Valley Council for Health & Human Services
(203) 735-9331
Annual Meeting Celebrates Achievements
Michael Wynne, Peter Galla, Norbert Kovacs, Bonnie Bodak, Joe Carbone, John Motley and Suzanne Reilly are pictured at the Valley Counci's Annual Meeting.
|
|
The Valley Council for Health & Human Services held its annual
meeting and awards presentations on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 at
Grassy Hill Lodge Derby, CT.
Peter Galla, Vice President of Naugatuck Saving Bank, event sponsor, welcomed nearly 100 staff and board members of area agencies and their guests. |
John Motley
“Don’t you dare tell me what you can’t do!” Through the use of humor, keynote speaker, John Motley, President of the St. Paul Travelers Connecticut, engaged the audience with the message of doing more with less, and the importance and dedication of the human services community.
 Michael Wynne |
 Suzanne Reilly |
 Karen Spargo |
Master of Ceremonies and CEO of the Parent Child Resource Center, Michael Wynne,
who has held the office of Council Chairman for the past three years
congratulated Suzanne Reilly, Executive Director of the Valley YMCA, as the
newly elected Council Chair beginning in January 2005.
Reilly recapped the many accomplishments that the Council agencies, to
strengthen community resources, services for seniors, and health services.
Karen Spargo, Director of Health at the Naugatuck Valley Health District was
elected to the position of Vice Chair. Mrs. Spargo had the honor of presenting
the following 2004 Council Awards:
|
|
The Lewis Savitsky Staff Excellence Award
was presented to Bonnie Bodak for her
lifetime achievement as an employee at TEAM, Inc. for going above and beyond her
daily job duties to positively impact the quality of life in the lower Naugatuck
Valley. As testament to Bodak’s dedication, a thank you letter from one of her
clients was read, stating, “you were there for me when no one else was. You gave
me hope when mine was gone.” The award is named in honor of Lewis Savitsky, a long time employee of Valley United Way who was active not only with Valley United Way, but also with multiple groups in the community. |
| The WorkPlace, Inc. received The Agency of the Year Award. Joseph Carbone, WorkPlace President and CEO, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. The WorkPlace was recognized for making a significant and lasting contribution to the health and well being of the residents of the Lower Naugatuck Valley by continuing to operate a CTWorks career center in the Valley despite significant funding cuts that closed the Valley Department of Labor office. The WorkPlace also brings employment and training to the homes of residents of Ansonia’s Riverside apartment every Wednesday through CT’s first mobile career center, the Career Coach. |
|
|
|
Norbert Kovacs, a Seymour resident, was awarded special recognition. Kovacs has served as a Marketing Committee Volunteer for the council. Kovacs, in his volunteer role, has helped members of the Valley Council prepare stories for media distribution and provided significant writing and editorial services for the publication of the Council’s collaborative community newsletter Valley Opportunities |
