The Work Force
July 1, 2025

Appreciating dedicated CSEA members 

By Editorial Staff

Broome County Department of Social Services members show their union pride.

Throughout May, CSEA held numerous events in every region to celebrate our dedicated union members who work hard every day to provide services. 

From left, Dundee Central School District Unit officers Annette Keck and Mary Cornish greet Western Region President Steve Healy, right, at a Member Appreciation event at the school. Seated from left are Yates County Local activists Dianne Fingar and Gail Owen.

CSEA Western Region President Steve Healy hit the road to personally thank members across Western New York as part of a region-wide Member Appreciation Tour. 

Healy made stops at several workplaces throughout the region. At each visit, Healy met with CSEA-represented employees to deliver appreciation goodie bags containing upcoming region event information, Buffalo Bison ticket discount links and CSEA member benefit flyers. Local leadership also provided additional materials and giveaways unique to each location. 

CSEA-themed quizzes were handed out for members to participate in. Those who joined in were entered for a chance to win CSEA-branded New York Yankee hats as a token of appreciation. 

SUNY Brockport Local members, from left, Jessica Pruss and Amy Freeman sign in at the local’s Member Appreciation event.

The tour also highlighted the ongoing Contact Update Contest, where members who update their contact information, either through a paper card or online, are entered into a monthly drawing to win one of 12, $25 gift cards given every month through the end of 2025. 

Healy also used the visits as an opportunity to speak directly with members about upcoming state contract negotiations. He urged them to stay engaged, reach out to their local leadership and hold elected officials accountable for supporting public workers. 

“This tour was more than just handing out gifts,” Healy said. “It was about making face-to-face connections, listening to concerns, and reminding members that they are the heart of this union.” 

CSEA Suffolk County School District Local members Anne Marie Phalen and Diva Mastronardi place their bets at the roulette table.

On Long Island, CSEA members participated in highly successful game nights in both Nassau and Suffolk counties. 

Attendees began the evening with $500 worth of faux casino coins, which they used throughout the evening. Top money earners for both nights won a 4-day, 3-night trip to Panama Beach Resort, Fla. for four people. For those who did not want to play casino games, there was a Giant Connect Four and a Jenga. 

Members were having so much fun that impromptu dancing broke out on members’ self-created dance floors at both events. To close the evenings, raffle prizes were distributed to a few lucky guests. 

From left, state Law Department Local activist Maggie Powers and Tax and OCM Local activist Siyathemba Mapakane welcome and check in members at the Capital Region’s Drive-In Movie Night.

In the Capital Region, members participated in the region’s drive-in movie night in Malta, where members and their families had the chance to enjoy movies, food, fun and each other’s company. 

The region also sponsored an open house that coincided with the May 19 virtual toast, where they got to meet with region officers and enjoy treats, including a cookie truck! 

From left, Clinton County Department of Social Services Caseworker Amber Carman greets Clinton County Local officers Cindy Gallicchio and Bill Wells during a car wash Member Appreciation event in Plattsburgh.

In the North Country, our union’s Clinton County Local extended their appreciation for members by sponsoring a very successful car wash event. In Saratoga Springs, members were treated to an ice cream social. 

The Central Region sponsored a member open house that coincided with the virtual toast, where members had the chance to meet region officers and enjoy a barbecue meal. 

Baseball also played a major role in this year’s Member Appreciation Month events, with the Central Region sponsoring CSEA Night with the Syracuse Mets, the Metropolitan Region sponsoring CSEA Day with the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Southern Region wrapping the fun-filled month with CSEA night at the Hudson Valley Renegades. 

— Sara McNicholas and Wendi Bowie 

From left, Dundee Central School District Unit officers Annette
Keck and Mary Cornish greet Western Region President Steve
Healy, right, at a Member Appreciation event at the school.
Seated from left are Yates County Local activists Dianne Fingar
and Gail Owen.
Central Region 3rd Vice President Andy
Maroney poses with the Syracuse Mets
mascot Scooch before Maroney tosses
the ceremonial first pitch at CSEA Night.
Leonidisa “Disa” Lunn
enjoys a member
appreciation events at the
New York State Veterans
Home at Batavia.
CSEA Suffolk County School District Local members Anne Marie Phalen and Diva Mastronardi place their bets at the roulette table.
Putnam County Unit member Catherine O’Connor enjoys a Hudson Valley Renegades game.
CSEA Metropolitan Region members , including Region President Lester Crockett, enjoyed a fun-filled day
with the Brooklyn Cyclones.The first pitch was thrown by Deputy Director of State Operations, Metropolitan
Region Neil Kelly.. The Cyclones also proclaimed member Nakeia White, a habilitation specialist for
Lifespire, as the Winning Woman. The Cyclones also honored our veterans represented by Armando Arias,
a proud veteran of the U.S. Army who works as a Mental Health Therapist at the NY Psychiatric Institute in
Manhattan.
From left, Clinton County Department of Social Services Caseworker Amber Carman greets Clinton County Local officers Cindy Gallicchio and Bill Wells during a car wash Member Appreciation event in Plattsburgh.
CSEA SUNY Stony Brook Local member Malgorzata Barbiam takes her turn playing Giant Connect Four.
Margaret Martin, who works for youth services at the Onondaga County Library System, enjoys Member Appreciation Month.
CSEA Long Island Region President Jarvis Brown announces the names of raffle winners.
State Department of Health Local member Marlon Roberts, left, catches up with Capital Region President Shana Davis during the Malta Drive-In Family Movie Night event hosted by the region.
CSEA Suffolk County Local actvist Miles Maier carefully removes a Jenga piece during Game Night.
City of Saratoga Springs members were treated to ice cream served by city officials. DPW members get ice cream scooped by city DPS Commissioner Tim Coll.
From left, state Law Department Local activist Maggie Powers and Tax and OCM Local activist Siyathemba Mapakane welcome and check in members at the Capital Region’s Drive-In Movie Night.
CSEA ACCES VR member Debra Reed and her grandmother, Wonda Gillyard, enjoy a Brooklyn Cyclones game.
Westchester Medical Center Unit member Adriana Negron, left, joined Unit Officer Marisol Lugo at the unit’s member appreciation event.
CSEA Town of North Hempstead Local member Gennie Vann checks her cards during a Poker game.
City of Syracuse Public Safety Unit members celebrate Member Appreciation Month.
City of Syracuse ordinance enforcement workers Ralph Madonna and William Ortiz participate in our union’s Member Appreciation Day event at the Central Region office.
Dutchess County Unit member Ricky Butts enjoys a Hudson Valley Renegades game.
SUNY Brockport Local members, from left, Jessica Pruss and Amy Freeman sign in at the local’s Member Appreciation event.
CSEA Central Region members, family and friends pose with Syracuse Mets mascot Scooch during CSEA Day at the Syracuse Mets. Central Region President Kenny Greenleaf is fourth from left in the back row.
SUNY Fredonia Local members Tammi Moloney and Kathy Holland look over their union member benefits.
Syracuse Area Retirees Local President Kathy Zabinski, left, and Central Region Executive Vice President Chantalise DeMarco, right, get into the media booth at the Syracuse Mets game to celebrate CSEA Member Appreciation Month.
Broome County Department of Social
Services members show their union pride.

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