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!

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. 

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.”

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.

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.

          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 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.

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.

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.  

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

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association (OPEA) welcomes four of its newest members from the Holdenville Department of Human Services Office: Amanda Davis, Pamela Skipworth, Cathy Justice and David Garlett. 

A lively group of Tri-County Chapter members met at the Craig County Health Department with Membership Representative Reba Turner Robinson to discuss the purposed Oklahoma Public Employees Association geographic organizational structure.

The Cherokee Health Department in Tahlequah was the setting for a recent pizza lunch where participants joined in a discussion about OPEA’s proposed change to Geographic Representation structure.

 

OPEA representatives met recently with employees of the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center (COJC) to discuss the current study of possible privatization of several OJA centers. 

A presentation was held recently at the Mac Alfred Correctional Center (MACC) in String town.  OPEA, acting as liaison for the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, presented a $250 check to Correctional Officer James Flynn.

Idabel Community Work Center is closing the gap on being a 100% OPEA membership facility. The latest member Lieutenant Jackie McIntosh joined OPEA today. “We need help and I believe OPEA is the only association helping” said McIntosh. “Without OPEA where can we turn?”

Meet Sharon Hines-Ice, President of the COD Tri County Chapter of Oklahoma Public Employees Association. She is the Health Planning Clerk in Miami.  It was her suggestion that led to the combination and development of a Chapter of the three small Health Agencies in Craig, Ottawa, and Delaware Counties. 

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association recently held a Chapter Meeting with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation at the Pizza Hut in Davis. The 100 percent OPEA membership decided to sit down with OPEA Chapter Development Strategist Brandon Watkins to see what kind of impact the chapter can make with their legislators and community.

Craig County DHS President Jennifer McElheney invited OPEA Membership Representative Reba Turner Robinson to the chapter officer's session on Education and Training.  The meeting was held July 14 at Vinita's Cowboy Junction.

OPEA recently held a luncheon at the JD McCarty Center in Norman in order to tell state employees the good news about what OPEA is doing for them. Membership representative Brandon Watkins was there to answer legislative questions and show them how to become involved and stay tuned in to the current happenings at the Capitol.  OPEA founder, board member, and long-time state employee Dixie Jackson was the special guest-speaker.

The recent site of an Oklahoma Public Employees Association pizza luncheon was the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Laura Dester Center in Tulsa.

 

OPEA member Marshall Tyner recognized times of support and intervention by OPEA on behalf of state employees which resulted in specific change and salary increase.

 

Even though it was a busy time for the Center, as employees completed their conferences with clients, they came to the meeting, enjoyed pizza and made inquiries. 

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association held a pizza lunch recently for employees at the Wagoner OKDHS.  Employees talked during the lunch meeting about salary concerns, longevity, and retiree cost of living (COLA).  

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services West Child Support Office in the Tulsa Kerr building was the gracious setting for a recent pizza luncheon provided by the Oklahoma Public Employees Association.
 

Interest was keen concerning longevity pay and the possibility of twice a month paydays.  Answering questions regarding four-day week schedules and issues related to that topic were answered by Patricia Schrader of the Tulsa’s West Child Support Office. 

Who says tax season isn’t fun? It may be tax season, but it’s also the season of rational reason when several workers at the Oklahoma Tax Commission in Oklahoma City joined recently at a luncheon hosted by OPEA. And yes, it was a blast!! Pizza plus fun people mixed in with some very important information given from OPEA was the recipe for a successfully great time!

How many? All of them! State employees are joining left and right- just like the workers at the Payne County Health Department where OPEA hosted a recent luncheon! Every initial non-member in attendance decided to make the right decision and join the only association in Oklahoma State Government which consistently works with and for the people.

“Where do I sign?” is all that was heard coming from the mouths of several people at the State Auditor and Inspectors Office who made the decision to join OPEA at a recent luncheon held at their office in Oklahoma City. The conference room was packed with state employees as the workers listened to OPEA Board of Director Tom Dunning and OPEA Membership Representative Brandon Watkins talk about the exciting things OPEA is doing for them.

Now this is what we’re talkin’ about! Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than the day before, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in Lawton matched the people who joined OPEA the day before at the State Auditor and Inspectors Office! OPEA was there to provide lunch and give vital information to the OKDHS County Office in Lawton where the turnover is high, and now so is the current members list!

Opening the meting Justin Jones Director of the Department of Corrections introduced OPEA Membership Representative Rick Allen as a retired DOC employee who now works for OPEA.

 

On Friday February 13, OPEA along with Senator Don Barrington and Representative T.W.Shannon met with the OESC employees in Lawton.

The Oklahoma Department of Human Services workers in Payne County actively support each other concerning their image and future, with OPEA leading the way! OPEA was there with lunch-in-tow recently to provide for workers who aren’t just hungry for food, but for the tangible results they seek.

