Two weeks remaining to submit local nominations for the Senate's 20th Annual "Women of Distinction" tribute!

Elmira, N.Y., March 10—March is Women’s History Month and State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) today reminded area residents that he is accepting nominations until Friday, March 24th, for the Senate's 20th annual "Women of Distinction" program to honor local women making outstanding contributions to area communities.

The Senate's "Women of Distinction" program begins in March to coincide with a variety of Women's History Month celebrations in New York State.  O’Mara and his Senate colleagues select one new “Woman of Distinction” honoree from their respective legislative districts annually.  This year’s honorees will be invited to an awards ceremony and reception in Albany in early May.

"The ‘Woman of Distinction’ tribute is a meaningful recognition.  I look forward to this annual opportunity to recognize an outstanding area citizen," said O’Mara, whose 58th Senate District encompasses all of Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben and Yates counties, and part of Tompkins County (the city and town of Ithaca, and the towns of Enfield, Newfield and Ulysses).  "We all know someone who makes an enormous difference to the community at large.  Whether she is a service provider, a teacher going above and beyond the call of duty, a businesswoman, or simply a community resident known for her good deeds, I'd like to see her recognized."

In 2011, his first year in the Senate, O’Mara honored Carol Berry of Hornell, a long-time regional library professional and director of the Dormann Library in Bath.  Virginia “Ginny” Houseknecht of Watkins Glen, a local Cornell Cooperative Extension educator and leader, and founder of the Southern Tier Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, was the area “Woman of Distinction” in 2012.  The following year O’Mara paid tribute to Beverly “Bev” Stamp, co-owner and operator of Lakewood Vineyards in Schuyler County, and a beloved ambassador of New York State’s nationally and internationally renowned wine and grape industry.  In 2014, O’Mara recognized Lauren R. Snyder of Penn Yan, a well-known public health professional in Yates County who served as the county’s Public Health Director for 28 years before retiring in 2009.  The 2015 inductee was Linda Thomas, longtime owner and operator of the Wellsburg Diner in the village of Wellsburg. Last year, O’Mara honored Dawn R. Smith, Transition and Care Management (TCM) Program Manager at the Bath VA Medical Center and a well-known local veterans’ advocate.

The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, March 24, 2017.  Nominations can be submitted online through HERE.  A downloadable nomination form is also available there. 

E-mail requests for a nomination form to omara@nysenate.com, or call any of the senator’s offices in Elmira (607-735-9671), Bath (607-776-3201), or Albany (518-455-2091).