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If there was one message that came out of the June 25 healthcare reform rally on Capitol Hill, it was that healthcare reform cannot wait. The demand from the crowd of nearly 10,000 was for affordable, high-quality healthcare with the choice of a public or private option—now!
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Randi Weingarten, who was elected AFT president one year ago, announced on June 24 that she will devote herself full time to that role and is stepping down from her position as president of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City, effective July 31.
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From Your President
SPEAK UP! SPEAK OUT! :
The message of the NYSUT 2009 Convention in Buffalo
I was privileged to attend the NYSUT Convention this past week in Buffalo as well as the President’s Conference prior to the Convention. Thank you for giving me the great opportunity to learn more about our growing and changing union and the world around us and reflect on how I can be a clearer voice when I Speak Up and Speak Out . This year’s theme was chosen to honor Robert Kennedy who has as his legacy the action of Speaking Up and Speaking Out. We learned much about his short life and his actions which were truly inspiring.
The challenge for me right now as I write this is how to convey to you, our 3,000+ readers the depth and breath of those informative, well planned, exhilarating days in Buffalo.
Here are some quotes from a few of the presenters so you may get a taste of the messages heard:
“I LOVE TEACHERS”.” Our goal as a country should be to make teachers---as doctors and lawyers were in the 20th century--- the exalted profession of the 21st century” (U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, the senator who was the driving force that sent Stimulus Funds to every state….)
”Fix It, Fund It, or Get RID of It!” (Newest US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand…on No Child Left Behind)
NYSUT PRESIDENT Dick Iannuzzi used this opportunity to speak of ways both big and small that people can Speak Up and Speak Out. The most moving part of his speech was the introduction of 4 teachers and the following story. Fifty-one years ago the University of Buffalo football team after beating teams like Harvard won an invitation to Orlando Florida’s Tangerine Bowl to face off with Florida State. But in the Jim Crow South, the bowl invitational came with a price that the team from Buffalo refused to pay. Willie Evans and Mike Wilson, two black athletes from inner-city Buffalo would not be allowed to play in the game. The coach wanted the team to vote about whether or not they would accept those terms. But the team never thought of accepting. They unanimously rejected the invitation and tossed the ballots on the floor and walked out, according to Jim Keats. Four men on that team became teachers: Keats, Evans, Dempsey and Zinni. Iannuzzi introduced them and the convention broke out in wild applause and a standing ovation.
AFT President Randi Weingarten reminded us of President Obama’s pledge to work with us in education and restated what NEA Secretary-Treasurer Becky Pringle had previously said: “We’re at the table now, and not on the menu”. Weingarten also added “When you don’t speak up and speak out, tyranny happens. You must have a voice even when there are consequences. It’s what makes a democracy.”
On top of a cast of fantastic presenters, this convention also included: several children’s choirs from the Buffalo area who performed with the grace and poise of adults, a strong debate on the floor of the convention over the resolution to oppose the war in Afghanistan and a strong sense of community that came over the group as we processed the horror of the shootings in Binghamton that occurred during the convention.
It was a learning time and a sharing time. My hope is to share what I learned with you. For more information please go to our website: www.nysut.org
On the left find and click on “ONLINE LOCALS”
Find and click on “RC 12”
If you can spend just 10 minutes each day reading about all the exciting things happening in our world, I know you’ll also be inspired to Speak Up and Speak Out.
Karen
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Statewide Service and Civic Engagement Website During his State of the State address, Governor David A. Paterson announced volunteering and service as a priority of his Administration and launched New Yorkers Volunteer – a statewide campaign to elevate the number of In addition, To support these initiatives, a State website was launched at www.NewYorkersVolunteer.ny.gov. The site functions to elevate the awareness of service and provide New Yorkers with a tool to identify meaningful volunteer opportunities that meet needs in their local community. |
