*Members: If you have any announcements that you would like to post on the ROBS web site, please contact Nick Siciliano at
News2@robsny.org. Announcements will be posted each month on this page.
If you miss any previous month's announcements,
you can view them at the Archives page of this web site. You can also read more news in our Newsletters. In addition, if you have
your own web site, and would like to share it with other members, let us know and we can include the link on the ROBS site.
IMPORTANT DATES |
IN THE NEWS FEBRUARY 2012 | |||
March 2 |
PRESIDENT'S DAY - WHAT DOES IT MEAN? POSTED 2/1/12 By Lauren Himiak, About.com Guide Reprinted from About.com," National & State Parks" To some, the observance of Presidents' Day in the United States goes very much unnoticed. Local newspapers splash ads of “President’s Day Sales!” and many get the day off from work. But have you ever stopped to think about this important day of recognition? SEMANTHA GARVEY'S STORY: FROM HOMELESS SHELTER TO INTEL SEMIFINALIST
Published: January 11, 2012, Newsday.com By Jo Napolitano and John Hildebrand Samantha Garvey was overjoyed. She didn't think a kid living in a homeless shelter would have a chance in the national Intel science competition, but the 17-year-old Brentwood High School senior was.. (The complete article can be viewed at: Newsday.com/Samantha Garvey)
SAD SHARING
POSTED 2/26/12 Doug Lennon, who retired from East Middle School, passed away. The wake is on Monday, Feb. 27 at the Fox Funeral Home, 9807 Ascan Avenue, Forest Hills, N.Y. and the phone number of the funereal home is 718-268-4466. BLOOD DONORS NEEDED POSTED 2/29/12 There is a request to have blood donors donate this Friday, March 2nd at the Bay Shore Fire Dept. Headquarters from 3:00 - 9:00 pm for Robert Wiedmann (an Islip Fireman who was badly burned fighting a fire in Brooklyn). This request appeared in the March/April BCA Newsletter hoping that they have a large presence of Brentwood School District employees & retirees. . |
FEBRUARY - BLACK HISTORY MONTH
POSTED 2/1/12 The following is reprinted from History.com. Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history. SAY NO TO TIER 6! POSTED 2/22/12 Reprinted from NYSUT UNITED, March 2012, p.7, "Add Your Voice! Act Now! If you don't think pension reform could impact you, think again. The risky Tier 6 proposal being pushed by the governor reduces the long term stability of defined benefit plans. You can stop this proposal. Besides sending a fax through mac.nysut.org you can: Call 877-255-9417. Follow the options to get to the governor, state Senate or state Assembly. Whether you get to talk with your lawmaker or leave a message, make it clear that you do not support Tier 6 . Call 518-474-4044 and thank state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli for opposing Tier 6. Watch the video about retirement security featuring NUSUT retiree Jim Frenette, pictured above. The video is posted at mac.nysut.org. Support the New York State AFL-CIO's ad campaign and view their fliers at www.nysaflcio.org. The information can help when you talk to your lawmakers, or when you write them a letter. Gather information about what a secure pension means to you. Give those details to the point person in your local union who's making appointments to meet lawmakers March 1-2. |
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Every February 14, across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of this centuries-old holiday, from ancient Roman rituals to the customs of Victorian England.
You can go to Valentine's Day@HhistoryChannel where you can read more about Valentines Day and view photos and videos. SAD SHARING POSTED 2/29/12 Clara Cannavo, who retired from Laurel Park in '95, passed away on February 26, 2012. Visitation will be held Wednesday the 29th from 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm at the Fairchild Funeral Home located at 1570 Northern Blvd, Manhasset. Funeral service will be at 7:30 pm Wednesday evening. Interment will be on Thursday at Pinelawn Memorial Park. |
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FOR MEMBERS |
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IN MEMORIUM |
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 View the "In Memoriam" page with the list of our Brentwood colleagues who have passed away. This list will be updated on a yearly basis. |
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NYSUT NEWS |
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MEMBER ACTION CENTER
"Say NO to Tier 6" Support VOTE-COPE with your voluntary contribution. Download the VOTE-COPE Contribution Card here. |
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RC21 EVENTS |
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March 6 Executive Board Meeting NYSUT Office 10:15 AM RC 21 Website: http://ny.aft.org/rc21 |
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MEMBER WEBSITES
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WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW | |||
John M. Sherin Complete Team Building Kits
Teaching Cooperation/ Collaboration Emotional Intelligence (EQ) www.brokensquares.com Rick Mundy
Watercolor Prints of L.I., Adirondacks, NYC...
