Thank You Convention Delegates

Thank you to the wonderful convention delegates, alternates and guests for a great gathering of activists in Spokane. People like you all over this nation are the reason the middle class exists. You make a difference everyday. When you speak out, when you stand up, when you vote, you decide the future of America. Will we remain a great democratic force in the world or will we become a third world country plagued by the ultimate struggle between the very very rich and the very very poor? It's up to us.

This convention marked the beginning of a very great battle - a battle we cannot lose. We face a special legislative session that threatens the very existence of state government. November 28th legislators will decide if they have enough fiber in their backbone to stand up and develop real revenue solutions or if they will take the coward's way out and allow our state and our neighborhoods to devolve into chaos. We must be the conscience of the state. We must say NO to cutting off the vulnerable from the services they need. We must say NO to releasing dangerous offenders into our communities without supervision. We must say NO to profiteers who plan to become rich sucking off taxpayer resources through contracts with the state. We must STAND for what is right and what is just.

At this convention, we decided as a body that we will fight back and we will say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

In Medical Lake, we all stood together to speak out against the cuts that threaten our children, our families and our neighborhoods. We talked about the devastating cuts being considered statewide in all agencies. We sang together with Anne Feeney and Evan Greer, great labor singers - who inspire and move us to action.

I know I speak for all the officers elected at this past convention, when I tell you how humbled and honored we are to serve you for the next two years. These may be the toughest we've ever faced. I know that Sue Henricksen, Vice President, Rosemary Sterling, Treasurer, Judy Kuschel, Secretary and I will make a strong, tough team. We will stand with you; we will fight for you; and we will be united in our focus and in our actions. Thank you for your votes and thank you for your service to this great union and to our country.