UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS AND JOINERS OF AMERICA NEW YORK CITY DISTRICT COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS FRANK SreNceR 395 Hunsox Sree pervisor, UBC New Yous, N'Y. 10014 Perer THOMASSEN Prose: (212) 366-7500 spervisor INSTIIUTED AUGUST 1278, 181 Fax: (212) 675-3118 Dear Union Member, {As the supervisor of this District Council itis my responsibility to help you build a union that you can lean on when needed and to fight for when. challenged. | am committed to working with every member of the New York City District Council building this union. Together we have made some great strides. We want a union that is fiscally responsible and one that fights for us. We will achieve this. uring the six-month period ending December 31, 2009, the District Council generated an operating surplus of $6.25 milion. We exceeded our anticipated income by $1.1 million and your investments generated a positive yield of 2 percent. General and administrative costs for ths fiscal period produced a decrease of 4.2 percent from our budget. Together we are building fiscal strength. We as a union must communicate as one, with one voice and purpose. We have started improving our communication capabilities by building. a -new and informative website (www.nycdistrictcouncikcom). Now faster and more efficient, the website offers accurate, up-to-date Information including access to daily job referrals; out-of-work lst rules, skills, and jurisdictions for members in good standing; and all union activity options. You'll find the Labor Technical College schedule and course listings on our website, as well as member forms, some of which can now be filed electronically. You can also read The Carpenter magazine online and enter your e-mail address to receive union news. Your District Council is adopting a new strategy to fight the market forces in our industry. We have implemented new aggressive tactics against employers that refuse to respect the standards that have been set. This dedicated team of representatives is already reaching quick and decisive victories and we will post those victories on our website. | hope that you will be as excited and proud as | am. This District Council succeeds because we act as one united union. Local 157 and Local 608 business managers and business agents will be ‘working together moving forward. Starting in March, your representatives will work out of the Council on a daily basis together with our council representatives to build market share and continue the fight to protect our work. ‘We understand that to reach our goals and be the union we need to be our Shop Stewards must be our strength and our voice on the job. ‘With that responsibility is an accountability and trust. Each of your shop stewards have completed and returned the Affidavit of Eligibility form and continue to serve our membership. We continue to educate and empower our Shop Stewards through training. We enlisted the help of an independent firm to organize focus groups comprised of our members to get a better understanding on where our strengths lie and where we need to do better. We will use the resulting data to address member concerns, build on our strengths, and, where needed, enact change to restore integrity to our union. Thank you to all of our members who participated and shared their views on their union. Your voices are being heard and we will continue to work together to ensure your District Council works efficiently and effectively to serve our members. !look forward to working together protect our union and each other. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at the District Council by phone at 212.366.7500, by fax at 212.366.7436, or by e-mail at fspencer@nyccarpenter.com. Fraternally yours, sfenee Frank G. Spencer Eastern District Vice President ‘Supervisor, New York City and Vicinity District Council