I would like to take this opportunity to thank John Durso and the Executive Board for the confidence they have shown and the honor they have bestowed on me by electing me to serve as Secretary Treasurer.  I am following in the footsteps of many dedicated and talented leaders who have held this position in the past, in particular, and most recently John DeMartino.  John recently retired from the union and will be sorely missed by the staff of local 338 and all of its members.  The impact he has had on all of our lives is unmistakable and we all wish him the best and lots of happiness in retirement.

While I realize that John and I have very different styles and personalities, I can assure you and make a solemn promise to maintain a high level of integrity and service to the members of Local 338.

We are about to enter a period of time that will determine the shape of our lives for the near and not so near future. Several of our contracts are up this year and next and we will all be put to the test once again. The best position for us is to remain solid in our support of each other, and remember that, alone we are a target but together we represent a force to be reckoned with.

For the immediate future we will be dealing with a series of unknowns.  We are not sure what affect Health Care Reform is going to have on our lives and our funds but in the end I believe that reform was necessary and the right thing for this nation.  The economy remains shaky with some signs of improvement.  The high unemployment rate through out the region continues to have a negative effect on our employers and consequently a detrimental effect on our membership.

Never was it more crucial that we remain "United and Determined".  Our futures and those of our families are at stake.  While I remain confident that our economy will begin to improve, we must remain unified to ensure that we share in whatever prosperity is forthcoming. We have already shared the in the burdens now we must make sure we see our share of the recovery.

I am looking forward to working more closely than ever with all of you towards a brighter future for us all.