And the Winner Is ...PEOPLE
Convention PEOPLE activities raised thousands of dollars to help elect officials willing to go to bat for working families.
AFSCME’s PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality) was the big winner at the International’s 33rd Convention. Wherever delegates went, energetic and enthusiastic PEOPLE volunteers were selling raffle tickets and PEOPLE gear or recruiting sponsors for the PEOPLE Fun Run.
The PEOPLE volunteers did their job well — bringing in a $123,000 — an average of $35 per delegate. The money will be spent around the country, getting union-friendly candidates elected.
The PEOPLE Booth was a treasure trove of gear with a Hawaiian focus — including a bright-green tank top that sold out by the second morning. And the PEOPLE Fun Run drew the largest number of participants ever.
UNDER THE RAINBOW. The record 230 runners started out at 7 a.m. in a sprinkling of mist that turned into a rainbow. And they brought home a pot of gold for PEOPLE: $17,078.89.
Gordon Bowman, from Washington Local 793 (Council 28), was again the winner. He finished the three-mile run in 16 minutes, 51 seconds — beating the time he set two years ago. Amanda Acton, Ohio Local 2963 (Council 8) won the First Place Female Award, clocking in at just over 21 minutes.
Ken Kovacs, Ohio Local 755 (Council 8), and Alex Acosta, New Jersey Local 2306 (Council 52), won second and third place, respectively. Yolanda Pumarejo, New York City Local 371 (D.C. 37), and Roxanne Langianese, Pennsylvania Local 1976 (Council 85), won second and third place awards for females.
Probably the most dedicated runner was Last Place Award winner Timothy Jaccard. The Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/ AFSCME Local 1000 member had planned to run, but he broke his ankle right before he left home. Jaccard covered the course on crutches. The Fun Run crowd lined up on both sides of the track to cheer him on and congratulate him for his spirited participation.
The Best Represented Legislative District was Ohio Council 8 with 25 runners. Special recognition went to the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association/AFSCME Local 11 Women’s Committee Relay Team which raised $3,700.
First Place for the most money raised went to David Cochran, California Council 36, with $1,079. Second prize went to Nadia Bledsoe, California Council 57, with $329. Pam Dolence, Ohio Association of Public School Employees/ AFSCME Local 4, came in third with $245.
Special awards were presented to: Loneste Blackwell, Ohio Retiree Chapter 1184, Most Senior Runner; and the Youngest Runner was Kristina Fontanelli, 14, daughter of New York CSEA member Ellen Krzykowski.
By Susan Ellen Holleran
