By Phyllis Van Steenburgh retired from Oppenheim Ephratah
The Award of Excellence is voted upon by the RC 12 board of directors in order to honor a person who has worked to help the retirees of RC 12. A donation is made to the charity of his/her choice, and the honoree receives a framed certificate. "This award was developed to reward exceptional supporters of programs and issues of importance to our educational retirees,” stated past RC 12 President, Bill Schultz. The recipient of this year's award is John Costello of NYSUT.
In 2001, the first award was given to H. Carl McCall due to his help in our successful effort in gaining a COLA at that time. From NYSUT President Thomas Hobart in 2005 to Assemblyman Paul Tonko in 2006 to NYS Teachers Retirement System Trustee, Michael Corn, in 2011, and now, John Costello--all these individuals have worked hard to do what is best for RC 12 retired educators. John earned an associate's degree in criminal justice from Cayuga Community College, a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Niagara University, Summa Cum Laude, and a Master of Arts degree in American government from the Rockefeller College, Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University at Albany. He enjoys living vicariously through his intelligent, articulate, and athletic sons, Michael and Connor.
Working nearly thirty years at NYSUT, John Costello was the Assistant to NYSUT's Executive Vice President, Andy Pallotta, and responsible for administering NYSUT's Political Action field program and its political action committee, VOTE/COPE. In the course of his career at the union, John has been responsible for a broad range of activities from spearheading lobbying efforts to turning off the lights at the Desmond when the Committee of 100 has left for the day.
As part of NYSUT's legislative department, John Costello gave union leaders essential strategies to mobilize
For last fall's elections. "Start now — elections are only six months away. Contact members in as many ways as possible. Phone banks and labor walks are most effective. Warn members about the coming onslaught of political material because recent rulings lifted the cap on how much corporations and unions can spend on political campaigns.” Costello said corporations typically devote 25 times more dollars than labor in political spending. These strategies were successful in many key races last fall and are words to be remembered and heeded in the future.
On behalf of John Costello, the 2013 Award of Excellence honoree, RC 12 made a donation to the Rochester Catholic Press Association. We wish John a long, healthy, and happy retirement.