Nancy Swindell & Local 146 - Nancy Swindell, Joe Trujillo Jr., Alma Hawkins, Gregory Ramirez, Gloria Nordmark, Bryon Lashley, Julie Fong	Council 57 - "The Gang"
Gregory Ramirez and AFSCME International Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy	AFSCME International President Gerald McEnteee & Gregory Ramirez

On Monday, there was a "secret" continental breakfast that the early birds found - anyone sleeping-in missed out! Of course AFSCME President Gerald McEntee was in his usual form with many references to deposing "King George" and preparing for the upcoming elections in 2008. President McEntee unveiled the new AFSCME logo and motto "AFSCME - We Make America Happen". The energy was high on the floor during the keynote address. Members were encouraged to step up their participation (or begin participating) in the PEOPLE organization and to heed the call by AFSCME for 40,000 "activists" in the 2008 Presidential elections. President McEntee was in rare form and really got the crowd rev'ed up for the fundraising and election battles to come! I'm also proud to let you know that Council 57 and Local 146 were able to secure second row seats thanks in large part to Council 57 Executive Board Member Amy Young - nobody charges ahead like Amy and we appreciate her looking out for the rest of us making sure we had good seats!

The keynote address was followed by a discussion moderated by AFSCME's Donna Brazille featuring an AIDS Activist, a political activist from the Wellstone Group and a young lady (16yrs old) who started a website to stop the war in Iraq. I think the major theme from all three activists was that if you want change, you need to get up and do something about it - amen!

Monday afternoon saw conference attendees signing up for various workshops including: "Building Pension Power"; "Privatization: How to Talk About It & Do Something About It"; "The (Far From) Great GASB (Gazbee)" and "Threats To Our Retirement Security: The Campaign To Privatizze Our Pensions" among many others. The workshop that appeared to be the "one-to-go-to" was the "Trauma Of Today' Bargaining: Health Benefit Costs" since there was standing-room-only and the temperature in the room was high due to all of the bodies - this is definitely one of the priority issues across the country for labor!

The Local 146 contingent were able to make MVP qualifying donations to the PEOPLE movement and attended the private MVP reception on Monday night - lots of delicious food, networking and making of new friends! Highlight of the evening was the raffle - the three winners were able to pick the presidential candidate of their choice to have a special photograph with on Tuesday morning at the Presidential Forum. Sadly (for us) nobody from Council 57 or Local 146 won - but we were happy for the three AFSCME ladies that did!

This morning, the line into the Marriott Grand Ballroom was clear out to the lobby as everyone was trying to "jockey" for position for the best seats in the house to watch the Presidential Candidates forum sponsored by AFSCME and moderated by MSNBC's Christ Matthews. Of course, Council 57 and Local 146 were first on the floor and managed to grab our now "traditional" second row seating with great views of the stage, the candidates and the secret service agents (they don't smile much!). As a testament to the power of AFSCME's lobby and influence we were fortunate to hear the in-person views of Presidential candidates Governor Bill Richardson, Senator Joe Biden, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John Edwards, Senator Dennis Kucinich and Senator Barack Obama. I was able to stay long enough to hear Governor Bill Richardson before heading to Capitol Hill to meet with Congressman Gerald McNerney, representing the 11th Congressional District.

Congressman Gerald "Jerry" McNerney was gracious enough to meet with me this morning (my home town of Lodi is included in his district) and was able convey to him AFSCME's PEOPLE organization "talking points" which included our support of increasing the budgeted amount for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP); increased labor, health and human services appropriations and thanked him for his support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). While we were asked to discuss these three specific issues, AFSCME advocates for a broad range of labor and family friendly legislation, which reminds me of a comment from Presidential Candidate Senator Christopher Dodd (of Connecticut) when I met with him in Sacramento last month at a "kitchen table meeting", wherein he said that he respected and admired AFSCME because we not only look out for our members, but we look out for everyone in working America! (He specifically referenced AFSCME's unwaivering support and advocation of increasing the minimum wage - since minimum rarely applies to our members)

I was able to compliment Congressman McNerney for his on-going and regular out-reach to his constituency with local meetings (I think Congressman McNerney has met with his constituents more often in the past six months than his predecessor did in his entire congressional career!). Sign-up for the Congressman McNerney's electronic e-mail newsletter at his website at http://mcnerney.house.gov/ to be advised of when Congressman McNerney will be in Lodi (or your) town next. I strongly encourage our members to attend and listen to what the Congressman has to say as well as to let him know what's on your mind, he was very easy to talk to and has a genuine interest in supporting YOU his constituents and in supporting labor. I was also able to invite Congressman McNerney to attend the Lodi Chapter Labor "Unity" Picnic scheduled for Saturday, August 25, 2007 at Lodi Lake Park, and if his schedule permits I believe he will attend and meet with our members so they can show their appreciation of his support of his efforts to represent our district in the nation's capitol. Congressman McNerney is going to need our support when he is running for re-election, the GOP is already fielding candidates with Dean Andal planning to run - he's no friend of ours, that's for sure!

This afternoon we are headed to Capitol Hill for a BIG rally on the Capitol steps (there will be a "sea-of-green") and then break off to join PEOPLE California Director Willie Pelote (Seth from PEOPLE filled in for Willie who was unable to attend) in meetings at Senators Boxer & Feinstein's offices. Aftewards there will be a Congresssional Reception at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

The heat is high today (supposed to go to 96 degrees) and the humidity is higher (100%), as President McEntee said (after hearing a grumble from the audience about the heat factor we'd meet on Capitol Hill) "it's only a bad day for hairspray!" It's a GREAT DAY FOR LABOR AND FOR AFSCME - We make America happen!

Tomorrow, we will be taking a tour of the White House and wrapping up the conference! More to come . . .

Photos by Gregory Ramirez:
Nancy Swindell & Local 146 - Nancy, Joe Trujillo Jr., Alma Hawkins, Gregory Ramirez, Gloria Nordmark, Bryon Lashley, Julie Fong
Greg&Bill - Gregory Ramirez and AFSCME International Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy
Council 57 - "The Gang"
Jerry&Greg - AFSCME International President Gerald McEnteee & Gregory Ramirez

GREGORY RAMIREZ
Vice-President, AFSCME Local 146 - Lodi Chapter
Treasurer, AFSCME Local 146
Executive Board Member, AFSCME Council 57