At the Town Council Meeting for the Town of Sullivan Parks & Recreational Programs, the honor and distinction of being made an Honorary Black Belt in the American Martial Arts Institute was presented to Mr. Justin T. Pokinas, Jr.

Mr. John Gladney, supervisor of the town board, made arrangements to have Grand Master Clifford C. Crandall Jr. placed on the agenda for March 3rd's meeting and after the opening pledge of allegiance introduced Grand Master Crandall to the council and the people attending for the presentation. Grand Master Crandall was accompanied by Instructor Mrs. Daryl Eastwood and Instructor Miss Lisa Wool. He explained that the true training in the martial arts was greatly involved with attitude and commitment to the community and people in your charge no matter what your job. He said he has known Mr. Pokines for over 15 years and has worked with him closely in the presentation of martial arts programs in the Chittenango area for the past 12 years. He further explained that Mr. Pokines demonstrated the kind of concern for people and programs that would better the lives of everyone involved in the community and that Mr. Pokines was a professional with values and standards that made a difference in what he made available through his position for the youngest children to the oldest community member. Grand Master Crandall pointed out that sometimes it is true that we do not see what great people we have working for the betterment of our towns and cities until they have moved on and that this was not going to happen here. Though Mr. Pokines did not train in the physical moves of the martial arts, he practices the results of such training with concern, dedication and sacrifice for all the people he brought programs and change to. Because of this he has been unanimously supported by the 48 adult instructors in the American Martial Arts Institute for the presentation of an Honorary Black Belt Certificate by that organization.

Mr. Justin Pokines accepted and spoke of the close cooperation that existed between him and Grand Master Crandall and the staff of the American Martial Arts Institute. He expressed his appreciation for such an honor and accepted the certificate stating that the programs had grown from a few to over 200 different programs meeting the needs of the community and that the martial arts program provided by Grand Master Crandall was one of the best, reaching over 1,500 community members over the years. He then thanked everyone and pictures were taken of him and Grand Master Crandall.