LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Tom Weddell upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the 2012 Ruth and James Ottaway Medal by the
Orange County Citizens Foundation on April 26, 2012

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, Tom Weddell has given not only of his time and energies but
also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has
been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Tom Weddell
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2012 Ruth and
James Ottaway Medal by the Orange County Citizens Foundation, to be
celebrated on Thursday, April 26, 2012, at a dinner reception in Central
Valley, New York; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1971, the Orange County Citizens Foundation is
a private, non-profit corporation that coordinates 16 engaged commit-
tees; its Board and staff serve as community volunteers to learn more
about the needs of Orange County residents; and
WHEREAS, The Ottaway Medal is named in honor of Ruth and James Otta-
way, Sr. who set the bar for local community involvement years ago; the
couple helped to found the Citizens Foundation and also lent personal
and financial support to many other community treasures; and
WHEREAS, Tom Weddell has been called upon to contribute his time and
talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given
of himself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, Tom Weddell was born and raised in Orange County and is now
the managing partner of the accounting firm Vanacore, DeBenedictus,
DiGovanni and Weddell; and
WHEREAS, Tom Weddell's passion for Orange County has been a driving
force in the community; he always strives to improve the quality of life
in Orange County and never shies away from the hard work necessary to
get the job done; and
WHEREAS, A valued and involved member of his community, Tom Weddell's
volunteer leadership roles are vast, serving in community-wide organiza-
tions like the United Way, the Orange County Citizens Foundation, the
Newburgh Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the Greater Southern Dutchess Cham-
ber of Commerce, as well as their Chamber Foundation, SUNY New Paltz
School of Business Advisory Board, Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress, and
the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan Counties; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Tom Weddell was honored as the Business Person of
the Year for the SUNY New Paltz Hall of Fame awards; and
WHEREAS, A 1996 graduate of the Leadership Orange Program, Tom Weddell
received that organization's leadership award in 2008; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Tom Weddell was recently honored with the Urbach
Leadership Award; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Tom Weddell has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout have been his wife, Michele, and their
three children, as well as their grandchildren, all of whom feel privi-
leged to be a part of his life and rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Tom Weddell has displayed throughout
his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Tom Weddell upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of

the 2012 Ruth and James Ottaway Medal by the Orange County Citizens
Foundation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Tom Weddell.