Hall of Fame | H. G. McCully Upstate Chapter #12

McCully Upstate Pioneers Hall Of Fame Recipients

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.

McCully Upstate Pioneers Hall Of Fame recipients
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.

2016 Jeannette Watson

Jeanette Watson hails from Passaic, NJ. She is one of eleven children born to Henry and Helen Watson. Jeanette has always been a joy to the many people that she comes into contact with because to her no one is a stranger. She has a very giving nature. Her gift of giving has afforded many under-privileged recipients the fruits of her giving spirit. She donates to numerous organi-zations and projects, such as: Imani Food Pantry, Clothes Closet and Soup Kitchen, Baby Baskets, Hug the Homeless and so many other projects using her personal donations.

Jeannette has served in several capacities for H. G. McCully: Chapter – President, Vice President, Fundraising Chair, Entertainment Chair, Holiday for Special Needs Chair; Life Member Rep. Council: President, Member-ship Chair and Member-at-Large. She has also been Vice President of DIAL, painted playground maps and assisted bingo for people with special needs. Never stepping backwards, she is always in the forefront to be of service and ready to help whether it is at Nursing homes, Churches, youth groups, communities or schools – it makes no difference.

When she is not engaged in helping others you can find her improving her crafting skills which many of us have been the recipients of. Her gifts include a beautiful array of scarves that she knits, crotchets and donates; she also enjoys designing lawn chairs out of macramé. Jeanette stuffed heart pillows that are provided to patients that has undergone heart surgery.

Jeanette’s dedication, service to others and kind heart is her qualification to be our 2016 New Vision H. G. McCully Upstate Pioneers Hall of Famer.

2015 Cheryl Abdus-Salaam – Cheryl became a Pioneer in 1991. She is currently the Chapter Secretary, 2nd Vice President and Participation Chair. Throughout her years of Pioneering she has held numerous positions.

This Favored Unique go-getter is always looking for ways to help anyone in need of assistance. She is truly a person who feels the ache when people are in need. Be it food , clothing a place to stay or whatever the cause may be. Her heart is softened by the downtrodden youth and especially the elderly. Her efforts are appreciated by so many that are in need; so many reap the rewards of her labor during her pathway of finding a way to help.

In her volunteering arena Cheryl has held the following positions: Company Liaision Chapter: 2015 2nd Vice President, Webmistress, Co-Education Chair, Secretary, President of the Newark Council for two terms, Vice President, Information and Publicity Chair, Facebook Chair, Participation Chair, Member-at-Large, Chapter and Council Pioneer of the Year. She co-wrote two grants that won the Telecom Challenge and the Competitive Grant. The Body Wars exhibit taught elementary aged school children about commondiseases and the prevention of them. The Seniors Connect Project allowed us to provide Senior Centers a technology center and classes to teach them the basics and the benefits of using computers.

She involves herself in many projects that garner the needed items or funds that can assist someone. She has worked on many Chapter and Council projects such as: the Newark YMCA adopt – room project, game day at local shelters, renovated the play area of the Newark Day Center, made donations to Community Closets/Pantries, aided in successful fundraisers, Hug the Homeless, Happy feet and Minds, Dish It Up; Organized teams for Walk to Cure Lupus for the past five years, and participated in several Breast Cancer and March of Dimes Walks. Cheryl has taught English as a second language, fed the needy, and held religious study classes.

Cheryl is always coming up with ideas that in some ways are always focused on sharing of herself or raising needed funds to assist the needy. She is always looking for ways to help people and usually is at the forfront of volunteering and spearheading projects in this area.

Through all of Cheryl’s volunteering efforts, her family members and friends are right beside her assisting and helping others who are less fortunate. For all of these efforts we nominate her for the Hall of Fame Award for 2015.

2014 Mary Bynoe – Mary Bynoe became a Pioneer in 1977. She is currently a Chapter Community Service Co-Chair; however, she has held numerous positions on Chapter, LMC, and Council. Those positions include: Junior and Senior Life Member Representative, President (Essex Council), Secretary (Essex Life Member Club), and Treasurer (Essex Council), and Vendor Coordinator (Essex Council)) to name a few. Mary has been involved in many community service projects. Dearest to her heart is working with Children and the Elderly. She reads to children at a day care center, coordinates various soup kitchens and clothes closets and adopted a nursing home. She regularly takes seniors to doctor appointments and shopping. During her tenure, Mary signed up 75 members in a single year when working on a new member drive. She also adopted a single Mom to help make sure you had everyday essentials for her and her children. That single Mom later became a Verizon employee and she too is giving back to the community through Pioneering. Mary has fundraised for her Church as well. As a result the church was able to purchase choir robes and pay for their utility bill. Mary has received many Pioneer Awards, including Pioneer of the Year … more than once! She also coordinated a Black History Month luncheon for over 100 seniors. When Mary was faced with the challenge of raising her grandchildren, her and her husband eagerly accepted. Their kind hearts and child rearing skills landed them the Parent of the Year award by the East Orange Clergy. Mary had Brain Surgery in 2008, which slowed her down for just a little while. Since 2009 she has been back to helping those in need and will continue to do so as long as she is able.

