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‘Champions
for Character’ is a program developed by
the Character Council of Hamburg to engage a group of prominent community
leaders to act as ambassadors for character excellence.
These highly-respected
representatives from various community sectors will join us as we move forward
in our mission to ‘Create a Culture of Character’ in Hamburg.
These ambassadors will foster
the growth and development of Hamburg’s character initiative by:
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Striving to maintain and
demonstrate a high standard of personal character excellence;
-
Striving to model ethical
principles, thereby inspiring good character in others;
-
Becoming a visible and
vocal advocate for the Character Council and Hamburg’s character
initiative.
Dr.
Mark Crawford
Dr.
Mark Crawford, Biography ~ Dr. Mark J. Crawford, Superintendent of
the Hamburg Central School District, is passionate about children and goes to
great lengths to do what he believes is right for them. A native of the Town of
Hamburg, his career in education spans 34 years. He has held Hamburg Central’s
top post since October 2007. Prior to that, he was superintendent of the Dryden
Central School District in the southern part of central New York State for three
years.
Dr. Crawford began
his education career as a social studies teacher and later became principal at
Casey Middle School in the Williamsville Central School District from 2000-2004
and principal at Northwood Elementary School in the West Seneca Central School
District from 1991-2000.
His service
includes being an adjunct professor of graduate education at D’Youville
College, director of research and planning for the Diocese of Buffalo and
principal/headmaster at Nardin Academy.
Dr. Crawford holds
a doctoral degree in educational administration/policy from SUNY Buffalo, a
master’s degree in education from Canisius College and bachelor’s degree in
history from Canisius.
Having an interest
in history, he is on the Board of Trustees of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural
Site Foundation and lectures on Theodore Roosevelt.
Dr. Crawford
advocates “servant leadership,” whereby leaders exist to serve others. He
believes that the essence of good leadership is cultivating good will and
harmony within an organization, projecting positive energy and using sound ideas
as a basis for skillful decision-making.
Reflection
On Character ~ By Dr. Mark J. Crawford, Ed.D. ~ Superintendent,
Hamburg
Central
School District
~
Imagine yourself in a room with two other people. One is attentive, polite,
considerate; the other is negative, belittling, full of complaints. To whom will
you be drawn?
Undoubtedly,
it will be toward the person who is respectful rather than boorish. It’s human
nature to prefer the company of those who have regard for our feelings. We crave
that personal connection. We want to be understood.
We
know how we wish to be treated and, yet, it is sometimes so difficult to extend
that courtesy to others. Civility, it seems, often goes by the wayside. Simply
put, we’re human. We make mistakes. Perhaps we have never had a strong role
model to show us how to treat others.
I
believe, however, that with awareness and conscious effort, civility can become
second nature. It’s a character trait that we can embrace and put into action
each and every day.
It
starts with the conviction that every person has great value and that he or she
is deserving of our attention. When we put the focus on others, instead of
ourselves, the path becomes clear.
Strive
each day to do those small acts of kindness that have such a big impact. Give a
heartfelt thank you when someone has gone out of his way for you. Show patience
in a difficult situation. Be a good listener. Have genuine concern for
people’s feelings.
“Being
civil means being constantly aware of others and weaving restraint, respect and
consideration into the very fabric of this awareness,” says P.M. Forni, Ph.D.,
in his book “Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate
Conduct.”
With
civility at the center, the potential for good relationships is all around us.
Only when we live well with others, will we live well with ourselves.
--
December 2008
Ronald
DeCarli
Ronald
G. DeCarli, Biography ~ Ronald G. DeCarli, Superintendent of the
Frontier
Central
School District
, has enjoyed a long and dynamic career in education.
Ron’s journey began in
Pennsylvania
in 1967 as a middle and high school teacher. Leaving there in 1981, he went on
to become a Division 1 basketball coach at Saint Bonaventure University. After
receiving a Masters Degree in Educational Administration, he became a high
school principal. Ron’s strong organizational skills were making an impact.
