Email to webmaster (Gene Lantz) Back to home page
National Vice President Shane Fox reports to the Texas Alliance that exciting things happened at the recent Executive Board meeting.
The Alliance has negotiated Member Benefits which we can use to answer that inevitable question of "What benefits do you offer" when recruiting individuals or groups. The benefits are applicable to all members (Union and Community Based) and include low-rate credit cards, supplemental insurance options, discounts on Dell computers and many, many other things.
(1) The Communications Committee issued its report including its goals from
April 2007 to November 2008.
a) Build upon the Communications successes of 2006.
b) Better Educate and Mobilize Alliance Members
c) Expand Earned Media
d) Increase Exposure of Alliance within Key Communities
e) Alliance Success in 2008 Presidential & Congressional Races
f) Maximize Potential of September 2007 Legislative Conference.
Fox reports that there was heightened emphasis on, and increased awareness of, the changing dynamics of the election cycle. It has become a continual process and the 2008 campaign, to a great extent, is already well underway. Our challenge will be to organize and mobilize our Texas seniors. The National ARA will hold a legislative conference in Washington DC in early September.
**
Roy Parrish, a member in Dallas, is urging everybody to vote in favor of a statewide resolution that would give property tax relief to seniors. It is an amendment to correct an error made by the lawmakers when they voted for a reduction in school property taxes in 2005. When the lawmakers voted for a one-third reduction school property taxes beginning in 2006 and to be completed this year, they forgot about the homestead exemption for senior citizens and people with disabilities. The state constitution caps school property taxes for homeowners 65 years and older and those who are disabled. However, they DID NOT get the same reduction when the property tax cut for schools was voted on two years ago.
So an amendment is on the May ballot to correct this error. The problem is that most voters who are younger than 65 or not disabled probably won't even notice the amendment or care. Parrish writes, "PLEASE get out and vote for this amendment if not for yourself then for your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends. We would really appreciate your getting the word out to all your friends and families to vote for this amendment. The fear is that with a low voter turnout, the amendment could very well not pass."
Parrish has also cautioned retirees from Western Electric Manufacturing that the U.S. Congress needs to take action to protect their health care and pensions. Some retirees, like Parrish, were members of the Communications Workers of America. Others were from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
RMC Members Local 6290:
On Wednesday April 18 I attended a meeting in Oklahoma City primarily held to inform retirees who had retired from the Western Electric Mfg. plant who were IBEW members, however there were many retired CWA retirees in attendance. It seems the IBEW retirees had not received information about their plight concerning pensions and health care. There are many CWA retirees who may not be aware of the serious matter that may be ahead involving health care and pensions. He urged retirees to write faxes to our U.S. Senators and provided these numbers:
--Gene Lantz, TARA Communications Director