UAW Local 31

Retiree Chapter - Elected April 19, 2005
Chairman - Jack Yunghans		1st Vice Chairman - David Moreno
2nd Vice Chairman - William J. McNeal		Recording Secretary - Bobbie Bennett
Financial Secretary - Clint Simmons		Trustee - Bill Bledsoe
Sergent At Arms - Lester Minturn		Chaplin - Bobbie Bennett
Retiree Rep Executive Board - Clint Simmons		Recreation (Retiree's) - Johnnie (Lori) Cox
Community Service Committee (Retiree's)
Patricia Hull	Alice Hampton	Bobbie Bennett

By W. J. McNeal, Retiree Editor and 2nd Vice Chairman

RETIREE REPORT

“There are few things in the world as dangerous as sleepwalkers.” 
Ralph Ellison

Jack and I attended Tri-County Labor meeting on March 31, 2008.  We had Heidi Zeller from Kansas Action Network speak on Labors effort to raise Kansas minimum wage up from $2.65.

UAW Local 31 hosted the UAW Local 31 Greater Kansas City Retirees Spring Seminar on Thursday, April 3, 2008 with about 125 present.  Dave Minnis UAW Local 31 Region 5 Retiree Representative and Chairman of Greater Kansas City Area Council Clem Wittman made opening remarks and introductions.  The following organizations were represented: UAW Local 31/GM Benefits; UAW Local 31 Region 5 CAP; UAW Local 31 Legal Service; Blue Cross/Blue Shield; Davis Vision; Medco Health; and SVS Vision.  Kansas Secretary of Labor James Garner was guest speaker.  He gave us a review of Congressional voting records.  UAW Local 31 hosts this seminar every year.

On April 15, 2008, our Retiree Executive Meeting opened with prayer and Pledge of Allegiance led by Sister Bobbie Bennett.  Roll call of officers showed only Dave Moreno to be absent.  Motions were made and accepted to accept the minutes of our previous meeting and financial report as printed.  CAP Cruise tickets were given out.  A request to join Local 31 Retiree Chapter was presented for Brother Victor Murguia of Local 1021, and was approved by the membership.  Brother Jonnie Cox gave an update on the planned three-day retiree trip to Hannibal, Missouri in July 2008.  Reservation deadline is June 1, 2008.

Our Regular Retiree Membership Meeting opened just after 11:00 am with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and songs: “America the Beautiful”; “Star Spangle Banner”; and “Solidarity Forever.”  After a suspension of the regular order of business, Chairman Yunghans turned the meeting over to Local 31 President Jeff Manning to conduct the election of officers for the Retiree Chapter.  The following officers were elected by acclamation:  Chairman Jack Yunghans, First Vice chairman Clint Simmons, Second Vice Chairman W.J. McNeal, Recording Secretary Vivian Lewis, Sergeant at Arms Les Minturn, and Trustee Bill Bledsoe.  There was a vote taken between Bobbie Bennett and Jonnie Cox for the office of Financial Secretary with Bobbie Bennett being the winner.  There was also a vote taken for the office Chaplain between Claude Thornton and Mary Green, with Mary Green being the winner.  After completion of the election, a previous motion to have a retiree on all active standing committees was ruled out of order without a bylaws change.  To allow retirees to have access to standing committee activities, Brother Bill Folsom made an accepted suggestion to have our retiree representative on the Executive Board, (Brother Clint Simmons) get copies of the committee reports and bring them to retiree meetings.         Financial Secretary Donna Birks gave a report on an article in the Labor Beacon downing the UAW Local 31.  There has been a retraction printed.  Local 31 President Jeff Manning swore in the newly elected officers.  UAW Local 31 Benefit Rep Ron Montgomery gave a report to those present that Cardiac Rehabilitation is not covered by our insurance.

BE SURE TO READ THE BENEFIT SECTION ARTICLE.

Support our Troops by donating to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.  Kansas currently has 24,391 disabled veterans. 

W. J. McNeal
Retiree Editor

IMPORTANT PHONE
NUMBERS:
BENEFIT OFFICE:
913 321-5405
FIDELITY (PENSIONS)
1-800-489-4646
VEHICLE PURCHASE PLAN
1-800-235-4646
UNION HALL
913-342-7330

REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBER UPDATED AT THE UNION HALL.