2013 Albertha Shumpert – Albertha Shumpert began pioneering in 1968. She has held many leadership roles including Chapter and Council President, Membership/Fundraising Chairs, and Treasurer for the HEH LMC. Currently, Albertha is serving the Chapter as the Junior Life Member Rep. and Fundraising Chair. She has formed, organized and/or participated in many projects including monthly bingo, building ramps, feeding the homeless, painting playground maps, flower and plant sales, lap blankets, heart pillows, and Be-My-Baby baskets to name a few.As Chapter President, Albertha’s Fishing Rod project consisted of purchasing 100 fishing rods for inner-city children and taking them fishing at Echo Lake, West Milford, NJ. They taught the children to set up the fishing rod, cast the line and catch fish.After Hurricane Hugo hit South Carolina, Albertha rallied fellow Pioneers to donate and deliver new clothing, furniture and toys. Their generous acts were captured on CBS’s 6pm news.Albertha worked with the DMV to create the Telecom Pioneer license plate. Although challenging, over one thousand plates were sold and are still available today.With retirement near, Albertha wrote letters to United Way, City Harvest, Food Banks and FEMA for aid to start a soup kitchen and food pantry at her church in New York City. In December 1996 they served 35 clients; they now serve over 250 clients; They serve hot meals, provide used clothing, and advise clients on food stamps and housing. Through grants and support they receive approximately $90,000.00 yearly for this project.Albertha received the NY State Assembly Citation award for outstanding citizen in 2008. Albertha knows it’s better to give than receive and we should always be able to assist our fellow man and seek to soar to higher heights. She sincerely feels with the help of others like the Pioneers, your goals can always be accomplished.

2012 Delores “Lorrie” Smith Lorrie joined the Pioneers in 1975. As a member of the Warren Life Member Club, Lorrie has held the positions of Secretary, Member-at-Large, Fellowship & Community Service Chairs and Club President twice. As a breast cancer survivor herself, Lorrie saw a need and initiated the Chapter’s “Lorrie Smith Pillow Pal Project”, where members made pillows and bags and donated them to local American Cancer Society Chapters to be given to mastectomy patients. Lorrie has been very active in the Club’s Bookmark Project, making over 500 bookmarks herself, which are donated to local libraries. Other Club projects she’s involved in include cutting, sewing and stuffing Hug-A-Bears & Smart Bears, the Club’s Annual Picnic, where she has been an intricate part in the fund raising activities, the Lopatcong Care Center Project and the Food Backpack Project. Lorrie has also been awarded the Life Member Club’s “Pioneer of the Year” award twice; Certificates of Appreciation from the American Cancer Society and in 2011 was elected into the Hackettstown Senior Hall of Fame for her community service work through Pioneering and the American Cancer Society. Lorrie Smith is the epitome of a true Pioneer, and that is why the H.G. McCully Upstate Chapter and the Warren Life Member Club are proud to have her as one of their own.

2011 Jeanine ShabazzJeanine Shabazz has served the H.G. McCully Upstate Chapter and Newark Council in numerous capacities since becoming a Pioneer in 1996. She has chaired various committees in education, fundraising, community service, participation, and entertainment in addition to serving as treasurer. She was co-captain of the Verizon Pioneer team for the America’s Cure for Lupus team, which helped raise more than $500,000 for lupus research.Jeanine received a Telecom Challenge award for the Body Wars Exhibit that taught children about common diseases and how to prevent them. She also received a Competitive Grant through the Verizon Pioneers for the Seniors Connect project that provided technology and instructor-led computer classes for senior citizens throughout the chapter area. Some of the awards she has received include: The Heart of Pioneering award, Pioneer of the Year award from the Newark Council and was also presented with the ‘Time for a Change’ award for opening a new technology center for a Senior Citizens Center in Irvington, NJ.