OPEA recently held a luncheon at the OKDHS County Office 55D where the room was full and so were the excitement of workers! Board members Tom Dunning and Thomas Kalayilparampil were met with much enthusiasm and anticipation by the large audience.

With topics ranging from state employee pay, retirement and insurance, as well as privatization, agency budgets and the future of state employment, candidates Dan McMahan (D) and Charles Ortega (R) provided a civil discussion of these and other issues in front of some 35 state employees during a recent candidate forum at the Altus Public Library.

A group of state employees from Duncan met recently with OPEAPAC-endorsed House district 50 candidate Daisy Lawler to commit themselves to Lawler’s campaign.

State employees representing DHS, OESC, OJA and the state Health Department met at the Chickasha Public Library recently to interact with House District 47 candidate Harold Jackson, who is running for the open seat recently vacated by Susan Winchester.

The pizza was hot and the reception State Representative Scott Inman received from the 55J employees was even hotter. It was standing room only when OPEA introduced Representative Inman.

OPEA held a luncheon recently at DEQ in downtown Oklahoma City to discuss current events surrounding what OPEA is doing for state employees.

OPEA gained a large number of new members during a rare visit to the Lawton Veterans Center.

The Lawton and Altus offices of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission recently took time from their heavy caseloads to participate in an OPEA pizza lunch to discuss issues within the agency.

What started out as an intimate lunch between OPEA staff member Bud Elder and four employees at the Grady County Employment Security Commission on September 3 became a strong discussion of state employee issues in general and, more specifically, changes at OESC.

A need for growth and awareness was the topic of a recent lunch meeting organized by OPEA members at the Craig County DHS.

Centered by a strong group of OPEA members, the Lawton Community Corrections Center recently held a lunch meeting to discuss the association’s recent initiatives, as well as its plans for the current election cycle and legislative session.

OPEA held a luncheon recently at the Department of Agriculture in Oklahoma City. Many attended in hopes of gaining more information about who OPEA is and what we do for state workers.

OPEA held a luncheon recently at the OESC Call Center in Shepherd Mall to discuss what OPEA is currently doing for state employees. Many of those in attendance decided to join, stand, and fight as OPEA Members.

OPEA recently hosted a luncheon at the OKDHS Chapter 55H county office to discuss issues including the alternative work week, as well as the importance of being registered to vote.

With a mixture of longtime members plus those interested in what OPEA has to offer, more than 30 state employees with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in Duncan gathered July 31 to hear the latest news from their Association.

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association recently hosted a public forum at the Ada Public Library to discuss state employee issues with District 25 candidates Darrell Nemecek and Gary Starns. Both candidates are running for the Democratic seat and openly discussed their views about state employees.

Kathy Marx, from Caddo County DHS, has discovered that it pays in more ways than one when recruiting OPEA members.

Membership Representative Alicia Wright met recently with employees of the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center to discuss updates and elect new officers of the Cal Hobson Chapter.

A scheduling miscommunication led to a successful OPEA recruiting trip to Caddo County.

The Oklahoma Public Employees Association held a recruitment lunch meeting with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services County 55G in Oklahoma City July 2nd. OKDHS worker’s openly discussed with OPEA staff on many topics including the 4 day work week.

As part of a new plan for their Chapter, Chapter officers of Crossroads DHS worked tirelessly to put together a meeting with Representative Randy Terrill on July 2. President Diane Scholl, replacing Kelley Parker as of July 1, Vice-President Haley Faulkenberry, and Treasurer Adena Davis, along with the members of the Chapter met with Terrill to discuss state employee issues, grassroots campaigning, and making state voices heard.

The Department of Human Services held their commission meeting June 17, at the Sequoyah State Office Building. OPEA staff attended the meeting where OKDHS Director Howard Hendrick gave a PowerPoint presentation with compelling findings.

OPEA members met at the Cleveland County Noble DHS office June 24 to discuss workplace issues and prepare for the upcoming quarterly meeting with Director Hendrick. OPEA Membership Representative Alicia Wright and OPEA Policy and Research Director Trish Frazier attended the meeting.

The week of June 23, the Employee Benefits Council (EBC) and the Oklahoma State and Education Group Insurance Board (OSEEGIB) met to begin the process of setting insurance rates for state employees. EBC contracts with insurance companies who offer their product to state employees. OSEEGIB administers HealthChoice, which is a self-funded traditional insurance plan offered across the state to public and education employees.

Duncan DHS was the site of the latest OPEA membership meeting, with some ten members in attendance, including some very overworked child welfare workers.

Only two weeks ago, OPEA Executive Director Sterling Zearley and Representative Paul Roan issued a challenge to the Johnston County DHS office. Now they are claiming the prize.

Office discusses OPEA legislation, benefits and other issues, while adding a wealth of new members