President’s Message – May 2013
June 2013
With our recent election of three new officers, we've taken another historic step forward as a union. At our founding convention, the delegates elected four officers. After that, and at each convention since, we have elected two officers, in rotation, to four year terms. In 2006, delegates endorsed a plan to reduce the number of officers from four to two. However, as our membership continues to grow and diversify, our Executive Council, the Board of Directors, and now the delegates to our 2013 special convention decided that it makes sense to expand the officer leadership as well.
Now I'm pleased to welcome to our union's leadership team: Executive Vice President Denise Duncan, RN; Treasurer Jettie Deden-Castillo, NP; and Secretary Charmaine Morales, RN. Denise brings the deep knowledge and experience of almost thirty years' activism and staff representation to the board. She's been on many bargaining teams and will be my worthy back-up as Executive Vice President. Jettie brings passion, decades of professional experience, and a breadth of knowledge as an activist and union leader to the Treasurer's solemn fiduciary responsibilities as CFO of the union. Charmaine, though a new leader in our union, brings energy and a fresh perspective.
This group of talented and committed new officers will only enhance the leadership team. Meanwhile, the essential work of our union remains unchanged: improving patient care; enhancing the working conditions and professional status of all our members; increasing the awareness of our elected officials and the public of the important role our members play in providing quality health care, and growing our union by adding new members. Behind the scenes, our legal team will continue racking up their impressive win record protecting the rights of members and prospective members alike. We do this as always in service to our patients, our profession, and our future.
In unity,
Ken Deitz, RN