My name is Lisa Walker and I work for Linn County sublocal 390. The last five years, I have been active in our Union as a member leader filling multiple roles as president, steward, chief steward, bargaining team delegate, and general council delegate. I have worked hard to educate and lead our members, fellow leaders, steward leaders and the community on the mission and vision of SEIU503. I have trained stewards in the grievance process as the chief steward and walked along beside them as they moved through the timelines. I have taken a grievance to the arbitration level. Through that process we brought management to the table and won our local two valuable holidays to our contract. Experience in my roles at the local level has prepared me for this position and I am excited for the opportunity. I am pursuing this position because I want to broaden my experience, acquire knowledge from, and support the board to lead our union between general councils in the direction that our members want to go with inclusion, diversity, respect, and the building of union power in the workplace and communities. I have no doubt that the next two years will be a challenging time for our union with the changes to our economy, work environment, and personal lives due to COVID-19, and the federal political environment. It is my desire to support SEIU503 through that process, and be assured that local government voices are heard at the table and are part of the discussion. There needs to be stronger bargaining power at the table for local governments. We need support from SEIU503 to build that power and be strong negotiators to meet the needs of our members. I would speak to how and when discussion on topics affects local government employees and how to support the membership as a whole. As a mother, partner, government worker, Girl Scout mom, LGBTIQ person and advocate, protester, and Union Leader, it is my strong ambition to continue the growth of our union in this anti-union time. My involvement at the sublocal level has given me a passion and respect for our union that inspires me to support it at the board level. It is an honor to be considered for the position of Local Government Assistant Director. It would be a privilege to work with and of behalf of each of you.