Delegates to the 2009 Spring Delegate Assembly, set for April 24-25 at The Desmond in Albany, will elect 11 statewide union leaders. Elections will be held for the offices of president, secretary and membership development officer, as well as eight Executive Board seats.

If the membership ratio of academics to professionals remains the same as the present ratio, of the 11 people to be elected, seven must be academics, four must be professionals and at least one must be from a specialized chapter. If the ratio changes, elections will be adjusted accordingly.

In accordance with union policy, candidates running for statewide elective position are entitled to have statements and a photograph printed in The Voice, which is distributed to all bargaining unit members.

Candidate statements will be published by order of election and in reverse alphabetical order in odd-numbered years.

Statements longer than 500 words were set in smaller type to ensure fairness for all candidates. The statements are printed as received, with minor editing for consistency of style.

The following pages contain the statements and photographs of those union candidates who chose to submit them.

For President: Phillip H. Smith, Upstate Medical University

I’m pleased to announce my candidacy for re-election as president of UUP. It has been my honor to serve you since February 2008, and I hope that you will support my candidacy with your vote at the Spring DA.

Moving UUP Forward: It is my continued promise to work tirelessly achieving the goals we set together at the previous election. This past year, I’ve brought transparency and openness to UUP at levels ranging from our headquarters to our local chapters. Evidence of this change can be seen most vividly in the numbers of candidates now running for statewide and local offices, and the numbers of new activists attending our DAs and leadership conferences. As a member of the Executive Council of both NYSUT and AFT, I’ve worked diligently to position our members and UUP in the forefront of our state and national organizations. Already, many new activists have benefited from attending conferences sponsored by our statewide and national affiliates; this enhances not only the new activists’ skills but also UUP’s effectiveness. Within UUP, I’ve also worked to create a new era of openness in communication, including more frequent contacts and updates via e-mail from my perspective as president, and a broader focus on chapters and membership in our print media such as The Voice and The Connection. Our electronic media have changed too, with more frequent updates and richer content on our Web site. New enhancements also allow chapters, as well as constituency groups, to communicate more openly via our LeaderNet Web pages and electronic forums.

Enhanced Involvement: Within days of taking office, I reached out to part-time and contingent members to work with them in addressing many issues. A few months ago, those members held their first planning retreat in nearly 10 years. They continue their activities via an electronic forum, created as part of my promise to foster new means for members to communicate with one another. Over this past year, I’ve also involved and engaged our chapter presidents, frequently calling upon their expertise for advice in dealing with the ongoing financial crisis. In addition, several chapter presidents are now actively engaged in strategic planning efforts that will carry UUP forward in the years to come. Our strategic planners also have an electronic meeting space, providing an open yet secure forum for their activities.

Meeting Challenges: The fiscal crisis this past year has been unprecedented and largely unpredictable in its impacts on SUNY and UUP. Working with UUP’s officers, our Executive Board, chapter officers, and Outreach activists, I’ve mapped out strategic and tactical plans protecting our members and University. I’ve overseen a revised, effective political action plan to address the ongoing economic downturn. Together we’ve reached out, developing new partnerships with students, parents, local business leaders, as well as with lawmakers. Those plans are working, as evidenced by our ability to persuade the Governor’s Office to release $109 million that SUNY voluntarily sequestered last April. As a direct result of my meetings with the governor and his key staff, $75 million has been set aside in the Executive Budget that will protect our jobs—a commitment that SUNY was unwilling to make. Recently, as a result of our shared vision and political strategy, UUP was awarded AFT’s top-ranked Presidential Circle Award.

The next few years will bring additional challenges—not the least of which are rebuilding our University and protecting our professional lives. Can we do it together? Yes, we can! Thanks for your support and vote.

For President: Weston L. Kennison, Geneseo

I am Wes Kennison from Geneseo. I am running for President of this great union and I ask you to join me in putting UUP back on the map.

Many of you have known me for decades as a passionate voice defending and organizing the most vulnerable and exploited of our members, the part-time and contingent employees. I have fought that battle in Geneseo, in Albany and in Washington. I have served on two Negotiations Teams. Together we made UUP history when you elected me, a part-timer, to the statewide Executive Board. What a message it would send to the state and the nation, if UUP elected a career, part-time contingent to be president of the union! We live in a time of transformational candidates and new leadership. Why not UUP?

Many part-timers have an active professional life beyond academe. I operate a busy consulting business. We design programs and partnerships that use indigenous traditions in the arts to teach health education in the developing world.

In addition, two decades of experience in the bare-knuckle venue of politics will bring a fruitful network of political relationships to my presidency that can go to work for us on day one. I have a reputation among our members as a tough-minded pragmatist who knows how to design and implement a political strategy.

In politics, most accomplishments come when two contenders discover a confluence of self-interest. Discovering those solutions requires active listening and creative courage. Unions have traditionally brought two kinds of capital to this discussion: capital that comes out of our hides and capital that does not. UUP needs to be more effective in building political capital that does not come out of our hides. Putting signs in store windows is merely a baby step in the direction of building a fortress of local, statewide, national and international alliances that send this clear message, “We need the university. Don’t mess with UUP!” As your president, I will lead us in building those alliances.

The staff and the Outreach Committee have done heroic work on behalf of our members. My debate is with the president, and how that office functions as the face and voice of this union.

