STA Rocks VOTE-COPE

(guest post from Taylor Putney, Vote-Cope Chair)

While I’d like to awe you with tons of statistics based on all the great achievements you had with VOTE-COPE this year, statistics show people delete long emails without reading them so I will cut right to the chase! J

As of this moment 85 out of 126 members have pledged to VOTE-COPE.  That is more than two-thirds (67.5%) of our members.  This is insanely amazing and great!!!  I have had a few “hallway” discussions with people not included in that 85 number so I know this will grow even more by year end.

That being said, I want to extend a sincere thank you to STA as asking people for money is a difficult task but is much easier when people are willing to hear the reasons why and give it some critical thought.

I hope you will trust me with this responsibility again next year.  VOTE-COPE is ongoing so the 41 members who are still considering it can join on at any time!  Please contact me whenever…you can start making a donation at any moment.  Please no calls from 9pm – 5am. J

To finish out the year, my VOTE-COPE project this summer will be getting in touch with our most recent retirees and then working my way back to increase our number of 126 (current members) to include those folks who are sipping Pina-coladas on the beach.  Just kidding!...as we know our retirees are watching their grandchildren, working in new careers, busy volunteering, etc.!  They too keep a close on a legislation because their NYSTRS pension is rooted in state law.

That being said, you are probably wondering when money will start to be drafted.  I have now completed my work with SW payroll and the auto deductions will start tomorrow (May 9, 2014).  If too much or too little seems to be coming out please don’t hesitate to contact me.  Those of you who wrote checks I would expect VOTE-COPE will cash those during the month of May at some point.

It has been my pleasure being your VOTE-COPE coordinator this year.  Ok…a few statistics if you are interested…after calculations are complete we are on pace to raise $2814.50 on an annual basis ($469 last year!).  This is an average of $22.34 per member (about $3.72 last year!).  This is awesome as my goal was $1 per pay for EVERY member.  If we assume 21 pays we exceed that goal!  VOTE-COPE has three levels of awards.   There is the:

Albert Shanker Award for locals who raise an average of $50 per member, Dan Sanders Award for locals who raise an average of $25 per member, and Abel Blattman Award for locals who raise an average of $10 per member.  It is amazing that we went from incredibly low participation to receiving a “bronze” award.  We were so close to “silver.”  Next year.  J

Take care…THANKS…AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR STEPPING UP!

-Taylor