LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Tobago Progressive Association of the
USA Inc. upon the occasion of its 16th Annual Award Luncheon, and paying
tribute to this year's distinguished honorees

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of and
publicly acknowledge those individuals who have distinguished themselves
through their exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives
of service to their community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Tobago Progressive Association of the USA Inc. upon the occasion of
hosting its 16th Annual Award Luncheon to be held on Sunday, April 25,
2010, and to pay tribute to this year's distinguished honorees; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, Tobago Progressive Association of the
USA Inc. has worked collaboratively with other organizations to provide
community health outreach programs and forums in both Brooklyn, New York
and the Caribbean; and
WHEREAS, Each year, Tobago Progressive Association of the USA Inc.
honors deserving individuals within the community who have been called
upon to contribute their time and talents to countless civic and chari-
table endeavors and have always given of themselves unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, This year's distinguished honorees include: Ivan Lisnitzer,
Philanthropy Award 2010; Stephen J.H. Isaac, Humanitarian Award 2010;
Jacqueline Horsford, RN, BSN, MSA, Florence Nightingale of Nursing Award
2010; Orville Scott, MD, Renaissance Man Award 2010; Lynette Pearl Rich-
ardson-Baptiste, RN, Outstanding Community Service Award 2010; and
Albert Pilgrim, Keynote Speaker, Ambassadorial Health Award 2010; and
WHEREAS, Ivan M. Lisnitzer has served as the Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer for the SUNY Downstate Medical Center since
2002; in this capacity, he is involved in all segments and aspects of
the campus and is the Senior Leader of the campus in the President's
absence; he has been employed by SUNY Downstate Medical Center for over
23 years serving in a variety of administrative positions with increas-
ing responsibilities; previous to his current position, he was the
Senior Vice President for Administration; and
WHEREAS, Ivan M. Lisnitzer was also the President of the State Univer-
sity Business Officers Association and recently received the First Annu-
al Robert J. Wagner Business Officer of the Year Award for his accom-
plishments while President; he is also the prime liaison from the campus
to SUNY and other Albany based oversight organizations and serves on
several University task forces and advisory groups; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Ivan M. Lisnitzer is a member of the National
Association of College and University Business Officers; he also serves
as an Evaluation Team Member of the Middle State Commission on Higher
Education; in January 2008, he was appointed as Trustee of the Middle
States Association of Colleges and Schools and serves as its Treasurer;
and
WHEREAS, A native of Tobago, for 20 years, Stephen J.H. Isaac worked
with the Water and Sewerage Authority in Tobago; today, he is employed
in the Electrical Department (FM&D) at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in
Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Stephen J.H. Isaac served as President of the Georgia Sports
and Cultural Club, 1st Vice President of the Tobago Football Associ-
ation, Chairman of the Tobago Branch of the Trinidad and Tobago Society
for the Rehabilitation of the Physically Challenged, and committee
member of the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals; and

