Author: linda.quinn

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Dear Members,
Hooray! We have survived so far, and it is spring. Let us be glad! It has been a difficult year and because of COVID concerns we had to cancel hosting the our 2020 Luncheons, the Annual Picnic and this year’s Spring Luncheon. However, we have used the money saved doing good in your name. We have made donations to the Interfaith Food Pantry in Northport and St. Vincent de Paul food bank in East Northport. Both organizations distribute food based only on need and not because of any religious membership. We made a donation, with assistance from the UTN, to a  Northport-East Northport district family in need. Finally, we gave a donation  in memory of Chris Pendergast to the  ALS Ride for Life to continue his work and legacy.

Due to the pandemic, elections of Executive Board officers were not held last year.The office of president is currently vacant due to the untimely death of Fran LaDuca. The current vice president, treasure, corresponding secretary and recording secretary have graciously offered to continue working in these positions. The Executive Board is also in need of volunteers who would be willing to serve on the committees that make our organization run. Please consider joining with former colleagues to do good  for others, and keep us all connected. We will be posting additional information about the requirements for the office of president, and once there is a slate of candidates it will be posted online and a vote held.

Also, consider making a donation to Vote Cope. Our voices need to be heard to support public educators past and present and the system which has educated so many children so well.  More information about Vote-Cope is posted on the NYSUT Vote-Cope information page.
Finally, enjoy colleagues’ post about what they have been doing during the pandemic. If you haven’t already done so, please share your experiences with us and let us know what you are most looking forward to enjoying in the future. Send short anecdotes to rutn@digitalquinn.com, and be sure to include your name, school you retired from and subject taught – if applicable. Photos are welcome!

We do not know if it will be possible to hold a picnic in September, but we will keep the membership posted as the pandemic plays out.

Be well, and stay safe, so we can all meet again.
The Executive Board

What have our members been up to?

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We asked our members to let us know how they survived the cloistered months of the pandemic, and beginning today we will be posting accounts of how our members fared during these trying times. Today post features reports from two of our members, Alan Drysdale and Howard Blue.

My wife Susan and I have donated our relief checks to several causes:  A local soup kitchen, Wounded Warriors, St. Jude, The Salvation Army, K-9 heroes, St. Joseph’s Indian School and  others.  We feel very fortunate to be able to do this, and encourage others who can, to do the same.

Alan Drysdale
Math teacher at Northport Jr. and Northport Middle for 33 years.

This winter I broke my record for catching the most mice in our basement – so as not to engender jealousy, I won’t say the exact number. One mouse got so impatient for a new trap that he came upstairs looking for me. 
I’ve also been carrying out my duties as Town Historian for Copake, NY. You can see some of my stories — about Liberace; Walt Whitman’s brother, Emile Griffith; murders; a one legged veteran of the Battle of Gettysburg; an alleged Nazi spy;  and the test flight of a plane for the Navy — all in little old in Copake. See the Copake History Facebook page to read more. Finally, I’m just about done with the writing of my book: The Man Who Sold Superman (Comic Books) to the World, and a publisher’s interested.

Howard Blue
Northport High School
Social Studies Department
                &
School 1129 Moscow
English Department

We are still looking for more submissions. Send your anecdotes to rutn@digitalquinn.com, and be sure to include your name, school you retired from and subject taught – if applicable. Photos are welcome!

ALS Ride for Life Spring Benefit

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We previously posted information about the Annual Spring Benefit for the ALS Ride For Life. This year’s benefit, being held virtually on April 28, is honoring its founder, and our colleague, Chris Pendergast. The official flyer has been issued and contains information on purchasing tickets for the event, and on becoming a sponsor. The R-UTN has once again a purchased a full page ad to be featured in the event program. The informatonal flyer is available for download HERE.