Labor Day Parade

We'll be gathering between 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. Labor Day in the parking lot behind Mellon Arena and along Centre Avenue for the annual Labor Day parade. This is a family affair so members are welcome to bring family and friends.

The parade starts at 10 o'clock. The Unity Division of the parade consisting of all the unions at the Post-Gazette is the third division in the parade so we should be departing between 10:15 and 10:30. We'll have a pickup truck that will display our new banner. We'll also have banners on
each side of the truck proclaiming: "Newsroom employees at the all-union Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" so crowds along the parade route will know who we are. For convenience during the parade, members can store purses, hats, coats, strollers and other paraphernalia in the back of the truck.

As usual, we'll be distributing pencils along the parade route. And we'll have blue and white visors with our logo for everyone marching in our group. If you have a visor from last year, please wear it. For newcomers, we'll have a supply available.

We'll have juice and rolls for everyone before the parade. Afterwards, we'll gather for a luncheon buffet in the River City Inn.

If you're coming, please send us an e-mail and tell us how many are in your party so we can ensure there will be enough food for everyone. Our address is: official1@pghguild.com

Annual meeting

Nominations for officers and an amendment to our bylaws are among the agenda items for our annual meeting Sept. 12.

To accommodate members working the day and night shifts, the annual meeting will be conducted in two sessions - 12:30 and 5:30 p.m. - in the first floor conference room of the United Steelworkers Building next door to the Post-Gazette.

We'll serve food and beverages at both meetings.

Nominations will be accepted for president, first vice president, second vice president, third vice president, secretary and treasurer to serve on the Executive Committee of the local. The Committee governs the Pittsburgh and Monessen units.

Also, nominations also will be accepted for chairman, secretary, treasurer and delegate of the Pittsburgh Unit. Meanwhile, our members in Monessen also will hold nominations for their Unit positions next month. All offices are one-year terms starting Nov. 1.

Additional nominations may be submitted in writing for one week after the annual meeting. If there are no contested offices, the nominees shall be declared winners. If there is more than one candidate for any post, an election will be held within three weeks after the annual meeting. 

Another agenda item will be introduction of an amendment to our bylaws regarding the selection of delegates and alternates to the TNG Sector Conference and the CWA Convention.The bylaws specify January and April as the months for selecting delegates to our international meetings. Next year's TNG Sector Conference is in February so there's no allowance in the bylaws for selecting delegates.

There also will be updates on the "Off the Record" show, discussion about contract negotiations and updates on labor-management issues, plus ...

Mediablitz

Expect to see a media blitz of sorts in September geared at drawing attendees -- including our own members -- to "Off The Record," the Oct. 10 satirical revue/charity dinner at the Westin Convention Center, co-sponsored by the Guild and AFTRA. Johnna Pro and Jonathan Silver will be coordinating the in-house ticket-selling effort, and checks and questions can also be directed to coordinator Gary Rotstein.

The cost determined as necessary by the steering committee to raise charitable proceeds is not cheap: $75 per person. But members need to think of what all they'll be getting: a first-class dinner; entertainment that will be the equivalent of a night out in one of the other Cultural District venues; a contribution to worthy charities, primarily the Food Bank and Pediatric AIDS Foundation; a chance to enjoy laughs at the expense of all the bigwigs we write about day in and day out; a chance to enjoy the sight of colleagues singing and acting on stage; a chance to see Jim Roddey and Tom Murphy unwind and attempt humor at our expense; and the chance to enhance our union's image in the community in a one-of-a-kind event in
which we can enjoy socializing together.

You'd spend $75 almost any time you decide to come Downtown for a decent meal and a live stage performance. By spending that amount in this manner,
supporting and enjoying "Off The Record," you'll be both receiving and contributing a lot more, for both yourself and the Guild.

Free tickets

How would you like a free ticket to the "Off the Record" review Oct. 10?

The show will be held in the Westin Convention Hotel, 1000 Penn Ave., next to what's left of the convention center.

Seats will be raffled to 10 members after the general membership meetings Sept. 12.

To qualify, you must attend either the 12:30 or 5:30 p.m. meeting and fill out a raffle ticket. Members must fill out their own tickets. One ticket per member.

We'll hold the drawing after the second meeting.

Good luck !

Get involved

If you've wondered how you can get more involved in your union, here's a chance to participate. The Guild has arranged for two training sessions for local stewards on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20. Bruce Nelson, TNG international
rep, will conduct the sessions, designed especially for
members of our local.

If you're interested, please notify Patt Risher, chair of the stewards committee, or any member of the executive committee. Or simply respond with a phone call or e-mail to the Guild office -- (412) 880-4001 or official1@pghguild.com

Thanks

More than 100 adults and children attended our annual picnic Aug. 18th. 

Honored guests were retirees Alvin Rosensweet, Donald Miller, Wyndle Watson and Ken Maness.

A big thanks to Margi Shrum who purchased the children's gifts and Beverly Fink (David's wife) who purchased the door prizes. And a special thanks to Dante Fuoco, the son of Linda and Michael, for his help with the children's games.