OLD-TIMERS NIGHT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43
From left : Sommerville Local 147 State Delegate Vito Spadea , Branchburg Local 397 State Delegate Bryan Macartney , Branchburg Local 397 past-State Delegate Tom Meola , Bernards Local 357 State Delegate Hank Werner , Bridgewater Local 174 State Delegate Michael Sommers and Montgomery Township Local 355 State Delegate Joe Sles reconnect at Edison ’ s Raritan River Boat Club .
Past and present State Delegates reminisce on June 6 ’ s Old-Timer ’ s Night . Back row , from left : Old Bridge Local 127 past-State Delegate Ron Nitto , Carteret Local 47 State Delegate Sal Renda , South Amboy Local 63 State Delegate Denise McQuade , Old Bridge Local 127 State Delegate Jim Ford and Sayreville Local 98 State Delegate Steve Maslowski . Front row : Carteret Local 47 President Matt Failace .
“ When John was getting ready to retire , I remember him saying the thing he ’ ll miss the most is being the State Delegate and all of his friends ,” she recalled . “ I said ‘ oh really ?’ but a few months after taking over , I got it .”
At Old-Timers ’ Night , Local members feast on hamburgers , hot dogs and wings , snack on clams shucked by an old friend and enjoy the musical accompaniment of an acoustic duo .
The evening also provides an opportunity for current State Delegates to acknowledge all of the hard work and time their predecessors dedicated to their Locals and to the State PBA .
“ We have this history in law enforcement – whether it ’ s the department or the union – of quickly forgetting those who retire or resign as State Delegates and move on to supervisor positions ,” declared Colligan . “ I kept up with a lot of the old-timers – and I say that facetiously because some are younger than me – because there is so much knowledge and there and so much history .”
The relaxed and social setting is also an ideal venue for law enforcement officers to catch up with old friends and make new ones – something that isn ’ t always possible at jam-packed County Conference meetings , Conventions or Local-run events .
“ It ’ s a great idea for other counties ,” suggested Polack , who has served with the Middlesex County Prosecutor ’ s Office for 23 years . “ It ’ s a fun way to bring back past State Delegates . I know I ’ m closing in on retirement and can see myself coming back every year .”
Colligan echoed those sentiments and urged other Locals to follow Middlesex / Somerset County Conference ’ s lead .
“ It ’ s a shame we don ’ t do more of this ,” he indicated . “ We ’ re a unique business and I ’ d love to see all the County Conferences do it . Counties shouldn ’ t forget those people .” d
44 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ JULY 2016