January 09, 2019 – General Membership Meeting

Present: Ed Fortney (SEIU Local 500), chair; Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service; Cet Parks, at-large; Tim Fitzgerald, American Postal Workers Union; Benjamin Soloway, Nina Goodman, Elias Groll, Foreign Policy; Carolyn Steptoe, Advancement Project.

On conference call: Christine Monk, Bryan Nelson, Jeffrey Ball, John Westerberg, Richard Halfacre, Tamara McCalla, Heidi Hanson, HPAE; Mark Gruenberg, at-large.

Under WBNG membership totals at the time of the Dec. 10 mailing, the Small Units and Members were entitled to nine Executive Council delegates for 2019-20.

Nominations for officers, delegates and alternates were made at the meeting.

Pattison moved, Goodman seconded authorizing the naming of nine delegates and nine alternates. Motion carried.

For unit chair:
Mark Pattison nominated Ed Fortney (SEIU Local 500).
Nina Goodman nominated Benjamin Soloway (Foreign Policy).
Tim Fitzgerald nominated Carolyn Steptoe (Advancement Project).
Carolyn Steptoe nominated Tim Fitzgerald (American Postal Workers Union).

Those at the meeting discussed the propriety of Fitzgerald possibly serving as unit chair as he is also a candidate for WBNG treasurer. Fitzgerald said that, if elected as treasurer, he would not serve and allow the Executive Council to select a successor. He added he would send an email to that effect before the day was out.

After the clearing of apparent confusion that the nominations being made were for unit chair, the nominations for Soloway, Steptoe and Fitzgerald were withdrawn. There being no other nominations, Fortney was elected by acclamation.

For unit vice chair:
Mark Pattison nominated Sam Nelson (Jobs With Justice). There being no other nominations, Nelson was elected by acclamation.

For delegates:
Nina Goodman nominated Benjamin Soloway (Foreign Policy).
Tim Fitzgerald nominated Carolyn Steptoe (Advancement Project).
Carolyn Steptoe nominated Tim Fitzgerald (American Postal Workers Union). Mark Gruenberg nominated Mark Pattison (Catholic News Service).
John Westerberg nominated Bryan Nelson (HPAE).
Cet Parks nominated Bill O’Meara (at-large).
Bryan Nelson nominated Tamara McCalla (HP AE).
Mark Pattison nominated Mark Gruenberg (at-large).
Ed Fortney nominated Jeremy Sprinkle (North Carolina AFL-CIO).

There being nine nominations for seven remaining delegate slots, WBNG office staff was deputed to recalculate the number of WBNG members who qualify for being in the Small Units and Members. The answer came back: 501.

Pattison moved, Goodman seconded authorizing 10 delegates and 10 alternates. Motion carried.

There being nine nominations for eight remaining delegate slots, McCalla declined her nominatiom. The remaining nominees were elected by acclamation.

For alternates, ,who in the case of vacancy are to be asked in the order in which they are nominated:
Bryan Nelson nominated Tamara McCalla (HP AE).
Carolyn Steptoe nominated Andrew Ambrogie (Advancement Project).
Tim Fitzgerald nominated Jazmin Gargoum (at-large).
Mark Pattison nominated Seth Dietz, (SEIU Local 500).
Mark Pattison :nominated Chris Garlock, (D.C. AFL-CIO).
Mark Pattison nominated Ramon Zepeda (Student Action for Farmworkers). Mark Pattison-nominated Keith Barnes (at-large).
Mark Pattison nominated Liz Evans (York Dispatch).
Mark Pattison nominated Ryan Mariatague (Working America).
Mark Pattison nominated Sally Davidow (at-large).
Tim Fitzgerald nominated Ashley See, but withdrew the nomination.

The 10 nominees were elected by acclamation.

The meeting was adjourned.