DA briefs

Executive Board to expand — Union delegates overwhelmingly supported a constitutional amendment to increase, from 11 to 13, the number of statewide UUP Executive Board positions. The constitutional amendment also names the chair of the statewide Committee on Active Retired Membership (who is elected by the retired membership of UUP to a two-year term) as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the Executive Board. The change will be implemented in winter 2003 to “allow for nominations to occur for the regular spring 2003 election cycle as part of the regular spring elections for the Executive Board,” according to statewide UUP Secretary Eileen Landy. The Executive Board supported the amendment as a way to “better reflect the growing membership and needs of UUP,” union President Bill Scheuerman said.

Lifetime achievement — Deputy Speaker Arthur Eve of Buffalo, first elected to the state Assembly in 1966, was honored for his years of service to New York and especially for his commitment to public higher education with UUP's Lifetime Achievement Award. Eve is retiring from the Assembly at the end of the year to work as a community activist.

Eve's award was accepted by his longtime chief of staff, Norman McConney, who urged delegates to continue their fight for SUNY and for the principles of the labor movement.

Eve was instrumental in establishing SEEK and the Educational Opportunity Program within SUNY. He has also sponsored legislation on a wide range of issues, including job training and development, affirmative action, school health services, day care, housing and numerous education initiatives.

Political action — Following a lengthy and, at times, passionate debate, delegates passed a motion by the SUNY Stony Brook chapter to urge NYSUT, UUP’s statewide affiliate, to endorse H. Carl McCall in the 2002 gubernatorial race. The resolution read: "The Fall UUP Delegate Assembly directs the UUP representatives to the NYSUT Board of Directors to urge the endorsement of a candidate for the office of the governor of the state of New York and that the candidate of choice be the Hon. H. Carl McCall." UUP presented the recommendation to NYSUT; the NYSUT board ultimately made no endorsement and remained neutral in the race, based on strong NYSUT-wide support for both state Comptroller McCall and Gov. George Pataki.

Honoring our own — Two veteran UUP activists were honored with this year's Nina Mitchell Awards for Distinguished Service. Henry Steck of Cortland and Judith Bird of Farmingdale were recognized for their work on the state and chapter levels.

Meanwhile, retired member Norma Klayman of Buffalo State was presented with the NYSUT Community Service Award for her efforts on behalf of UUP retirees.

In other business, delegates put UUP on record opposing a war with Iraq;

supported national legislation that provides for access to publicly-funded, comprehensive health care for New Yorkers and all Americans; backed the SUNY New Paltz Women's Studies Program, which was denied funding by the college for its annual conference; and opposed the arbitrary and capricious nature of the enforcement of the USA Patriot Act.