Joseph H. Mason Community Service Award

Every Year, United Way of Chautauqua County partners with organized labor to select one of its own to receive the Joseph H. Mason Award.
 
TJoe Mason Past Winnershis award honors the memory of Mr. Mason and what his service in our community.
 
This award is open to any union member, active or retired, who has provided outstanding volunteer service in Chautauqua County.
 
NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN NOW!
United Way is now accepting nominations of eligible union members for the 2025 award.
 
Nominate an eligible union member by clicking HERE!
 
Nominations are due back by Aug. 22, 2025.
 
SALUTE TO LABOR DINNER
The recipient will be honored at the Salute To Labor Dinner on October 9, 2025. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the United Way office at 716-483-1561. Tickets are $60 per person.
 
SPONSOR THSI GALA EVENT
Sign up to be a sponsor of the "Salute To Labor Dinner" and show your support of organized labor and volunteerism in Chautauqua County. Your business will receive recognition at the event as well as in the press and on social media leading up to the event.
For more information, click here.
 
 
The Joseph H. Mason Award: History and Background 
Joe Mason was the Directing Business Representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 65, representing southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. 
 
Joe’s reputation for standing up for the causes of labor, most importantly impacting the day-to-day lives of working men and women of our area, is well known. He was recognized nationally for serving as the first Co-Chair of the labor management committee, a locally initiated revolutionary approach to labor relations. A long-standing member of the United Way Board of Directors, Joe exemplified labor’s commitment to serving our community through his devotion to the United Way campaign. 
 
After Joe’s passing, the United Way Board of Directors created this award in recognition of labor’s critical contribution to the success of the United Way. What followed was 40 years of the United Way recognizing the critical role that local labor leaders play in serving our community, in addition to serving the interests of the union members they represent.

1981: SMW 439 Dennis Ewing Sr.
1982: IAMAW 1888 Milton Roberg
1983: IBFO 27 Anthony Raffa
1984: UAW 338  Russ Love 
1985: UAW 338 Pete Thorstenson
1986: AFSCME 418 George Spitale  
1987: Musicians 134 Dorothy Brooks
1988: NYSUT Steve Maggio 
1989: UAW 338 Mike Piazza
1990: IAFF 1772 Bruce A Rhinehardt
1991: IAM 2105 Dana Ericson
1992: IAMAW 2495 Helen Sischo
1993: Teamsters 649 Mike Berg
1994: IBEW 1124 Gary Sorenson
1995: UAW 338 Jim Ventura
1996: AFSCME 418 Tony Purpura
1997: IAFF 1772 Vinnie Capizzi 
1998: UB of C & J 66 Mike Dye 
1999: IAMAW Dist 65 Clarence "Pete" Peterson
2000: IAFF 1772 Dan Butera   
2001: NYSUT Bob Jurewicz 
2002: CSEA 807 Jim Kurtz 
2003: UB of C & J 66 Jeff Aiken
2004: IAM 2105 Paul Whitford
2005: Kendall Club PBA  Joe Genco 
2006: UAW 338 Charlie Gesing
2007: IAFF 1772 Vincent Ognibene 
2008: CSEA 903 Jack Rudy 
2009: Road Sprinkler Fitters Bill Servis
2010: Carpenters Local 66 Robert L Peterson
2011: UAW 338 Karen Frucella-Olson  
2012: CSEA 807 Rodney Kolstee
2013: AFM 134 - Kendall Club PBA Robert Servis
2014: IBEW 106 Don Emhardt  
2015: Jamestown Teachers Association Christopher Maggio
2016: IAFF 772 Jamestown Fire Department  Shawn Tibbetts
           IAFF 772 Jamestown Fire Department  Kyle Sholl
2017: NYSUT - Panama Faculty Association Loren Smith
2018: IBEW 106 Steve Nowell
2019: NYSUT Resa Rosen-Murray
2020: CSEA Steve Skidmore

2021: CWA 1115 Burl Swanson