Work That Matters - Volunteering at the CFBNJ

On Saturday, March 15, 2014, a team from AFT Local 1904 volunteered at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ). The entire team found it to be a rewarding experience.  

Outfit for a 5-year-old boy.

About the experience Rich Wolfson, AFT Local 1904 President, said "Not only did we do some important work, but it was fun." The group put together outfits for children and their families that made requests through Newark's Head Start Program, and homeless shelters in Jersey City and Union City. 

Many thanks to Nat Bender of AFTNJ and his wife, Kelly, Mylka Biaschochea, Louise Davies, Amy Krenzer, Joann Pinto, Alex Sperling, Deb Solomine, and Rich Wolfson for giving their time and effort to help out at the CFBNJ.

2014 Officer and Delegate Elections

As per the Constitution and ByLaws of AFT Local 1904, an Elections Committee has been properly constituted consisting of members who are not running for office. The committee members are Louise Davies, Brian Abrams, and Paul Martinez, who is serving as chairperson.

The Elections Committee has notified the unit members that only full dues paying members may run for office, and that only full dues paying members may make nominations. The offices up for election are:

President 

Vice President for Internal Affairs

Vice President for External Affairs

Vice President for Personnel (Grievance Officer)

Vice President for Negotiations (Chief Negotiator) 

Professional Staff Negotiations Coordinator

Treasurer

Secretary

Faculty Coordinator

Librarian Coordinator 

Professional Staff Coordinator

Also, eleven (11) delegates to the State Council must be elected. It should be noted that we are entitled to 12 delegates to Council but the President is automatically a delegate. Elected Officers may also serve as Council Delegates.

The timeline for the election is as follows:

Monday April 14th-Nomination Forms Due. 

Week of April 28th-May 2nd, The election. 

Monday May 5th, Announcement of Election Results.

Any full dues paying member wishing to have their name on the ballot for any of the above positions, including Council Delegate, is required to complete a Nominating Petition with ten (10) signatures of full-dues-paying members, which is then delivered to Paul Martinez, via interoffice mail or directly in his mailbox in the Technical Services area in the Library, which is behind the Reference Desk to the left. 

  

If ALL of the positions are uncontested, then the election will be conducted electronically. If there are any positions to be contested the election will be run via a mail ballot with the chair of the Elections Committee placing names for each contested position in a hat or box to draw for position on the ballot. Then, the Council of New Jersey State College Locals will conduct the election by mail ballot working under the supervision of the Elections Committee as to ballot design, name placement and mailing to dues-paying AFT full members. 

  

From the point where nominations are final, the Elections Committee shall have total supervision of the election process. A level and equal playing field will exist for all candidates and use of the Local's membership list via labels and/or the Local's email list with any and all election materials going through the committee and/or Council.

  

The election will be conducted the week of April 28th and will be open for 5 full working days. If there are any questions please direct them to me via email at Paul.Martinez@montclair.edu. 

If you want to confirm whether or not you are a full dues paying member, please contact the Local's office at ext. 4453 or via email at union@mail.montclair.edu to confirm your membership status. 

Financial Review Findings

The Audit Committee has completed its work for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. AFT Local 1904 is pleased to announce that the Audit Committee has found the finances of the Local to be in good order. Many thanks to, Jessica Brandt, Viktor Turchyn, Bob Browning and Bill Vincenti for their hard work. 

The Audit Committee's report on its findings can be found by clicking here.

Robert G. Porter Scholars Program

Grants and Scholarships Available As part of the Robert G. Porter Scholars Program, the AFT offers $8,000 scholarships to four high-achieving high school seniors who are the dependents of AFT members. And 10 grants of $1,000 each are available to AFT members who seek to implement ideas for their union about the role union members can play in collectively reclaiming the promise.  Applications are now available online. The deadline for submitting the 2014 application to the AFT is March 31. This year's winners will be announced by June 30 and will be recognized at the AFT convention, July 11-14, in Los Angeles.  Robert G. Porter was a dedicated union activist from the time he joined his first AFT local in East St. Louis, Ill., until his death in 1991. For nearly four decades, the late AFT secretary-treasurer gave his all to championing the rights of working people, promoting civil rights, and ensuring that the union was a vehicle for helping members achieve justice. Since its inception in 1993, the Robert G. Porter Scholars Program has awarded more than $500,000 to AFT members and their dependents to further their education and to help grow our union’s capacity to achieve our goals.