EXECUTIVE REPORTS - fpse.ca Exec Reports.pdf · some good feedback from DMRC members after the...

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EXECUTIVEREPORTS

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1stVICE-PRESIDENT’SREPORT

Dominique Roelants

DOMINIQUE ROELANTS

INTRODUCTION

Lastyear,whenIwrotemyreportforAGM,manyofuswerefeelingoptimisticthattherewouldbeasignificantchangeinVictoriaandthatwewouldhavetheabilitytodiscussissueswithagovernmentthatwaspreparedtolisten.WeallknowhowthingsturnedoutonMay14,2013.Inspiteofthat,FPSE,asPensionPlanPartner,hasmanagedtonegotiateahistoricchangetoourpensionplanwiththegovernment.WehavealsoseensomewillingnessfromPSEAtoworktogetheronsomeissuessuchasdisabilitymanagement.

Thisyear,asFirstVice-President,IcontinuedintherolesthatIhadlastyear.IwastheExecutiveLiaisontotheHumanRightsandInternationalSolidarityCommittee,aswellastheDisabilityManagementandRehabilitationCommittee.IalsoservedonthecommitteethatpreparedfortheBargainingConferenceweheldinOctoberandontheJointCommitteeonBenefitsAdministration(JCBA).AlthoughnotasFirstVice-President,IcontinuedmyworkasaTrusteeoftheCollegePensionPlan,andtheCollegePensionBoardappointedmetotheBoardofBCInvestmentManagementCorporation(bcIMC).GiventhatbcIMCisintheprocessofhiringanewCEO/CIOtoreplaceDougPearce(theCEO/CIOforoveronequarterofacentury),itwasaverybusyyear.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Thisyearmyworkwasbusyeveninthesummer.JCBAdecidedtoorganizeaworkshoptoprovidetrainingtomembersoflocalrehabilitationcommittees.ThattraininghappenedattheendofOctoberbutmuchofthepreparation

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forithappenedduringthesummer.FPSEStaffRepresentativeZoeTowleandIwereonthesteeringcommitteeorganizingthetrainingandasaresultwerebothbusywiththatpreparation.Thetwodayworkshopwaswellattended.Wehadover30FPSEmembersatthetrainingsession,includingDMRCrepsandstewards.Onthewhole,peoplefoundtheworkshopworthwhileandfeltthatthesetypesoftrainingsessionsshouldhappenmorefrequently.WegotsomegoodfeedbackfromDMRCmembersafterthetrainingsessionandexpectthatthenextworkshopwillbeevenbetter.

Beforewescheduleanotherworkshop,JCBAisdoingathoroughreviewofthemanualprovidedtomembersoflocalrehabilitationcommittees.WeontheunionsideofJCBAhaveprovidedanextensivelistofproposedchanges.Wecontinuenegotiatingwiththeadminmembersofthejointcommittee.

Finally,weareexpectingthatthecontractfor

theExtendedHealth,Dental,ShortandLongTermDisabilityPlanswillbeputouttotendersoon.WewereabletonegotiateameaningfulrolefortheunionmembersofJCBAonthetenderingcommittee.IexpectthattheshortandlongtermdisabilitycarriersatisfactionsurveythatwasdevelopedbyDMRCwillbeusefulinthatprocess.

DISABILITY MANAGEMENT AND REHABILITATION COMMITTEE

Asmentionedabove,wehadatwodaytrainingsessionformembersoflocalrehabcommittees.Asaresult,theusualoneandahalfdayDMRCmeetingendedupbeingahalfdaymeetingandatwodaytrainingsession.

Wecontinuedworkontheshortandlongtermdisabilitycarriersatisfactionsurveyandfinalizeditthisyear.Iamhopefulwewillhavesomedatabackfromthesurveytodiscussatourmeetingnextfall.

