Webster Teachers’ Association
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1 Webster Teachers’ Association The Voice May June 2018 Dear WTA colleagues: As you read this many of you are in the last few days of finishing grades, packing boxes and preparing your rooms for the summer. A wise prophet once said that the only constant in life is change. We have seen a vast amount of change during this past year on both the national and state level as well as within our own union. This year we will celebrate the retirement of 19 of our amazing colleagues who have decided to close this chapter of their lives and open a new one into retirement. We will miss their friendship, collegiality and how they made work a little easier for all of us. We will all be affected in particular with the departure of our past WTA President Steve Turiano who has led this union for many years. Steve, we will miss your guidance, compassion and friendship. We all wish you well in your future endeavors. As I write this, we all await the SCOTUS decision regarding JANUS and how it will impact us as a whole. Speculation of the court’s decision has the run the gambit of varying degrees but only time will tell its true impact on unions across the nation. We have seen the impact that specific state laws have had on unions across the country in areas such as Wisconsin, Arizona and Kentucky and the failure of the state governments to collectively bargain with those teacher unions. The adage of “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” has prompted both NYSUT and the WTA to send out pledge cards to all of our union members in each of the 11 buildings with approximately 97 percent signing. This shows the strength and determination that we have as a whole here within the WTA. This year also ushered in a new executive board as well as elections at each of the buildings throughout the district. During the election process many of you expressed your concerns regarding issues such as class size, discipline, school safety and future contract negotiations. These concerns have not gone unheard and as we go forward we will continue to address these issues to better the working conditions for all educators. Please reach out to your building representatives for any concerns or questions that you might have. I look forward to seeing all of you August 29 th . I hope that all of you enjoy a safe, restful and enjoyable summer. In Unity, CJW PP1 Incoming WTA President Chris Wojtas’s Message P2 WTA delegates to NYSUT RA in Buffalo April 2018 P3 How are my union dues spent? WTA dues to NYSUT P4-5 WTA Class of 2018 Retirees P6-7 ProGro Funds & application P8 WTA 2018 Scholarships to graduating Seniors P9 NYSUT Days @ Darien Lake – discount tickets P10 Member Benefits - financial & legal assistance P11 Representatives to the WTA Council P12 WTA meeting dates, contact & information The WTA Voice Editor, Christine Brucker ([email protected]) Table of Contents
Transcript of Webster Teachers’ Association
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Webster Teachers’ Association
The Voice May June 2018
Dear WTA colleagues: As you read this many of you are in the last few days of finishing grades, packing boxes and preparing your rooms for the summer. A wise prophet once said that the only constant in life is change. We have seen a vast amount of change during this past year on both the national and state level as well as within our own union. This year we will celebrate the retirement of 19 of our amazing colleagues who have decided to close this chapter of their lives and open a new one into retirement. We will miss their friendship, collegiality and how they made work a little easier for all of us. We will all be affected in particular with the departure of our past WTA President Steve Turiano who has led this union for many years. Steve, we will miss your guidance, compassion and friendship. We all wish you well in your future endeavors. As I write this, we all await the SCOTUS decision regarding JANUS and how it will impact us as a whole. Speculation of the court’s decision has the run the gambit of varying degrees but only time will tell its true impact on unions across the nation. We have seen the impact that specific state laws have had on unions across the country in areas such as Wisconsin, Arizona and Kentucky and the failure of the state governments to collectively bargain with those teacher unions. The adage of “hope for the best, prepare for the worst” has prompted both NYSUT and the WTA to send out pledge cards to all of our union members in each of the 11 buildings with approximately 97 percent signing. This shows the strength and determination that we have as a whole here within the WTA. This year also ushered in a new executive board as well as elections at each of the buildings throughout the district. During the election process many of you expressed your concerns regarding issues such as class size, discipline, school safety and future contract negotiations. These concerns have not gone unheard and as we go forward we will continue to address these issues to better the working conditions for all educators. Please reach out to your building representatives for any concerns or questions that you might have. I look forward to seeing all of you August 29th. I hope that all of you enjoy a safe, restful and enjoyable summer.
In Unity, CJW
PP1 Incoming WTA President
Chris Wojtas’s Message
P2 WTA delegates to NYSUT
RA in Buffalo April 2018
P3 How are my union dues
spent? WTA dues to NYSUT
P4-5 WTA Class of 2018
Retirees
P6-7 ProGro Funds &
application
P8 WTA 2018 Scholarships to
graduating Seniors
P9 NYSUT Days @ Darien Lake
– discount tickets
P10 Member Benefits -
financial & legal assistance
P11 Representatives to the
WTA Council
P12 WTA meeting dates,
contact & information
The WTA Voice Editor,
Christine Brucker
Table of Contents
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WTA’s delegation to the 2018 NYSUT Representative Assembly
Left to right: Sarina Schamberger, Wendy Sardella, Sue Hooper, Lisa Bullock, Christine Brucker, Steve Turiano
Sue and Sarina with Cynthia Nixon, who’s running for the office of New York State Governor
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How are my union dues spent?
This information, shared by NYSUT’s Secretary-Treasurer J. Philippe Abraham, illustrates how much is paid to NYSUT and how NYSUT allocates dues.
