General Membership Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM at 918 Benjamin NE; meeting was opened with US Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation.

Roll Call of Officers:
Present:
Ray Novakoski, President
Jennifer Amos, Executive Vice President
Barbara Tubbs, Recording Secretary
Sandy Henkel, Treasurer
Bill Scutt, Clerk Craft Director
Jim Myszka, Maintenance Craft Director
Larry Niece, Mail Handler Craft Director
Mark Juczynski, MVS Director
Mike Long, Sergeant at Arms
Orv Glombowski, AO Director

The minutes from the February General Membership Meeting were accepted as written.

Applications for Membership:

Brian Jones: Clerk, Comstock Park; Steve Chumas, Paula Torres, David Baldwin, Tom Cross: all retained.

Officer's Reports:

Treasurer's Report: Henkel - Report accepted as read.

Executive V-P: Amos - On 2/27 stewards training was held. Has been helping AO director with grievances due to his health problems. AO members can contact her if they need assistance.

Maintenance Report: Myszka - Grievances about managers doing craft work. There are two custodial openings. Thanked Steve Lang for volunteering to be a steward. Having lots of problems with Blondell.

Clerk Craft Report: Scutt - Stewards training was held on 2/27. Many rumors about layoffs going around. Service talks will be held to dispel rumors. Meeting on FMLA problems will be scheduled soon. Blue posting was on residual jobs and for unencumbered employees only. Several areas have not completed their choice vacation selections. Twentyman has been appointed to make sure it is completed soon.

President's Report: Novakoski - Building assessment being done. Meeting about facilities scheduled for next week. Mid-August is target date for new Kentwood office. it will be called the East Paris office. Working on staffing there; meeting on it will be scheduled within the next couple of weeks. Checking with the National APWU about training of manual clerks on automation. "Fed-Up" shirts should be in soon. Presidents' conference will be in mid-March. Local negotiation recommendations should be turned in. WMAL's scholarship drawing will be next month. Lifecare is a benefit that should be utilized. Service will help with many things including child care, elder care, scholarships, etc.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Audit Committee: Committee members: Dick Page, Cheryl Gregory, Jim Hansma, Gerald Price. Report submitted by chair Dick Page: all books, records, accounts were found to be in good order. Apparel (Jackets, Aprons) needs to be more accountable.

Motion by Scutt, Don Kramer to accept the audit report as read. Carried.

Point of Personal Privilege: Scott Larabel - MVS has 3 openings for mechanics. Test applications are being taken. Transfers from other crafts or offices may be accepted. Management is using the vacancies as an excuse for contracting out work.

Point of Personal Privilege: Steve Austin - If stewards have any special areas of interest for advanced stewards training at state educational conference let him know.

Retirees: George Hendricks - No meeting was held last month, not enough people attended. happy to see the newsletter.

Correspondence: None

New Business:

Proposed Constitutional change on Article 9. Discussion. Call for question by Myszka, Scutt. Carried. Constitutional change carried.

Proposed Constitutional change on Article 22. Discussion. Carried.

Board Recommendations:

Motion to send Nancy Gingery to Deaf - Hard of Hearing Conference in Long Beach, CA June 13-17 to include lost time, airfare, ground transportation, per diem, registration, and applicable taxes at a cost of $1700.00 and to have her give a report when she returns. Discussion. Carried.

Motion to extend the year 2000 budget through April until the budget committee makes its recommendation. Discussion. Carried.

Motion to send Kevin Breen to the state educational conference in April with necessary expenses. Discussion. Carried.

Motion by Austin, Steve Karbutowski to close the checking account at Old Kent Bank and to withdraw all other funds on deposit there as soon as deemed financially responsible by the treasurer, and to transfer the monies to another financial institution chosen by the Executive Board. Discussion. Call for question by Ron Roediger, Scutt. Carried. Motion carried.

Motion by Richard Fletcher, Karbutowski to allow all members that joined the Local during the period when new members were not given jackets to purchase one at half price. Discussion. Carried.

Point of Personal Privilege: Fletcher - Thanked the Local and his Craft Director Jim Myszka for settling a grievance on a letter of demand for $2000 in his favor.

Labor Management:

Kentwood Post Office need to install a light for its US Flag. Ongoing parking problems in the basement due to equipment storage.

Drawings:

COPA $38.50, $38.50 to Nancy Gingery.

Turkey left from November meeting won by Joanne Zwier.

$10.00 Door Prizes: Tina Myers, Ken Jones. Ray Novakoski, Dan Quillan, Jackie McKenzie, Valda Timmer

McDonalds Gift certificates: Sonia Bergers, Ron Roediger, Mike Long, Cruz Nunez

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Barbara Tubbs
Recording Secretary

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