In 2018 I said: “GREAT JOB!! CONGRATULATIONS!! THANK YOU!! Thank you for all your volunteer work in this year’s election cycle!” As retirees we need to duplicate that effort many times over in 2020 if we are to continue to exist!
It is the Holiday Season and don’t want to bring your spirits down by reiterating the onslaught of attacks on senior’s ability to accomplish our goals. The purpose statement I wrote about a year ago is still important and may be more important to promote and accomplish than ever before.
Our Statement of Purpose reads:
“The Minnesota State Retiree Council, AFL-CIO, seeks a good life for all in retirement. Retirees shall have affordable and accessible quality housing and health care. Retirement income shall be sufficient for ‘bread and roses, too.’ Retirees should be free from worry, fear, or want; this is a right for all and our legacy.
To this end, we organize ourselves and others to remain engaged, to attain respect and recognition of the years of experience we have, and to achieve power to realize our vision.”
How can we more successful at attaining success in our purpose? If you have been paying attention you know that many of our senior safety net programs have been changed or eliminated by executive order of the current administration. That means we need to deliver Minnesota’s electoral votes for the Labor endorsed candidate for President.
In addition, we need to re-elect Labor endorsed Representatives serving in the U.S. Senate and House and to elect the Labor endorsed candidate to Congress in Congressional District 1.
At the State level we need to protect our Working Families majority in the State House and gain a Working Families majority in the State Senate.
We are growing as an organization! We will continue to pursue that expansion by affiliating unaffiliated groups and building retiree organizations in Locals, Councils and Area Labor Councils. Help is available to build your retiree organization. Contact us if you need assistance.
In the coming months Carol Freeman, our Election Work Coordinator, will be contacting you to ask your assistance in accomplishing our purpose through doing what you did so well in 2018!
Save the dates; February 6-7, 2020, Campaigns Conference, which will include two retiree workshops; May 9, 2020, our annual Fun(d)raiser; and, September 20, 2020, Retiree Council Convention, Rochester, MN.
On behalf of the Council, I wish you all a Happy Holiday Season whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, another religious holiday, or just celebrate winter in Minnesota! Best wishes for a Healthy Happy New Year! See you then!!
Ken McInnis, President