Members of the Woodward OJA celebrate 100 percent membership!

            Traveling the great state of Oklahoma has its perks. And to name just a few I got to celebrate OJA in Woodward’s 100 percent OPEA Membership with them! Kudos to OJA for following through and committing to OPEA! We settled in for a fantastic reward lunch at J.B.’s Steakhouse located right off Highway 412 in Woodward. The food was great and the company was even better!

            And how often do you get a chance to sit down with OJA in Lawton? Not often, because that field office along with many other OJA field offices across the state are constantly on the move because of their outrageous caseloads. What an outstanding crew they have down there in the mighty city of Lawton!  I was able to get some really good feedback on how they feel about OPEA and what OPEA is doing for them. Gave me an opportunity to share it with the staff.

Members of Lawton OJA enjoy a pizza lunch and learn about the benefits of OPEA!

            Now the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is a part of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Many ladies and gents out there don’t know this. Well I’m here to tell you it is. Ain’t that a kick? We had a good meeting with one who joined.  

            I also got the chance to talk to some people from the OKDHS Training Academy and show them the OPEA DVD. The feedback I got was it was informative as well as the presentation.

            So folks, all in all it’s been a good, productive week out there across the western half of Oklahoma. I’m looking forward to the meetings next week!

Several OPEA members traveled to Idabel recently for a bean supper, with special guests that included Lt. Governor Jari Askins, Senators Jerry Ellis and Kenneth Corn, and Representative Dennis Baily. 

OPEA Membership Representative Rick Allen joined a group of OPEA members for the supper, which included Kevin Angel, Mark Finch, Bill Harrington, Justin Humphreys, all from Howard McLeod Correctional Center.

“We have come tonight to support Senator Jerry Ellis who supported HMCC staff in their time of need” said Mark Finch. “We are also here to ask the Legislators not to cut the Department of Corrections budget anymore this year.”

“We have sergeants running the facility shifts due to the shortage of luitenents and staff at the facility,” said Kevin Angel. “We want to become part of the solution to our agency. Our next move is to begin a chapter and committee that will present policy changes to the agency which will enhance our work place.”

“Private prisons became a part of business for Oklahoma years ago,” said Lt. Governor Jari Askins.” The Board of Corrections over sees these contracts as a part of Oklahoma’s business. Oklahoma has to be careful in depending and needing private prison beds as to not let to large a percentage of our inmates be contracted to the private sector. It costs Oklahoma for each inmate housed in private beds. If not monitored closely this could become very costly business for Oklahoma,” Askins said.

After several years of inactivity, a number of retired state employees in Vinita are reviving their chapter.

“They were once very active,” said Membership Representative Reba Turner Robinson.  “Most of them worked at the mental hospital there, and are now seeing the need to become active in OPEA once again.”

Turner and OPEA’s Policy and Research Director Trish Frazier recently met with the chapter at Vinita’s Trinity Baptist Church and gave them current information on the Association and how to re-activate their chapter.

Tulsa’s Oklahoma Employment Security Commission had a special pizza party recently, congratulating the chapter and receiving a challenge for another year.   Reba Turner Robinson, Membership Representative for Northeastern Oklahoma, promised them this special celebration in the beginning, and led the newly-formed chapter to their well-earned honor.  

Harold Wright , OPEA Board Member, has been a strong leader of this group and designed an effective prototype meeting.   Led by President Diana Stolhand, the executive committee planned the agenda and published it prior to the meeting.  It begins at 6:00 p.m. and ends promptly at 6:30 p.m., even if business must be tabled for another time.  At the close of the meeting, if members want to have their dinner and stay for fellowship, those who must leave are free to do so.

The final meeting of the year 2009 was at Chimi’s where they met to complete their calendars for 2009-2010.

Some of the activities involving community service and awareness were to assist the Blue Mother's who participate in sending needed items to the men and women in the Armed Forces.  They will continue to collect warm gloves, socks and hats for the homeless men in the Tulsa area.  More than 100 men received these items last December.    As Tracy Ritz volunteered her car, they will participate in local parades to publicize OPEA's activities.