I don’t think that hiding in the weeds is smart when the fiscal lawn mowers are driving willy nilly across the lot. I hear too frequently from my contacts in government, “Where is UUP?” If the current administration believes that we are doing all we can, then here, my friends, is the wedge issue of this campaign: Experience teaches me that we are doing the minimum when the challenges before us require the maximum times two.

We live in a moment when America looks to its leaders for collegiality, common sense and inspiration. Our weary members look to us for equity and respect. Our suffering patients look to us for reassurance and health. Our confused students look to us for hope and a future. As leaders we are enjoined to this sacred promise. Thank you.

For Secretary: Eileen Landy, Old Westbury

I ask for your continued support as I seek re-election.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as UUP Secretary. I thank you for your confidence and trust.

I continue to work collaboratively with both our leadership in Albany and the individual chapters; we share goals to serve our membership effectively and we work tirelessly on their behalf. I remain committed to professional, responsive and individual service to you and to all our members and dedicated to the values of our union.

As Secretary I am responsible for organizing, scheduling and supporting activities and events such as Delegate Assemblies, leadership workshops, retreats, orientations and committee meetings. I work closely with the Elections and Credentials Committee to conduct our chapter, retiree and affiliate elections.

Among my accomplishments as Secretary, I count the following. I completely reorganized and revised the UUP Policy Manual. I created leadership and elections databases and modernized the elections process. Our records management processes were revamped and updated. We modernized UUP operations by restructuring and reorganizing the Delegate Assembly and leadership retreats. We continue to review our activities, recognizing the potential of integrating technology to reach out to our members and the need to be open to new ways of achieving our common goals.

UUP Green Initiative: To kick off the UUP Green Initiative, last fall I began using UUP’s LeaderNet to distribute Delegate Assembly materials. Delegates can log on to LeaderNet and access the reports, minutes, flyers, schedules and agendas we used to mail in 400 packets. We can and do still mail materials to those who so request, but we now save trees, decrease our carbon footprint and save money. Recycling at the DA began last fall and we continue to improve our efforts. At the 2009 Winter DA we replaced the bottled water with water coolers and biodegradable cups. We increased the number of recycling bins and encouraged delegates to assist in our efforts.

Chapter, retiree and affiliate nomination forms were available through a link on the UUP homepage, www.uupinfo.org. NYSUT RA delegates were able to register online through a link at www.uupinfo.org or to mail or fax a hard copy of the form. Next year we hope the majority of delegates will register online.

I welcome your suggestions and ask for your help in our efforts to go green.

Political Action: I worked with UUP President Smith, UUP Outreach Committee Co-chairs and the UUP Legislation Department to develop our two-pronged political action campaign. We created Advocacy Workbooks for regional training and tools for coalition building across the state. In the face of the worst economic conditions in both the U.S. and New York, we continue our advocacy efforts with legislative activities in Albany and in the districts on behalf of student access and educational quality in SUNY.

I continue to represent UUP as the liaison to the Executive Committee of the Joint Labor/Management Committees; at affiliate conventions; NYSUT and AFT higher education conferences and meetings; and at other events.

Record of professional service, organizational vision and openness to your ideas: I bring over 20 years of commitment, proven leadership and integrity to UUP—as Secretary, chapter president and Executive Board member. I promise to continue reaching out to you—and listening to you—as we work together for a stronger union.

I will continue to welcome and serve everyone in our union. I ask your support for my re-election.

Thank you.

For Secretary: Philippe Abraham, Albany

Announcing independent UUP Secretary candidate Philippe Abraham.

Encouraged by many of you and because I care deeply about UUP, I tested the waters for a run at the position of UUP Secretary during the United Caucus meeting at the Winter DA and was pleasantly surprised by the support I received. So here I am, energized and humbly asking you to effect change by supporting my candidacy and enlisting fellow delegates to spread the word about my campaign.

Running as a grassroots “little guy” without machine backing suits me perfectly, for I am one of you. As Albany chapter VP for professionals, where all matters whether concerning academics or professionals are handled in a team approach, I am in touch with our issues and daily fight the good fights in which we are all engaged.

My commitment to UUP began 19 years ago, simply doing my duty to the union, never dreaming I’d come this far. As my involvement and understanding deepened, encouraged by those who saw potential in me, I now seek to be an agent of change and modernization, bringing UUP Secretary procedures and functions to 21st century levels of performance and presentation our great union deserves.

One benefit of a contested election is that it brings attention to the office as well as the office holder. If an incumbent is never challenged, there is no discussion of how the functions of the office should be handled. We are in great need of modernization.

These are certainly not the best of times. The economic crises and their potentially devastating impacts are my campaign cornerstones. The promised “transparency” hasn’t been achieved, and I pledge to make it reality, since there is no accountability without complete disclosure of elected officials’ positions and activities.

If you vote me into office, I guarantee to direct my energy, dedication, vision and determination to a transformation allowing us to reclaim our rightful position as higher education leaders on the world stage. UUP deserves this, and we should settle for nothing less. I will devote full attention to supporting our president and other officers in working for the rank and file and defending their rights.

