President's Perspective
Nov. 14 Membership Meeting in Baltimore:
It's Well Worth the Drive

(Oct. 29, 2009) The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild will hold its next membership meeting Saturday, Nov. 14, at our Baltimore office, 415 St. Paul Place. Our local bylaws stipulate that two membership meetings be held each year in Charm City, and it's not an onerous obligation. Besides, Saturday mornings may be the one time of the week when the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (as it's known on the drive south) isn’t clogged!

Still, rather than a dull and dry recitation of our local's activities – the stuff that sucks the breath out of too many union meetings – we’re going to have Elise Bryant from our National Labor College bargaining unit make a half-hour presentation on human rights in the workplace, and how you can apply human-rights principles in your own workplace for the betterment of the union. Elise is in her second stint as WBNG’s human rights coordinator: She lives, eats, breathes, and no doubt sleeps this stuff. Be prepared to have your eyes opened.

The local’s Executive Council will meet following the membership meeting. During the meeting, the council will consider the adoption of a strategic plan for WBNG. This represents the potential culmination of a process begun more than four years ago with an analysis of the local’s strengths and weakness, and how we could best capitalize on the strengths while erasing our weaknesses.

Various drafts of the WBNG strategic plan have been circulating for much of the year, and at our Nov. 7 Unit Officer Training Day in D.C., participants will have been given their own copies of the latest draft, since the bargaining unit is a frequent place for the rubber to hit the road.

During Executive Council meetings, members have voice but no vote – even so, you’re welcome to attend. We invite your comments and perspective on making the Guild a stronger voice for all of us.