Money raising events include, a silent auction, donate for a chance to win a patriotic lap-quilt, drawings for gas cards, and they will place other ideas into the calendar as ideas are added.

Some of the members participating:  Pres. Diana Stolhand, Vice-Pres Tracey Ritz, Secy Brandi Poage, Lisa Tyre, Chapter Photographer Jennifer Denby and Board Member Harold Wright.

OPEA’s Lawton chapter of the state Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is off to a great start, taking the initiative to invite a local legislator to a recent lunch meeting.

Representative Joe Dorman joined employees at Lawton’s Jim Taliaferro Behavioral Health Center, and said he appreciated the opportunity to speak honestly about issues facing state workers.  Taliaferro employees pressed Dorman on issues relating to privatization, as well as reductions-in-force, furloughs and voluntary buyouts. 

“I was appreciative of the tough questions employees asked, and to put real faces with the problems we’re seeing with the budget cuts,” Dorman said.  “It certainly makes you consider all the options we have before us.  Some of these we need to address immediately.  We have a lot of great state employees in Oklahoma and they shouldn’t be afraid to speak up.  OPEA chapters need to work hard to elect the best candidates who will represent public employees.”

The Taliaferro lunchroom was crowded, and chapter officers were on hand to facilitate the meeting.  Chapter Vice President Hank Swearingen said “it’s the responsibility of every state employee to educate their community about the services that state workers provide.”

Other chapter members, including Treasurer Marjorie Mayes and member Steve Graham, said they are excited about their new chapter and look forward to engaging legislators in further dialogue.

“The threat of privatization is a very real threat,” said OPEA Membership Representative Brandon Watkins, who helped organize the Lawton event.  “Privatization would have damaging and immediate effects to those who work in state government, not to mention the long-lasting detriment it would have on the community.”

OPEA members are encouraged to talk to their co-workers about the advantages of membership, and help them see OPEA is an affordable way to protect their jobs and their benefits.

            The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Lawton OPEA Chapter is hosting a brown bag lunch with Representative Joe Dorman at noon this Friday October 9^th at the ODMHSAS facility. Representative Dorman is a long-time friend of state employees and is the invited guest speaker. OPEA will also be there to help answer legislative questions.

            The Lawton Chapter has been strengthened from a recent election by electing new officers and is on its way to becoming an OPEA Star Chapter.

            The OPEA Star Chapter Program is an opportunity for the chapter to excel above and beyond in order to benefit themselves and all state employees across the state by participating in at least eight, nine, or 10 qualifying events. Those events include having 100 percent membership or a membership increase of five percent; attending the annual convention; attending lobby day; holding two membership drives; participating in one local community activity as an OPEA Chapter; hosting a grievance training session or attending a legal seminar; attending a council or area meeting; submitting one article with photographs, for publication in The Advocate; attending a meeting with the OPEA Board of Directors; hosting a legislative reception.

            The rewards included for attaining eight qualifying events or Bronze Star Chapter will earn 100 dollars. The Silver Star Chapter will qualify for nine events and earn 150 dollars and the Gold Star Chapter will earn 200 dollars for qualifying for all 10 events. All levels of success will receive a plaque and recognition in The Advocate at the Annual Convention.

            “I’m ecstatic that chapter president Brenda Bennett, along with vice president Hank Swearingen, secretary Nancy Vap, and treasurer Marjorie Mayes have taken the initiative and decided to invite Representative Dorman to their facility for lunch,” said OPEA Membership Representative Brandon Watkins. “It says a lot for them and shows me they mean business in getting their chapter up and running in the right direction. I have a lot of confidence in them and what they can do as leaders of OPEA and in the community,” said Watkins. 

DHS 55G workers meet to discuss ways to rebuild their chapter

             The Oklahoma Department of Human Services county office 55G held a luncheon in their Mayfair office recently to discuss geographical organizational structure current events and how they can become more involved through chapter development. And OPEA was there for them; ready, willing, and able to provide that information and support.

