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January 19, 2010
Blaine Human Service Building

11 members were present, including Carla Leintz, Region 13 Director and Rick Nelson, MAPE Business Agent.

The meeting was called to order by James Hegstrom, Local 1301 Vice President.

MSP to approve December meeting minutes.

The treasurer gave a report on our current account and it was approved by membership.

James noted that there is an e-mail request going around encouraging members to participate in a brief survey regarding improvement to the MAPE website.  The survey link can be found on the MAPE website.

James again mentioned that our local officer positions will be opening soon and encouraged members who have not gotten previously involved to consider one of the positions.

• Local officer nomination will open on April 12th, they close on May 12th , ballots will be sent out June 16th and need to be returned on July 7th for tabulation on  July 9th.  Seating of officers will take place July 14th.
• Positions that will be open in our local include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, 3 Delegates and 2 Delegate Alternates.  Also, open for nominations is our Regional Negotiations Representative.

Shanna, local secretary, noted that she will need someone to take over the minutes beginning in April due to maternity leave.  This would be a great opportunity for someone to try out this position before elections take place.  Please contact her at skostrows@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Region 13 Director Carla Leintz gave the following updates:

1. A budget crisis plan for 2010 was approved, which includes money for the following; advertising and public relations ($5,000), updating MAPE’s get out the vote effort, caucus training – link to video on Team MAPE website, literature and mailings, participation in labor friendly collations, funds for MAPE member participation in events, and the creation of a political fund for increasing MAPE’s influence in MN. 
2. This year’s Delegate Assembly will be held Oct. 1st and 2nd at the Holiday Inn in Duluth, MN.
3. The Board of Director’s donated $1,000 to “Doctors Without Borders” for their Haitian relief effort.
4. MAPE is seeing more recruiting efforts and is encouraging members to send in their census information. There is a strong possibility that MN could lose a congressional seat should the population not send in the information.  Please also encourage friends and family to do the same.
5. Basic steward training is January 26th – there are still openings. E-mail Cathy Smalec at csmalec@mape.org if you are interested in signing up.
6. A proposal was passed to create a MAPE women’s caucus and $5,000 was allotted from undesignated funds for this endeavor.
7. MAPE is updating their logo with branding of the new website.  There will be no name changes.

MAPE Business Agent, Rick Nelson had the following information to share:

1. In December, Navitus announced that Costco has decided not to provide services to individuals on public assistance and thus will no longer be able to participate in the state employee health plan.
2. On January 7th, MAPE held a press conference regarding $100 million worth of cuts in Pawlenty’s budget mostly related to cutting Pawlenty’s appointees.  Rather than admitting that the government workforce has increased, they responded that MAPE should cut their dues for struggling employees.
3. MAPE has endorsed State Auditor, Rebecca Otto for re-election.
4. MAPE continues to look for and endorse labor friendly candidates.  Public employees are going to see major hits next year and everyone is encouraged to get involved and be noticed by candidates.  This includes going to caucuses and volunteering time to make candidates aware of the presence and importance of state employees.
5. Please do not go to any websites that you are not authorized to on state computers, even if the website is minimized!! About 80% of current grievances are regarding internet use.  This is being treated as a theft of time and falsification of time sheets versus just an abuse of time. 

Member, Jenni Smith gave an update and handout on our Local 1301 Annual Gathering.  It will be held Tuesday February 16th at Grumpy’s in Roseville.  Dinner will be provided for fair and full share member.  You are invited to bring a guest, however only dinner for full share member guests will be provided.  There will be door prizes but you must RSVP to Jennifer Smith at Jennifer.a.smith@state.mn.us by February 5th if you are coming.
A flyer will be sent in the mail to all local members with more information. 

MSP to make a donation of $500 to the American Red Cross for Haiti Relief Effort

The local is interested in moving around our meetings to accommodate members at different locations.  If you are interested in hosting a meeting please contact Tammy Miller-Hess at tmillerhess@yahoo.com

We will not be having a regularly scheduled meeting in February; instead we will have an abbreviated meeting at the Holiday Party.    

Vicky Strommen won the $25.00 door prize.           

Meeting was adjourned.

Shanna Ostrowski
Local 1301 Secretary