The times are changing and we either change with them or risk the fate of the dinosaurs. Let’s unite and modernize together. I will be proposing a set of concrete fresh steps and ideas, employing the latest technologies to renew and revamp how the Secretary’s office should deal with the needs of our union. The focus of my suggestions will be how we can deliver better services while at the same time increasing the efficiency of UUP. For example, UUP will have a Web site that solicits your input on how to more perfectly manage our union. I will bring those ideas forward and with other officers and board members examine their viability. I will report back through the appropriate channels and on the Web site about the outcome of your ideas and suggestions. If you allow the changes to begin with me, I’ll never assume that changes stop with me!

The following Web site uupsecretary.org lists my UUP credentials as well as some exciting and bold ideas about necessary changes to the operation of the office of Secretary of UUP.

Imagine UUP having a highly professional and organized Secretary—you can have that if you vote for Philippe Abraham.

Thank you in advance for your vote and support.

For Membership Development Officer: Beth E. Wilson, New Paltz

Solidarity is a word often bandied about easily in union circles, as we focus on our common interests in our working lives. I find this ease to be a bit misleading, however; solidarity, by rights, ought to be understood as a verb, not a noun, something we honestly need to work on to achieve. UUP’s membership is in reality quite broad, encompassing both the tenured and the contingent; research faculty, clinical educators and classroom lecturers; librarians, facilities managers, and lab technicians, to name just a few. How can we claim solidarity of purpose when we often don’t understand much about the work we all do?

As a long-time adjunct at SUNY New Paltz (as of this year a full-time lecturer), and as a member of the recently appointed UUP Task Force on Contingent Employees, I would bring my personal knowledge of the issues of this significant component of our membership to the Executive Board, as well as an active interest in broadening our comprehension of the reality of our members’ working lives. Among other things, I propose to begin a regular new day-in-the-life feature in The Voice, which would acquaint the entire membership with the realities of the working lives of members in a range of various jobs throughout our bargaining unit. Through familiarity with what each of us actually does, we will be in a better position to understand and identify with each other, a process that is the very basis for building real solidarity.

I understand the function of the Membership Development Officer as much more than just getting people to sign union cards and keeping tabs on the numbers—the MDO needs to encourage greater active engagement by our members, increasing their participation in everything from VOTE/COPE to chapter committees to legislative outreach, to helping inspire new initiatives that we haven’t yet dreamt of. Especially in the current fiscal climate, we need to shift our focus from merely providing services to our members when necessary, toward engaging them as an active force on our campuses, and ultimately developing them as organizers who will help to shape and sustain the presence of the union on our local campuses and across the state, both now and in the future.

As MDO, I will work closely with our chapter leaders to identify and to communicate successful organizing strategies throughout the state, and to carry their needs and issues to the attention of the statewide officers and Executive Board. I will use a variety of methods to disseminate useful ideas, approaches, and organizing models throughout the union—developing improved informational publications for members, a LeaderNet-accessible online “toolbox” for chapter programming, and even a blog documenting my travel and stories drawn from my experiences across the state, among others.

I ask for your consideration, and for your vote. For additional information on my background and for more detail on my vision for the position of Membership Development Officer, please visit my Web site at www.beth4mdo.com.

For Membership Development Officer: Edward H. Quinn, Stony Brook

My name is Ed Quinn, and I’m running for re-election as your Membership Development Officer. I look forward to continue serving our members and to work with as many of you as possible to protect our members, to involve new members, and to keep UUP a strong union. Accomplishing these goals will require reaching out to the membership, listening to our members and working with our chapter leaders. If re-elected, I pledge to do just that.

As a UUP leader it is important to stay in touch with the membership. Every person in the bargaining unit makes a difference in how their union operates. We need to make sure that every member has the opportunity to express themselves and that someone is listening to them. Creating these opportunities and listening to members is important to me as a UUP leader. Acting on the concerns, ideas and suggestions made by the members is just as important. That is what I will continue to do if re-elected.

Over the years we have accomplished a lot for our members. As MDO I have started up the UUP Service Awards; provided accurate membership data and posted it on LeaderNet; secured new benefits for our retirees and part-timers (who teach only one course); worked to get Delta Dental back as our provider; and started up the award for courageous service by a part-timer, the Fayez Samuel Award.

It is also important to work with the chapter leaders to recruit and mobilize our membership. We must constantly mentor new leaders. This action can only succeed when the chapter leaders start out with good membership data. Once the chapter leaders have the membership data, then they must have the support and tools to be able to contact their members. Since October of 2008 I have informed the Executive Board and chapter leaders about the decrease in part-timers. And I will continue to do this type of work as your Membership Development Officer.

In the next two years, we must focus on chapter communication. Each chapter should develop regular communications with its membership and the best way is one-on-one contact. By contacting our members and keeping members informed they can let us, as UUP leaders, know about a situation that has a potential of being a problem and we can take a proactive approach to resolve it.

We are an organization of over 34,000 members and we must continue to be as inclusive as possible. It takes each one of us to make our union work, and the successes of UUP can only be accomplished with your involvement.

As Membership Development Officer, I pledge to protect our members, to advocate for our members’ rights, to be responsible and accountable to all members. Please contact me at any time with your ideas, questions or concerns.

I ask that you allow me to continue to do this work for our members. We can accomplish our goals working together. Thank you.

An injury to one is an injury to all.

For Executive Board: Darryl M. Wood, Binghamton

Thank you for your past support. I hope I can count on your future support as UUP faces major problems in SUNY funding, attacks on unionism and social justice inequities.

