Joyce Akins called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.  Candidates in attendance introduced themselves and had a few minutes to give a brief presentation. Those with petitions collected signatures before the meeting.  Candidates included M. Isenberg, J. Sullivan, P. Simon, representative for C. Silverman, D. Roth, K. Derr, D. Daniels, N. Oakes, W. Rice, H. Litt and L. Cook.  Gerry Birnberg, chair of the HCDP, was also in attendance.

Joyce introduced our guest speaker, Dale Wortham, president of the Harris County AFL-CIO.  In Houston, Mr. Wortham serves on numerous boards, including the Harris County Hospital District and Greater Houston Red Cross.

Mr. Wortham mentioned many of the union activities at the federal, state and local levels.  Nationally, the Obama administration regularly consults with the unions, which is a change from the previous administration.  The labor movement is strongly behind the health care bill, light rail, and work place safety.  Texas has the highest rate of work place deaths in the country.  To address this issue, the state will increase the number of work place safety investigators.  Also, the unions have expanded to reach out to white collar workers in different fields, such as health and communications.

Locally, AFL-CIO is assisting Houston Community College to develop apprenticeship programs.  The unions have also been trying to get HISD to use skilled labor and pay market wages for electricians.  The union supported HISD's bond package after reaching a written agreement that the district would pay appropriate wages, but HISD has since reneged on the agreement.

Following Mr. Wortham's presentation, members reviewed the minutes from the June meeting and voted to approve them as written.  Joyce gave the Treasurer's report in Rod Haper's absence.  Rod filed the Texas Ethics Commission Semi-Annual Reort which was due by July 15.

We again collected for the USO care packages, adding $46.50 to the $138 collected in June.  Members were encouraged to write messages to the troups to put in the care packages.

Thanks to Joyce for our refreshments.  Aster Eyob will provide them in August.

Our August speaker will be Representative Al Green.  Members suggested that questions be submitted on cards or by email before the meeting to save on time.  We are expecting more candidates next month, inclulding those running for at-large City Council seats.  Joyce encouraged everyone to arrive at 9:45 so we can start promptly at 10:00 a.m. on August 22.

For the July meeting, we had 30 people in attendance.

Respectfully submitted,

Sylvie Adams for Mary Haper