MVCC Professional Association

It was a dark and stormy morning… but the light of charity shone brightly across the fair city of Utica. America’s Greatest Heart Run/Walk 2008 was a tremendous success for both Team MVCC and the MVCC PA.

As the final numbers have come in, many goals set for this year’s participation were not only met, but surpassed. Team MVCC was able to raise about $3,500 and had a total of about 80 walkers on this wet Saturday.

The tough weather definitely showed that our school and community spirit is strong. The short 3 mile walk took most of an hour, but had many interesting sidewalk displays all along the route. Heartbreak hill was the most energetic, most fun, and loudest stretch of the walk.

I particularly enjoyed the refreshing new approach of combining the College’s efforts with the Community Outreach Committee of the PA. The tone was much more about US, and was extremely productive for these new efforts. My hope is that as efforts to involve MVCC with the community increase, this spirit of collegiality and joint effort will continue to grow and include more of us all.

From the President's Desk: Providing Access
by Ellis Gage Searles

Everyone who spends time at a community college learns from the experience. For me, the process has been continuous and the lessons countless—with the most important being life lessons, taught to me by students, shown by their example.

One of the first things I learned, that surely all of us have learned, is that students who come to MVCC—or to any community college, for that matter—carry with them all the intelligence, creativity, and talent their studies will require. But, as we soon see, these students, with few exceptions, also face substantial obstacles. At the same time that they’re taking a schedule of demanding classes, they are likely to be holding full-time jobs, raising children, and keeping a household going. Their financial resources may be limited, their basic skills may be rusty, they may have forgotten how to study, their native language may not be English. They may be the first in their family to go to college, putting new, unfamiliar pressures on their relationships with the people who love and support them. They may be taking this path after other things they’ve attempted have proven unsuccessful, after they’ve lost a job, been displaced.

As community college professionals, we quickly realize that for many of our students, it’s not easy to come to college.

But come they do, because they know that education represents an opportunity—one that can make a real difference in their lives and the lives of their families and their community—and they don’t want to let anything stand in their way.

Every semester we marvel at the energy, persistence, and determination of the students we meet. Often we come to know their personal stories and are filled with admiration for their optimism and their strength. So it makes us proud to be a part of the fine institution that provides what these students are seeking, working with colleagues to do whatever we can to ensure their success.

Now, another way to help our students has come into being. It’s called The ACCESS Fund.

As its name implies, this scholarship fund focuses on providing access to those who want the opportunities a college education can provide, but whose incomes make it especially difficult to afford. These are the students whose family earnings are low ($36,000 for a household of four) but still exceed the maximum allowable for full financial aid. Through this fund, eligible students will receive grants to help defray the cost of going to college. For some, those dollars will mean the difference between continuing to study and being unable to.

Happily, more than $18,000 has already been donated to this worthwhile new initiative of the MVCC Foundation. If you haven’t done so yet, I hope you’ll consider joining the more than 70 of our colleagues who have contributed, making it easier for economically struggling students to come to our college. Obviously, each individual donation can’t go very far. What it can do, though, is to join with others to send a strong message to outside agencies, foundations, and corporations—potential big donors—about our commitment to the essential goal of providing access, of reducing at least one of the obstacles students face as they pursue their dreams.

If each of us in the Professional Association were to give even a few dollars, it would quickly add up to some real money. And that’s important. But it would raise even more. If there’s 100% support of the Fund here on campus, the Foundation can highlight that fact, thereby stimulating community donations. If we give, others are more likely to give.

Please support our students through The ACCESS Fund.

A motley band of PA Political Outreach Committee members, William Perrotti, Dan Ianno, Lewis Kahler and I, along with our PA Pres. Ellis Searles, descended on the state capital on Tuesday, February 26, 2008. We were there to present our reaction to the proposed budget of Governor Elliot Spitzer, which includes a $50 per student reduction in base state aid to community colleges. We explained that for MVCC this would translate into a loss of $230,000.00! Even a slightly math-phobic social scientist like myself can figure out this is going to hurt our ability to serve our students. This is especially true as we attempt to expand access to under served populations within our community. Expansion of services and retraction of resources just doesn’t add up.

One notable difference in our delivery of this basic message to our legislators was that we were working in tandem with a group of college administrators. Dr. Sandra Engel, V.P. Ralph Feola, and MVCC Student Trustee Camilla Ramos were led by our college Pres Randy VanWagoner. The subtext of our joint presentation was that we the PA have the broader interests of the college as an integral part of our agenda, and that we and our administration are working together on behalf of our students, our community and our region! It’s called a win/win situation!

