Orientation:

New Union delegates & officers meet

Newly elected officers and delegates from UUP chapters across the state spent several June days in Albany and Lake George learning the ins and outs of union leadership and their role in it.

A New Leaders Orientation brought together unionists from chapters large and small who shared one thing: a commitment to improve the working lives of their colleagues. UUP President William Scheuerman kicked off the two-day conference by welcoming the group and introducing the new leaders to the basic concepts of union activism. He also discussed some of UUP's current initiatives and priorities.

UUP's statewide vice president for professionals, John Marino, encouraged the attendees to always make helping union members their top concern. He challenged the fledgling leaders to figure out what involvement means at their particular chapter.

Phil Smith, UUP's statewide vice president for academics, urged the new leaders to read the union contract and familiarize themselves with its contents. Eileen Landy, a newcomer herself as statewide secretary, explained to the new leaders how her office could assist them while Treasurer Rowena Blackman-Stroud presented helpful tips on handling chapter finances.

UUP and NYSUT staff were also on hand to deal with issues like services provided by union field representatives; membership building; communications and newsletter production; meeting planning; and more.

An abbreviated version of that presentation awaited dozens of new delegates who attended a daylong workshop in Albany to learn the ropes about their new roles in UUP. The delegates had a chance to get to know colleagues from across the state, learning how they shared similar challenges on campuses throughout New York and what a strong role the union has in uniting them to face those challenges.