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Michigan State AFL-CIO / Michigan Association of United Ways Labor/Community Services wishes Karen Hodges a long and Happy Retirement. Karen Hodges, program assistant at MAUW to the Labor/Community Services department retired on August 31st after the conclusion of the annual Fall Seminar. Karen joins her husband Robert in retirement. Karen worked at the Association for 19 years and held many different positions before finding a home with Labor. From the Director, the Community Services Labor Liaisons and community services committee members/volunteers across the starte we wish Karen a very Happy Retirement! Welcome to Heather Starleen-Travis! Heather Starleen-Travis has been hired at MAUW to "replace" Karen Hodges. Heather will be lead contact for all Labor Leads. Erin Luchenbill has assumed duties to the Labor/Community Services other than Labor leads.
Organized labor has fostered a strong tradition of supporting the partnership with the United Way of Michigan for more than 60 years. The United Way of Michigan, now named the Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW), was founded through the initial efforts of Walter Reuther (President of the UAW), August Scholle (First President of the Michigan State AFL-CIO) and Henry Ford (President of Ford Motor Car Company) in 1947. In 1951, two state labor staff were hired at UWM to:
In 1952, a third labor staff was hired and the fourth liaison was selected in 1954. Organized labor continues to be an integral part of the United Way fund raising efforts in Michigan. Each year, organized labor contributes more than 35 million dollars to support the statewide human service delivery system. It is estimated that 33 percent of the blood donated in Michigan is given by union members. Currently, MAUW employs a State Community Services Director position. There are also 20 Local Community Service Liaisons employed by Local United Ways in the 16 larger communities in Michigan. Additionally there is a liaison employed by the American Red Cross and a liaison employed by the March of Dimes. The state labor program, co-sponsored by MAUW and the Michigan State AFL-CIO coordinates three annual educational events with the help of a planning committee consisting of state labor officers, state and local community service liaisons:
The state labor program responds to special requests for plant closing seminars unemployment seminars, united way/labor speaking engagements, campaign assistance, information and referrals, and special projects such as the Letter Carriers annual Food drive. The state labor liaison program has developed a “State Labor Leads” registry that recognizes labor United Way donors that have made leadership pledges to their respective United Ways in excess of $250 with recognition levels for amounts that exceed $500, $750, $1000 per year. The initial booklet in 1999 listed 317 union leadership givers. The 2006 registry listed 1,800 union members and labor councils/international unions that contributed over $1.2 million in leadership gifts through the 59 local United Ways in Michigan.
Michigan State AFL-CIO Community Services Liaisons Community Services Fall Seminar; Bigger, Better and Union ! The recently concluded Michigan State AFL-CIO Community Services Fall Seminar held at the AFSCME represented Kellogg Center for the first time was a huge success. Nearly 100 participants attended and received education/training on topics ranging from Working America, Veterans Services, HRDI, Board Member Training /Committee Participation AFSCME Council 25 Secretary Treasurer, Larry Roehrig, was the luncheon keynote speaker and got the delegates fired up as he spoke about the challenges that working families face in these dire economic times and the importance of community services to our members. The format of the program was changed this year to provide greater participation by the delegates and offer them more interaction with the presenters. After opening morning general sessions presentations, the attendees had three breakout sessions to take part in. Evaluations from the attendees indicate the new format and venue were welcome additions to the program. A big thank you to all the resource people, United Way executives and to the Labor Liaisons for all their hard work in making this one of the best Community Services Fall Seminars ever held.
Michigan Association of United Ways Web Page AFL-CIO UCAN ProgramThe objective of the AFL-CIO UCAN "Union Community Activist" program is to train union members, and others in the community, to become information and referral specialists. This training is usually provided in modules of two hours per week for a six to twelve week period. During this training, the union member learns about the program and services that are available in his/her community. The union information and referral specialist is trained to refer a person with a specific problem to an agency which can provide assistance. This training includes sessions on empathic listening, communication, confidentiality, and information regarding health and human care services and programs which are available in the community. Examples of those services are: credit counseling, health care, individual/marital/family counseling, legal services, substance abuse prevention and treatment. A major component of this training is the actual hands-on case studies, where the student is given examples of problems that he/she may encounter, and actually completes the referral through role-playing. Your AFL-CIO C.S. Liaison is available to help provide this training for you and your community services committee, in your local community, and at our statewide community services school at Black Lake. For more information call your local liaison or the Michigan State AFL-CIO Community Services Department at (517) 371-4360 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (517) 371-4360 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. |