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Workers key to a successful State Fair Warehouse clerk Holly Racha uses a motorized pallet jack to move a pallet away from the loading dock so a new shipment can be delivered to the warehouse. State fair worker Rachel Boyce works as the assistant to the New York State Fair director and helps coordinate special events in the Fair’s Administration Building. Marketing and Graphics Administrator Jason Ryan is busy on his computer creating graphics to promote the fair through social media. Painter Alan Marble puts a new coat of paint around the roof of one of the fair’s bathroom facilities. GEDDES — Ten days before nearly a millon people passed through the gates of the New York State Fair, dozens of CSEA state Department of Agriculture and Markets members worked for hours to put the finishing touches on the fairgrounds for the annual 12-day fair. While rides were still being built at the fair’s Midway and typical fair smells of cotton candy, animal barns and deep-fried everything had yet to cover the 365-acre “mini-city,” the fairgrounds bustled with activity. Preparing the grounds CSEA members employed as maintenance and event crew workers patched holes in the grounds’ parking lots, while other crews painted buildings and stripes on the parking lots and plumbers fixed broken fire hydrants. The audiovisual department was running sound cables for the fair’s many events and performances. Mechanics repaired golf carts, and other workers cleaned out horse stalls. In the Maintenance Department building, longtime worker Kathy Tuzzolino took calls and sent out a flurry of work orders to coordinate assignments. Meanwhile, in the fair’s Administration Building, state fair worker Rachel Boyce worked with the fair director and helped plan the fair’s special events. Marketing and Graphics Administrator Jason Ryan designed graphics and released last-minute bulletins on social media to boost fair attendance. Shop Steward and Building Services Assistant Matt Gingrich said he and other fair workers want to make sure fair attendees enjoy themselves. “I want to make sure it’s the best presentation for the general public, to come in and have a great experience at the fair,” he said. Ryan said the employees’ hard work and teamwork pays off for him when he sees “the families come through smiling.” Making a connection This year marks the 25th anniversary for CSEA maintaining a fair booth. Union activists and officers staff the booth during the entire fair, greeting members and the public in the fair’s Center of Progress Building. In addition to meeting fair attendees, CSEA activists handed out giveaways and registered voters. CSEA members signing into the visitors log at the union’s booth also received a special gift to commemorate the union’s Silver Anniversary at the Fair. — Mark M. Kotzin Above, from left, Maintenance Supervisor Dean Sauro, Utilities Worker Sam Stuenzi and Mason Tom Fox spread hot asphalt over the midway parking lots to patch holes. Building Services Assistant Matt Gingrich cleans out a horse stall. September 2015 The Work Force 9


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