ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Women' Issues Committee
Quarterly Report to Statewide Executive Board September 2010

Madame President, members of the Executive Board, ASEA staff, and guests;

The Women's Issues Committee remains diligent in its efforts to effect positive change on behalf of the ASEA members and their concerns. During this calendar quarter we did take 2 months off from teleconferences, however we remained active in our communities.

We continue to participate in our chapters and are or have participated in the various Governor's Picnics, chapter picnics, and Labor Day picnics. These are always great venues for networking with our members.

Also, 2 of our Women's Issues Committee members, Nadine Lefebvre and Dawn Bundick, were elected delegates to the AFSCME International Biennial Convention in Boston, Mass in June. We were both asked to be table captains at AFSCME's first ever Women's Leadership Cafe held Thursday after the general session. Hundreds of women and a few men shared ideas and discussed ways to build union leadership skills.

This was a terrific union leadership skill building experience and one that could be utilized in Alaska. We could possibly arrange to share this learning experience internally with ASEA members, or reach out to all union women working in Alaska to build solidarity. Could we discuss this idea?

Nadine and Dawn networked with AFSCME women activists from around the country and especially with our sisters of the Pacific Northwest. Council 75 Portland Oregon are especially supportive of union women activism and leadership training and ASEA's Women's Committee. It is an honor to have the good work of this committee recognized and appreciated by our sisters outside of Alaska.

Statewide, affordable childcare continues to plague working families. This committee continues to seek a broad base of support for political solutions. We would gladly compose another statewide online survey to learn the current sentiment regarding this important issue before the next legislative session begins.

We have reached out to our rural sisters to generate interest in appointments to the currently vacant seats on the committee. We do hope that there have been letters of interest submitted for appointments to these vacancies.

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