Conlon, right, moderates the panel discussions during the live webcast originating from Ulster Boces

NEW PALTZ - “Bullying is not acceptable in Ulster County," ”said County Executive Michael Hein, in introducing a webinar that is part of “No Name Calling Week." The hour-long event, webcast to all Ulster County school districts, was cosponsored by LGBTQ and featured two panels of experts, including teachers, counselors, clergy and law enforcement.

Amy White, a sixth grade teacher at J.W. Bailey Middle School said she sees empowerment as part of her mission.

“To take back that power and be a power themselves, then they are better equipped when they go out in the world to really be able to say ‘this is something that doesn’t feel right’, and, how can I make it right,” White said.

Michelle Bertelle, a Community Resource coordinator at the Mental Health Association in Ulster County, sees an encouraging trend.

“Organizations, individuals, are recognizing that they want to express to the community that be respectful of people, that they don’t tolerate discrimination of any kind,” Bertelle said.

Moderator Rob Conlon, co-chair of Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, Hudson Valley, said the common thread he heard in both panels is the importance of person-to-person communication.

“So we started this discussion sort of out there the world bullying exists,” Conlon said. “And, I think we’ve really talked about the fact that bullying really exists, oftentimes, because we don’t take the time to get off Facebook, to stop texting, to sit down for two minutes and say ‘let’s communicate this through, let’s have a relationship, let’s build a relationship’.”

“We have an opportunity as a community to collectively come together and do something about it,” said Hein.  “Only as a community can we truly succeed in putting an end to bullying.”