2007 HOW TO ORGANIZE AN APWU AREA LOCAL/LOCAL RETIREE CHAPTER

Which APWU Area Local/Local in the state of Florida will receive the next APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter Charter from National APWU Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to join Broward County AL, Miami AL, Tampa AL, and Suncoast AL in the APWU of Florida State Retiree Chapter. We offer a Challenge to twenty-one (21) other Florida Area Locals/Locals with over ten (10) National APWU Retiree $24.00 year or $2.00 month dues paying members currently which have no chartered APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapters in their areas, sorted in alpha sequence below, to ORGANIZE an APWU Retiree Chapter as soon as possible:

Central Florida AL; Citrus Center AL; Daytona Beach AL; Florida Keys AL; Jacksonville BMC Local; Manasota Local; Manatee AL; Melbourne AL; Mid-Florida AL; North Central Florida AL; Northeast Florida AL; Palm Beach AL; Panama City Local; Pensacola AL; Playground AL; Sarasota Local; South County AL; Southwest Florida AL; Space Coast AL; Tallahassee Local; and Vero Beach Local.

We recommend any APWU Local/Area Local President interested in organizing an APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter in their Area Local/Local, to contact the National APWU Retirees Department and request the information needed below to begin the search, or go online to the National APWU Retirees Department website apwu.org/retiree by clicking on the below link: http://www.apwu.org/dept/retiree/retformchapter.htm to find additional Retiree information in order to take action and get the ball rolling:

(1) Request a Model APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter Constitution and By-Laws and sample copies of Retiree Chapter Constitution and By-Laws adopted by other APWU chartered Area Local/Local Retiree Chapters.

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(2) Request a Copy of APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter membership names, residence address, and zip code by alpha and zip code sequence.
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(3) Pass a Resolution at an Executive Board meeting of the active APWU Area Local/Local in support of establishing an APWU Retiree Chapter.

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(4) Mail a letter to all the APWU Retirees paying $24.00 year or $2.00 month union dues to the National APWU Retirees Department at their home address where they reside, or write an article in the APWU Area Local/Local newsletter mailed to the Retirees, inviting them to an ORGANIZATION meeting and FREE luncheon of the Area Local/Local to create an APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter.

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(5) The APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Organization Committee should take Retiree Officer nominations from the floor at the organization meeting and/or accept Retiree member volunteers. However, the President of the APWU Area Local/Local appoints all the founding Retiree Officer Executive Board members, until the first Chapter election of new Retiree Chapter officers voted on by the Retiree dues paying membership.

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(6) Mail the interim list of appointed Retiree Chapter officers and completed Retiree Chapter Constitution and By-Laws to the National APWU Retirees Director, APWU Headquarters, 1300 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 for transmittal to the National APWU Secretary-Treasurer's office for charter approval by the National APWU President and Secretary-Treasurer.

According to Article 16, Section 2 (i) of the National APWU Constitution and By-Laws, ten (10) or more APWU Retirees Department members, residing within local or area local geographical jurisdiction, may form an Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter.

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Now that everyone knows the ABC’s of organizing an APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter, let’s celebrate and start organizing. With 3,000 APWU of Florida Retiree Chapter dues paying members, many Retirees are just sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring or get a letter in the mail announcing an Area Local/Local Organizing Committee meeting to create a new Local Union Retiree Chapter.

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Contact Jack Gose at 727-343-2998, E-mail jak.gose@excite.com and/or go online to www.retireeparadise.blogspot.com for more information. We don’t claim to be an expert, but WE LOVE TO ORGANIZE!

APWU OF FLORIDA STATE RETIREES CHAPTER FREE LUNCHEON SET FOR HILTON PALM BEACH AIRPORT RESTAURANT IN WEST PALM BEACH, FL ON WED., MAY 9, 2007!

An APWU of Florida State Retiree Chapter FREE luncheon for each Retiree Chapter member paying Retiree union dues to the National APWU Retirees Dept. of $24.00 year or $2.00 month and one guest, limit of two per family, attending the Retirees Luncheon to be held at the Hilton Palm Beach Airport Restaurant, 150 Australian Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33406 from 12 NOON to 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, 2007, the day before the APWU of Florida Spring Seminar begins on Thurs., May 10 thru Sat., May 12, 2007 at the same Hotel where the semi-annual conclave is held for educational classes for active and retiree APWU members.

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Retiree Happy folders will be distributed to all those attending, and everyone is invited! Up to five (5) $25.00 Cash Door Prizes will be awarded to the first five APWU of Florida State Retiree Chapter members signing in and attending the Retirees Luncheon. Enjoy friendly conversation and learn the secrets of longer life!

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An APWU of Florida State Retiree Chapter Executive Board meeting will be held in the Restaurant Private Dining Area (PDR) at 11 am to 12 noon preceding the Luncheon, and everyone is invited to listen and participate in the discussion on motions brought before the Executive Board. The Hilton is located west of the intersection of I-95 and Southern Blvd (U.S. Hwy 98), and near the southeast corner of Palm Beach International Airport. Palm Beach and the beaches are only 3 miles distant.

