A WORD FROM MARY STEWART, AREA B DIRECTOR
8/28/2009
A NEW CHALLENGE BEGINS...
I HAVE DECIDED THAT THE MONTH OF JUNE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE MONTH OF CHANGE AND CHALLENGES FOR ME..
AT THE SAME TIME I WAS NOTIFIED THAT I WOULD BE COMPLETING THE CURRENT TERM AS AREA DIRECTOR, I HAD SUBMITTED MY RESIGNATION FROM MY DISTRICT DUE TO RETIREMENT.
THE BOARD MEETING IN JULY WAS MY FIRST TASTE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF RE-BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS; NOT ONLY WITH OUR MEMBERS BUT CSEA STAFF AS WELL.
IN JULY AS I PREPARED FOR MY ABSENCE FROM HOME FOR CONFERENCE, I HAD TO GO CLOTHES SHOPPING. (BEAR WITH ME HERE) MY HUSBAND CARTED ME OFF AND SPENT AN ENTIRE DAY SHOPPING WITH ME SO I COULD LOOK PROFESSIONAL FOR CONFERENCE. HIS SUPPORT WENT FAR BEYOND HOLDING MY PURSE, AND THE MULITUDE OF HANGERS. HE WAS APPROACHED NUMEROUS TIMES BY OTHER SHOPPERS AND WAS OFFERED THEIR HUMOR AND ADVICE. MY QUIET HUSBAND BANTERED BACK AND TOLD THESE STRANGERS I WAS SERVING MY UNION IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION AND NEEDED PROFESSIONAL CLOTHES (WHICH WAS APPARENT WHEN I WOULD WALK UP IN MY TSHIRT AND JEANS.)
IT HIT ME. THE SAME LOOK OF PRIDE ON HIS FACE,THE SUPPORT HE HAS SILENTLY GIVEN ME AS I SERVED THE MEMBERS IN MY CHAPTER ALL THESE YEARS. HE UNDERSTOOD THE PASSION AND PRIDE I HAVE FOR CSEA.
SO NOW, WITH MY FIRST CONFERENCE AS YOUR AREA DIRECTOR BEHIND ME, (I TRULY MISSED BEING ON THE FLOOR WITH MY REGION AND NOT JUST THE FOOD) I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING COMING UP SEPTEMBER 19TH IN SAN JOSE. IT WILL BE FOLLOWED WITH A WEEK LONG BOARD TRAINING AND SUPER SESSION TRAININGS FOR OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND REGIONAL TEAMS.
I HAVE ALREADY HAD SEVERAL JOINT MEETINGS WITH NORTHBAY FIELD DIRECTOR KEITH PACE, CHARLEY GOETCHIUS, SOUTHBAY FIELD DIRECTOR AND CINDY ZECKER, AREA C DIRECTOR. WE WERE INVITED TO ATTEND THE FIRST DAY OF THE NORTHBAY FIELD OFFICE STAFF RETREAT. PRESIDENT CLARK WAS ALSO THERE. THESE TYPE OF MEETINGS ARE CRUCIAL TO KEEP COMMUNICATION IN THE AREAS OPEN, PLAN AND DISCUSS WHERE WE ARE, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS SET BY CSEA. BY BEING PARTNERS.
TO THOSE OF YOU THAT VOLUNTEER COUNTLESS HOURS OR A FEW HOURS TO SERVE OUR MEMBERS, I THANK YOU. I AM PROUD TO SERVE YOU, THE MEMBERS OF AREA B. IF I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE TO YOU, YOUR CHAPTER OR YOUR REGION, PLEASE DO NO HESITATE TO CONTACT ME.
IN CLOSING THIS FIRST UPDATE, I AM PUTTING THE FIRST CHALLENGE OUT TO ALL CHAPTER PRESIDENTS.
SERVICE FEE PAYERS SHOULD BE A THING OF THE PAST. WHY AREN'T THESE PEOPLE MEMBERS? MAKE THOSE ONE ON ONE CONTACTS WITH THOSE NON MEMBERS. USE YOUR EXECUTIVE BOARD. EMPLOYEES ARE ALWAYS SURPRISED TO PERSONALLY HEAR FROM THE UNION. WHY AREN'T THE MAJORITY MEMBERS? THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CONTACTED. BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP.
THE CHALLENGE?
SERVICE FEE PAYER CONVERSION DRIVE.. I WILL BE LOOKING FOR THE CHAPTERS WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF CONVERSIONS. I WILL HAVE THE CURRENT NUMBERS SOON. LET'S SEE WHERE WE WILL BE IN NOVEMBER. LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED HELP.
CHAPTERS WITH CURRENT 100% MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE CONTACT ME BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING IT RIGHT AND WE NEED YOU. WE NEED TO HELP THESE OTHER CHAPTERS TO GROW THEIR MEMBERSHIP AND MAKE THIS UNION STRONGER ..OH..YES..THERE WILL BE AMAZING PRIZES....
CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY. I WILL BE UPDATING MY MESSAGES EVERY FEW WEEKS.
IN SOLIDARITY
MARY
MSTEWART@CSEA.COM
707-664-9024 HOME