You have elected me three times to represent you on the statewide Executive Board and I appreciate that trust. I have worked hard to repay that trust with my actions on the board. Being a strong proponent of fiscal restraint, I was the first to argue for electronic dissemination of DA materials. As other opportunities for appropriate use of technology arise, my support will continue in these areas. We must look carefully at what our dues in state and national affiliates are actually providing. While UUP may not be able to stop dues increases, we can ensure those added funds come back to us in services as well as advocacy efforts that directly sustain our needs.

UUP must review its own operations as well and I intend to question what we do and why, always with an eye to fiscal responsibility as well as efficiency. We cannot continue to do things the same way. But change for change’s sake is not a solution either. We must clearly understand the benefits of why we change before doing so. I will raise those questions for you.

While I am a professional at a university center, those attributes do not define me. After serving on the statewide Grievance Committee, the Women’s Rights and Concern Committee, the Veteran’s Affairs, the Professional Issues Committee and three Negotiations Teams, I have a broader perspective and greater respect for the diversity of opinions and needs of all our members. My elections at Binghamton as both vice president for professionals and president have taught me the importance of representing more than the narrow interests that define me as an individual. It is that larger understanding that guides me as I represent UUP members in all that I do.

I wish to continue representing you for two more years on the statewide Executive Board. I ask for your vote at the Spring DA. I will continue to work for you. Thank you.

For Executive Board: Brian R. Tappen, Upstate Medical University

I would like to request your vote to the Executive Board of UUP (Professional). I work nights at Upstate Medical University in the Coronary Care Unit. I have a unique skill set that sets me apart from all the other candidates and would be beneficial to lead the union.

I came to work for SUNY after I worked the night shift as a paramedic in the city of Syracuse and a flight medic with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Air-1. Work as a paramedic trains you to make life and death decisions in seconds and to do it in adverse conditions. The example is— I can, and in the past have, made life and death decisions at two o’clock in the morning, in a burnt-out crack house with a November gale blowing through the window to save someone’s life. Concurrent with my night life I have during the day worked and achieved a BS and MS in biology from Syracuse University, plus further graduate education at SUNY ESF and UMU.

When problems with management developed at Eastern Ambulance the employees made a decision to unionize and I was chosen as the chief steward. While the patients I cared for put their lives in my hands, my co-workers chose to put their livelihoods in my hands. I led the unionization of the company into a shop of Teamsters Local 317, and negotiated its first contract. I am the only person in UUP to have unionized a company. Further, I am the only person in UUP to negotiate a primary union contract and am one of a handful in UUP who have led a union negotiations team.

I presently serve as a member of three statewide UUP committees: Grievance, HSC Concerns, and Outreach. I co-chair the Grievance Committee and am one of the organizations most knowledgeable members on the CBA and terms and conditions of employment. As a member of the Outreach Committee I am one of UUP’s foremost advocates for our legislative agenda, especially hospital issues. On the HSC Concerns Committee no meeting ends without the chair asking if I have anything to add. No committee I serve on remains static after I arrive. I bring new ideas and change wherever I go. As a chapter leader I have served or am serving as: Grievance chair for professionals, Legislation Committee chair, and Bylaws Committee chair.

Leadership is when people follow you into the crack house at two in the morning to save someone. Leadership is organizing a group of employees at a company to unionize and stick together when faced with lawyers and card counts.

As an alumnus of the NYSUT Leadership Institute and most if not all of UUP’s leadership workshops, this organization has invested a great deal of time, effort and money to train me to help lead this organization. I feel I can make the command decisions necessary affecting the direction and livelihood of our union and its 30,000+ members.

Think Tappen—a bridge to the future, don’t you Zee. Thank you for your vote.

For Executive Board: Michael C. Smiles, Farmingdale

I am running for re-election to the Executive Board as the specialized college representative. I have served on the Executive Board for the past 10 years and would like to express my appreciation to everyone who has supported me during that time.

I have been actively involved in UUP for over 25 years and, I believe, the union is now going through changes as never before. The demographics of UUP are changing as newer, younger people are not only getting involved but are also being elected to leadership roles within the union. In fact, five new people were elected to the Executive Board just last year. This shows that UUP is, indeed, a healthy and vibrant organization.

For those newer delegates who don’t know me that well, here is a quick overview of my experience within UUP. I am currently the chapter president at the Farmingdale campus and have been the president there for 13 of the last 17 years. I’ve been a delegate for over 20 years and, as I stated above, an Executive Board member for 10 years. I’ve been on the last four Negotiations Teams and, for the last three Teams, have served as the assistant chief negotiator. These are experiences from which I have learned a great deal. They have given me knowledge and understanding of the workings of UUP at both the chapter and state levels. They have given me an institutional memory of the organization that will be critical to maintain as we move forward to face new challenges.

I do believe, however, that past experience alone is not enough of a reason to vote for someone. I still look for new ways to help our members. This year I volunteered for and was appointed to the Work-Life Services Advisory Board. This is a labor/management board that includes all state employee unions and is involved in the implementation of some of our contractual benefits. As a new member of this committee, I am gaining new insights into how union/state cooperation can help our members.

