|
NEWSLETTER
January 2009
by Michael Avella
Click here for the printable
version
2008 was a very productive year for the Community of
Windham Foundation. We started the year with an
organizational meeting that resulted in the expansion of
our Board of Directors and initiated our agenda for the
coming year. Our Board consists of community minded
unpaid volunteers who are enthusiastically dedicated to
making the Town of Windham and surrounding communities a
better place to live and visit.
Our first major fundraising effort of the year was a
Breakfast held at the VFW Post on Main Street in
Windham. The purpose of this event was to raise money
for the VFW Post’s Building Fund. All the profits from
this event were turned over to the Post and will be used
to restore and improve the condition of the existing
structure. We successfully raised $2000 for their
project and received many compliments from the numerous
attendees and members of the Post. In June we awarded a
scholarship to WAJ senior Rachel Messina who is
attending St. John Fischer College.
Every August during the Civil War Encampment Concert we
recognize and honor local citizens for their unselfish
dedication and service to the Windham community. This
year we presented Community Recognition Awards to six
well deserving individuals. The recipients were John
Wiktorko, Superintendent of WAJ Schools, for his
management skills in overseeing the multi- million
dollar renovation and construction project and the
implementation of programs leading to significant
student performance on all levels. John Goettsche was
recognized for his duty to his country as a War Veteran
and continued service to the Windham Community for all
of his dedicated volunteer efforts in local
organizations. Tyrell Sherman, Alyssa Benjamin and
Jason Lonecke, three young first responders, were
honored for their heroic effort in saving the life of a
local citizen at a devastating house fire. Our last
honoree was Susan Kowalski who initiated the Mountaintop
Adopt-A-Soldier Program which sends packages to our
brave troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. She is a
relentless advocate for all of the men and women serving
in the armed forces of this great country.
In November we had the privilege of hosting the Greene
County Honor a Veteran Program. Coming to the
Mountaintop for their presentation was a first for the
Green County Honor a Veteran Committee as the ceremony
is usually held in Catskill. They awarded all World War
II Veterans in Greene County with a proclamation that
was accepted by VFW Post 1545 on behalf of all World War
II Veterans. The proclamation is permanently displayed
at the Post for all citizens to view. All of this was
done to coincide with our World War II Victory Day
Celebration and Swing Canteen which was held in the
evening. The authentic USO Show was well attended and
enjoyed by all. These events were initiated for the sole
purpose of honoring all of our veterans and to focus on
the importance of restoring the building that houses VFW
Post 1545, Route 23, Windham.
The year ended with another successful Christmas Wreath
Contest and annual Christmas Show, “Clara’s Dream” which
was presented by the Schoharie Creek Players. We also
contracted TechNet Computer Services, a local computer
professional, to update and maintain our web-site. We
hope you will take the time and effort to view our many
activities and informative items displayed on this site.
I would be remiss if I did not thank our generous donors
and individuals who attend our functions and support us
throughout the year without your enthusiastic support we
would not be able to exist. I just wanted to take this
opportunity to high light some of our past year’s
accomplishments and can assure you that we will continue
to be an active force in the Mountaintop community. We
not only ask you for your monetary and moral support,
but welcome any constructive suggestions that can make
us more successful in implementing our mission of arts,
recreation, and historic preservation.
Michael G. Avella
Chairman |