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The Hilton Hotel telephone number to phone for room reservations is 1-800-443-3545, and APWU of Florida special group room rates are $119.00 Single/Double night, plus 11.5 taxes. To get the group rate, reservations must be made by April 30, 2007. Complimentary self-parking is available, and all indoor facilities and sleeping accommodations are designated non-smoking areas. Guests are permitted to smoke by the Hilton poolside/tiki bar. See Ya in West Palm Beach, Baby! We Love You!

Jack Gose, President, APWU of Florida State Retiree Chapter, AFL-CIO

WHERE DO APWU RETIREE CHAPTER DUES PAYING MEMBERS LIVE? HOW TO ORGANIZE AN APWU RETIREE CHAPTER!

Which state will receive the next National APWU Charter as an APWU State Retiree Chapter to join Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and California?

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The below Retiree Chapter state membership figures sorted by highest number of Area Local/Local Chapters and alpha are estimates based on data we obtained a couple years ago from the National APWU on the 40,000 + APWU Retiree dues paying membership, updated to include the number of APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapters listed in parentheses in 17 states:

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OH 2000+ (7); FL 3000+ (4); MI 1300+ (4); CA 2700+ (2); IL 1600+ (2); MD/DC 600 (2); NY 4000+ (2); NC 1200+ (2); PA 2300+ (2); GA 900+ (1); IN 850+ (1); IA 650+(1); KS 400+ (1); MO 1000+ (1); NE 400+ (1); TX 2500+ (1); VA 800+ (1).

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We offer a Challenge to Organize an APWU Retiree Chapter ASAP to the other Thirty-three (33) States, sorted in alpha sequence below, which have no chartered APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapters currently:

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AL 460+; AK 65+; AR 380+; AZ 650+; CO 450+; CT 570+; DE 110+; HI 65+; ID 200+; KY 550+; LA 700+; ME 260+; MA 800+; MN 800+; MS 400+; MT 200+; NV 400+; NH 300+; NJ 2000+; NM 50+; ND 130+; OK 500+; OR 400+; RI 150+; SC 500+; SD 200+; TN 700+; UT 160+; VT 140+; WA 550+; WV 400+; WI 950+; and WY 130+.

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PR 100+; VI 40+.

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We recommend any APWU State President and/or APWU Local/Area Local President interested in organizing an APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter and/or APWU State Retiree Chapter in their Area Local/Local or State, to contact the National APWU Retirees Department and request the information needed to begin the search, or go online to the National APWU Retirees Department website apwu.org/retiree by clicking on the below link: http://www.apwu.org/dept/retiree/retformchapter.htm

for additional Retiree information in order to take action and get the ball rolling:

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(1) Model APWU Area Local/Local or State Retiree Chapter Constitution and By-Laws and sample copies of Retiree Chapter Constitution and By-Laws adopted by other APWU chartered Retiree Chapters.

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(2) Copy of APWU Area Local/Local or State Retiree Chapter membership names, residence address, and zip code by alpha and zip code sequence.

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(3) Pass a Resolution at an Executive Board meeting of the active APWU Area Local/Local or active APWU State organization in support of establishing an APWU Retiree Chapter.

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(4) Mail a letter to all the APWU Retirees paying $24.00 year or $2.00 month union dues at the National APWU Retirees Department to their home address where they reside, or write an article in the APWU Area Local/Local or APWU State organization newsletter mailed to the Retirees, inviting them to an organization meeting and FREE luncheon of the Area Local/Local or APWU State organization to create an APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter or APWU State Retiree Chapter.

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(5) The APWU Area Local/Local or State Retiree Chapter Organization Committee should take Retiree Officer nominations from the floor at the organization meeting and/or accept Retiree member volunteers. However, the President of the APWU Area Local/Local or APWU State organization appoints all the founding Retiree Officer Executive Board members and other officers until the Chapter election of new Retiree Chapter officers voted on by the Retiree dues paying membership.

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(6) Mail the interim list of appointed Retiree Chapter officers and completed Chapter Constitution and By-Laws to the National APWU Retirees Director, APWU Headquarters, 1300 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 for transmittal to the National APWU Secretary-Treasurer's office for charter approval by the National APWU President and Secretary-Treasurer.

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According to Article 16, Section 2 (i) of the National APWU Constitution and By-Laws, ten (10) or more APWU Retirees Department members, residing within local or area local geographical jurisdiction, may form an Area Local/Local Retiree Chapter.

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The ongoing National APWU policy has been that after three (3) APWU Area Local/Local Retiree Chapters have been chartered in any state, an APWU State Chapter may be formed in that state.

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Jack Gose, President and Editor, APWU of Florida State Retiree Chapter, AFL-CIO