GIA Dialogue

Summer 2001
Volume 108 - No. 2

GIA Dialogue

Recognizing our GIA volunteers

After becoming International President of the Grand International Auxiliary in 1996, I established our theme - during my tenure - to be "A New Beginning." In making this our theme, it meant breaking from the past and entering new avenues, new means, while still serving our GIA/BLE.

We are very proud and pleased with the progress we have made in this direction. Auxiliaries all across the United States and Canada have been reaching out and helping to advance our new theme.

Let us for a moment think of the GIA as a large volunteer group. You shouldn't have trouble with this terminology because, in fact, we are just that. However, we are different from most volunteer groups because our work is focused on making things better for our extended family - the BLE/GIA.

To say that I am proud of what our auxiliaries have done and are doing would be putting it mildly. It is a pleasure to mention some of the auxiliaries that are actively working to make a difference. Lone Star Auxiliary 139 (Houston), with Glenda Sikorski as their leader, is working tirelessly to improve long commutes to and from work in the greater Houston area. Currently 100 engineers in the Houston area are driving 160 miles one way before going on duty for 12-14 hours. We all know this causes fatigue and heightens safety concerns. After receiving permission from the General Chairman and officials of BLE Division 139, Auxiliary 139 requested a meeting with officials of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the officials agreed to meet with the members of Auxiliary 139. My last report indicated that some progress had been made, and the dialogue was still in progress. This is just one example of what the auxiliaries are doing to improve working conditions for their spouses and extended family.

Texas Auxiliary 251 of Houston has taken on a volunteer program. Thirteen auxiliary members completed their training on Operation Lifesaver (O.L.) in January. My congratulations to their President Darnell Moore and her auxiliary for taking the initiative to work to impact railroad safety.

We also must mention Susquehanna Auxiliary 11, in Harrisburg, Pa., for the many years that they have participated in O.L. They did this by going to local schools and making presentations to impress on young people that trains cannot stop like automobiles.

Our thanks go out to the auxiliaries that make special gifts to the GIA Scholarship Fund. The money received from these contributing auxiliaries enable us to award more scholarships to our deserving sons and daughters.

To those auxiliaries that have members on the Care and Assistance Program role, thank you for volunteering your time to see that good care is taken of these sisters.

Our sincere appreciation to the wonderful volunteer work all of the auxiliaries are doing to bring about change in our Railroad Retirement Survivors Benefit. We urge everyone to keep in touch with their Congressmen and Senators urging them to act expeditiously on this legislation.

We would be somewhat remiss if we didn't mention our newest effort, our "Mobilization Program." This program is now headed by International First Vice-President Mabel Grotzinger. Mabel is busy setting up her network of volunteers as I write. She informed me that she is in need of volunteers to work with her in the southeastern and western regions. If you live in either region and would like to volunteer, please get in touch with her. Mabel can be reached by email at <mgrotzinger@juno.com> or by Fax at (717) 766-0143. When this program is in place, it will enable us to get in contact with our GIA and extended family in a matter of two to three hours in an emergency.

Let me say that volunteer work is the most rewarding work that anyone can do. Haven't you often heard friends who volunteer say, "You couldn't pay me to work this hard"? I believe that statement says it all.

I am very proud of our GIA volunteers and the progress we have made in implementing our theme "A New Beginning," as we continue to reach out and work hard to change our lifestyle.

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