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ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Women' Issues Committee
Quarterly Report to Statewide Executive Board
June 26, 2007
Mr. President, members of the Executive Board, ASEA staff, and guests;
Today we come to you with an important report filled with good information.
The Women's Issues Committee has remained diligent in its efforts to effect positive change on behalf of the ASEA members and their concerns.
Our primary topic regarding preventive health care and its associated costs for women and the corresponding billing for office visits and procedures has been put before the Health Trust Board repeatedly. That Board heard us and has made a billing change for preventive care starting July 1, 2007. At that time, $350 will be allowed per member to pay for office visits, alleviating additional health care financial burdens many of our members have had to pay. We thank the Board.
Our Traveling Show met with appreciation and multiple showings in Bethel. The videos and journal are now in Nome. The Bethel women appreciated the videos and the sharing opportunities. Again, the videos are AFSCME's The Motherhood Manifesto and North Country. The Traveling Show is now on its way to Nome. And when they are done showing and viewing the materials, they will send the videos to the next rural community who expresses their own interest in participation. We have planned that the first Traveling Show will make its way all around the state. If this is successful, we can do another program.
The lapel pin is in production! The funds for the Women's Committee came from chapter support and our first auction, were in the general fund, transferred to the committee's budget, and are being used to pay for production. The pre-orders from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Bethel will facilitate quick sales which will help us meet our mandate to raise some of our own funds. We will work to keep track of all inventory, sales, and fund transfers in regards to this effort.
The Women's Committee has tried to coordinate statewide AFSCME training for our members. This is a grand undertaking. We propose that we get more support for this effort from the Executive Board and ASEA staff, or that the Executive Board embrace this opportunity and schedule training that would encourage solidarity, train trainers to take the message back to their chapters, and help us meet the 21st Century initiatives and the PEOPLE challenge.
The Women's Committee Chair did attend the AFSCME Leadership Conference last week. The Conference itself deserves a separate report. However at that Conference, I did reunite with Women's Committee Chairwomen and members from other Councils, Chapters, and Locals. Both Council 28 and Council 75 would appreciate invitations to our Biennial Convention in February 2008. They would participate in Women's Committee support activities and help to strengthen our Northwest coalition of AFSCME women.
ASEA Women's Committee will conduct our June teleconference this Wednesday and make our plans for the next fiscal year.
Thank you for your support of our efforts on behalf of the women, families, and all ASEA members in Alaska.
Respectfully, In Solidarity
Nadine Lefebvre, Chair
Women's Issues Committee
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