9.02.11 – (LAA) – (LAA) – 9/11 Wristbands, SFOI Closes, Turn Down, 9/11 Memorial Activities, WARR 2011, The Space Between, Wounded Warrior Chairty Golf Tournament, RDUI STL WTS, Worst Governor Ever, Upcoming Retirement Briefings, Labor Day Office Closure

APFA Weekly Hotline Update

for the week ending Friday September 2, 2011

9/11 WRISTBANDS

APFA has teamed up with United AFA to produce a limited quantity of 9/11 Remembrance Wristbands. Similar to the ‘Live Strong’ band, this band is black, embossed in gold with ‘We Remember’ and ’35’ – the number of crew members lost that day.

The bands will be available from your Local Chairperson for a suggested minimum donation of $1.00. Proceeds will go to the National 9/11 Memorial in New York City, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA.

The combined donations from AFA and APFA will create a substantial contribution to these Memorials.

Please visit the “Base Pages” section on APFA.org for your Local Leadership’s contact information.

SFO-I CLOSES

Effective yesterday, the SFO-I base closed. SFO-I opened in the early eighties with Natasha Popovich serving as its first APFA Chairperson. For the past three years, Bob Ross and his wife Kim have led the membership respectively serving as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. At one time SFO-I crews flew to Tokyo, Taipei and Paris. The faithful and die-hard Flight Attendants who stuck with the base to the end have been providing outstanding safety, service and professionalism on their daily flight to HNL.

It was American’s ultimate decision to cancel the SFO-HNL route in early September that led to the base closure. The last flight crewed by SFO-I departed SFO on August 30.

APFA President, Laura Glading commented, “We know all too well how devastating the closing of a base can be. Regardless of whether or not Flight Attendants physically live in their base city, everyone works very hard and takes extreme pride in their individual domiciles.” A base closing causes both physical and emotional hardship.† We are doing everything we can and are working closely with the company for a smooth transition.”

TURN DOWN

This week American announced their new “Turn Down” service on international flights. When briefed by the company APFA cautioned them that more research needed to be done to ensure this was not going to cause an unreasonable workload for the Flight Attendants, and not in violation of the 777 agreement. The company has chosen to move forward. Therefore, we will be filing a Presidential Grievance and compiling information from the field concerning this service.

Your feedback will be essential. APFA has created a survey for those Flight Attendants working flights with this service.† The form is posted on the Vice President’s page of APFA.org and is also available by clicking here.

Although we welcome an opportunity to offer more amenities to our passengers, we must ensure we have adequate time and staffing to perform the service.

Please be advised that specific issues concerning safety or service procedures should be addressed to your base Chairperson/Vice Chairperson along with the Company, but we ask the you copy any correspondence to†[email protected]. Contact information for your Local Leadership can be found on the “Base Pages” section of APFA.org.

Please continue to read the Hotline for the latest information regarding this issue.

9/11 MEMORIAL ACTIVITIES

On Sunday, September 11th the 9/11 Memorial Foundation in conjunction with APFA, APA, the Grapevine Fire and Police Departments and the Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers Club will host memorial activities.

The day will commence at 0730 with the lowering of the flag and will finalize at 1930 with a remembrance program.

The events will take place at the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial Site located at 1000 Texan Trail and Northwest Highway, Grapevine, Texas 76051.

If you know of any 9/11 events taking place in your area please send them to us at [email protected] for inclusion on the APFA website.

WARR 2011

The 30th Annual World Airline Road Race (WARR) 2011 will be held in Grapevine, Texas on Sunday September 11, 2011 hosted by the American Airlines Running Club.
This yearís race will benefit the 9-11 Memorial Foundation Texas & Search One Rescue Team.† Events include a 10K, 5K, 1 Mile Remembrance Run/Dog Walk and several social activities scheduled throughout the weekend.

For additional information and to register or volunteer, visit http://www.warrgrapevine2011.com/.

THE SPACE BETWEEN

At 9:00 p.m. ET on 9/11/11, USA Network will air the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival Official Selection, “The Space Betweení.”  The film tells the story of a Flight Attendant, played by Academy Award winner Melissa Leo, and a 10-year-old Unaccompanied Minor grounded on a plane in Longview, Texas on the morning of September 11, 2001, and what happens when she learns of the UM’s direct connection to the terrorist attacks.

This film was written and directed by Travis Fine, who at the time he wrote the film was an American Eagle Pilot.

WOUNDED WARRIOR CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

The Wounded Warrior Charity Golf Tournament will be held on September 17th at Iron Horse Golf Course in North Richland Hills, Texas. This inaugural event will benefit the Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) that provides rehabilitative golf experiences for combat-wounded veterans.

If you would like to take part in this event please click here for more information and a registration form.

DFW FO Glenn Rosenberger and his son Matt established this event.

RDU-I – STL WTS

The Willingness to Serve Notification (WTS) for the positions of RDU-I Vice Chairperson and STL Vice Chairperson were mailed last week. The WTS document may also be downloaded from the Elections and Balloting Page of APFA.org.

The elections are open to all members in good standing. Each candidate for Vice Chairperson must be a member in good standing by 0900 CT on September 28, 2011 and must be based at the base to which she/he is applying by October 18, 2011

If you are interested in further serving your union, the forms must be received in the designated P.O. Box by 10:00 a.m. Central Time on September 28, 2011.

WORST GOVERNOR EVER

The TWU has created a website accepting votes for Worst Governor Ever.† Some candidates on the ballot include Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, New Jersey’s Chris Christie and Texas’ own Rick Perry – also listed are the Governors’ “achievements”.

Currently Florida Governor Rick Scott is in 1st place. Only four days remain to cast your vote!

Log on to www.WorstGovernorEver.com to vote.

UPCOMING RETIREMENT BRIEFINGS

APFA Retirement Specialist Patrick Hancock will be hosting retirement briefings on the following dates:

JFK

September 20, 1200-1400
JFK Conference Room (formerly named Mark Dupont Conference Room)

LGA

September 21, 1200-1400
Location TBD

SFO

September 26, 1000-1200
Location TBD

The seminars are open and useful to all Flight Attendants from all bases, but particularly important to Flight Attendants planning to retire in the next 10 years. To make the most of these briefings, print and bring your personal pension estimate and plan calculation formulas from JetNet.

OFFICE CLOSURE

APFA Headquarters will be closed Monday September 5, 2011 in observance of Labor Day. The office will reopen on Tuesday September 6, 2011 at 0900 CT.

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Please remember there are currently 219 members on furlough and awaiting recall.
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