Final Preparations

Good Morning Brothers & Sisters!

      There is one week left before I will be leaving Houston and traveling to Las Vegas, NV., to attend the 24th LiUNA General Convention! As I have done so many times in the past, and I will continue to do as often as I can, I want to say thank you again for honoring me with another opportunity to be your personal delegate and to act as your "eyes and ears". This blog is my way of giving something back to each of you who could not be here. I sincerely hope that it will be educational and entertaining to you as well as stimulating. For the record, this blog is not in any way, shape, or form an officially sanctioned or authorized publication of LiUNA, NPMHU, or Local 311. It is produced in its entirety by myself. Any of the seven (7) other Local 311 Delegates are always welcomed to offer any input they may have should they so desire.

     Now, let be bring you up to date since my last post. On Aug. 2, 2011, I received a letter from LiUNA dated July 28, 2011, congratulating me on my election as a delegate. Contained in the letter was instructions securing hotel room reservations at either Bally's Las Vegas or Paris Las Vegas Hotels. A form was enclosed for this information and was to filled out and returned as soon as possible by mail, fax, or e-mail. (We all know which way is fastest so that's what I did.) Reservations would be done on a first come first served basis at both hotels. I had previously stayed at Paris, so I immediately booked my room there. (I received an e-mail confirmation on my reservation on Aug. 26th). It then went on to state that LiUNA would be pre-paying the hotel $333.76 for the first two nights of each delegate's stay. For each delegate, stipends (stipends - a pre-determined amount of money that is provided to delegates to help offset expenses) will be distributed directly in the following amounts. The first $400, of the total $1,200 stipend, will be by mail along with a travel stipend determined by airline zone fares and current ticket prices. The second check of $400 will be included in each delegate's registration package upon arrival at the convention. The final check will be for $70.00 ($400 - 333.76 first two nights room cost) and will be provided to each delegate on the final day of the convention. It ended with a closing remark and was signed by Armand E. Sabitoni, LiUNA General Secretary-Treasurer.  

     Also enclosed was a letter from NPMHU National Headquarters stating that the union would be providing each delegate an NPMHU delegate shirt. The shirts are to be picked up at the NPMHU Booth in the exhibit area at the Convention by presenting your Convention ID. It ended with a closing remark and was signed by John F. Hegarty, NPMHU National President, and Mark A. Gardner, NPMHU National Secretary-Treasurer. 

     On August 4, 2011, I received another letter from LiUNA dated August 1, 2011. It began by citing Article V, Section 11 of the International Union Constitution which provides that: "A per diem allowance and transportation to duly elected delegates who are  accredited and seated and who attend all sessions of the regular Convention, shall be in such amount as is established by the General Executive Board of the International Union and shall be paid out of the Convention Fund."      

     The amount that was established by the General executive Board vote as it relates to Local 311 delegates for transportation that is equivalent to a round-trip economy class airline ticket, with restrictions was $622. In addition, a per diem allowance of $200 per day, including the day going to and returning from the Convention--in all, a total of six (6) days--equaling $1,200 will be provided to each delegate. The $1,200 allowance will be distributed to the delegates in the following manner:

•  Each delegate will receive a credit on their Bally/Paris Hotel bill equivalent to     two (2) nights stay at the Bally's/Paris Hotel (valued at approximately $330).
• A first per diem check of $400 is paid prior to the Convention and is enclosed
• A second per diem check of $400 is received st registration at the Convention
• A third per diem check of $70 is handed out the last day of the Convention.       

Enclosed was two (2) checks, the check for transportation in the amount of $622 and the first per diem check in the amount of $400.

     The letter listed the names of two airlines (Delta & United Airlines) and a travel agency WTM/Key Travel Group along with their contact information. Discounted agreements had been negotiated for delegates. Delegates were encouraged to make their arrangements as they deem appropriate. However, upon arriving at the convention, you should immediately proceed to register in order to become an "accredited delegate." (An accredited delegate is one who has been confirmed by the Credentials Committee) It went on to state that delegates will receive information relative to the Convention and the second per diem check of $400 also as soon as we register. Then, at the end of the week, the final check in the amount of $70 will be distributed by the National CAD (Contract Administration Department) Representatives at the NPMHU Booth. It ended with a closing remark and was signed by Terry O'Sullivan, LiUNA General President, and Armand E. Sabitoni, LiUNA General Secetary-Treasurer.

     The final piece of business left now is the Local 311 Delegate Supplemental Allowance Package (DSAP). This is an allowance voted upon by the Local 311 Executive Board that is given to delegates to also help offset expenses. I was also a delegate to the last LiUNA Convention and I can say for the record that the amount delegates received for the 2006 Convention was $1650. I received that package by express mail on Sept. 1, 2006. At any rate, I will let you know all the details if and when I receive something.

         Anyone wishing to see my report from the 2006 23rd LiUNA Convention contact me and I'll get a copy to you promptly. Also if you're interested, I have the 2004 and 2008 NPMHU National Convention Reports as well...

         Until next time, sincerely and fraternally,

b.shep.









