LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Joanne Sawmiller for 50 years of distin-
guished service to Hiscock Legal Aid Society

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those individuals
whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to enhance the stat-
ure of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Joanne Sawmiller for 50 years of distinguished service to Hiscock Legal
Aid Society, to be celebrated on June 14, 2012; and
WHEREAS, For the past five decades, Joanne Sawmiller has rendered
faithful, conscientious and valuable service to Hiscock Legal Aid; and
WHEREAS, Joanne Sawmiller is Hiscock Legal Aid's longest-serving
current employee and historian; and
WHEREAS, In 1962, Joanne Sawmiller began working at the Hiscock Legal
Aid Society as a secretary when the staff consisted of herself, an Exec-
utive Attorney, and two part-time attorneys; and
WHEREAS, Joanne Sawmiller's leadership, her vision and her dedication
to the Society, its clients and its mission, led her to achieve the
position of Assistant Director, the highest position for a non-lawyer in
the organization; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Joanne Sawmiller has helped the Society grow
to an organization of 50 staff members, including 29 attorneys, serving
more than 4,000 people in need in its community each year; and
WHEREAS, In her capacity as Assistant Director, Joanne Sawmiller has
served with loyalty, honor and distinction; and
WHEREAS, As the Assistant Director, Joanne Sawmiller plays multiple
roles, performing the functions of what in other organizations would be
the chief financial officer, personnel manager, human resources adminis-
trator and volunteer coordinator among others; and
WHEREAS, In those roles, Joanne Sawmiller has nurtured and encouraged
hundreds of attorney and non-attorney staff members and volunteers who
have either made their careers at the Society or went on to achieve and
serve the community in other settings; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, the Onondaga County Bar Association recognized
Joanne Sawmiller as a leader in the legal community by honoring her with
the Liberty Bell Award, which is given to a non-lawyer whose community
service has contributed to the American system of justice and liberty;
and
WHEREAS, In addition to her professional work, Joanne Sawmiller has
been involved in civic activities; she served as an elected member of
the Board of Education of the Onondaga Central School District, eventu-
ally becoming President of the Board; and
WHEREAS, She has also organized fundraisers to benefit local teenagers
who were paralyzed as the result of automobile accidents; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Joanne Sawmiller has served for many years as the
Internal Campaign Coordinator for the United Way, helping to achieve
100% participation by staff and surpassing fundraising goals each year;
and
WHEREAS, In her official acts, Joanne Sawmiller has been governed by a
keen sense of duty and always showed a unique grasp of human problems;
and
WHEREAS, During her tenure with Hiscock Legal Aid Society, Joanne
Sawmiller has earned the admiration, esteem and affection of her
colleagues; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Buddy, their son,
Gregory (Debbie) Sawmiller, and two grandchildren, Sarah and Michael,

all of whom feel privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her
achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, 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
honor Joanne Sawmiller for 50 years of distinguished service to Hiscock
Legal Aid Society; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Joanne Sawmiller.