Updated: December 9, 2009
The North Country Region of the NYS-PTA is pleased and proud to announce that Potsdam PTSA member and NC PTA Board member Susan Godreau, Potsdam, is the 2009 PTA Volunteer of the Year by New York State PTA. The award was created in 1991 to honor the memory of Jane Skrzypek, a PTA leader who inspired others to volunteer. The award recognizes outstanding leaders in a local PTA who go above and beyond the scope of their PTA position and inspire others to volunteer and assume leadership positions.
The formal presentation of the award was made at the NYS PTA Convention in November by NYS PTA Vice President Susan Berkow. Susan Godreau is the third Potsdam PTSA leader to receive this prestigious award in this decade. It was awarded in 2003 to Pamela Yurgartis, Potsdam and in 2006 to April Bender, Hannawa Falls.
The nomination was made by past Region Director Carla Ingram, Potsdam, who said, "Susan Godreau is a wonderful influence on anyone she meets. Her leadership and enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring. I have had the pleasure of working with Susan for over seven years and during that time, I have seen her influence many people, build up the PTA, increase membership and charter new PTA units."
Ingram continued, "She has used her leadership skills to help others and pass her knowledge to her underlings. Susan is enthusiastic, warm, knowledgeable and helpful. Her leadership skills have been honed for use in her personal life, her professional life and her volunteer life."
Susan has been a member of the Potsdam Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) since 1995, serving as President from 1997-99. Other leadership positions included Vice President for the High School, serving on the Parenting Coalition Committee, the Shared Decision Making Committee and as Newsletter Editor.
She served three years as North Country Region Director from 2003-06, overseeing the 12 PTA units in the St. Lawrence, Essex and Franklin Counties. During her term as Region Director, she chartered three new units, in the largest geographic region in the state but the least populous.
Photo: Susan Berkow, NYS PTA VP, awards the 2009 Jane Skrzypek NYS-PTA Volunteer of the Year to Potsdam PTSA and North Country Region PTA member Susan Godreau (right) at the New York State PTA Convention in November. The award was created in 1991 to honor the memory of Jane Skrzypek, a PTA leader who inspired others to volunteer. The award recognizes outstanding leaders in a local PTA who go above and beyond the scope of their PTA position and inspire others to volunteer and assume leadership positions. Susan Godreau is the third Potsdam PTSA leader to receive this prestigious award in this decade.
April Bender, Hannawa Falls, the immediate past High School vice president of the Potsdam PTSA, has won New York State PTA’s highest award as the Jane Skrzypek Volunteer of the Year for 2006.
The award was presented on April 25 in Potsdam at the NYS-PTA North Country Region’s fall conference. NYS-PTA Environment Chair Pat Hysert, Tonawanda, made the presentation on behalf of the state PTA.
“We are all volunteers in PTA, and our reward is the benefits that our children, and all children, receive when we work to give them the highest advantages,” Hysert told the gathering of PTA members. “There is always someone, however, who supports the group in such a way that her or his leadership leaves a legacy. Their accomplishments stand out in a group of leaders. It is to honor such a person that the Jane Skrzypek Volunteer of the Year Award was established in 1991.”
She explained, “Jane Skrzypek was an inspiration to all who knew her. She encouraged parents to become active in their children’s educations and inspired others to become leaders and strong advocates for children. This award was created in her name, to honor a member within a PTA unit, council or region whose efforts go above and beyond the scope of her or his PTA position and who inspires others to volunteer and assume leadership positions. This prestigious award is as much about leadership as it is about volunteerism.”
In presenting the award to April Bender, Hysert cataloged her service to the Potsdam PTSA. As the new PTSA vice president for the high school Bender, “immediately set about to ensure that communications between home and school were two-way and meaningful.”
Hysert went on to say that Bender “worked collaboratively with administration, teachers, parents and other PTA leaders, improving these relationships, to ‘connect the dots’ that promote respect for the PTSA and to make possible the creation of a newsletter, grant-writing seminar, and new programs for students at the school.”
April Bender’s work not only benefits students at Potsdam, she also brought new opportunities to other students. She organized a Model United Nations Conference that brought together many schools throughout the region, to further student social and academic skills.
In his letter of recommendation, Potsdam Superintendent Patrick Brady described Bender as “one of the most active PTSA members I have had the pleasure to work with.”
Carla Ingram, president of the Potsdam PTSA, said, "April did an incredible job in making the High School and PTSA connection work. Her grant writing workshops were a great addition to the programs at the high school. Her work was invaluable to the PTSA. She is an incredible person and friend and PTSA member."
This is the second time that a Potsdam PTA member has won the Jane Skrzypek Volunteer of the Year from NYS-PTA. Pam Yurgartis was the recipient in 2003
Ingram, who is also the North Country Region’s Director, says, “PTA is very well served by our outstanding members and leaders here in the North Country. To have two Volunteer of the Year award winners in the last four years is proof of that.”
With nearly 6 million members, National PTA is the largest volunteer parent organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1897, National PTA is a powerful voice for children, a relevant resource for parents, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in National PTA is open to anyone who is concerned with the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit National PTA.
For more information about the North Country Region, NYS-PTA, please contact region director Carla Ingram.
PHOTO: April Bender, Hannawa Falls, shows her Jane Skrzypek Volunteer of the Year for 2006 Award from the New York State PTA at the recent North Country Region PTA Fall Conference held in Potsdam. Bender, the immediate past High School vice president of the Potsdam PTSA, was recognized for her outstanding efforts above and beyond the scope of her PTA position and inspiring others to volunteer for PTA leadership and service. (Godreau Photo)
The Potsdam Central PTA is pleased and honored to announce that PTA member Pam Yurgartis has been named the PTA Volunteer of the Year by New York State PTA. The award was created in 1991 to honor the memory of Jane Skrzypek, a PTA leader who inspired others to volunteer. The purpose of the award is to recognize outstanding leaders in a local PTA who go above and beyond the scope of their PTA position and inspire others to volunteer and assume leadership positions.
The formal presentation of the award was made at the NYS PTA Convention n Nov. 8, 2003 at the Nevele in Ellenville, New York. The announcement was made in Potsdam on Sept. 20 by NYS PTA President Penny Leask, NYS PTA vice president April Holdren, and NYS PTA North Country Region Director Susan Godreau.
A PTA member and parent volunteer for many years in the Potsdam Central District, Pam has held numerous elected leadership positions as well as many volunteer positions been active on school committees. In addition to her volunteer work in the schools, she has been active in the greater Potsdam community, making Potsdam a better place to live and work for both young and old alike.
One parent wrote: “Pam Yurgartis has taught me that volunteering has a ripple effect in the community. She leads quietly by example expecting nothing in return. She has changed my philosophy of volunteering. It is not for my gratification or even my children but for all children and in fact all of the community. Whether we are working on reading programs, membership, school spirit, playground repair ... Pam is there first and leaves last and makes her impact quietly but effectively.”
Elementary principal John Charlebois described Pam as some who “has been and continues to be a dedicated individual who is willing to demonstrate her support for efforts that directly impact children in this school district.”
PHOTO: PTA Volunteer of the Year: Pam Yurgartis of Potsdam (third from the left) is congratulated on her recognition as the NYS PTA Volunteer of the Year by PTA vice president April Holdren, NYS PTA North Country Region Director Susan Godreau (behind), and NYS PTA President Penny Leask (right).