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November 2007 |
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Dear Jill,
Congratulations to the 2007 Verizon TelecomPioneers Hall
Of Fame inductees! This awards program was conceived to
honor the "Best of the Best." The Pioneers selected for
this honor have generously provided many years of their
time and talents to serving their communities. The
recipients were recognized at the V/F/T TelecomPioneer
Conference in Tampa, FL, Nov. 9-10, 2007.
Special thanks to the Administration KOC team headed up by
Ann Cove, Training coordinator Deb Foley and KOC leaders and
instructors, Diane Rodger, Audrey Harris, Jim Dowd, Gabe
Olah, Nouvelle Helmick, Phil Hahn, June & Russ Weakley, Mary
Lefebvre, Diane Nelson and Cathy-Ann Dow. Thanks also to
Paul Redline of the Maryland Chapter for taking the
photographs. |
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William J. Denver Chapter #20 |
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Bruce Broadard
Joining the Pioneers in 1995, Bruce serves as council president
and chapter environmental chair. Bruce has been a project leader
on many Pioneer community service and environmental projects and
he still found time to lead a Boy Scout troop. Bruce organized
volunteers and acquired funding for the chapter's wetlands
restoration project at Birch Hill Dam-Wildlife Management area.
Bruce coordinated the purchase and distribution of blueberry
seedlings, bushes and nature books as part of the Earth Day
observance throughout the chapter area. Bruce solicits employees
and members of his council to support the chapter's gift card
program that engages Pioneers and employees to participate in a
short term Pioneer project. Bruce encourages the members in his
area to participate in corporate collections of cell phones for
the HOPELINE drive, Brighter Tomorrow backpacks for local
police, and books for local schools during Season's Readings.
Bruce mentors others by engaging them in projects on the job and
by working along with the volunteers to make them feel a part of
the Pioneer family. He has received the AFL/CIO George Meaney
award for his Pioneer and Scouting leadership and the Whitney
Young award for his outstanding community service with youth.
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West Virginia Chapter #42 |
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Harold "H.V" Smith
H.V. became a Pioneer twice, once with AT&T after 21 years of
service and then again after transferring to C&P Telephone of
West Virginia. Giving of his time and himself to overlapping
multiple projects has been a way of life for H.V. Having served
in chapter, council and club positions, he continues to dedicate
his time to the service of others. In 1988, H.V. was recognized
as "the telephone man" who discovered a crash victim who had
lain in a ravine overnight following a car accident. The
victim's survival was attributed to H.V., and a handwritten
letter from the victim's son, a second grader at the time,
stated, "Thank you for finding my daddy. You saved his life. I
love him a lot and you a lot. Love, Chris." H.V. has been
planting flowers for 30 years for the contestants, their
families and volunteers to enjoy at West Virginia's
International Sports Jamboree. H.V. built and maintains the
3,600 sq. ft. Telephone Pioneer museum in Parkersburg, the
largest in the state. When the West Virginia step central office
facilities became obsolete, H.V. took a long look at the
thousands of discarded switch covers and got an idea. That idea
turned into almost 7,000 birdhouses made by hand and sold as a
fund raiser, most recently for the Sports Jamboree. Not stopping
there, he has also made over 240 cedar blue birdhouses.
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Verizon West Chapter #25 |
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William Daniel Nelson
Becoming a Pioneer in 1968, Dan has held many positions within
the R. Parker Sullivan Club and the California Chapter of ITPA.
He is the editor of the club newsletter, member of the
California Chapter Hall of Fame Committee for the past seven
years, and has served as the club president since 2006. Dan
established the handicapped telephone rehab program. For more
than six years, Dan and other volunteers have been cleaning,
testing and repairing this equipment free of charge. This
amounts to an average of 150 instruments per month. Dan helped
bring "The Dictionary Project" to the club. He was a liaison and
coordinator for the GTE Deaf Olympics and a member of Executive
Service Corp, a group of retired executives who act as non-paid
consultants to assist non-profit organizations. For 19 years,
Dan has directed the GTE Retirees Golf Association and served on
its membership and fellowship committees. Dan organized gold and
jewelry sales for the R. Parker Sullivan Club that has expanded
to other clubs. He organized the California Chapter's first
annual golf tournament fundraiser held at the Pala Mesa resort.
Dan received the Pioneer of the Year Award and Certificates of
Appreciation from the California Chapter and his club for years
of dedicated leadership and service to Pioneering.
