There will be a meeting of Local 34’s Executive Board at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 at the Labor Temple. As always, these meetings are open to the membership.

Executive Board Agenda

1. Approval of minutes
2. Treasurer’s report
   • Monthly update
3. Commission committee
4. Communications committee
   • Newsletter
   • Website
5. Mobilizing committee
   • Cash Mob promotion
6. Grievances and arbitrations
7. Contract negotiations
8. Solidarity/support for other unions
9. Old business
   • Catering and Insurance for the Summer Picnic
   • Issues in Advertising
   • District Manager concerns
10. New business
11. Adjourn

We’re disappointed Tim was eliminated from the TriCity ValleyCats’ media bobblehead tournament. Tim had pledged to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

To honor his efforts, the Guild is donating $100 in Tim’s name to the cause of finding a cure for cancer. He may be out of the running, but he’s still an inspiration to us.

If you’d like to donate too, you can do so online at cancer.org or by mail to American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.

The Newspaper Guild of Albany is launching a new campaign to support those who support us.

Please stop by Roma Foods between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9. It is at 9 Cobbee Road just off Route 9 in Latham. Buy Italian groceries, pick up lunch or dinner, and thank owner Frank Bolognino for his longtime support for Times Union workers.

There will be a meeting of Local 34’s Executive Board at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14 at the Labor Temple. As always, these meetings are open to the membership.

Executive Board Agenda

1. Approval of minutes
2. Treasurer’s report
   • Monthly update
3. Commission committee
4. Communications committee
   • Newsletter
   • Website
5. Mobilizing committee
   • Cash Mob promotion
   • New Press section Ad
6. Grievances and arbitrations
7. Contract negotiations
8. Solidarity/support for other unions
9. Old business
   • Catering for the Summer Picnic
10. New business
    • Issues in Advertising
    • District Manager concerns
11. Adjourn

There will be a meeting of Local 34’s Executive Board at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13 at the Labor Temple. As always, these meetings are open to the membership.

Executive Board Agenda

1. Approval of minutes
2. Treasurer’s report
   • Monthly update
3. Commission committee
4. Communications committee
   • Newsletter
   • Website
5. Mobilizing committee
   • “The Book in the Drawer”
   • Cash Mob promotion
6. Grievances and arbitrations
7. Contract negotiations
8. Solidarity/support for other unions
9. Old business
   • Delegates to the TNG and CWA convention
10. New business
11. Adjourn

The Guild is launching an initiative to show appreciation to the advertisers in the best way we know how: shop in their stores.

We are looking for locally owned businesses who deserve support. The idea is that we would work with the retailer, pick a day and send our members to shop there on that day. We would not be asking the retailer for any discounts, and the union would make clear this is a gesture of appreciation. It is not part of the sales contract, and the Guild would handle making the arrangements.

There are no strings attached. The Guild will not ask the advertiser to do or say anything in return. Sometimes referred to as “cash mobs,” these events have been held elsewhere nationally by unions and the Buy Local movement. (We read about it in Time magazine.)

This is a way to thank retailers for advertising in a difficult economy. Given that it is a slow time of year after Christmas, it’s a nice way to send some business to people who support us through their advertising. And we hope you will discover new places to go.

If you give us a copy of your receipt to show you participated, we will enter you in a drawing for a gift card the Guild will buy from the store. We will also reach out to the region’s Buy Local movement and other unions to encourage them to shop there too.

If you know an advertiser who deserves to have shoppers sent their way please CLICK HERE and let us know.

The Guild is considering holding a social event called “The Book in the Drawer.”

Many newspaper employees keep a novel in progress in a bottom drawer, hoping some day to get it published.

We thought you might like to hear some of your colleagues’ prose or to get a chance to read some of your scribblings to an audience of (hopefully) appreciative listeners. It can be nonfiction as well.

If we’re going to try this, we’d first like to see how many people would be interested in reading so we can determine how much time each person would get. (No, you can’t read the whole thing.)

CLICK HERE to show your interest.