October 2018

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From the President’s Desk:

 

Dear Colleagues:

Welcome back from the summer break! I hope you were able to spend quality time with your friends and family and rejuvenate before resuming your hectic schedules.

The return from summer for the NCVOA began on a positive note as we hosted the organization’s 93rd Annual Dinner and Testimonial. More than 200 elected officials, friends and guests gathered September 20, 2018 at the Westbury Manor to honor Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, NCVOA Immediate Past President, for his leadership in 2017-2018. It was a wonderful evening as we paid tribute to Mayor Kennedy for his outstanding leadership and continued service to the NCVOA.

I would like to thank a number of our local colleagues who attended in support of Mayor Kennedy: Nassau County Executive Laura Curran; Town Supervisors Judi Bosworth of North Hempstead, Laura Gillen of Hempstead, and Joe Saladino of Oyster Bay; and NYS Assemblyman Chuck Lavine. I especially would like to thank NYCOM President Gary McCarthy, mayor of Schenectady and Executive Director Peter Baynes, who traveled from upstate to be with us. Finally, I would like to send our special thanks to all the Friends of NCVOA in attendance. They helped make this a truly special evening for Mayor Kennedy.

Police Commissioner to Speak at October 9th General Membership Meeting

We are fortunate to have Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick J. Ryder as our guest speaker at the Tuesday, October 9th General Membership Meeting. Commissioner Ryder has served 32 years in the Nassau County Police Department, rising through the ranks before being appointed commissioner in February 2018. He is an intelligent, experienced and highly skilled law enforcement official with intimate knowledge of Nassau County and its communities. Commissioner Ryder has been particularly diligent in confronting gang violence. We look forward to his first visit to the NCVOA and listening to his plans to tackle the many challenges his department is facing in providing protection to all county residents.

Please make every effort to attend what promises to be a very enlightening meeting. The cocktail reception begins at 6:30 pm, followed by the dinner/meeting at 7:30 pm.

We Need Your Participation in the NCVOA!

As a local business person and village official, I understand firsthand the juggling of work demands, village responsibilities, and family obligations. I know it is not easy and there never seems to be enough time in the day to accomplish everything. It is a rare occasion when I have a weekend or weekday evening when I do not have to attend an event. However, when I became a trustee and then mayor, my family and I understood the commitment I was making to serve my residents to the best of my ability. To do so also requires me to spend additional time outside my village so I can learn, grow and become a more effective leader. By far, the most valuable activity I have been active in outside the village border is the NCVOA. The networking opportunities, comradery and knowledge I have received from being active in the NCVOA has been invaluable to my development as a mayor. For the NCVOA to remain a formidable force in local government, we need the participation of member villages. Ten nights a year is not an overwhelming amount of time to spend learning and growing as a village official. I encourage all mayors and trustees to set aside the second Tuesday of each month to attend a general membership meeting and get involved in the NCVOA. We need your input and participation. I guarantee it will be time well spent.

As always, I look forward to seeing you at the October 9th General Membership Meeting.

Sincerely,

Mayor Ralph Ekstrand

President

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   Annual Dinner and Testimonial Honoring Mayor Robert Kennedy