I believe I have the reputation of being a straight-speaking individual who likes to get to the point, expects others to do the same, and is not afraid to speak up when needed. I’m neither afraid of change nor afraid to take an unpopular position if I believe it is in the best interests of UUP and its members. With my experience, and with new members expressing new ideas and needs, I believe the Executive Board is well situated to face the difficult challenges ahead.

I promise you that my first loyalty will always be to my conscience in terms of what I feel is best for UUP and its members.

Please support my candidacy for re-election to the Executive Board.

For Executive Board: Laura S. Rhoads, Potsdam

I am running for re-election to the statewide UUP Executive Board as an academic representative and ask you for your support at the UUP Spring Delegate Assembly Elections, on April 24, 2009.

As a SUNY graduate (Binghamton, Ph.D. 1993) and associate professor of biology at SUNY Potsdam (almost 10 years now), I have particular empathy for the SUNY system. I have observed all too often how the state has shortchanged this system of higher education, resulting in the students and staff paying for this dearly. The current climate is the worst I have seen in my own memory, reflecting the economic conditions as a whole being in terrible shape.

Against this backdrop, what can I do as an Executive Board member?

For the last year and a half, I have served on the board and represented the UUP as a whole. While tempting to say “well, at my campus …” I have strived to keep the needs of all members of UUP in mind, and contribute what I can to the important decisions we make as a board. This term on the board has educated me about the functions of the statewide office, the importance of an auditor’s report, and the necessity to gather frequently to insure that decisions are made in a timely fashion to address the needs of our membership. Especially in these times, we must exert constant vigilance, and carry our message to the governor and the Legislature as often as we can. I am committed to the challenges that lie ahead, and seek your support to carry on the critical duties of this position.

In case you don’t know me as well, allow me to detail my UUP activities. At the campus level, I have been the Potsdam chapter president for the last year and a half, so this has given me ample experience dealing with member issues. I have attended New Leadership Workshops on grievance, the Taylor Law, effective meetings and chapter development to expand my understanding about the UUP and how to get people more motivated to participate. At the statewide level, I am an academic delegate for Potsdam, and also a member of the UUP Grievance Committee, the Blue Ribbon Panel on Efficiency, and a member of the newly formed Strategic Planning Committee. I previously chaired the Task Force on Academic Member Recruitment. I am also the UUP co-chair for the Joint Labor/Management Committee on Affirmative Action and Diversity. These activities have strengthened my knowledge about the union, and at the same time have allowed me opportunities to participate in its functions. My union interest stems from my family involvement with the organized labor movement: My father was a career union member of Xerox Corporation. All four of my brothers are or were at one time members of BCTGM Local 116 in Rochester.

I hope to contribute where I can and look forward to serving you all.

For Executive Board: Robert J. Reganse, Farmingdale

Dear colleague.

As you may recall last year I submitted this article to The Voice to ask for your support as a candidate for statewide Executive Board. Unfortunately due to a terrible family tragedy I was unable to attend the spring delegate assembly and was therefore deemed not eligible to run for the office. I am asking for your kind support as I seek this office once again.

My name is Robert Reganse and I am running for an academic seat on the Executive Board. I have been an active member at my local chapter since 1979. Some of the positions I have held at Farmingdale are Vice President for Professionals, Vice President for Academics, Chapter President, Grievance Chair for Professionals and Grievance Chair for Academics. Last year, I was honored to receive the Nina Mitchell award.

In 1987, when I was Chapter President, we established the first Part-Time Concerns Committee in UUP, and I appointed Fayez Samuel as its chair. Fayez went on to become the chairperson of the first statewide UUP Part-Time Concerns Committee. In 1988, we established the first Retiree Concerns Committee in UUP, I appointed Pearl Brod as its chair. Pearl also went on to become chairperson of the first statewide UUP Retiree Concerns Committee.

For the past nine years I have served as the chair of the Farmingdale Labor/Management Committee and co-chair of the Part-Time Labor/Management Committee. Some of the agreements we have negotiated through these committees are:

For part-timers—promotions; discretionary awards; inclusion for campus service awards; extended appointments; a 7 percent salary increase in 2007 over and above the state negotiated increases.

For full-time members—Last year, we successfully completed negotiating with our administration for a multi-year plan, which has begun the process of addressing salary inequities at Farmingdale. Last semester, we took the first step in this process when 154 full-time UUPF members had between $800 and $4,500 added to their base.

For professionals—In 1999 we systematized the promotion process, negotiating an application form and procedure, and aligning the process with the faculty promotion cycle. This made it far more difficult for administration to deny professional promotions because of “fiscal constraints” when simultaneously granting faculty promotions.

At the statewide level, I am a founding and continuing member of the EOC Concerns Committee and am proud of its work overturning some of the most egregious management practices in SUNY: full-time faculty and staff working for more than 10 years without receiving tenure or permanent appointment; unilaterally moving faculty from 10- to 12-month obligations without any increase in salary; disallowing faculty promotions so that faculty would remain in the instructors rank in perpetuity. Through the efforts of the EOC Committee, we have worked together and rectified all of these problems as well as many others.

Of course, the key word in all of this is we, as all union members understand. Nothing is achieved without the wisdom, strength and courage of our members. In our union, success is measured not by individual actions, but by how well we work together for the common good.

If I am extended the privilege of being your representative on the UUP Executive Board, I promise to work with all the passion and conviction I have to make our union even more responsive to the needs of its members.

