By CHRIS DUGOVICH

Chris Dugovich
Council 2 President/Executive Director

OUR BIENNIAL CONVENTION is one of the most significant events on the Council 2 calendar. So much so that its ripple effects are felt through the organization long after the close of the activities. Even those who do not attend benefit indirectly from the convention’s impact on our daily union activities.

On the three days that we set aside every two years we conduct an exercise that is democratic, educational, inspirational, rewarding and enjoyable. You’ll see those aspects reflected in coverage of the convention in this issue of our quarterly newspaper.

The convention is democratic because it provides delegates with the opportunity to participate in the running of the union itself. The resolutions that appear alongside this column reflect that process. Reviewed by committees, they were presented to the delegates who had the opportunity to read them over carefully, to consider them, to refine them and to debate them.

Once the majority has spoken and a resolution is adopted, of course, it becomes a guiding principle for the union and is followed during the next two years.

The resolutions speak not only to the running of the organization, but also to its beliefs and its approach to critical issues. If you did not attend the convention, you have the chance now to read through the resolutions to gain perspective on some of our priorities in the months ahead.

The convention is educational because it enables delegates to learn firsthand how the union works.

Workshops held during the convention provide valuable information on key aspects of union activity such as how the collective bargaining process works, how to bargain for health benefits and the importance of understanding the state and federal political processes.

The convention is inspirational because delegates hear from dedicated labor and political leaders who put workers’ welfare at the head of their agenda.

As a result, delegates rededicate themselves anew to the cause in which they believe and leave the convention with a renewed determination to succeed.

Read extracts from what King County Executive Ron Sims and ASFCME Director of Political Action Larry Scanlon told delegates this year and you will glean something of the spirit they conveyed and the inspiration they provided.

The convention is rewarding because delegates can interact with other members, both socially and in union business. They get to know one another better and in many cases make lifelong friends.

The Women’s Action Committee is a good example of a group that have bonded together over the years in such a way that one retiring member told the women’s breakfast on Sunday that she would miss her fellow committee members more than her job and her fellow employees. “You are like brothers and sisters to me,” she said. Another said she would miss them “even more than my dog and cat.”

Finally, the convention is enjoyable because it presents opportunities for relaxation and fellowship. From the traditional Friday golf tournament to the Saturday dinner-dance and the evening hospitality rooms, delegates have fun between the times of hard work and learning.

It’s a well-tuned balance that puts us on the right track for the next two years.