FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
It is not often that we can give credit where credit is due....but as President of RC 43 I saw an opportunity and seized it. At each Representative Assembly awards are distributed for outstanding contributions in a variety of categories. One of those categories is COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. It is given to a local that has exceeded the high standards set by NYSUT of giving back (or paying it forward, depending on your perspective). I nominated RC 43 because I know that each of our units contributes GREATLY to the well being of our adopted home. Individually and collectively we give A LOT and get little or no credit. To remedy that, I nominated YOU....The deadline was in January. As our newsletter goes to print it is March. The RA is not until May. I have no way of knowing until then if NYSUT sees you as I do: deserving of this award. This is the essence of my nomination. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. You are winners whether NYSUT bestows the award or not.
- Community: In The Villages, members have collected thousands of donations for hygiene care, backpacks, school supplies and essential items for local students who have no permanent domicile.
- Charity: In Sarasota/Manatee members have contributed thousands of dollars and many volunteer hours to a local charity (FELT: Feeding Empty Little Tummies); enough to provide weekend meals for 1750 students of Manatee County each week throughout 2023.
- Service: Ongoing projects in the Treasure Coast and Southeast units include collecting books for local schools, donating time and talent to local school programs, mentoring, registering new voters, serving as poll watchers and circulating petitions to get ballot initiatives on the 2024 election ballots.
- Sponsorship: On the west coast of Florida, units like Clearwater and Nature Coast have ongoing relationships with the County Sheriffs Associations to sponsor and help the adolescents of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches.
Conclusion: RC 43 is unique in many ways but like all our union brothers and sisters we have made an out-sized contribution to our adopted home which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to exemplify the very best of union values: selfless service. We are PROOF that activists never retire!