The Northwest Regional Conference held in Hood River, Oregon, from Sept. 29 to 30 was the largest ever held.

Roy Brannam, Council 2 Vice President; Chris Dugovich, Council 2 President; and Ken Allen, Director of Council 75, Oregon

About 180 members from Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Montana and Idaho attended the event, which was largely educational.

“The conference continues to be very well received,” says Chris Dugovich, president and executive
director of Council 2.

Dugovich, who was recently re-elected as International vice president for the Northwest Region of AFSCME, instituted the conference as an annual event several years ago. It is aimed at bringing together members in the Northwest states, keeping them up to date on recent trends in the union movement, and educating them on union programs.

“In reviewing the comment sheets everybody seemed to be happy with the content and presentation and said they would be attending next year’s event.”

As a result, Dugovich is anticipating an even larger attendance next year. The 2001 conference will be held in Wenatchee on a weekend in September; the date will be announced later.

Among the speakers at this year’s event were Jack Dempsey, AFSCME General Counsel, who spoke on national trends in labor law, Don Craig, afscme Field Education Coordinator, who spoke on union communication and visibility in the workplace, and Steve Fantauzzo, afscme’s Midwest Regional Director, who spoke about the International Union’s organizing program.