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UBC Sisters Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, July 27, 2011

STEERING COMMITTEE OF GREATER PA
Left to right: Zanae Johnson - Local #230, Emily Golnazarian - Local #2274,
Pat Selby - Local #922, Rebecca Maruca - Local #1160,
and Rhonda Ashe - Local #2274

 

SISTERS THAT ATTENDED THE MEETING
with Liz Skidmore and JoAnn Williams in front

Divider Bar

The meeting was called to order by Pat Selby at 6:40 pm with 13 sisters attending in the training center conference room. The sisters invited Bill Waterkotte (Executive Secretary Treasurer), John McCoy (Political Director), and Sam Shilling (Assistant Executive Secretary Treasurer) to this meeting to discuss their 3:00 pm meeting with Liz Skidmore (Assistant to the General President) and JoAnn Williams (Assistant to the General President). Sam Shilling was unable to attend our meeting.

Bill discussed a lot of avenues where the brothers and the sisters can work together. This includes political efforts, volunteering efforts, and organizing efforts. The more recognition the brotherhood and sisterhood receive, the more the public will understand what we as a union do. "Together we can make a difference." Bill told the sisters that he was happy to see a good attendance at this meeting. There are 225 sisters in regional, 85 carpenters and 140 industrial.

John spoke briefly on how the sisters can help in the political arena. He asked for volunteers for various events that will come up through out the year. The majority of sisters volunteered this effort.

When Bill and John left, Liz continued with the agenda. As each sister introduced themselves they were to present a goal/concern that was important to them. These were the topics that were discussed:

  • A Sister's manual, which includes: pregnancy information, job issues, personal hygiene, and discrimination.
  • Learn more about the sisters.
  • Become more involved
  • Learn about sisters conferences
  • Support sisters for sisters (employment)
  • Travel concerns (because it's a large region) ways to connect: SKYPE meetings
  • PA Blog
  • Understanding the hiring system
  • Nationwide decline of Unions
  • Finding younger sisters
  • Recruitment is important but retention is the hard part

It was decided that the first step in dealing with these goals/concerns was to organize a steering committee of volunteers who will determine the purpose, goals, and objectives for the sisters in the region. The following attendees will be on the steering committee:

  • Emily "Em" Golnazarian - Local #2274
  • Rhonda Ashe - Local #2274
  • Zanae "Z" Johnson - Local #230
  • Rebecca Maruca - Local #1160
  • Pat Selby - Local #922

The first steering committee meeting will be Wednesday, September 14, at 6:30 pm at the training center.

Respectfully submitted,

Rebecca (Becky) Maruca
Millmen Local #1160