FLORIDA SUNCOAST RETIREE CHAPTER, APWU, AFL-CIO FOUNDING OFFICERS TO RETIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2007

SUNCOAST RETIREES CHAPTER NEWS
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 4 AUG.-SEPT., 2007

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A publication of the Suncoast Area Local, APWU, AFL-CIO, serving over 700 APWU Retiree Chapter Dues Paying Members and their families living in zip codes 337 and 346 along the Gulf Coast of Florida and a Proud Member of APWU National Postal Press Association, Florida Postal Press Association, National Alliance for Retired Americans, Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, and West Central Florida, Federation of Labor, Central Labor Council. The Florida Suncoast Retiree Chapter was chartered by the National APWU in November, 1998. Our APWU Retiree Newsletter is the first published and mailed via the U.S. Postal Service in the Nation and we really do care! Contact us when in need of a lifeline. Life is full of wonderful surprises. What a great feeling to live in Florida! Never any local or state APWU Retiree union dues to pay!

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NEW APWU OF FLORIDA STATE RETIREE CHAPTER INTERNET WEBSITE LAUNCHED:

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Go online to www.retireeparadise.blogspot.com to search for Retiree answers and latest News!
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CHAPTER FOUNDING OFFICERS RETIRE DECEMBER 31, 2007!

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President Jack Gose, age 78, has announced he will retire at the end of his fifth term of office as Florida Suncoast Retiree Chapter President, effective December 31, 2007. He will retire also as the first Retiree Director of the Suncoast Area Local, APWU #1228, culminating a forty (40) year career as a member and Local Union officer of the American Postal Workers Union and National Association of Special Delivery Messengers.

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Jack began his postal career at the Main Post Office in St. Petersburg, FL 33713 as a career substitute Special Delivery Messenger in April, 1967 earning $2.64 hour, and he retired in October, 1992 after a 25-year career along with National APWU President Moe Biller and many other APWU craft members taking the early out.

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Jack served as Secretary-Treasurer of his home local for over 18+ years, and will continue to be a leader on the state and national scenes as President of APWU of Florida State Retiree Chapter and Vice President of Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, 220,000 member group.

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John Sardin, Jr., age 85, Treasurer of Florida Suncoast Retiree Chapter, has announced he will retire from his office at the end of his term on December 31, 2007. John is a beloved APWU brother and former longtime Human Relations Director of the Suncoast Area Local. He helped to found this first APWU Florida Local Retiree Chapter in October, 1998

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Both officers look forward to spending more time with their families, and wish the newly elected officers, members, and families of this great Retiree Chapter the best of luck in 2008!
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FLORIDA SUNCOAST RETIREE CHAPTER, APWU NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS TO BEGIN ON TUESDAY, SEPT. 25, 2007!

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Nominations of Florida Suncoast Retiree Chapter Officers, Delegates, and Trustees shall be accepted at the regular monthly Chapter meeting to be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at Buddy Freddys Restaurant, 1150 U.S. Hwy. 19, Holiday, Fl. 34691 in the reserved APWU area starting at 12:00 p.m. after the Retiree Chapter 1-hour luncheon from 11 a.m. to noon.

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Nominations and elections of seven (7) Florida Suncoast Retiree Chapter Executive Board Officers, two (2) Trustees, and two (2) Convention Delegates, who shall be elected for a two (2) year term beginning Jan. 1, 2008 and ending on Dec. 31, 2009.

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Executive Board Officers:
President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, and Trustee Chairperson.
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According to Article 5, Section 3 of our Chapter Constitution & By-Laws, Nominations will not be accepted after the close of the September membership meeting, and the names of those nominated shall be listed in the October Chapter publication. Nominations shall be permitted from the floor at the September 25 Chapter membership meeting in which nominations are made.

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FREE LUNCHEON TO FIRST FORTY (40) CHAPTER MEMBERS/FAMILY MEMBERS TO SIGN IN ON ATTENDANCE SHEET ON TUESDAY, SEPT. 25, 2007 AT 11:00 A.M. AT BUDDY FREDDYS BUFFET RESTAURANT LOCATED IN HOLIDAY, FLORIDA AT 1150 U. S. HIGHWAY 19, ABOUT 100 YARDS NORTH OF THE PINELLAS/PASCO COUNTY LINE.

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Florida Suncoast Retiree Chapter members/family members, excluding Chapter Officers, can win the Face Card $25.00 Cash Door Prize at the regular Chapter meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007 in Holiday, Florida. Chapter Officer Nominations and Elections scheduled at this regular membership meeting!

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All active and retired members/family guests are invited to all our Chapter meetings. Retiree Chapter members attending their first Chapter meeting shall be awarded a $10.00 Sign In Bonus Cash Prize, limited to the first five (5) to arrive at each meeting, and also shall receive a FREE National APWU Survivors’ Family Booklet worth $3.00.

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One hundred ninety-five (195) persons have signed in and attended our meetings to date since 1998! Please join us and pick up your prize! Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries!

