August 2004 News

In accordance with the Association Bylaws it is time for Executive Board elections.   We must now elected new leadership for the Association.   In these times of uncertainty it is important that we select the best leadership possible for the Association.  Please take some time to read and study what each member has to say about why he or she is running for a position on the executive board.    Make your selections wisely, this will be your leadership for the next two years. 

The most important thing you can do is vote – make sure you do that.   Your ballot will be mailed to you at your home by August 21.   You’ll have ten days to make your selection, the ballots must be returned with an August 31 postmark.  Please follow the instructions included with your ballot.  Results will be announced in early September and the new officers will begin their terms at the Annual meeting.

Respectfully submitted

Tim Hanley

President and Chair of Nomination Committee

CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT
MARK KLIPSTEIN

My name is Mark Klipstein and I am running for President of the State Engineering Association.
I am a Civil Engineer Transportation-Advanced working at the Department of Transportation in
District 2, Waukesha. I've been a member of SEA since starting with the DOT in May of 1988. I
have served the Southeast Section by holding positions as Trustee, Vice President and President
from 1992-1999. In the fall of 1999, SEA Executive Board appointed me to the position of First
Vice President and I was elected after the 2000 elections and re-elected in the 2002 elections to
continue to serve in this position.

Some of my goals in the upcoming term would be:

Continue to strive to maintain our positions while being compensated at fair market value.
Run efficient board meetings while striving to achieve input from each section so that each section
has a strong voice.

Keep the SEA organization financially strong without raising dues.
Continue to promote involvement among all members because the organization is only as str('r;g
as its membership.

Continue to look for new ways to promote SEA and make the public aware of the value that we
give to the State of Wisconsin.

I would like the opportunity to continue serving SEA as President and to again contribute to our
Association. Also, I would like to ask everyone to please vote and be an active member to keep
the SEA a strong organization.

Please vote MARK KLIPSTEIN for President.

Thank you

CANDIDATE FOR PRESlDENT
TODD WESCOTT

Hello,
  My name is Todd Wescott and I am running for the candidacy of Statewide
SEA President. I would characterize myself as determined, honest, outspoken
and fair.

 I have worked at DOT DTD for 14 years. I started my career at D1 in 1990 as
an Engineering Aide 1 LTE, then moved to a Technician in Survey, served as
an Engineering Specialist in District 2 for two years and have continued to
work my way up to currently serving as a Project Leader in PDS.

   While at District 2, I also served on the SEA board. I found serving SEA
to be very rewarding. I come from a family with a strong union history. My
grandfather was an active member of the United Auto Workers Union, an uncle
served as President of the TARDA drivers union for the city of Toledo and
currently family friends are serving as Local UAW president and another as
Regional UAW president. Union strategies and debates were always an hot
topic around the house. These contacts could be vital in gaining the
political and media attention that SEA needs to further the collective
bargaining process. If elected, I attend to use all of these resources and
more to aid in finally getting a fair contract.

  It is my belief, that without binding arbitration, we will never get the
contracts we deserve. Binding arbitration will be at the top of my list.
Without it we do not have any foundation to build on, any way to force
negotiations or much hope for change in our future contracts. I give my word
I will exhaust all personal, political and union contacts to gain binding
arbitration, even if it means I have to camp out on the State Capitol steps
with picket signs.

 Other issues I will work towards changing are:
   1) The PE license add-on. I believe to what amounts to 20 cents for your
PE license is a slap in the face. If management wants to require the PE,
then you      should  be  compensated. Dollars, not cents.

   2) SEA needs to protect the Engineering Specialists from any further
possibilities of being unwillingly moved to WSEU. On a similar note, as
President I would speak  out strongly against the continued trend to
privatize Specialist positions such as what is currently being proposed for
the Survey and Mapping area. I worked in survey for a number of years and
have seen it go from construction staking and design survey with 3 to 4
people on a crew to just having 2 people on a crew doing only design survey.
Now they want to take that away. This is just one example at DTD; there are
many more examples at DNR, DHFS, etc. SEA needs to fight to keep the jobs of
their members.