www.RickMundy.Com Gloria Hannemann Hardwood Flooring and Home Improvement www.Servi-all.com Elmon Kazandjian NYC Art Gallery www.woodwardgallery.net Mr. Graziano's Science Class Academic Enrichment and Remedial Website |
The following was written by a parent of three Brentwood youngsters all of whom went through and graduated the system. Ted is still married to Laura Morelli, a highly respected nurse in the district, since retired. Outspoken and always forthcoming, Ted joined the Writers Group where he continued to participate even after moving from Suffolk Avenue, Brentwood; next to Knoll Farm, to begin life anew in Tennessee, where the Morelli's reside today. "Truth and Consequences" he called it when he wrote this in August of 1997.
"TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES" Are there any alarm bells going off in school districts? Does anyone really have a clue as to the agendas of school boards? Who are these people to decide what is right or wrong for our children when they are not at home but supposedly in the safe confines of a schoolroom? |
The Brentwood School District was the laughing stock of 'the Island. Newsday was running daily stories about the disturbing actions stemming from the machinations of the school board. One of the cave people on the board had a pipeline into Newsday in the form of Steve Wicks, a reporter. He always managed to write a story that was favorable to the three members who caused the disruptions to the district. When I tried to get him aside and speak with him the first question he asked me was whether I was an official of the district, was I a teacher, or what? When I told him I was a parent, a resident ana a taxpayer in Brentwood. He turned me aside. I decided to dig in. I worked doubly hard to remove three members from the board, I vilified them from the floor of the meeting room, I chastised and ridiculed them in print, I spoke to many people, or at least to those who would give me the time and eventually a group, very small I might add, were able to oust the three who we thought were corrupt, if not criminally, then morally. Eventually we succeeded but not without some ridiculous events occurring, My wife, a school nurse at the time, was charged with leaving the school ground during the school day without authorization. It was a false accusation and a scurrilous attempt to show me that they could get to me if I didn't back off. When it was proven by dozens of witnesses that she was at school at the times the trustees claimed she wasn’t, they apparently thought it was better to cut their losses and they relented. They had, however, by their actions, reinforced our resolve. It had all come about because I had attended a case in which one board member drew a gun on another board member during a closed meeting and charges were leveled. I sat in the courtroom listening as the judge dismissed the case, stating that the cause of education is not furthered by the adolescent actions of school board members and that they all should be ashamed of themselves. As it happened I had heard the whole thing and as it also turned out I was the only member of the community to witness it. Thus, the three members took the precipitous action against my wife. These trustees were a strange lot, indeed. One of them would rant and rave and say the most outrageous things and do things few rational people would do (severing phone lines and scattering papers from desks.) Another would be the one to make numerous motions, bogging down the machinery, and the third would rubber stamp whatever the other two would advocate. They would turn up at various schools at all hours of the night, searching desks and classrooms in quest of something, or anything that they could use to ignite an issue. No one ever knew what they were seeking. |
One security guard told me in confidence that once he attempted to question their presence at a school near midnight, one board member imperiously told him that, as trustees, no door could or would be locked against their entry and no school was exempt from a visitation, day or night, by them. Their actions seemed to be reminiscent of Gestapo tactics used to bully and intimidate. After our ardent and arduous labors bore fruit and they were voted out of office it seemed as if things ran more smoothly but I must state in all honesty that I was burnt out and decided that I would let the group go on by itself or eventually, as it did, dissolve itself. I'm not sure if there is a moral somewhere in here, but if there is one then it may be that a battle can be won even over forces greater than your own if you have the will and the force of purpose that allows you to take chances recognizing that the outcome may not be the one you seek. Many of us realized that the steps we were taking to have the trustees removed might result in retaliation against me, my wife, a few teachers whom the trustees suspected supported us, another board member who worked with us sub-rosa and a few others. We were a small group waging hand to hand combat with the trustees and a rather large segment of the community who were vocal in their support of them, but I am most proud to say that none of us were deterred from forging ahead. My own personal truth is that there is no shame in losing if you are trying to do the right thing. |
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PAID ADVERTING |
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| ROBS HISTORY PROJECT - John M. Sherin | ||||