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Thomas Sherwin Chapter #14 |
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Thomas R. Rowen
Tom became the Community Service chairperson shortly after he
joined the Pioneers in 1987. Since then, he has been chapter
vice president, president and a member of the Executive Board.
Tom is the volunteer coordinator for the chapter's computer
recycling program and is responsible for the volunteer training.
This project focuses on providing computers to schools,
veterans, the disabled, other non-profit groups and libraries.
Tom was instrumental in starting Computers for Senior Citizens
at the Peabody Life Center. He received 12 donated computers
from Bell Atlantic, set up a computer lab, and taught classes on
a regular basis. Tom made stencils and painted numerous
playground maps in the North Shore area. He volunteers at events
for people with special needs. Tom received the Pacesetter Award
in 1994 for video tape recycling. He has been a team captain for
the Boston Athletic Association during the Boston Marathon since
1995 organizing volunteers to serve at the Hopkinton High School
on race day. Tom volunteers at the Winter Special Olympics in
the development group to coordinate events, prepare lunch and
dinners for the athletes and their coaches. Tom also volunteers
at the Courageous Sailing Center in Charlestown in its 10- week
program, teaching the blind to sail.
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Telcordia Chapter #99 |
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Carolyn "Jeanette" Goodson
Joining the Pioneers in 1984, Jeanette has served as council
president, chapter president, and member at large. She currently
serves as chapter treasurer. Jeanette is the chapter's project
leader for the Plainfield School District partnership for
tutoring, school supplies, personalized readers and
dictionaries, Scholastic Book Fairs, and playground map
painting. Jeanette also leads the Fountain Baptist Church
partnership with the Pioneers for the Kibwesi, Kenya village
library, sending thousands of dictionaries, readers and school
supplies to this impoverished African village. For her
leadership with Choices, a program for disadvantaged children,
and Meridien Nursing Home holiday visits and party, she has
received Community Commendations from 1999-2005. She mentors
chapter officers and project leaders on financial issues and
regularly staffs the Chapter 99 desk for the annual Cornerstone
of Giving campaign. Jeanette has received the Chapter
Certificate of Appreciation for 2003 through 2006 and Chapter
Pioneer of the Year recognition. She involves her entire family,
especially the children, in Pioneering in every project. She
recently spent a week in New Orleans volunteering at the schools
where Telcordia has delivered dictionaries and school supplies.
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Paumanok Chapter #85 |
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Everett Meyer
Everett has been a Pioneer since 1956 holding chairs at the
council, club and chapter level. He has received the Pioneer and
Life Member of the Year Awards as well as several citations,
including Suffolk County Executive for his help in refurbishing
a room at the Kid's Court and volunteering for the March of
Dimes, Special Olympics, Association for Help of Retarded
Children, A.P.P.L.E., and the Masonic Lodge's "Getting Kids on
Track." Everett shares his talents of laughter, magic and joy
through his hobby of clowning. He taught a group of his peers
and formed a clown troop giving advice on make-up application,
balloon sculpturing, and their attire. He also performs magic
tricks, and sing-a-longs for many of the charities on Long
Island. His wife, also a clown, is always at his side. They are
known as the "Duke and Dutchess." Everett has that something
special and you can feel the love he has for giving joy to
others. He is respected and admired by all those who have met
and worked with him over the years. Truly the "Duke" is one
tough act to follow.
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Old Dominion Chapter #43 |
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Florence Monroe
2007 is Florence's 40th year as a Pioneer. She has served as
president and treasurer of the council for the last 20 years.
Florence helps pass out "A Student Dictionary" and Scholastic
books at area schools and assists in painting playground maps.
She gets supplies and helps to stuff the Brighter Tomorrow
backpacks for Domestic Violence Shelters. Proficient at
recruitment, Florence signs up new members at the Annual
Crabfeast and visits Verizon work centers, including the
Fredericksburg storeroom. She chaired the chapter's Scoops
Project and engaged enough volunteers to cover all the ice cream
stands at the Boy Scout Jamboree. The chapter realized
approximately $10,000 partnering with the New Outlook Pioneers
of Richmond. Florence won the GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Award
that is given by the council to members who are always ready to
help. Florence has helped to mold most of the members of the
Blue Ridge Council with her dedication to what Pioneering is all
about - the helping of others.
