Comingfullcircle
Story and photos ThiseventhonoredMatrazzowith KarenSpotford,acouncilleader
By DEBORAH A. MILES warmmemoriesandsymbolism.The andPEFExecutiveBoardmember
AcelebrationofLouMatrazzo’slifetook serviceberrybush,forexample,is fromRochesterPsychiatricCenter,
placeatPEFheadquarterswithatree- destinedtogrowstrongandcolorful, spokeaboutMatrazzo’s
plantingceremonyJune10. muchlikeMatrazzo’spersonality. contributiontotheunionaschair
DozensofPEFleaders,membersand “Loucouldbedescribedina ofthePEFcontractteam,andabout
staffgatheredaroundaserviceberrybush numberofways,”saidPEFPresidentKen hisconstantprideandloveforhis
plantedinMatrazzo’smemory.ThePEF Brynien.“Hehadauniquepersonality.Lou daughter,Michelle.
vicepresidentpassedawaysuddenlyin couldlookatanissueandgiveyouafresh PEFSecretary-TreasurerArleaIgoesaid
March,leavinghisfamily,co-workers,and perspectiveorspinonit.Ifhebelievedin sheknewMatrazzoformore
unionbrothersandsistersinshockand something,hewouldkeeppushingatit.He than25yearsand
sadness. wasafighter.” encouragedhimtobecome
Brynienaskedforamomentofsilence. anactiveunionmember.
Afterward,hepresentedMichelleMatrazzo “Louneverdid
withaplaquerecognizingherdadforhis anythinghalfway,”Igoe
excellence,leadershipanddedicationtothe said.“Thereweretimes
growthofPEF. wedisagreed,but
Thepeopleattheeventstood therewasalways
symbolicallyinafullcirclearoundthe loveatheart.We’ll
bush,asotherunionleadersspokeabout allmisshim.”
theircolleagueandfriend.
“Louwasagreatguytohavearound WITHPRIDE
andhaveaconversationwith,”saidPEF —Michelle
VicePresidentJoeFox.“Ifyouwereonedge Matrazzo
aboutanything,youcouldtalkitoutwith smilesafter
Lou.Hedidagreatjobinallhispositions receiving
WITHGRATITUDE—PEFV.P. JoeFox withinPEF,risingthroughtheranksfrom aplaque
listensasMaryGraceParker(Matrazzo’s stewardtovice-president.Hewasamanof honoringher
sister)thanksPEFforitssupport. hisword.Hedelivered.” dad.
Conferencebolstersmembersupport
By DEBORAH A. MILES
“It’simportanttogetinvolved,be
DozensofPEFRegion10members
informedandknowyourrights,”McCauley
gatheredinmid-Juneatamembership
said.
conferenceheldinSufferntolearn,
“It’sveryimportantformemberstobea
networkanddiscussthechallengesthey
partofwhatisgoingon.
faceattheirworksites.
“Theconferencealsoprovidedasafe
PEFRegion10CoordinatorVernetta
havenwhereeveryonecouldbecandid
Chesimardsaidthethirdannual
abouttheseriousthingsthatgooninour
conferencewasdesignedtofocusonissues
jobsites.Theworkshopsanddiscussions
germanetotoday’sworkforce.Thetopics
INSOLIDARITY—PEFRegion10
helpedwithproblemsolvinganddealing
coveredincludedmembers’rightsunder
CoordinatorVernettaChesimard,PEF
withday-to-dayactivitiesandhowto
thePS&Tcontractwhenfacedwith
PresidentKenBrynienandClifvonJones
handleyourselfwithyoursupervisoror
counselingorinterrogation,the
chatattheregion’sconference.
withco-workers,”McCauleysaid.
complexitiesoftheworkerscompensation
Amongthethingsthatimpressed
systemandtheimportanceofrapid
ItwasthefirstPEFmembership
McCauleymostwerethewordsofferedby
mobilization.
conferenceshehasattended.Jonessaidit
PEFPresidentKenBrynien.
“Theinformationfromtheworkshops
helpedherrealizehow
“PresidentBrynienshowedusheis
anddiscussionswithothermemberswas
strongPEFisasaunion,
accessibletomembers,”McCauleysaid.
invaluable,”saidClifvonJones,an
butmembersmust
“Heofferedtocomeoutandstandand
underwriteratthestateInsuranceFund.
contributeandparticipate
supportthemembership,nomatterhow
“Therewasagreatexchangeofideas.It
tomaketheunioneven
smallthegroup.Iwastouchedtoseeheis
wasinterestingtomeetPEFmembersfrom
stronger.
reallythereforus,feelsourpainand
differentagencies.Someofthemworktwo
ReneeMcCauley,a
understands.”
blocksawayfrommyworksite.The
Medicaidservice
Chesimardsaidtheconferencewas
conferenceprovidedameetingground.I
coordinatoratMetroNY
successfulbecauseofthemember
foundtheyhavesomeofthesameissues
McCAULEY
DevelopmentalDisabilities
participation,thehighcaliberofthe
andchallengesintheiragencieswehaveat
ServicesOffice,echoed
workshopleaders,andthepositiveenergy
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