Women's Issues Committee Minutes
11th Biennial Convention Committee
Anchorage, Alaska
Thursday, March 16, 2006

Present: Nadine Lefebvre, Laura Ghormley, Millie Twitchell, Dee Stelmach, Lin Davis, Zuzanna Bobinski, Sharon White-Wheeler, Christine Lee, Clydie McCrummen, Valarie Kenny, Bobby Winn, Sallie Rogers, and Joyce Hughes.

Others came and went throughout the day. 

Call to Order
8:01 AM

Agenda items 1, 2, 3, 4
Ask for cell phones to be silenced
Introduce committee members
Introduce ASEA staff
Recognized guests

Nadine gave inspirational talk on the power that women have.

WIC Survey #2 Results
Survey was handed out and discussed.
Q       Why this survey when Fred Brown is my contact?
Q       Can we be careful to not get pulled into politics, but actually represent our constituents?

Mammogram Ideas:
Providence Hospital has equipment that detects smaller than Regional Hospital can.
Prove the machine is better at PH than ARH.
We need a watchdog committee to see where the accurate machines are.
Letters to both hospitals to present to us what they offer in state of the art equipment.

ACTION:
Resolution: Please support our letter requesting information on detection rates, certification, policies for radiologists, hours of business, user rate, and accountability to continue staying up to date.

HB 162
Discussed
Juneau Federal bldg has childcare
UAA has childcare
LKSD has childcare
We need members aware of HB 162.
We need members to contact legislators.
We need chapters to discuss the need.
Possibly send an email or e-petition in support of HB 162.
Send letters to the editors. 

Adjourned for lunch 11:43 AM

Return at 1:00 PM

Discussions

Revised the resolution.

Discussed healthcare.  We need info to constituents about HCRA.
          * Use the 800 number
          * Use the health trust website

Pay Equity Issues

Training available through AFSCME/ASEA.

Political Organizing - we all agreed to have training in Juneau/Anchorage/Fairbanks.

SJR 20 and HJR 32 discussed.

WIC supports Resolution 7.

We're writing another resolution.

Resolution re: SJR 20.  WIC stands in opposition to ask ASEA PAC to fight these.

Survey results will be available in pink at our table.

Convention Responsibility Discussion
Priority Authorities
1.      International Constitution
2.      State Constitution
3.      Roberts Rules - we have a small version

Credentials Report - who the Delegates are.
          -must wear credentials
Need quorum to do business (majority)
          -leaving doesn't change the quorum
Microphone-show credential, intro, for OR against
Do not address anyone but the Chair
2 minute microphone
20 minute debate time (15 on points within the issue)
Abstain vote is ok, but you should vote
Roll Call Vote: Aye - No - Present - Pass
The resolution "resolve" is what we're dealing with when the resolution is on the overhead.
Call for the question requires a 2nd and a 2/3 vote to pass.
Recording the 2nd is unneccessary.

21st Century
We need year round action.
We need registered voters.
We need to raise $ for PEOPLE.
We need ground plan and the resources to back it.
Member and Leadership Institute exists with AFSCME.
$3 per month per member: raised dues @ AFSCME
Establish relationships with state legislators.
Establish workplace coordinators to get info to workers quickly.
Union members aren't allowed to be involved politically beyond certain levels. 

Health Trust
Wellness Program coming up through the health trust.
Question all members to see who is highest risk to use the benefits, then 'encourage' them to change their lifestyle.
1/2 million dollars to do the Wellness Program. 

Respectfully Submitted,
Laura K Ghormley, WIC Secretary