*NOTE: This dues schedule was radified on April 28th at the 2018 NYSUT Representative Assembly
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2018 WTA Retirees’ Dinner Shadow Lake 20. June 2018
The WTA Executive Board members hosted the annual WTA Retirement Dinner to honor our retirees at the Shadow Lake Golf Course on Wednesday, June 20. WTA Member Services Coordinator, Dina Malboeuf, chose a Wizard of Oz theme this year. Each retiree received a WTA bag, a gift bag, and potted plant as mementos recognizing their service. Many of the retirees shared words of wisdom, including retiring WTA President Steve Turiano. Webster Retired Teachers’ Association (WRTA) representative, Bev Voos, also shared the importance of staying active in the union with the WRTA and invited all retirees to the next WRTA luncheon in the fall. We applaud these 19 teachers for their years of service and wish them the very best in this 'next chapter' of their lives.
WTa
WTA Class of 2018 Retirees: Clare Broccolo, Sue Chapin, Ann DeMers, Patricia Feeley, Carol Gillis, Keith Greer, Cindy Handley, Bernard Heveron, Mary Heveron-Smith, Ty Lambert, Wendy Locke , Phyllis Mattioli, Rebecca Mull, Lori Porray, Mary Rinaldo, Zoe Schimpf , William Schoff, Steven Turiano, Linda Yawman
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WTA Scholarships
Every year the WTA awards five, $1000 scholarships to graduating seniors. In order to be eligible to apply you
must be either a graduating senior with a parent that is a member of WTA or a Webster graduating senior that
is going to pursue a career in teaching. The applications are sent to the senior building representatives and
high school counselors in late December/ early January of each school year for distribution. It is also printed in
the WTA publication, The Voice. The application and all of the required components are due by mid to late
March. The completed applications are then distributed to the scholarship committee for consideration. The
recipients are selected and the names are announced after all of the recipients are notified at their senior
awards night. We are pleased to announce that winners of the 2018 WTA scholarships are Corey Ingham,
Madison McIntee, Megan Richardson, Kyle Sicke and Alyssa Valachovic. Please join us in congratulating them
on their many accomplishments.
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2018-2019 WTA Representative Council DeWitt Road Representatives Daniela Ball-Lanza* 2017-2019 Klem North Representatives Jennifer Heaphy 2017-2019 Nancy Nesbitt* 2017-2019 Klem Road North Alternates Melissa Pennington 2017-2019 Kacei Ferrando 2018-2020 Klem South Representatives Rosanne Kulikowski* 2018-2020 Sharon Bayer 2017-2019 Klem Road South Alternates Doreen LiPari 2018-2020 Plank North Representatives Sue Hooper* 2017-2019 Sharon Goodman 2018-2020 Plank North Alternates Peggy Garritano 2017-2019 Sheila O’Hanlon 2017-2019 Plank South Representatives Colleen Molina 2018-2020 Diane Huot* 2018-2020 Plank South Alternates Janet Bresin 2018-2020 Sue Bjarnar 2018-2020 Schlegel Road Representatives Janet Gibson 2017-2019 Greg Pittman 2017-2019 Schlegel Alternates Dan DeStephano 2017-2019 State Road Representatives Emily Forrest* 2018-2020 Keri Festing 2018-2020 Spry Representatives Jean Barclay 2018-2020 AmyLynne Denk 2018-2020 Wendy Sardella* 2017-2019 Carmen Zaborny 2018-2020 Jennifer Malinchak 2018-2020
Spry Alternates Vickie Curry 2017-2019 Karen Gillen 2017-2019 Willink Representatives Lisa Cook 2018-2020 Matt Osika 2018-2020 Lisa Piazza 2018-2020 Sarina Schamberger* 2018-2020 Kristen Therkildson 2017-2019 Willink Alternates Kim King-Montz 2018-2020 Kim Ebbecke 2017-2019 Nicole Montone 2017-2019 Schroeder Representatives Lisa Bullock 2017-2019 Marypat Guinane 2017-2019 Scott Ritchlin* 2018-2020 Dan Prinzi 2018-2020 Stephanie O’Connor 2017-2019 Susan Woodward 2018-2020 Schroeder Alternates Kelly Cameron 2018-2020 Jeff Eckler 2018-2020 Linda Jenkins 2017-2019 Stephanie Metz-Miller 2018-2020 TJ Milliman 2018-2020 Thomas Representatives Mike DiTullio 2017-2019 Craig Johnville* 2017-2019 Tammie Salvione 2018-2020 Bill Dykstra 2018-2020 Nicole Corriveau 2018-2020 KC Sicke 2018-2020 Thomas Alternates Joan Bardanis 2018-2020 Sheila Byrne 2018-2020 Teachers Center at Basket Road Representatives Pam Smith* 2017-2019 Teachers Center Alternates/WPDC co-directors Melisa Phillips 2018-2020
*denotes Senior Building Representative
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2018-2019 WTA Calendar of Meetings
TIME: 4-6pm on Mondays LOCATION: Thomas High School Library
WTA Executive Board Meeting Dates
September 10, 2018
October 1, 2018
November 5, 2018
December 3, 2018
January 7, 2019
February 4, 2019
March 4, 2019
April 1, 2019
May 6, 2019
June 3, 2019
WTA Representative Council Meeting Dates
September 17, 2018
October 15, 2018
November 19, 2018
December 17, 2018
January 14, 2019
February 11, 2019
March 18, 2019
April 8, 2019
May 20, 2019
June 17, 2019
Webster Teachers' Association
(Established 1972)
Representing 730+ teachers in 11 schools
(7 elementary, 2 middle and 2 high schools)
in the Webster Central School District
Affiliated with NYSUT, AFT/NEA, and the AFL-CIO
WTA office
Thomas High School, Room #90
800 Five Mile Line Road
Webster, New York 14580
President's CELL PHONE: 585-683-9147
http://www.wta1972.com
on Twitter: @WTA1972
