Kay Kekauoha
This has been a very busy year for Region 5 because of the critical back-to-back campaigns of CALPERS (getting Kurato elected) and the Special Election. I thank everyone who phone-banked and precinct walked and went to the different rallies (spur of the moment), especially Charles Jones, Ulysses Guadamuz, Betty Fleming and John Hall of SMCCD chapter #33; Afsha Khan, Pat Cammock and DeLaina W of South San Francisco chapter #197; Maisha Mouton of SMCOE chapter #158 who called multiple times. If I missed anyone, please accept my apologies.

The other two people I have to mention are Labor Relations Representatives Diana Hull and Earl Everett, who called and precinct walked and alternated nights between ACSA and CTA.

We can't forget Opal Okikiade, Regional Representative for Region 40, who was there nightly. Kudos to Quita Kirk of Ravenswood chapter #303, Region 40 who worked at South Bay Field Office (SBFO) as the Release Contact Person responsible for keeping us on task and getting our tallies to the Field Office to account for the calls made each night. The outcome of both elections made it worth the time, energy and effort on everyone's part.

Opal Okikiade/RR-40, Marie Counilman/RR-28, Mike Curry/RR041 and I hosted the December Board luncheon on December 10th. Thank you Opal, Mike and Marie for bringing the turkeys and trimmings respectively. The success of the luncheon was your doing.

One of the goals we’ve set is to get all 11 chapter presidents (from Region 5) to the Regional Presidents Meetings (RPMs) on a regular basis as active participants on the regional level. Our region's success depends on members who are activists or members who at the very least attend the RPMs. IT ISN'T CSEA'S DUTY to make this Region successful, it’s MEMBERS OF REGION 5, LIKE YOU!! We in Region 5 must take responsibility and ownership for our Region!

The Legislative Conference will take place April 1-3. Ulysses and I will be going to Sacramento to gear up for the June and November elections. On Monday, we will lobby 5 legislators regarding issues important to us. The legislators are: Leland Yee (Assembly District 12), Gene Mullin (Assembly District 19), Jackie Speier (State Senate District 08), Carole Migden (State Senate District 03), Johan Klehs (Assembly District 18) and Ira Ruskin (Assembly District 21). The issues are: minimum wage, state budget, school nutrition, and worker's comp service credit. The following weekend, on Saturday April 8, is SBFO's Golden Bear Awards recognition luncheon which will start at 1PM.

What plans is your chapter making for Classified School Employee’s Week (CSEW)? As soon as I receive the buttons from HQs, I'll be notifying you so you can pick them up at the APRIL RPM. All presidents should have received the list of things you can purchase for your individual chapters from the CSEA STORE celebrating CSEW. There is going to be an AREA B picnic. As of this writing the place and date has not been set. I'll keep you informed.

I hope Conference Delegates have been elected by now. Be sure to share the resolutions with them so by the time our June Resolution meeting comes along, they'll be familiar with them.

Lots of things are happening in and around us. One of the best ways for you to keep up with the news and to get to know your union is to ATTEND, or to at least SEND an interested member to the RPMs and the State Board meetings. CSEA is not just our union – WE are the UNION!

Kay Kekauoha