National African American SEIU Western 
Regional-Northern California Caucus Meeting

The Caucus met Saturday June 28, 2003 in Oakland at SEIU Local 250.  Sister Ella Raiford, AFRAM National Vice President facilitated us through the same agenda that our Southern California AFRAM brothers and sisters and officers of our Western Region AFRAM Executive Board were meeting on in Los Angeles on the same day. 

I gave a report from my notes of the 2003 National AFRAM Convention in Miami. The highlights were some of the stats given about Miami in relationship to the high percentage of residents working uninsured. Also International Board President Stern speech on the demographic make up of the members and staff of the SEIU family. Also submitted a hand written note from Sister Deena Bailey, SEIU 715 LVN from San Jose about her experiences and pleasures of being at the 2003 Convention. Deena mentioned that she learned just how important it is to vote in unison on national and state elections.

The Caucus also invited some youths that were with relatives to speak on what drives them to good students. Comments regarding their future occupations were the primary goal.

Sister Ella Raiford gave her report on the recently held Operation PUSH Conference in Chicago. There were workshops on AIDS, Hospice, the church and more.

We spoke on all locals participating on a unified master calendar, gearing toward things on community issues, political issues, etc.

We then had a training on effective listening, which showed us how much is learned with a moment of silence; how effective 75% of listening is to 25% of speaking, try it?

The Caucus then came up with many various topics to participate in, but only settled for the top three. We suggested and created committees for all Locals to participate in. The Committees are:

(1) Life Choices: the committee will stage seminars on health awareness issues. The committee is chaired by Bea Bell (SEIU 250)

(2) Community Projects:  AFRAM members to get involved in the community with things such as school projects (i.e., painting.) and/or other youth programs (skate parties). This committee will be co-chaired by Connie Taylor(SEIU 250) and Ouida Lewis (SEIU 715).

(3) Voter Registration Campaign:  For AFRAM to gather names on petitions for the California State Budget Accountability Act. The petition gathering of the initiative is overseen by Brother Will Clayton, Administrative Vice President of SEIU 250 chairing the committee.

We also were blessed with Sister Ruth Forney (retired SEIU 1280 president) who participated in our meeting. Ruth also mentioned that she will again be running for the same seat on the Solano Board of Supervisor in March 2004 as the incumbent.


In Solidarity,
Brother Mike Mayo,
Chair of the Service Employees International Union
Local 715 African American Caucus (AFRAM)



Mike Mayo
e-mail:mmayo@stanford.edu
mikem@bonair.stanford.edu
       Phone:(650)723-4899
       Pager:(650)301-2394