LONG ISLANDER TARYN BIRKMIRE IS RECIPIENT OF FIRST-EVER NORMA RECCO ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD

LongIsland.com

Taryn Birkmire, a resident of West Islip, NY accepted the first-ever Norma Recco Advocate Award for her outstanding contributions in advancing home and community-based care to state policy-makers and regulators.

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In ceremonies held during the recent annual meeting of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers (HCP), Taryn Birkmire, a resident of West Islip, NY accepted the first-ever Norma Recco Advocate Award for her outstanding contributions in advancing home and community-based care to state policy-makers and regulators.

Norma Recco inspired us to be the best that we can be and to honor our profession, said HCP Board member and Long Island Chapter Public Relations Chair Bob Callaghan in presenting the award. Taryn Birkmire has followed in her footsteps to become an effective and tireless advocate for home care.

Norma Recco was the guiding light in building HCP from a local interest group to a statewide association. From 1987 to 1997 she was also the Governor's appointee to the New York State Home Care Council and from 1978 to 1980 she served as president of the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce.
HCP lost a leader and a friend when Norma Recco died in April of this year. In her honor the HCP Long Island Chapter created the Norma Recco Advocate of the Year Award, covering the recipient's $501 membership dues in the Chairperson's Club of the HCP Political Action Committee (HCP PAC).
Taryn Birkmire has specialized in the home care agency field for 30 years and joined Recco Home Care Service, Inc (Massapequa, NY) in 1988. Today she is the Executive Director of the company that was founded in 1970 by Norma Recco. She became active with HCP, serving as Long Island Chapter Secretary, Acting Treasurer and ultimately, President, serving two terms from 2006 to 2010. In 2009, she received the HCP Member of the Year Award named for Edna A. Lauterbach, a nurse and respected home care industry leader. In addition, she has served or currently serves on committees or councils of such professional and community groups as the Nassau County Long Term Care Council, the LI Performance Improvement Coalition and the statewide Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Association. Upon her election as LI Chapter President, Ms. Birkmire also began her role on the HCP State Board of Directors - quickly becoming chairperson of the Chapter Presidents Forum, comprised of all Chapter Presidents from around the state. She also serves on the statewide Public Policy committee and the Dues Review Committee.

Norma Recco was my very good friend and mentor, said Birkmire. It is a privilege to receive this honor that bears her name.

About the LI Chapter
The Long Island Chapter of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers is a nonprofit membership organization comprised of some 35 health care provider agencies as well as 20 associate members in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and dedicated to the exploration, education, patient care and professional standards within the home care industry. For more, visit http://www.nyshcp.org