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FEDERATIONOFPOST-SECONDARYEDUCATORSOFBC
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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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