Eddie L. Parks,
OCSEA President
CMCA Conference
Feb. 16 - 18, 2008

Good morning sisters and brothers, and welcome to this year’s OCSEA Committee on Minority and Community Affairs Conference in my hometown of Columbus Ohio. I welcome you all and I hope you enjoy your time here and I hope you get a chance to take advantage of all this conference and this city has to offer.

I want to thank Mayor Coleman for joining us this morning and for that rousing opening. He is certainly a man of principle and honor, and – one thing is certain – he always has our back. So, from all OCSEA members, I thank you Mayor for all that you do.

Next I want to say thank you to CMCA chairwoman Michelle Hunter, the members of the CMCA committee, and the OCSEA staff for the outstanding job they’ve done in putting together this tremendous conference. They’ve all worked so hard.
Please, let’s give them all a round of applause.

I also want to thank the speakers and presenters who are here with us this weekend, including special guests Dr. Alvin Jackson, director of the Ohio Department of Health, and Senator Ray Miller. Their insight is greatly appreciated and we look forward to all that you have to share with us. Welcome!

The theme of this year’s conference is, “A Change is Going to Come.” This is appropriate on many levels

When I ran for OCSEA president, my campaign slogan – “Time for a change” – drove home a very similar message – one of action, unity and an end to the status quo. And the membership recognized just that – it was “time for a change.”

When I was sworn in as OCSEA president, it was one of the happiest moments of my life – and a dream – one that began over 12 years ago – was finally realized.
Now I speak before you conference goers for the first time as OCSEA president and it is an absolute honor.

The last time I spoke at this conference, I discussed the importance of the 2006 elections and electing politicians that are looking out for the needs of working people and unionists like you and me. I may have even called it “the most important election of our lifetime.” And I wasn’t kidding. With wins in most state offices, including the governor’s office, and the U.S. Senate, we really did make a difference. There’s no doubt about it. And, for the first time in a long, long time, we knew – finally– “Change was going to come.”

And now we look ahead to later this year, when we will elect the president of the United States of America. And this election just may give the election of 2006 a run for its money as the most important election of our lifetime. 2006 was just the beginning – and now it’s time to ride that wave of victory all the way to white house.

This year we must come together as a unified democratic party and unite behind the chosen candidate, no matter who they are.

I don’t know about you, but I know I’m tired of these “close” elections. We’ve had enough of those over the past eight years, wouldn’t you say? We have to do everything in our power to keep Ohio a blue state. And we – the working people of Ohio – have to lead the charge. We need to win in big numbers this time around so that George Bush – and his Supreme Court – cannot and WILL NOT take that away from us again.

Do you understand how truly monumental this moment in history is? We are sitting on something colossal. No matter how you look at it, it’s historical. Either we’re going to elect the first woman or the first African American president of the United States of America. That’s pretty exciting. No more of the status quo for me. We’ve had enough of George Bush and his conservatives who aren’t looking out for us or our families. “Change is going to come” and I’m excited to be a part of it. How about you?

Right now, I see a lot of opportunity in front of us...And a lot of work to do too.

The history of the civil rights movement taught us that leaders are worthless without people to back them. Leaders can only do so much, but, if they aren’t backed by the people, their efforts are futile. 

Brothers and sisters – the Building Union Power Conference will take place April 18-19 right here in Columbus and it’s so important that you attend. This year’s conference theme “Change that Matters” parallels this conference’s theme. One of the most important OCSEA events of the year, the Building Union Power Conference will focus on AFSCME’s and OCSEA’s political mobilization efforts in the upcoming elections.

This event is the official kick-off to the OCSEA’s Labor 2008 campaign and I encourage each and every one of you to attend – and bring a friend – and find out how to get involved in the upcoming election. You’ll be so glad you did. And so proud to be a part of something so great – history in the making.

Also, brothers and sisters, all subordinate bodies are also being asked to assist with a very important event taking place at the Building Union Power Conference. The first-ever PEOPLE Auction will help raise money for PEOPLE, which gives OCSEA the political muscle it needs to impact change that matters to our members. And, there’s no more important time than NOW to support PEOPLE in every possible way.

That’s why OCSEA is asking that all subordinate bodies donate an item or ITEMS to be raffled off during the PEOPLE Auction to show their support for PEOPLE. Pick up a flyer at the PEOPLE table this weekend or contact Sharon Reese at Central Office for more information on how to participate.

As OCSEA President, I challenge EVERY subordinate body, particularly the Districts, to try and out do one other. I know how competitive some of you out there get. Just remember, the bigger and the better the item to be auctioned off, the more money your subordinate body will earn toward PEOPLE. And remember, it's for the best cause of all – your future!

“It’s been a long, long time comin’ but I know a change is gonna come” is how the song goes.

“It’s been so long, a little too long. But a change has gotta come,” Otis Redding sang.
 
“I’m so tired, so tired of suffering and standing by myself. And standing up alone. But a change has gotta come…you know and I know”

Brothers and sisters. We’ve put up with so much over the past eight years. Change has gotta come and together we’re going to make that happen.

God bless you all and thank you. Enjoy your weekend.