Walkway News
Walkway Group Elects New Chairperson
Sally Mazzarella Chairs Nonprofit; Fred Schaeffer Moves Into New Role
The nonprofit group Walkway Over the Hudson began a new era on May 25 when its Board of Directors elected Rhinebeck's Sally Mazzarella to serve as its new chairperson. Meanwhile, former chairman Fred Schaeffer, who led the group's successful drive to convert the abandoned Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge into the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, moved into the new role of immediate past chairman.
"These are enormous shoes to fill. Fred Schaeffer has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Walkway Over the Hudson for so many years," said Ms. Mazzarella. "Now that the Walkway has opened to the public and New York State Parks is managing the facility, our nonprofit needs to change its focus from construction to support, where our group will work to enhance visitors' experience at the park through fundraising, events, amenities, and programming."
Mr. Schaeffer plans to stay active in the organization he led for more than a decade, particularly in helping to build and manage the Walkway organization's growing ranks of volunteers, who will be counted upon to help provide support for the popular new state park. "I'm looking forward to working with volunteers to accomplish great things on the Walkway," said Mr. Schaeffer. "I'm confident that the organization will be in good hands with Sally Mazzarella and our new executive director Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart."
Two days before the Board of Directors' meeting, Walkway Over the Hudson held its annual membership meeting on Sunday, May 23 at the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum Pavilion where a group of new board members were nominated.
In addition to Ms Mazzarella and Mr. Schaeffer, the following officers were elected at the Board of Directors' meeting: James Hammond, Vice Chairman; David Santner, Treasurer; and Theresa Gill, Secretary. The following new board members were also inducted onto the board: Michael Graham, former M&T Bank Vice President; Robert Mallory, City of Poughkeepsie 3rd Ward Councilman; Dan McLaughlin, former Metro-North Police Sergeant; Patrick Page, President of Patrick Page Properties LLC; Steve Tinkleman, President of Tinkleman Architecture; and Amy Husten, (effective Sept. 1) former Walkway Executive Director.
"These are enormous shoes to fill. Fred Schaeffer has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Walkway Over the Hudson for so many years," said Ms. Mazzarella. "Now that the Walkway has opened to the public and New York State Parks is managing the facility, our nonprofit needs to change its focus from construction to support, where our group will work to enhance visitors' experience at the park through fundraising, events, amenities, and programming."
Mr. Schaeffer plans to stay active in the organization he led for more than a decade, particularly in helping to build and manage the Walkway organization's growing ranks of volunteers, who will be counted upon to help provide support for the popular new state park. "I'm looking forward to working with volunteers to accomplish great things on the Walkway," said Mr. Schaeffer. "I'm confident that the organization will be in good hands with Sally Mazzarella and our new executive director Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart."
Two days before the Board of Directors' meeting, Walkway Over the Hudson held its annual membership meeting on Sunday, May 23 at the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum Pavilion where a group of new board members were nominated.
In addition to Ms Mazzarella and Mr. Schaeffer, the following officers were elected at the Board of Directors' meeting: James Hammond, Vice Chairman; David Santner, Treasurer; and Theresa Gill, Secretary. The following new board members were also inducted onto the board: Michael Graham, former M&T Bank Vice President; Robert Mallory, City of Poughkeepsie 3rd Ward Councilman; Dan McLaughlin, former Metro-North Police Sergeant; Patrick Page, President of Patrick Page Properties LLC; Steve Tinkleman, President of Tinkleman Architecture; and Amy Husten, (effective Sept. 1) former Walkway Executive Director.
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