(MAYVILLE, NEW YORK) – Loren Smith, a Union-represented Teacher at the Panama Central School in Chautauqua County for the past 29 years and who has served as President of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT)/Panama Faculty Association for 20 of those years, was honored this week with the 2017 Joseph H. Mason Community Service Award at the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s Annual Salute To Labor Dinner that was held at Webb’s Captain Table Restaurant in Mayville.

Since 1981, the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County has recognized a Union Member or Staff person whose volunteer service mirrors the spirit of involvement exhibited by the late Mason, an International Association of Machinists (IAM) Member who was heavily involved in helping those in this Chautauqua County community. 

Smith (File Photo/Courtesy of the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County), who was unfortunately out of town and could not attend the dinner, was nominated for the Mason award by Mason’s daughter - Debbie DeAngelo, who said: “Loren represents ‘what my Dad stood for’ - ‘commitment to the community while serving his Union Members tirelessly.’” 

In a story that appeared in The Jamestown Post-Journal, the newspaper reported:

While leading his local Union is time-consuming, Smith shared the credit for their accomplishments with a strong team who works together to lead the Panama Faculty Association.  “We have a great school district with very talented educators,” he said.

Outside of the classroom, Smith spends much of his time involved with basketball.  He has coached at Panama and coordinated the Chautauqua County Senior All-Star Basketball game for 20 years.  He mentions it with great fondness as it brought him in contact with young people who have very bright futures, both on and off the court.

Not one to miss an opportunity, Smith incorporated his passion for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital into the basketball game.  All the proceeds from admission go to St. Jude and he uses it as an opportunity to talk about the special research facility with the players.

“Playing this game not only gives back to the community, but it helps the students understand what is important in life,” Smith said.

Every summer since 1995, Smith has organized the Southern Tier Basketball Camp for boys and girls from around the region.  He takes great pride in having a variety of past students and camp attendees working alongside him as coaches during the week-long camp.  He views basketball as a way to reach kids and help them develop greater character.  

Smith also serves as the Section 6 Boys Basketball Chairman and coordinates the playoff games that that take place at Jamestown Community College (JCC) annually. 

Serving with representatives from across Western New York, Smith said he takes pride in how impressed they are with the school spirit and community support present at those games.

Beyond the game of basketball, Smith uses his coaching expertise to help fellow Teachers plan for retirement.  Smith has been a Delegate for NYSUT’s Retirement System for many years.  He supports nine school districts by advising newer Teachers about the system, helping Teachers plan for retirement and ensuring they have the right paperwork in place.  This includes working with Teachers facing illness or a difficult family situation.  “Everyone deserves the best plan to fit their situation and I make it my mission to provide that,” Smith said.

About 50 Labor Leaders, Representatives, United Way and Friends of Labor attended Wednesday evening’s (August 2nd) event in Mayville, which is organized by the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s Labor Committee, who also serve on its Board of Directors.

The United Way provides funding to 25 community partners to support 41 local programs in Chautauqua County.

One of the Board’s Members, David Painter - who is a Union Member of Jamestown-headquartered International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 106, who is also the Vice President of Jamestown’s Ahlstrom Schaeffer Electric Corporation and who is Vice President of the Southern Chautauqua County United Way, addressed those at the dinner:

The United Way and the Labor Movement share a 75-year partnership and we are still building stronger communities today.

To celebrate our anniversary, we want to take a moment to share a few highlights of our partnership.

In 1942, the United Way and AFL-CIO first worked together to create an agreement to unite in fundraising and community development.  This agreement came in response to the growing number of fundraising drives organized to support Community Chests, Labor War Relief, the American Red Cross, the USO, War Bond Campaigns and a number of trade, religious and advocacy groups who wanted to help.

To coordinate effective support, Organized Labor and the Community Chests and Councils agreed to join in collaborative fundraising and community development.

This agreement created a mechanism for payroll deductions which helped recognize Union Member contributions and encouraged Labor Representation on Community Chests Boards and Councils.  The agreement also sought cooperation between Employee solicitation by employers and Union Reps, who jointly stressed voluntary contributions without coercion.

In 1946, the Department of Labor Participation was estab­lished at United Way Worldwide. The aim was to join United Way, Labor and health and welfare agencies in a cooperative, community effort to bring services and people together. 

To accomplish this, United Way hired AFL-CIO Community Services liaisons throughout the country. These representatives are selected by the local AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and serve at the pleasure of United Way and the Council.

On November 22nd, 1971 and again on April 4th, 1979, the Cooperative Memorandum of Understanding between the United Way Worldwide and the AFL-CIO was reaffirmed.

Today, Organized Labor is a full partner in the United Way, as witnessed by the 156 AFL-CIO Community Services liaisons currently serving on the Staff of State and Local United Ways throughout the country and the 20 Labor agencies that receive United Way funding.

Representatives of Unions volunteer in all phases of United Way activities, serve on year-round committees, participate in annual United Way campaigns as part of the campaign leadership structure, and communicate to Union Members the importance of the campaign and the agencies involved.  Union Members are involved as volunteers in their communities by working with the many health and human care agencies providing services to the community.

As we approach Labor Day, let's reflect on the words of Samuel Gompers, who was a Labor Leader and founder of the AFL: What does Labor want?  We want more schoolhouses and less jails, more books and less arsenals, more learning and less vice, more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge.  In fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures, to make manhood more noble, womanhood more beautiful and childhood more happy and bright.

That's what the United Way wants, too.

Together, with our Labor partners across America, we're building stronger bonds and stronger communities - from job training, affordable housing and free tax prep assistance to more options for healthy eating, physical activity and access to health care - United Way and our Labor partners want to make life better for all.

Since 1942, the AFL-CIO and United Way Worldwide have enjoyed a cooperative relationship through which they and State and Local United Ways have provided services to the Members of Organized Labor, their families and their communities.

Our strong partnership between management and Labor has a positive and powerful impact on the United Way and the communities we live in. 

Working and volunteering in our Southern Chautauqua County United Way, Labor Representatives serve in many key leadership roles, on our Board of Directors, our Allocation Committees, our Finance Committee, our Human Resources Committee and many other positions throughout our organization. 

When management and Labor work together on a common cause, Employees get motivated.

We need to involve our Members in United Way Employee Campaigns at all levels.

We need to train our Members to assist Co-Workers with information about available services and to refer them to the appropriate organizations. 

We need to engage Members of Organized Labor to become active in the community through volunteerism and leadership.

We especially need to recognize and thank Members who’ve performed for United Way volunteer services and projects.

A marriage that has lasted this long is rare, so it’s only fitting that the United Way and the Labor Movement take a moment to honor each other and our 75 years together.

We all deserve a round of applause that we are still here, we are still working together and we are still leading the way in volunteerism, community fundraising and community development.

And I look forward to the next 75 years!