            Many workers contributed their lunch hour in order to hear what OPEA had to say. Many workers, including Marcus Jones OKDHS 55G Assistant County Director,  Karen Danley OKDHS Area III Nurse and OPEA Board Member Thomas Kalayilparampil who works in Aging Services Division located in Shepherd Mall were in attendance. Also, Family Support Supervisors Kay Hobson 55G, Joby Joseph 55G, Noby Mathew 55G, Varughese Chandapillai 55G showed their support as well as Reuben Samuel, Saira Boswell, newly elect OPEA Board Member Casey Letran all drove from 55H Rockwell Office to be at the meeting to discuss plans to build a chapter from the ground up.

DHS 55G workers meet to discuss ways to rebuild their chapter

            “There are several new employees at the Mayfair office who attended the meeting last week,” said OKDHS 55G CFS Supervisor Kay Hobson. “It was good for them to hear the accomplishments OPEA has made for state workers over the years. I am excited to hopefully get an OPEA chapter started in this office soon and look forward to help increase the support of OPEA,” Hobson said.   

            “OPEA has a lot of potential here in this office to grow in membership and develop a strong chapter in order to be effective at the Capitol,” said OPEA Membership Representative Brandon Watkins. “I believe in the people. And the people here have all of the right ingredients to become a successful chapter. I believe their voice will soon not only be booming, but directed and concentrated in the right way to promote the positive change they seek,” Watkins said. 

            “The meeting at 55G was very productive as we were able to convince the members about the benefits of going to the geographical/district concept,” said OPEA Board Member Thomas Kalayilparampil. “This will enable our members to interact more with the co-workers and legislators at a local grassroots level. We were also able to achieve the goal of setting up a new chapter at 55G, with the great help of the Assistant County Director Marcus Jones and CFS Supervisor Kay Hobson. I did witness some great enthusiasm among the new workers to be actively involved with OPEA to keep their jobs and benefits in these difficult budget cut times. My advice is simple; please do not wait on the sidelines, but get involved and make a difference for yourself and your co-workers! Thank you very much for your continued support!” Kalayilparampil said.

If you are a state employee and want your voice heard at the Capitol, then it’s time to join your coworkers in order to have the biggest and loudest voice possible. For more information about becoming a member please visit our website at www.opea.org or contact Brandon Watkins at (405) 524-6764 ext. 208. 

Boomer Chapter Officers Jim Darst, back left and Linda Briggs.

Front row:  Jodi Shrewsbury and Esther Fischer

            The OPEA Boomer Chapter in Enid recently held an election at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in order to elect their new chapter officers and OPEA was there to mediate the election and provide lunch for the crowd. Exciting and hopeful times ahead indeed for the Boomer Chapter who is currently building-up their chapter in preparation for the upcoming 2010 legislative session. OPEAPAC Trustee Lynne Bussell is a retired State Health Department employee who was also present as well lending support to the meeting.

            OPEA would like to publicly recognize the new Boomer Chapter Officers who will be leading Garfield County to newfound heightened success- Jim Darst President, Esther Fischer Vice President, Linda Briggs Secretary, and Jodi Shrewsbury Treasurer.

            “I’m excited to be a part of a great team in order to advance the concerns of our local state employees,” said OPEA Chapter President and OKDHS Social Services Specialist II Jim Darst. “We’re trying to be a part of the solution of the challenges Oklahoma state government employees face everyday.  I appreciate the support of our dedicated state workers who believe in Oklahoma and are committed to delivering the best services with the limited resources available,” Darst said.

Lynne Bussell, left, with Trish Frazier and Connie Stockton.  Bussell won the grand prize of a 37-inch flat screen tv at OPEA's annual convention.

