The Wyoming Valley Chapter held the Annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony on April 21st at the Genetti Convention Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Forty volunteers received volunteer service awards ranging from 5 years to 60 years of service..

William V. Lewis, Jr. received the Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership. Lewis began his volunteer service with the Wyoming Valley Chapter in 1979 as a member of the chapter’s planning committee for the Red Cross Centennial. From 1991 to 1994 he served as chapter chairman, has served a two-year term on the national nominating committee, was named to a three-year term on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee, and was elected to the national Board of Governors in May of 1999.

James Durso received the chapter’s 2002 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award. Durso has been an active member of the national American Red Cross mental health team for the past 7 years. Mr. Durso was the chapters’ first volunteer to respond to September 11th and worked with our executive director to coordinate anticipated mental health needs for our community. He responded to two calls for duty in New York City for September 11th.