LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Diane Riegal upon the occasion of her
designation as recipient of the 2015 Distinguished Service Award by The
Professional Women 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, Diane Riegal has given not only of her time and energies but
also of her competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has
been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Diane Riegal
upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the 2015 Distin-
guished Service Award by The Professional Women of Sullivan County,
celebrated at its Woman of the Year Dinner, on Sunday, March 22, 2015,
at the Eagle's Nest, Bloomingburg, New York; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1919, the mission of Professional Women of
Sullivan County, Inc. (PWSC) is to promote New York State women as
participants in the workforce, support of pay equity, and encourage
economic self-sufficiency; and
WHEREAS, PWSC, Inc. provides its members with programs designed to
enhance their knowledge and awareness of community, political, and
health issues; they work together to advance the personal, professional,
and political development of its members and work at providing a vital
link to other working women in our communities; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of the State University of New York (SUNY) at
Sullivan and New York University, Diane Riegal earned her Master of
Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix; and
WHEREAS, From 1985-1989, Diane Riegal and her husband owned a bed and
breakfast in Livingston Manor, New York; additionally, she was the Busi-
ness Manager at Light and Life Christian School from 1998-2010; and
WHEREAS, Diane Riegal also worked at SUNY Sullivan as a tutor and
Adjunct Professor before she was hired to teach full-time; currently,
she is an Associate Professor in the Division of Business and Culinary
Arts; her dedication to teaching is reflected in her 2009 SUNY
Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching; and
WHEREAS, Music has always been an integral part of Diane Riegal's
life; at the young age of 13, she began to sing and play guitar, as well
as write songs; and
WHEREAS, After the tragic September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City,
she wrote "Remember Us" to honor the victims of the deadly terrorist
assaults; the song has been used by many organizations around the coun-
try; in 2011, this heartfelt song was chosen to mark the 10th Anniver-
sary of 9/11 by the American Expat Community and their British
Colleagues on the Island of Jersey who lost friends and family at the
World Trade Center; and
WHEREAS, Active within her community, Diane Riegal led her marketing
class in creating a Facebook page, Think Positive Sullivan County NY,
which highlights the county's history, landmarks, organizations and
businesses; she is also a member of Proud to Be Sullivan, a local
network of businesses and community volunteers who promote the county;
in this role, she created a video and new website to continue to promote
the county in a positive light; and
WHEREAS, Diane Riegal has been called upon to contribute her time and
talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given
of herself unstintingly; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Diane Riegal has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout has been her three daughters all of whom
feel privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her achieve-
ments; 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 Diane Riegal upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of
the 2015 Distinguished Service Award by The Professional Women of Sulli-
van County; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Diane Riegal.