Outstanding Organizer awards were awarded in recognition of member efforts in

our AFSCME Strong campaign.

Member Assessment Award went to the leader who have actively had one-on-oneconversations with members and non-members and complete AFSCME Strong assessment
forms to easily identify supporters. This award went to Nick Chavez (Local 829) who
completed 110 assessments in this own San Mateo Community College district chapter as
well as two other chapters. Also nominated for this award was Stanley Wyrick (Local
3916)
Member Conversion Award had four nominees but was awarded to Tina Rees (Local258),
a locksmith with Elk Grove Unified School District. Her work takes her to the dozens of
campuses across the district, enabling her to contact and convert 315 non-members to full
membership status! Also nominated in this category were Cathy Paramo (Local 101) and
Cynthia Hartnell (Local 829).
PEOPLE MVP Recruitment Award went to members engaged in discussions with their coworkers about the importance of politics, power and union membership. They got members
to sign PEOPLE Cards at the MVP level where they will donate more than $100 annually to
our political action committee, known as PEOPLE. The Executive Board of Local 3916
(AC Transit) won this award for bringing their Local from 0% membership in PEOPLE to a
hefty 18%! San Mateo County Community College District Chapter of Local 829 was
also nominated in this category.
AFSCME Strong Coach Award was given to Ingrid Bella, from the Santa Clara Valley
Water District Chapter of Local 101. Ingrid has taken the lead in getting members to
come to meetings to learn about AFSCME Strong. After recruiting Volunteer Member
Organizers, she has been training and follow up support for new member organizers.
New Member Orientation Award went to Jay Morgan (Local 2019). Within one week of
being hired, new East Bay MUD employees get contacted and welcomed by a steward or
officer and Jay later conducts a full orientation with the person. Upon completion of
probation the Local 2019/444 orientation team take the new person out to lunch or dinner
and encourages them to become active in AFSCME.
Mobilization Award was richly deserved by the Northern Inyo Hospital (NIH) Nurse
Organizing Committee, Local 315, this committee successfully unionized their workplace
which had been a non-union facility since it opened in 1949. This was huge since NIH hired
all employees at will, and since there are no other health facilities in the area, the fear
factor and risk was high. The 12 member organizing committee have strong respect from
their coworkers and after getting a majority of their coworkers to sign representation cards,
delivered a petition signed by 70% of the unit to the NIH Board of Directors. After winning
their first contract these worker have committed to work with their patient care technical
and service units to help coworkers join the union.
Council 57 Leader of the Year Award goes to Local 146 (Sacramento area)
President Belinda Malone. Under Belindas leadership this local has grown, thrived and
serves as a model for other locals. It is hard-working, innovative and community-minded.
Under Belindas leadership, Local 146 established the first Next Wave Chapter to usher in
younger members into activism. Local 146 was the first Local in Council 57 to create and
offer a Leadership School which is a twice annual school to educate members on anything
from Finances 10 to Fundamentals of Worker Compensation. When she is not walking
precincts with her members and urging her local to participate in community charity drives,
she also serves as Council 57 Treasurer.