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Nova Five Chapter #5 |
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Phyllis DeChalus
After joining the Pioneers in 1968, Phyllis has served as the
Queens Council president, Membership and Community Service
chair, and life member representative for three clubs. She has
been visiting ill Pioneers and making nursing home visits for
more than 30 years. Phyllis was involved in the "I Like Me"
personalized readers promoting the program within the schools,
collecting the required student information, and distributing
the books to hundreds of students. She volunteered in the Queens
New York Rufus King Park Restoration Project. Phyllis has
volunteered in an after-school program for more than 20 years as
a mentor. She has worked diligently to instruct the council and
life member club participation chairpersons on the correct
procedure for participation hours record keeping. She supports
the council/club fundraising efforts by baking for cake sales.
Phyllis has signed the most new members contributing to the
chapter winning the membership award for attaining the highest
percentage for that Pioneer year. She has contributed many hours
during her 39 years as a Pioneer on the 911 simulator project,
Pioneer playground maps, Hug-A-Bears, and Operation Santa at JFK
Airport.
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Mountain Valley Empire Chapter #97 |
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Ron Dibb
Ron Dibb became vice president for the Albany Life Member Club
in 2002. He has since served as president, group rep, and
chapter webmaster. Ron assists in purchasing books for the
Albany Life Member Club Literacy Program, distributes flowers
for the American Cancer Society and Diabetes organizations, and
distributes canned goods. For 10 months out of the year, he
supports the Albany Police Athletic League with the Albany Toy
Project by helping repair and distribute thousands of
reconditioned toys and books. Ron is always trying to recruit
new members at the luncheons. When new officers are elected, he
trains and assists them. Ron keeps the chapter's mailing lists
up to date as well as working on the newsletters and mailings.
He prints all the mailing labels for the tri-city area councils
and clubs for their fundraising efforts. He assisted in raising
over $2500 at the Altamont Fair through face painting and
haunted house activities over the years to benefit his club. Ron
has received the Life Member of the Year award and two company
President's Awards in 1993. He received a chapter appreciation
award for chapter webmaster. Ron is not only the "go to" person
but also the "can do" person in the chapter.
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Maryland Chapter #44 |
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Joan Pope
Joining the Pioneers in 1983, Joan stepped up to the plate to
become the Central Region president in 1985 and again for
2007-2008. She also has been the chapter fundraiser chairperson
since 2000. For the last five years, Joan has participated in
the Students Under Construction program at several schools in
Maryland where Pioneers maintain school supply stores. She has
volunteered at the Easter Egg Hunt at the Maryland School for
the Blind for the last nine years, volunteered with the Maryland
Chapter Clown Corp from 1987-1995, and helps out at nursing home
bingo programs. Could playing Mrs. Santa Claus at the chapter's
Breakfast with Santa be her most notable volunteer activity?
Joan has participated in membership drives at various company
buildings. She works the membership table and sign-up at the
chapter scholarship fairs and other fundraisers. Joan raises
funds for the chapter by organizing activities such as bus
trips, basket bingo, luncheons, flea markets and scholarship
fairs. Joan received the Pioneer of the Year Award in 1998 and
the President's Award in 2002. Joan is always willing to use
extra money raised in her region, which is the largest, to help
fund an expense for regions with less members. She travels to
meetings in other regions and supports all chapter functions.
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Liberty Bell Chapter #6 |
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Mary Belle Fabe
Pioneering began for Mary Belle in 1965 when she met the
requirements necessary at that time to become a member. Over the
years, she has served as chairperson on most council and club
committees. At the chapter level, she has served as Member-At-
Large and co-chairperson of Participation. As the Literacy
Committee co-chair, she recorded extensive personal volunteer
time when thousands of books were ordered, labeled and then
presented to school children by Pioneers during the Book About
Me project. She routinely visits nursing homes, volunteers with
Bingo, participates in care giving for the elderly, volunteers
with the Salvation Army, and sews Breast Cancer Pillows. In
fact, she originated the Breast Cancer Pillow program at the
Martha Graham Center in Delaware for her council in the Diamond
State. Having served as Fundraising chair and Social Activities
chair, she combined her travel training to run successful trips
and cruises for her Pioneer co-members' enjoyment and increased
the treasury at the same time. Mary Belle has received awards
from both the Kiwanis International and the Rotary Clubs. She
received the Pioneer Life Member Award, Pioneers In Action
(1995-96) Award, and was also honored by the Special Olympic
Program of Chester County, PA.
