9.16.11 – (LAA) – 9/11, DHS, Sky Ball, RDUI and STL WTS, Retirement Briefings

APFA Weekly Hotline Update

for the week ending Friday September 16, 2011

AMERICA REMEMBERS

Beautiful tributes were held around the nation last weekend to honor those killed on September 11, 2001. APFA President Laura Glading and APFA National Secretary Denise Pointer attended the ceremonies at Ground Zero in New York and were joined by representatives from APA, AFA and ALPA. APFA Vice President Brett Durkin attended the ceremony at the American Airlines Flight Academy. And APFA Treasurer Steven Baumert delivered a speech at the Remembrance Ceremony at the Crew Memorial in Grapevine, Texas. APFA Leaders and Members also represented our colleagues in Washington, D.C, Shanksville, PA, and at ceremonies in cities across the country.

Photos from some of these events have been posted on APFA.org and on our Facebook page.† If you have photos you would like to share, please send them to [email protected] for posting.

DHS THANKS YOU

Laura Glading received a phone call last week from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Secretary Napolitano wanted to let Laura know that she remembered our 14 Flight Attendants lost on September 11 and expressed her appreciation for all Flight Attendants and for their commitment and vigilance to keeping air travel safe.

Glading replied, “I’ve always wondered why the public hasn’t realized the courage of the crewmembers to come back to work so quickly after 9/11.†And the important role Flight Attendants play in safety onboard the aircraft. Thank you for your acknowledgment and I will most definitely pass your comments along to our members.”

BEYOND 9/11

Time Magazine’s Special Commemorative Issue “Beyond 9/11” features IMA Flight Attendant Christina Jones.†Christina was a crewmember on AA flight 63 on December 22, 2001 and directly involved with subduing Richard Reid along with IMA Flight Attendant Hermis Moutardier. The issue is on newsstands now.

Time also has an online version of the Beyond 9/11 edition at TIME.com/beyond911 which features video interviews of both Christina and Hermis – World Trade Center Survivors – Pentagon Survivors – Victims’ Family Members – Policemen – Firemen – Military – Members of the Press – and many more.

SKY BALL

It’s that time of year again when we roll up our sleeves and open our hearts to help our brave men and women in uniform. Sky Ball is just around the corner and our preparations are in full swing. This will mark our 9th annual event and this year is shaping up to be our best ever as we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Medal of Honor and the 100th Anniversary of Marine & Naval Aviation.

For those that are not familiar with Sky Ball, it’s our annual fundraiser to support a number of military/veterans organizations.

Over the past four years Sky Ball has raised more than $1.5 million dollars. This has allowed the Fort Worth Airpower Foundation (FWAPF) to contribute to projects that directly support members of all branches of U.S. military and their families through various contingency funds at the Naval Air Station, Fort Worth, Joint Reserve Base and other programs.

Sky Ball IX proceeds also go to:

• Heroes on the Water, helping veterans heal through fellowship and fishing
• Freedom Flight, taking heroes of the Greatest Generation, our WWII Veterans, to visit their Memorial in Washington D.C.
• Wounded Warriors Veteran’s Day Weekend in Las Vegas
• Snowball Express, helping children of our fallen military heal and make new memories.
• Many other programs and causes in direct support of military families

For more information on the event, please visit the website at:  skyballinfo.com

If you or someone you know is, interested in volunteering for this worthwhile event, we have many volunteer opportunities available from Wednesday, 10/19/11 through Sunday 10/23/11, so please keep these dates open on your calendar and sign up at: skyballvolunteer.com – family and friends are welcome to participate too!

Regardless of the time you have available, there is a place where you can help make a difference.

RDU-I – STL WTS

If you are interested in further serving your union, Willingness to Serve Notifications (WTS) for the positions of RDU-I Vice Chairperson and STL Vice Chairperson are available on 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

The forms must be received in the designated P.O. Box by 10:00 a.m. Central Time on September 28, 2011.

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, 1100-1300 (NEW TIME)
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.

—-
Please remember there are currently 218 members on the furlough and awaiting recall.
—–