All retiree members of NYSUT Westchester/Putnam in good standing are eligible to vote whether or not they attend the luncheon.** If you are not attending the luncheon, balloting will be held from 11:00 - 11:30 am at the Harrison Meadows Country club. Balloting for those attending the luncheon will be held from 11:30 am - 12:15 pm.
The Secretary will cast one ballot to elect the uncontested candidates listed below.
Executive Officers Vice Presidents
President - Veronica O'Connor Joanne Casella Anthony Russo Exec Vice President - Florence McCue Linda Doerr Marty Sommer Secretary - TBD Lori Mollo Kay Staplin Treasurer - Ellen Pincus Frank Orfei Dolores Thompson Pat Puleo Diane Torstrup
The Nomination/Elections Committee will conduct the election for the contested positions listed below and tall the ballots during the luncheon. Results will be announced during the luncheon and will be posted on the our website the following day. Please scroll down for candidates statements of introduction.
RC15 NYSUT RA Delegate and First Alternate RC 16 NYSUT RA Delegate and First Alternate Linda Doerr Joanne Casella Ellen Pincus Pat Puleo Anthony Russo Marty Sommer Kay Staplin Diane Torstrup
RC 16 AFT First Alternate Delegate Joanne Casella Diane Torstrup
**Please note: All NYSUT retirees of Westchester and Putnam counties are members of NYSUT. Physical membership cards are no longer being issued. Your membership status is unaffected if the card you have has expired. If you are unsure of your membership, visit NYSUT.org. Login to check your status and download your digital card on your phone. If you have additional questions regarding your membership status, call NYSUT Member Records at 800-342-9810 or email at memberrec@nysut.org .
Candidate Statements of Introduction
RC 15 NYSUT RA Delegate and First Alternate
Hi Retirees, I'm Linda Doerr, Lakeland Federation of Teachers Retiree and a Vice President on RC 15/16 Executive Council.(Westchester/Putnam Retirees). Union Membership for 60 plus years has afforded me the opportunity to be an active participant as well as serve in numerous leadership positions. I value Union membership greatly and the importance of being part of the decision-making process so that all members' needs, issues and especially those o f retirees are addressed. I would like to continue in my capacity of serving as a Delegate for my retiree colleagues in RC 15. It's a role that I take very seriously. Linda Doerr
Since retirement as an in-service president, I have been an active retiree member of RC 15/16 - as a NYSUT Retiree consultant, the treasurer of our Retiree Council, an Executive Board member and a NYSUT Alternate Delegate. I hope to continue my advocacy by lobbying for student issues, advancing educators' causes and protecting our retiree benefits as a NYSUT Delegate. Ellen Pincus
As an active member for the White Plains Teachers' Association, I held several roles such as a head building rep and secretary. Mostly I served as a NYSTRS Delegate disseminating information and assisting members in obtaining answers to their retirement questions. Even though I've been retired for 8 years, current active members still contact me with their retirement questions. I also served as an RA Delegate for many years. As a retiree, I serve on the RC Executive Board as the membership chair. In this role I have the opportunity to speak to our retirees directly. I am able to continue to provide information and assist our members in getting answers to their questions. I have also met with new retirees from my district about the important issues in retirement. For the past three years I have been a NYSUT Delegate and have attended the ED52 meetings, the Representative Assembly and the ED 15/16 meetings. I would like to continue in this role. Anthony Russo
I taught in Somers for 34 years and during that time was a Building Representative and Vice President and President of the Somers Faculty Association for many years. After I retired, I received a telephone call from Florence McCue asking me to be a member of the NYSUT Retiree Council 15-16 Executive Board. I have had the privilege of serving on the board with very fine professionals for many years. I enjoy organizing a raffle two times a year at our retiree luncheons. All proceeds for the raffles go to Feeding Westchester or the Putnam Food Bank. I take part in phone banks whenever need for NYSUT for elections. The NYSUT work is extremely and important, and I am happy to be a contributor to it. Respectfully submitted, Kay Staplin
RC 15 NYSUT Delegate and First Alternate
I've served the union as a HS building rep and on many district-wide committees and late as the President of the Yonkers Teachers for over 30 years. I hope to continue my advocacy in service to the Retiree Council in many capacities during these complicated times. As a member of numerous state committees, I represent retirees at conventions and rallies wit the interest of our members in the forefront. I am known for getting things done. I ask for your vote representing RC 16. Pat Puleo
I have been an active NYSUT retiree as a Political Action coordinator, a Retiree Council board Member and a NYSUT Delegate. I believe our Council must address issues that affect all NYSUT members - in-service and retirees. Advocation for students, advancing the profession and protecting retiree benefits have been my focus throughout my career. Marty Sommer
I am presently an RC 15-16 VP and Alternate Delegate. I taught elementary and remedial math for a total of 33 years. I was treasurer of the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers for approximately 20 years. I took it over in good fiscal shape and left it in good fiscal shape. As chair of the health and safety committee, I worked on getting our buildings up to standards. I also served on the MVFT negotiating team. At present, I'm a district chair in the North Greenburg Democratic Party and also co-founder of Westchester for Change, which is a social justice organization. In that capacity I lobby for changes to make our systems fairer and kinder. I am also on the NYSUT Statewide Social Justice Committee. There is not a day that goes by when I am not actively working to keep our union and our benefits strong and being a voice for the voiceless among us. Diane Torstrup
I worked for the Yonkers School District for over 25 years as an art teacher. I became involved with the union as soon as I was hired. I came from union family and was aware of the importance of joining. Without labor unions, workers would lose many of the protections we have become accustomed to. The main role of the union is to ensure that the balance is not tipped in favor of the employer. If elected, I will continue to work hard for the retirees in ED15/16 to represent and strengthen retiree interests. Joanne Casella