Honor Local Volunteer Awardees

Senate Resolution No. 274 BY: Senator RANZENHOFER HONORING Carl Klingenschmitt and Sue Fay Allen upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce on March 7, 2019 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to call attention to the dedicated efforts of those individuals from across the State of New York who volunteer their time and energies in service to the community; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Carl Klingenschmitt and Sue Fay Allen upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce, to be celebrated at its 47th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Samuel's Grande Manor in Clarence, New York; and WHEREAS, Carl Klingenschmitt and Sue Fay Allen are receiving this prestigious award for their steadfast and unremitting commitment to their beloved community of Clarence; and WHEREAS, Carl Klingenschmitt is a "retired" Engineer/Program Manager/Technical Director at Bell Aerospace, Niagara Falls; he is also the founder and 30-year Chairman of the Town of Newstead Conservation Advisory Council; and WHEREAS, Sue Fay Allen is a retired middle school choral music teacher and the Music Coordinator for Amherst Central Schools; she is also the founder and Artistic Director of the well-known ABC Bel Canto Choirs; and WHEREAS, Together, the couple have played a significant role in improving the music climate in Western New York by using their respective skills to involve people and create an atmosphere which helps them to thrive and succeed; and WHEREAS, Sue Fay Allen created the Community Spotlight Program for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) which invited local school performing groups to perform pre-concert in the Mary Seaton Room of Kleinhans Music Hall, and if possible, the students met with a musician of the BPO, or with the soloist or the conductor; through her unwavering efforts, the Program has brought an entirely new audience to the BPO and has received national recognition; and WHEREAS, Carl Klingenschmitt formed and served as Chairman of the Friends of the BPO, and two decades later, helped found the Young Musicians Scholarship Program; and WHEREAS, For many years, Sue Fay Allen and Carl Klingenschmitt have been working members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) Education Committee, and served on the Board of Directors for the Clarence Concert Association; in this capacity, they are officers who work on publicity and fundraising initiatives and help to present the summer's agenda of five professional Clarence Summer Orchestra Concerts; and WHEREAS, In recognition of their many contributions to the Western New York arts world, Carl Klingenschmitt and Sue Fay Allen were the recipients of the 1998 Award for Dedicated Service to Music Education by the Erie County Music Educators Association (ECMEA); in 2005, they were recognized for their outstanding loyalty, dedication and service to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2016, they received the Un-Sung Hero Award by the WNY Art Services Institute; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Carl Klingenschmitt and Sue Fay Allen upon the occasion of their designation as recipients of the 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Carl Klingenschmitt and Sue Fay Allen.