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BCFPHN Member Spotlight

Renee Reisinger enjoys working as a public health professional. She also appreciates that it’s never too late to learn something new. This is why she joins a select few with the distinction of graduating from a first-in-the-nation Master’s Program at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. The program is in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics. In this member spotlight, Renee talks with AFT-Maryland Communication Director Ray Baker about what she’s learned in the program and how the program is helping advance the field of public health.

AFT-Maryland and BCFPHN are proud of each and every member who...

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Finally—it’s President-elect Biden

Patience—counseled by former Vice President Joe Biden all election week as Americans waited for votes to be counted—finally paid off Nov. 7, four days after Election Day, when Biden won in Pennsylvania and gained enough Electoral College votes to acquire a new title: president-elect. AFT President Randi Weingarten says the union’s leaders and members “can’t wait to get started” on the work ahead “with an administration that will embrace and fight for the values we hold dear.”

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Your vote is your voice

AFT President Randi Weingarten’s latest column outlines the urgency of using our voices—our votes—in this life-changing election, when we will make a choice “between President Donald Trump, who has trafficked in chaos, fear, lies and division, and former Vice President Joe Biden, who seeks to reverse Trump’s failures on COVID-19 and the economy, and to unite and uplift the American people.” Besides the four crises we face—a pandemic, an economic crisis, racism and a climate emergency—democracy itself is on the ballot, as Trump continues to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election.

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New Officers Elected

The Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses (BCFPHN) is excited to announce new leadership for the union. Crystal Wright takes over as president of the local. Crystal takes the reins as President after serving as Vice president of the Union for the past two years. She has worked as a public health nurse for Baltimore county for the past three years. She takes over for President Karen Pilecki. Pilecki was instrumental in getting Crystal up to speed and ready to handle the responsibility of leading this local.

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Maryland Unsung Heroes On The Front Line: Crystal Wright

Crystal Wright is a public health nurse with the Baltimore County Health Department. She has been with them for three years. She is also a member of the Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses, Local 5102. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything about how she does her job. One way her job is affected that may not be obvious is the degree of care she can give patients. She reports that sometimes patients see her as a confidant with a shoulder they can cry on, and she has to remember that “today it’s my patient that’s positive for the virus, but tomorrow it could be me.” With each interaction, she and other nurses are at an increased risk. The nature of her work has changed because interactions have to be brief, but focused.

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Union Day at Drumcastle

BCFPHN will be holding a Union Day on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at Drumcastle Center for all Pay Schedule I and III employees. Union reps will be available to discuss benefits of union membership, upcoming negotiations, and to answer questions.

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AFT members dive into candidate endorsement process

As the presidential elections inch closer and the field of candidates gets more and more competitive, AFT members are engaging, parsing campaign platforms, asking questions of the candidates, and voicing their priorities as educators, healthcare practitioners and public employees. Thus far, the AFT has hosted eight AFT Votes town halls in eight different locations across the country, giving members the opportunity to meet candidates in person and hear about their stands on education, working families, healthcare and other top-line issues. Also part of the AFT’s robust endorsement process: surveys, debate parties and lots of information on AFTVotes.org.

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