Steve Skidmore Receives 2020 Joseph H. Mason Community Service Award
Pictured is Steve Skidmore along with Anett, his wife, their two daughters Megerly (Mike) and Kaitlin (Taylor), and their children at a Holiday gathering.
[Jamestown, August 18, 2020] Every year, United Way solicits local union halls for nominations and convenes past winners to select a member or staff person from organized labor who contributes to the community through volunteer service. This year’s process presented many challenges, including holding virtual meetings via Zoom to decide the 2020 Recipient of the Joseph H. Mason Award. Members of United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s Labor Committee, along previous members reviewed nomination forms for several extremely qualified applicants who collectively served our community in a variety of ways. However, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County is pleased to announce Steve Skidmore, a member and current President of the CSEA 6300 Labor Union, as the 2020 Joseph H. Mason Community Service Award Recipient.
“Steve honors the Mason family legacy in many ways, and the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County is pleased to name him as the 2020 Joseph H. Mason Award Winner,” said Amy Rohler, Executive Director. In addition to his involvement with Labor, Skidmore volunteers for many organizations in the community. Nominated by Dan Gullotti, Skidmore’s early volunteer activities in the community include being a volunteer softball and soccer coach and a treasurer for the East Randolph Fire Department. He is also very active in the Elks Club, which includes volunteering to work at an annual Holiday party for more 300 clients of ASPIRE and the Resource Center. He has volunteered at the Special Olympics Flag Days through the Elks Club, as well volunteering for several activities involving veterans groups. In addition, his family has been a host family for Babe Ruth World Series. He is the past recipient of the George Ritzer Award. Skidmore was the longtime treasurer of the Labor Council. He has previously been an organizer and the president of District 65 IAM, as well as the president local IAM 2111. He has been the delegate for AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees).
The “Salute to Labor” dinner, hosted annually by United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, will honor Steve Skidmore’s community service and be held on October 8. For more information and details about attending the dinner, please call UWSCC offices at (716) 483-1561.
The Joseph H. Mason Award: History & 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. Joe was recognized nationally for serving as the first Co-Chair of the labor management committee, a locally initiated revolutionary approach to labor relations. Joe Mason was most importantly 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 on, the United Way Board of Directors created tonight’s award in recognition of labor’s critical contribution to the success of the United Way. What followed was 38 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.