Our consistent message, which I think is not news to us in the PA, was that when we do what is best for our students, we invariably support good teaching. We vigorously advocated for funding streams that support services that further our ability to positively impact the people we teach and mentor. Translation, restore the $50 per student reduction and add another $200 on top of that to begin to stop placing the financial burden on our students! They can least afford it and they are, after all, the reason we do this. By law, the state is supposed to provide 40% of our funding, the student through tuition 30%. Right now the state provides around 30% and our students foot 37% of the bill through tuition. We were also very vocal about expanding the financial aid formulas to account for the reality that many of our students need developmental courses which extend the time necessary to accomplish their two and ultimately four year degrees. For many, their financial aid often runs out before their course work does.

Our hit list of legislators to pitch our case to was Assembly reps David Townsend, RoAnn Destito, and William Magee along with Senators David Valesky and Joe Griffo. We met from 9am to 12pm for about 30 minutes each with about 5 minutes to get to our next appointment. It kinda felt like we were back in high school, trying to get to class before the bell. We managed to avoid any late demerits but Perrotti and I did get in trouble for raiding the candy bowl of one of our legislators who shall remain nameless!

The following budget testimony was presented at the hearing session held in Utica on the afternoon of February 14\ that same day, at the request of President VanWagoner, MVCC Vice President Ralph Feola had presented testimony in the morning athearing session in Rome.This was viewed as a cooperative effort on behalf of the College.Prior to the hearing date,President Ellis Gage Searles and MVCC President Randall VanWagoner had shared the ideas they planned to present as well as drafts of their testimony.

Testimony presented to Assemblyman Herman D. Farrell Chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito Chairwoman of the Assembly Governmental Operations Committee

Good afternoon, Chairman Farrell and Chairwoman Destito. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you today about the impact of Governor Spitzer’s proposed budget.

I’m Ellis Gage Searles, President of Mohawk Valley Community College Professional Association, which is made up of the 218 faculty and professional staff at MVCC and is affiliated on the state level with our 585,000 colleagues in New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and nationally with more than one million in the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). With me today also is Professor David Katz, who chairs the PA Political Outreach Committee.

The oldest of the SUNY community colleges, MVCC has long been recognized statewide for the high quality of its programs and services. I’m proud
to represent the dedicated individuals who develop those programs, teach the courses, and provide a wide range of professional services to our students.
I speak to you today on their behalf, and on behalf of the whole MVCC community.

First, please accept our sincere thanks for your ongoing support of public education. Your leadership in the Assembly and the work that the legislature has consistently done in providing resources to the fine public schools and colleges of our state has been essential to their ongoing success, especially when times have been tough.

And we recognize that tough times are facing New York once again, a fact that is reflected in the 2008-09 Executive Budget proposals for higher education.

Of course, this is bad news. It means that difficult budgetary decisions will have to be made.

But we believe that it is in this current context, as we struggle with a potential economic downturn, that strong support for public higher education—particularly community colleges like ours—becomes even more crucial. Economic recovery for our state depends on New York’s ability to educate its workforce, to prepare the professionals who will be the informed, creative problem solvers of the future. And no one does this more effectively than New York’s community colleges.

Our students know this. More than 50% of all those enrolled in public higher education in New York State this year are in community colleges. They recognize the value of strong programs that prepare them to go directly into a career or transfer seamlessly to continue their studies.

Like other SUNY community colleges, MVCC takes pride in its ability to provide affordable access to high-quality education to a diverse group of New York’s citizens. In our classrooms, recent high school graduates study alongside displaced workers; new Americans from Europe, Asia, and Africa learn with lifelong residents of Utica and Rome; young adults take their seats at the same time as their parents—all with the goal of improving their lives through education.

It is only through the state’s continued commitment to its community colleges that this is possible. Implementing this budget proposal as it stands would mean a loss of $230,000 to MVCC, severely undermining our ability to serve our students and our region. Conversely, investing wisely there has an impact on the greatest number of students—students who will likely stay in our community and contribute to it—yielding a maximum return for our collective future.

Furthermore, as proposed, the Governor’s budget would likely account for an even smaller percent of the total revenue MVCC will need in the coming year than last year’s 30%—well below the contribution called for in the funding formula for New York State’s community colleges. When base aid does not equal the 40% that full-opportunity institutions like ours were legislated to receive, a greater burden falls to local sponsors and to students.

As I know you well appreciate, the economic pressures on our upstate region are enormous. Our local sponsor, Oneida County, is proud of MVCC and recognizes both its role in economic development and its place at the heart of the Mohawk Valley. We are grateful for this, and for our county’s long-standing financial support. But the reality is that Oneida County simply cannot fill the gap that results when state funding comes up short.

So it’s the students who do. Community college tuition in New York is already among the highest in the country, and it will doubtless go higher if the base aid is cut. To avoid increasing an already disproportionate cost to those who can least afford it, SUNY has asked that the legislature seek ways to restore the cuts proposed in the Governor’s budget and fund a base aid increase of $250. We strongly support this request.

