Heading for Las Vegas
AFSCME’s 35th International Convention brings us together in Las Vegas to celebrate our victories and confront the challenges ahead.
By Clyde Weiss
As we come together at AFSCME’s 35th International Convention in Las Vegas, we have something to celebrate: 60,000 new members added last year and a long step taken toward becoming a powerful "organizing union."
Celebrations of any sort seem to go hand in hand with "Vegas." The world-famous desert city plays host to untold numbers of conventions and business meetings, not to mention individual and family vacations.
This year, to be sure, there is concern as well as celebration. Our growth has not been matched by growth in the overall labor movement. And in the midst of a fiscal crisis that threatens to reduce public services and eliminate members’ jobs, we’re battling privateers who want to carve public services into profit-making ventures for themselves.
In addition, our Convention comes during an election year in which the balance of power in Washington — and in statehouses throughout the country — could be tilted toward or away from organized labor. So it’s even more important than usual that we gather together to discuss strategies, learn from one another and form strong bonds.
At our Convention, we will share stories about our organizing victories and discuss ways to add to them. We’ll talk about building power in the workplace as union activists and gear up for the political campaigns later this year. In the midst of all that serious talk, we’ll celebrate the daily work we do that makes us part of this union.
Tourist boom
The State of Nevada Employees Association (SNEA)/AFSCME Local 4041 represents over 3,200 public employees throughout Nevada, including 1,200 in Las Vegas.
Spanish for "the meadows," Las Vegas was officially founded on May 15, 1905. With the advent of legal gambling 26 years later, Nevada became a popular tourist destination. The famous Las Vegas Strip began with the former El Rancho Vegas Hotel-Casino — which opened in 1941 with 63 rooms. Today, the city boasts more than 123,000 hotel and motel rooms, and tax revenue from Nevada’s 339 casinos accounts for almost half of the state’s general fund. That money pays the salaries of public employees and provides services to the Silver State’s 2.1 million residents.
Las Vegas will be our home-away-from-home for the week of June 24-28. Registration for Convention delegates begins on Saturday, June 22, at 1 p.m., in the Platinum Ballroom of Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel. Delegates, alternates and guests should try to register early; for security purposes, they are required to bring some form of personal identification, preferably a picture ID.
The Convention Call — providing information on representation procedures, credentials and rules, housing applications and submission of resolutions — has been sent to all AFSCME councils, locals and retiree chapters.
Housing & travel
Delegates and guests will be housed almost entirely at two hotels: Bally’s Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas.
AFSCME has negotiated special round-trip airfares for travel. Call (202) 429-1142 or consult the AFSCME website.
The AFSCME Convention Housing Office (1625 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5687) is handling all housing. An official housing form, which you will receive with the Convention Call, must be completed and returned by May 20. All rooms will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If the hotel you have selected is booked, the housing office will assign other accommodations that come as close as possible to your original choice; your hotel will confirm your reservation.
A deposit equal to one night’s room plus tax must be made via check, money order or credit card and must accompany the housing form. Please make check or money order payable to your hotel.
Child care registration
During Convention hours, complimentary child care services for ages two through 12 will be available to all AFSCME delegates and alternates who make advanced child care registration. Services will be provided by licensed, bonded and experienced personnel. Child care will begin one-half hour prior to each day’s Convention activities and end one-half hour after adjournment. Breakfast, lunch and nutritious snacks will be offered to the children.
You may contact your hotel to arrange for additional child care services at your ownexpense. To make arrangements with the child care providers, you will need to complete a form provided with your Convention Call and return it to AFSCME by May 20.
PEOPLE events
PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality) is AFSCME’s political action arm. A PEOPLE booth will be open all week beginning Saturday, June 22, during registration hours. PEOPLE merchandise — a wonderful line of union-made wares — will be available for your donation, and PEOPLE’s 11th Biennial Fun Run race will begin at 7 a.m. on Thursday, June 27. You may register from Saturday, June 22, until the end of the session on Wednesday, June 26.
Workshops
Convention workshops will be geared to the themes of that particular day: organizing, political action and so on. In addition, a "We Are Family" day will provide special attractions to spouses, children and other non-delegates. Exhibits will have offerings that appeal to a wide variety of ages as well as tastes.
Recognizing the finest of the finest
Our AFSCME family is tops, and at this Convention we will show it. At a special awards ceremony on Thursday, June 27, with your help, we will honor members and affiliate unions who have done especially outstanding work during the past, very demanding year. Please nominate your sisters and brothers, or the affiliates to which they belong, for exemplary efforts in organizing, fighting privatization, bargaining, disaster relief and more.
Mail your nominations — by May 24, 2002 — to AFSCME Awards Ceremony, c/o Public Affairs Department, 1625 L St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5687; or fax them to (202) 429-1120. Each nomination must include the nominator’s name, local/council numbers and telephone number, as well as a brief description of the work or effort to be honored. If you are proposing an affiliate, please add its phone number, address and appropriate contact person.
