From left are Chuck DeAngelo, Debbie DeAngelo, Daryl M. Damcott, Scott Cummings and Amy Rohler, United Ways of Chautauqua County executive director. The DeAngelos attended the Salute To Labor dinner and are the family of Joseph H. Mason.

Scott Cummings and Daryl M. Damcott received the 2024 Joseph H. Mason Award from the United Ways of Chautauqua County (UWCC) recently during the agency’s annual “Salute To Labor” gala dinner.

The event was held this year at the Athenaeum Hotel on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution. Attendees were welcomed to the event by Amy Rohler, United Ways of Chautauqua County executive director, and the evening featured remarks from Jim Cama, United Ways board member and past Mason Award winner.

Though traditionally only one recipient is chosen each year, Cummings, representing CSEA Local 6300 and IBEW Local 106, and Damcott, representing the Jamestown Teachers Association (NYSUT) and IATSE Local 266, were selected as a unique acknowledgment not only of their individual contributions but also for the fact that both are dual union members.

Bonnie Peters, United Ways of Chautauqua County board member and CSEA Southern Tier labor leader, introduced the evening’s two keynote speakers, Don Emhardt and Burl Swanson — both themselves past Joseph H. Mason Award recipients.

Assemblyman Andrew Goodell and James Feldmann from County Executive PJ Wendel’s office also spoke during the evening, presenting Damcott and Cummings with commendations from their offices.

Now in its 43rd year, the Joseph H. Mason award is named for Joe Mason – the Directing Business Representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 65, representing southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.

In addition to standing up for the causes of organized labor, Mason was also a long-standing member of the United Way Board of Directors. He exemplified labor’s commitment to serving the community through his devotion to the United Way campaign. After his passing, the United Way Board of Directors created the award in recognition of labor’s contribution to the success of the United Way.

Last year, Paul Abbot, a member of CSEA Deputy Sheriff’s Unit 6322 Local 807, was recognized as the 2023 Joseph H. Mason Award winner.