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UAW Local 249 CAP Committee sets lofty goals for annual V-CAP drive

By Karen Payne

Local 249 members won cruises the last two years in a row in the Region 5 annual V-CAP fundraising drive and cruise raffle. Neal Byers won in 2006 and Frank Bennett won in 2007. Both work the night shift in Trucks and both members selected the Alaskan cruise from the choices of Alaskan, Caribbean, Hawaiian and Mexican Riviera cruises.

“Not only did two of our own members win a cruise the last two years, but several members won savings bonds and gas cards,” says CAP Committee Chair, Jim McCulloh. “So we are optimistic that these wins will generate enthusiasm about the chances of our members winning again.”

“With a history of winners from this local and the excitement about the presidential election this year, we have set some lofty goals for the V-CAP drive,” McCulloh says. “We want to sell $10,000 in cruise tickets and increase our V-CAP check-off to $10,000 as well. We are also aiming for at least one increase or new contributor in V-CAP check-off with each book of cruise tickets sold.”  Last year, the local netted $7,093 in raffle ticket sales.

The UAW’s V-CAP check-off is a voluntary program that allows each member to make a modest contribution each month to help the union support candidates who care about American workers and their jobs. The V-CAP check-off program has been, and continues to be, a very successful part of raising voluntary dollars for the union’s political purposes. We have more than doubled the V-CAP contribution income from our members during the 10 years since 1994.

“Protecting our collective-bargaining gains through political action is the goal of UAW V-CAP and supporting V-CAP should and must be a priority among all UAW leadership,” says UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.

“Unions must have unified labor support to elect candidates who will work to secure effective labor legislation and other beneficial social programs for our members and their families,” says the UAW website at http://www.uaw.org/cap. “Labor endorsements are the result of an intensive examination of the candidate with a resulting recommendation on which individual will best serve the working persons’ interests. They are not an attempt to tell you how to vote.”

Local 249 members historically give generously to V-CAP resulting in Region 5 taking top honors the last few years—with Local 249 leading the way. But we have lost many members who were charitable contributors and have gained many new members who don’t realize the importance of V-CAP or even how to go about signing up for V-CAP check-off. This is what the annual V-CAP drive is all about.

The V-CAP drive will kick-off on June 1 and last for six weeks. All elected and appointed Local 249 members will be in charge of selling three books of cruise raffle tickets. This includes all committee people and standing committee people. They will also be signing up members for the V-CAP check-off and increasing donations for members who desire to up their contribution.

For the first time, the CAP-Committee will chart the progress of ticket sales and check-off increases and post them in the plant and at the union hall.

“We think that our members will become much more aware of our efforts if we make our progress visible,” McCulloh says. “We want to create some excitement and maybe a little competition.” The Local 249 Executive Board has approved a recognition program for sales. T-shirts and savings bonds will be awarded to members who sell the most in tickets and/or get the most in increase to the V-CAP check-offs. Ticket sellers will receive a $50.00 U.S. Savings Bond for every $200 of donations collected.

V-CAP check-off recognition

Century Club: Any member whose V-CAP check-off contribution increases to $8.50 or more per month will become a member of the Century Club and receive an additional gift. Members who buy two cruise tickets at $5.00 and are currently Century Club members contributing $8.50 or more per month, will receive 58 additional cruise tickets free for a total of 60 tickets.

Director’s Club: Members who buy two tickets at $5.00 and are currently Director’s Club members contributing $25.00 or more per month, will receive 118 additional cruise tickets free for a total of 120 tickets. Members who buy two tickets at $5.00 and join the Director’s Club by signing up for V-CAP of $25.00 or more per month, will receive 118 additional cruise tickets free for a total of 120 tickets. In addition to the 120 tickets, only these new sign-ups for the Director’s Club will receive a special one-time gift of a Region 5 watch (or similar gift) after their monthly check-off contributions have reached a threshold of $300.

V-CAP cruise tickets will sell for $3.00 for one or $5.00 for two. Participants must buy at least two cruise tickets plus increase their check-off to, or currently be a member of the Century Club or Director’s Club to qualify for free cruise tickets. Make any checks payable to UAW Local 249.

The drawing for two cruises will be held at the state CAP meeting in the fall. The local drawings for gas cards will be from a pool of all the members who bought even one raffle ticket and will be held at a Local 249 membership meeting in September.

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