Greetings from Mid-Michigan – The Great Lakes State!
Happy Valentine’s Day
I am writing this just after our Family Union Meeting and it was great. Not everyone can make it to the Family Union Meeting, but if you didn’t come because you thought you wouldn’t have had a good time you were wrong! I believe this was our largest turnout to date and it went well or I think it did. This is the only time that families are allowed to sit in on a Union Meeting to see how things work and what is covered. The kids make the night, they bring a smile to my face every year. Our members have some of the nicest, most polite and well behaved children you will find anywhere.
I was informed on Face Book that I need to speak up; I never thought I had a problem opening my mouth, actually I thought I had a problem keeping it closed. We recently received a pension increase and I received so many calls I went to the top (Frank & Larry) to get answers to share with the Local. I sent e-mails to all the members and will explain it at the January Union Meeting as well. The important thing is we received a pension increase and a wage increase starting January 1, 2015. We also will get what I call a pay it forward pension increase starting July 1 2015. Explaining pay it forward pension is much easier in person, no matter it’s an increase.
Our Local went through hell the last several years with a horrible economy and NO work to speak of. Many pensions from other organizations disappeared during this time or were cut to provide a smaller pension to their people. Would I have liked to get more in the pension, sure? I’m no different than you I want more all the time, in fact I think we need to work on health care cost for the retirees; a freeze, or taking dollars out of our wages to reduce cost before we retire while we can better afford it. This is a great idea for the next convention, maybe some of you will write a resolution.
Wonderful things can be achieved when we work together!
NEIEP:
We did our first CPR & First Aid class in Marquette! The members did a great job, I need to improve my teaching. The welding trailer should be in our parking lot.
Dates to remember:
February 14, 2015 Valentine’s Day
February 20, 2015 Deadline Application for State Test
February 24, 2015 6:00 pm Union Meeting – Dinner included
February 26, 2015 JAC Meeting
April 3, 2015 State Test
Golden Rail Club
Kalamazoo: 2.4.15 First Wednesday @ 10:00 am, Theo & Stacey’s
Lansing: 2.18.15 Third Wednesday @ 9:00 am, Zeus Restaurant, 6525 Pennsylvania, Lansing
Grand Rapids: 2.17.15 Third Tuesday @ 9:00 am, New Beginnings, 1455 Michigan
Street, NE, Grand Rapids
The work Picture:
I hope things will be pretty good by the time this comes out.
Big Buck Contest:
Results are next month.
In Unity There Is Strength,
Bill Kogelschatz
