Public Employee Press

DC 37 Education Committee will miss three departing long-time members

The DC 37 Education Committee distributes scholarships to the children and grandchildren of union members at an annual event that requires a tremendous amount of work and planning. On Oct. 18, the committee honored three of its long-term members who stepped down.

“This was a way to say, ‘Thank you,’ ” said Committee Chair Shirley Williams, the president of Local 1219. “Between the three of them, they have contributed a lot.”

Plaques in honor of their service went to Blue Collar Division Council Rep Wilson “Bill” Fenty, White Collar Division Council Rep Phyllis McLean and Education Fund Assistant Director Larry Kelly. “It was touching, really touching,” said McLean. “It’s very important for our children to achieve their goals,” she said, expressing her appreciation for the intrinsic rewards she received from participating on the committee since 1998.

As Fenty’s last dinner-dance as a committee member, the annual scholarship dinner gala on Sept. 9 was bittersweet. He served for 20 years and is proud of the contributions he made — especially the scholarship he proposed that is now awarded each year to a student for “Overcoming Obstacles.”

Kelly joined the committee in 1997, serving as the coordinator for the staff of the Education Fund. “We had a great, hard-working committee that was geared towards the children and focused on their achievements,” he said.