Keynote Speaker: Representative Diana Urban

Presented by The Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce
and Geraldine Cunningham Associates

Date: September 29th
Location: Lake of Isles Golf Course, North Stonington CT.
Tickets are $40 each.   6:00 PM cocktails, 7:00 PM dinner.

2009 Nominees:

Jeanne Abate - Sr. Mortgage Officer, Westerly Community Credit Union Jeanne is very active with the Chariho Rotary Club, having served on their Board of Directors as Treasurer, Secretary and also as the second woman President of the Club. Jeanne also serves on the Golf Tournament Committee for 6 years and has mentored and inspired other women within the club to take on leadership roles. Additionally, she is Assistant District Governor of Rotary International District 7950 and serves on numerous committees within that group. She is on the Board of the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce, a Team Captain for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and a three year volunteer for the American Heart Walk, a Trustee for the Westerly Hospital Foundation, the #2 top fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society for two consecutive years, amongst other community service activities.

Mary Jane DiMaio - retired real estate broker Mary Jane has a lengthy history of service to the town through her role on the Westerly Town Council. She always stood strong by her beliefs and was the first woman to ever be elected President of the Westerly Town Council. She was active with the cystic fibrosis organization for more than 20 years. Mary Jane established Neighbor Day, an annual celebration of peace and love in our community. She has involved community service organizations, town government, residents and the business community in this initiative. She is a former member of the Business and Professional Woman’s Club and helped mentor others with their business issues. She is a former member of the Postal Service Customer Advisory Council and served for 14 years as part of the Cable TV Commission. She was a trustee for the Westerly Public Library and has been a mentor to children at Bradford School, amongst other community service activities.

Elizabeth Johnstone - President, Recovery Yoga Inc a 501©3 organization and independent yoga instructor. Elizabeth founded the non-profit Recovery Yoga organization to provide services to women and teenage girls working to recover from substance, physical or other abuse. She established a weekly program of instruction at York Correctional Institution for Women in Niantic, where she donates her time teaching yoga and meditation to 30-40 inmates for 2 hours each week, and has done so for over 2 years. She is a positive inspiration to those women and gives freely of her time and advice to mentor them. She initiated yoga instruction for teens 14+ at York through another instructor and has established a library of yoga and meditation books at the prison. Elizabeth has coordinated numerous fundraising events to support her efforts to bring yoga and meditation to those most in need. She co-taught yoga for senior adult women at Westerly Senior Center and donated her time instructing yoga at Calvary Church in Stonington. She co-founded the first community Global Mala (international peace day) celebration in Westerly in 2007 and organized the first such regional celebration in CT in September 2008.

Gloria Smith Russell - reporter, Westerly Sun Gloria worked as a radio host and news reporter for WERI for many years and was hired in 1966 as the first female reporter for the Westerly Sun. She worked in the male-dominated industry for many years at various publications and returned to the Westerly Sun as a part time correspondent in 2000. Gloria was inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame in November 2003 and was recognized as Rhode Island’s Most Outstanding Older Worker in 2006 by Experience Works, a national organization. As a community activist, Gloria has worked to raise awareness for a number of organizations including Stand Up For Animals where she helps with their newsletter and fundraisers. She also supports the Westerly Airport Association promote Wings Over Westerly and other activities. For many years she has made dust caps and turbans for chemotherapy patients and donated them to oncology offices. Gloria belongs to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Phoebe Green Ward Chapter, and has served as Secretary for many years. She was a Girl Scout assistant leader for many years helping with arts and crafts and teaching girls how to write articles.

Linda Spoonster Schwartz - Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs since 2003 Dr. Schwartz was a member of the US air force 1976-1986 and served on active duty and as a reservist. She retired in 1986 after sustaining injuries in an aircraft accident while serving as a USAF Flight Nurse and holds the rank of Colonel on the Governor’s Military Staff. She was the first woman to be appointed Commissioner of the CT Department of Veterans Disease, and the first woman to be appointed to her present post as Vice President and Chairman of Health Care for the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs. In 2008, the Governor tapped her to chair the Connecticut Veterans Memorial Foundation. She holds an appointment as Associate Clinical Professor of Nursing at the Yale University School of Nursing. She received the National Commendation Medal of Vietnam Veterans of America for Justice, Integrity and meaningful Achievement and the Legion of Honor Bronze Medallion from the Chapel of the Four Chaplains for her service to all people. She has served as President of the Connecticut Nurses Association and Connecticut Nurses Foundation, as well as on the Board of Directors of American Nurses Association, Vietnam Veterans of America and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.

ATHENA Scholarship presentations will also be awarded that evening thanks to Zoe & Co. who sponsor this portion of the event each year. $1,500 will be awarded to local youths who have exemplary scholastic achievements and meet the requirements of community service and demonstration of ATHENA principles.

Tickets are $40 and are available on a first-come, first serve basis. Corporate tables of 10 that include an ad in the event program are available at $600. The event is open to the public. For more information, contact Lisa Konicki at 401-596-7761.