Giving Thanks for a CLUW Thanksgiving!

I love history and I’m always amazed when I hear or read stories that I did not learn in elementary school, high school or college. The story of Thanksgiving is a great place to start. It has recently come to light that Native Americans had a rich tradition of commemorating the fall harvest long before Europeans set foot on the land we call America. It was their celebration of the fall harvest that became what we call Thanksgiving. 

I did not know that since 1970 many Native Americans and allies gather near Plymouth Rock on Thanksgiving Day to honor the lives lost in the bloody struggle to hold onto their lands from the invading European settlers.  So this Thanksgiving I give thanks to the Wampanoag people and commit to reparations for all Native Americans. 

And then there’s Sarah Josepha Hale, the writer, activist, and author of the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb”. Until today, I didn’t know “Mary Had a Little Lamb” had an author, much less that Hale made the case to President Abraham Lincoln that a “National and fixed Union Festival” (ah, yes, there’s that word “union”) should occur on the last Thursday in November. She campaigned for 17 years and has been called the “Mother of Thanksgiving.” So this Thanksgiving I give thanks to the countless unnamed s’heroes, like Sarah Josepha Hale, who worked tirelessly to have a day set aside for the American people to take some time for gratitude even “in the midst of a civil war.” 

Given the events of January 6 and the two current murder trials before us, now would be a good time for gratitude. Let us give thanks for how far we’ve come as a nation and how much further we have to go until every person can enjoy the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Have a safe and healthy Thanksgiving!

In solidarity,


Elise A. Bryant, CLUW President

Let us take time today to remember and give thanks to the members of CLUW who have served our nation in the U.S. Armed Services.

Elise Bryant, CLUW President

CLUW Veterans as part of the opening ceremony at the 2019 CLUW Convention.
 

After a wonderful convention last week, we would like to announce the newly elected National Officers Council and give a shout of gratitude to the retiring officers. Welcome to our new NOC and thanks to all!

Executive Officers:

Elise Bryant, President

Joanne M. Sanders, Executive Vice President*

Judy Beard Treasurer

Tarn Goelling, Recording Secretary*

Janet Hill, Corresponding Secretary*

NVP: The officers with an asterick are newly elected

1. Shelvy Young Abrams, AFT

2. Lisa Blake, OPEIU

3. Carolyn Burton, TWU

4. Pat Chardavoyne, AFSCME

5. Crystal Herrera, IBEW*

6. Jennifer Grigsby, AFGE

7. Angel Savoy, ATU*

8. Angela Johnson, UFCW

9. Shyla La’Sha, SAG-AFTRA

10. Karen Bellamy Lewis, IFPTE

11. Mary McHugh, IAM

12. Audrey Medley, UMWA

13. Ashley Lewis, UAW*

14. Sylvia Ramos, CWA

15. Rachel Walthall, APWU

16. Michelle McQuality, NALC*

17. Adriana De La Cruz, IATSE*

Departing:

Bennie Bridges, Corresponding Secretary, AFGE

Debra Davis, National Vice President, SEIU

Carla Insinga, Executive Vice President, AFSCME

Vera Newton, National Vice President, UAW

Myra Warren, National Vice President, NALC