TRI-STATE PRE-CONVENTION MEETING

The APWU National Convention will be held in Philadelphia, PA this upcoming August. To prepare for the convention, delegates from Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky caucus to debate upcoming resolutions expected to be voted upon. The pre-convention caucus rotates between the three states, which provides different opportunities for attendance based on traveling distance. Indiana was the host for the last convention. The State of Ohio has the honor for the 2006 convention.

The meeting will be held in Fairburn, a suburb of Dayton on July 8, 2006. The meeting is at the Holiday Inn located on Presidential Drive, and begins at 10:00 AM. A limited number of rooms have been reserved for Friday night if you have a long commute. There is no registration cost for this meeting.

During the caucus, both constitutional and craft resolutions will be discussed. The purpose of the discussion is to reach consensus among the delegates on how we should vote at the convention. The tri-state voting block has been a very effective tool in moving forward resolutions that benefit our members in each state. Conversely, the block has also been effective in stopping resolutions that would harm us. All delegates are invited to express their views and feelings on the issues that shape our union. Our strength has been in our continuing efforts to grow as a tri-state and agree on our direction.

Come and join us in Fairburn and get a flavor for what could happen in August. Directions are posted below .


Hotel info: Holiday Inn Fairburn
2800 Presidential Drive
Fairburn, OH
1-800-315-2621
1-937-426-7800

Doug Brown, President IPWU

NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS INSTALLED

In a off-year election to fill vacant positions, two newly elected officers were installed by APWU National Maintainence Craft Director, Steve Raymer. Director Raymer, the keynote speaker at the banquet, installed the newly elected officers in a brief ceremony at the annual Indiana Postal Workers Convention, hosted this year by the Bloomington, IN local. Seen reciting the "Oath of Office" are the newly elected IPWU Editor, Don Packwood (Indianapolis) and Indiana Postal Auxillary Secretary, Crystal Pleasant (Evansville). Both positions were previously held by Mike Hibbard (Terre Haute) seen below.

STATE EDITOR OF 21 YEARS RESIGNS

It really happened! Mike Hibbard, after 21 years of dedicated service resigned at the IPWU State Convention in Bloomington, IN. Friends slightly roasted Mike toward the end of the Saturday evening banquet. Jerri Dye, took the podium to thank Mike for his many years of service to the State union, and the friendship and memories he gave us during the 21 years as the IPWU Dispatch editor.



A small token, related to those memories was awarded to Mike by Jerri (seen above) as lots of emotion and laughter was heard throughout the banquet hall by the delegates, Local, State and National officers. We wish him well in all his future endeavors. (photo by the newly elected editor, Don Packwood)

100% MARION LOCAL TAKES HOME THE PLAQUE

The Marion Local took the idea of raising COPA serious this year, as President Greg Southard is seen accepting the plaque awarded to the local for the highest per capita dollars raised for COPA at the Indiana Postal Workers Union 2006 Convention. Members sent President Southard to the convention with an astounding $91.43 per member. Not surprizing given their commitment shown for COPA was the acknowledgement that the Marion Local has 100% membership for all eligible APWU crafts.

NEW TEXAS HOLD'EM CHAMPION

In efforts to raise COPA money, delegates participated in a Texas Hold'Em tournament with the new winner, Greg Southard and former champion Lucy Brown pictured above