December 21, 2021
2021 Region 8 Director Holiday Message
More Blessings come from Giving
Christmas and the New Year are upon us. The turbulent 2021 is almost gone but Covid
continues to harm families and our workplaces. So many lives have been lost and changed. We must and can do better in 2022.
Recently, we were reminded that there still are events beyond human control that also impact us tremendously. On December 10th and 11th, a series of tornadoes passed through Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois causing much destruction, injury, and loss of life. Kentucky received the blunt of the storms with official concerns that the death toll may exceed one hundred. UAW Local 2164 has members with homes damaged and destroyed.
The UAW/GM plant in Bowling Green is damaged causing employees to be laid off. Tragedies such as this always affect us but perhaps even more so in the holiday season. Families that would have been preparing for warm family time are instead planning memorial services, trying to find a place to live, and digging through debris trying to recover what family  keepsakes and memories they can.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims for sure but this holiday we need to also provide for their needs. Let us bless and celebrate by giving. I come to you as the Steward of our Regional Local Unions, State CAP Councils, and Retired Workers Chapters to ask you to
immediately start requesting contributions from our members. Gate collections and donations from your Local Union treasury and State CAP Councils would be well appreciated by those so desperately in need od assistance. I ask you to approach your Employer to contribute matching funds as well. All funds will be used to assist Union Members and their families. Please send donations through your Local Union, CAP Council, or Retired Workers Chapter to UAW Region 8 , 151 Maddox-Simpson Parkway, Lebanon, TN 37090 with “Kentucky disaster relief fund “ in the memo line.
During a very stressful time Winston Churchill made the comment, ”We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” At this Season we certainly can make a life.
Let me express to you, Tim and my thanks for having the opportunity to having served Region 8 this year. We wish you peace, love, and joy now and in 2022. On behalf of the entire UAW Region 8 Clerical and Staff, best wishes for a jubilant Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
Region 8 Director
Mitchell Smith
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