LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring The Honorable Norma S. Gonsalves upon
the occasion of being designated as recipient of the Visionary Award at
the Sixth Annual Prairie Benefit commemorating the 10th Anniversary of
Friends of Hempstead Plains at Nassau Community College

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, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge
outstanding individuals whose professional lives, personal endeavors and
community service are an example and inspiration to their colleagues,
friends, and family; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor The
Honorable Norma S. Gonsalves upon the occasion of being designated as
recipient of the Visionary Award at the Sixth Annual Prairie Benefit
commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Friends of Hempstead Plains at
Nassau Community College; this auspicious occasion will be celebrated at
the organization's Challenge 2011 event, to be held on Friday, April 29,
2011, at the Hofstra University Club David S. Mack Hall; and
WHEREAS, The seeds have been sown for the Hempstead Plains Educational
Center to be erected on the plains for future generations; the Center is
a green sustainable building and landscape design that compliments and
enhances the historic nineteen acre prairie remnant at Nassau Community
College; and
WHEREAS, An educator for 25 years in the New York City school system,
Norma S. Gonsalves is the Founder and Immediate Past President of the
Council of East Meadow Community Organizations (CEMCO); currently she is
the Project Director for Crime Watch and Civilian Patrol and serves as a
delegate to CEMCO from the Wenwood Oaks Civic Association; and
WHEREAS, Norma S. Gonsalves is a member of the East Meadow Chamber of
Commerce, the Edward J. Speno Lodge No. 2568 Order Sons of Italy in
America, and Kiwanis Club of East Meadow; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Norma S. Gonsalves is a former spokesperson for
the Nassau County Correctional Facility Advisory Committee and a former
member of the Town of Hempstead Solid Waste Advisory Committee; she has
served as Chairperson of the East Meadow Bicentennial Committee, and is
a former PTA Units president and PTA Council president, as well as a
former UFT Executive Board chapter member; and
WHEREAS, Among her many awards, Norma S. Gonsalves has received the:
2009 Women of Distinction Award, 2007 Nassau University Medical Center
Heroes in Health Award, Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center Foundation
Award, and the Diamond Anton J. Kaiser Foundation Fellow Award from the
Kiwanis Club of East Meadow; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Norma S. Gonsalves has received the 2002 Golden
Heart Award from the Association for Children for the Enforcement of
Support, the 1999 Woman of the Year Award from the East Meadow Chamber
of Commerce, the NEWSDAY 1992 Volunteer Award and the 1976 Woman of the
Year Award from the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce as its Bicentennial
Chairperson; and
WHEREAS, A resident of East Meadow, New York, Norma S. Gonsalves
received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from St. Joseph's
College for Women, and her Master of Arts degree from Hunter College and
Brooklyn College; she is also a graduate of the Nassau County Citizens
Police Academy; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, John, as well as
her three children; all of whom feel privileged to be part of her life

and rejoice in her achievements; together, Norma and John are the proud
grandparents of three grandsons and a granddaughter; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her professional and communi-
ty service, a period of constructive involvement, Norma S. Gonsalves has
stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor, and has earned the
respect and admiration of her colleagues, family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others which Norma S. Gonsalves has displayed
throughout her life; 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 recognized by all the citizens of this great Empire
State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor The Honorable Norma S. Gonsalves upon the occasion of being desig-
nated as recipient of the Visionary Award at the Sixth Annual Prairie
Benefit commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Friends of Hempstead
Plains at Nassau Community College; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Norma S. Gonsalves.