BSCTA Shines at NYSUT Representative Assembly

Darlene Darch - President

NYSUT’s annual Representative Assembly (RA) was held in Washington D.C. this year April^27th - May 1st. This convention is held each year to attend to NYSUT business, discuss and vote on resolutions and amendments, and to hear what is happening around the state. During the local president’s assembly, we had an opportunity to meet with the NYSUT leaders to discuss concerns. School funding and the economy were top concerns around the state.

Attendees also had an opportunity to hear a variety of speakers, including Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Steve Israel, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, and State Education Commissioner Richard Mills share their ideas and concerns on public education in New York State and across the nation.

This convention is also an opportunity for NYSUT to recognize the hard work and accomplishments of members and locals throughout the state. I am always very proud to represent the BSCTA, but this year we really did shine. Among our accomplishments were:

Life Line Honor Award

Scott Hecht (SC) was awarded NYSUT's Lifeline Award for taking action to save a life. He was one of only 4 NYSUT members state wide to receive this honor. Along with the award, Scott’s name will be added to a plaque in NYSUT’s Suffolk Office listing all Suffolk members who have received the award over the years.

Community Service Award

NYSUT created a Local Community Service Award to recognize a local's collective and sustained contribution to community service. I was extremely proud to accept this award for the fourth year in a row on behalf of all of our members who tirelessly help out and give back to our community.

Journalism Awards

The BSCTA was a big winner at the Journalism Awards, earning awards in the following journalism competition categories:

Best Website! If you haven’t visited the site lately, got to bscta@optonline.org and check it out

"The Answer", our monthly newsletter was once again a winner! It earned three awards:

"Award of Merit for New Member Issues," for an article written by Michelle Stowers on our new member program.

Best Editorial for an article I wrote, “The Strength of a Family” after my Mom passed away

"First Award" in the category of "Best Front Page or Cover" for our June 2008 cover highlighting our retiring colleagues, designed by Stephanie Cox.

VOTE-COPE Albert Shanker Award

Your statewide union has a fundraising arm called VOTE-COPE. VOTE-COPE is NYSUT's non-partisan political action fund that coordinates the voluntary contributions of members and supports NYSUT-endorsed candidates and campaign committees that are pro-public education and pro-labor. The single largest category of VOTE-COPE expenditures is in the form of rebates to local unions to be used in local activities such as school board races and for passage of school budgets.

Locals who ran successful Vote-Cope campaigns were also recognized, and Bay Shore took the top honor with the Albert Shanker Award, the highest award presented. The BSCTA is among the highest contributors to Vote-Cope in the state. We are the second highest contributor in Suffolk County, with only East Islip contributing more.