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1stVICE-PRESIDENT’SREPORTHUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE

Manyofourlocalsthispastyearhostedaspeakeronthetopicofwater.Thosetalkswerepartofaspeakers’tourorganizedbyHRISCandpartiallyfundedbyFPSE.Asmanyofyouknow,2013wastheInternationalYearofWater.Waterisbecomingasignificantissueaswecontinuetoseedroughtsinsomepartsoftheworld,floodsinotherpartsandresourceextractionactivitythatdamageswatersupplies.Someoftheeventswerewell-attendedandtheinformationpresentedwasextremelyuseful.

Ajointsub-committeeofPresidents’CouncilandHRISCreviewedthetermsofreferenceofHRISCandunanimouslymaderecommendedchanges.ThoserecommendationsclarifytheroleofHRISCwithinFPSEandalsoclarifytheroleandpositionoftheChairofthecommittee.ThosechangeswillbepresentedtoAGM foritsapproval.

PENSIONS

AlthoughnotpartofmyroleasFirstVice-President,IcontinuedinmyroleasPensionTrustee.AsyouwillseeinmoredetailintheTrustee’sreportandthePresident’sreport,wemadeahistoricchangetotheCollegePensionPlan.Startingin2016,fornewserviceonly,thebenefitwillnolongerbeintegratedwiththeCanadaPensionPlanandwillbecomeafulltwopercentbenefitinsteadoftheoldtwopercentabovetheCanadaPensionPlan’syearsmaximumpensionableearnings(YMPE)and1.7percentbelow.Thisisgoodnews-especiallyforourlower-paidmembers.Thechangetoafulltwopercentcomeswithachangeinthereduction

factors,againonlyonnewservice.Thatchangewillhavenoneteffectontheaveragefacultymemberwhoretiresat62andwillbenefitthosewhoretirelater.

ThepartnersalsonegotiatedastructuretoincreasefundingtotheInflationAdjustmentAccount.Ibelievethestructurethatwasnegotiatedwasbrilliant.Itmakesitabundantlyclearthatpensionsaredeferredincomeanditmakesitjustthatmucheasiertodefendourpensionplan.

OTHER WORK

IalsoservedonacommitteetoreviewtheFPSEOfficerRelocationExpensePolicy,amendedtoensurethatfulltimeofficersdonotexperienceunduefinancialhardshipwhenmovingtotheLowerMainland.

ItaughttheinvestmentandfiduciarydutysectionoftheoneweekCLCWinterSchoolonbeingapensiontrustee,andIalsotaughtthefiduciarydutysectionoftheSHAREPensionBootcamp.

SUMMARY

Aftergettingovermyinitialdepressionthatstartedasaresultoftheshockingelectionresult,Igotdowntowork.Itwasaveryinterestingandbusyyearandalotoftheworktookplaceinthesummer.Becauseofsomeoflastyear’swork,thiscomingyearwillbeveryimportant.IthankStaffRepresentativesSeanHillmanandZoeTowlefortheirworkwithmeonthecommitteesforwhichIamliaison,andIespeciallythankElizaGardinerandAnnMarieDavisonfortheirworkchairingtheHRISCandDMRCrespectively.

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2ndVICE-PRESIDENT’SREPORT

Frank Cosco

FRANK COSCO

IhavecontinuedtostrivetosupporttheworkofFPSEthroughworkingonavarietyofassignmentsandrepresentativefunctionsforthePresident,Presidents’CouncilandtheExecutive.

PENSION PARTNER MEETINGS

ThispastyearhasbeenverybusyforCollegePensionPlanPartners.WithPresidentCindyOliverandSecretary-TreasurerGeorgeDavison,IhaveattendedseveralPartnermeetingsfocusedonfinalizingoptionsforchangewithinthestructureofourPensionPlan.Oncetheoptionsbecameclear,therewasalotofworkandnegotiation,ablyledbyPresidentOliver,tofinalizetheagreementreachedearlythisyear.Overtime,theagreementwillallowtheaccrualratetorisetotwopercentforallservice,anditalsobuildsmoreimmediateinflationprotection.Theformernecessitatedsettingabroaderagerangefordeductionstopensionentitlement.Thelatterwillbeachievedbyhavingcontributionstakenfromfuturepayincreases.

