Page 14 - Work Force November 2023

Cottrell honored as
PEOPLE Recruiter of the
Year; named September
Recruiter of the Month
BUFFALO — Ali Cottrell, president of the SUNY Upstate Medical University Local in the Central Region, was honored as the PEOPLE Recruiter of the Year.
Cottrell, who serves as the SUNY Upstate Medical Local President, recruited 201 new PEOPLE members. He received the award at 113th Annual Delegates Meeting in Buffalo.
He is not slowing his efforts down. Cottrell was also named the September Recruiter of the Month, recruiting 28 new PEOPLE members
“I appreciate the award and being recognized, but that’s not what it’s all about,” said Cottrell. “This is about educating fellow members in the hopes they’ll go out and teach
others about the importance of the program.”
CSEA’s PEOPLE program protects and improves our jobs, benefits, and pensions in Washington, Albany, and in your community. Union dues cannot be used in any federal campaign, so all federal campaigns are funded by voluntary contributions through the program.
“The PEOPLE program helps give teeth to our bite when we have to lobby on a federal level,” said Cottrell. “Without this program,
we wouldn’t have the resources
to make a legislative difference to make positive change for public employees.”
Support and participation in the
From left to right, Statewide PEOPLE Committee Chair Karen Bright, PEOPLE Recruiter of the Year Ali Cottrell and CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan celebrate Cottrell’s award.
PEOPLE program help strengthen CSEA’s clout in the workplace, the legislature, and across the labor movement.
“One of the most important things you can do after signing your CSEA membership card is signing up for the PEOPLE program,” said Cottrell. “Ask your local or unit officers how to get involved or visit the PEOPLE
table at any of our conferences to learn how to become a PEOPLE recruiter.”
For more information on our union’s PEOPLE program, visit cseany.org/people.
— Nicholas Newcomb
Hertel: ‘My favorite part is helping good people’
BUFFALO
— In the
26 years West Seneca Central School District Unit President Darryl Hertel has been a custodian at the district, he’s made
Hertel
113th Annual Delegates Meeting. “No one epitomizes the words
steadfast, strong, influential, strong willed and compassionate like Darryl does,” said West Seneca Central School District Unit Treasurer Sheri Hawley, who nominated him.
Hawley, who’s worked alongside Hertel for years, cannot say enough about his commitment to helping others.
In her nomination, she described how he went to every single school in the district to visit with members, as well as nonmembers to hear their concerns. In a little over a month, Hertel got 35 people to become members.
“Not only did he get them to join, he put a face with a name, he gave them the important feeling of being welcomed and valued and he let them know someone cares,” said
Hawley.
Hertel said he loves to help
people and he knows being in the union helps his colleagues.
“My favorite part about being in the union is helping people – helping good people,” said Hertel.
Hertel had once stepped back from his role as a unit president several years ago to focus on being a resource for newer activists, but he couldn’t stay away from our union and his desire to help people. He became active in the Erie County Educational Employees Local and now serves as 1st Vice President of the local.
Soon afterward, Hertel’s unit president passed away. Hertel stepped up and reassumed the role of President because he knew that unit members needed a leader.
“As a fellow officer, I cannot begin to tell you how Darryl advocates for
all of us,” said Hawley. “How he is the first to lend a hand, listen and tackle a problem. His passion for the union is infectious. We are better because of his advocacy and that he is our brother.”
In addition to his union activism, Hertel has managed to leave a lasting, positive impression on the countless students in his district. Hertel has worked in the high school since 2019, and before that, he worked in the elementary school, middle school, and eventually made his way to where he is now in the high school.
As many of the students progressed through their academics and moved schools, Hertel moved with them. That’s why one student recognized Hertel as a positive
role model for her for a school assignment.
— Madison Ruffo
an impact on numerous people.
Whether it’s existing CSEA members, new employees or countless students, Hertel truly knows how to leave a lasting impression.
That’s why Hertel is the 2023 recipient of the CSEA Membership Achievement Award, which was recently awarded at our union’s
14 The Work Force
November 2023