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Leonard H. Kinnard Chapter #7 |
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Jerry Ross
Jerry became a Pioneer in 1987 and assumed the position of
chapter president for 1999-2000. He is a chapter
member-at-large, served as the chapter's Reunion chairperson
three times, and has been the Seven Mountains Club president for
13 of the last 14 years. He is the coordinator of the Dictionary
Project and the Pioneer Playground Maps since their inception.
Jerry delivers Hug-a-Bears, clothing, hygiene kits, backpacks
and other items for domestic violence clients to the Woman's
Resource Center in State College. Jerry mentors the new club
secretary and treasurer on the duties of the job. He plans the
membership drives. He assists with chapter fundraising by
selling lottery calendars and other chapter items. Jerry
received the Pioneer of the Month award and recognition from the
Ocean Conservancy for participating in the coastal cleanup that
resulted in almost 19,000 pounds of trash being picked up from
98 miles of rivers, lakes and streams by more than 1,000
volunteers around the state. He motivates club members to
participate in chapter and club activities. Jerry serves his
community by being a volunteer firefighter at the Alpha Fire
Company in State College for 34 years.
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Jasper N. Keller Chapter #33 |
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Kim Joseph
Kim has served as the chapter's Educational chairperson for the
last three years. She has led the Dictionary Project by
incorporating life members to assist in their delivery. For 10
years, Kim has placed tags on the holiday tree to grant a gift
for 50 students at the Manchester School of Technology. She
leads volunteers to collect and send much-needed items for our
troops in Iraq. On Election Day, working with the Kid's Vote
Program, she assisted children in casting their ballots. She can
be seen at local schools painting playground Maps and
distributing USA map rugs. Each November, she works with the
Manchester firefighters to raise money through the Operation
Uplink Road Race to purchase calling cards for our troops. Kim
took the chapter's "thank you" letters and put them in a
notebook to show TelecomPioneer achievements and to encourage
member recruitment. For the past three years, Kim has been the
chairperson for the dance to benefit New Horizon's Soup Kitchen
raising more than $13,000 each year. She received an award from
New Horizon in recognition for going above and beyond in
volunteerism. Kim is gathering a team of active employees and
retirees to teach grade school children how to properly use the
"911" Emergency calling system assisted by the use of the "911
Enhancer."
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H.G. McCully Upstate #12 |
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Joan Dinger
Soon after Joan joined the Pioneers in 1991, she became council
historian. She has served as council member at large and Warren
Life Member Club president. As the project chair for Be-My-Baby,
she purchases baby items and assembles and delivers the baskets
to the hospital each month. Joan developed the Book Mark
Project, designed the bookmarks and purchased a laminating
machine for the Life Member Club. Joan signs new members and
explains the benefits of Pioneering to these new recruits. She
leads workshops at various chapter locations teaching others how
to do projects and enlists partners to crochet baby blankets and
sew Hug-A-Bears. Prior to retiring, Joan was the coordinator for
the council vendor program at various building locations raising
over $15,000. She was recognized by the Morristown Council and
the Warren Life Member Club as Pioneer of the Year. Joan
received letters of recognition and a commendation from
Norwescap for her participation as a driver for Meals on Wheels,
the Meals at Home program, and her contributions to the Friendly
Visitor Program. During the holidays, Joan shops for toys for
45-50 children of the Collinsville Daycare center. Joan and her
partner, Harry, have participated in major renovation and
restoration projects undertaken at Historic Speedwell Village.
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H.G. McCully Downstate #81 |
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Joan Mahon
Joan joined the Pioneers in 1969 and has served as chapter
president and chaired several committees for the council, club
and chapter. She currently serves as the chapter's Hug-A-Bear
chairperson. Joan has actively served as president of the
Trenton Life Member Club for many years. She has been the Sports
Jamboree Co-Chair for the past 15 years, is active in the
Prospect Heights Fire Ladies Auxiliary of Ewing, NJ, and is
president of Club D - Ewing Township Senior Club. She is a flea
market fundraiser for the Life Member Club and fundraises for
the Pancake Breakfast. Joan was the recipient of the Good
Citizen Award from Bell Atlantic and, earlier this year, she
received the Volunteer Award from Lore School and the Township
Board of Education. She was also recognized as the "Fire Lady of
the Month" from Mercer County Fire Ladies Auxiliary. As Pinkie
the Clown, Joan entertains children of every age at Pioneer
events as well as other community events. She also participates
in Dream Lift - a 6 a.m. lift-off at Trenton Mercer Airport with
the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She is always ready, willing and
able to do anything called upon. She is an excellent role model
for anyone interested in volunteering. Joan exemplifies the
Pioneer Spirit of "answering the call."
