Quote for Funding Challenge

As a proud supporter of our Centennial, Liberty Mutual is sponsoring a “Quote for Funding Challenge” - and giving away six $2,500 grants to units across the country. By simply getting a no-obligation home, auto or renters insurance quote, you could help your unit receive additional funding to use during the Centennial year. Just think of all the good you could do in your community with some extra funding!

The top six Pioneers units with the most auto, home and renters insurance quotes between April 1 – May 31 will receive a $2,500 grant to spend during the Centennial year.

This offer is not available to residents of IA, MA, ME, NJ, NY or NV. This offer is not available in Canada.

For more information, and to get a quote today, visit www.libertymutual.com/centennial or call 1-800-357-2305.

Join the Pioneers Centennial Society

There are many opportunities for members to get involved in Pioneers' Centennial year celebration.  One such opportunity is the Centennial Society. 

The Centennial Society recognizes those members who elect to commemorate this momentous anniversary by making a charitable contribution of $100 or greater.  In 1958, Pioneers President William V. Kahler said “There have been changes, of course, for without change, there would have been no progress.”  This ushered in a new period for Pioneers in which community service came to officially define our mission.  Years later, in 2002 Pioneers changed its status to a public charity enabling and encouraging both members and non-members who believe in our mission to support our work with charitable gifts.

And now, thanks to the commitment of our membership, we are officially celebrating 100 years of making a difference - a remarkable accomplishment you can recognize by joining the Centennial Society.  When you join the Centennial Society, your name will be added to our special Centennial donation wall, which will be online and at our Centennial Celebration in Boston.  All of the contributions you make as part of the Centennial Society will count towards the Centennial Rewards & Recognition Program.  Additionally, the first 500 Pioneers who join the Centennial Society by donating online will receive a copy of Edwin S. Grosvenor's coffee table book - Alexander Graham Bell:  The Life and Times of the Man Who Invented the Telephone (retail value $45) as a token of our appreciation.

The Centennial Society offers a wonderful opportunity to not only commemorate the Pioneers' 100th Anniversary but make your gift in honor or in memory of a family member, colleague, fellow member or special occasion.  Several payment options are available to ensure all have an opportunity to participate.  Become part of the Centennial Society by using your credit card online at the Pioneers' website or through electronic fund transfer (EFT) from a bank account by calling Pioneers Headquarters at 1-800-976-1914.

We sincerely thank those who elect to make Pioneers their charity of choice and thank all of our membership and supporters for being part of the changes and progress that have brought us to this momentous occasion. 

Taking on Hunger Across North America

When a fierce blizzard hit the northeast coast in 1888, Angus Macdonald and his coworkers not only kept the lines of communication open between Boston and New York, they also trudged through the snow to bring food to travelers stranded on a train.

In that Pioneering spirit of service in our 100th year, we're planning a Pioneers International Centennial Project focused on hunger that will unite Pioneers across North America and fulfill our mission to effect immediate, tangible change in our communities.  Hunger is increasing at an alarming rate and today one in eight people can't afford the food and groceries they need - a 50% increase since 2006.  And hunger is especially prevalent among children.

As part of the Pioneers Centennial year, we will be encouraging all Pioneers units to participate in a fall weekend project to address the acute hunger issue - whether it be holding a healthy food drive, volunteering at a soup kitchen or delivering meals to ill or elderly shut-ins - the Pioneers International Centennial Project will underscore the need for nutritional foods that provide hungry people with healthy, balanced meals.  As the year progresses, we will be sharing more details with you as they become available.

To ensure that you receive information about the Pioneers International Centennial Project and all Centennial communications, be sure that we have your email address.  You can register your email at http://pioneersvolunteer.org/emailregistration.aspx or you can update your email at https://www.pioneersvolunteer.org/profile/edit_profile.aspx

At the Heart of Pioneering is Fellowship

In the beginning, friendship and fellowship were what it was all about. Industry people recalling the facts, traditions, and memories of the early history of the telephone.  As we know, the years that followed have been filled by Pioneers' steadfast commitment to making a difference as volunteers.  But fellowship has always remained at the heart of Pioneering.

Pioneers' 25th anniversary - our Silver Jubilee - was celebrated by Pioneers coming together in 164 different cities and towns throughout the U.S. and Canada.  This massive, multi-location meeting in 1936 drew more than 25,000 Pioneers guests, all united by a telephone network that followed the events as they unfolded.

The year 1961 was full of 50th anniversary celebrations, with chapters planning their own special events for the momentous anniversary on November 2.  The 50th Anniversary theme was also honored through the entire year, with dinner dances, assemblies, pagents, media coverage and other chapter events.

The 75th too was marked by fellowship as 1,300 delegates attended the 1986 General Assembly which included a seven-tiered anniversary cake topped with a giant “75”, pin swapping, project sharing, informative seminars, awards presentations, distinguished speakers, and banquets with exciting entertainment.

Pioneers have worked hard as volunteers - but as they've contributed millions of hours of service, they formed friendships, enjoyed comraderie and had fun!

And in our 100th year, already nearly 1,500 members from all across North America have purchased tickets for the Centennial Celebration in Boston this coming November.  What inspires so many to make the commitment so far in advance to come to together in celebration?  There is the pride in our shared history, our mission and accomplishments, the industry we represent but at the heart of it all is fellowship.  Our members create life long friendships through Pioneering.  Our meetings and projects many times feel like family reunions.  Through our volunteerism, we have touched others lives but our lives have also been touched. 

