National Excellence Award For Potter County

Potter County was recently notified that it has received a National Excellence Award for the activities of its Veterans Services Committee in 2018. Committee members Paul Heimel, Bill Simpson, Dawn Wooster and Danielle Gietler were cited for pursuing multiple initiatives to serve and honor the county’s military veterans. Judges from the National Association of Counties chose Potter County under the theme, “Our Military Veterans: NEVER FORGET,” according to NACo Public Affairs Coordinator Lindsey Maggard. The award will be presented an NACO’s Annual Conference in July.

PROGRAM ABSTRACT:
Potter County set out to address the gaps in the safety net for the county’s military veterans, while deepening the community’s appreciation of its veterans. It was borne out of a realization that a high proportion of the county’s veterans were not receiving the benefits and services to which they are entitled. Additionally, members of the general populace had not been afforded convenient opportunities to express their appreciation to veterans.
Primary goals were:
• improved veterans’ health care, financial standing and living conditions;
• greater public support and understanding of veterans’ needs;
• restoration of hundreds of veterans’ gravestones;
• a more educated and actively engaged youth population;
• a boost to the economy of Potter County;
• generating support for state/federal policy changes that directly benefit veterans, military service personnel, and their respective families.