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ILWU Pacific Coast Pensioners'
Association
37th Annual Convention
September 13, 14 & 15, 2004
Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Monday, September 13, 2004
Members and guests were welcomed to the Convention
by the Canada Area Pensioners' Club. The U.S. and Canadian Anthems were
performed. A minute of silence was observed for departed brothers and sisters.
The Convention was called to order by PCPA Vice
President,
Joe Lucas who introduced PCPA President Arne Auvinen.
Guest speakers were: Tom Dufresne, President ILWU
Canada Area followed by Jim Spinosa, ILWU President.
The Union Friendly Politician Award was presented
to Vancouver City Council Member Libby Davies.
PCPA President, Arne Auvinen
reported on activities since the last Convention particularly the trip to the
Maritime Union Association Convention and MUA Veterans' Convention in Australia.
The new ILWU Secretary-Treasurer, Willie Adams
(Tacoma, Local 23) gave an impressive run down of the International's activities
in preparation for the next contract negotiations and political activities in
support of Labor friendly candidates.
Committees were formed for Ways and Means;
Constitution and Bylaws; and Credentials and Registration.
Adjourned at 11:30 AM for the
Harbor Cruise. Tuesday,
September 14, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 AM.
Janet
Tobin and
Mitchell Griggs, representatives from the International Benefit
Fund Office were introduced and spoke to us.
Sarah Lassit, Director of the University of
Washington Harry Bridges Chair and Dan Jacoby, the current holder of the Chair
Position were introduced and
spoke to the
assembly.
Guests, Bill
Bodenham and his wife, Daphne, representing the Australian MUA Veterans'
Association were introduced and made honorary members of the PCPA. Bill outlined
his personal maritime history and the history of their organizations (active and
retiree).
They
face the .same problems with their government as we do. Ray
Ortiz
and George Romero were introduced and spoke briefly.
Greetings were presented from Southern California Local 13, David Aryan,
President.
The Jess &
Lois Stranahan Award was presented by Van McLane to Frank Kennedy of the
Vancouver ILWU Pensioners' Club.
Four Resolutions were offered:
1.
To keep Credit Unions free of taxes.
2.
The PCPA join
with the MUA to form a World Wide Retirees Conference.
3.
PCPA Policy
Statement: Replace Bush, protest raise in Medicare Premiums, privatization
of Social Security and tax breaks for the wealthy, MSC. 4. Establishment of a
Universal Single Payer Health Plan.
Adjourned
for Lunch.
The meeting was called to order at 1:30.
The
Committees made their reports. The Registration Credentials Committee reported attendance of 28
members from. Seattle; 8 members from Tacoma; 1 from Everett 14 members and 3
guests from Columbia River; 11 members from Longview; 2 members from Coos
Bay-North Bend; 23 members from Southern California; 27 members and 1 guest from
Northern California; 26 members and 4 guests from Vancouver; 4 members from Van-Isle; 2 honorary members
from Australia; 2 non-voting members from Alaska; 2 guests from Hawaii.
Also in attendance were: ILWU President Jim Spinosa, Vice President Bob
McEllrath, Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams, Coast Committeemen Joe Wenzl and
Ray Ortiz,
Welfare Director George Romano, Welfare Officers Ron Costa, Nick Buckles, Jim
Welch as well as the San Francisco Officer, Sarah Lassit and Dan
Jacoby from the Harry Bridges Chair and the Director of the Harry Bridges
Institute. 5 Women's Auxiliary Members were also present.
Nominations and Election of Titled Officers and
Delegates took place.
Results were:
President, Arne Auvenin, Longview; Vice President, Joe Lucas, San Francisco;
Recording Secretary, Bill Duncan, Van-Isle; Treasurer, Barbara Lewis, Columbia
River; Delegates: Paul McCabe, Dick Melton alternate, Seattle; Darel Headman,
Tacoma; Bill Roberts, Small WA Ports; George Gorick, Columbia
River;
Ken Swicker,
Longview;
Cleophas
Williams, San Francisco Bay Area;
Lou
Loveridge,
Able Suarez alternate, Southern California. Rich
Austin was elected Welfare Delegate; Art Almeida, Education; Esther Auvenin,
Judy Swicker alternate, Harry Bridges Institute.
Welfare Officers Ron Costa, Nick Buckles and Jim
Welch spoke to us. We finally have a SPD booklet outlining the
specifics of our benefit program, after 17 drafts.
Retirees were
reminded that they and their spouses must sign up for Medicare
when they reach 65 years of age to continue benefits. Jim
Welch, Columbia River Welfare Officer is retiring February 1, 2005. The assembly
thanked him for
his many
years of service.
Meeting
adjourned.
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 AM.
Officers
were installed.
Delegates
thanked the Vancouver and Van-Isle Pensioners' Clubs for their Excellent
Convention and Hospitality.
The San Francisco Pensioners' Club invited
everyone to the 38th Annual Convention to be held September 11
- 14, 2005 at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Paul S. McCabe,
Delegate Local 19 Pensioners' Club
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