MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!! MI. AFL-CIO COMMUNITY SERVICES SCHOOL - MAY 10-14 @ UAW EDUCATION CENTER , ONAWAY, MI.

For more information or to register please contact Karen Hodges at 517-371-4360 x 15#

A History of the Michigan Association of United Ways and Organized Labor

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:

	Develop increased labor participation and expand the community services network.
	Develop community service committees within the labor councils.
	Educate community service representatives in linking their members to the human services available in their respective communities
	Assist with establishing local liaison positions in Michigan
	Encourage organized labor to support the Community Chest and United Fund Campaigns in Michigan.

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.

Three day staff training conference for community service liaisons.

One week community service training school for labor volunteers.

One day seminar, held in August, to mobilize and train labor solicitors for the United Way Campaign.

Strategies Labor Unions have a tradition of caring for one another, a tradition rich in pride, pride in ourselves, in our skills, in our families, and in our unions. We have evolved from what was once a dream to a powerful organization, one which represents over 13 million working men and women across our great United States. But to continue to grow, to be effective, to properly represent our memberships, we must continue to learn. Community services offers unlimited opportunities for us to not only learn, but to teach others in our community about labor unions and their social efforts. We need to continue to develop new and innovative strategies which provide us with those opportunities. One such strategy is our  "State Labor Leads" initiative. This program recognized labor contributors that make pledges of  $250,$500, $750 or $1,000 or more to their respective Local United Ways. We will collect this information and publish the annual results in a booklet form which acknowledges individuals, their union affiliation and recipient United Way. Opportunities which: give us the chance to talk with the children in our schools, our children. provide us with the chance to develop healthy relationships with the agencies in our community, our agencies. allow us to communicate our message to the community, our community. Because, first and foremost, we are members of that community.

Responsibilities As community services representatives, we work to expand labor union member's knowledge and use of the community's health and human care services by: Recruiting and training union members, and others from the community who have an interest in helping those in need. Placing these volunteers on boards of directors, various committees and other positions within an agency in the community's health, and welfare structure. Developing and presenting one-day programs on specific community issues, highlighting those issues that are of importance to the American labor movement. Providing information and referral services to those in need and promoting the 211 dialing system. Enhancing the complete development of the AFL-CIO community services programs by establishing community services committees in local unions, UCAN training, programs, union cities. Providing technical assistance and consultation to local unions, United Way, and other agencies on community services activities. And, enhancing the relationship between the United Way, community agencies and organized labor. Community Coalition Building. Mobilizing the labor volunteers around national and state programs.

The 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.