Woo-hoo! David Pettalia!

NEWS RELEASE

UNITED WAY OF SAULT STE. MARIE

************************* The John Bennett Labour Award The John Bennett Labour Award, established by the United Way of Sault Ste. Marie in honour of a long serving United Way volunteer, John Bennett was presented today to Mr. David Pettalia at the Fifth Annual United Way Labour Breakfast held at the Waterfront Inn & Conference Centre.

United Way volunteers and guests met with representatives from all labour organizations in Sault Ste. Marie.

The breakfast is one of many launch activities planned for the 2009 United Way Campaign.

Nominations for the John Bennett Award are from local Unions & Associations in Sault Ste. Marie and district.

This award is presented to a member or retiree of a local Union, in recognition of an outstanding contribution in the general area of voluntary community service.

We want to say thank you Dave Pettalia for your volunteerism and your contribution to making our community a better place.

Dave is the kind of person who cares about every individual in the community and has volunteered his time on a host of organizations which include the Community First Credit Union, Group Health Centre, Steelworkers Community Services Committee and the United Way:

- Since 2004 Dave has been a United Way board member; he served as board chair for 2008 and 2009

- 2006 to present he’s been an executive committee member

- From 2005 to present serves as a Community Endowment Committee member

- From 2006 to present[he has served on] Trades Bursary Committee.

Dave currently serves on the Community First Credit Union as a director.

He’s been vice chair since 2007 and he also serves as chair of the audit committee.

Dave served as vice president of the Group Health Centre board.

From 2002 to 2008 he participated with the Group Health’s Joint Management Committee and Joint Executive Committee.

Since 2003 Dave’s been a committee board member of the Steelworkers Community Services Committee and has volunteered his labour to help since 1992.

Dave has been a consistent volunteer for decades and has educated and worked together with our community on the challenges we all face, both present and into the future.

His volunteer efforts have contributed to help build a better Sault Ste. Marie.

He's offered his friendship and his facilitation skills to solve a myriad of problems.

Background

The John Bennett Labour Award

[In] June 2005 the board of directors of the United Way of Sault Ste. Marie and district established the John Bennett Labour Award in recognition of John Bennett’s commitment to his community and his 24 years as a United Way volunteer.

John’s volunteer history also includes serving on the Human Rights Commission.

Most importantly, he was a leader in the Community Action Team that helped to rally the whole community around supporting the revival of Algoma Steel in 1991-92.

Other volunteer positions include:

- Chair, Sault College Board of Governors

- Chair, Plummer Memorial Hospital Board

- Chair, Business/Labour Committee of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation

- Director, Plummer Memorial Hospital Foundation

- Director, Health Horizons Inc.

- Vice Chair, Rapids Industrial Committee

- Advisory Committee member, Human Rights/Ontario Hospital Association.

John has spent the past 24 years serving the United Way of Sault Ste. Marie in various capacities, including:

- President, 1990 and 1991

- Campaign chair, 1981

- Ad Hoc Trillium Grant Committee, 1998-2000

- Admission Committee, 1992, 1993, 1998-2004

- Ad Hoc Hospital Campaign Committee, 2003, 2004

- Campaign Cabinet, 2000-2003

- Labour Committee, 1992-2004

- Nominating Committee Chair, 1992, 1993

- Planned Giving Committee, 1992-2004

- Public Relations Committee, 1992-2004

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