Re-elected to the Executive Board were: Patricia Bentley, Plattsburgh; Albert Ermanovics, SUNY Buffalo; Frederick Floss, Buffalo State; Michael Smiles, Farmingdale; and Darryl Wood, Binghamton. Also elected were: Michael Silverberg, Stony Brook HSC; and first-timers José Feliciano, Stony Brook, and Rose-mary Hennessy, Albany. The two newcomers fill the seats added to the board following action at the 2002 Fall DA. At that time, delegates also voted to have the elected retiree chair serve as a nonvoting board member. Retiree Judith Wishnia of SUNY Stony Brook was recently elected to serve in that position.

Meanwhile, delegates this May voted unanimously to adopt the union’s “conservative” 2003-2004 spending plan, which includes an operating budget of nearly $6.4 million, Treasurer Rowena Blackman-Stroud said.

“The allocations in this bud-get reflect our union’s current priorities,” Blackman-Stroud said, noting the union is in contract negotiations with the state and in a battle to make public higher education a legislative priority. She told delegates that the current political climate “requires greater union advocacy” and, as a result, UUP will closely monitor its expenditures.

Blackman-Stroud said UUP negotiated additional affiliate support, including $135,000 from NYSUT and a dues rebate of $95,000 from AFT for UUP part-timers earning less than $10,000 a year.

— Karen L. Mattison