Date: Fri 09-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

business-Woycik-BPW-Woman-Year

Full Text:

Janet M. Woycik Honored As BPW's Woman Of The Year

(with cut)

BY JAN HOWARD

Janet M. Woycik has been named Woman of the Year by the Newtown Business &

Professional Woman's Club (BPW).

Mrs Woycik, 53, was honored with a gift and a plaque October 5 during the

club's meeting at The Villa in Sandy Hook.

In selecting its Woman of the Year, BPW considers the candidate's outstanding

achievement in her career, assistance and contributions to other women in

their advancement, and community service.

"I am basically a positive person and believe the glass is always half full,"

she said of her philosophy on life. "You can help fill it to the brim by

saying something encouraging to someone every day and by helping others to

fulfill their needs."

Mrs Woycik, who lives on Grand Place, has been the director of the Cyrenius H.

Booth Library since 1980.

During her 18 years at the library, Mrs Woycik has seen it move from

typewriters to the age of technology.

"When I started, the only electrical equipment was typewriters and a copier.

There are now 18 bibliomation computers and Internet for ourselves and our

patrons," she said.

She has also seen the plans for an addition to the library come to fruition.

"We've been working for the addition for 10 of the years I've been here," she

noted.

"The reference section is one of our greatest accomplishments," she said. "We

are answering more and more questions now."

Mrs Woycik said the children's department has quadrupled the number of story

hours it offers. "Over 11,000 books were read in the summer reading program,"

she said.

"One of the things I'm really proud of in the library is the staff and the

atmosphere they project," she said. "It is warm and friendly. We're here to

help our patrons. It's a sign of a good library."

Mrs Woycik said, "Libraries are the heart of each town and school and making

them better means its users will ultimately be the beneficiaries."

She said through the Community Action Committee of Danbury (CACD), she has

been able to offer employment to women entering or reentering the workforce.

She said the library is a female-oriented business and, because of that, most

of the employees are women either returning to work, returning after raising

children or in the midst of raising a family, or changing careers.

"I really like hiring women coming back into the work force," Mrs Woycik said,

because of the life experience they have had.

"But everything is brand new. Technology is different," she said. "I stress a

good training program."

She said her position enables her to provide positive reinforcement and boost

the self esteem of her employees, which, she noted, "is very important in

today's world."

She said she believes it is important to say something positive every day to

staff members.

She said people like to come to work and are happy with the work they do.

"It's really a wonderful place to work," she said.

Mrs Woycik, who grew up in Brewster, N.Y., received her bachelor of science

degree in education from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury and

her MLS in library science from Arizona State University.

Mrs Woycik and her husband, Richard, met at Western, and have been married for

33 years. They moved to Newtown 21 years ago from Phoenix, Ariz.

They have two daughters. Kristin, an attorney, and her husband, David

Yohannan, live in Alexandria, Va. with their two children, Emma and Ethan.

Jennifer, a Hawley School teacher, and her husband, Jeff Pirone, live in

Woodbury. She is expecting her first child.

Mrs Woycik is a member of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce. She and Diana

Johnson have co-chaired the annual Christmas tree lighting the Chamber

sponsors at Ram Pasture since it began.

"When we started, Sam Eisenbach was president of the Chamber. Diana and I

brought the tree lighting to fruition. We're still doing it after 15 years,"

she said. "It has grown to light up the hearts and holidays of Newtown

citizens."

Mrs Woycik has also been a member of the Borough Zoning Board of Appeals since

1988 and serves as vice chairman. She is also a member of the Borough Board of

Tax Review.

She is a member of the Connecticut Library Association and the American

Library Association.

She was honored by the Connecticut Library Association as Special Projects

Librarian of the Year and received a certificate of recognition from the CACD.

She has been active in the Newtown League of Women Voters, the Woman's Club of

Newtown, and the CACD.

She urges other women to get involved. "Join a community organization that

interests you and help it make a positive contribution to the community," she

said.

"The first organization I became affiliated with in Newtown was the League of

Women Voters. It is through that group that my awareness of just how important

advocacy for women really is initiated. Everything from education to senior

facilities is determined through the political system," she said. "Getting

involved will allow you to help determine the course of events."

Hardly a surprise considering her line of work, Mrs Woycik likes to read. She

also enjoys arts and crafts.

"At this point, I don't have much time for them," she said. "I know I will do

them again when I retire."

She also plays golf at the Newtown Country Club and Pomperaug and participates

in aerobics through Parks & Recreation.

Mrs Woycik is a member of St Rose Church.

Newtown BPW is a nonprofit organization that promotes the interests of

business and professional women and provides them with an opportunity for

networking. The club meets the first Monday of each month at 6 pm at area

restaurants. Prospective members are invited to attend.