When asked of great people, Marian Wright Edelman, an American activist, made mention that a great person must not, in trying to think about how they can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences they can make which, over time, add up to big differences that they often cannot foresee. One who takes this philosophy to heart is one who can make a real difference in a community.

Strip all awards and honors and at the root is a person whose timeless contributions to causes of great societal importance lay a foundation for a successful community. Those who fit this description are few and far between, yet, a rare true example is the president of The Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, Inc., Carol Meschkow.

Meschkow's endless contributions to the community are not only defined by the amount of organizations she is a part of, but also by the hours she puts into them. Included on her advanced résumé of community positions are Cyber Help Literacy Internet Dialog (CHILD) where she is the founder and director, CCPOBC "Neighbor-to-Neighbor Watch" Program where she is the founder and director, and the New York Vapor Intrusion Alliance, a statewide alliance where she is a founding board member. The list goes on of more organizations she is a part of, yet, often lost in this impressive list is that she is a State Licensed Health Educator and has been a substitute teacher in many districts over the past four years.

"I am often asked; 'how do you do it all,' Meschkow stated when asked of her various workload. "They say give a busy woman a job to get done and it will be accomplished. The work I do on behalf of the environment, community, PTA, and statewide alliance is not job-related, nor are there any financial or business rewards. However, the satisfaction I get from volunteering and setting a benchmark for giving back to our next generation is more reward than one could believe. Simply put, you teach by example, so I feel confident that our environment and our society will be a better place with young adults who grow up assuming a caring, supportive demeanor."

This selfless philosophy has led to several awards won by Meschkow, including recently winning the Yves LeMay/Diana Watson Obey Title IX Award presented by the Plainview-Old Bethpage Districtwide Title IX Committee.

"I was extremely flattered and overwhelmed with joy at the award ceremony, particularly with so many administrators, faculty and friends making an effort to attend a function in the middle of the day," Meschkow said when asked of the ceremony.

"As a recipient of these awards, I don't feel any newfound pressure to continue as a community leader because I love what I do, and eagerly look forward to continuing my efforts to uphold the honors that have been bestowed upon me," Meschkow said when asked if there is any pressure on her after winning so many awards. "As always, my work will still be based on the same motivation to do the right thing and serve as an educator and mentor for future generations."

Community activism comes with many responsibilities and necessary time sacrifices. Those who participate in causal neighborhood events portray actions that keep a community running. Yet, those like Carol Meschkow who found and participate in countless community organizations for the overall betterment of the community are those great people who are the backbone to the community itself.