NYSACRA

WE NEED YOUR DIRECT SUPPORT WORKER PROFILES
& PHOTOGRAPHS

With legislators returning to Albany this week, NYSACRA is ready to implement this year’s Direct Support Profile Campaign directed toward Legislators, Governor Pataki and New York’s Congressional representatives. This year’s objective is to highlight the appreciation of the families of the individuals you serve.  We want to share their views on the work of direct support professionals and the major influence they have on the lives of people with developmental disabilities.  But we are not limiting this year’s profiles to families only. If you have direct support professionals, agency administrators or consumers who want to share their thoughts on the hard work, complex job and dedication, while making wages that are not commensurate with that responsibility, please share them with us too!  Our previous Profile Campaigns have been extremely successful.   We want to make this year’s effort as simple as possible for you. Please Fax, E-Mail or send all letters or stories to NYSACRA so that we can compile them for distribution to the Legislature and Governor during the legislative session. Accompanying every testimonial, we will include a photograph of the Direct Support Professional.  This puts a face to the story and is very important to getting our message across.   If you already have pictures or are able to take new pictures (with the permission to print them) please forward them to NYSACRA.  Or, if you wish, you can call Joe Macbeth, Coordinator of Member Services, at (518) 449-7551 and he will take your testimonial over the telephone and work with you to secure a photograph. Visit http://www.nysacra.org/2003profiles.htm for more info on the Profiles.

GOVERNOR STARTS THIRD TERM

Governor Pataki was sworn in last week for his third term and will be delivering his State of the State address on Wednesday January 8, 2003.  The Governor will have to deal with an estimated $6 to $10 billion budget deficit as he begins his third term.  The Governor is expected to release his Executive Budget Proposal at the end of January.

“UNION NEUTRALITY” LAW NOW IN EFFECT

As reported earlier, the new law, NYS Labor Law Section §211-a, took effect on December 29, 2002, and prevents employers from encouraging or discouraging an employee from participating in a union organizing drive.  It prevents them from hiring attorneys, consultants or contractors to do the same.  There is also a requirement that any employer who receives funds appropriated by the State must keep financial records for three years, showing that such funds were not used to pay for such activity.  The groups that intend to sue to overturn the law will have to wait for an actionable cause to file suit and NYSACRA will be joining this effort.  Contact us or visit http://www.nysacra.org/laborlaw211a.htm for a copy of the law.

SEND IN YOUR LEGISLATIVE DAY SIGN-UP FORMS

Starting today, Forest Cotten will be making your Legislative Day appointments.   Please send in your form so he can make those appointments for you as soon as possible.  Let’s not miss the opportunity to inform our Legislators about our issues.  Thank you if you have already sent in your form.  This year is different.  We will be contacting you when your Legislators have confirmed attendance at our Legislative Breakfast so you can prepare your team to meet with them at breakfast and in their offices. Visit http://www.nysacra.org/legday2003.htm for more information and the form.

MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE DAY NOW!

Cut off dates for area hotels that accept the NYSACRA rate are as early as today!  Please make your reservations now to guarantee a room for the night of Monday, February 3, 2003 for Legislative Day on the 4^th.  After those dates you will lose the NYSACRA negotiated group rates that can save you money.  Visit http://www.nysacra.org/hotels.htm for more info.