ThroughthePresident,FPSEtookaclearleadershiproleinachievingthesechangesanddidittheFPSEwaybyinvestinginseekinginputfromthegeneralmembershiptothefullestextentpossible.ThechangesaregroundbreakinginBCandmembersshouldtakeasignificantmeasureofprideinhavingtheircommitmenttoreformsuccessfullyconcluded.StaffRepresentativeWeldonCowan’sskillsasbothacommunicatorandstrategisthelpedcarrymuchoftheload.HeandourothertwomemberTrusteesJohnWilsonandDominiqueRoleantshave,overmanyyears,beentremendouslyeffectiveadvocatesforchange,andtheirleadershipattheBoardlevelhaspavedthewayforreform.Foractivemembers,

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2ndVICE-PRESIDENT’SREPORTthedecisiontomovesomefuturewagestothePlanforimmediateinflationprotectionforcurrentandfutureretireesisonethatdemonstratesaseriouscommitmenttointer-generationalequity.

PENSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

PennyHeaslip(Retired,02)hascompletedasuccessful,busyyearasPACChair.Long-timeStaffRepresentativeJeffMcKeilhasmovedonfromFPSEandthePACsupportrole,replacedbyStaffRepresentativeZoeTowle.

Thecommitteecontinuesitstraditionofmixingintensepolicydiscussionswithdetailedanalysisoftheissuesofthedayandwithopportunitiesforprofessionaldevelopment.Thispastyear,itaddedworkonseveralprojectsflowingfromitsownreflection,itsworkplan,andfrompolicydirectives.ExamplesofPAC’sworkthispastyearwereasessiononalternateframesofreferenceforsustainableinvestment,andeightdifferentworkinggroups.

PACenjoysverygoodattendanceandparticipationfromallFPSELocals.ThankstoAdministrativeCoordinatorNancyYipandStaffRepresentativeZoeTowlefortheireffectivesupportofthisgroup.

NoN-REGuLAR FACuLTY COMMITTEE

TeressaFedorak(02)ablychairsourimportantNRFC,withappreciationextendedtoourstaff,WeldonCowanandNancyYip,whosupportthecommittee’swork.CommitteemembersalsododoubledutyasrepstootherStandingCommittees.Eachmeetingprovidesasolidaritybuildingopportunityforwhatoftenfeelslikealonelyindividualtaskformanyreps.Thecommitteehasputoutasurveytomemberlocalsandwillbeusingtheinformationgatheredinitsfuturework.

ThispastyearthecommitteeagaindevotedoneofitssessionstoabroadermeetingwiththosewithcommoninterestsatUBC,SFU,a

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representativefromCAUT’sContractAcademicStaffgroup,andBCIT.AmericanbrothersfromWashingtonStatefacultyorganizations–JackLongmate(OlympicCollege)KeithHoeller(GreenRiverCollege),andAmericanFederationofTeachersorganizerTomMcCarthy(PierceCollege)–presentedontheirexperiences.TherewasadetailingontheeffectthatFPSEsuccessesandexampleshavehadonabroadrangeofadvocacyintheUnitedStates.

Amongstcomparableorganizations,FPSEhasthehighestgenerallevelofrightsfornon-regularsinNorthAmerica,andithasdevelopedanunparalleledsetofguidingprinciplesandpolicy.Itsleadershipgroupsarefullycommittedtosupportingnon-regularsandtoimprovingtheirconditions.Nevertheless,thelackoftangiblesuccessinrecentroundsofbargainingisfrustratingandwearsawayatboththeleadershipandmembergroups.Asalwayswithunionwork,thereneedstobeare-commitmenttoachievingourgoals.

Becauseoftheircontingentstatus,fromtimetotimenon-regularrepresentativesfinditdifficulttoconsistentlyattendthemeetingsofthecommittee.Therecouldbeawayforlocalstoensurethatwhentheirprimarynon-regulardelegatecannotattendaStandingCommitteemeeting,aninformedalternateisreadytostepin.Itissignificantwhenamembermissesameetingbecausethereareonlytwoinayear.

