Retiree News Fall 2021

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cseany.org
etiree etiree
NEWS Mary E. Sullivan, President FALL 2021
Giambra, Bender to lead CSEA’s Retiree Executive Committee
CSEA’s Retiree Executive Committee (REC) has new leadership.
At the committee’s recent virtual meeting, Rochester Retirees Local 912 President Bernadette “Bernie” Giambra
was chosen to be the REC Chair, and Buffalo-Niagara Frontier Local 903 President Joan Bender was selected to be the REC Secretary.
Giambra and Bender are both longtime CSEA activists.
As this edition went to
press, the REC had selected Syracuse Area Retirees Local 913 President Kathleen Zabinski as the committee’s Vice Chair. More about Zabinski will be featured in the Winter 2022
edition.
The REC consists of
presidents of CSEA’s 24 Retiree Locals in New York and Florida. Committee members play a key role in determining the union’s Retiree Division priorities.
Retiree Executive Committee (REC) Chair Bernadette “Bernie” Giambra lends support to striking UAW members in 2019.
is excited to get started in her new role.
“My belief is good leaders are open-minded, creative, flexible and have a vision and attainable goals,” she said. “But more than that, I want to help new and established retiree members by giving them the support they need and being right by their side while going through
charter in Monroe County, which took place in 1950.
Giambra, who began her public service career in 1978, worked
her way up the officer ladder and became Monroe County Local President in 1995 and held that position until her retirement in 2008. In July 2017, Giambra became the Rochester Retirees Local 912
worldwide viral pandemic,” said Giambra. “Our retiree executive board and I will find any means necessary to solve problems, represent and get our members the assistance and support they need to live successful lives. It’s my promise to them and it’s my promise to my union.”
— Ove Overmyer
REC Secretary Joan Bender speaks at a 2009 union rally while serving as the Erie County Local President.
Giambra determined to support retirees as REC Chair
In a vote that took place in early new transitions in their life.” President.
September, longtime CSEA activist Giambra, a Rochester born She also serves on CSEA’s Bernadette “Bernie” Giambra was resident who comes from a long Statewide Women’s Committee recently elected as Chair of CSEA’s line of unionists, was a probation as the committee’s Retiree Retiree Executive Committee. officer at Monroe County for more representative.
Giambra, also the Rochester than 30 years. “Representing union members Area Retirees Local 912 President, Her mother, Concetta Giambra, is a virtuous endeavor, especially said after the election that she was a signatory of the first CSEA when it’s confounded by a
Bender: ‘It’s more important than ever we stick together’
BUFFALO — Joan Bender, a longtime Erie County CSEA activist, has been selected as the next CSEA Statewide Secretary of the Retirees Executive Committee. She ran unopposed for the position.
Bender, also the Buffalo-Niagara Frontier Retirees Local 903 President, said when she heard there was an opening on the board, she knew she had to “throw her hat
in the ring.”
Bender became the Local 903
President earlier this year. “When it came to my attention
that I could also serve on the Retiree Executive Committee Board, it just seemed like the right thing to do,” said Bender. “I have always had a passion for solving problems and helping people—and this work is just an extension of
who I am as a person.”
Bender’s public service career
with Erie County started in
1971. She was employed as an administrative control clerk at
the Erie County Medical Center and soon gained a workplace reputation as a smart, no-nonsense union activist and troubleshooter.
Joan was first elected Erie
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