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October 6, 2000/7 Tishri 5761, Vol. 53, No.2
JLC supports workers
LEISAH NAMM
Staff Writer
An unanimous vote cemented the formation of the Arizona Chapter of the Jewish Labor Committee at the group's organizational meeting Sept. 27 in a private Valley home.
The meeting featured guest speakers Kathryn Petsas, campaign manager for Proposition 106, the Fair Districts, Fair Elections initiative; and Benjamin Marx, business director of the United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association and executive director of Arizonans Against Unfair Tax Schemes.
Among the 16 present were Frank Langsner, president of Or Adam Congregation; Nadine Schwartz, past president of Or Adam Congregation; Penny Kotterman, president of the Arizona Education Association; and Robert and Lynn Neuville, co-chairpeople of the social action committee of Temple Beth Israel.
The Jewish Labor Committee, founded in 1934, serves as a bridge linking the labor movement and the Jewish community.
On a national level, the JLC promotes Holocaust and Jewish Resistance studies in public schools, conducts human relations training , works with ethnic-based labor organizations to combat bigotry and mobilizes support for the legislative priorities of the labor movement.
The next step for the local chapter of JLC is to hold a planning meeting to work out the structure of the group and outline specific goals. Led by Herman Brown of Sun Lakes, who recently retired after 14 years as the Northeast Regional director of the JLC in Boston, the group plans to hold open meetings every two months with guest speakers.
Because the JLC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, it cannot endorse candidates as it "cannot take positions on partisan contests," Brown said.
However, "if there's an issue that's relevant to our overall mission, which is to support labor and working people," then the group will publicly support the issue by making phone calls and organizing letter-writing campaigns.
For more information, call Herman Brown, 480-883-9291 or e-mail jlcarizona@aol.com.
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