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Why did we do it? What was our purpose in taking on such an open ended “History Project”; the one for which we’ve evolved a script of questions with corresponding answers from over one hundred and fifty dedicated volunteers for nearly two decades? We couldn’t answer the question in ‘94 when people would ask “What are you going to do with the interviews?” All we could say was that for educational and informational purposes we had better document our record or lose any chance to preserve innumerable poignant accounts, humorous stories and touching tales told to us by exemplary educators and dedicated public servants, who shortly and for reasons unknown might soon be leaving our Brentwood for good. We decided to let time sort out the details as we commenced making appointments to ask questions and simply listen. Listen we did as this project evolved saving for subsequent generations the very essence of what it means to have been an educator or employed in a large student centered public school system during the latter half of the twentieth century. Brentwood remains an exemplar to all the others; a diverse microcosm and accurate reflection of the approximately one hundred and twenty seven neighboring school districts on Long Island and the thousands across this country. We’ve accomplished something here, something we can all be proud of having been part of, whether we were interviewed or not, ours is a claim of service that few other professionals in the State of New York are positioned to share in a like manner. INITIALLY the practice of sitting for an hour with the Subject of our interview and giving them one hundred percent of our focused attention for that period of time seemed a little threatening to many of our friends and former colleagues. So much so in fact that many declined repeated invitations to be interviewed as they left careers behind or retired from full time employ with the District. Despite all assurances that this was not to be about investigative journalism or invading their privacy, they’ve deferred. Until now, almost seventeen years after we began, some say they may finally be ready. We say, “Better late than never”. However, to all those among you who were willing to share openly not only your classroom experiences but personal stories, precious memories from your lives and fondest hopes for the future, we say thanks for allowing us to be able to continue the process of giving as we now are able to share interviews with you, with the community and with countless regional professional educators and researchers through tentative acceptance of ROBS offer of collaboration with The Long Island Studies Institute at Hofstra University. You can now enjoy unlimited visits to www.robsny.org/ where you’ll see and hear segments from the History Project Interviews featured here in the ROBS History Project section on the Announcements Page archived each month thereafter for those wishing to return again and again. |
THIS MONTH'S FEATURED HISTORY PROJECT
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| THE TOWN CRIER - MarilynDePlaza@aol.com | ||||
 Marilyn DePlaza |
"The Town Crier" was set up a number of years ago so that the retirees of the Brentwood School District could have an email center to stay in touch. Since I began to send out all sorts of information, retirees from all over the country have sent me their email addresses. Some have asked, "Do you have any idea where so and so is?" Others have sent proud news of their accomplishments, their family news, photos,etc. and sadly, we often get bad news. Many retirees whom I have never met write me to thank me for keeping this connection going, as everyone remembers the Brentwood years with warm feelings.
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| WHERE IS FLORENCE KOHLER? POSTED 2/17/12 If anyone can help, please write me at marilyndeplaza@aol.com Hi, Marilyn, the B'wood library history dept. contacted me to see if I could help them with a project they are working on to do with the Brentwood cemetery. The questions concerned the Rosa M. Kohler family. I know Florence Kohler, her son Conrad's wife, was a member of ROBS, too, and was somewhere down south the last I had heard. Is there anyone who knows where Florence is and if she is able to help with some info RE: the Kohler family? I know she will be 100 years old this year and since there has been no mention of her passing I was hoping someone would have news of her whereabouts (or of her children) and if she would be able to assist the library in obtaining the info they are after. Can you help? Thank you. |
SAD SHARING POSTED 2/28/12 Gabe Gengler, who was Asst. Principal in the Ross High School, passed away on Monday. The following is the Obituary as it appeared in Newsday on February 28, 2012: GENGLER - Gabriel J. Jr. on February 27, 2012 of Calverton, NY. Beloved husband of Maureen. Loving father of Matthew and his wife Stephanie, Christine Medina and her husband Fernando, Karen Buckley and her husband Daniel, Jeanine Wickmann and her husband Paul, Amy Gengler and Richard Gervais, Gabriel and his wife Corinne, and Michael and his wife Cristin. Dear stepfather of Gina Timpanaro and her husband Benjamin Throop, Deanna Davis and her husband Jeffrey, and Frank Timpanaro Jr. and his wife Ashlee Witek. Cherished grandfather of 17. Reposing at the O.B. Davis Funeral Home, 1001 Rt. 25A, Miller Place, L.I. Visitation Wednesday 7-9pm & Thursday 2-4 & 7-9pm. Funeral Mass Friday 9:30 am. St. Isidore R.C. Church, Riverhead. Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. |
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