            “It’s an honor for me to be elected Secretary of the OPEA Boomer Chapter,” said Linda Briggs. “I look forward to improving the outlook of our local membership as well as supporting all state employees in our quest to pass legislation which improves our stand as a public employee association. I wouldn’t have committed to this if I did not believe in the necessity. All state workers need to belong for our voice to be heard loud and clear at the Capitol,” Briggs said.

            “We’re living in troubled economic times right now for everyone, but especially for Oklahoma state government employees who have had to weather this kind of economic storm for way too long,” said OPEA Membership Representative Brandon Watkins. “I’m privileged to know and work with tough people like the ones here at the Enid OKDHS county office who meets the challenges we’re all facing and get tougher by uniting and pushing through the issues in a positive manner. The Boomer Chapter is well on its way to becoming an organized, powerful component to the OPEA chapter infrastructure,” Watkins said.  

             OPEA has been the only vehicle for state employee’s voices to be heard for the past 34 years, with every generation contributing leaders who can and have made a difference.

            “I’m excited about the new leaders in our office and look forward to seeing their leadership develop,” said long time OPEA member and OKDHS Administrative Tech IV Geneva Martens. “We can all strive to make the difference and I will continue to strive along with them,” Martens said. 

OPEA would like to congratulate all of the volunteer leaders who stepped-up and connected with their office positions, with full intention of making a positive difference for all state government employees. If you would like to contribute to that positive difference then take the first step and join OPEA today! Please contact Brandon Watkins at (405) 818-3009 or visit www.opea.org.

Members of Stillwater's DHS enjoy a pizza lunch courtesy of OPEA

            OPEA held a luncheon recently at Stillwater’s Department of Human Services to help strategize chapter plans for the months ahead and support their commitment to their chapter goals.

            The Payne County Chapter is one of OPEA’s strongest chapters with President Richard Birdwell, Vice President Mike Williams, Secretary Chloe Robinson, and Treasurer Lorene Ropers as the officers leading the group.  

            “Payne County is blessed to have a great group of hard working, team oriented people,” said OKDHS Supervisor and OPEA Payne County Chapter President Richard Birdwell. “We do our best each day to serve the public in a timely and efficient manner.  We have begun the process of developing our OPEA chapter into a unified and active chapter and I feel very confident we can identify our goals and visions for our Chapter so we will have a positive and effective impact on our local and state legislative representatives.   A vision, with established goals and a group of hard working, dedicated people is a sure formula for success,” said Birdwell. 

            “I believe the Payne County OKDHS OPEA chapter will become much more active and be a strong voice for State employees in our area,” said OKDHS worker and OPEA Payne County Chapter Treasurer Lorene Ropers.

            “It’s certainly exciting for me to be able to see the Payne County Chapter grow in activity and involvement through watching them envision their goals, plan their strategy, and eventually implement their goals to successful fruition,” said OPEA Membership Representative Brandon Watkins. “I look forward to seeing them become a linchpin to OPEA’s chapter arsenal.”            

            If you are a state employee and want your voice heard at the Capitol, then it’s time to join your coworkers in order to have the biggest and loudest voice possible. For more information about becoming a member please visit our website at www.opea.org or contact Brandon Watkins at (405) 524-6764 ext. 208. 

OPEA Membership Representative Rick Allen signed a new member to OPEA recently in an unlikely place…outside a Lexington convenience store!

“You just never know where you might meet a potential member,” Allen said.  “I stopped at a convenience store and ran into Faron Bryant, Maintenance Department Supervisor at the Joseph Harp Correctional Facility.  We’ve known each other since grade school, and Faron has the same impeccable characteristics now that he had as a young man.  I also worked with Faron for 10 years of my DOC career, and I can truly say his Maintenance Department is an agency showcase.

“Faron joined OPEA on-the-spot, and brings to the Association a great amount of expertise and tenacity,” Allen said.

Bryant said “I’ve been meaning to join OPEA for a long time, and now I am part of an Association that can support my efforts.  I encourage my co-workers to look at the great benefits OPEA offers all state employees and join today.”