The Communicator Letters policy We welcome letters to the editor about union issues and events relevant to PEF's diverse membership. All letters are subject to editing for space, fairness and good taste. Please keep them brief (up to one page, double-spaced or a maximum of 250 words), and please include your name and phone number for verification. Send letters to: The Communicator Public Employees Federation P.O. Box 12414 Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414 email Denyce Duncan Lacy, Executive Editor The Communicator - Director of Public Relations dduncanlacy@pef.org Sherry Halbrook, Editor of The Communicator- shalbrook@pef.org Back to Communicator Homepage Satz will be deeply missed To the Editor, Many editions of Albany-area newspapers and union periodicals have carried editorials written by the late Jeff Satz, who was coordinator of PEF Region 8. These usually concerned trade unionism, PEF, and state and national politics as they related to NYS civil servants. Jeff passed away unexpectedly recently and I felt a need to express my feelings as another PEF regional coordinator and as a friend of Jeff’s. His demise was much too early and the membership of PEF will miss his ability to argue with passion, his commitment to his beliefs and his drive to represent them with conviction and fairness. I find that I will miss that side of Jeff. But on a more personal level, I will sorely miss the friendship that we had developed over the years. He lived life to the fullest and enjoyed his life to the fullest. Jeff’s editorials on topics such as parking in Albany, politics in PEF and politics in New York state may not grace the pages of this written media any longer, but the memory of him and his vigor to tell it like he saw it will. So long, Jeff. You left this world a better place for having lived in it. Jeff left a legacy that is rooted in the many friends and colleagues he leaves behind who will not forget him. MICHAEL DEL PIANO Region 6 Coordinator Irked by plan’s poor response To the Editor: In July 2001, I substantially increased my contribution to the deferred compensation plan, directing in a letter that the increased contribution be invested in the money market fund, with the balance invested in stock funds in the same amounts as previously established. Thereafter, deductions were taken from my paycheck, but the funds were invested only in the stock funds. The plan’s management told me that they did not invest in the money-market fund because my request was in a letter, and they only accept changes in investment allocations by a telephone recording. I asked why they did not contact me when they received my letter, as they had my address, telephone number, and e-mail address. They had no problem increasing my payroll deduction per my letter. To date, I have not received a satisfactory explanation from the plan’s management. If I made a mistake in not telephoning the investment change, why didn’t they contact me as to the correct procedure? Instead, they invested my money in declining stock funds, which was why I wanted the increased contribution invested in a money market fund. There should be more than one deferred compensation plan. If there were, I would move my account immediately. THOMAS P. GILHOOLEY Cortlan Support Purple Heart stamp To The Editor: Presently, there is a nationwide push to have the US Postal Service issue a Purple Heart commemorative stamp. As a past chair of both PEF’s Statewide and Region 8 Veterans Committees, I fully support the idea. To have received the purple Heart is a national military honor (recognizing the sacrifice of US military personnel wounded in battle) — reason enough for a stamp in recognition of it. My experience with PEF members who have received the Purple Heart showed them, (as all of PEF’s vets) to be selfless, eager to help those in need and devoted to our nation. It is my hope the PEF Statewide Committee and all of the regional Veterans Committees are on board. Please write with your support to: Dr. Virginia Noelke Chairperson of the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 5670 Washington, D.C. 20260-2435 RICHARD A. FERRIOLO Greenville Editors’ note: At its January meeting, the PEF Statewide Veterans’ Committee gave its unanimous support to the issuance of a US postage stamp to commemorate Purple Heart recipients.