Frank Valeri To Take Reins In December
SEPTEMBER 10, 2013: Beginning this December, our Association will have a new President.
In something of a surprise to many members, at last Friday’s Annual Meeting and biannual election, President Ralph White announced that he was not seeking election for a new two-year term.
Frank Valeri To Take Reins In December
SEPTEMBER 10, 2013: Beginning this December, our Association will have a new President.
In something of a surprise to many members, at last Friday’s Annual Meeting and biannual election, President Ralph White announced that he was not seeking election for a new two-year term.
To add to the surprise, White introduced the new endorsed candidate, Frank Valeri, and urged the membership to approve Frank’s election as unanimously selected by the Executive Board search committee, the full Executive Board, and endorsed by President White himself.
While all 620 members present had a resume of Mr. Valeri in their meeting packet, very few realized that this was the resume of the next president.
White introduced Valeri and explained why there was little advance publicity, and for a good reason. Valeri was still working for the state as a deputy director of the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) and wasn’t scheduled to retire until December.
After clarifying the search committee’s lengthy search for a new president, it was asked that the body temporarily waive the bylaws that the president be a retiree and that Valeri be elected, with the swearing in to take place in December when he would officially be a retiree. Meanwhile, White would serve as acting president until then.
After reviewing Valeri’s qualifications, especially his lengthy career at the State House, including Chief of Staff for State Senator Tom McGee, where he was responsible to research and recommend action on all public retirement legislation, White asked for a motion to elect Frank Valeri President, with a waiver of the bylaws allowing him to be sworn in on December 4th after his retirement.
Search Committee Chairman Bob Powilatis made such a motion, seconded by Dan Turco. The motion was unanimously voted by the membership, followed by an expression of appreciation by Frank Valeri.
President White expressed his gratitude of serving the membership since 1968 – 45 years ago. He said that age 62 Frank Valeri was 20 years younger than him and had the mental and physical soundness so necessary to be president of this 58-thousand member organization.
In continuing the election of vice presidents and executive board members, White was elected to stay on as one of the six area vice presidents. A full report will be contained in a letter to all members within the next two weeks and also in the next edition of the Voice of the Retired Public Employee.
President White also notified the members that he was seeking a new three-year term on the State Retirement Board. He said the new term would start in January and that members were invited to sign his nomination papers.