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Genesee Chapter #37 |
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Kevin Sheedy
Kevin serves on the Frontier TelecomPioneers Life Member Board,
is a fundraising and Science Saturday committee member, and
serves on the Life Member Breakfast Committee and the Holiday
Party Committee. He also is a team leader for the antique truck
restoration project. He supports Frontier retirees who need
assistance by driving them to doctor appointments and helping
them move. He works with students at the Rochester Museum and
Science Center and educates them on how the telephone works. He
compiles special craft kits so the children can make their own
working string telephones. Kevin is active on the fundraising
committee and annually donates a hand-crafted dollhouse to the
Frontier Pioneers. The proceeds from this raffle are used for
the annual Adopt-A-Family Holiday program. He has received the
Genesee Chapter Leadership and the Ambassador of Excellence
awards. Kevin is a member of the Antique Automobile Club and has
taken on the responsibility for restoring the Frontier donated
truck to be used for Pioneer store deliveries. The Genesee
Chapter is proud to have Kevin on their team.
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Fort Pitt Chapter #13 |
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Donald McIlrath
Becoming a Pioneer in 1976, Don has held many positions
including member-at-large and life member club president. Don
has been an active member of the Sharing and Caring Committee
since its inception in 1988 when the Fort Pitt Chapter was
instrumental in helping organize the annual boat ride for
hospitalized veterans. The chapter has been underwriting the
cost of sending young people to Conservation Camp on an annual
basis for the past 20 years. Don was one of the original members
of the committee that established this practice. As the
chapter's life member club president, he participated in many
membership drives. Don was also active in helping raise funds to
erect a Korean War Veterans Memorial monument on the Pittsburgh
waterfront. Don has served as Membership chair and Fundraising
chair in the Stephen Foster Council. Don serves on committees
for playground maps, Easter egg hunts, highway clean ups, Earth
Day, veterans' hospital bingo, and Christmas in April. Don has
been co-chair for the past eight years of the committee which
mails the "Tele All" newsletter to all active and retired
chapter members. Don and Romaine, his Pioneer partner of 48
years, search for needed supplies for local animal shelters in
their "spare time."
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Excelsior Chapter #98 |
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Barbara Meinhold
Barbara joined the Pioneers in 1981, and from 1982-1990 served
as Publicity chair and secretary of the Western Frontier
Council. She went on to lead the life member club and chair
several committees. She oversaw the painting of playground maps
at seven schools in the Buffalo and Niagara Falls areas,
belonged to the clown troupe for 10 years, and participated in
the Kids Escaping Drugs program, Camp Good Days, and Special
Times for children with cancer. She taught immersion programs at
Amherst Museum. Barbara teaches religious education to fourth
and fifth graders and is a teacher's aid for BOCES (for
physically and mentally challenged children). Barbara promotes
the Pioneer store and actively solicits donations for the
Buffalo life member Chinese Auction and Western Area yearly
calendars. Barbara, along with fellow Pioneers, is very active
in Trooper Toys for Tots, which is chaired by her partner,
Richard. Barbara, with her great enthusiasm, encourages others
to volunteer, willingly assists at the Executive Board meetings,
and feels that if a project has merit, "We can do it; no
excuses."
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Alexander Graham Bell Chapter #15 |
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Mary Navarro
Mary became a Pioneer in 1981, and served as chairperson on
several committees at the council, club and chapter level. Mary
reads at local schools, identifies schools for the dictionary
project and assists with their library needs. She has organized
events for visually impaired children and adults, most notably a
game of Beep Ball with the clowns from the Ringling Brother's
Circus as an awareness project. She contacted the Northern
Virginia Cannons (a pro-minor league) to challenge them in a
game of Beep Ball, which gave awareness to the Verizon
TelecomPioneers. Mary held membership drives at her work
location and, since her retirement, assists the council with
membership drives. She has received the Chapter Life Member of
the Year Award and letters of appreciation from the Fairfax
County Parks Service. Mary knows how to reach out to the
community by contacting the local authorities to invite them to
attend a council meeting in order to partner with them for
community service projects, such as providing adopted families
in need of holiday support. Her dedication to the Pioneer
organization is the same today as it was when she joined 25
years ago.
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