NYC to host 2010 Service Conference

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that New York City has been selected to host the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service. At the conference, scheduled for June 28-30, 2010, more than 6,000 leaders in volunteerism and community service will join Governor Paterson to work towards finding solutions to the nation’s most challenging problems through service. The announcement was made at the conclusion of the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, held June 22-24, 2009 in San Francisco, California.

“I could not be more honored to learn that the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Points of Lights Institute have selected New York to host the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service. Community service is a part of our shared culture in New York; altogether, we volunteered over 397 million hours of community service last year. The selection committee could not have chosen a better location for the 2010 National Conference.”

“In designating New York City as the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service host site, we have the opportunity to expand upon our State’s service network and to reinforce our commitment to community,” First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson said. “Volunteerism is a powerful tool that helps us meet real needs; for instance, assisting our neighbors or protecting our environment. I am confident that with the 2010 National Conference, we in New York will continue to make significant service achievements and learn from our fellow volunteers, both in the State and across the nation.”

Governor Paterson has made community service and volunteerism a priority in his administration. In September, the Governor elevated Susan Stern, Chair of the State Commission on National and Community Service, to his cabinet. New York is the second state to emphasize the importance of service and civic engagement with a cabinet-level position. In April, Governor Paterson encouraged governors across the nation to support the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act that was signed into legislation by President Obama on April 21, 2009.

In May, Governor Paterson and First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson launched the 2009 National AmeriCorps Week in New York City and announced the appointment of First Daughter Ashley Dennis to Chair of the State Youth Service Committee. She is tasked with engaging a younger generation of volunteers and public servants. On June 22, First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson helped kick-off the national United We Serve initiative for New York with a day of service activities at the Executive Mansion.

The Governor also announced the appointment of four new members to the New York Commission on National and Community Service, the body responsible for promoting and implementing volunteer and community service programs across the state.

The Governor’s appointees are:

Michael J. Burgess, Director, New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA). As Director of the State Office for the Aging, Mr. Burgess oversees the administration of federal and state funded programs designed to assist the more than 3.2 million elderly residents in the State, as well as programs that assist family members and caregivers. Director Burgess was integral in securing a technical assistance grant awarded by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices for their Policy Academy on Civic Engagement of Older Adults. Through this grant, NYSOFA is working to develop strategies to engage the talents of older adults by facilitating their involvement in service projects that are enriching for them and beneficial to their communities.

David M. Sable, Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, Wunderman. Mr. Sable has a 30 year career in advertising that he will draw upon to help the Commission in its mandate to raise awareness and involvement in volunteerism. As Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Sable manages Wunderman’s global marketing services network and is responsible for the successful execution of the agency’s long-term vision and strategic plan. Mr. Sable is a frequent speaker at various industry events, and his views are regularly featured in Advertising Age, his blog, Weekly Ramble, and other industry publications. In 2009, Mr. Sable was selected as the president of the Cannes Lions Direct Jury, the industry’s premier creative competition. Mr. Sable is the Director-at-Large of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, a member of the New York City Cultural Advisory Committee, a member of the New York Chapter of the United Jewish Federation and chairman of its marketing committee. He is the recipient of UJA’s Maxwell (Mac) Dane Award for Humanitarian Excellence.

Rita DiMartino. Ms. DiMartino is Staten Island’s representative on the City University of New York (CUNY) Board of Trustees. Prior to her retirement, Ms. DiMartino was an executive at AT&T for 25 years; her last post was as vice president of congressional affairs. Ms. DiMartino has