Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (June 17, 2016)
PAGE 8 | June 17, 2016 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS 2016 Labor Appreciation & Recognition Dinner Nearly 300 people gathered June 4 for the annual Labor Apprecia- tion and Recognition Night ban- quet sponsored by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC). The event recognizes people for their commitment to helping bet- ter the lives of workers and people in their communities. It also dou- bles as a fundraiser for Labor’s Community Service Agency (LCSA). This year’s event raised $2,500. Top recognition is the Del Ricks Community Service Award in honor of the late Del Ricks, who was LCSA’s executive director for 17 years. The 2016 re- cipient is Madelyn Elder of Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7901. Elder spent 21 years at the local — six years as secretary-treasurer and five three-year terms as president. She is a volunteer at the Rebuild- ing Center, a non-profit resource to strengthen the environmental, economic and social fabric of lo- cal communities. For many years she has organized fundraisers and participated in legislative work for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, where they seek to end pediatric HIV/AIDS through research, advocacy, pre- vention and treatment programs. She also is a long time activist with the Cross-Border Labor Or- ganizing Committee of the Port- land Central America Solidarity Coalition. Today, Elder is the chief financial officer for Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., a non-profit that recruits women to pursue ca- reers in high-skill, traditionally- male building trades. The “Heritage Award” was presented to Bob Petroff, a union rep for Machinists District Lodge W24 and former five-term presi- dent of the Northwest Oregon La- bor Council, and to Joe Esmonde, a recently retired union rep and lobbyist for IBEW Local 48 and the building trades. RECOGNITION AWARDS went to: Amanda Swan, vice chair of IBEW 48’s Sound and Communi- cations Division; Claudella Walland, vice pres- ident of the American Federation of Teachers-Oregon Retirees; Darren Hamann, business agent for Bakers Local 114; Jill Lukens, a behind-the- scenes volunteer at labor events who is the daughter of retired NOLC Executive Secretary Judy O’Connor and spouse of Will and United Workers Federal Credit Union. Committee for Women from United Association Local 290: Amanda Brooks, Jessica Voeller, Cricket Merans, Melissa Nash, Alisha Nash, Ashley Haysom, Ashley Tri, Alison Craig, Iris Gandarilla, Suzanne Scheans, Zory Hill, Nancy Foster, and Ashley Workman. The women — all MADELYN ELDER receives the Del Ricks Community Service Award Lukens, a union rep for Machin- ists District W24; Rose Etta Venetucci, presi- dent of the International Al- liance of Theatrical Stage Em- ployees (IATSE) Local 28; Radar Bateman, an IATSE international rep and member of Portland Local 28; Kyle Sims of United Steel- workers Local 8378; Dixie Hyde of Steelworkers Local 1199; Paula Kingsbury of AFT-Ore- gon Retirees; Kathy Muir of Portland Fed- eration of School Professionals Local 111; Sarah Newman, a member of Office and Professional Employ- ees Local 11 employed at IBEW working tradeswomen who are plumbers and steamfitters — or- ganize and put on a popular hands-on workshop at the Women in Trades Career Fair sponsored annually by Oregon Tradeswomen. Guest speakers were Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosen- blum and Oregon Labor Com- missioner Brad Avakian. Some of the dignitaries attending were Clackamas County Commission- ers Martha Schrader and Jim Bernard; Washington County Commissioners Dick Schouten and Greg Malinowski; state leg- islator Lew Frederick; Love Centerwell, vice president, cor- porate relations, for United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, and retired NOLC executive secretary Judy O’Connor.
