LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Martha Berntsen upon the occasion of
receiving the Joey Award from the Child Care Council of Westchester,
Inc. on June 5, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and character
who have inspired and brought pride to our majestic Empire State with
their strong contributions to the community and model citizenship; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Martha Berntsen upon the occasion of receiving the Joey Award from the
Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc. at its Awards Luncheon to be
held on Friday, June 5, 2009, at The Woman's Club, White Plains, New
York; and
WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, A woman of singular distinction, Martha Berntsen has given
not only of her time and energies but also of her competence, intelli-
gence and leadership and consequently has been designated for this
special honor; and
WHEREAS, This marks the 21st year of the Council's Joey Awards, named
after Joseph M. Ungaro, former Vice President of the Gannett Metro News
Division and first President of the Board of Directors of the Child Care
Council of Westchester, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree
in Social Work, Martha Berntsen's career in child care began as a
substitute teacher in 1991; she studied at Katherine Gibbs School which
led to work as an administrative assistant at Burke Rehabilitation
Center and as a Medicaid intake worker; and
WHEREAS, After working as a stay-at-home mom and volunteering with
Twig Organization and the Cub Scouts, Martha Berntsen began teaching at
Sunday school; she also substituted at Christ's Church Nursery School;
and
WHEREAS, In 1997, Martha Berntsen began her esteemed tenure as a
teacher at Oak Lane Child Care Center in the three-year-old classroom
where she continues today; she also furthered her education and recently
completed her Master's degree at Manhattanville College's Early Child-
hood Program; and
WHEREAS, Energizing and inspiring, Martha Berntsen was instrumental in
helping the Oak Lane Child Care Center to become one of only 17 centers
in the entire country to be reaccredited under the new NAEYC standards,
which were adopted in 2007; and
WHEREAS, Martha Berntsen has clearly had an enduring impact on the
youth of Westchester County, as well as on the community-at-large, and
accordingly merits recognition and applause for her impressive dedi-
cation to others; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Martha Berntsen upon the occasion of receiving the Joey Award from
the Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc. on June 5, 2009; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Martha Berntsen.