Beginning in 1996, Ron assumed the role of Superintendent, first at Hinsdale and
then at the
Akron
Central
School District
. In each of these former positions,
Ron shared his enthusiasm and positive attitude with countless numbers of
students and educators.
Ron’s passion
for life and work has made him a popular motivational speaker. His workshops are
much in demand, spreading his message of hope, opportunity, and vision to
thousands of eager listeners. He has further broadened his influence as a member
of many professional and volunteer organizations, including the American
Association of School Administrators, the Rotary, and the Lions Club. Along the
way, Ron’s reliance on his faith and family has sustained him through many
struggles, including a difficult battle with cancer.
Ron is married to his college sweetheart, Kay.
They have two daughters and two grandsons.
As Superintendent
of the
Frontier
Central
School District
, Ron brings his strategic leadership style to the
Hamburg
community. His profound belief in
the potential of every human being is welcomed and shared by those whose lives
he touches. He has spent his life
and career inspiring others to do their best. His commitment to the development
of strong character traits is paramount. Through words and deeds, Ron has been a
positive influence in every community he has served.
Reflection
On Character ~ By Ronald G. DeCarli ~
The words of Coach John Wooden, Hall of Fame Basketball Coach, frame my
thoughts on character. The former
UCLA Coach defines character as, “Reputation is what other people think you
are; character is what you truly are.” Reflecting
on these words, we need to model consistency each and every day as frustrations,
discouragement, joy and success impact our daily lives!
Everyone needs a foundation in their life journey.
A belief structure, courage to face adversity head on, patience and
persistence to endure trials and tribulations, humility to appreciate the
richness and blessings bestowed upon us, and seizing the opportunity to give
back so others less fortunate can prosper truly models actions as greater than
words. These qualities symbolize a
life of character to me.
In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “Character is like a tree and
reputation like its shadow. The
shadow is what we think of it, the tree is the real thing.”
Sister
Edmunette Paczesny
Sister
Edmunette Paczesny, Biography
~ Sister Edmunette Paczesny was born in
Milwaukee
,
Wisconsin
on October 13, 1933, the eldest of four children.
Her father was a laborer and her mother, a stay-at-home mom.
She attended both Catholic elementary and high schools and graduated from
Marquette
University
. Entering the Franciscan
Sisters of Saint Joseph, Hamburg,
New York
, in 1955, she was given the opportunity to attend
Fordham
University
where she earned a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration
and Supervision. When she returned
to
Hamburg
, she was assigned as an instructor at
Hilbert
College
(then known as
Immaculata
College
) and has served there ever since in various capacities.
Among these were Registrar, Chair of the Liberal Arts Department, and
Academic Dean. In 1974, she assumed the Presidency, a position from which she
retired in 2006. Hilbert experienced
tremendous growth under her visionary guidance, progressing from a two-year to a
four-year college offering a variety of Associates and Bachelors degrees.
Presently she is a member of the Institutional Advancement office staff in a
volunteer capacity.
Sister Edmunette
served on the leadership team of her religious congregation from 1980-1984 and
has continued to be active on numerous committees with the Franciscan Sisters of
Saint Joseph. She makes regular visits to the sisters in the FSSJ Health Care
Center. Statewide, she has served as a trustee on the Commission of Independent
Colleges and Universities and the New York State Vocational Education Advisory
Council. Sister has also been active
in the local community, serving on the Board of Trustees of Saint Francis High
School,
Hopevale
School
,
Saint Joseph
’s Hospital, Our Lady of Victory/Mercy Hospital. Presently
she is a trustee of Meals on Wheels for
Western New York
and the Miguel/Nativity Middle School of Buffalo. She is a charter member of
the Rotary Club of Hamburg/Sunrise. Her retirement has also afforded her the
opportunity to return to reading, handwork and enjoying God’s creation more
fully.
Sister Edmunette
has accomplished much and has received many accolades in her remarkable career,
but her legacy will be the manner in which she has demonstrated and fostered
Franciscan values, which she holds dear, in every aspect of her life.
