LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Gerald and Rosemary Skoda upon the
occasion of their designation for special recognition by the United Way
of Sullivan County

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, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Gerald and
Rosemary Skoda upon the occasion of their designation for special recog-
nition by the United Way of Sullivan County, to be celebrated with a
Champagne Brunch at Bernie's Holiday Restaurant in Rock Hill, New York,
on Sunday, June 1, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Located in Monticello, New York, the United Way of Sullivan
County has helped find and provide support services to people in need in
the area for the past 30 years; and
WHEREAS, Gerald and Rosemary Skoda have given not only of their time
and energies but also of their competence, intelligence and leadership;
they have benefited their community through their own special blend of
farming, and down home generosity and consequently have been designated
for special honor; and
WHEREAS, Gerald J. Skoda is the former Executive Director of Cornell
Cooperative Extension, and continues to act as a member of its Board; he
has devotedly served his community as Director of The Community Founda-
tion of Orange and Sullivan County and also as Chairman of The Board of
Catskill Regional Medical Center; furthermore, he has been a member of
the Tri-Valley School Board for 24 years, serving 17 years as president;
and
WHEREAS, Rosemary Skoda is a former Executive Director of the USDA
Farm Services Agency and has worked for a number of years with the SUNY
Sullivan Dormitory Authority; she has become an integral part of the
United Way of Sullivan County, serving as Past-Chairman of the Board and
currently as the organization's Treasurer; and
WHEREAS, Married for over 50 years, Gerald and Rosemary Skoda are the
proud owners of a farm in Woodbourne, New York, which they have grown
into a successful agricultural enterprise through hard work and dedi-
cation; and
WHEREAS, Several years ago this remarkable couple started expanding
their operations to start providing more vegetables to charities servic-
ing those suffering from food insecurity; last year, they delivered
fresh vegetables three times a week to the Federation For the Homeless,
CACHE, St. Andrews Food, and to the United Way of Sullivan County; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others which Gerald and Rosemary Skoda have displayed
throughout their lives; 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
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Gerald and Rosemary Skoda upon the occasion of their designation
for special recognition by the United Way of Sullivan County; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Gerald and Rosemary Skoda.