NWSEO National Convention News
And $100 New Member Rebate
(November 20, 2012) NWSEO would like to thank all of the members who attended the 37th annual National NWSEO Convention in Las Vegas on November 13 and 14. It was an informative and productive convention with presentations from NWSEO President Dan Sobien, NWSEO Vice President Bill Hopkins, Counsel Richard Hirn, Constitution Committee member JoAnn Becker, NOAA Attorney Guild Chair Mitch MacDonald, NESDIS Chair Hugh Sharkey, and NWSEO Communications Director Lisa Luciani, NWS Southern Region Director Bill Proenza and NWSEO member Shannon White provided an update on AWIPS II.
Convention delegates and attendees voted on three amendments to the constitution and by-laws. The changes focused on aligning the leadership terms in order to create a consistency of terms in the NWSEO constitution and to provide flexibility to manage future NWSEO costs. Two of the amendments failed, including an amendment designed to extend the term of branch steward to two years (from the current one year term) to match the term of regional chairs, and a second amendment that would have aligned the term of regional chairs to the term of national officers. A third amendment to synchronize the number of terms of national officers passed with a 2/3 majority vote.
The delegates also passed a recruitment incentive for any new member who joins NWSEO by 1187 for payroll deduction to receive a $100 dollar dues rebate. The offer is available from November 14, 2012 to March 1, 2013.
Additionally, for any member who recruits two new members to join NWSEO using the 1187 for payroll deduction between November 14th 2012 through July 31, 2013, NWSEO will provide airfare, lodging, and group meals for the 2013 convention. The name of the recruiter must be on the SF1187. Peter Nuhn may accept email or phone call if a recruiter forgets to write his/her name on the SF1187.
Elections for NWSEO Regional Chair and Vice Chair were completed at the convention. We welcome JoAnn Becker, Mitch MacDonald and Steve Pritchett on the new national council. Below is a list of the 2012-2013 Regional Chairs and Vice Chairs:
Alaska Region
Chairperson – Jim Brader
Vice Chair-Phil Dutton
Central Region
Chairperson – Martin Lee
Vice Chair- Jim Sieveking
Eastern Region
Regional Chairperson - David Solano
Vice Chairperson - Matt Steinbugl
NWS Headquarters Region
Chairperson - Steven Pritchett
Vice Chairperson- Mike Dion
NOAA Attorney's Guild
Chairperson – Mitch MacDonald
Vice Chairperson - Lauren Smoker
NCEP Region
Chairperson - JoAnn Becker
Vice Chairperson - Bill Hirt
Pacific Region
Chairperson – Barry Hirshorn
Vice Chairperson - Pete Donaldson
Southern Region
Chairperson – John Werner
Vice Chairperson - Mark Wilson
Western Region
Chairperson – Robert Baruffaldi
Vice Chair- Joe Solomon
The Tuesday evening NWSEO Banquet was a time to honor outstanding NWSEO members and to network with other NWS professionals at the convention. Congratulations to Shannon White, this year’s honored recipient of the NWSEO Kip Robinson Award. This annual NWSEO award is given in recognition of members volunteering their time and talents to make NWSEO a stronger union. The Kip Robinson Award is named after a late lobbyist who worked diligently for NWSEO. Past winners include Bill Proenza, Bill Hirt, John Stansfield, Barry Hirshorn, Chris Sisko and Steve Pritchett.
A special recognition was also given to Chris Robinson for his help with the Protect the National Weather Service Facebook Community. Vice President Hopkins was thanked for his hard work in organizing the convention and Bill Proenza was recognized for improving labor management relations throughout his career.
After the 37th annual NWSEO National Convention, your national council met to deal with a grievance filed against an officer for leaving an intimidating voice mail on another member’s phone. The council unanimously agreed to levy a $1,000 fine on the charged council member, created a plan of action for a change in behavior that was agreed to by the charged member, and tasked the NWSEO Constitution Committee to develop amendments to make elections less open to intimidation, to clarify the grievance procedures. Additionally, all council members will participate in diversity and sensitivity training.
Next year’s annual convention will be held at the Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida on Sunday and Monday, September 22 and 23, with steward training on Saturday, September 21. NWSEO obtained the government rate of $90 per night. The location was agreed to by a voice vote.
Vinoy Renaissance Resort @ Golf Club is a business friendly hotel close to Chihuly Collection, Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club, and Salvador Dali Museum including the Museum of Fine Arts and the Pier which includes a variety of restaurants and gift shops.
If you experience difficulty with the above link, please visit: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpasr-renaissance-vinoy-resort-and-golf-club
-NWSEO-