LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Gavin and Mrs. Karen Setzen upon the
occasion of their designation as recipients of the 2016 Circle of Human-
ity Award by Temple Israel, Albany, New York

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, Dr. Gavin and Mrs. Karen Setzen have given not only of their
time and energies but also of their competence, intelligence and leader-
ship and consequently have been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr. Gavin and
Mrs. Karen Setzen upon the occasion of their designation as recipients
of the Circle of Humanity Award by Temple Israel, Albany, New York, to
be celebrated at a dinner on Monday, May 9, 2016; and
WHEREAS, The Circle of Humanity Award is presented to local individ-
uals and institutions who devote themselves to making a positive differ-
ence in our community and beyond; and
WHEREAS, This auspicious award is given to those who have shown cour-
age and initiative to reach out, together, to create an atmosphere that
is at once positive, exciting and contagious, spreading its arms in an
extension of human circles which includes those in every walk of life;
Dr. Gavin and Mrs. Karen Setzen epitomize this definition; and
WHEREAS, Natives of Johannesburg, South Africa, Karen and Gavin Setzen
immigrated to the United States in 1989 and settled in the Albany area
in 1992, rapidly integrating themselves into the community and becoming
active volunteers while raising their two sons, Lee and Sean; and
WHEREAS, Karen Setzen is highly active in the local Jewish community;
she has been involved in multiple fundraising efforts, committees and
leadership roles for community organizations, including Temple Israel,
Jewish Family Services and the Hebrew Academy of the Capital District;
and
WHEREAS, Karen Setzen was involved in the Young Families Committee at
Temple Israel for several years, served two terms on the Bet Shraga
Hebrew Academy Board and during her tenure, together with Gavin,
co-chaired Bet Shraga's Shomray Torah Society for three years; current-
ly, she is serving her third term on the Board of Jewish Family
Services; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gavin Setzen obtained his medical degree in South Africa,
and completed his surgical training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck
Surgery at Albany Medical Center; he is a Diplomate of the American
Board of Otolaryngology and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons &
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy; and
WHEREAS, He is President of Albany ENT & Allergy Services, providing
ENT and allergy care to patients in the greater Capital Region; past
Chair of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Otolaryngolo-
gy-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), and served on the Board of AAO-HNS
for eight years, most recently as Secretary-Treasurer; in addition, he
is President of the New York State Society of Otolaryngology; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gavin Setzen has held leadership positions in various
other organizations, including the Intersocietal Accreditation Commis-
sion (IAC) and is immediate past-President of the IAC CT Division; he
also sits on the Boards of Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center, Jewish
Federation of Northeastern New York and Israel Bonds Executive Commit-
tee, and is President of Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center as well as
past-President of Temple Israel; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Gavin and Mrs. Karen Setzen have been called upon to
contribute their time and talents to countless civic and charitable

endeavors including Temple Israel, the Capital Region and the medical
community at large, and have always given of themselves unstintingly;
and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by individuals
for the benefit of others which Dr. Gavin and Mrs. Karen Setzen have
displayed throughout their lives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Dr. Gavin and Mrs. Karen Setzen upon the occasion of their desig-
nation as recipients of the Circle of Humanity Award by Temple Israel,
Albany, New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Gavin and Mrs. Karen Setzen.