For Executive Board: F. Glenn McNitt, New Paltz

To My Fellow Delegates:

I ask you to support my return to the UUP Executive Board. I work hard for you and UUP, and I want to continue doing so in the future. I have served in many leadership capacities at the state and national levels. Thank you for your trust and confidence.

As an incumbent on the board, you should know that I have attended all meetings but one over the last two years. I do my homework, coming to meetings prepared to participate actively and fully. I listen and consider different points of view. I engage in discussions and resolutions of issues. I have the courage of my convictions. I have visited many campuses to learn the issues faced by the membership. I always attempt to evaluate issues before the board from the perspective of what’s best for UUP and all its members. I pledge that I will continue to do my best for all members in the union.

For the last several years, I also have served as co-chair of the UUP Outreach Committee. In that capacity, I facilitated the development of the annual UUP Legislative Agenda, the statement of goals of the union when responding to the governor’s proposed spending plan. These legislative agendas have been accepted by the Executive Board, and UUP has been extraordinarily successful in educating the Legislature about SUNY and UUP membership needs and convincing state leaders of the legitimacy of our goals. As co-chair, I have met with UUP volunteer “advocates” who arrive weekly in the spring to meet with legislators, skilled in the strategies to address issues and armed with the facts and insights of our needs. We all know the successes UUP has had during this period in enhancing the funding for SUNY, and frankly, I have been an important part of our UUP team. Moreover, I have conducted regional training sessions with UUP members around the state, from Stony Brook and Brooklyn to Buffalo, Purchase and Binghamton to Potsdam, and many campuses in between (Farmingdale, Cobleskill, Cortland, Upstate Medical University, Albany, Oswego, Oneonta, New Paltz, Geneseo, Morrisville and Delhi). Yes, it helps that I like to drive.

As a chapter president for some years, I have attempted to deal with a variety of concerns that members face not only on my campus but also on other SUNY campuses—unfair compensation and lack of job security for part-timers, excessive job creep for professionals, increased challenges for those seeking tenure and permanent appointment, lack of appreciation for the contributions of librarians, and devaluation of retiree concerns. I bring these issues to the attention of the E-Board and work with other members to address them. The bottom line—I work hard for you and I have for some time. I trust that I have earned your support, and I hope you agree.

I ask for your continued support and vote for my re-election to the Executive Board.

Thank you.

For Executive Board: John J. Delate, Purchase

During the eight years that I have been serving as UUP chapter president at Purchase I have had the great fortune of working closely with an outstanding executive board and labor relations specialist. These 18 board members, representing full- and part-time faculty and professional staff, have provided observations, insights and recommendations that have helped transform our chapter into a vibrant union community. These dedicated members have challenged the status quo and voiced concerns when they believed chapter leadership was heading on a wayward track. The always civil discourse has resulted in chapter philosophies, practices, and initiatives that have significantly reduced agency fee payer numbers, engaged new members, and instituted campuswide training and development programs. I hope to serve on the Executive Board and bring this consultative and forward-thinking spirit to the statewide level.

The demographics of our UUP membership and nation as a whole clearly show that the time is here for a paradigm shift of membership engagement and development. Studies reveal that approximately 50 percent of our full-time faculty members plan to retire within the next 10 years, and a significant number of professionals will also be reaching that point within the next decade. In addition, at SUNY and across the country our contingent faculty continue to increase as an overall percentage of the workforce.

The challenges facing UUP are similar to the tests being encountered by all organizations throughout the country. We need creative approaches to reach out and engage these union cohorts, and represent their interests at all levels of UUP. We have a golden opportunity to utilize the experience and knowledge our long-term members possess and implement changes that will directly appeal to the incoming younger and more diverse new membership. It is an exciting and challenging time, and UUP is poised to ring in this new era of union activism. The Executive Board can be the catalyst for this transformation.

My union involvement for the past 12 years includes chapter offices and statewide representation as a UUP/NYSUT/AFT delegate. I have been fortunate to serve on a number of UUP committees including Finance, Blue Ribbon on Efficiency, Negotiations and the Negotiations Team. I am also co-chair of the Joint Labor/Management Campus Grant Committee and have been recently placed on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. Although currently a full-time professional, I have also been employed as an adjunct faculty member and collegiate coach during my career.

These professional experiences and corresponding perspectives will help me form an open-minded approach while serving on the Executive Board.

The foundation of new member engagement and contingent employee advocacy is built at the chapter level, and the statewide Executive Board and officers can provide the support and framework for that effort to ensure that UUP will be a vibrant and relevant union for years to come. Phil Smith, the officers and Executive Board have started this important process. It would be an honor to serve on the Executive Board and to assist with the continuation of this forward movement.

For Executive Board: David G. Curry, Plattsburgh

Fellow UUP members: You may know me from my committee work on behalf of the union. I have been a member of the Nursing Professions Work Group since the mid- 1990s and co-chair for the last four years. I am also a member of the Outreach Committee, and have been active on the committee since it was called the Legislation Committee. I have rarely missed a meeting of either committee and have traveled to Albany on outreach visits at least twice every year. As president of my chapter at Plattsburgh since 2007, I have been active in membership development, and have worked to continue our productive relationship with management.

