The Western Electric Pioneers at that time was called the Telephone Pioneers of America and they started a project for the Physical Handicapped Children of America in the late ’70’s – early ’80’s named the Hand Operated Tricycle (HOT). The Rolling Meadows Life Member Pioneer club was located in Aurora, Illinois where the Montgomery Shops was located. The Montgomery Shops work was opened in 1955 and made data-phone transmission sets, traffic service position sets, telephone parts and was closed and demolished in 1987.
A number of locations that had machine shops helped make all of the parts needed to customize a regular tricycle into Hand Operated Tricycle (HOT). The closing, selling or spinning off all of the 21 former manufacturing plant spelled the end of the HOT’s made and assembled by the Pioneers.
It wasn’t the end of the special tricylces that the former Pioneers were make. The Life Member Pioneers in Aurora, Illionis in the late ’90’s converted the project into the Therapy Oriented Tricycle (TOT) helps physically challenged kids get active. Telecom Pioneers Gordon and Connie Hankins lead efforts to give custom trikes to kids in need today. The TOT’s are modified and assembled then stored in the basement of there home..
On December 1, 2022 the Salvation Army began its 35th year and Judy Coffey from the Heartland Pioneer started volunteering with the Night Watch program. A few weeks later Judy got a phone call from a friend she knew. The freind told her she taken up knitting again and had made about 54 stocking hats.
She asked Judy if she knew of a place to donate them. Judy told her she knew of a group that would be happy to receive the stocking hats. After making a couple of phone calls Maria at the Salvation Army Disaster Service told Judy they had a current need for stocking hats and would like to have them. Judy stopped by and dropped off 54 stocking hats. .
The Salvation Army of Omaha begins its 35th year of Night Watch
The Salvation Army of Omaha loaded up its trucks and set up in two different locations in Omaha Wednesday night for the 35th year of the Winter Night Watch program.
The program is aimed to help the homeless and near-homeless by handing out food and winter apparel such as hats, coats, gloves and socks.
“It’s just so critical for those who are just trying to literally just survive out there on the streets,” Capt. Kelsie Moreno with The Salvation Army said.
The trucks set up five nights a week and go through the winter. Thomas Miller has volunteered with Night Watch for 12 years and says the gratitude for both volunteers and those being served goes both ways.
“They’re really gracious and really nice about receiving and I feel good about giving, so yeah, it works both ways,” Miller said.
The Salvation Army’s programs, like Night Watch, function in large part to volunteers. Captain Moreno says they are always in need of volunteers to help.
For those who prefer to donate instead of volunteer, The Salvation Army is always in need of winter coats. Those can be donated during regular business hours at any Salvation Army location.
The strength of Pioneering is the volunteer. Pioneers projects are as diverse as the communities we serve. We take a grassroots approach towards volunteerism, responding to the unique needs of our hometowns. The Pioneers Don MacKenzie Charitable Foundation Fund (Foundation) provides grants for educational and/or charitable community service projects that make a significant impact in local communities and generate substantial recognition for the Pioneers.
Students in NJ and PA Public schools are responsible for providing their own school supplies (including, but not limited to backpackspens, notebooks, binders, glue, crayons, paper, calculators, computers, etc.)
New Outlook Pioneers has endeavored to close the economic gap in some of these areas. Many years ago, we sent letters to Elementary school principals in school districts where we identified struggling families. We asked these school administrators if their students would benefit from receiving back packs and school supplies. The response from every principal contacted was a resounding “YES”!
Since that time, we set a purchase goal to buy thousands of back packs, and accompanying school supplies for students in the communities we serve.
Thirty-one years ago the Omaha Works Pioneers started TurkeyFest with the Salvation Army. They provided the place to hold TurkeyFest and the Pioneers provided the rest. Things have changed but the Pioneer are still here volunteering and providing some help with the supplies. Below is the coverage by KMTV’s of the 2022 TurkeyFest
Salvation Army’s 31st annual TurkeyFest helping hundreds of Omaha seniors in need Story by Kalé Searcy
OMAHA, Neb. —Since 1991, the Salvation army’s 31st annual Turkeyfest helping Omaha seniors in need has helped provide dinner on Thanksgiving.
And for almost every year since, Douglas Thoms has been there as a volunteer.
“We had people that actually came into the Salvation Army, and we would feed them as they came through the line,” he said.
Thoms remembers the program providing just a few meals, but now they’re sending out over 1,000 across the metro.
“It’s changed then. Now we put it in a Styrofoam container, and we send it out to each individual’s home, which is different because each year the number of people that need help grows,” Thoms said.
Kevin Newlin has been the Salvation Army’s chef for 14 years, spending the days before Thanksgiving in the kitchen.
“It takes about three and a half, four days. And then on Wednesday night, we start coming in and blanching the green beans, getting the potatoes ready, making the stuffing, and everything’s from scratch here. So, we try to make it as delicious as possible,” Newlin said.
Newlin said since his start, this year came with its own set of challenges when it came to getting everything on his shopping list.
“The supply and demand of turkeys has been a nightmare this year. We had to go back to whole turkeys. I couldn’t find the normal turkey that we use, and then inflation, it just put a price tag on all the items that we had to, you know, purchase with a smart mind,” he said.
But Newlin said the focus was to stay on budget to meet the growing need in the metro. And for almost every year since, Douglas Thoms has been there as a volunteer.
