LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Veronica Montgomery-Costa upon the occa-
sion of receiving the 2009 Leadership Award from the Federation of Afri-
can American Civil Service Organizations, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend the efforts of those individuals who distinguish themselves in
service to the cause of working men and women in the State of New York;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Veronica Montgomery-Costa upon the occasion of receiving the 2009 Lead-
ership Award from the Federation of African American Civil Service
Organizations, Inc. at its 54th Annual Dinner Dance to be held on Satur-
day, April 25, 2009, at Riccardo's Restaurant in Astoria, New York; and
WHEREAS, Veronica Montgomery-Costa has continually demonstrated
extreme competence, extraordinary intelligence and diligent leadership
in her unwavering service to District Council 37 as well as the Depart-
ment of Education Employees Local 372 and consequently has been desig-
nated for this most prestigious award; and
WHEREAS, A Harlem native and 30-year veteran of the Department of
Education Employees Local 372, Veronica Montgomery-Costa first began
organizing workers in 1974, when she helped bring her substance abuse
prevention and intervention specialists (SAPIS) co-workers into the
local; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Veronica Montgomery-Costa was instrumental in
organizing Local 372's School Crossing Guards and Community Coordina-
tors; recognizing her extraordinary leadership skills, District Council
37's national union, the American Federation of State, County and Munic-
ipal Employees, selected her to help organize public hospital workers in
Fort Wayne, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, Veronica Montgomery-Costa proudly served Local 372 as a
grievance rep, chapter chair and Executive Board member from 1977 until
1982, when she became a District Council 37 rep, working with all job
titles in the local; and
WHEREAS, Veronica Montgomery-Costa served her District Council 37
co-workers as vice president of the Federation of Field Representatives,
a staff union, from 1982 to 1986; she then became assistant director of
the Schools Division and began negotiating with top management at the
Department of Education; and
WHEREAS, Since 1999, Veronica Montgomery-Costa has headed Local 372,
which represents 26,000 public school employees, including school aides,
school lunch workers, family paraprofessionals, community coordinators
and SAPIS, as well as school crossing guards from the Police Department;
and
WHEREAS, Veronica Montgomery-Costa was elected as District Council
37's new president in 2002, re-elected in 2004, and was unopposed in the
most recent election; she also began her third term as president of
Local 372 when she was re-elected in January 2007; and
WHEREAS, Veronica Montgomery-Costa, a woman of singular distinction,
whose wisdom, guidance and unparalleled professionalism, have earned her
the admiration, esteem, and affection of her colleagues and all those
she has come in to contact with during her distinguished service to
District Council 37 and the Department of Education Employees Local 372;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-

tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Veronica Montgomery-Costa upon the occasion of receiving the 2009
Leadership Award from the Federation of African American Civil Service
Organizations, Inc.; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Veronica Montgomery-Costa.