On both of the statewide committees, I have sought to make health care reform an agenda item for UUP. Why? Because I believe health care (not health insurance) is a basic human right— one that is not properly valued in America. Now it is true that most UUP members have some assurance of health care, because of our negotiated benefits, but I said most— not all. Our part-time colleagues may go off and on the insurance rolls based on their teaching assignments. And as I’ve reminded the Outreach Committee year after year, if every New Yorker had health insurance, our University Hospitals would be paid for every patient they cared for, improving their balance sheets immensely.

But I am not running for the Executive Board to advocate for health care reform. Rather, I wish to take my service to UUP to a higher level. As chapter president at Plattsburgh, I see the need to promote all the SUNY campuses and defend against the forces that would pit campus against campus (like UB2020 and the legislation it has spawned). I believe that through a position on the Executive Board I can use my energy to support unity in the future direction of UUP. I believe my work for UUP shows that I am committed and conscientious. I believe in our union and in the ideals of organized labor— We stand united.

Thank you for considering my candidacy and ask your chapter delegates to vote for David Curry for Executive Board. If you’d like to discuss my candidacy further, e-mail me at: currydg@verizon.net or to learn more about me visit my campus Web page at http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/david.curry. $UNY is the $olution.

For Executive board: Robert W. Compton, Oneonta

My name is Rob Compton and I am the long serving Oneonta chapter vice president for academics. Becoming active in UUP was not a choice, but a necessity because of my commitment to social justice. The “Oneonta Model” identifies and engages the most talented professionals and academics by making UUP a vehicle for achieving both collective and personal excellence. We do this by linking UUP activities—including our monthly “Food for Thought” chapter meetings, our Sentinel newsletter, and “Vision for the Future” forums—to the daily lives of our members. We are a “salt of the earth” type of union.

I bring idealism and skills, tempered by an understanding of political and policy processes. The successes on our Oneonta campus resulted from a well-planned strategy and sheer hard work and persistence. I am proud to be part of the “Oneonta Model.” In a December (2008) Sentinel article, Oneonta President Bill Simons summarized my contributions and skills best: “Now tenured, promoted to Associate Professor, and a Fulbright Scholar, he had the courage to come forward prior to receiving permanent appointment—and his example has inspired many others to do likewise. Rob is the strong right arm of UUP Oneonta—and my dear friend; it is a rare day when we do not speak. Policy research/papers, negotiations with administration, workload, community service, joint Labor-Management grant proposals, newsletter articles, assessment of senior administrators, Rock the Vote, individual member representation, legislative advocacy, building conduits between the chapter and the statewide union leadership, and all other UUP initiatives and decisions have Rob’s imprint. Rob is unsurpassed as a policy wonk. Even during his spring 2008 sabbatical in Zimbabwe, he remained in constant contact with the UUP Oneonta executive board from that dangerous and tumultuous land. Years of unstinting service have brought the first gray, and time has brought him a precious grandchild, but Rob’s resolve, acumen, and courage remained undiminished. Count on it.”

UUP needs vibrant and coordinated chapter networking for genuine union building. As “incubators of ideas,” chapters must form the bedrock of a strong statewide organization. We can do this by making UUP relevant to the professional lives of our members and championing the role of unions in community service. This in turn will enhance our movement to “community advocacy” for SUNY with students, administrators and community activists taking the lead in advocating for SUNY.

If elected, as an Executive Board member, I pledge to bring chapter building concerns to the forefront of statewide UUP. More than 50 percent of our members was hired in the past decade, and making UUP relevant to the professional lives of our members and communities is the only way that the statewide organization can flourish. If I am fortunate to have your vote, I pledge to do all that I can to become a transformational agent to meet chapter needs.

For Executive Board: Edison Bond Jr., Brooklyn HSC

Greetings sisters and brothers: My name is Edison Bond Jr., and I am seeking your support and re-election to the Executive Board of UUP. First, let me say thank you for the opportunity to serve our union and members for the past two years. It has been an exciting journey that has been full of emotions—from the victories of ORP, defeating the Berger Commission proposals, and our new contract agreement—to the challenges of our current budget crisis.

Let me share with you what I bring to the table. I am thoroughly immersed at the chapter level at SUNY Downstate: vice president for professionals, Health and Safety, Governing Board, Grievance, Affirmative Action, EAP, and Professional Development. I am actively engaged at the statewide level: Outreach Committee, Labor/Management Committee for Employment, Health Science Concerns, Task Force on Pay Equity, NYSUT PAC coordinator, NYSUT Committee of 100, AFT delegate, NYSUT delegate and Negotiations Committee.

I have been employed at SUNY Downstate for 20 years, presently serving as the Director of Patient Relations. I am “in the trenches” daily as the voice for those disenfranchised, for those seeking quality care and service, and for those seeking fair and safe working conditions. I have dedicated and committed both my professional and personal life to advocacy.

I am cognizant that, due in part to the budget crisis, we are facing battles on a number of fronts with potentially devastating impact to all our campuses, the threats to job security, and keeping our SUNY hospitals public. At this moment and at this time, it is extremely important that we continue to fight the good fight. We must continue to promote fairness, diversity and justice.

There is an old adage that says “When you see a good fight … Jump in!”

Vote for me and allow me to do so for you. Because everyday I rise, I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve our beloved union, and will continue to hit the ground running to ensure that our 33,000+ members have the ability to dream and to make our SUNY system the best it can be.

