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UCAN activists complete training

by Gary Leake, AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison

Each February the Bloomington-Normal Trades & Labor Assembly in conjunction with the United Way of McLean County conducts the Union Community Activist Network training program. The training consists of three Saturdays of instruction. The goals of the program are:

· To increase union members’ knowledge and appreciation of their local unions.
· To increase understanding and support for the union movement’s goals and objectives.
· To build a network of union activists committed to advancing labor’s agenda.

We had an excellent class of students this year, 13 union members completed the necessary class time to be recognized as Union Community Activists by our labor council. The thirteen are: Cory Leake of I.B.E.W. Local 197, Johnna Jackson of UAW Local 2488, Kimberly King-Jahnssen of Laborers Local 996, Tracy Whitecotton, Brad Spray, Robert Paul, David Serrano, Wes Emmons, Willie Gosnell, Melecio Alvarez, Carla Whalen, Rissa Taylor and Clint Kirksey of Laborers Local 362. They all deserve thanks for the time and effort that they put into the training class. The students were interested and engaged in the presentations. It was a pleasure, working with them.

Instructors included Ronn Morehead, Greg Cott, Gina Mandros, Susan Williams, Laura Erhart, Ralph Timan, Amy Nixon, Mike Matejka, Bill Looby and Tony Penn. Each of them took time out of their Saturdays to speak to the students about their agency or subject matter. I want to personally thank each and every one of them.

I want to thank Doug Shankel and Ronn Morehead for assistance with the UCAN meals, Mike Matejka for his assistance in planning the agenda, Laborers Local 362 for hosting the training session each week, and the Trades & Labor for sponsoring the entire training program.

PATH will be offering community resource seminars on Tuesday March 23 and Tuesday April 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to help answer your questions about our local system of social services. The cost is $35 per person plus an optional $20 for a PATH Directory of Social Services. PATH is a United Way of McLean County agency that that provides information and referral as well as maintaining the United Way 2-1-1 crisis line.

Free tax preparation assistance will be available in the Bloomington Public Library’s Community Room on a first-come, first served basis from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Fridays in March and April. The Monday dates in March and April are March 1, 8, 15, 22, and April 5 and 12. The Friday dates in March and April are March 5, 12, 19, 26 and April 2 and 9.

If you are like millions of Americans, you work hard but you don’t earn a high income and want to keep more of what you earn. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a credit for people who earn low to moderate incomes. EITC can reduce your taxes and can mean a refund. In simple terms, working families and individuals keep more of what they earn. While more than 20 million taxpayers claim EITC, the IRS says another 5 million or so deserve the credit but fail to take it. The rules for 2009 where changed, resulting in larger credits for many eligible families. Take a few minutes to make sure you don’t miss out on a credit that could bring you a refund check. Go to www.irs.gov/individuals and click on EITC homepage to check on your eligibility.

Teens United for McLean County and United Way of McLean County invite you to participate in the first Born Learning Trail 5K run on Saturday April 24, 2010. Teens United for McLean County, a student volunteer program run by United Way, partnered with the City of Bloomington to install a Born Learning Trail at Tipton Park. The trail is a concrete path with nine learning activity signs that provide fun, easy activities for parents and children to enjoy together. The race is being held to promote the importance of early childhood education and introduce the Born Learning Trail to the community. A free family event launching the trail will immediately follow the race.

Parking is available throughout Tipton Park and at Four Seasons II in the west parking lot closest to Airport Road. Check-in will be at the pavilion in Tipton Park starting at 8:00 a.m. the race begins at 9:00 a.m. Refreshments will be available at the finish line. Awards will be given to the overall fastest male and female finishers and the top male/female in the following age categories: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50 and over. The awards ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the Tipton Park pavilion. For more information, contact Sarah Coffer at United Way of McLean County by calling 309-828-7383.

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

George Orwell