Let me begin by saying thank you to the Members and Delegates for having the confidence in me and my team by re-electing us for another term. Over the past four years, we have worked diligently to make the MSCRC a better Council and provide work opportunities for you the Member. After all that is what it is all about, you being able to provide a good wage and benefits for your family.

I would like to take the opportunity now to introduce you to the newly elected officers of the Mid-South Carpenters Regional Council.

          President: David Park- Local 1554                                 
          Vice President: Don Finley- Local 1209                        
          Executive Board: Todd Helton- Local 50                         
          Executive Board: Tim Brown- Local 1554                         
          Executive Board: Steve Gray- Local 303                         
          Warden Carlo: Flaccavento- Local 127                        
          Conductor: Matt Boner- Local 223                                 
          Trustee: Jared Newkirk- Local 1192                                
          Trustee: Jim Hixson- Local 74                                 
          Trustee:  Daniel Lisenby- Local 89  
           
Each local union in the Mid-South Carpenters Regional Council has at least one officer serving with us.

Over the next four years, we look forward to the new and exciting challenges that this team will undertake with your help. We plan to expand our organizing efforts into new areas and markets. For example, organizing in the Millwright industry is completely different than in other segments of our trade. Therefore, a different approach will be necessary to be successful, but with a joint effort by the Millwright agents and the Organizing Department we will work out a plan that gives us the best possibility for success. We will also be expanding our top down Interior Systems Organizing into other cities within the MSCRC.

The challenges we face are many but the opportunities are great. There is a lot to be won or lost in the political arena in the coming few years. We must all work diligently with the political department to see that we are electing officials at the state and local levels who share our values when it comes to working people. We cannot sit on the sidelines and hope that it all turns out good for our Members. It is up to all of us to work like Hell for those candidates who stand up for working people, and to work just as hard against the ones who would like to see hard working people just scrape by.

I would encourage each member to take advantage of the training being offered through our training departments. We owe it to our employers to provide them with the best trained workforce available. I encourage you to visit your local training office, and sign up for courses that will help expand your work opportunties.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the members of the Mid-South Carpenters Regional Council that have volunteered their time to assist us in our efforts. Without your support we would not be able to accomplish the things we need to do. If you have not been able to volunteer any time in the past I ask you to please help us in the future as your schedule permits. It takes a team effort to be successful and that includes our members and their efforts.

The things that we have been able to accomplish would not have been possible without the support and team effort of our administrative, organizing, and training departments and the Mid-South Carpenters Regional Council staff.

Again, thank you for confidence in me and this team.  


Fraternally,

James L. Kerley
Executive Secretary Treasurer