PRIVATE SECTOR LOCALS AND ORGANIzING COMMITTEE

OurnewestStandingCommittee,whichismadeupofrepsfromthesub-localsofLocal21,theEducationandTrainingEmployeesAssociation

(ETEA),hasprovidedatremendousforumfordiscussionanduniondevelopment.

Unfortunately,thispastyearpersonnelchangesandschedulingdifficultieshavemadeitdifficultforthecommitteetomeet.Wecanhowever,celebratethecontinuedsuccessoftheorganizinggroupwithinETEA.

BARGAINING

Afterthebargainingconferenceinthefall,Presidents’Councilmeetings,andthelatestBargainingCoordinationCommitteemeeting,thesharedissuesstrategyhasbeenendorsedasauniquelyFPSEwayofbothstrengtheningourlocalbargainingcapacityandourabilitytocoordinatetomaximumeffectiveness.AlongwithBCCChairBobDavis,I’vebeenaskedtoliaisebetweenandforbargainersandpresidentsaswestarttoengagewithmanagementinthis2014round.

ESL DOES MATTER

IhaveandwillcontinuetoprovideinputintoFPSE’scampaignagainstwhataretodatetheshort-sightedandexpedientpositionsofthecurrentprovincialgovernment.Facultywhodeliverprovincially-supportedESLprogrammingareatriskifthegovernmentdoesnotchangeitsposition.

APPRECIATION

ThankstoCindyandGeorge,allthestaff,Presidents’CouncilandtheExecutive,andtocommitteemembersfortheirsupportandcomradeshipaswecollectivelycontinuetoevolveandimproveFPSEastheexemplarypost-secondaryunionorganizationinNorthAmerica.

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MEMBER-AT-LARGEREPORTS

Leslie Molnar

LESLIE MOLNAR

ThiswasmysecondtermasMemberatLarge,andIcontinuetoenjoytheworkoftheExecutiveCommittee.IhaveanevengreaterappreciationandunderstandingofthestrengthsofandopportunitiesprovidedbyourFederation.FellowExecutivemembersCindy,George,Terri,Frank,andDominique–thankyouforsharingyourexperienceandwisdom.I’dalsoliketothankallthemembersofPresidents’Councilforcreatingandfosteringsuchapositiveandsupportiveworkenvironment.

RESPECTFUL WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Thisfall,IworkedwithSecondVice-PresidentFrankCoscoandStaffRepresentativeLesleyBurke-O'FlynnonLOU4:RespectfulWorkingEnvironmentandLOU8:HarassmentInvigilators.Thissub-committeearosefromthetemplatetablebargaininginJanuaryof2013.PSEAwasslowtostartorganizingdatesforallthreegroupstomeet(PSEA,FPSE,andBCGEU);infact,thefirstmeetingdidnothappenuntilafterthedatewhentheworkwassupposedtobecompleted.

Lesley,FrankandIreadmuchmaterialonharassmentandbullyingandthenewWorkSafeBCguidelines.AnumberofcollegeshadalreadyspenttheirtrainingdollarsandpurchasedthetrainingdevelopedbyFrame&Associates.Asaresult,thebestwecoulddowasmodifyandre-shapetheexistingtrainingtoacknowledgeunions,collectiveagreements,andlocalpolicies,andtoincludeexamplesrelevanttooursector.Itisnowinthehandsoftheemployers.Theresultingtrainingisfarfromperfect,butitisastart.Presentingthetraininginafacilitatedforumwouldfurtherincreaseitsusefulness.

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EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE

EPCischairedbyBlairFisher(Local12)andsupportedbyStaffRepresentativePhillipLegg.Thecommitteesharesinformationregardingpolicyandadministrativechallengesatourvariousinstitutions.Someoftheissuesdiscussedthisyearincludedtheneedforconsultationwithfacultyregardingchangestoprogramsandservices;theextrasupportneededbyinternationalstudents;issuesaroundESLandESLfundingandtheprivateEnglishlanguagetrainingpartnershipsthatexistatmanyinstitutions;problemswithtechnology(accesstoit,adequatetraining,andwhenitisappropriatetouse);andotherissueswhichcomefromasystemwhichischronicallyunderfundedandalwaysexperiencingbudgetpressures.

