Bernard Kubetz was elected president and Dr. John Hitt was elected first vice president of the United Way Board of Directors at the United Way Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Feb. 7, at the Bangor Conference Center.

Donna K. Thornton, Vice President for Human Services was recognized with the 1990 President’s Award for outstanding service to United Way and the Community.

“We at United Way of Penobscot Valley can look back at 1990 and share a strong sense of accomplishment,” Kubetz told an audience of over 250 people. “United Way continues to be a leader in assisting the community to identify and help fund the human care needs of those persons living in Eastern Maine,” he stated.

The John W. Coombs Memorial Award, in recognition of achievement by a United Way agency professional was presented to Carolyn H. Hart, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of America — Bangor. In presenting the award, United Way Director Bill Ventura said, “Her tireless dedication to promoting literacy has enriched hundreds of lives in the Penobscot Valley area, and we thank her for all she has done for this community.”

Dennis Haggerty, 1990 United Way Campaign Chairman, told the audience that “we raised all the money that we could in 1990. To date 14,500 area contributors have pledged an average gift of $80 for a total of $1,602,417 including corporate gifts.”

Haggerty presented the Campaign Chairman’s Award to the University of Maine. In making the award he said, “The $81,208 raised by the university is the largest amount raised by any employee group in the campaign, and also includes $3,468 raised by students and student organizations. This was a significant all round effort at the university, and represents a truly generous gift to the community.”

Anne L. Robinson of Eastern Fine Paper received the Outstanding Employee Campaign Manager Award. In making that award, Haggerty said, “Anne organized an excellent campaign. Her team made 17 presentations ranging from 5 AM through to Midnight, and giving at Eastern Fine Paper increased by 45%!”

Upon receiving the Community Service Award for chairing the 1990 campaign, Haggerty said, “I am overwhelmed with pride for all the volunteers and our United Way professional staff. The needs in Penobscot Valley are real and will be addressed with the money from our campaign.