Faculty Association of Suffolk Community College
Showing students that educators and the union "walk the talk," the Faculty Association of Suffolk Community College hosted a Fair Trade holiday sale on the college's Grant and Ammerman campuses.
"Having Fair Trade on our campus is the ideal way to get the word out on this important program ... in a word: awareness," said business professor Tim McHeffey, community outreach coordinator for the local. The union also aims to collaborate with organizations that share its mission of social advocacy.
Yorktown Congress of Teachers
The Yorktown Congress of Teachers wants to show the real face of the union. The local produced a five-minute video message titled "I am the Union." Members in the video hold signs declaring themselves teachers, Americans, taxpayers, the middle class, voters — and union members. Check it out at www.yctunion.com.
The video comes on the heels of a very active year for the local. Through dress down days and other fundraisers, YCT donated nearly $30,000 to students and communities around the region. "This is what unionism is truly about. We consistently support those who need our help," Sean Kennedy, YCT president, wrote in a December letter to members.
Depew Teachers Organization
Retired members of the Depew Teachers Organization have turned their monthly retiree breakfasts into additional fundraising opportunities. A few years ago, at the suggestion of retiree Dan Zwolinski, members agreed to "round up" the fees paid for the meal, with proceeds benefitting the DTO Fundraising Committee. Amounts may be small — usually less than $1 per person, per breakfast — but the funds add up. In September, retirees donated $92 to the fund.
In the 2011-12 school year, thanks to donations from retirees and in-service educators, the DTO committee made more than $10,000 in donations and scholarship awards.
Valley Central TA
The Valley Central TA dedicated a special edition of its newsletter to the district's School-Related Professionals in November.
In a four-page edition of VC Echoes, the local thanked the professionals who "make our schools run efficiently ... School-Related Professionals make our mission of putting children center both possible and more effective."