On Wed. morning, I went to a County Commissioner's meeting because they are the ones who have the ultimate power in settling the contract issues (remember, I said I work for The Man?). Several people spoke (not me, I just went as a body of support to settle the union contract) on several different issues -- one of which was turning a vacant armory into an emergency homeless shelter -- that's the homeless topic to which I refer below.
Anyway, after that meeting, I wrote them a letter. I also got a response back from one of the Commissioners with a lunch invitation. We'll do that -- just as soon as all the stuff is settled and there isn't what anyone could construe to be a conflict of interest or anything.
I mean, I've thought about being a county commissioner some day (amongst many other choices, granted). Maybe. I need to go to a few more meetings and see what's what, but they happen in the workday and I'm, well, working at that time unless I specifically arrange to take vacation time.
Anyway, my point here is to post my letter and the response. Ssorry about all the [ed.] marks -- there was a lot of information that I took out because I thought it could be construed as TMI both personally for me and legally by explicitly stating the parties involved, although I have left the Commissioner names intact, so I suppose a determined person could look up and fill in all the blanks on their own -- they're really not important to the content of the letter, though -- y'all get my drift. So, here's how I'm handling my issues with this whole shebang (nothing helps me emote like a good letter):
From: Susan [info omitted - TMI for the internet]
Sent: Wed 2/18/2009 2:35 PM
To: DWYER Bill J; FLEENOR Bill A; HANDY Rob M; SORENSON Pete; STEWART Faye H
Subject: Open Letter to [ed.] County Commissioners: Thoughts from meeting 2/18/09
--------- Open Letter to [ed.] County Commissioners (If nothing else, please read the *starred statements...) ---------
Thoughts from County Commissioners' meeting 2/18/09:
I'm Susan at [address information omitted because this is the freakin' internet, after all] Commissioner Dwyer's district. I came to this morning's meeting in support of ratifying a [info omitted] union contract. What I came away with was much more.
I am a proponent of fiscal and civic responsibility. Commissioner Fleenor, I am perfectly willing to make sacrifices when necessary. I must point out that to those of us who are on the bottom of the earnings hierarchy, it doesn't appear that the top paid officials and managers have made any sacrifices, themselves. I am one of [ed.] County's lower earning employees at [again, info not necessary for the internet to have].
Listening to the homeless advocates made me think about the fact that I am just two months away from homelessness and bankruptcy, myself, at any given time. Also, as a self-supporting student, I don't earn enough money to have savings. What we fail to consider is the impact on the local economy when people lose income along with heart and faith in their leaders and employers.
When you invest in your employees, you are also investing in your community. I make sacrifices for the good of my community. In addition to time and goods, I donated over $500 last year to local causes [turns out it was over $600 after I did my taxes later that day-- that's a lot of money for me to give away], I [list a lot of volunteer and work stuff I do that I also don't think the Internet needs to know]. I also am a full-time student while working full-time and pride myself on being a high performer (I have even received kind words from my manager that I need to work below my abilities because it creates unreasonable expectations of my position).
It is my intent to make a career of service within [ed.] County. I will graduate, with honors, [omitted]this June, and am excited by the opportunities for career growth that [the] County affords. I am a proud [ed.] County employee and, Commissioner Dwyer, I would very much like to have coffee sometime in the future and discuss the potentialities surrounding public service -- particularly as a resident of [ed. but, we all know it's Springtucky].
*The union has brought to my attention -- and to the attention of all its members -- that it proposed a contract that saved a significant amount of money (nearly a quarter million dollars) for the County over the course of three years. As a citizen, taxpayer, volunteer and voter, I think that it behooves the [ed.] County Board of Commissioners to overcome the divisive "us and them" mentality that pervades contract negotiations and look at what's fiscally responsible for the good of the County. As Commissioners Sorenson and Handy mentioned, we all need to work together.
*I acknowledge that I may not necessarily have all the pieces of this puzzle, and may never have them all. Therefore, the only recourse that I have is to earnestly believe that my elected union representatives are doing the best that they can, acting with integrity and honesty for the good of their members and community -- just as I must believe that my elected County Commissioners are also doing the best that they can to act with integrity and honesty and to serve to the best of their capacities as [ed.] County Stewards.
*I urge you to put aside acrimony and accept the proposed contract by [the union]. It saves [ed.]County money, is good for the employees and is good for the community of [ed.] County.
Respectfully yours,
Susan [omitted]
[ed.] County Citizen
[ed.] County Employee
[more info we don't need online] union E-Board Member
________________________________
Reply from Commissioner Dwyer:
"Thanks for your thoughts. I would be glad to have lunch with you sometime soon!"
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I'd vote for you :)
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