From state budget battles and bitter contract negotiations, to fighting to protect members in the classroom and on the job, Bill Simons has faced his share of challenges over the years.

So it made sense to see Oneonta’s longtime chapter president offering advice to new and returning UUP leaders during a panel discussion on what to expect as a new leader, one of several seminars held during the union’s two-day New Chapter Leaders Orientation in June.

“You don’t have to be an expert on everything,” said Simons. “You have good people around you. Keep calm in the eye of the storm.”

“My advice is to persevere,” added Buffalo Center Chap- ter President Mike Behun. “Work around the impediments you face.”

Simons and Behun were two of a handful of seasoned UUP chapter officers who led the June 20-22 orientation; 15 new chapter presidents and vice presidents representing 13 campuses attended the event.

A mix of former and first-time leaders were there, including David Ramsey (Cobleskill), Walter Kim Hartshorn (Plattsburgh), Carol Gizzi (Stony Brook HSC) and Peter Brown (New Paltz). Fred Kowal, UUP’s former statewide membership development officer and Executive Board member, was also at the presentation; he’s back as Cobleskill chapter president, a post he held through most of the 1990s.

A number of new faces also attended: Mark D’Arcy (Alfred), Andrew Koenig (Buffalo HSC), Dean Reinhart (Buffalo State), John Lawless (Empire State College), Solomon Ayo (Farmingdale), Jeriluanne O’Bryan-Losee (Morrisville), Jeffrey Miller (New Paltz), Maureen Curtin (Oswego) and Michael Walker (System Administration). “We need strong, younger individuals to take over for the people who have accomplished so much before us,” said Reinhart, Buffalo State chapter’s new vice president for professionals. “We need to find people who will lead the union into the future.”

Learning the ropes

New leaders took part in breakout sessions for chapter presidents and vice presidents and got an overview of the union’s contract with New York state. But the highlight was the panel discussion, where veteran UUP leaders talked about their experiences as chapter leaders and shared strategies and words of wisdom with new leaders.

Purchase Chapter President John Delate led the discussion, which featured Behun, Simons, Farmingdale Chapter President Yolanda Pauze, Upstate Medical University Chapter President Carol Braund, Stony Brook Chapter President Arty Shertzer, and Rob Compton, Oneonta’s vice president for academics, as panelists.

“It’s been a great learning experience, learning about the challenges we’ll face and how to handle those issues for our members,” said Ayo, Farmingdale’s new vice president for professionals. “You realize that you’re not alone out there.”

That’s why union leaders are tapped to teach the forum, said UUP President Phil Smith.

“The orientation for new leaders is best led by people who have walked in those same shoes,” he said. “Our people have been there before and they are the best teachers.”

— Michael Lisi