General Membership Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:06 PM at 918 Benjamin NE, Grand Rapids.
Meeting was opened with the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation.

Roll Call of Officers:

Present:
Ray Novakoski, President
Dick Page, Executive Vice-President
Barbara Tubbs, Recording Secretary
Jennifer Amos, Treasurer
Mike Long, Sergeant at Arms

Absent:
Bill Scutt, Clerk Craft Director
Scott Larabel, MVS Craft Director
Jim Myszka, Maintenance Craft Director
Linda Norman, AO Director

Applications for Membership:
Charlotte Spencer, Clerk
Roger Ireland, Maintenance
Barb Lensing, Retained

Officer's Reports:

Treasurer: Amos: Report accepted as read.

Executive Vice-President: Page: The APPs work has been awarded to the mailhandlers, but a dispute has been filed. The Local is facing a labor charge because of Page's "policy" of not signing schedule changes for nonmembers. Tim Burke (Tour 1 clerk at the main office) is looking for volunteers to be on the security team at the Haunt. The charity benefits the Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth.

Legislative: Tubbs: Report on Postal Reform status and voting in upcoming elections.

President: Novakoski: Thanked the membership for sending him to the National Convention: controversial proposed changes to the National constitution, including resolutions to change terms of office from 3 to 4 years and to have conventions every 3 years instead of 2. Both were defeated. Dues increase failed. Consensus was we need to increase membership rather than dues.National has made large cuts and are looking for more ways to save money. Revenues are decreasing because the workforce is declining in numbers. Also attended the ABA convention and COPA night. Lots of information at preconvention workshops. We now have a JCIM, manual that APWU headquarters and USPS have agreed on. October training for NBAs and regional coordinators. Will be trained at the local level after that. It will be reviewed annually and revised as needed. APPs has been pushed back. Target date 27th. Thanked Dick for filling in for him while in LA. Ray will not be seeking reelection. Nominations of officers and voting on tonight's proposed constitutional changes will be at the October meeting.

Committee Reports:
A &E: Jackie Pike: Labor Day parade Monday. Park at zoo and ride bus to staging area about9 AM. Parade starts at 10. Solidarity for Charity Bowling Tournament will be Saturday October 9th.

Golf Charity Outing: Jim Stoddard: $2018.18 was raised and donated to the American Diabetes Association. Learned from this year's event, planning for 2005. Thanked the Local for sponsoring.

Retiree: George Hendricks: Went to the National Convention as MVS rep. Craft reports were accepted on floor. Retirees got a lot of support at convention, and next term will have an elected National Retiree Director. Problem with Executive Board is accountability. Appreciate being sent. Very productive. We tried and we accomplished.

Correspondence:
Thank yous were received from United Labor Day Parade Committee, Gilda's Club, and Labor Heritage Society.

Unfinished Business:
None

New Business:

Executive Board Recommendations:

To appoint Barbara Tubbs as the new editor. Carried.

To send the Executive Board and interested stewards up to 15, to the State District meeting November 5th and 6th in Traverse City, to include room, mileage, per diem. lost time, taxes, and registration. Carried.

To send Dick Page to the October Presidents' Conference in Indiana in Ray's place. Carried.

To form a computer tech committee with President as chair, with the intent of setting up a server and tying in all the Local's computers. Carried.

To appoint to the election committee: Catherine Beemblossom, Jim Birman, Tamara Bynes, and Mike Long. Carried.

To make the following committee appointments: Carol Nash to Social and Recreation committee, Scott Skorupski to the Safety committee, and Steve Zolinerick to the Tour 1 ergonomics committee. Carried.

Motion by Amos, 2nd Hendricks to endorse Leo Persails and Lynn Pallas-Barber in the National elections. Carried.

Motion by Page 2nd Roarke to reimburse Convention delegates who submit a bill for parking at GR airport. Carried.

Motion by Amos 2nd Pike for Local to go on record as endorsing Kerry and Edwards. Carried.

Motion by Page 2nd Kramer to donate $200.00 to Coalition of Labor Union Women. Carried.

Proposed Constitutional Changes to be voted on at October General membership meeting:
Articles 6 Meetings, Article 7 Officers, Article 9 Duties of Officers, Article 15, Recall of Officers, adn Article 17 Committees.

Labor-Management:
Residual jobs for PTFs, Chansky refuses to lower Flag to half mast when a soldier is killed per the Governor's request.

Drawings:

COPA $16.00, Jackie Pike $16.00

$10.00 Dorr Prizes: Jackie Pike, George Hendricks, Barbara Tubbs, Ray Novakoski, Don Kramer, Jim Stoddard

Adjourned at 8:39 PM.

Don Kramer and Jim Stoddard each donated their $10.00 door prize to COPA.

Respectfully Submitted,

Barb Tubbs
Recording Secretary

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