By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

District Council 37 took top awards at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees' 35th international convention in Las Vegas from June 24-28.

The union received the first ever Star of Excellence Award for its members' heroic and tireless response to the Sept. 11 attack and for keeping New York City running at a time of unparalleled crises.

"The response to this tragedy was a union response," said AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee. "DC 37 was there, from digging out to feeding volunteers."

Strong patriotism energized delegates and underscored the convention theme of organizing like never before. As 3,000 delegates set the union's policies for the next two years by passing over 100 resolutions on subjects like universal health care, labor law reform, peace in Vieques and other issues, AFSCME celebrated its unprecedented growth. Last year membership swelled to 1.3 million as 100,000 new members joined the ranks nationwide, from California to Puerto Rico.

Parent union AFSCME honored DC 37 members who gave their lives in the line of duty Sept. 11 like Local 299 Fire Dept. Chaplain Father Mychal Judge, Local 2507 Paramedics Carlos Lillo and Ricardo Quinn, and other heroes.

"The size of the task was monumental, but DC 37 members and other civil service employees put the city first, and DC 37 staff put our members first," Executive Director Lillian Roberts told the convention. "In all my years, I have never seen a more dedicated union. We stood united because we love America."

AFSCME also recognized DC 37's progress on labor's frontline by honoring four locals for waging an unflinching battle against privatization. Local 372 slammed the book on Edison Schools; Local 371 engineers shut the door on Bechtel's bid to take over the 9-11 cleanup; and Locals 2507 and 3621 reduced the inroads of private ambulance companies into vital emergency medical services. Together with DC 37, they crushed competition from outside contractors.

AFSCME honored DC 37's work on behalf of the disabled. DC 37 fought to improve Access-A-Ride transportation for the disabled, and EMS Local 2507 battled for disabled EMTs and Paramedics. DC 37's PEOPLE Committee received an award for political fundraising.

Guest speakers like activists Erin Brockovich and actor Martin Sheen urged the crowd to make a difference. Their words spurred conventioneers to march in 107-degree weather Wednesday afternoon and turn up the heat on downtown Las Vegas casinos that refused to negotiate a fair contract with Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165.

The DC 37 lapel pin by far was the convention's most coveted and hotly traded item. The pin was designed by PEP Art Director Alyce Archer to commemorate the World Trade Center and its fallen heroes.

Another chapter in DC 37's history was written June 28 as longtime SSEU Local 371 President Charles Ensley was sworn in as an international vice president of AFSCME. The 400-strong DC 37 delegation had voted unanimously for Mr. Ensley, and they cheered wildly.

"DC 37 has great new leadership, and we are putting the members first," Mr. Ensley said. "Ensley is a 32-year veteran of the labor movement who some considered a dissident because he spoke out against the double zero contract, layoffs and fraud," said DC 37 Treasurer Mark Rosenthal. "But he had the courage to fight for the poor and focus on workers' issues. He understands this is a labor movement."

"This is a great day for our union," said DC 37 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa. "Charles is strong and outspoken and will look out for DC 37's interests as the International Executive Board wrestles with complex issues."

As enthused delegates prepared to carry home AFSCME's message, President McEntee reminded them: "AFSCME is this country's greatest fighting union. We have to organize, organize, organize so we can continue to beat back privatization and win at the ballot box."