Latest committee reports
Bylaws Committee
The Bylaws Committee completed its required periodic review of the Zone Bylaws. After much discussion and consideration, sixteen (16) proposed amendments were put forth. The committee's rationale for submitting the amendments was given along with the proposed changes. These 16 propositions were approved unanimously at the Board of Directors meeting in June.
Upon approval by the Board, the complete text of the proposals and rationale was published in the summer edition of Western Currents so that the membership could review the amendments prior to the WZ 2022 Annual Meeting. Members were encouraged to access the current Bylaws Document by going to wzretiredteachers.org/documents at the bottom of the page and consider the changes in relation to what currently exists. Gratitude is extended to Board Member Russ Gervasi for posting the present Bylaws on the zone website.
The members attending the September Annual Meeting will vote on each of these propositions by ballot. An affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority of eligible voting members present will be required for passage. Those adopted will go into effect immediately. The current document will be revised to reflect the approved additions, changes and deletions. The revised edition will be posted on the WZ website as soon as possible.
There are no Bylaws Amendments being voted on at the 2022 Annual Meeting of RENY.
The Bylaws Committee is composed of Marie Zafron, Patricia Miceli, Marilyn Stephens, Sal Sedita (Parliamentarian), Judy Farmer (Immediate Past President), Michelle Claus (current WZ President, ex officio committee member) and Doris Kirsch (Chair).
WZ History Committee Report - 2022
The History Committee maintains a historical record of the officers, committees, events and Units of Western Zone. We also include Memorial pages for those members who have passed on. This information is compiled in annual scrapbooks which are displayed at the Western Zone Board meetings and the annual meeting, as well as the annual RENY Convention.
This year the History Committee has again asked each WZ Unit to compile their historical record on scrapbook background sheets as has been done since 2012. These will be collected at the WZ annual meeting and the History Committee will compile the sheets into the WZ Unit scrapbook. Due to the COVID Pandemic, we have not compiled unit pages in two years. We are looking forward to compiling these pages this year as our Units are back to meeting in person. The Unit scrapbook sheets for 2019 will be returned to Unit presidents at the WZ Annual meeting.
In addition, the History Committee will compile WZ pictures and information for our WZ Scrapbook which will be on display at the RENY Convention in October 2022. The committee will also compile WZ pages to send to the RENY History Chairman.
This year’s WZ History committee is composed of Sandy Kelley, chairman, Marie Wik, Karen Gembar & LaVonne Walker. Rhoda Harrington, Ruth Nemmer and Allie Withers are the honorary assistants.
Sincere thanks to my committee members, and all who have contributed pictures and information throughout the year. Working together makes the job much easier. Sandy Kelley, Chair.
Remembrance Committee - 2024
The Remembrance Committee records the names of deceased educators who retired from or taught in the Western Zone’s region, as well as any spousal member of NYSRTA who passed away from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. The deceased are listed , and for all those noted as well as any who may have inadvertently not been included, and thank each of them for their dedication to education. A contribution in their memory is made to the DeCormier Fund of RENY which assists members in financial need. The list of deceased educators from the geographic coverage of Western Zone was published in the summer issue of WESTERN CURRENTS, which members of Western Zone have received in the mail.
Committee members notify the Chair of any deaths they are made aware of, either through obituaries or unit information. If the individual is a RENY member, the Chair notifies the central office. This list is updated as information becomes available and is compiled yearly.
The dedicated committee members note each death, and ask that if a name is omitted, we are made aware of this. The Chair appreciates the many hours spent by its members, to recognize and honor those who have gone before us.
---Anne Flansburg, Chair
Committee Members: Anita Blasiak, Therese Clarke, Josephine Cross, Beth Green, Rhoda Ann Harrington, Doris Kirsch, Pat Miceli, Marcia Myszka, Marcia Riley, Sue Schmidt, Donna Potter, Marie Gerace Zafron.
Friendly Services Report - 2022
Friendly Service is a very important function of the Western Zone of RENY. A variety of activities are carried out on both the zone and unit levels.
On the zone level, the Friendly Service Committee sent out over #00 holiday cards to members age ninety and over. The committee also sent out birthday cards to members who turned 80, 85, 90 and 95 this year. A birthday card is sent out every year to members over ninety-five. Other types of cards are sent out as needed.
The Friendly Service Committee is responsible for filing an annual report with RENY regarding friendly service activity carried out by the various units of the Western Zone. This information is combined with activity on the zone level and the completed report is sent to the state organization.
Thank you to all of the Friendly Service Committee: Josephine Cross, Anne Flansburg. Sara Rodland, Dolores Scanlon, Marilyn Stephens, and Nancy White