Annual Meeting Information

 

The Local will have its 2001 membership meeting in Orlando, Florida October 19-21, 2001 at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel. The Local will reimburse expenses for Officers, Area Reps., Trustees, Field Captains, and Grievance Committee members. ALL members are welcome to attend, of course. More detailed information will be posted here when it becomes available.

Preliminary Meeting Information

This is some preliminary information regarding the annual meeting from travel coordinator Bruce Valen. More detailed information will be forthcoming. Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel. Members need to call 800-348-3765 and make their own reservations. Mention AFSCME 3357 for the rate. The hotel will charge the card for the first night. Rooms available Thurs 10/18 through Tues 10/23. The reservation cutoff date is 9/17 (last day). All unused rooms not booked by that day will be released. I have been told that if members want to come before the 18th and stay after the 23rd that the hotel will honor the $99/night rate. The block is for 35 rooms Fri/Sat and 10 for the other nights. The tax is 11%. Mears Shuttle leaves from the airport every 15 min. The cost is $15 per person/one way. They are located by baggage claim. This means is preferred as a one way cab ride is approx. $40.

To help prepare, some useful links are listed below:

The Local held its annual membership meeting in New Orleans the weekend of 10/27 to 10/29/00, with one of the largest turnouts of Officers, Area Representatives, Trustees, and Grievance Committee members ever. The attendees also included three representatives of AFSCME Local 3069, our staff attorney colleagues in Michigan, and Peter Nickles, AFSCME Council 66 representative to the Local.

President Ralph Johnson (Janesville) chaired his first membership meeting and addressed a large business agenda. Agenda items included a President's Statement emphasizing a renewed commitment to engaging the entire membership in increased support for Union activities and goals with a special emphasis on encouraging the development of new leaders for the Union. Treasurer Paul Colavecchio (Akron) and Secretary Cindy Tuczynski (Milwaukee) gave reports and Grievance Chair Roger White (Texas) gave a report of existing grievances and prior grievance resolutions and later chaired a meeting of the entire Grievance Committee to discuss and proceed with existing grievance determinations.

Amendments to the Local's Constitution were discussed, read, and proposed to the membership. A set of amendments was approved and will be submitted to all members in the near future. Highlights deal with the incorporation of the Indiana Region and new staff offices in Tennessee and Florida and office grouping issues.

It was reported to the membership that the Local is working on a new web site as a replacement to our existing online conference areas on MLS Online. The website will include both public and private areas and have news and information sections, a directory, a password-protected message board for both general members and the Executive Committee, a chat function, and Plan Attorney-focused links to useful external web sites, among other features.

Beyond attending business meetings Friday evening, Saturday morning and afternoon, and Sunday morning, the attendees did have opportunities to enjoy the marvelous ambience and entertainment options of New Orleans, especially in the French Quarter.

Meeting Coordinator, Bruce Valen (St. Paul), again handled arranging facilities, food, and accommodations for the members and guests attending. See Photos

Later Meetings Information