New Local Officers Seminar for TNG, NABET

In one jam-packed weekend, 33 members from CWA's Newspaper Guild and NABET sectors learned about everything from organizing, mobilizing and collective bargaining to movement building to the nitty-gritty of finance and contract enforcement.

Guild and NABET members at the seminar.

Members came from across the United States, including Puerto Rico, to attend the New Local Officers Seminar (NLOS), held Sept. 20-23 at the Maritime Institute near BWI airport. Their instructors were Guild and NABET staff.

"Thanks to NLOS, I am returning to my local energetic and more informed about what it means to be a leader in my union," said Beth Kramer of the Chicago Guild. "I learned so much that I think my head will be full for months."

Doug Moore, secretary for the St. Louis-based United Media Guild, said, "The seminar exceeded my expectations. I've come back energized and confident as we continue to move forward with growing our membership and prepare for what will be challenging contract negotiations."

NLOS began in 1982. TNG-CWA Rep. Jim Schaufenbil, who attended the first seminar as a member of the Manchester Guild, said the training today is as intense and rewarding as it was 31 years ago.

"That's what we continue to hear," he said. "Year after year, these folks go back home ready and eager and fired up to apply what they learned here."