Women take bows for strong leadership roles


By DEBORAH A. MILES The PEF Region 8 Womens Program


honored four PEF members with Women of Merit Awards in early October. The recipients were nominated by their peers for outstanding contributions to the workplace and to their communities. The 2012 recipients were Linda Baker


and Valerie Ridgeway from the state Department of Health (DOH), Marie Carmelle-Souffrant from the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, and Patricia Spath from Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC). As a PEF steward, Baker helps


members utilize union benefits for continued education and promotional opportunities. She is co-chair of the Mentor/Protege Committee, and plays


several roles in the Capital Region Miracle League, a volunteer organization that provides free sports programs for mentally and physically challenged children. She told those in attendance, “Knowledge is key. If you pass that key, you allow another to unlock his hidden potential.” Ridgeway is devoted to occupational


health and safety. She is the floor marshal for the Tenant Safety Organization, with requests to work on the floor plan for the Office of Long-term Care as it moves to the 18th floor at DOH. As co-chair of the local health and safety committee, Ridgeway keeps a keen eye on several workplace issues, and is also active in the Employee Assistance Program. Carmelle-Souffrant, a dedicated PEF steward, chairs the Caribbean Committee.


She was instrumental in an effort to help the earthquake victims of Haiti, where she has strong family ties. She shared her knowledge to help develop a cultural program at PEF’s 2011 annual convention and is active in supporting many of the union’s goals and challenges. Eighteen people nominated Spath for


the award, citing her passionate leadership as the HESC Division 355 council leader. Her peers said she is persistent in getting answers, always on top of union developments and genuinely cares about the welfare of her fellow members. The consensus among her co-workers is that Spath is an “irresistible force.” They said, “When the going gets tough, Pat keeps going.” Maddie Shannon-Roberts, chair of the


Region 8 Women’s Program, coordinated the event and was assisted by her committee: Doris Shannon, Mary Brady- Murray, Mary Boisvert and Holly Clark. They each received a Women of Merit Award for their dedication and planning efforts from Region 8 Coordinator Nikki Brate. “This event was a wonderful


ALLTOGETHER—Recipients of the Region 8Womens Programmerit awards stand with PEF leaders and committeemembers after a ceremony October 4 in Colonie.They are Holly Clark,PEF Secretary-Treasurer Carlos Garcia,Marie Carmelle-Souffrant,Mary Boisvert,Valerie Ridgeway, Linda Baker,Mary Brady-Murray,Patricia Spath,PEF President Susan Kent, Region 8 Coordinator Nikki Brate and Maddie-Shannon Roberts, chair of theWomen of Merit Planning Committee.


—Photo by Deborah A. Miles


opportunity to congratulate the outstanding women being honored,” said PEF President Susan Kent. “The need for women to lead from their authentic voices, values and vision has never been greater or more important. The women we have honored are unifiers, care deeply about their work responsibilities and they get things done. They have helped pave the way for our daughters’ and granddaughters’ future successes.”


THE FIGHT CONTINUES – PEF leaders and lawmakers take time for a group shot at the steps of the Brooklyn Town Hall in September after delivering 10,000 signatures on petitions to save services at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.PEF participated in the press conference that was organized by the United University Professions.Shown are Thora Murray Lee and E.Paul Stewart (administrative judges fromthe state Office ofTemporary Disability Assistance),PEFVice PresidentWayne Spence,PEF Executive Board Member Donald Morgenstern,PEF Region 11 Coordinator Jemma Marie-Hanson, stateAssemblymembers Karim Camara and Nick Perry, and PEF activist Alan Schulkin. —Photo by Blair Burroughs


Page 18—The Communicator November 2012 PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445


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