With the innate ability to ‘cut to the chase’ coupled with intelligence, high energy, and purpose, Reba spent the first years of her work life in retail,  a really good place to learn first-hand how to treat people.  Whether unpacking boxes, stocking shelves, taking inventory, buying or selling, you also develop a foundation for how things work and yes, I speak from experience. 

Changing careers, Reba became a part-time case worker for the Dept of Youth and Family Services, responsible for transporting young clients to medical and therapeutic appointments.  As you can imagine, many of these children came from challenging situations and were fortunate to find a friend who would listen to them, care for them and offer the love they needed.

When she was 60, Reba accepted a position as the Coordinator of the Personal Assistance Program, a pilot program under the auspices of the Cumberland County Office on Aging and Disability created by the State of New Jersey.  She was the first coordinator hired and worked in that position for over twenty years.  This program made it possible for adults with physical disabilities to continue working, to attend school or vocational training and live independently in the community.

And here’s where Reba came into her own as advocate, friend and mentor.  Managing her clients’ paperwork, coordinating their personal assistants, listening to their cares and needs, she supported their efforts and gave them hope.  She arranged day trips and social events for them, she arranged wheelchair transport and whatever else was needed.  She became known as caring for the ‘whole’ person – the physical, emotional, financial and social aspects of her clients’ lives.

As noted so beautifully by her daughter Debbie: “Not only did she manage the paperwork, the critical day-to-day needs, and the development of innovative programs, but she provided the love and emotional support necessary for her clients to gain the confidence to live in ways they never thought possible. She enabled countless clients to step out of their previously limited worlds into their unlimited possibilities. She helped many re-imagine themselves in whole new ways! As a result of her love, support and “know-how”, her disabled clients became abled clients and were better able to parent their children. They developed the confidence to apply for new job opportunities, they learned to drive, they pursued vocational training and entered and/or completed college.”

One of the things I found unique about Reba was her ability to transfer her own illness and challenges into love and care of others.  She embraced every day in every way with love and joy.

It is said that Reba dreamed of becoming a nurse and although she never had the opportunity to complete the coursework, I believe that Reba was born to nourish, cherish, enrich and care for all who needed her.  And that to me is the definition of a nurse.  Thank you Reba.

Special Note: Last week Reba Chonofsky was posthumously inducted into the Cumberland County, NJ Women’s Hall of Fame.

Special Note 2:  to be truly transparent I will tell you that Reba was my husband’s aunt and although I met her late in her life, I loved her spirit, her sense of community and family.

Why have I been thinking about this?  Well, it seems to me there are so many heroes out there.  Some live right next door.  Maybe it’s the crossing guard who makes sure the kids get safely across the busy street or maybe it’s the librarian who urges a child to try a new book – the everyday people who give our world purpose.

Later this week I’m launching a series called The Hero Next Door to spread the word about some of these everyday people quietly changing the world through great kindness, strength of purpose and courage.  Watch for the first of these about Reba Chonofsky, A Woman of Valor.

And if you know one of these special people please let me know.

But the article got me to thinking about whether you have to be a CEO of an organization to have a noble purpose.  Can’t each of us go beyond our egos and personal gain to be genuine and work towards the common good?  I’m reminded of all the people I know who do this every day, day-in and day-out.  It’s a values-based lifestyle.

It’s not just about passion or hard work but the ability to connect what you do with the rest of the world and make a difference.  I think about people who are sometimes called angels or unsung heroes and think that they know the real definition of a noble purpose.  People like Reba Chonofsky, who at the age of 60 took on the coordination of a pilot program to improve the lives of hundreds of adults with physical disabilities.  She worked for twenty years making a difference in the lives of her clients.  More about Reba in a later post so check back often.

Each of us (and YES I mean each of us) has a gift, maybe deep inside and just waiting to be set free, to connect who we are, what we do and believe in with others for A Noble Purpose.  Have you thought about what your purpose is?   I’d love to hear from you.

Mechanicville Rotarian, Jim Fischer, braved the icy waters of the Atlantic on New Year’s Day, to call attention to Rotary International’s promise to End Polio Now!  

Many other Rotarians in Rotary District 7190 in New York jump into Lake George as part of the Polio Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day, but Fischer, on vacation, put a new twist on the annual Plunge by going in the ocean off the South Carolina coast.  Fischer reports that it was ‘pretty darn chilly.’