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EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETS 10 AM TO 11 AM
LUNCHEON FROM 11 AM TO 12:00 PM
REGULAR MEETING FROM 12:00 PM - 1 PM

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FSRC FOUNDERS 2006-2007 EXECUTIVE BOARD:

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Jack Gose, President 727-343-2998
Dan Delehanty, First Vice-President 727-862-2923
Janet Hamlin, 2nd Vice President 727-379-0032
Jerry Columbus, Secretary 727-372-9855
John Sardin, Jr., Treasurer 727-347-5687
Bob Jilek, Trustee Chair 727-535-2409
Mike Sullivan, Local Union President 727-520-7300

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FSRC FOUNDERS 2006-2007 ADDTL. OFFICERS:

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John R. Stephens, Health Plan Rep. 727-934-4033

Spencer Blydenburgh, Trustee/Mbr Dir 727-544-6536
Mario G. Miceli, Legislative Director 727-446-4781
Alfred DiServio, Historian & AFL-CIO 727-372-9219
Tom Brown, Trustee 727-847-6987
Skip Lilly, Sergeant-at-Arms 727-546-4206
Don Robinson, Retiree CLC Delegate 727-819-2094
Rutha Gavin, Chaplain 727-894-1349

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS 2007 LISTEN UP!

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The below thirty (30) Florida Suncoast Retiree Chapter Members, Family, & Guests, attended the entertaining Retiree Chapter luncheon and business meeting held on Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at Buddy Freddys Buffet Restaurant in Holiday, FL. 34691. New officers will be nominated and elected at our next Chapter meeting on Tuesday, September 25, 2007!

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FLA. SUNCOAST RET. CHAPTER MEMBERS (19):

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Clearwater, Mario Miceli; Gulfport, Tony Fiore; Holiday, Susan Gilley, Peter Stecyk, Jr., and John R. Stephens; Hudson, Dan Delehanty and Ken Tennis; New Port Richey, Tom Brown, Jerry Columbus, Alfred DiServio, Alfred Martinez and Richard Scarpato; Port Richey, Mike Bourke and Don Robinson; Saint Petersburg, Bill Baker and Spencer Blydenburgh, Jr.; South Pasadena, Jack Gose, and Tarpon Springs, Pauline Glidden and Jim Glover.

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INVITED FAMILY MEMBERS AND GUESTS (11):

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Clearwater, Bonnie Miceli; Holiday, Dorothy Stephens; Hudson, Joan Delehanty; New Port Richey, Eugenia Columbus and Helen Nicosia; Port Richey, Patricia Bourke and Henry Brown; St. Petersburg, Patricia Blydenburgh; South Pasadena, Patty Gose; Tarpon Springs, Richard Coultes; and Invited Guest Speaker Karen Milne, Project Grace, Florida Suncoast Hospice, Clearwater, FL.

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STATE RETIREE CHAPTER EXEC. BOARD:
Jack Gose, President So. Pasadena 727-343-2998
Valentine Serpico, VP Ft. Lauderdale 954-396-4217
Dave Bernstein, LegislativeDir Tampa 813-839-4233
Mario G. Miceli, Sec-Trs., Clearwater 727-446-4781
J.C. Wise, Health Plan Dir, Tampa 813-289-0382
Beth Cramer, Benefits Dir Cape Coral 239-242-9133
Charlie Redd, Trustee Cocoa 321-632-2898
Pedro Torres, Trustee Miami 305-251-7938
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STATE RETIREE CHAPTER ADDITIONAL OFFICERS:
John Sardin, Jr., Historian St. Pete 727-347-5687

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RETIREE INTERNET LINK: GO TO www.apwuflorida.org and click on Retiree link for information.
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The Editor reserves the right to edit articles submitted for publication as needed for space and shall appreciate any helpful ideas you may wish to share with me. Contact Jack Gose, Editor, at the Pinellas Park, Fl. office address, or phone 727-520-7300, E-Mail: Jak.Gose@Excite.com or phone me 727-343-2998 at home. Editors, get New Life as 121 Editors accomplished by adding our Suncoast Retirees Chapter News publication to their APWU Area Local/Local newsletter PPA Editor mailing list!

FLORIDA AFL-CIO CONVENTION AT TRADEWINDS ISLAND GRAND RESORT, ST. PETE BEACH, FL SEP 30-OCT 3, 2007

FLORIDA AFL-CIO CONVENTION FIGHTING FOR FLORIDA’S FUTURE ON THE BEACHES ALONG THE GULF OF MEXICO

The Florida AFL-CIO Biennial Convention will be held at the Trade Winds Island Grand Resort, 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Petersburg Beach, FL 33706, from Mon., Oct. 1 thru Wed., Oct. 3, 2007 according to President Jack Gose. Registration will begin on Sun., September 30, 2007.

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Every seat on the Florida AFL-CIO 42-member Executive Board is up for election, and it is expected there will a large turnout of elected Delegates and guests from all over the state for this affair. The Florida AFL-CIO New Alliance policies go into effect at this Convention, and it is hoped that several APWU locals in the State of Florida will send Delegates to attend this conclave of Union Labor members and families.

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Registration fee is $75.00 to attend and get a complete Florida AFL-CIO Convention bag with all the Officer’s reports and resolutions. For Delegates who only attend the Convention to cast a vote, there is a $10.00 registration fee but no Convention bag is given.

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Three (3) Union labels are required on each delegate. There is a $5.00 fine if you do not have at least one (1) per the 1976 Convention Proceedings. Jack Gose was Chairman of the Union Label Committee at the 1976 Florida AFL-CIO Convention which reported on this resolution to the Convention Body over 30 years ago.

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If you have any questions or need more info, contact Retiree Chapter President Jack Gose 24/7 at 727-343-2998 or send an E-mail to jak.gose@excite.com for a prompt reply. We love all of you!