Changing Seasons Bring a Busy Fall to the PFT

Posted: 
Friday, October 4, 2019
Dear Sisters and Brothers of the Plainedge Federation of Teachers,
             
I hope everyone is off to a great school year and looking forward to the many wonderful events that are happening in the PFT during the fall months.
             
On Sunday, October 20th, our union will once again participate in the Making Strides Walk at Jones Beach. We will meet in front of the NYSUT table (Field 5) by 7:45 AM and begin our walk on the boardwalk by 8 AM sharp! This year will mark over two decades of our union's involvement in this important fundraiser against a devastating disease that has affected so many lives here on Long Island. Please make sure to join us as we raise both awareness and money in the fight against breast cancer around the globe.
 
Leading us this year is our new PFT Making Strides Coordinator, Lynn Mudryk, and she has been very busy this fall organizing our fundraising drive for the walk. In addition to buying apparel, for the first time ever, we are starting an "In Honor and Memory Board."  PFT members can make a donation of $5.00 or more for a pink ribbon, on which they can write the name of someone who is going through breast cancer, a survivor, or someone who lost their battle with breast cancer. All the ribbons will be placed on a board in each building's faculty room.  If you would like to purchase a pink ribbon to honor a family member or friend, please see your Making Strides building captain as soon as possible.
 
Only a short two days after the Making Strides Walk, our entire union will get together for our yearly General Membership meeting. This year's event will take place on Tuesday, October 22nd at the Brian Moored Athletic Center (311 North Idaho Ave, Massapequa), from 3:30 PM till 4:30 PM. We have a wide array of activities and speakers planned for that day, so mark your calendars now to ensure you don't miss out. Beginning around 3 PM, you will be able to meet with 403B providers, NYSUT endorsed mortgage companies, as well as an AFLAC representative to take care of all your financial and insurance needs. Representatives from our Legal Plan and NYSUT Member Benefits will also be on hand to explain all the great benefits that are available to us as members of the PFT. In addition, Kris LaGrange, the President of UCOMM (our public relations firm), will be speaking to us on the importance of communication in maintaining a strong and vibrant union. Of course, we will also have lots of raffles and prizes at the conclusion of what's sure to be a great event for our membership.
 
 
 As we approach the colder, darker months of winter, we will again host one of our brightest events of the year, our Wizards fundraiser spectacular. This year's Wizards game is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13th from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Every year, this sold out event raises close to ten thousand dollars for the PFT and PTA College Scholarship Fund, which allows the PFT to give away thousands of dollars to well-deserving Plainedge HS students. 
In addition to supporting Plainedge students, we also use the money raised to provide college scholarships for the children of PFT members who are entering college for the first time. Our fundraising event this year is led by two very talented HS teachers, Erin Lehane and Bess Degaray, who are always on the lookout for volunteers. If you are interested in doing your part to help, please contact either Erin or Bess via District Email to find out how you can get involved. It's a great night for the Plainedge, and as teachers, we really need to make our best effort to be part of the community beyond the classroom walls. Remember, we are not just educators, we are part of the Plainedge family!
 
There is no doubt it's going to be a very busy fall here in the PFT! I look forward to seeing my fellow sisters and brothers of the PFT at all of our upcoming events. Always keep in mind that our strength as an organization stems from our membership's willingness to participate in union activities!
 
In solidarity