Her commitment to service, compassion, integrity, and joy continues to
have a lasting impact in and beyond the Hamburg community.
Reflection
On Character ~ Sister Edmunette Paczesny ~ Today’s society
emphasizes (and often over-emphasizes) concerns for our physical
fitness/perfection, our exercise routines and healthful eating habits.
Granted all of these are important to us as we assume the responsibility
of caring for our bodies. However,
this focus sometimes completely ignores that aspect of the person which
references our life-giving source—the soul.
And that is where character and its development come into play.
To
me character is that which marks us as the person we are rather than the
person we seem to be: the genuine person who knows who she/he really is and
tries seriously to understand her/his relationship with God and her/his fellow
beings.
As
we reflect on who we are, we are accepting of our giftedness and are grateful
for our abilities and talents. We express those gifts with humility,
knowing that they are God-given and present for service to others.
We are also well aware of our limitations and those of others and accept
them with patience. In
our words and deeds we are truthful in spite of the consequences.
We
try our best to be understanding of others and recognize that their
abilities are different from ours, that they complement what is lacking in us.
We express compassion for them in their need and respond
willingly to meet those needs. We
acknowledge that the common good must supersede that which is a personal
desire.
We
do not develop our character easily or in isolation.
Its development requires sacrifice, a good work ethic and perseverance
as well as reliance upon our God and upon those with whom we live.
Indeed its development is a life-long endeavor.
Thomas
Moses
Thomas
Moses, Hamburg NY Village Mayor, Biography ~
Hamburg Village Mayor Thomas J. Moses Sr. was born in
Bradford
,
Pennsylvania
. However, he can be considered a
native of
Hamburg
because he has lived here since 1954. His
Alma Maters include Saints Peter and
Paul
Elementary School
and
Hamburg
High School
.
Tom
has dedicated much of his life in service to the
Hamburg
community. He began working for the village in 1967.
He held the position of Recreation Supervisor from 1970-2002. Under his
leadership, many building and renovation projects were completed.
Among these were the development of
Glen
Meadows
Park
, the updating of the
Village
Swim
Center
, and major improvements to the Community Center Park and the village
playgrounds.
Tom’s
community involvement exceeded the bounds of his job.
He became very active in the Hamburg Schools, serving on the Health
Council and Grounds Committee. He
was one of the founders of the High School EMT Program.
His dedication to the youth of our town and village has been demonstrated
throughout his career.
Tom’s
concern for others is further evidenced by his long tenure with the Hamburg
Volunteer Fire Department. He has
been the Assistant Village Disaster Coordinator and a member of the Board of
Directors of the
Hamburg
Counseling
Center
.
A
strong family man, Tom has been married to his wife, Mary Lou, for forty years.
They have two sons, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Tom and Mary Lou are active members of Saint Bernadette Parish.
As
Mayor of the
Village
of
Hamburg
since 2006, Tom has continued to support character development and education.
He is easily accessible, always ready to help with any problem or
concern. His commitment to the
welfare of others is the hallmark of his administration and has been the
motivating force of his life.
Reflection
On Character ~ By Thomas Moses, Hamburg NY Village Mayor ~ The
dictionary describes the word character as “the most inherent complex of
attributes that determines a person’s moral and ethical actions and
reactions.”
A diversity of attributes,
whether positive or negative, is inherent in all of us.
Because we tend to become a product of our environment, the way we are
raised and the people around us enhance the characteristics that make us the
person we become. The more positive
attributes that we are exposed to the more we will tend to posses these
attributes. However, not everyone is
fortunate enough to be exposed to positive attributes.
That doesn’t mean that an individual can’t find the connection to
become more aware of how the small choices that you make everyday affect you,
your community and the world around you. When
you make positive changes you connect with the truth of who you are and why you
do what you do.
I personally find
truthfulness to be among the highest of ideals.
But we must also be careful not to confuse our point of view with the
truth. Author, Nischalo Joy Devi
says, “You have to have integrity and humility to realize that the truth may
be bigger than you.”
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