EPC’sworkonexploringandperhapsdevelopingpolicyaroundtheseissuescouldinformbargainingprioritiesanddiscussionsatEDCOsandSenatesatourindividualinstitutions.TheattackonESLfundingandtheuncertaintyofnextyear’sfundingwillcontinuetobeanimportantissue.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOLARLY ACTIVITY COMMITTEE

ThiswasmyfirstyearasExecutiveLiaisontoPDSC.ThecommitteewaschairedbyBobFuhr(Local5)andsupportedbyStaffRepresentativeLeahSquance.Thecommitteecontinuestosharebestpractices,maintainaspreadsheetofPDfundingavailableateachinstitution,andshareinformationandissuesonthemanyissuessurroundingaccesstoPDandtoscholarlyactivity.Thecommitteeisexploringthesharingofinstitutionalhandbooks.Mostplacesreported

anincreasedinterestinresearchcenterswithagrowingnumberofinstitutionsnowbeingabletoaccessthedifferentresearchgrantsavailable.

Thereisawidevariationintheamountandtypesoffundingavailableateachinstitution,aswellasvarietyinthewaythefundsareadministered.Therewasextrapressurethisyeartoensurethe0.6%fundwasspentsoitwouldnotbeclawedback.Facultyreportthatall(oratleastmost)oftheavailablefundingisutilized.

TherewasdiscussionaboutmakingaccesstoPDfairerfornon-regularfaculty.Someprogresscanhopefullybemadeatthebargainingtable.ThecommitteesuggestedChrisCorriganasaworkshoppresenterfortheSpringConference,andhisworkshoponappreciativeinquirywasverywellreceived.

FiNANCE SuB-CoMMiTTEE

George,FrankandIsitontheFinanceSub-Committee.Thisyear(thankstoGeorgeandtoMattToma),aprotocolforapprovaloffundsfortheOrganizingCommitteehasbeendeveloped.Thisprotocolwillgreatlyaidintheconsistencyofapprovaloffundsfororganizingactivities.

APPRECIATION

ThankyouagainfortheopportunitytoserveontheExecutiveCommittee.ToeachmemberoftheExecutiveandofPresidents’Council–thankyouforthesupportandforsharingyourknowledge.ToPDSCandEPCmembers–thankyouforwelcomingmeandforallyourextraweekendwork.Andfinally,toalltheFPSEStaff,thankyoufortakingsuchgoodcareofmeandalwaysprovidinganyofthesupportsIneededtodomywork.

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MEMBER-AT-LARGEREPORTS

Terri Van Steinburg

First,letmethankPresidents’Councilforelectingmeafterlastyear’sAGMinNanaimo.Iappreciateyoursupportandthankyoufortheworkyoudo.

Ithasbeenayearofchallenges,whichisalltoocommoninourwork,andalsoayearofsomesuccess.

Oneofthosechallengeswastheprovince-widereductionstoESLofferings.Manylocalsfaced,andstillface,layoffsofmembers.ThroughthelobbyingeffortsofFPSEandmemberlocals,wepressuredgovernmenttoprovidefundingforthenextfiscalyear.Thefightisnotoverthough,andwemustcontinuetolobbytoensureallstudentshaveaccesstoprogramssuchasESL.

MyresponsibilitiesasFPSEMember-at-Largefor2013/14haveincludedworkontwoStandingCommittees,theStatusofWomenCommittee(SWC)andtheWorkplaceHealth,SafetyandEnvironmentCommittee(WHSEC).InadditiontoStandingCommitteework,IalsoparticipatedontheBargainingConferencePlanningCommittee,ClimateSurveyWorkingGroupandInternationalSolidarityFundcommittee.

FPSE STANDING COMMITTEES

Status of Women Committee

IhaveenjoyedbeingbackasExecutiveLiaisontoSWCandhaveenjoyedworkingwiththededicatedwomenrepresentativesfromeachlocal,aswellasChairJoyGugeler(08)andStaffRepresentativeLesleyBurke-O’Flynn.

