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COPE Political War Chest Draws $2.5 Million
Ever mindful of the need to support working-family candidates in next year's elections, CWA President Morton Bahr stressed that "political action is clearly one of the three important legs of the CWA triangle. The political action leg of the triangle must always be as strong as collective bargaining and organizing."
Contributions to CWA-COPE, the union's political education committee, reached $2,575,865 in a newly revamped program for 2002. Bahr said that is an increase of $778,188 over 2001 contributions.
For the second year running, he presented awards for September COPE Month.
"We launched COPE Month in 2001 to jumpstart our fund-raising efforts," Bahr said. "It was a successful effort, notwithstanding the events of 9-11. But because the needs are greater, we must do more. Our objective is to instill a year-round culture of COPE fund-raising in every local union, not just one month out of the year."
The 2001 CWA convention directed that locals and districts receive a larger share of COPE funds as an incentive to expand their fund-raising efforts.
COPE Month awards went to Local 1101 and President Joe Connolly: first place for most dollars on an annualized basis, $34,008, and first place for new COPE Club members, 654, who contribute $1 per month. Second place in both categories went to Local 9400 and President Micheal Hartigan, with $15,730 and 288 new members.
Bahr also presented COPE Month awards to District 6 and Vice President Andy Milburn, first place for dollars raised, $69,036, and second place for most members contributing, 582. District 1 and Vice President Larry Mancino took first place for most members, 788. District 7 and Vice President John Thompson took second for dollars raised, $45,886.
Bahr praised the efforts of staff, locals and retiree clubs that contributed to 2002 COPE fund-raising efforts and encouraged them to take advantage of training and materials available from CWA headquarters. A list of 521 locals that met or exceeded their CWA-COPE quotas was distributed at the convention, and Bahr requested that a list of 35 retiree clubs that met their quota of $1 per member be included in the convention proceedings.
Annual COPE Awards
CWA-COPE Club members, who contributed $1 per month, totaled 41,395 for 2002, Bahr said. Gold Quorum members, $2 per week, totaled 4,091; Platinum Quorum, $5 per week, 1,505; and Triple Quorum, $7 per week, 756. Bahr recognized 413 members of the President's Club, who each contributed $520 for the year.
He presented top fundraising awards to:
Contributions to CWA-COPE, the union's political education committee, reached $2,575,865 in a newly revamped program for 2002. Bahr said that is an increase of $778,188 over 2001 contributions.
For the second year running, he presented awards for September COPE Month.
"We launched COPE Month in 2001 to jumpstart our fund-raising efforts," Bahr said. "It was a successful effort, notwithstanding the events of 9-11. But because the needs are greater, we must do more. Our objective is to instill a year-round culture of COPE fund-raising in every local union, not just one month out of the year."
The 2001 CWA convention directed that locals and districts receive a larger share of COPE funds as an incentive to expand their fund-raising efforts.
COPE Month awards went to Local 1101 and President Joe Connolly: first place for most dollars on an annualized basis, $34,008, and first place for new COPE Club members, 654, who contribute $1 per month. Second place in both categories went to Local 9400 and President Micheal Hartigan, with $15,730 and 288 new members.
Bahr also presented COPE Month awards to District 6 and Vice President Andy Milburn, first place for dollars raised, $69,036, and second place for most members contributing, 582. District 1 and Vice President Larry Mancino took first place for most members, 788. District 7 and Vice President John Thompson took second for dollars raised, $45,886.
Bahr praised the efforts of staff, locals and retiree clubs that contributed to 2002 COPE fund-raising efforts and encouraged them to take advantage of training and materials available from CWA headquarters. A list of 521 locals that met or exceeded their CWA-COPE quotas was distributed at the convention, and Bahr requested that a list of 35 retiree clubs that met their quota of $1 per member be included in the convention proceedings.
Annual COPE Awards
CWA-COPE Club members, who contributed $1 per month, totaled 41,395 for 2002, Bahr said. Gold Quorum members, $2 per week, totaled 4,091; Platinum Quorum, $5 per week, 1,505; and Triple Quorum, $7 per week, 756. Bahr recognized 413 members of the President's Club, who each contributed $520 for the year.
He presented top fundraising awards to:
- District 6 and Vice President Milburn: District Sweepstakes Award for highest percentage of quota, 287 percent; Special District Annual Achievement Award for highest percentage of members in COPE-PCC Checkoff, 14.8 percent; Annual Achievement Award for highest amount raised, $461,203; Platinum Quorum Award for most members, 333; and Triple Quorum Award for most members, 209.
- District 3 and Vice President Jimmy Smith: Gold Quorum Award for most members, 993.
- District 9 and Vice President Tony Bixler: President's Club Award for most members participating, 138.
- Local 1101 and President Connolly: Annual Achievement Award for most members enrolled in COPE Club, 1,481; Special Local Achievement Award for most members in COPE-PCC Checkoff, 3,846; and Maxine Lee Award for pioneering achievements in COPE fundraising. The awards were accepted by Treas. Terry Daly. Since August 2001, the local more than doubled the number of members contributing $1 per week to the program and has the highest number of any CWA local.
- Local 1301 and President George Alcott: Special Local Award for highest percentage of quota, 9,732 percent; Distinguished Presidents Award for highest percentage of voluntary dollars, 9,732 percent; and Triple Quorum Award for most members, 105. Local EVP Colin Pomroy accepted the awards.
- Local 6222 and President Claude Cummings: Platinum Quorum Award for most members.
- Local 7072 and President Estella Madrid: Special Local Checkoff Achievement Award for highest percentage of membership participating, 100 percent. District 7 Vice President John Thompson accepted.
- Local 9400 and President Hartigan: Special Local Award for most dollars contributed, $69,163; Distinguished Presidents Award for most voluntary dollars, $69,163; Gold Quorum Award for most members, 293; and President's Club Award for most members, 37.