Page 11 - Work Force November 2022

Richard Bebo Statewide Secretary
Filled with hope
Nicole Meeks Statewide Treasurer
Resilient leaders rise among us
GAreetings Brothers and Sisters s s s s s s s I I work on this report in in the the the heart of of the the the summer of of of 2022 I I am filled with hope
Despite some of of the horrible recent events that have happened in in our our country which certainly affect us
all I am still filled with hope
for our our future As I am writing this plans are underway for our first in-person Annual Delegates Meeting since since 2019! It is hard to believe that it has been almost three years since since we we were last able to to to come together to to to conduct the the important business of CSEA While it it may look look a a a a a a a a little different for for us
us
this year I am greatly looking forward to to being back together again in in in person as a a a a a a a group about THAT it makes me realize that out out there there in in in every every every region in in in every every every local in in in every every every unit unit there there are leaders among our members where they just have not had the the the the the opportunity to surface Maybe some of of them them know there is a a a a a a a a a leader leader in in them them Others may not Each of of of us
has our origin story of of how we became leaders Being a a a a a a a leader leader is is about about more than just leading in in in in in the the moment It It is is is about about setting things up for the the future too It It is is important to to leave a a a a a a a a legacy behind and that requires development of of the next generation of of leaders They They may may not not have a a a a a a a title They They may may not not show up for meetings or or respond to to emails but they are out there waiting to to emerge So when I I say I I am hopeful it is not just because we all are back together again I I am hopeful because I I know that each of you you will think not just about the the leader leader in in in yourself but the the potential
leaders in in those those around you even and especially in those those who may be be overlooked Talk with members as as you you all do but as as you you are talking with them look for signs of of the the leaders that are within many more of of our members than we realize When you you see see those those signs see see if you you can get those those leaders to emerge and engage It is the the the the thought of of of that of of of the the the the future of of of CSEA in the the the the leaders I I know are out there but as yet undiscovered that gives me hope
Respectfully submitted Richard Bebo Statewide Secretary
WSisters and Brothers elcome to to the the 112th Annual Delegates Meeting! It is wonderful to to to finally be be with you you all all in in in person! I I am honored to to be be your Statewide Treasurer
and look forward to to speaking with you you you all during the convention It has been a a a a a a a a pleasure to meet so many of you you already!
The The theme of this year’s ADM is is “The Leader in in in in You
” When I think about the the true definition of a a a a a a a a leader leader so so many things come to mind Most importantly a a a a a a a a a a a a leader leader is is someone who takes the initiative and and has a a a a a a a a a a a a a clear vision and and and goal to to move forward A leader promotes motivation and and inspires others to to get involved Leaders direct people and offer guidance when needed A good leader encourages others to succeed or or the the desire to better the the lives of your your co-workers your your impact on CSEA members does not not go unrecognized Without you you we would not not be the strongest labor union in New York State!
During the pandemic I witnessed many officers come up with creative ways
to to get important information to to members I I saw this firsthand when I I attended many Zoom meetings and and and drive-through events Several of the Regions had Match Play games and and CSEA CSEA even sponsored Comedy Nights that were were a a a a a huge hit! CSEA CSEA also was able to implement online trainings since we we we were were not able able to to meet in in in in in person Many Units
This
year’s theme is is “The Leader In You
” As I I I I think think about about this I I I I think think about about about the path I I I I have taken
to leadership I I think about about the paths each of you have taken
to to leadership I know so many of those stories and I look forward to to hearing
so many more Where
we are now as leaders is a a a a a a culmination of the the choices
we we we have have made the the the actions
we we we we have have have taken
as as well as as the the the mistakes we we we we have have have made and and hopefully learned from along the the way We gain support of some and and and opposition from others and and that all factors in in in too It brings us
to to to where we are now here here as leaders of CSEA In thinking about this though I I I think think back to when I I I I I I got my start as as as a a a a a a a a a a leader leader At the time
I I I I I did not know I I I I I was was a a a a a a a a a a leader leader It was was inside me me me waiting to emerge When I I I I think “A labor leader represents the collective interests
of members and helps to negotiate with management for decent wages health care benefits and safe working conditions Essentially a a a a a a a good leader cares about workers’ rights and will fight endlessly to advance them ” is important to to leave a a a a a a legacy behind and that requires development of of the next generation of leaders ” From the union standpoint a a a a labor leader is someone who gets involved in in the labor movement to help
union members and fights alongside them to improve the the quality of workers’ lives A good leader leader offers support and direction while achieving workplace goals A labor leader leader represents the collective interests
of members and and helps to negotiate with management for decent wages health care benefits and and safe working conditions Essentially a a a a a a a a a a a good leader cares about workers’ rights and will fight endlessly to advance them Many of of of you are new new officers officers in our union I congratulate all new new officers officers officers and and re-elected officers officers on on on on your elections and and want to personally thank you you you all all for for the the tireless work that you you you often do for for the the members Someone or or or or something motivated you you all to be be labor leaders Whether it was a a a a a a a workplace injustice “Being a a a a a leader is about more than just leading in in in in the moment It is about setting things up for the future too It were able to negotiate contracts during this time
as well Throughout the the pandemic leaders stepped up to do the the the work of the the union For that I commend every single one one of you Anyone can say they want to to be be a a a a a a leader However to to be be an an an outstanding leader it it takes courage and and wit With the guidance of CSEA and and with the the education and and training our union provides resilient leaders leaders rise among us
Excelling into strong labor leaders leaders is imperative to to the strength and longevity of our union The The more more we we we educate ourselves the more more empowered we we we we are as union activists The The trainings and webinars that CSEA offers enable us
us
to to represent our our members to to the the best of our our our ability CSEA gives us
us
the the skills and resources needed needed to negotiate a a a a a a strong contract and and defend our our members when needed needed The training and and education we receive helps us
to Treasurer
continued on on page 15
Meeting Officer Reports
November 2022 The Work Force
11