Page 8 - Work Force June 2024

8 The Work Force June 2024
CASTILE — On April 8, New York
state parks throughout the state
hosted visitors anxious to see this
year’s historic solar eclipse.
Kelly Rife,
public affairs
coordinator for
the New York
State Parks,
Recreation
and Historic
Preservation’s
Genesee Region,
said safety was
the No. 1 priority
and the parks
were more than prepared.
“In the end, we were overly
prepared only because the weather
kept more visitors away, but we felt
it was far better to be ready than not
to,” said Rife.
This year also marks the
centennial celebration of the New
York State Parks System and Rife
said that preparing for solar eclipse
visitors had the added benefit of
preparing the parks for their 100th
year.
“We opened a lot of facilities
earlier than normal, which gives
us a chance to assess everything,
perform any maintenance tasks that
are needed and prepare for what we
hope will be a wonderful park season
this year,” said Rife.
According to Rife, there were
fewer visitors than anticipated due to
overcast weather, but those who did
visit the parks for the historic eclipse
had a great experience.
“We neared parking capacity in
part of the park, but we never quite
reached it so everyone who wanted
to experience it at Letchworth [State
Park] was able to,” she said.
Rife noted that after the eclipse,
park staff collected eclipse glasses to
be sent to other parts of the world,
where they can be distributed to
impoverished children for future
solar eclipse events.
While they are no longer collecting
the glasses, she said they were
able to successfully collect a large
number of them to be donated.
CSEA Genesee State Park
Commission Local President Brian
Arnold said the staff were ready and
prepared.
“All our staff at Letchworth
State Park were ready, willing and
able to ensure visitors had the
best experience possible,” said
Arnold. “Even though we didn’t
see all the visitors we prepared for,
we would have been ready. In the
end, everyone had a safe, positive
experience as a result of all the
hard work and dedication of the
Letchworth staff.”
Rife also noted how visitors
enjoyed the eclipse safely.
“There were no emergencies and
no real problems, largely as a result
of all the planning and preparation
that went into the event,” said
Rife. “Everyone who visited was
respectful, excited and happy to
be participating in such an historic
event.”
— Mathew L. Cantore
Parks: Eclipse experience eclipsed expectations
Rife
Burton
SYRACUSE — Syracuse State
Employees Local President Diane
Burton hates the spotlight, but it
shined on her at the 2024 Greater
Syracuse Labor Council (GSLC)
Dinner, at which she was presented
with the council’s ‘Activist of the
Year’ award.
“It’s important to be recognized
for stepping up and representing
our members, and members of other
unions,” said Burton. “I’m humbled
and honored, but I hope by getting
this award, it encourages others to
step up or get involved in any way.”
Burton, an office assistant II at the
New York State Insurance Fund, has
been part of her local since 2015, but
her union involvement started earlier
when she was employed at SUNY
Upstate.
While Burton was employed at the
hospital, former SUNY Upstate Local
President Kathy Yeldon approached
her about filling a leadership role.
“Kathy really got me involved with
our union and taught me so much,”
said Burton. “It was expected we all
know how to represent members in
interrogations and disciplines, and
that was a huge thing for me to get
me to where I am today.”
Burton often describes her
current local as a “catch-all,” as it
represents CSEA members employed
at numerous state agencies across
Central New York.
“We have 41 agencies,” said
Burton. “That’s challenging right
there. We go as far as the Gaming
Commission at del Lago (in Waterloo)
down to Montour Falls. They’re
spread out. The biggest challenge
is working full time and getting to
those members who aren’t in the
immediate area.”
Burton is a great resource for new
members and officers, particularly
when it comes to safety and
negotiations, as she was a member
of the last state contract negotiating
team.
“Diane is a wonderful union
member and leader, but maybe
more importantly, a great friend,”
said Central Region President Kenny
Greenleaf. “All of us in the Central
Region are happy to see her great
work be recognized.”
She’s also been a great asset
for the local labor movement by
serving on the Greater Syracuse
Labor Council Executive Board. In
that capacity. Burton works with the
various unions in the Syracuse area,
whether that means joining workers
on a picket line, helping go door-
to-door to spread information or
helping campaign for labor-friendly
political candidates. Recently, Burton
joined in a labor walk on behalf of
State Sen. John Mannion, who is
seeking election to the House of
Representatives in New York’s 22nd
Congressional District (see page 6 for
more).
“I’d like to thank Greater Syracuse
Labor Council President Mark
Spadafore and the council executive
board,” said Burton. “I’ve learned a
lot just through the GSLC working
with the different unions out there
and seeing the struggles they have
and helping in any way.”
'Activist of the Year' aims to
motivate members
Burton, who was honored with our
union’s Danny Donohue Leadership
Award for State Government in 2020,
is always looking toward ushering
new leaders and activists into the
fold.
“With me getting this award, it
might motivate others to get more
involved,” said Burton. “Future
award winners should know that I
am humbled to get this award. If it
encourages someone else to step up
and get involved and work with the
labor movement, then we’re on the
right path of doing what we need to.”
— Nicholas Newcomb