Local
Knowledge
From community interaction to membership participation to using the
State PBA Bylaws, here are some ideas to enhance your Local operations
success with your Local if you make it a priorn BY MITCHELL KRUGEL
ity for that period of your life you are a memSo President Colligan has issued the
ber.”
challenge.
Accordingly, let’s examine the building
Well, not a challenge so much as a
BUILDING
blocks
to maximizing Local operations…
charge for Locals throughout the state to
A BETTER
ensure
leadership,
operations,
community outreach, fundraising and
Leadership
membership achieve the efficiency and
Leading the local is a group activity done by
effectiveness needed to make an impact.
every member of the Executive Board. More
The initiative is basic and logical: The
specifically:
whole PBA can only be as strong as all of
“A good leader doesn’t just lead by delegatits parts.
ing; he leads by example,” offers Paramus
The State PBA is formidable in the
Local 186 President Mike Cebulski, who has
resources it offers to help Local delegates,
been on his Local E-Board for 10 years. “If
presidents and treasurers, as well as offeryou’re willing to put in the effort, everybody
ing expertise in pension and benefit management, collective barwill follow. You see that’s true at the state level. They’re out there.
gaining and a myriad of other specialties integral to Local
When we had our new E-board elected recently, (Executive Viceknowledge.
President) Marc Kovar came down and did the swearing in. That’s
And if knowledge is power, then the charge now is to apply that
an example that if you’re willing to put in the effort, everybody
knowledge to strengthen membership participation, contract
else will follow.”
negotiations, leadership, community impact and general operaLeadership is also a matter of being knowledgeable in all mattions.
ters related to the Local. “So if your members ask a question, you
“You have to make this your hobby, the one thing you put your
can give them a proper answer and guide them in the right directime into beyond your job and your family,” asserts John Hulse,
tion so they have confidence that the organization is benefitting
the PBA Special Projects Coordinator, who knows as much as
them,” says Hackettstown/Mansfield Local 369 President Tom
anybody in the State PBA about running a Local. “You can have
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LOCAL
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