Monthly Publication
July 2019
Everett Area Rep Inez Towner received the 2019 Stephen Pezzini
Helping Other People Excel (H.O.P.E.) Award. This is SPEEA’s
highest honor which is given to a member nominated for tireless
efforts on behalf of SPEEA and his/her community.
CR leadership development – P4-5
Find your Council Rep – P6-7
ILCA LABOR MEDIA WARD WINNER
Retirees’ pension payout – P8-9
Continued on page 12
Honor, appreciation
and gratitude for
H.O.P.E. Award
By Karen McLean
SPEEA Publications Editor
EVERET T – Area Rep Inez Towner knew she had been nominated for the Stephen Pezzini Helping Other People Excel (H.O. P. E.)
Award, but she never expected to be chosen.
“It surprised me because it was all SPEEA, not
just Everett. The honor, the appreciation and the
gratitude – I can’t use enough words to express how
proud I was,” Towner said, especially to receive the
award with her daughter, Erin McNamara, and
granddaughter, Jasmine McNamara, in the audience at the SPEEA Council Convention June 7.
About the HOPE award
The H.O.P.E. Award is bestowed on a member
who is a strong advocate for labor and community. Nominations are open to any bargaining unit
member (Washington, Kansas, Oregon, Utah or
California).
Tami Reichersamer, a previous H.O.P.E. Award
recipient, nominated Towner in part for mentoring
numerous co-workers throughout Towner’s 35-year
career at Boeing.
Towner also significantly contributes to Labateyah
Youth Home in Seattle run by the United Indians of All
Tribes. Labateyah houses 25 young people ages 18-23
who have nowhere else to go. To qualify, the youth
must be working or going to school or both. They also
receive support with transitioning out on their own.
Towner started helping Labateyah about 10 years ago
after learning about the organization through the
Boeing Native American Network (BNAN). With
contributions from other BNAN members, she helps
fill basic needs, such as shampoo, body wash and shaving cream. She shops sales throughout the year to give
as Christmas presents to the Labateyah residents.
Tears of joy
When one of the residents received a Christmas
bag with hygiene items, she recalled him crying
with joy. “He was 19 or 20, and this was his first
Christmas gift.”
Her efforts extend beyond Christmas. She recently
