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AMO area informational meetings: a tradition of service
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During the 2008 Great Lakes area meetings, American Maritime Officers members received a thorough briefing on developments with the union and AMO Plans over the past year and participated in discussions of issues currently facing AMO and its membership.
The series of Great Lakes area meetings are held each year in Tampa, Fla.; Green Bay, Wis.; Duluth, Minn.; Traverse City, Mich.; Alpena, Mich.; Cleveland/Ashtabula, Ohio; and Toledo, Ohio. The various locations of the Great Lakes area meetings provide opportunities for AMO members who do not live near AMO offices in Toledo, Dania Beach or Brooklyn, and are not easily able to attend regular AMO membership meetings, to receive comprehensive reports on union affairs and developments with benefit plans, as well as to have any questions answered directly by the administration of AMO and the directors of AMO Plans. The meetings were led by the AMO national vice president for the Great Lakes, and included a presentation on all major developments with the AMO fleet, as well as those within the industry that affect AMO-manned vessels. Among other things, he reported the shipping companies' order books for the upcoming season are full and activation of the entire AMO-manned Great Lakes fleet is anticipated. Also attending, making presentations and answering questions at the area meetings were the AMO national president-who had also attended and addressed the 2007 Great Lakes area meetings-the AMO national secretary-treasurer and the AMO national executive vice president, who participates in the meetings each year. AMO Director of Government Relations Mike Murphy addressed the area meetings, discussing the status of federal policies and regulations that affect American mariners working in all trades. AMO Plans Executive Director Steve Nickerson made presentations at each area meeting this year, as he has in the past. Nickerson provided a detailed report on the strong financial and operational status of the benefit plans, provided an overview of the potential impact and complex ramifications of the Pension Protection Act for AMO Plans participants-the exact effect of which AMO Plans is still working to gauge-and fielded questions from members on AMO benefits. Larry Goldstock, a vice president with Smith-Barney whose investment team manages the AMO 401(k) Plan and Money Purchase Benefit, discussed the thriving state of these benefit plans, the immediate effect of the recent downturn in the market and the long-term outlook for market investments. Attorney Mike Reny of the AMO Coast Guard Legal Aid Program discussed the program's cost-free coverage for AMO members and the benefits it provides. Reny also reminded AMO members to apply for their Transportation Worker Identification Credential as soon as possible. Based on the proven benefit to the membership provided by the annual Great Lakes area meetings, the union has expanded the tradition to include area informational meetings for AMO members in all sectors in various locations around the nation. The first series was held in 2007 and included Baltimore, Md.; Portsmouth, Va.; New Orleans, La.; Houston, Texas; Oakland, Calif.; Tacoma, Wash.; and South Portland, Maine. |
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