WHEREAS, In addition, as a member and P.R.O. of the Tobago Progressive
Association of the USA Inc., Stephen J.H. Isaac has been actively
involved in planning and conducting several health fairs in Brooklyn as
well as in the islands of Trinidad and Tobago; and
WHEREAS, Jacqueline Horsford was born in Moriah, Tobago; in 1970, upon
completion of high school, she joined her mother in New York; she worked
at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, during which time she contem-
plated her career opportunities; in August 1972, she traveled to London,
England primarily on vacation, but also to explore nursing in England;
two weeks later, she was accepted in North London Group School of Nurs-
ing, where she completed her Nursing Education and obtained her Regis-
tered Nurse License in 1975; and
WHEREAS, In 1979, Jacqueline Horsford traveled to Tobago to care for
her grandmother; she returned to New York in 1987, and pursued her Bach-
elor's degree at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York
where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian of the Class of
1992; she later became employed at Brookdale Hospital and was instru-
mental and successful in the appeals for retrieving funds from Insurance
Companies who previously denied claims; each year, she took the opportu-
nity to empower and orientate all incoming interns on the process of
effective documentation to ensure appropriate reimbursements and reduce
claims denials; and
WHEREAS, In keeping with her quest for knowledge and while still work-
ing at Brookdale Hospital, Jacqueline Horsford decided to further
empower herself by earning her Masters of Science degree in Nursing
Administration at Central Michigan University; in September 2004, she
became Director of Nursing at Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Nursing and Reha-
bilitation Center, a position she currently holds; and
WHEREAS, In 1967, Dr. Orville Scott migrated to the United States of
America from Tobago and worked as an economist at the American Stock
Exchange; he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Chemistry
from Oakwood University and later attended Loma Linda University and
Universidad Autonoma De Guadalajara, Mexico Schools of Medicine, where
he graduated as Medical Doctor; and
WHEREAS, Upon graduating, Dr. Scott practiced Internal Medicine at
Einstein University and Surgery at Columbia University in New York, and
in 1983, he returned to Port-of-Spain General Hospital as a Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgeon, visiting Surgeon at Hospital De Las Clinicas
Caracas, Venezuela, and was also in private practice; in 1993, he
returned to New York and was Medical Chief of Staff at Upper Manhattan
Health Center as well as a Lecturer in Embryology and Professor of Clin-
ical Medicine at Einstein University School of Medicine; and
WHEREAS, To fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Medical Missionary,
Dr. Scott has worked in the New York City Prison Health System as a
Night Medical Chief, transforming the lives of countless men; he has
also financially supported six missionaries in South America and has
been the benefactor to Davis Memorial Hospital, Guyana, supplying them
with medicines and equipment; his children have followed in his foot-
steps and have been missionaries to North, Central and South America,
Thailand, Asia and Africa; and
WHEREAS, Lynette Richardson-Baptiste began her professional nursing
career in 1969 at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, School of Nursing
and obtained certificates in Midwifery and Nursing Education; she later
continued her nursing education at Great Ormond Street, London, England,
where she specialized in Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
and Research; she migrated to the United States in 1988 and obtained her
Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Medgar Evers College of New
York City; and

WHEREAS, Lynette Richardson-Baptiste was employed by the New York City
Health and Hospitals Corporation until February 2010, when she retired
from Kings County Hospital Center where she served as Assistant Director
of Women's Health; and
WHEREAS, As a hard working member of the Trinidad and Tobago Nurses
Association, Lynette Richardson-Baptiste has maintained the mission of
the organization by mentoring young nurses while helping them to adapt
and assimilate to life in the United States; her commitment to assisting
organizations with similar missions and visions has become her passion;
and
WHEREAS, Born on February 28, 1953, Albert Pilgrim grew up in Sherwood
Park, Carnbee, Tobago but has been residing at Signal Hill for the last
12 years; after attending the Mt Gomery Government School and Bishop's
High School, he taught at the Mt Gomery Government School as a Leave
Relief Teacher before joining the Public Service where he worked for 33
years; and
WHEREAS, Albert Pilgrim has been very active in the Carnbee/Mt Pleas-
ant Community and was at the forefront in organizing activities such as:
James Laptiste's Appreciation; Cecil "Tea Pan" Darlington Memorial; and
Goderick "Bound To" Alfred Benefit; he has been officiating at the annu-
al Carnbee/Mt Pleasant Easter Monday Sports Meeting for over 25 years
and was a foundation member of the Soul City Football Club that he also
coached for approximately 20 years; he was also a co-organizer of the
Soul City Football Youth League, and is a foundation member of the
Carnbee/Mt Pleasant Sports Club; and
WHEREAS, An exemplary leader, Albert Pilgrim was elected as an Assem-
blyman for the electoral district of Buccoo/Mt Pleasant in the Tobago
House of Assembly in January 2005; for the first four years, he served
as both the Deputy Presiding Officer and the Assistant Secretary of the
Division of Health and Social Services with the responsibility for
Social Services and the Community Based Environmental Protection and
Enhancement Program (CEPEP); for the last year, he has been proudly
serving as the Secretary of Health and Social Services in the Tobago
House of Assembly; and
WHEREAS, All of the 2010 award recipients have continually demon-
strated extreme competence, extraordinary intelligence and diligent
leadership in their unwavering service to both their community and
profession; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Tobago Progressive Association of the USA Inc. upon the occasion
of its 16th Annual Award Luncheon, and to pay tribute to this year's
distinguished honorees; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Tobago Progressive Association of the USA Inc. and the afore-
mentioned honorees.