REGION 8 Albany
Conference crystallizes
the inner-workings of PEF
ByDEBORAHA.MILES “Thisconferencewasdesignedtoshow
Theinformationsharedwith100 theparticipantsthestrengthoftheunion,
participantsatthePEFRegion8 throughlegislativeaction,active
membershipconferencemadeadifference mobilization,andfightingcontractingout.
tothosewhoattendedtheworkshopsat Italsoprovidedmemberswithinformation
theGideonPutnaminSaratogaSpringsin ontopicalsubjects,suchasbullyinginthe
WURST
earlyNovember. workplaceandretirementplanning,”
—
ER
PhotobyFredMoody
GailEntzminger-Babb Wurstersaid.
saidtheworkshopon Oneoftheattendees,MarioChiarello,
“Retirementisanimportantsubject.We
lobbyingcrystallizedthe aninformationtechnology
canspendone-thirdofourlivesin
typesofthingsmembers specialist3attheOfficeof
retirement.BeinganactivePEFretireeis
needtoknow. theStateComptroller,also
somethingweallneedtothinkabout,”he
“Theinformationatthe attendedthe2007and2008
said.
lobbyingworkshoptaught Region8conferences.He
ThiswasBarbaraUlmer’s
ushowimportantitisto saidtheywere“terrific”and
firstRegion8membership
timeourlobbyingactivities
BABB
inspiredhimtoreturn.
conference.Shewasinspired
withtheactualstate “Eventssuchasthishelp
bytheresolvePEFhasto
budgetcycle,andhow tofurtherthegoalsofPEF
spotlightthefinancialwaste
importantitistohitwhen
CHIARELLO
andourmembers,”
causedbyhiring
thosekeytimesareinvolved,”saidBabb, Chiarellosaid.“PEFisa
consultants.
anassociateadministrativeanalystatthe veryopenorganization.This
“I’vebeenimpressedwith
stateLawDepartment. conferenceoffersmembers
thewayPEFisworkingto
PEFRegion8CoordinatorWilliam anopportunitytoactivelyparticipateand
stopcontracting-outand
Wurstersaidtheworkshopsfitthe haveanimpactonwhatgetsdecidedand
ULMER
pointingoutthestatework
conferencetheme,“LookingAtOur whatgetsconsidered.PEFisveryspecialin
forceisthebetteroption,”
Successes—BuildingOurFuture.” thatrespect,asfarasunionsgo.”
Ulmersaid.
“ManyofPEF’sachievementsaretiedto Chiarellosaidheenjoyedlisteningto
Chiarelloaddedthe
leadersandmembersworkingside-by-side, PEFRegion8RetireePresidentMarje
conferencewasa“tremendouslocal
asinPEF’sGo Publiccampaign. DeVoe.
opportunity.”
REGION 12 Long Island
Leadership training gets rave reviews
ByDEBORAHA.MILES PS&Tcontractandhowtoresearchit theproblemsandconcerns
“Informationispower,beitthecandle onlinethroughthePEFResourceCenter. thatmayaffectmembers,
orthemirrorthatreflectsit,”wasthe “Wereceivedglowingfeedbackonall anditprovidedmewith
themeofPEFRegion12’s theworkshops,”saidPEFRegion12 additionalresourcessoI
advancedleadership CoordinatorDeeDodson.“Thetopicswere canbetterassistthe
trainingandretreatheld pertinenttowhatishappeningin workersinmydivision,”he
atGurney’sInnin worksitesandwhatpeopleareinterested said.
MontaukinOctober. intoday. EdSwierkowski,a
Approximately60 “Thepresenterswerehighly seniortaxauditoratthe
peopleattended,basedon knowledgeableandtheyeachthoroughly stateDepartmentofLabor,
theirpastperformanceof engagedtheparticipants,”Dodsonsaid. saidtheconferencewas
sharinginformationwith “Theseparticipants top-notchineveryaspect.
SWIERKOWSKI
members.Thisconference haveshowna “Therewassomuch
providedalottobring
back.
Itincludedworkshops
DODSON
commitmenttothe helpfulinformation.Wecouldhavespent
union,andnowtheyare moretimewitheachpresenter,”
armedwithawealthof Swierkowskisaid.“Andasmuchasitwas
oncurrenttopics,suchas informationtoshare informative,itwasalsoarelaxing
bullyingintheworkplace,theimportance withtheirconstituents.” experience.”
ofmembershipinvolvementwithpolitical BillPike,acivil DodsonsaidtheMontaukareawas
actioncommittees,andfinancial engineeratthestate chosenforjustthatpurpose,togetpeople
management. Departmentof awayfromtheirdailystresses,sothey
Oneworkshopwasdevotedtoopposing Transportation,agreed.
thecontracting-outofstateservices,and “Theconferencegave
anotherprovidedanin-depthlookintothe mesomeinsightinto
PIKE
wouldbeabletorelaxandeasilyabsorb
whatwasbeingpresentedtothem.
www.pef.org TheCommunicatorDecember2009/January2010—Page21
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