2010 Becky McDonaldBecky joined the Pioneers in 1991 and has served as the Paterson-Passaic-Ridgewood Council vice president and president, council Education chairperson and boss clown. She was also vice president, president and past president of the chapter. She currently serves as the Blood Drive chairperson coordinating blood drives throughout northern New Jersey and is the chapter boss clown.
Becky is co-founder of the “Reading is Magic” clown skit for the chapter literacy program which has been performed in more than 25 North Jersey elementary schools for over 3,000 children. The skit stresses how important reading is to elementary school children.
As Blood Drive chairperson, Becky and Chapter #12 have collected over 700 pints of blood and has made the project an ongoing chapter project for the past nine years.
Becky, aka “Ruby the Clown,” has face painted and performed at schools, nursing homes, day care centers, hospitals, women’s shelters and many Pioneer parties through the communities of New Jersey.
Becky is a co-founder of the “Shelter Me Reading Program.” This program, led by Becky, visits local domestic violence shelters with books for the children. The volunteers read to the children and then give each child a book of their own.
Becky designed and implemented the first “Walk for Literacy” which partnered with the Verizon Corporation and raised over $50,000 for the Libraries of New Jersey. Over 400 walkers participated in the inaugural walks in Newark and Trenton.
During her term as chapter president, more than 100 new members were added through membership drives. When the Pioneer calendar year changed, Becky immediately volunteered to serve for 18 months and she made the transition for the chapter very smooth.

2009 Paula WrightPaula joined the Pioneers in 1981 and has served as council president, chapter life member representative and president. She is currently serving as Morristown Life Member Club president.
Paula participated in painting an historical house at Speedwell Village and a room at the J.C. Medical Center. She also volunteered at holiday parties for challenged children. As a chapter “Verizon Reads” chairperson, she headed a chapter-wide campaign resulting in the accumulation of more than 1,000 children’s books. She instituted the Valentine’s For Vets project in the Morristown Life Member Club, organized Baby Showers for their “Be My Baby” project, organized Animal showers to benefit animal shelters, as well as introducing Lily’s Pantry.
Throughout her Pioneer career, she has established and participated in several membership drives, as well as implemented incentives for the membership during her chapter presidency. Paula mentored a member until she felt comfortable enough to accept a position on the board, and continues to mentor her as well as other club officers. Paula has been a member of the Chapter’s Golf Committee, Tricky Tray Baskets, etc.; she has brought innovative projects to the Life Member Club, i.e., Linens & Things Gift Card sales, a Bakeless Cake Sale and others.
Paula received the Council Pioneer of the Year Award, Life Member Pioneer of the Year Award, Certificate of Appreciation from Lily’s Pantry for her dedication and leadership in instituting this project. Paula’s consistently sweet, gentle, non-confrontational ways have made her liked and admired by all who have worked with or for her on a Pioneer project. She is not one who seeks out the limelight or center stage, but she is a shining star of the Pioneer organization.

2008 Cathy Brantley A Pioneer since 1985, Cathy has served as council president, chapter Hug-A-Bear chair, and Community Service chair. She has sewn more than 3,000 Christmas stockings and 1,000 heart pillows for New Community Extended Care Facility and more than 5,000 Hug-A-Bears for police and fire departments.
Cathy initiated the Net Day project at North Arlington School to make the school Internet accessible, participated in after-school tutoring and painted Pioneer playground maps. She has served on various committees and participates in projects for ramps, water runs and beach cleanups. She cooks at the soup kitchen, delivers clothing to shelters and delivers “Be My Baby” baskets to hospitals. Every year, Cathy ensures that the seniors at New Community Senior Center receive stockings. She still participates in bake sales and book fairs when needed.
Cathy organized and participated in several membership drives, as well as implementing incentives for recruitment during her year as council president. From 1996 – 2000, Cathy helped with the vendor program at the 900 Clinton Ave. building which helped fund council projects.
Cathy received the Council “Pioneer of the Year” and the Essex “Life Member Pioneer of the Year” awards. She has received letters of recognition and a commendation from Casa for her work to help make a child feel safe with Hug-A-Bears.

2007 Joan DingerSoon 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.

2006 Tina CallahanTina has been a pioneer since 1981, serving as council president, treasurer, and chapter president, and chair of various chapter and council committees. Tina was the project manager and co-creator of the chapter’s Clown RAP Program, which won the Education Excellence Award. Tina was honored with a Pacesetter Award for her work with this program. During her term as chapter president, she created the chapter’s annual Holiday Party for physically and mentally challenged children and young adults. She has served on committees for the Walk for Literacy, Reunion, Charity Golf Outing, and numerous others. Tina’s endless dedication to pioneering and her willingness to lend a hand whenever and wherever, has earned her the respect and admiration of her chapter.

Former H. G. McCully Upstate Chapter 12 Presidents

2005 – Bruce Yennie2004 – Barbara Hamilton2003 – Dot Browning2002 – John Marra2001 – Jo Martin2000 – Robert Rolando1998 – Mildred Wilcox