SWCmetNovember15and16,2013andFebruary21,2014.SomeoftheitemsthecommitteeisworkingonincludeanInternational

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Women’sDayvideoprojectandSWCwebpagedevelopmentwork.

Workplace health Safety and Environment Committee

ThiswasmyfirsttimeasExecutiveLiaisontoWHSEC.Whatinterestingandimportantworkthiscommitteetakeson!

ThecommitteemetNovember22and23,2013andFebruary21,2014.Someoftheitemsthecommitteehasbeendiscussingandworkingonincludeinstitutional“workingalone”policiesandinstitutionallock-downprocedures.RetoReisen(11)wasacclaimedforanothertermasWHSECChair.Andofcourse,athankyougoestotheWHSECStaffRepresentativeLeahSquance.

BC FEDERATION OF LABOUR

Women’s Rights Committee

StaffRepresentativeLesleyBurke-O’FlynnandIrepresentFPSEontheBCFEDWRC.Therehavebeenseveralmeetingsthispastyear,includingaday-longstrategicplanningsessionthatwasheldonNovember1.Twomainprioritiesforthecommitteecameoutofthestrategicplanningday:women’seconomicsecurityandwomen’ssafety.

WRCisalsobusyorganizingthe2014SummerInstituteforUnionWomen,whichwillbeheldattheUniversityofVictoriainJuly2014.ShirleyAcklandandIhavebeeninvitedtoshareourexperiencewithneweractivistsduringasessionatthisyear’sSIUW.WRCalsohasaFacebookpagewithlotsofresources.Pleasecheckitoutat:facebook.com/BCFEDWRC.

Trustees Meeting

IhavebeenatrusteeoftheBCFederationofLaboursince2010.TrusteesmettoexaminethefinancialrecordsoftheBCFED.TrusteesalsometwiththeFinanceCommitteetoreviewtheyear-endreportwiththeauditor.

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS

Women’s Working Group

CAUThasapprovedanewequitystructurethatwillinvolvefournewnetworks,includingaWomenAcademicStaffnetwork.ThenetworkswillprovideanopportunityformembersofmarginalizedgroupsfromallassociationsacrossthecountrytoparticipateinprovidingadvicetoCAUTonitsequityworkandtoadvanceequityworkinlocalassociations.

MembersofthefournetworkswillbeconsultedelectronicallybytheEquityCommittee,whichismadeupoftworepresentativesfromeachofthefourhistoricallymarginalizedgroups.ThischangehasmeantawindingdownoftheworkoftheWomen’sWorkingGroup.

Collective Bargaining and Economic Benefit Committee

Therehavebeentwoface-to-facemeetingsinOttawaandoneelectronicmeetingoftheCBEBC.Thecommitteehasworkedonanumberofmodelclausesonissuessuchas,healthandsafety;maternityandparentalleave;andsuspension,disciplineanddismissal.OnceapprovedbyCAUTCouncil,thesemodelclausesareavailableonthepassword-protectedpartoftheCAUTwebsiteforusein

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MEMBER-AT-LARGEREPORTScollectiveagreementsandbargainingacrossCanada.Thecommitteealsodoespolicyreviewandpolicydevelopmentwork.Forexample,atourmostrecentmeetingwedevelopedapolicyontransitioning.ThisismodeledontheCLClanguageand,whenapproved,willprovidemuchneededsupportfortransgenderedmembersandprovidedirectionformemberassociationsonthiscomplexissue.

OTHER

IamMember-at-LargeontheExecutiveofNationalUnionoftheCanadianAssociationofUniversityTeachersrepresentingtheWest.

WehavehadseveralteleconferencesthispastyearthathavefocusedondealingwithregularbusinessaswellasdiscussingtheCLCcampaign,TogetherFairnessWorksandorganizingourconventionthisMay.

Inclosing,IwouldliketothankmyfellowExecutivemembers,Cindy,George,Frank,DominiqueandLeslie,fortheirgoodworkandsupportthispastyear.

Icontinuetoappreciatetheopportunitytoserveyouandallourmembersthispastyear,andIthankyouforyourcontinuedactivismandadvocacyonbehalfoftheFederation.

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