SUCCESS IN
ACHIEVEMENT — PEF Vice President Ken Brynien
presents awards to Richard Sweeny, Region 1 PAC Chair,
and Regional Coordinators Joyce Degenhardt, Mary
Twitchell and David Stallone for their efforts in getting
members to support the union's Committee on Political
Education (COPE). The awards ceremony was held at the
24th PEF convention in Buffalo. — Photo by John
Epting
PEF’s top
COPE-supporting regions, divisions take a bow
By SHERRY HALBROOK
Becoming recognized as an important political force is
key to PEF’s efforts to protect state services and
jobs, get stronger contracts, better pensions and affect
state and federal legislation important to the
union’s members.
Having deep pockets is key to political efforts, and PEF
honored its regions and divisions that have been most
active in getting members to support the union’s
COPE (Committee on Political Education) fund by
authorizing contributions through automatic paycheck
deductions.
Under federal law, voluntary COPE donations are the only
funds PEF can use to support candidates for national
offices such as Congress and the US Senate.
 Regions
12, 2 honored
Region 12 on Long Island, led by Political Action Chair
Jonathan Gittens, was recognized for having the greatest
percentage increase of its members enrolled in COPE.
And Region 2 in southwestern New York earned kudos for
achieving the highest level of new contributors in the
past year.
PEF Statewide COPE Chair Ken Brynien said Regions 1, 4
and 5 have all achieved greater than 25 percent increases
in contributors since the 2001 PEF convention.
Region 2 Coordinator Cliff West said his region has
“led percentage wise” for several years. He
attributes the success to a “one-on-one
approach” to enrolling members in COPE.
Although the region has only 700 members, they are
scattered over five large counties throughout New
York’s southern tier, which makes the one-on-one
approach very challenging.
“I’ve never had any luck with presentations
made to groups, even when the speaker was
excellent,” West said. “So, I encourage Region
2 council leaders and stewards to sit down with members
individually to talk about COPE and why it’s so
important.
“I impress on them that whether they want better
contracts, pensions or working conditions,
‘It’s all about politics.’ And I remind
the leaders and stewards that you can’t expect to
sign your members up for COPE if you’re not already
enrolled, yourself. You need to belong to the team to get
them to belong.”
West said he also includes COPE authorization cards with
the PEF membership kits for new hires.
Divisions 225,
167 shine
PEF Division 225 at the state University Medical Center
at Stony Brook had the greatest number of new
contributors.
“We’re very proud of this award,” said
Division 225 Council Leader Dee Dodson. “This is the
third year in a row that we have won it, and a lot of the
credit goes to Division Secretary Phyllis Johansen who
has been a tremendous help in getting people
enrolled.”
Johansen said she gets her best results at orientation
meetings for new hires at the hospital.
“I tend to get on a soapbox and tell them how
important it is here for us to be politically involved.
And as I hand each new member an enrollment card, I tell
them: ‘This could be the most important card you
sign today.’ ”
It must work, because Johansen says her all-time high
success rate is 38 COPE enrollees out of 52 new hires at
one orientation.
Led by Tom Grace, Division 167 at West Seneca
Developmental Disabilities Services Office had the
highest percentage of new contributors.
PROUD AND
HONORED — Rose Goldstein, Andy Spacone and Don
Yetter of PEF Division 167 receive the COPE award at the
24th annual PEF convention in Buffalo. — Photo by
John Epting
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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This
Issue:
Features
PEF’s political action
efforts pay off
Union's top COPE-people take
a bow
Nurses protest at SUNY
Downstate Med.Center
Long view snags threat to
PEF jobs
PEF Scholarships and
financial aid
- January time to apply for student financial aid
- PEF to award 10 Scacalossi Scholarships
- Unions offer $$$ to top students
- Neil Boyle lives on through scholarships
- Tap into a Union Plus
scholarship
Departments
President's Message: Ready
for '03 challenges
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Member Mobilization:Building
union power
Nurses' Station: Fight for
healthier health care
Health Notes: Choosing your
health plan
Retirees In Action:
Legislative battles ahead
Member In Action: Highlights
page
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
Trustees Report to the '02
convention
Agency-fee procedure
outlined
Financial Supplement (Audit)
PEF helps spotlight poor
care, understaffing
Members’ 9/11 tribute
on US State Dept. Website
Union striving to keep
service-credit bill alive
Members' vacation credits
safe
Members on military leave health insurance safe
Court: GOER must enforce
order at SIF
PEF rallies to aid injured
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Test drive online training
Contract offers DOCS members
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ERI windows already opened
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File your HCSAccount claims
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E- Board makes decisions at
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Black Caucus to host Holiday
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