I had a delicious lunch of corned beef and
cabbage at the Irish Americans in Government Luncheon.
Slightly more then a week later, I participated
in a beautiful St. Patrick’s Day Parade, (that’s the
great picture on the cover, with many more inside).
Coming up is the festive Open House, along with
the solemn Police Memorial Ceremony.
All of these are classic signs of Spring.
Of course, America’s favorite pastime also
begins this time of year, Baseball & Ballentine.
This year two historic ballparks sell their last
box of Cracker Jacks, the House that Ruth Built, and the
Jewel in Flushing.
Last month the Department held a Service Awards
Ceremony at H.Q. All
members of the department with 30 or more years of
service received recognition.
The active members of my class of 1977 received
our 30-year citations.
There are about half of us still active from the
original 91, but every time I turn around another
classmate is retiring.
In this Gold Shield are pictures of all the SOA
members who received service award citations, along with
one Police Officer.
That Police Officer received recognition, (and a
standing ovation at the ceremony) for 45 years of
service. He
is the # 1 member of the department in seniority; I know
you will find that hard to believe when you see his
picture. He
looks like a rookie!!
His name is Paul Imbornone, and I had the
pleasure of working with him years ago, and I found him
always to be, one of the most genuine, nicest, down to
earth person I have ever met, as well as a hard working
professional. Congratulations
Paul!
Exagger-Gate!
I’m sure most of you have read in one
publication or another, and another, and another, the
fulminating towards several SOA members over the Fifth
Pct incident involving a locker.
While I must tell you as a Union official,
that’s a union’s job, to protect and defend its
members, there are clear and definite venues available
to do this, but the repetitive barrage of poisonous
venom that was unleashed was over the top.
The publications in which these tirades appeared
are not exclusively internal.
They are sent to many different places, one was
even put out for public reading in the waiting room of a
doctor’s office. Is that what we want to air our dirty laundry in public?
I’m not passing judgment on who did what wrong
or who did what right, but we all know if we only are
exposed to one side of the story, you must be suspect.
For there are two sides to EVERY story, and more
likely then not the TRUTH can be found somewhere in the
middle. I
have concerns with the constant NEGATIVITY;
the espousing that everything must be a FIGHT.
Must there always be an ENEMY?
What about all the ways we cooperate with each
other and help each other to get the job done
professionally? Is
that not newsworthy, (at least sometimes)?
Do we want Associate Members of a union and the
County Administration to feel that one union’s members
look at another union’s members with antipathy?
Finally I realize that by expressing my concerns
and request for some form of camaraderie and
consideration that I may become the next target.
But that’s the risk you take, when you take a
stand!
Immediately after my article you will find some
interesting reading.
One article is from Columbian President Carmine
Soldano, another is from one of our retired members with
a copy of his appointment order.
For you softball fans the last item is a copy of
the 2008 SOA team schedule.
Games are Monday night 1600, at Eisenhower Park.
In closing, I would like to extend a thank you to
the membership in what I interpret as a vote of
confidence. At
our nomination meeting May 6, the entire Executive
Board, along with 10 of the 15 Trustees were reelected,
unopposed. Five
of our Trustee positions will have an election; they are
the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th,
and 6th, precincts.
The ballots will go out, and the vote will be counted at
the SOA office on June3, at 12 p.m.
All members are invited to attend the ballot
count.
Finally, I leave you with this though, the
difference between genius and stupidity, is that genius
has its limits…
Tony
Winter
2008 article ......
Happy 2008, and a merry good year,
let’s hope it’s a good one, without any fear.
I share with you the words of the late Beatle,
John Lennon. He
sang about peace, acceptance and tolerance, not bad
virtues to display.
Let’s hope we all show more of it in 2008 and
beyond. That
reference is in keeping with my use of musical
references in all my articles.
Music calms the savage soul and elicits memories,
hopefully pleasant ones.
Speaking of memories, two of our
retired members recently passed away. Detective Lieutenant Frank Carparelli, and Lieutenant William
Lysaght. Both
men were well liked and respected members of our
association as well as the department.
In fact Frank Carparelli was a past President of
the SOA, although at that time the SOA did not negotiate
contracts for its members.
Nonetheless, Frank is a part of the history of
our association and his picture hangs in the conference
room at the SOA office along with all the other past
Presidents. I
did not have the pleasure of working with Bill Lysaght,
but I did enjoy working with Frank Carparelli when he
came back to patrol from the Vice Squad. He was my Lieutenant for three of my five days when I was a
rookie in the Sixth Precinct.
He was a gentlemen and an excellent supervisor.
I felt very comfortable and confident when he was
working. I
recently received a very nice letter from Mrs. Lysaght,
which appears immediately after my article along with
pictures of both Bill Lysaght and Frank Carparelli.
As I’m sure you are aware the DAI
arbitration award is out, and, as usual with any newly
issued award, it is all the buzz.
As I have stated many times in previous articles,
based on what I have seen in my career, don’t believe
everything you hear, and, never ever panic!
Let the full award unfold and all aspects of it
be interpreted and implemented before you rush to
judgment. Try
not to fall into the materialistic trap of lamenting
what you think you don’t have, and focus and enjoy the
gifts you do have.
I know it can be easy in our line of work, to be
skeptical and negative because of what we deal with
everyday. But
try to stay focused on your backyard, and don’t obsess
with what the other guy has in his yard. It’s human
nature to do this, but a little mental discipline and
keeping the mind open, can be an enlightening change.
Well with the PBA and DAI awards completed, that
means one thing, it is now Post Time for the SOA.
In case you don’t know it, that’s what they
say at the horse racetracks just before the race starts.
We are aggressively preparing all our demands,
analyzing the other awards, as to their impact on our
members, putting together all our numbers, and meeting
with various people to pick their brains.
How will all this turn out?
I can’t say for certain, but I can say
absolutely, we will be thoroughly prepared to represent
all our members to the best of our ability.
Nuff Said.
I know it’s still football season
and we are in the middle of the winter, but before you
know it, pitchers and catchers will be reporting for
spring training. The
cold will surrender to the warmth and it will be
Softball season. As
you know the SOA has a team and two years ago they won
the Nassau PD championship.
Well the team is looking for all members who are
interested in playing this season.
The games are played on Monday nights at
Eisenhower Park, and there is social fellowship after
the games. Having
played in this league for many years myself, I can tell
you that besides the enjoyment of the game itself,
seeing members of the department from all the other
commands, and competing within a healthy spirit of
competition, adds another dimension to the Police
family. If
you are interested, call Joe Barbieri, at 573-8270, or
Joe Pagliuca at
Finally if you are in need of any
of the services or products that are offered in our Gold
Shield, please consider using our advertisers and tell
them you saw their ad in our publication.
Stay warm.
Tony
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