UAW Local 31

Chairman - Jack Yunghans		1st Vice Chairman - Glen Woods
2nd Vice Chairman - William J. McNeal		Recording Secretary - Jan Ford
Financial Secretary - Bobbie Bennett		Trustee - Bill Bledsoe
Sergent At Arms - Lester Minturn		Chaplin - Mary Green
Retiree Rep Executive Board - Jack Yunghans		Recreation (Retiree's) - Clint Simmons

RETIREE REPORT       
“Never laugh at anyone’s dream; people who don’t have dreams don’t have much.”   
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On Thursday, September 22, 2011, The Southwest Missouri Retiree UAW Chapter held their Annual Fish Fry and Auction meeting at the Warsaw Community Center.  Our Local 31 bus had 40 to attend from the K. C. area.  Many others drove themselves and altogether there were about 350 people at the meeting.  To raise money for the Council, people donated different items that were auctioned off.  Local 31’s own Harold Bahrenburg is the Chairman and our own Danny Gingerich was the auctioneer.  Three hundred dollars was collected for the 50/50 drawing, $275 for an electric smoker and $433 for a hand-made quilt.  Anyone who would like to get in touch with the chapter may contact them at 1-660-438-4681. 
           

At the Tri-County Labor Council Meeting, chaired by Donna Birks on September 27, Unified Government Councilman Nathan Barnes and Jesse Hope who is the CEO of the Old Quindaro Museum spoke about the recent ownership of the house that is the home of the museum.  They need volunteers to get the house in shape to meet the city codes (professional roofers).  To contribute items, labor or money, contact (913) 224-8497 or go to www.oldquindaro.org.  Tri-County will start working on Christmas bikes in October. 
           

On Thursday, September 29, 2011 (my 72nd birthday) we attended the UAW Region 5 Missouri State UAW CAP Council Meeting at Lake Ozark, Missouri.  The following CAP officers were elected: Nick Robinson – President
Jeff Wright – Vice President
Randy Bland – Recording Sec.
Van Simpson – Financial Sec.
Bobby Thompson – Trustee
Gene Cobb – Trustee
John Miller – Trustee
           

After the elections, Brother Robinson introduced Region 5 Director Jim Wells who gave one of his usual rousing speeches.  The speech was to make sure that we do a better job in the 2012 elections than we did in 2010.  We, the workers and retired workers, are responsible for Wisconsin and anywhere that the Tea Party candidates got elected and there is now and all-out assault on working/labor/poor and senior Americans.  He gave praise to retirees who in 2011 have raised $113,417 for V-CAP.  He also announced that the Wentzville, Missouri plant will be recalling workers.
           

On Tuesday, October 18, 2011 our retiree Executive Board meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance and a silent prayer led by Brother William J. McNeal.  All executive board members were in attendance except Sister Bobbie Bennett who was excused.  Chairman Yunghans notified the board that there would be a collection at the regular meeting for down and out retirees for Christmas.
           

At 11:00, Chairman Yunghans called the regular meeting to order.  Sister Mary Green led us in prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the flag.  The guests at this meeting were from the vision provider SVS and one of the visiting nurse programs was available to give Flu shots.
           

Benefit Representative Cheryl Millican gave us some good news and some bad news.  She announced that we got back some of our lost dental and eye coverage.  The bad news was that we won’t get our Christmas bonus.  All details will be sent to us by mail in November.  Brother J. D. Hogan who is also a benefit representative announced that he would be retiring come January 1, 2012.
           

REMEMBER THAT THE NOVEMBER & DECEMBER MEETINGS WILL BE CATERED, SO DON’T BRING A COVERED DISH … SEE YOU ON NOVEMBER 15, 2011.

W. J. McNeal
Retiree Editor &
2nd Vice President

IMPORTANT PHONE
NUMBERS:
BENEFIT OFFICE:
913-573-7421 or 7422
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.