 

"As Faith Would Have It..."

Whew! Here in this part of the country, we sort of cautiously welcome the month of June and Summer because it is also officially the start of hurricane season. Metaphorically speaking, I think Local 311 has had its first tropical depression that fortunately did not turn into a hurricane. As I reported to you previously, I had contacted the LiUNA Elections Office, registered my official protest on how the Local 311 Judges of Election had erroneously listed my name on the official ballot, and was just basically waiting on the outcome to see what steps would be taken next. As faith would have it, you once again showed just how much you appreciate what I'm trying to do by once again bestowing upon me the honor and privilege of representing you at the 2011 LiUNA International Convention, Sept. 11-16, 2011, at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas NV. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!! I have always maintained this opinion because technically, the Local President is the only Local official so-to-speak, that is actually required to go and represent the Local. With respect to this convention, a Local President has to be elected just like any other member to attend this particular convention. For NPMHU National Conventions, the Local President is automatically elected to attend by virtue of being elected Local President. What I'm basically stating is that the Local President has the authority to speak for the entire Local and in many instances, there are Locals in the NPMHU who can not afford to sent multiple delegates to these conventions. That's why I look at these instances as being an honor and a privilege. As is my customary practice, I will take you with me each and every step of the way as it relates to being a delegate. In my next posts, I will post some frequently asked questions and update this blog with previous conventions reports that were done as e-mails. This may take a little while but it will be worth the wait I promise you! Also next up is discussing hotel accommodations, transportation and other "allowances".

Whose Name Is It Anyway?

Greeting Brothers & Sisters! First of all I want to apologize for this being my first post in quite a long time. There is so much going on with our Local that I don't know where to start. This blog has been dedicated to convention coverage since its inception so, I will try my best to only discuss "convention related" issues although there will be occasions when an issue will co-mingle with a Local related issue. Wouldn't you know it that this is one such instance when an issue with the Local 311 2011 LiUNA Delegate Election can have an adverse impact on the Local. As of this posting, I have filed a protest with the LiUNA Elections Office. If my protest is upheld, there is a strong possibility that the Delegate Election will have to be re-run. If this happens, it can not be overlooked that whomever was responsible for the selection and appointment of these current Judges of Election has failed the Membership. To the best of my knowledge, we are paying these individuals a salary with Union funds. Then, to have to pay them twice for something that they did wrong or had control over is just not right to me. My blog was primary started to target the smaller Branches; Abilene, Amarillo, Beaumont, Bryan, Corpus Christi, East Texas, El Paso, Lubbock, McAllen, Midland, Victoria, Waco & Wichita Falls. How many convention delegates have ever been elected from these Branches? How many election judges have ever come from these Branches? I'm into my 32nd yr. and anyone can correct me if I'm wrong, there has never been any convention delegates or even election judges from any of these Branches. I would venture to say that no one at any of these Branches has ever been even considered to be an election judge. Why you may ask? Because it's all about money. I'll speak more on this later, but first let me tell you the reason I filed the protest. For any election, we are allowed to nominate ourselves (self-nomination) which is what I normally do. You can do this in person or you can do it in writing (which is also what I do since I've gotten older). I sent in my written nomination requesting that my name be ONE WAY on the official ballot (Billy "Your Personal Delegate" Sheppard) and the Judges of Election determined that THEY wanted my name to be ANOTHER WAY, Billy "b.shep." Sheppard. Whose name is it anyway? If it's my name, and it has been for 53 yrs., then it stands to reason that the choice should be mine on how I want my name listed. The significance of this is it's the moniker that I have used starting with the 2000 NPMHU National Convention Delegate Election (elected), the 2001 LiUNA Convention Delegate Election (elected), the 2004 NPMHU National Convention Delegate Election (elected), the 2006 LiUNA Convention Delegate Election (elected), the 2008 NPMHU National Convention Delegate Election (elected) and now the 2011 LiUNA Convention Delegate Election. As you can see, I have been very successful with this formula. I attempted to straighten this out by phone with the Chairman of the Judges of Election but was unsuccessful. My only recourse was to file a protest of which I am anxiously awaiting a speedy reply. I received my ballot today so I'm sure members all over the Local received theirs too. Please fill it out and mark my name (third name on the left) as one of your eight (8) selections at any rate just in case. Now back to my it's all about money statement. The Executive Board has almost always been made up of individuals from Dallas or the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. When it comes to spending money on anyone besides themselves, you find that they are always pinching pennies. Like I said, Judges of Elections are paid a salary and if I'm not mistaken mileage. If a judge was from any place besides the the Dallas /Ft. Worth Metroplex or a place like McAllen or El Paso, it would also include lodging then. Our Executive Board Members in their infinite wisdom deem the cost then to be too much. That's why these positions are never solicited Local wide or made open to the entire Local so to speak. If anyone tells you different, the facts speak for themselves. That's all I have for this initial 2011 post. Spread the word, I'm back at it and I want to hear from you!

Keep Your Eyes & Ears Open!

b.shep.