YA SHUDDA BEEN THERE!

WHERE? The Local membership meeting on October 7, 1997

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SEEN?

A performance worthy of an Academy Award® by Nita Moreno, President. Remember all the stuff from the 'Hot August Night' and the complaints I filed? This is how it unfolded…the "Queen of Hearts apologized to the maker of the motion to reconsider but not to the person (me) who called point of order! when it was made. Mom then declared that motion and the one that followed 'null and void'. She explained how this put us back at "square one". Mom provided further edification to the members in attendance about Robert's Rules. The menu was a cut above the usual pizza (no expense spared for votes). [Silly me! I could have sworn that is what I did when I called for a point of order on the "Hot August Night"] And...the food was good!

After the explanation and the members in attendance had been told what Mom wanted there was a motion to rescind (it takes 2/3 to rescind). The motion that was rescinded was made at the June meeting by Sue Inman.The motion required payroll check stubs to substantiate the payment of lost-time-wage (LTW) for stewards and/or members working for the local. And...the food was good!

With that out of the way, the Secretary-Treasurer was called upon to read a resolution that established a policy on how the payment of LTW would be made. Natoli (Secretary-Treasurer) had it (the resolution) all typed up with his arguments for passage included. When he was reading it he did say whoops when he read the part typed in about the motion to rescind having passed (how did they know that it would pass?) The issue of the payment of LTW and expenses is a major part of what put our Local in 'receivership'. Why so much time and energy is expended on what had been resolved with a motion escapes me--unless there is a 'hidden agenda' for the new 'resolution'. It always goes smoothly when you have a majority and a menu that is a cut above the usual pizza. And...the food was good!

SOME MOTIONS WERE MADE!:

The budget for fiscal year '97-'98 was brought up for passage. I noticed a line item for organizing that allocated $5,000 and made a motion to change it to the amount (10%) called for in the resolution passed at a CWA Convention. A question was asked how much that was. The 'Queen of Hearts' rapidly calculated the cost at $96,000 without the use of a calculator (our projected income is $960,000). This caused gasps of horror and disbelief from the crowd. Nita didn't explain that organizing in the sense of the resolution did not mean organizing her office closet. I blurted out (naughty boy that I am); "it doesn't all have to be spent--just allocated! I was asked where I thought the budget should be rearranged to accomplish my motion. I replied from mileage, and officers/steward's lunches for starters! Another round of gasps of horror and cries of disbelief was generated . My motion was defeated! And...the food was good!

BW (BullWinkle) makes a motion. "No duly elected officer [as opposed to unduly elected like the 'rottweiler'?] or Executive Board Member of CWA Local 9510 shall use any personal communication forum utilizing information from said office, including but not limited to company/union documents, memorandums of agreement, company policies or vouchers. Nor shall such elected representative use any personal communication forum which in any way criticizes any member of CWA, whether elected or not. All of our disagreements shall be kept in-house, within Local 9510 except as provided by the By Laws or CWA Constitution.

I called a point of order and stated that I believed the motion to be out of order since there was a section of the US Constitution (first amendment) that had a higher ranking than BW's motion. Surprise! After everything President Moreno had said earlier about studying Robert's Rules, she ruled that my point was not well taken. The motion passed. And...the food was good!

I think BW's motion is directed at this web site and me. What do you think? You can put your .02¢ worth in by going to the forum section.

Mike Minimal makes a motion! "The membership of CWA Local 9510 censure GT Vice-President Mike Drake for conduct unbecoming an officer". After the motion was duly seconded, he went into a rather lengthy ramble sprinkled with fiction. After what this erstwhile newsletter committee person wrote about people from Texas! I shudder to think what he will do when he finds out I was born in Houston! The motion passed to scattered applause. I am lucky he didn't include blaming me for the LA Dodgers doing an El Foldo. Come back next month to see if I will be blamed for El Niño! And...the food was good!

I'm not clear on what conduct is unbecoming. I wonder if he will clarify it at a future meeting. I am not paranoid by nature but I feel compelled to ponder this question: I wonder if there is a plan to 'defrock' me or take away my pager? What do you think? You can put your .02¢ worth in by going to the forum section. Mike makes motions! Do you want to see some?

As I said on the access page to this site, "things happen at the company or the union on a daily basis. Every day is an adventure. I want to share these adventures with you. Thank the founders of our country for the 'Bill of Rights' and the 'First Amendment'. The longer I keep this site going the more bizarre the adventure will be. Please return and leave those cookies!

Ps. The food? I didn't eat any! This brand of democracy makes me sick to my stomach!