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BCTGM MEMBERSRAISE $45K FOR PUBLICSCHOOL LIBRARIESWhen BCTGM Local 167G(Gr<strong>and</strong> Forks, N.D.) memberMark Froemke fully unders<strong>to</strong>odthe massive funding crisis sweepingMinnesota <strong>and</strong> North Dakotapublic school libraries, he knewthe labor movement could dosomething <strong>to</strong> help.The public school librarieshave faced increasing cuts <strong>to</strong>their budgets due <strong>to</strong> decreasedaid from the state <strong>and</strong> federalgovernments. Many areas havebeen forced <strong>to</strong> cut costs byreducing material budgets <strong>and</strong>curriculum, with some schoollibrary programs being eliminatedal<strong>to</strong>gether. The grim situationcaps years of lean budgets withmost school book collectionsaged <strong>and</strong> inadequate.Froemke, who also serves asthe president of the NorthernValley Labor Council of theMinnesota AFL-CIO, came up withan idea <strong>to</strong> aid the schools nearlytwo years ago, pledging that childrenwouldn’t be victims of governmentbudget cuts. With the help ofLocal 167G Financial SecretaryScott Ripplinger <strong>and</strong> Local 167GUnit 264 Vice President MelMorris, a special BCTGM-fundraiserwas held <strong>to</strong> raise money for thearea’s school libraries.Morris <strong>and</strong> Ripplinger, officersof the former Local 264G(Local 264G is now part of thenewly-formed Local 167G, seepage 14), held a “Month ofMoney” raffle. The Local <strong>print</strong>ed500 raffle tickets <strong>and</strong> sold themfor $20 each. According <strong>to</strong>Ripplinger, sales of the ticketswere brisk due <strong>to</strong> the cause.Prizes were $125 daily for themonth of May, except for the 1st<strong>and</strong> 15th when the payout was$400, <strong>and</strong> Memorial Day whenthe prize was $600.At the end of the “bookdrive,” the Northern Valley LaborCouncil donated $40,000 <strong>to</strong>three public school districtlibraries. BCTGM Local 264Gdonated an additional $4,920raised through their month-longraffle <strong>to</strong> increase the <strong>to</strong>tal donation<strong>to</strong> nearly $45,000.The generous donation wasdistributed between the Gr<strong>and</strong>Forks, N.D., the East Gr<strong>and</strong>Forks, Minn. <strong>and</strong> the Crooks<strong>to</strong>n,Minn. Public School LibrarySystems. According <strong>to</strong> Ripplinger,“The school administra<strong>to</strong>rs,teachers <strong>and</strong> library staff memberswere extremely grateful forthis first of its kind donation <strong>to</strong>the school libraries.”Of the new books purchasedby the school libraries, manywere on workers’ struggle foreconomic <strong>and</strong> social justice <strong>and</strong>the battles of labor unions in the1800s <strong>and</strong> 1900s.“This gift is not only a gestureof gratitude for all that publiceducation has done for unionmembers <strong>and</strong> their families,”said Froemke. “It also signifieslabor’s continuing support for theBCTGM Local 167G Unit 264 Vice Pres.Mel Morris (right) <strong>and</strong> Local 167G Fin.Secy. Scott Ripplinger (left) presentNorthern Valley Labor Council Pres.Mark Froemke, also a member of Local167G, a check for $4,920. Together,the group raised nearly $45,000 forpublic school libraries.teachers, administra<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>and</strong> staffwho have made our publicschools a wonderful success<strong>to</strong>day. For working people, publiceducation is one of the mostimportant accomplishments ofthe labor movement. It’ll be hard<strong>to</strong> find more labor books in publicschools for K-12 than whatwe’ve purchased,” he added.Virginia Tupa, direc<strong>to</strong>r ofinstructional services for theGr<strong>and</strong> Forks Public SchoolSystem noted, “It is the largestsingle contribution the Gr<strong>and</strong>Forks libraries have everreceived. We’re very excited <strong>and</strong>thrilled about this.”Tupa credits Gr<strong>and</strong> ForksPublic Schools AdministrativeAssistant Shirley Johnson withmaking the most of every dollardonated. Johnson ordered all thebooks <strong>and</strong> videos for the threedistricts <strong>and</strong> bargained with variouspublishers <strong>and</strong> distribu<strong>to</strong>rs<strong>to</strong> get the best deals. Johnsonestimates that she will be able <strong>to</strong>purchase more than 9,000 books<strong>and</strong> videos with the $45,000.Each book will have a specialsticker indicating it was donatedby the labor movement.6BCTGM News

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