POTSDAM, NY - The North Country Region of the NYS-PTA is pleased and proud to announce that Potsdam PTSA member and NC PTA Board member Susan Godreau, Potsdam, is the 2009 PTA Volunteer of the Year by New York State PTA. The award was created in 1991 to honor the memory of Jane Skrzypek, a PTA leader who inspired others to volunteer. The award recognizes outstanding leaders in a local PTA who go above and beyond the scope of their PTA position and inspire others to volunteer and assume leadership positions.

The formal presentation of the award was made at the NYS PTA Convention in November by NYS PTA Vice President Susan Berkow. Susan Godreau is the third Potsdam PTSA leader to receive this prestigious award in this decade. It was awarded in 2003 to Pamela Yurgartis, Potsdam and in 2006 to April Bender, Hannawa Falls.

The nomination was made by past Region Director Carla Ingram, Potsdam, who said, “Susan Godreau is a wonderful influence on anyone she meets. Her leadership and enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring.  I have had the pleasure of working with Susan for over seven years and during that time, I have seen her influence many people, build up the PTA, increase membership and charter new PTA units.”

Ingram continued, “She has used her leadership skills to help others and pass her knowledge to her underlings. Susan is enthusiastic, warm, knowledgeable and helpful. Her leadership skills have been honed for use in her personal life, her professional life and her volunteer life.”

Godreau has been a member of the Potsdam Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) since 1995, serving as President from 1997-99. Other leadership positions included Vice President for the High School, serving on the Parenting Coalition Committee, the Shared Decision Making Committee and as Newsletter Editor.

She served three years as North Country Region Director from 2003-06, overseeing the 12 PTA units in the St. Lawrence, Essex and Franklin Counties.  During her term as Region Director, she chartered three new units, in the largest geographic region in the state but the least populous.

With nearly 6 million members, National PTA is the largest volunteer parent organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1897, National PTA is a powerful voice for children, a relevant resource for parents, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in National PTA is open to anyone who is concerned with the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information about National PTA, visit www.pta.org.

For more information about the North Country Region, NYS-PTA, please contact region director Lynn Jock at 315-393-0975 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .'; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text90208 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it You can also visit the North Country Region website for learn more about PTA, PTA programs, and parenting tips at www.northcountryregionpta.org. The North Country Region links PTAs in Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties.