award for outstanding service as a future pioneer and certificates of Appreciation from St. Patrick's and Berkshire Nursing Home. 

Telcordia - Chapter #99

John” Jack” Triquet

            John in his 40 years of service he has been chapter member at large, Life Member Vice President and President and Life Member Rep.

            Both on the Council and Club level he has been project leader on numerous projects.

In the past 15 years he has developed thousands of Hug A bear Kits.  He also is the primary wood worker for several projects such as: Happiness in Camping, (cancer), Matheny (Physical Disabilities), and the Cerebral Palsy Center.  As a life member he has been a Book About Me co-ordinator for 2 school districts for several years.  He also organizes monthly Life member luncheons and day trips to encourage fellowship and foster continued volunteering.

            In his spare time he volunteers at the Nut and Egg sales, and flower sales.  Along with numerous council and chapter certificates for ongoing Pioneer projects he also has received the Life Member Pioneer Of the Year award.

Thomas Sherwin - Chapter #14

Dorothea Punch

            Dorothea has been a pioneer for 30 years and held the position of Old Sherwin auditor, member at large, chapter education chairperson, Executive board member, Vice Pres. and Pres. Of the Neponset Life Member Club, Life membership, Scholarship Committee, Finance Committee, calendar committee, started the Pioneer store, and the Editor of the Thomas Sherwin Centennial.       

            Dorothea volunteers at the Boston Food Bank, Quincy Crisis Center, Veterans Hospital, Mattapan Adult Day Care Center, Long Island Shelter, and the Father Bill’s Place.  She bakes, clowns around, distributes lap robes and heart pillows and Hug A Bears.  Dorothea has received the pioneer of the month award for her work at the Boston Food Bank.

            She answers the call of those in need.

Verizon West - Chapter #25

Vanessa Rae Horning

            Vanessa, a Pioneer for 14 years, has been both a vice president and president.  She served on the Board of Independent Telecommunications Pioneers Association 10 years with GTE prior to the merger. She was also Region VP, 1^st and 2^nd VP and president on the national level.

            She was the initial/Interim Chapter President of Verizon West Chapter 25 and helped start the former GTE Chapter. She helped organize, name and define the structure and working agreement.

            She is a board member of the Kids On the Block, which is a national Puppetry organization. Verizon is doing a national ad campaign using the puppets. She secured donations of more than $6,000 from the Norwesco and ITPA for the Kids On the Block to help educate children in the Snohomish County Schools in areas like drug awareness, literacy, bullying and diversity. She is also an avid donor and participant in the relay for Life Walk, American Heart association and MS walkathons.

            She was also a Verizon Excellence Award winner for Community service.

West Virginia - Chapter #42

Harold R. Neal

                        Harold has been a pioneer for 35 years and is retired now.  He currently is the Vice President of West Virginia Chapter 42 and has held the following positions;  Member at large, VP and Pres. of the Charleston Life Member Club, Junior and Senior Life Member Rep for Chapter 42, Pioneer Administrator, Assistant chairperson of the hosts and hostesses for the General Assembly, General chairperson for the Region 8 Conference and Harold has served as the Transportation chairperson of the Sports Jamboree since 1991.

            Within his community service and education endeavors he has been involved with the International Sports Jamboree, Kanauba City Lions Club, Spina Bifida Camp, Little League, Memorial Mile Project, West Virginia Lung Association, Trial for the Blind and Chief Logan Park handicapped Fishing Pier, Children’s Therapy Clinic, Governor’s Round Table and is on the advisory board of the Charleston Police Dept.    Harold uses his fund raising skills with the Charleston Lions Club, International Sports Jamboree, and the club and council.  In his spare time he is a member of the Kanauba Lions Club and he also is a delegate to the Methodist Annual Conference, and other church committees.  Harold is also the supervisory chairperson for the Cha-Tel Credit Union in Charlestown.   In 1989 he received thee Distinguished Community Service Award, 2 Chapter of the Year Awards in the region and numerous community service and Environmental awards.

William J. Denver – Chapter #20

Jim Crosbie

            Jim has served as Central Mass Council Pres., and various other positions besides the Community Service Chairperson on the Denver Chapter.  Besides providing hayrides for the students at the Clarke School for the Deaf Walkathon he also cooks there too.  He has served on the Special Olympics committee for the Worcester games.  Jim is also known for his meatloaf recipe that he serves up at the Jeremiah Inn.   He also co-ordinated clothes drives and a smoke alarm installation crew at the Inn.   Along with his culinary skills Jim has befriended a client with M.S.  He provided transportation to doctors, shopping etc.  When the client moved to Maine Jim was there every step of the way from moving to settling in at his new place in Maine. You can find Jim at Gardner Games, Special Olympics, and playground maps, reading days, and he also travels out of his region to help other chapters and councils with their projects. With the help of his wife Jean the two of them have raised over $1500.00 with the raffling of a Christmas Tree Skirt that she makes every year.   Among his many awards Jim was awarded the Pioneer of the Year award, he was selected to carry the Olympic Torch in “96.  The Elm Park Community Elementary School and Jeremiah Inn have also recognized him.