  In closing, I would like to leave you with one word....VOTE. Whether you
vote for me or for another candidate, I encourage you all to get involved
and exercise your right to vote.

 Thank you for your time
 Respectfully, Todd Wescott

CANDIDATE FOR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
KHADER ABU AL-EIS

I'm a Civil Engineer Advanced with the Department of Transportation in the
Central Office (Truax Center). I have been employed with the DOT since
1989 and have been an active SEA member since that time. I was a former
President of DOT - District I. I'm a candidate for the position of First Vice
President of SEA. My experience with SEA has been enjoyable, especially
dealing with grievances. I enjoyed solving several section grievances
successfully and continued to work on solving some others. Dealing with
grievances is very demanding and requires good negotiating skills. If elected,
I have these goals for the next two years: (1) I would like to reduce the number
of long standing grievances that we have on our files. Some of these grievances
have been waiting for over two years. It's time to resolve these grievances.
(2) Reduce the grievance process time and work with management to act on
every grievance within the time frame allowed in our contract. (3) Speed the
time to process grievances between Step I & 4. (4) In the current and upcoming
contract meetings, demand that our contract language be more simple and clear,
and eliminate any vague language that is subject to multiple interpretations. Finally,
I would like your support to serve SEA as the grievance officer. I had the experience
and the negotiating skills in handling grievances during my time as a Section President.
I have become familiar with both the discipline and grievance process.
I ask for your vote in the upcoming election so that I can continue to serve SEA.

CANDIDATE FOR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
SHARON BREMSER

Vote for
Sharon L. Bremser, P .E.
1st Vice President
I am Sharon "Shari" Bremser and I am seeking your vote for 1st Vice President-State Grievance Representative.
Association Representative Experience
* Active SEA member since 1985
* Demands Formulation Chair for the 2003-2005 bargaining team
* Central Office/PSC - President 2000 - present
* Demands Formulation Chair for the 1993 - 1995 bargaining team
* Member of the 1991-1993 bargaining team
* SEA 1 st Vice President 1990 - 1992
* Transportation District 1- President 1988-1990 (Madison)
* Transportation District 7 -Member 1985 -1986 (Rhinelander)
* SEA web administrator
Department of Transportation (DOT) Work Experience
My work experience allows me to relate to various SEA members in the DOT and other agencies and to understand your
trials and successes.
. Standards and Specification Engineer
. Field Operations Engineer
. Engineering Technology Coordinator
. Transportation District 1 - Design Squad leader
. Transportation District 1 and 7 - Construction Project Manager
Knowledge and Pledge

As 1st Vice President and section representative in the past I have been part of successful grievances ranging from sexual harassment, mileage reimbursement, alcohol and drug abuse, and other disciplinary actions. In these times of budget deficits, layoffs, and position cuts, grievances are on the rise. All this makes it more important than ever to understand the
contract between SEA and the State.

As a bargaining team member in the past I have helped to win extra monies for members based on seniority and have worked hard to make a fair and equitable contract between the State and the Association. I am currently working to ensure we have the same considerations in the 2003 - 2005 negotiation process. I feel health insurance, job security, and market fair wages are important to everyone and we will not be bullied into an agreement that is not good for our
members and their families.

I have worked with contract development and administration issues for the 19 years and will bring value to the executive board by putting my years of experience to work when working with management and the Office of State Employee Relations (OSER). I hope to decrease the number of standing grievances and ask the board to take action in a timely manner and that it is followed through on. I also plan to encourage better communication between SEA and OSER when dealing with grievances, surveys, appeals, and bargaining issues. I hope also to help pass the word that members need
to be active members to keep SEA a strong organization.

Please vote for me when you receive your SEA officer ballots in the mail.
Thank you!

CANDIDATE FOR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
LARRY LEGRO

Recently (July 2004), SEA received a call that one of our members needed representation at a grievance hearing inthe Madison area. Through email, various officers of the sections were solicited to attend this hearing. NONE of them were able to attend this for whatever reason. I stepped up and attended this event on behalf of the SEA member. Being a Board Officer, I felt I needed to attend this on behalf of you, the member. It was really not my position to be at the head of the line to perform this task, but someone had to respond, and they had to respond fast. This person could have been anyone of you needing a SEA representative. Isn't it nice to know that someone from SEA took an interest in you and your situation and served with you, at your side? This is the kind of commitment I  will give to any member of SEA, as your 1st Vice President, and grievance officer.

