Short Takes

Gloria Caoile, special assistant to AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee, received a prestigious award from Philippine Pres. Fidel Ramos in recognition of her "exemplary service in helping to promote the interests of the Filipino community overseas" and "the honor brought ... to the Filipino nation through [her] outstanding professional accomplishments." Ramos presented Caoile with the Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas in a Dec. 13 ceremony held in Malacanang Palace, the Filipino equivalent of the White House.

Marie Monrad succeeds Rober McGarrah as Director of AFSCME's Public Policy Department. Monrad is a graduate of Moorhead State University in Minnesota and holds a Master's degree from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. She has worked in the department for eight years-most recently as associate director. McGarrah, who worked 21 1/2 years for AFSCME and was instrumental in the formation of the department, joins the staff of the AFL-CIO.

Cynthia Letts, an activist in Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA)/ AFSCME Local 152 and a member of the International's Women's Advisory Committee, died of cancer on Sept. 13. She was 48 years old. Letts lived in Kailua, Hawaii, and was a health education worker. Friends and colleagues remember her thoughtfulness, kindness and irrepressible joy.