WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: The United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s 21st Annual Salute to Labor Awards Dinner Honored Former and Retired International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 106 President Donald Emhardt With its Joseph H. Mason Community Service Award Late Last Week.  Pictured Above With Emhardt are Several Other Past Labor Leaders/Mason Community Service Award Winners, From Left to Right: Karen Olson - 2011; Gary Sorenson - 1994; Bill Servis - 2009; Emhardt - 2014; George Spitale - 1986; and Jeff Aiken - 2003.  (Photo Courtesy of the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County)

(JAMESTOWN) – Retired International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 106 President Donald Emhardt Was Honored With the Joseph H. Mason Community Service Award at the 21st Annual United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s Salute to Labor Awards Dinner in Jamestown, Which Also Highlighted the Many and Significant Contributions Unions and Their Members Make to This Southern Tier Community.

The Dinner - Which Was Attended by More Than 50 Representatives of Organized Labor and the United Way, Business Leaders and Representatives of the Political Community, as well as WNYLaborToday.com Editor-Publisher Tom Campbell – Who Was a Featured Speaker, Was Held at the at the Jamestown Elk’s Lodge on Wednesday, August 6th.

Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Chautauqua County Unit President Stephen Skidmore, Who Also Serves as Treasurer for the Jamestown AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and is a Past Member of the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s Board, Served as Master of Ceremonies.

“Labor ‘Absolutely Believes’ in the Mission of the United Way and Enjoys Working With This Organization,” said Skidmore, Noting That Organized Labor Accounts for as Much as 17% of the United Way’s Yearly $1 Million-Plus Fundraising Goal.

Jamestown AFL-CIO Labor Council President David Wilkinson, Who Serves as the Current President of Jamestown-Headquartered IBEW Local 106 and is a Current United Board Member, said: “We Love How This Event Brings So Many Different Labor Organizations Together to Thank ‘One of Our Own’ for ‘Giving Back’ to the Community.  The Partnership We Have With United Way is ‘Very Important’ and We ‘Work Hard’ to Strengthen it.”

Since 1981, the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County (www.uwayscc.org) – Which Provides Funding to 20 Agency Partners to Support 42 Local Programs, Has Made it a Unique Practice Here in Western New York to Recognize a Union Member or Labor Staff Person Whose Volunteer Service Mirrors the Spirit of Involvement Exhibited by the Late Mason.

“Joseph Mason’s Legacy of Community Service Lives On in This Award Named for Him,” Skidmore said. “The Past Winners Select the Recipient Based On Criteria That Reflect His Commitment and it ‘Reminds Us All to Do What We Can’ to Make This Community Stronger.”

Emhardt Not Only Served as President of IBEW Local 106, But Also as President of IBEW Local 56 in Erie, Pennsylvania – Only One of a Few Labor Leaders to Hold the Distinction of Hold Union Offices in Two Different Locals Over a Career.  Emhardt, Who Worked as an Electrician for 40 Years in Both the States of Pennsylvania and New York, Currently Serves as the Supervisor of the Town of Chautauqua.  In His Spare Time, He Volunteers With the Dewittville Fire Department, Participates On the Ice Rescue Team for Chautauqua Lake, Serves as Vice President of the Chautauqua Lake Association, and is a Board Member for the Newly-Formed Chautauqua Lake Management Alliance.  Emhardt Also Spent Time as a Youth Football Coach in the Mayville Area for Several Years, Including Serving as the High School Coach.  In Addition, He’s Helped Organize the Local Ice Castle Festival and Tom Drake 5K Run.

United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Executive Director Tory Irgang Praised Emhardt, saying He “Gives Back” in So Many Ways to His Community and Had Helped Save Several People Over the Years Who’d Fallen Through the Frozen Ice on Chautauqua Lake.  “He’s a Good Community Member That We All Benefit From,” she said.

Accepting the Mason Award, Emhardt Briefly Thanked the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County and the Jamestown AFL-CIO Labor Council Before Being Presented and With Several Proclamations and Congratulations by Representatives From U.S. Congressman Tom Reed’s Office, New York State Senator Cathy Young’s Office and New York State Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, Who Was There to Shake Emhardt’s Hand.  Goodell Also Described Emhardt as “Making a Difference” in Southern Chautauqua County.