I am an Engineering Specialist with DHFS-Radiation Protection Section. I have 26 years of service. I am a past President and Vice President of the State Agencies Section of SEA, and ending my second term as your 2nd Vice President of the SEA Board. I have held a office with SEA from 1990 to the present, 14 consecutive years. I know this organization and its contract having served on the last three bargaining teams and am presently on the current bargaining team. I work well with our legal counsel. I can flex my job schedule to help. I live and work in the Madison area, but can and will travel as necessary.

There are many grievances pending at this time. Some are years old. Speeding up the process will not occur without the cooperation of the employer. It is time to change the way we handle grievances. I would like to try and alert Department Administrators to get their employers (managers) to settle contractual issues sooner in the grievance process than later, such as in an expensive and time consuming Step 4 arbitration hearing. This might involve using our legislature and legislative process as leverage. Some (but not all) grievances can be made less adversarial and more consensual, leading to resolutions at a lower level. Saving time, treasury and tax dollars, AND ending the contractual conflict sooner, will be a benefit to a everyone.

In May 2004, I spoke at a public hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee on behalf of myself, as a SEA member, and literally, for all state employees, regarding the issue of fleet cars and use by state employees. My testimony served to give much information this group of legislators. The result of this testimony is that the 6 month audit of state employees and the fleet will not just look at us, the employees, but will also look at legislator's mileage claims and car usage; it will look at private contractor's reimbursements for personal mileage; and it will look at why legislators receive 325/mile when employees receive only .22/mile. I was even asked by the chairwoman of this Legislative Committee to be a consultant to the Legislative Audit Bureau during their audit. I will represent SEA well in this capacity. I tell you of this to show you that I get involved in day to day issues that
can affect all of us.

I know how to get things done. I am committed to yon the member, and to my job. I will be at your service as your Vice President. Anyone who knows me, sees the passions I hold when injustices are done. (do not go looking for fights, but I will defend those that are unjustly wronged in the process. It is also important to understand that "the union" cannot take care of you 100%. You the member must become involved in any issues that affect you, such as with grievance. I will help you or direct you in this involvement. I would appreciate your vote for this important
position.

VOTE for Larry Legro Vice President

CANDIDATE FOR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

LEROY STUBLASKI

Hi, my name is Leroy Stublaski, and [ want to be your next First-Vice President serving all SEA
members.

I'm currently the Section President representing the State Agencies Section and have served in
that position for the past four years. I have been a state employee and member of SEA for the
past nine years. I am a registered architect, in Wisconsin and other states, and am employed by
the Department of Commerce as an Advanced Engineering Consultant for one and two family
dwelling program.

The State Agencies Section of SEA is very much like a mini-version of our total Association in
that it covers nearly 30 different employing units in ten different agencies and represents 166
eligible members in SEA. These various agencies employ a wide variety of members that are
represented by SEA and I have represented them in various disputes and grevances with many
of the management groups in our section. I consider this excellent training for the position of 1 st
V. P. since this is the primary responsibility of the position.

Some other facts that set me apart from the other candidates for this position is the fact that prior
to joining the state in 1995, I had 25 years of experience working in the private sector and served
in various management positions. These positions included project architect, operations
manager, sales manager, general manager and vice president of both architectural and
manufacturing corporations.

Some consider anyone in management as serving the "dark side". I consider my management
positions and past experience as a plus since you can't represent a member properly unless you
understand the 'how and why' management uses to make the decisions and sometimes the
demands on them to do what they do. When I represented management in labor contract issues
and disputes I learned to use facts and methods that won contract issues. Now I pledge to use
these same skills to represent ~ of our members. I hope that you will give me a chance to serve
you all just as I have served the members of State Agencies Section over the past four years.

Please mark your ballot for Leroy Stublaski, First Vice President - SEA.