Sisters and brothers, I am seeking your vote and continued support for a professional seat to the UUP Executive Board. I will remain a powerful voice at the table, with a fresh perspective to address our future challenges, and to ensure that our union remains strong.

In solidarity, Edison Bond Jr.

For Executive Board: Jacqualine G. Berger, Empire State College

I’m Jacqui Berger and I’m running for UUP’s Executive Board. With SUNY at a critical juncture and new leadership in the Chancellor’s Office, it is imperative that UUP’s voice be heard. UUP urgently needs to call our membership to action; mobilizing to not only save SUNY, but build a stronger SUNY. Professionals, academics, full and part-timers need to stand united providing a strong voice. As an Executive Board member, I will be vigilant to ensure that UUP works to raise awareness and that members and the general public are educated to the issues SUNY and UUP face. UUP has always called for broad access and high quality public higher education. I can assure you, I will work tirelessly to ensure that commitment is not forgotten.

As an active chapter leader from Empire State College, I have spent the last several years traveling the state talking, listening and supporting chapter members. I will bring the understanding I’ve gained dealing with the challenging logistics of running a statewide chapter to the Executive Board. Having spent my entire life as an advocate for children and people with disabilities, I want to bring my expertise to UUP’s governing board. UUP’s membership is diverse and we need to consciously be inclusive and responsive to all of our groups. We need to be proactive and work diligently to protect members’ rights.

As a leader at Empire State College, I have worked within a culture of partnership and collaboration between academics and professionals, full and part-timers. This unique perspective gives me a deep appreciation of the challenges and issues faced by so many of our members. As an active member and leader of statewide committees, including the Outreach Committee, Disability Rights and Concerns Committee, and the Part-Time Concerns Committee, I have worked to engage and educate members. The opportunities to serve UUP in a leadership role, at both the chapter and state levels, has given me a deep understanding of the broad needs of all our constituents and energized me to get more deeply involved. I will bring fresh ideas and approaches to UUP with energy, dedication and a tireless work ethic.

I believe that we need to provide our chapters and their leadership with the tools and support to energize our members. We need to provide more opportunities for the membership to discuss issues and voice concerns. We need to set new goals and continue to raise awareness by educating our campus communities, the public and policymakers about issues. As an Executive Board member, I would listen and serve as a voice and advocate for all of our members. I will remain open and accessible, reach out and connect with members, but most importantly, act on the ideas, concerns and suggestions you make. I will work with other board members and officers to ensure that the membership is educated and protected while moving UUP’s agenda forward.

If elected to the Executive Board, I will work to increase participation, communication and serve as a voice for our membership. Your support will ensure your voice will be heard.

For Executive Board: Caroline B. Bailey, Environmental Science & Forestry

Since its inception UUP has met head-on what seemed to be insurmountable challenges. By working together—academics and professionals, full-time and part-time, side-by-side—we’ve overcome them. There are even greater challenges ahead of us.

We can turn them into opportunities with an experienced and committed Executive Board. Our board must continue to work to safeguard the interests of every segment of the bargaining unit. Its members must be both willing and able to put aside their personal agendas and to work on behalf of all members. I believe that my experience and commitment to our union’s mission make me well qualified to continue to serve on the Executive Board.

My diverse experience as a UUP volunteer, as well as my more than a decade long service as an elected board member with other not-for-profit organizations, has prepared me well to serve as a member of UUP’s Executive Board. That experience has been particularly important in my work with the Finance Committee as it strives to protect UUP’s future by maintaining the Reserve Fund, while at the same time finding new ways to deliver needed resources to our chapters.

If re-elected to the board, I will continue to work to further UUP’s mission and to meet the needs of our diverse membership.

For Executive Board: Lawrence R. Ashley, Cortland

My name is Larry Ashley, and I am a long-time activist in UUP. I am an academic (philosophy) and chapter leader. I write to ask for your vote to enable me to serve on the Executive Board of UUP.

Allow me to detail my roles in UUP over the years and then to say what, more broadly, I stand for:

At Cortland, I served as grievance chair for 15 years and then as chapter president for the last eight years. I have served on the Grievance Committee, the Technology Committee and the Part-time Concerns Committee at the statewide level. I currently chair the A-47 Committee, dedicated to working with the state on part-time issues, an outcome won by the last Negotiations team and which finally offers UUP a chance to make statewide progress in this important area.

During my chapter presidency the Cortland newsletter, the Cortland Cause, has been the most decorated newsletter in the system, and I have worked hard to make the newsletter a major instrument to communicate without our membership and the administration. Should you wish to look at the issues we tackle, you can find us at http:// www.uuphost.org/cortland/newsletter.htm.

Now what can you expect if you support my candidacy?

Independence. I am running as an independent, and am not required to follow the commitments of any caucus. I will vote my conscience and not feel bound to support a position because it is traditionally supported by any particular coterie.

Activism. I have, over the years, been one of the most active members of the union, proposing topics, changes and policies in the UUP groups of which I have been a member.

Democratic principle. I have pressed UUP to be less closed and more “bottom up” over the years, and my pressure in the chapter presidents’ meetings led to a revision of the dynamic of that group.

I have tried to be thoughtful, active and engaged on behalf of my campus, and I would bring those same commitments to service on the Executive Board. I hope you will honor me with your support.

In solidarity, Larry Ashley.