To fulfill our mission, it is essential. With secure funding, we can continue, for example, to respond to the local and statewide demand for nurses and allied health professionals, whose training needs are resource-intensive. Moreover, highly qualified faculty can continue to be available as full-time educators to teach and advise students, develop innovative programs in response to community needs, and contribute energetically to the collegial work of the institution. Comprehensive services to students can continue to support their efforts and assure their success.

Thank you for your time in holding these important hearings. Your efforts on behalf of the people of New York State are deeply appreciated.

The city of Utica has long been known for its outstanding regional cuisine. Now, retired PA member Jerry Scotti recently added to this legacy by opening Alee’s restaurant on Elizabeth Street. The first thing one notices when entering Alee’s is the modern décor. Alee’s is a comfortable, casual dining experience, boasting “fine dining in a casual and relaxed atmosphere,” and they certainly deliver. Alee’s offers full bar service, and the entrées are some of the most tantalizing in the city.

One of the most unique features of Alee’s is the mixture of Italian and Polish cuisine. There is a wide array of entrées and appetizers ranging from exquisite pasta and seafood dishes, veal and chicken entrées, and their Polish specialty entrées including the Kotlet Schabowy and the Kielbasa dinner. These dinners are complemented by one of Utica’s most impressive wine lists, and myriad mouth-watering desserts.

Accompanying the full restaurant service, Alee’s offers banquet rooms for parties and events complete with a planning coordinator, Kelly Bowen, to help plan the perfect party. The banquet room can accommodate 125 people and offers a dance floor, service bar and an in-ceiling sound system. Alee’s boasts an Italian Buffet, Polish Buffet, American Buffet, Signature Buffet, and a Brunch Buffet.

The service and food are exquisite, and I highly recommend this wonderful restaurant. Not only will you be in for a true culinary delight, but you also will be supporting a PA member who was so supportive of us.

Alee’s is located at 247 Elizabeth Street, and reservations can be made by calling 797-2181. You can see the entire menu, specials and accommodations at aleesrestaurant.com.

Perhaps you noticed the headline “Community college retirees have a voice” in the January 31 issue of New York Teacher.

Perhaps you are already familiar with “ED 39,” the “Election District” for community colleges. But perhaps you didn’t know that in 2006, NYSUT established Retiree Council 39, which provides retirees a voice in NYSUT and community college activities.

Peter Herron, Retiree Council 39’s president, stressed the power of the RC to “...make [people] aware of issues that can affect all retirees in general, and retirees from community colleges in particular. We can give feedback on issues.”

Recently, RC 39 has started a newsletter and is in the process of creating a web site.

The PA has a direct link to RC 39— Ann Smallen, who was a member of the MVCC Math Department until she retired in 2004. She is one of the founding members of RC 39 and is one of the directors-at-large. The other members of RC 39’s leadership are Lou Stollar, vice president; Corita Kong, secretary; Joan Prymus, treasurer, and Tom Halsall, director-at-large.

NYSTRS held its 87th Annual Delegates Meeting on Monday, November 5, and Tuesday, November 6, in Saratoga Springs at the City Center. Monday’s sessions included information on how Social Security benefits are calculated, when individuals should apply for benefits, and the effect of early retirement on your benefits. There was also a presentation on the recent updates to the NYSTRS Web site, including the ability to schedule appointments online for consultations and preretirement seminars. The website also includes online forms and the ability to track the status of your retirement processing. The last morning session stressed the importance of monitoring your Benefit Profile, mailed each year to NYSTRS members.

The afternoon informational session discussed the role of the delegate and the “Seven Deadly Retirement Sins,” which are as follows:

The remainder of the afternoon was occupied with a question- and-answer session that included a discussion of the 3% contributions, leave of absence without pay, and the impact of the subprime debacle. The day ended with the reelection of Sheila Salenger to the NYSTRS Board of Directors.

Since Tuesday was election day, the day ended early and included two repeat informational sessions, one on the Web site and one on Social Security information.

50 workers of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTG) have been on strike in Little Falls since November 1, 2007, against Redco Foods, makers of Salada and Red Rose teas and of Junket dessert.

Redco/Salada, with production facilities in Little Falls NY, was bought by a German multinational company, Teekane Group, in 1995. Management is now trying to impose inferior terms and conditions of employment on new hires that undermine those the American workforce gained over many years of hard work.
The BCTGM contract with Redco expired on July 1, 2007. Months of bargaining proved fruitless as Redco management was determined to impose its giveback demands. US management, acting for the German owners, did not bargain constructively with the workers who, on average have 23 years of service to the company. So, reluctantly, union members voted to strike in defense of their living standards.

The company has responded to the strike by bringing in scabs, including technicians from Germany, and using management to keep the machines running. The company still refuses to bargain constructively, rejecting without consideration union offers of compromise

Please help show union solidarity by writing to Redco’s German owners and/or by sending an electronic message to Teekane’s CEO, Rainer Verstynen. More information on both is available at http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/BCTGMRedcoStrike.