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Pioneer Region 21 Hall of
Fame |
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The Hall of Fame was conceived to honor the Best of the
Best. Those who have given much and have asked nothing in
return. People who have contributed countless hours to their
communities, served in leadership positions, and always "Answered the
Call of Those in Need".
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Bob Kraft
2004 Verizon Pioneer Hall of Fame Winner
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| Bob Kraft is presented with his Hall of Fame
award by Steve Kohn, Verizon Pioneers Region VP (right).
2004 Chapter President Jim Dowd on left. |
Jim Dowd, 2004 Chapter Pres. with Bob Kraft and
his partner, Marlene at Pioneer Region Hall of Fame dinner in
Tampa, Florida |
Bob Kraft, Scranton Club President,
has been a Pioneer for 34 years!
He
has held almost every Chapter office in this time, including Member at
Large, Council and Club President, Chapter President twice, Life Member Rep
Sr., Entertainment and Reunion Chairman 6 times. Bob
is involved with Verizon Reads, E-Maps, bingo and Christmas at the Gino
Merli Veterans Center, volunteers with the American Legion and Purple Heart
Club, and visits residents of the Veterans Center. Bob
was one of 4 Pioneers who served on the planning committee to form the
Chapter Sports Jamboree, which is still providing athletic events for blind
and wheelchair bound children 22 years later. He also served on the
transition team when we lost the Pioneer Administrators, and helped revise
the Chapter by-laws in 1999.
In 1984 the Pioneer Association asked Partners to help raise money for
the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. Bob suggested selling candy
bars. As a result, a local candy company, Gertrude Hawk Candy, made a
candy bar with a special label, Candy for the Lady, which sold for
$1.00. The idea caught on all over the Region and beyond, and
thousands of dollars were raised for the project!
Bob also served on Chapter committees which put together two winning
Association awards for Woodsy Owl and Creekwatchers.
Bob and his partner, Marlene, will receive his award at the Verizon
TelecomPioneers Region meeting in November in Tampa, Florida.
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2003 Winner
Arlene Heintzelman
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Arlene Heintzelman is presented an oak wall phone,
reminiscent of the beginnings of the Pioneers organization. With
Arlene are (l-r) Cal Frost, Region 21 VP, Dan Sanders, L.H. Kinnard Chapter
President, Jim Gadd, CEO of TelecomPioneers Association, headquartered in
Denver, CO, John Fagan, President, TelecomPioneers Association. (More
information on Arlene's accomplishments will follow shortly)
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2002 Winner
Betty Decker
Past Chapter President Joanne Jefferson presents Betty
Decker with old fashioned working phone given as the award for the Verizon
Pioneer Hall of Fame
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| Life Member Betty Decker has won the
Verizon Pioneer Hall of Fame Award. Betty was given the award
for her very distinguished 22 years of service to the Pocono Pioneer
Club. |
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- Pioneer member since 1961 after 21
years of service to Bell of PA
- Founded Pocono Pioneer Club 1979
- Club Treasurer since 1986
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Pioneer Accomplishments
In addition to founding the Pocono
Pioneer Club in 1979, Betty Decker served as the club President from
1979-1981, and again from 1984-1986. Betty has been the only
Treasurer most members ever knew.
Betty has also been the long time
Chairperson of the Entertainment Committee of the Club. Every year
she plans and runs four to seven trips using 1-2 buses for each
trip. Each monthly meeting she enlivens the festivities with wearing
red in February, green in March, Easter Bonnets in April, costumes in
November, and on and on. This wonderful lady is always trying
something new and different at the monthly meetings for the pure joy of
having some fun and making the members want to come back the next month to
see what she has up her sleeve!
Betty also writes and edits the monthly
Pocono Pioneer Club newsletter. The newsletter contains all the
information of the Club, birthdays, place and menu of the next meeting,
reports of activities and things upcoming of general interest to all.
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Community Volunteer Activities
In addition to all the Pioneer work that Betty has done, she is also
an active volunteer for the Church Women United in Stroudsburg and has
been a volunteer with the American Red Cross for 30 years. Betty has
also received the L.H. Kinnard Chapter Pioneer of the Month Award, the Monroe County
Commissioners Plaque commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Pocono
Pioneer Club, and the Red Cross Monroe County Volunteer of the Year Award.
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Undoubtedly many
individuals do more than one thing for their group; but
none do as much as the gracious lady of the Pocono Pioneer Club.
WE CONGRATULATE YOU, BETTY DECKER |
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| PAST
HALL OF FAME WINNERS |
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2001 Hall of Fame
Doris Epler
with 2000/2001 Chapter
officers: Dan Sanders (2nd VP), Linda
Epler (Chapter Pres., holding Sports Jamboree award from Telephone Pioneer Association),
Al Lichty, (LM Rep. Jr.), Doris Epler, Joanne Jefferson (1st VP) |
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2000 Hall of Fame
Herb Cruikshank with
1999/2000 Chapter Officers: Jerry Ross (Chapter Pres.), Linda Epler
(1st VP), Herb Cruikshank Jr., Herb Cruikshank Sr. (sitting) |
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1999 Hall of Fame
Leni Herr & Sarah DePaolo |
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