PEP, January 2007: Volunteers

By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

The DC 37 Political Action Dept.’s party with a purpose Dec. 1 celebrated the activists and volunteers who make up the union’s powerhouse Green Machine that helped elect a record number of union—endorsed candidates to office last November.

“This has been one of the best political years for us in recent memory and tonight we are here to celebrate,” said DC 37 PAC Chair Lenny Allen, who emceed the event. “This party is our thanks for all that you do as volunteers. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your fine work. You make this council great!”

The mighty Green Machine of DC 37 members gets the vote out with volunteers who spend thousands of hours phoning hundreds of fellow union members and distributing thousands of palm cards and leaflets at subway and bus stops citywide in primary and general elections. Every April and May they go to Albany to lobby state lawmakers for their union and AFSCME. And when the PAL Dept. calls, the volunteers stand ready to rally City Hall and Council members in support of DC 37’s political agenda.

“I am so excited about this election cycle, you did outstanding work!” said DC 37 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa, who is also president of Board of Education Employees Local 372. “We are nothing without dedicated people such as yourselves. We can count on you to deliver every time. Every politician we endorse knows they can count on DC 37’s Green Machine to work until they are victorious. So keep up your activism.”

“You took on Bush and his administration this election and sent Congress packing,” said Oliver Gray, DC 37 associate director, who applauded the Green Machine’s Election Day efforts that put Democrats in the top five political offices in New York State. DC 37 played a major role in reelecting U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, and electing Eliot Spitzer governor, David Paterson lieutenant governor, Alan Hevesi state comptroller, and Andrew Cuomo state attorney general. And across the nation, AFSCME’s grassroots activists helped Democrats win majority control of both houses, and the powerful positions of House speaker and Ways and Means Committee chair.

“You have changed the political landscape of our country and we can look forward to better times ahead,” added Montgomery-Costa. “But it is also important that we make sure all elected officials are held accountable. We will not be taken for granted.”

Get Involved
Among the DC 37 leaders present were DC 37 Treasurer and Local 1407 President Maf Misbah Uddin and presidents Walthene Primus, Local 957; Kevin Smith, L. 1655; Vice Presidents Fausto Sabatino, L. 1070 and Togba Porte, L. 420, Assistant Associate Director Henry Garrido and others.

With 300 volunteers in attendance, the PAL Dept. honored some exceptional activists like Local 508 President Peter Stein, who brings almost 400 volunteers out every election; Frank Fasone of the DC 37 Print Shop; Rochelle Dawson of the Accounting Dept.; pension expert Dennis Deahn, as well as Information Technician Jomo Davies and Safety and Health Dept. Program Coordinator Guille Mejia for their hard work.

“It is really important that we have a legislative agenda and know what’s really going on,” said Local 768 member Rubye Goode, a Supervising Nutritionist and longtime political volunteer. “Being involved means we win better opportunities for ourselves, our families and our community.”

With a special election set for February, Political Director Wanda Williams said the Green Machine will get in gear to do what it does best: Get out the vote and elect candidates who will fight for union members, public services and New York’s working families.