2019 hALL OF fAME hEROS aWARD
About Hero
Rosetta Dial has devoted more than 43 years of her enthusiasm and experience to OAPSE Local 181 and the East Cleveland School District, which she loved. At the age of 41, she began her career as a public-school employee at Shaw High School as the principal's clerk. The job included distributing supplies throughout the schools. Rosetta was so good at her job, after organizing and revamping the area, she created her own position, Inventory Control Specialist, and made herself the boss! And she made sure it was a position within the union.
Rosetta created further positions by creating assistant positions to work under her, also union positions. Rosetta took care of the books, inventory ordering, mail, and delivery of supplies. While running this department, which was costing the district $67,000.00 a year, Rosetta began to manage this department by setting up ordering guidelines for the staff to follow, and brought the budget down to $18,000.00 within the first year.
Another opportunity arose for Rosetta and she did what she had done all her life, when a new challenge and opportunity for advancement came her way, Rosetta was always ready to take it on! She soon became the school's secretary, where she continued her work for OAPSE Local 181. Rosetta has been a dedicated and faithful union member since she walked through the doors of Shaw High School and OAPSE Local 181. Rosetta has attended all the Northeast District meeting while working and, in her retirement, she has not stopped dedicating her time and service to OAPSE and OAPSE Northeast District.
Rosetta is a part of the Northeast District retiree committee and conference committee, still not missing many district meetings. You will find her at all OAPSE State conferences with other retirees helping out. At 84-years young, Rosetta still drives every day to a part-time job she holds on the westside of Cleveland. She phonebanks during our political cycle and Rosetta can run rings around anyone in selling and raising money for the Northeast conference. She has been our top raffle ticket seller since we started have a Northeast District Conference, she is an amazing woman we all back up when it comes to Ms. Rosetta Dial. Her continued loyalty, dedication, and activism has earned Rosetta Dial our 2019 Northeast District Hall of Fame Hero Award.
2017 UNSUNG hEROS aWARD
Moranna Jones
Moranna Jones started her tenure with OAPSE Local 128 in May 2012. In a local union meeting after the votes were in and no one was willing to run for an office, Moranna was asked by the former, President, Jackie Tinsley, if she would consider the position of Vice President of OAPSE Local 128. Without any hesitation she accepted the position. When the President resigned and moved on, a new President was elected and Moranna stayed on as Local 128 Vice President. Then to her surprise another transition took place in OAPSE Local 128. The new President, after a few years, stepped down from her responsibilities and relocated to Alabama to get married. Moranna stepped up to the plate to assume the role of President of OAPSE Local 128 in May 2014.
With an attempt to merge both Euclid locals for a lack of officers Moranna said No! The deal is off the table! And she went to work to build OAPSE Local 128. Moranna attends all the Northeast District meetings and all of the state and Northeast District conferences on her own. She will push her way into sleeping on a couch or floor just to be in attendance to learn. With no involvement from her local membership, Moranna was the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer for many years, but that did not stop her. Her dedication to OAPSE Local 128 is paying off. I have watched her earned the respect of her new Superintendent, colleagues and her membership. Moranna no longer has to work alone, she has engaged her membership. She now has new officers to help her manage and operate OAPSE Local 128. Moranna, along with her officers and some members, attend all the Northeast District
meetings. But don't let her smile fool you. Moranna can be aggressive when she needs to get information that will help her membership and her grow as a leader. Moranna has also taken on the position as the President of the Cleveland-Northeast Ohio Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) President when no one else wanted the position. Her dedication has helped make the Cleveland chapter of CLUW thrive even with working two jobs! Whatever Moranna is asked to do, it's done willingly, and without hesitation. Moranna displays a spirit of dedication, devotion, and enthusiasm. She strives for excellence. She is loyal and prides herself in keeping God first, to make sure that the outcome of anything she's involved in works out for the good of all
involved. Moranna Jones leads by example and is a person you can call on and always trust.
Therefore Moranna Jones is my Northeast District Unsung Hero.
