Page 8 - Retiree News Fall 2022

Retiree grateful for our union
BROADALBIN — When Fulton-
Montgomery Counties Retirees
Local 925 member Randy Smith
was young, her father encouraged
her to ‘get a job with the county or
state’ for financial stability.
“I just wanted a job I could
be happy doing,” said Smith,
remembering his advice.
Years later, Smith is happy she
took her father’s advice. After 20
years working for Fulton County,
she is enjoying retirement with a
Smith
secure pension and benefits.
Smith’s working life took a long road. Early in her career, she worked in bookkeeping at an office. At age 38, she decided to pursue her college degree and soon held an associate’s degree in human services from Fulton- Montgomery Community College.
She soon realized that she wanted more education. As a single mother of both biological and foster children,
as well as working full time, Smith said earning a degree was challenging. After getting her degree, Smith said she wanted to achieve even more in her career.
“I found that my two-year degree wasn’t enough for what I thought I was capable of achieving,” said Smith. “I wanted to be a caseworker, so I continued onto Empire State College because the school offers a variety of ways to earn degrees.”
After completing her education, Smith began
working at Citizens in Community Service, a nonprofit organization that works closely with Fulton County on helping to administer alternative court sentencing of community service to criminal offenders.
During the early 1990s, then Fulton County District Attorney Richard Giardino had successfully applied for a grant from the New York State Crime Victims Board and needed staff to administer the county-based program.
At her co-workers’ urging, Smith applied for and was hired for the Fulton County position, where she worked for 20 years. While the job was initially grant-funded, it eventually became a CSEA-represented job.
Through this job, Smith dealt with crime victims, often directing them to resources that could help them get restitution for losses.
“I retired from the county at age 62, and I’m getting a pension that helps me survive and live a financially stable life,” said Smith.
As a retiree, Smith noted she is grateful for our union. “I tell a lot of people that the union is always there,” said Smith. “You may not feel like you are getting everything you deserve, but you are taken care of through union membership. I feel very blessed.”
— Janice Gavin
AFL-CIO
CSEA
Local 1000 AFSCME
cseany.org
(800) 342-4146
(518) 257-1000
Published by CSEA
Albany, N.Y. 12210
143 Washington Ave.,
Mary E. Sullivan, President
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