Brothers and Sisters of the CPFFA,
I hope that all of you had a very Merry Christmas and this email finds you all healthy and making preparations for a fulfilling and prosperous New Year!
As all of you should already know, I chose not to run for re-election as the Local 3393 President and I regretfully resigned as your 1st District Vice President effective November 1, 2009. My decision, although somewhat selfish, was based on personal commitments that I have made to my family members. While I consider all of you a part of my extended family my immediate family had to come first in this instance. I have tried to uphold my duties and responsibilities in the 1st district to the best of my abilities.
I would like to apologize to all of you for not being able to fulfill the duties and responsibilities as 1st DVP that you so faithfully elected me to uphold. I felt that my duties and responsibilities as 1st DVP were not getting the attention from me that you deserve. As I told PFFPNC President David Anders, “I feel that if a local would experience a problem in the 1st district, similar to what is taking place in Rockingham, I would not be able to put the time and effort required to assist them properly.” I could have been an invisible DVP as we saw many years ago, but that would not be fair to the members of the 1st district. You deserve better than that.
I hope that you all realize that this was a very difficult decision for me because I feel so strongly about what we are doing and attempting to do in this Local and throughout the state. Even though I am stepping down as President and PFFPNC DVP I still place a great value in the friendships and relationships I have formed with all of you. I hope that you feel the same. Please keep me informed of the business we are conducting because I believe in what we are doing!
My replacement as the 1st District Vice President is Josh Smith. Below is a portion of the email he recently sent out to the Locals introducing himself.
“My name Josh Smith and I was elected to serve as the District 1 Vice-President at this year’s convention. This position was held by Lester Cragan for many years. I promise to do my best to serve this district. I work as a suppression Captain for the Statesville Fire Department and a proud member of Local 3137. I have been a member of Local 3137 for seven years and I have served as the vice-president. I look forward to meeting with each local. If you have a meeting schedule, please send me a copy. I am new to this but I will help all I can. The E-Board meets quarterly so if you have any issue just give me a call or shoot me and email. I will be out of town December 11th - 17th. Upon my return, I will be contacting you to arrange meetings.”
This Local and the state are on the cusp of something great with collective bargaining appearing on the horizon. The next couple of year looks to be the most exciting time we’ve ever seen as it relates to our careers and Union! I hope that all of you will see the importance of continuing our activism and fight for Collective Bargaining and a Better Retirement Plan.
I truly am greatful and felt honored by the trust you placed in me to head up the day to day business of this Local. We have come a long way over the past 18 years and I hope that we will grow even more over the next 18 years. If I can assist any of you in the future please feel free to email me or call my cell number listed below.
In Brotherhood,
Lester Cragan, Pres. IAFF Local 3393
704-791-2933 (cell)
704-788-1364 (home)
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