How will you celebrate Pioneers' Centennial milestone?  It's not too late to buy a ticket for the Centennial Celebration but if you can't make it to Boston, why not make a date (or several!) to join your local Pioneers for a meeting or project - a wonderful way to commemorate this momentous milestone while connecting with fellow Pioneers! 

Preserving Pioneers History

Perhaps because we are comprised of individuals who have played an integral part in an industry that has seen more changes, developments and inventions than most, Pioneers have always understood the value of preserving history.

An excerpt from the book, The Telephone Pioneers of America 1911-1961 reads, “As hobbies developed during the Depression, the traditional interest in history continued through collecting related equipment, compiling records and piecing together long-forgotten events from newspapers, company archives and from the memories of veteran telephone people.  The personal reminiscences of these employees imbued the official reports with personality and warmth of human experiences.  In many cases, they supplied important information which filled the gaps in early company histories.”

And another reads, "The interest in company history took wing in 1941 when the Association urged that all chapters undertake historical research on telephone systems in their areas.  The Pioneers were to compile the material; the telephone companies to oversee the writing and publication.  It was a project on a grand scale.”

From books to museums and memorabilia, Pioneers have exhibited a keen ability to preserve its industry’s history and our organization’s history which is why we have undertaken the creation of a Pioneers Centennial History Book.  This limited edition publication will document Pioneers proud history and century of accomplishments. Because every member has a story of how as a Pioneer they have embraced the "Spirit of Service”, we are encouraging all Pioneers to share their own personal experiences as a Pioneer, as well as to submit a photograph for the book. (Purchasing a book is not required to submit a personal profile, story or photo.)

The Pioneers have selected Harris Connect as their trusted partner to produce this commemorative publication. Due to the overwhelming positive response we have received since launching this project last November, the deadline to submit a personal profile, story, photo for and/or purchase the Pioneers Centennial History Book has been extended to March 14, 2011.

Help us capture and preserve our rich and important history in our Centennial year.  Submit your narrative by phoning our publisher Harris Connect toll free at 1-800-488-9148.  Be sure to respond by March 14 to ensure you are a part of this special commemorative book!

Answering the Call of Our Communities

On February 10th, Pioneers launched its annual Answer the Call Campaign - an initiative aimed at helping us expand our reach for financial support for Pioneering beyond our membership to include the communities we serve.
And serve we have.  In 1958, Pioneers officially declared that community service was part of our mission.  An excerpt from the 33rd General Assembly by Pioneers President, William V. Kahler had this to say about The New Tradition -

“Can you have fellowship without being loyal?  Can you have loyalty without serving some one or some cause?  Can you serve without a feeling of fellowship?  Almost all great social organizations are built on some variation of these principles.  Many of them have earned international reputations through them.  Our own activities in the field of public service have not been so imposing – and perhaps they may never be.  But our potential in other ways can be no less spectacular.  Think of the many times in the past we have reached out into the communities where we live and work, and pioneered a significant cause.  Some of our efforts have had profound effects upon the people involved – both those who gave and those who received.

We have built no buildings – erected no physical monument to mark the role we have played in our communities…except in the hearts of the people immediately concerned.  Yet – as Pioneers – we have been glad to serve – freely adding to our concept of service to the public through the telephone, a concept of service to the community through social concern."

Pioneers has proudly carried this New Tradition forward.  And in the present day, it is efforts like the Answer the Call Campaign that provide the resources needed to fulfill this Tradition. It also provides a great opportunity to educate friends, family and others in our hometowns about who the Pioneers are and how we meet our community needs through our volunteerism.

Join us in expanding our base of support by volunteering for this important campaign - an excellent way to celebrate Pioneers in our Centennial year. If you are not phoned to participate and would like to receive a kit, please email Christina Hemphill at Pioneers Headquarters.

Centennial Year Kicks Off with Strong Start!

Pioneers’ Centennial year has kicked off with a strong start! 

Pioneers received press coverage from Florida to Portland to Prince Edward Island to Denver on our Centennial Community Grant Program which is awarding more than $520,000 to 21 Pioneers units who applied for support for volunteer efforts taking place in communities across the U.S. and Canada in the year ahead.  The first grant project took place in Florida this past month.  An excerpt from Clay Today, reads, “About 50 volunteers braved chilly temperatures and biting winds for a good cause recently, and no one appreciates the effort more than Keystone Youth Soccer Club treasurer Janis Waters.  “Oh my gosh, it’s awesome,” Waters said after a group of AT&T Pioneers spent all day Saturday, Jan. 22 planting trees, building benches and painting everything paintable at Twin Lakes Park. “They did a spectacular job." (Click here for the full article.)  There is even a news clip at WGHJ's Channel 7 News. We encourage each and every Pioneer to visit VolunteerNow! in the year ahead to find projects in your own local community to sign up for and don’t forget to enter your volunteer hours!

Our Pioneers’ member benefit partners have stepped up with new and interesting offers to celebrate our Centennial year.  During the month of February, Life Line Screening is offering a $20 discount to each Pioneers’ couple (friends, siblings, spouses, partners, etc.) that signs-up for a screening by February 28, 2011. The screening package includes four of the most popular tests: stroke/carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, atrial fibrillation/heart rhythm and peripheral arterial disease. The package also includes a personalized report for you to share with your doctor.  Take care of the one you love this Valentine’s month by scheduling your couple’s appointment (visit www.lifelinescreening.com/pioneers or call 1-800-690-7485 and use priority code BTPC001).

Stay tuned for more blog coverage of upcoming grants projects as they occur and more Pioneers’ Centennial happenings, opportunities to participate and special offers for our members in honor of this momentous anniversary!