Publications

Chapters in Action

 

Pennsylvania Chapter 13

More than 200 delegates from 31 subchapters attended the Pennsylvania Chapter 13 convention in Harrisburg in September. Speakers included AFSCME Council 13 Executive Director David Fillman and Catherine Baker Knoll, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor and a longtime member of Retiree Chapter 13. Chapter Pres. Daniel Mazus introduced Baker Knoll to the delegates.

Washington Chapter 10

Gov. Christine Gregoire was the featured speaker at the recent annual convention of Washington Chapter 10 in Tacoma. She decried the high cost of drugs in the U.S. and said she wanted the state of Washington to be able to re-import safe drugs from other countries. She also said the state was offering homes to victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes and had established a fund, "Washington Cares." The delegates — nearly 250 in number — immediately took a vote to donate $20,000 from the chapter treasury. In other convention business, Chapter 10 Pres. George Masten announced that he would not run for re-election. So, the convention elected a new president, John O'Brien of Tacoma. O'Brien presented the chapter's donation to Gov. Gregoire.

Wisconsin Chapter 7

In October, Wisconsin Chapter 7 held its annual convention in Madison with representatives from all 10 subchapters. State Sen. Mark Miller and the Executive Directors of AFSCME Councils 24 and 40 addressed the delegates. They also heard presentations on AFSCME's legislative and political agendas — both national and statewide — from AFSCME staff.

Chapters 1199 C & J

More than 800 retirees attended the joint conference of Philadelphia Retiree Chapter 1199C and New Jersey Retiree Chapter 1199J, held in October in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Speakers included International Pres. Gerald W. McEntee; Henry Nicholas, AFSCME International Vice Pres. and Pres. of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (NUHHCE); and Joseph Franklin, Pres. of District 1199J. U.S. Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) spoke on behalf of Jon Corzine, U.S. Senator and candidate for New Jersey Governor. Corzine — who led the charge against Social Security privatization in the Senate — was elected governor in November, with the help of 1199/AFSCME and our other New Jersey affiliates.

Wayne County Subchapter 38

Subchapter 38 in Wayne County, Michigan, held its annual convention in October. The highlight came when Pres. Henry Lykes presented U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) with a plaque honoring his good work on behalf of the state's public-sector workers and retirees. Rep. Levin is the ranking Democrat on the House Social Security Subcommittee and helped lead the charge against privatization in Congress. He told the retirees that the privatizers were losing their fight to dismantle Social Security.

Milwaukee Retiree Chapter 48

More than 300 retirees attended Milwaukee Chapter 48's 2005 annual fall luncheon. Pres. Roger Oldenburg honored Ann Bahr, Director of the City of Milwaukee Employees Retirement System, with an award for outstanding achievement on behalf of city retirees.

Nevada Chapter 4041 & Subchapter 153

In late August, Nevada Chapter 4041 and Las Vegas Subchapter 153 co-sponsored a Social Security 70th anniversary celebration with Nevadans United to Protect Social Security. AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee was the keynote speaker at the event, which also featured Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman. Over 300 AFSCME members and other union and community activists turned out to cheer for Social Security.

New York Chapter 37

Nearly 100 retirees from Chapter 37 in New York City traveled by bus to Hyde Park, NY — the Roosevelt family home — for the nation's biggest celebration of Social Security's 70th anniversary. Highlight of the August event was a privatization debate between New York Times columnist Paul Krugman (against) and Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute (for).

 

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