Locals rally to support union colleagues
From left, Anna Zurawinsky of the Sewanhaka Federation of Teachers, NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi and Judith Alexanderson and Morton Rosenfeld of the Plainville Congress of Teachers. The two Long Island locals each pledged $500 for NYSUT's flood relief efforts at the statewide union's conference for NEA/NY local presidents.
Local unions are coming to the fore for their waterlogged communities.
The Deposit TA allocated emergency funds for the flooded public library. "We have a community action committee that plans to help out other local organizations in need," said Tred Burch, Deposit TA president. A back-to-school fund-raiser netted nearly $400 for school supplies.
Elementary teachers are gearing up to make back-to-school as normal as possible for impressionable students, said Burch. Educators aren't sure which students will return. "An entire trailer park in our community was completely wiped out," he said.
The Susquehanna Valley Teachers Association co-sponsored a neighborhood steak bake fund-raiser. "We called it 'Neighbor Aid' and teachers solicited donations from community businesses for a raffle and helped sell tickets," said Oneitta Ludwig, Susquehanna Valley TA president. Some money went to buy school supplies.
The Sidney TA has collected more than $4,100 in relief donations, said Christine Barnes, who with Beth Hutter leads the local. The money will finance backpacks filled with school supplies for needy students. Middle school teachers collected games and toys for flood-impacted families, said Barnes.
The Walton TA "is looking into supplying materials for students whose homes were hit," said local President Sylvia Morgan.
After a car wash and bake sale, Johnson City unionists have scheduled a series of fundraisers deep into the fall. "We're asking members to contribute to a loose change drive on the first day of school," said Susan Brazen-King, local president. "Our fund-raising theme is: 'It's all about change.'"
How you can help
You may donate online by following the above link, or make your check payable to "NYSUT Disaster Relief Fund" to NYSUT Headquarters, Attn: Jeff Lockwood, Accounting Department, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, New York 12110.
Effective immediately, all donations to the disaster fund (a tax deductible 501(c)3 fund) will be designated for 2006 flood relief.
Application for Qualified Disaster Relief Payment
Your union is committed to helping members in times of need through its Disaster Relief and Scholarship Fund.
Download Application. PDF file is 50K. Please read and follow the instructions.
Note: The deadline for application submission is Oct. 31, 2006. Grants will be acted upon and distributed in November, 2006. If extenuating or emergency circumstances exist which require emergency processing, please contact Helen Vickery at NYSUT (1-800-342-9810, ext. 6213; 518-213-6000, ext. 6213).
NYSUT launches disaster relief fund
NYSUT has launched several efforts to help members affected by the flooding. Donations to the NYSUT Disaster Relief Fund will go to flood victims. In late July, NYSUT delegates at the American Federation of Teachers convention in Boston passed the hat, raising almost $10,000. The delegates had heard a first-hand report of the horrid conditions from Ben Frisbie, a NYSUT Board member from Owego-Apalachin.