AWARDS

Retiree Member of the Year

Sheila R. Goldberg

Plainedge Teachers Association, Retiree Chapter

Sheila Goldberg, a retired teacher from the Plainedge School District, is the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" coordinator for New York State United Teachers in Nassau County and has been for the past seven years. A two-time breast cancer survivor, Goldberg has committed her time and efforts volunteering for the American Cancer Society to build the NYSUT team and spread the word about fighting breast cancer. She also helped to build the Long Island-wide NYSUT Flagship for "Making Strides" by mentoring the Suffolk NYSUT coordinator and raising more money than ever for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. Led by Goldberg's efforts, to date Nassau NYSUT locals have raised more than $400,000 to fight this disease.

As president of the Plainedge Retiree Chapter, Goldberg is actively involved in all aspects of the chapter's growth and success. NYSUT retirees on Long Island know Goldberg is not content with merely meeting the VOTE-COPE totals from the year before. She will only be content when she sets a new record for contributions. As political action coordinator, she has led the chapter to become the only retiree chapter to have achieved the Abel Blattman Award for eight consecutive years. Goldberg was Retiree Council 17 second vice president for nine years, and now serves as RC17 co-president. She represents the council at NYSUT Retiree Leadership Conferences and Long Island Delegates Council meetings. She's been an alternate delegate to the NYSUT RA ever since 1995 and last year was elected one of three voting retiree delegates to the convention.

Goldberg's success as a union leader has come about as a result of combining the goals of NYSUT and the AFT with a personality that is built upon an incredibly strong work ethic, a determined will and an enthusiastic spirit.