Although the United States has been polio-free for many years, polio was one of the most feared diseases paralyzing thousands of children every year.  In the 1950s and 1960s, soon after the introduction of the Salk and Sabin vaccines, polio was brought under control in this country.   Once worldwide immunization was introduced in the 1970’s, many nations became polio-free.  But many countries, primarily in Africa and Asia, were unable to bring this dread disease under control.

In 1985 Rotary International made a promise to the children of the world to eradicate polio forever.  Since that time billions of dollars have been donated for vaccine and educational programs.  Currently only three countries remain endemic: Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.  India reaches the two-year polio-free mark this month.

Partnering with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the CDC and more recently with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary continues to lead the way to final eradication.

Every Sunday I look forward to Nancy O’Donnell’s column in the Albany Times Union.  Called Gardener’s Notebook, it’s chock full of wisdom, information, tips and ideas on gardening and nature.  In fact, her December 2010 column on growing ginger is on my desk right now.  I also love her reports on the most popular new annuals and perennials of the year.

Sunday’s column was a slight departure and one I’m glad she wrote.  In it she describes how she found and adopted her dog, Rocky, and the life they shared together.  She calls it paw prints on her heart and I couldn’t agree more.  Nancy also writes about the new year as a place to start over and perhaps do something that makes a positive difference…….adopting an abused, abandoned or rescued animal.  The love you will get in return cannot be described.

Click HERE to read this heartwarming and poignant story about her animal hero.

Nancy’s column can be found in the Real Estate section of the Sunday Times Union.  She is also the owner of Perennial Graphics Nursery in Schaghticoke, NY.  Thanks Nancy for all you do to make the world a better place.

Some of the organizations are local and some  faraway but all deserve high praise for their vision, commitment, dedication and generous spirit.  Take an opportunity to fill yourself with the warmth and love generated by these stories.

• Rotary International’s End Polio Now
• Shelterbox
• Operation Warm
• Pure Water for the World
• The Dictionary Project
• NABA – Northeast  Association for the Blind at Albany
• The Century House Enjoy One,  Share One program
• Vascular Birthmark Foundation
• Hats For A Purpose
• The Animal Support Project
• Best Friends

Greetings of the season to all my friends and family.

Here are just a few of the hats that made kids smile this week.  Love and appreciation to all of you who made this possible.

This is my 9th year working with The Dictionary Project through my Rotary Club donating dictionaries to every third grader in each of our four area schools.  This has become a legacy project since we are now meeting the brothers and sisters of our original group of 3rd graders.  Sometimes we are asked if online dictionaries have replaced the need for a paperback dictionary.  If you ever saw a little girl kiss her brand new dictionary you have your answer.  Although online resources have their place, third graders typically do not have their own computers; in school they share and at home they may not rank high on the need to use the family computer.  When you are writing a friendly letter for homework or completing a reading assignment and you need to look up a word, it’s easy to pull out your very own dictionary from your backpack rather than wait for computer time.  As The Dictionary Project says “Dictionaries are a necessity.”

This is my fourth year working with Operation Warm, again with my Rotary Club, providing high quality, new, warm winter coats to children at risk in our communities.  They believe, deeply, that a new winter coat enhances a child’s well-being and self-esteem while making it easier to go to school every day particularly when it’s freezing cold.  Founded in 1998 they have provided over 1,00,000,000 coats to children in the United States.

So why is this a handshake?  If a child has a warm coat chances are s/he will attend school and it is a fact that with better attendance children learn more and learn faster.  If they also have a dictionary as a resource chances are they read at a higher level with more understanding.

Consider a statistic from Jeff McQuillan’s research in the late ’90′s – one million children drop out of school every year costing our nation over $240 billion in lost earning, tax revenue and social services expenditures.  It seems to me a new coat and a dictionary are a small price to pay to keep our children in school.

The Dictionary Project and Operation Warm indeed have A Noble Purpose.

Here’s a call -out to all of you who are knitting, crocheting or weaving Hats For A Purpose – Let’s Go!

Last year we distributed almost 125 hats locally and another 300 hundred to the kids in Schoharie County who lost everything in Tropical Storm Irene.  This year I’d like to distribute at last 150 locally and if there is a need in Colorado, after the terrible fires, I’d like to send hats their way also.

The great photo below is of Tim (seen on the right) handing over a huge bag of gorgeous handmade hats from his wife, Alice, to my husband Bob.  Thanks so much Alice.