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Submitted, Davida Russell, Local 110
Timothy Slocum
Elaine Mates is the VP for South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools, Union #207. I came on board last year as the new president with no experience. I could not do the work I do without her guidance and support.
Elaine attends every meeting and event our local union holds. She often has to do double duty to fill in for our other officers. Elaine steps up and steps in without my guidance. She knows what needs to be done and she takes care of it.
Elaine attends every district meeting held in Cuyahoga Falls. And her commitment is so strong that she volunteers to drive us both. We use this time to strategize and get caught up with business. We have also traveled to Columbus together, in the rain, to champion the rights of all our union members.
Elaine is a committed employee and dedicated union member. Our local is stronger and better because of her passion and desire to serve. I am honored to have her as my VP. She is an amazing woman! Submitted, Karen Gilmour, SELSA Union #207 President
Michelle Kaminski
Michelle Kaminski goes above and beyond advocating for our members. When a monitor at her school was fighting a terminal illness, Michelle was there for her and her family every step of the way. Michelle made sure this member received all entitled benefits up and until our members untimely passing. She was a great comfort to this family during their darkest hours. This is just one example of Michelle's advocacy.
Michelle is union through and through and can be counted on to perform any task that is asked of her. There is no question where her loyalties lie in regard to Parma City School District's OAPSE Local 160 and our members. She is an asset to our local and is so deserving of this recognition.
Submitted, Elaine Crow, OAPSE Local 160 President
Elaine Mates
Elaine Mates is the VP for South Euclid-Lyndhurst Schools, Union #207. I came on board last year as the new president with no experience. I could not do the work I do without her guidance and support.
Elaine attends every meeting and event our local union holds. She often has to do double duty to fill in for our other officers. Elaine steps up and steps in without my guidance. She knows what needs to be done and she takes care of it.
Elaine attends every district meeting held in Cuyahoga Falls. And her commitment is so strong that she volunteers to drive us both. We use this time to strategize and get caught up with business. We have also traveled to Columbus together, in the rain, to champion the rights of all our union members.
Elaine is a committed employee and dedicated union member. Our local is stronger and better because of her passion and desire to serve. I am honored to have her as my VP. She is an amazing woman!
Submitted, Karen Gilmour, SELSA Union #207 President
Jacqueline Gore
Jacqueline Gore worked for Campbell City Schools as the Head Cook at the Elementary Building for 24 years before retiring in 2006. While working in the Campbell School District, Jacqueline was a member of OAPSE/AFSCME, Local 4/AFL-CIO and its Local #141. Jacqueline held several positions with the Local #141 Union which included Vice-President. Jacqueline cherished her children and grandchildren. She will always be remembered for her famous quote "That's what you have A Union For". Therefore I, LaRona Gore, nominate Jacqueline B. Higgs Gore as my Northeast District Unsung Hero.
Submitted, LaRona Gore
Carl Russell
Carl Russell: Twenty-seven years ago, when I became a member of OAPSE I noticed a young man who was very active within our union. Every event I attended this man was there giving 110% of his time and energy. I watch in amazement as this man involved his wife and children in rally's, knocking on doors, phone banking, etc. He was the kind of union member I wanted to be! There he was fighting for my rights, helping his union brothers and sisters to educate the public on politicians and issues that affected their lives. I thought to myself this man exemplifies what a union member should be! So, imagine my surprise when I found out that this person who was working so hard to make my union great was not an OAPSE member but the spouse of a union member. I have had the pleasure of meeting this man in recent years, and he has continued to support OAPSE! He has walked with us in our fight with SB5, knocks on doors during elections to help us encourage people to vote. He is the behind the scenes person on many of our projects, helping with set-up of tents, tables, and runner for what we need. This man is probably best known to most of you as the person who wraps all the Christmas gifts for our Christmas Brunch. He has never asked for any recognition for what he does, but he continues to give 110% support to OAPSE, his wife and the Northeast District! My Unsung Hero, and Honorary OAPSE Member Carl Russell!
Thank You! Carl for being an OAPSE supporter.
Submitted, Jimmie Dawson, Local 145
