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As always, the communication section of Local 2068 has been very busy with numerous projects.  A sampling of them follows.

•  Website:   Webmaster Mark Briskey has been looking into ways to improve our online presence.  This is so that there is a more user friendly website with more relevant information for both members and the public alike.  Unfortunately, given that we have grown out of our present website and one of my priority areas has been improving that.  Look for a new and improved website to debut by July!

•  Forum:   The Local 2068 Forum (MB: insert link so if you click on the prior text, it takes you to the forum) has proven to be a very reliable and an extremely good way for information to be disseminated back and forth between the leadership and membership.  Thanks to Forum Guru Sean Hodgson for his expertise in his operation of the forum.

•  Minutes:   At a meeting with President Niemiec, the decision was made to take the General Membership Minutes out of the public view of the website and put them on the forum, so we can guarantee that only Local 2068 members have direct access to them.  Also on the topic of the minutes, a new policy was passed in order for the minutes to more quickly be disseminated to the membership.  Look for the results of that on the Local 2068 forum within a week of the monthly General Membership Meeting.

•  The Watch:   The Local 2068 newsletter, The Watch, is under new management.  John Price from 15/A has taken the helm and put together two excellent issues so far, with a third in the works!  With articles from the membership and leadership of the Local and the ever popular cartoons from Mike Furman, it is quite a hit!

•  HeroToHero:   You will remember that for the past two years, right before Memorial Day weekend, Local 2068 has asked all personnel to sign a IAFF/Flag T-shirt to be sent to troops overseas as part of the HeroToHero T-shirt campaign.  The other week, I received a call from Liz Jackson, who is the organizer and main drive behind the HeroToHero campaign.  She regretfully informed me that because of medical issues on her end, the U.S. tour that she has done since 2004 would not happen in 2008.  That, unfortunately, means that HeroToHero is likely not to get as many shirts to send overseas in 2008.  I am currently in the planning stages of how the 2008 campaign will happen.  Stay tuned for more!  To see photos from the 2006 visit, go to: http://journals.aol.com/h2hheroes/herotohero/entries/2006/06/01/fairfax-co-...-now-were-talkin/1935 .  To see photos from the 2007 visit, go to: http://journals.aol.com/h2hheroes/herotohero/entries/2007/07/03/fun-with-fairfax-day---pt-1/3809 , http://journals.aol.com/h2hheroes/herotohero/entries/2007/07/01/fun-with-the-fairfax-forty/3788 and http://journals.aol.com/h2hheroes/herotohero/entries/2007/07/04/more-of-fairfax-day/3817

•  Local 2068 Coin:   The non-35 th Anniversary version of the Local 2068 Coin is in the works.  Sneak peak: It will incorporate the beginnings of the Fairfax County Fire Services.  More to come!

•  2068Notification e-mail list:  If you count on the Local 2068 website, forum and faxes to keep current on the happenings in your union, you are missing a piece!  One of the most reliable means of communicating timely and relevant information is the 2068Notification e-mail list.  If there is something going on with Local 2068, it is found on the 2068Notification e-mail list first!  To sign up, send your name, work location and preferred e-mail address to me at JKobersteen@fairfaxfirefighters.org and as soon as you are confirmed as a member in good standing, you will begin receiving the notices!

•  Celebrate Fairfax:   Celebrate Fairfax (formerly known as Fairfax Fair) is coming up June 6-8 in the parking lot of the Fairfax County Government Center.  For the second year in a row, Local 2068 will have a booth at Celebrate Fairfax to educate citizens about us and how they can help us.  Plus, there are some big surprises to come!

That is just a small taste of what is going on in our little corner of the local!  If you have any questions, concerns, comments, gripes, suggestions or just want to say Hi, don't hesitate to drop me an e-mail at JKobersteen@fairfaxfirefighters.org.

Thanks.
Joel Kobersteen
Local 2068 Communications Director