Members' Donations to CWA-COPE Grow in 2000

CWA-COPE fundraising soared in 2000, with members determined to protect the legislative gains of the last century and prepare to elect friends to Congress in the 2002 elections.

CWA Secretary-Treasurer Barbara Easterling reported that contributions for the year amounted to $1,797,677, an increase of $109,945 from 1999.

“The current White House tenant and his allies in the Congress are no friends of workers and their unions,” Easterling stressed. “CWA-COPE gives us the power to fight back, and more than that, it gives us the power to take the offensive.”

She urged delegates to consider raising the level of their contributions and to ask members back home to do the same, reminding them that, “The other side, those who long for a world without unions, is working harder than ever in building campaign war chests to take direct aim at all of us and our rights as trade unionists.”

Easterling congratulated 519 locals for achieving 100 percent of their CWA-COPE quotas, and staff who participated in 2000.

She announced an increase in membership figures for all three levels of regular contributions through payroll deduction. Participation in CWA-COPE Quorum, $120 a year, rose to 2,823 members; Platinum Quorum, $240 a year, increased to 1,454 members; and Triple Quorum, $320 a year, rose to 953 members.

Eighty-five individuals in 2000 contributed at least $400 to CWA-COPE, earning membership in the distinguished 400 Plus Club. 500 Plus Club membership increased to 78 members, reflecting contributions of at least $500 during 2000 and, Easterling said, a few individuals contributed at $1,000 or more, becoming 1,000 Plus Club members.

She thanked a record 54 retiree clubs that met their COPE quota of $1 per member.

She presented top CWA-COPE fundraising awards to:

• District 3 and Vice President Jimmy Smith: Quorum Achievement Award for most members enrolled, 1,085.
  
• District 6 and Vice President Andy Milburn: District Sweepstakes Award for highest percentage of quota, 285 percent; Special Achievement Awards for highest percentage of member participation in CWA-COPE PCC Checkoff payroll deduction program, 17 percent, and highest amount raised, $445,617; Platinum Quorum Award for most members enrolled, 387, and Triple Quorum Award for most members, 256.
  
• Local 1301 and President George Alcott: Special Local Award for highest percentage of quota, 8,320 percent; Distinguished Presidents Award for highest percentage of voluntary or “free” dollars, 8,320 percent; and Triple Quorum Award for most members enrolled, 38.
  
• Local 3212 and President L.N. Wofford: Quorum Achievement Award for most members enrolled, 174.
  
• Local 6222 and President Claude Cummings: Platinum Quorum Award for most members enrolled, 91.
  
• Local 6320 and President Michael Neumann: Checkoff Achievement Award for largest number of members on payroll deduction, 2,745; Special Local Award for most CWA-COPE dollars raised, $55,112; and Distinguished Presidents Award for most voluntary dollars, $55,112.
  
• Local 13591 and President Joseph Nowark: Checkoff Achievement Award for highest percentage of member participation, 100 percent.

State awards for 100 percent participation by locals went to Arizona, Delaware, South Carolina, South Dakota, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, Virginia and West Virginia.

Easterling noted that Districts 2, 4, 6, 7 and 9 increased their percentage of quota from the previous year.