Speeches

Combined Charitable Campaign
September 2006

Prepared Remarks by
Ronald C. Alexander,
OCSEA President

I want to begin by saying what a privilege it is to be here today to kick off this great collective effort.

Year after year, we kick off this goodwill campaign and there’s always one common word that is reiterated. That word is PARTNERSHIP.

As a union, OCSEA began to help public employees in their daily lives. In addition, we wanted to be part of building a society that provides a wide range of social and public services that are accessible, universal and of the highest quality.

Likewise, the thousands of organizations that are part of the Combined Charitable Campaign exist to improve the lives of the public by providing valued services and assistance that is accessible, universal and of the highest quality.

Both are rooted in similar goals. And that’s why we’re so proud to be walking side by side with the State in this endeavor and hope to do so for many years to come.

Before I go any further, I’d like to acknowledge a true partnership. I’d like to say thank you to the statewide committee members for donating their time and energy. And a thousand thanks to steering committee co-chairs, Kelvin Jones, representing OCSEA, and Merle Kearns from the Department of Aging.

Let’s give a round of applause for their commitment and hard work.

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This year’s theme is “A Time to Care.” And, really, there is never a better “time to care” than the present.

Last year at this time we saw how a natural disaster could destroy entire homes communities, and even cities overnight.

Yes, we saw a lot in the nightly news that Hurricane Katrina brought out the worst in some people. But what we also saw, and I’d wished we’d seen more of in the news, was that it brought out the very best in a lot more people.

There were neighbors helping neighbors.  And strangers helping strangers. People from across the country drove thousands of miles just to help out those who’d lost everything. And let’s not forget those all over the country, including here in Ohio, who took people into their homes who had lost their homes and families, and needed to start anew.

I commend the state employees who stepped up and helped with relief efforts and to those who helped out indirectly by contributing to this Campaign.

I am so honored to say that during last year’s campaign, state employees contributed 5.2 million dollars in payroll contributions to over 11 federations involved in the Campaign. That is 19 percent above last year’s goal.

Some agencies that really went above and beyond include the Adjutant General’s Office, the Department of Aging, MR/DD and Taxation.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is so commendable. On top of serving Ohioans each and everyday, state employees have pretty big and giving hearts.

Let’s give all those who gave last year a big round of applause.

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Whether it is by management or labor, there is nothing more important than government building and improving its links to the community…even those communities that are far away. And the Combined Campaign is a big part of that.

Thank goodness disasters like Katrina are few and far between. But the need is still there, especially in our own communities.

That’s why giving through payroll yet again this year is so important. This year’s goal is 4.6 million dollars, and I am confident that we will meet and exceed this goal again.

I’m going to close today with a quote by author Jack London. “A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.

We all have our problems in life and our daily struggles. Maybe our wallets aren’t as full as we’d like them to be thanks to higher prices of everything from gas to groceries. But if we keep in mind that we must keep contributing to those who are less fortunate, it will come back tenfold, I promise.

Thank you, ladies gentlemen, and take care.