“We had people that actually came into the Salvation Army, and we would feed them as they came through the line,” he said.
Thoms remembers the program providing just a few meals, but now they’re sending out over 1,000 across the metro.
“It’s changed then. Now we put it in a Styrofoam container, and we send it out to each individual’s home, which is different because each year the number of people that need help grows,” Thoms said.
Kevin Newlin has been the Salvation Army’s chef for 14 years, spending the days before Thanksgiving in the kitchen.
Joe Cleres & Don Sage New Outlook Scholarships Winners For 2022 – 2023
Dear Scholarship Winners
Thank you for applying for the New Outlook Pioneers’ Joe Cleres-Don Sage Memorial Scholarship Award for 2022 which is named in recognition and remembrance of Joe Cleres’ and Don Sage’s Pioneer leadership and service, and especially, their long commitment to education, youth and the scholarship process.
Congratulations! It is my pleasure to report that you have been selected to receive a scholarship and educational expense award billed by your registrar. Your academic achievement and service to others are outstanding.
Please submit a copy of your tuition and other educational expenses billed expenses billed by the registrar with payment information by September 30, 2022, to cleres.sage.scholarship@gmail.com This bill must identify the institution and its mailing registrar’s address. Be sure that the bill includes your name and student number. This information should be received by us by September 30, 2022.
If you will not have this information by September 25, please send email with a date when you will have this data.
Since the award is to be applied toward tuition and educational expenses, the check will be made out and mailed to the school or institution which you will attend as soon as the necessary information is received.
We look forward to hearing from you regarding your tuition information. We wish you success in your educational pursuits and best wishes in your future endeavors.
Sincerely yours, Fred Salomon And Elaine Housley Directors New Outlook Pioneers Scholarship Committee
2022 – 2023 JOE CLERES – DON SAGE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021 SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS!
Elaine Housley, New Outlook Board Director, took an honor flight trip to Washington DC with a plane full of veterans on Thursday, November 3, 2022. It was the 118th trip for the Honor Flight Columbus organization.
Stops in Washington DC included: Marine Corps War Memorial – Imo Jima Air Force Memorial Navy Memorial World War II Memorial Korean War Veterans Memorial Vietnam Veterans Memorial Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, including changing of the guard ceremony Women’s Memorial
I escorted two Vietnam era veterans: Ronnie Workman and Bob Snyder
Included in the trip were 83 veterans, 43 guardians, and 27 staff (including medical staff, bus drivers, and multiple Battelle members who were covering the cost of the trip.
We met at the airport at 6am and experienced a delay in taking our flight due to heavy fog. Upon arrival at the Washington DC airport, we were split into three buses to take us to the various sites. Return flight landed around 8:30pm to a huge crowd of well-wishers thanking the vets for their time in the military. At the Columbus airport, we were met by a band and many, many family members and friends.
We never ran out of food or drink with three full meals and multiple snacks throughout the day.
Although it was mentioned during the training of the “guardians” we were supposed to keep our veterans close, keep them safe, and make sure that no one got hurt or lost. I personally had over 12,500 steps on my odometer when I got on the flight home. Lots of walking to see the various sites.
The crowds that greeted us at the airports and the stops during the trip were quite large.
We had told to prepare for wet or cold weather but we were greeted by “sweater weather” and sunshine allowing us to also see the autumn foliage in the area. Although the walks and steps took some effort, we had enough time to stop and see most of each of the locations, walk through the areas around the various facilities, and occasionally rest during our walks.
I would encourage all veterans to make this trip, if possible. If you’re not a veteran, please consider becoming a guardian taking care of a couple of the veterans on the flight. It’s an unforgettable experience.
Central Ohio Veterans Stand Down was held on Tuesday, October 18,2022 at the Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.
The John D Burlie Club Pioneers was represented by President Jerry Dunbar and Bobbie Hall-Refinati.
Tables were set up Monday with help from American Legion Auxiliary #430 and American Legion #797, We brought socks, gloves, hats, scarves and other items for distribution.
The doors opened at 7:30am. 450 Veterans were served (349 men, 101 women). The event stayed open until all the supplies were distributed, which was around 10am. Lunch was served to all, and the event was a great place to meet Veterans and their families.
There is a plan for a Stand Down next year, and we plan to participate again and Dan Willis, Executive Director, thanked everyone to know that the Coat Sales starts in stores the third week of January and purchasing for next year’s event would be appreciated.
Central Ohio Veterans Stand Down is scheduled for October 17th, 2023.
On November 2, 1911, when the civic-minded leaders of the young telecommunications industry created Pioneering, they couldn’t have imagined that the group they founded, in a hotel ballroom in Boston, would grow into a world-class volunteer organization over a century later. But Pioneers did grow. And just as telecommunications technology has evolved over the decades, so have the Pioneers. Both have changed the world – from how we communicate to how we help our communities every day. Whatever challenges the future holds, our communities can count on one constant truth: Pioneers will always be there to answer the call for help.
On this 111th anniversary of our founding, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all that you do every day to keep this organization relevant and alive. I truly believe that we can make this organization stronger and better for years to come because we have the right people (YOU!) on the board to make this happen.
I just want you to truly realize and understand that the work you do matters and makes a difference. I appreciate you all very much.
Laura
8547 East Arapahoe Road, Unit J-312
Greenwood Village, CO 80112
Laura Whitlock | Executive Director | 303-571-9260
