OPEA gained a large number of new members during a rare visit to the Lawton Veterans Center.
“Associations like OPEA are only allowed in to talk to employees two times per year,” said Bud Elder, OPEA Membership Representative. “So this event, the annual Volunteer Payroll Deduction fair, was very important to us.
Elder said that once employees heard the OPEA message, they were eager to join.
“There are a lot of new hires in this facility and, though some had never heard of us, they quickly understood the importance of OPEA,” he said.
Elder said issues within the facilities mirror similar situations in all state agencies.
“There are staffing issues here and, of course, there are pay issues as well,” he said.
OPEA will attend other Volunteer Payroll Deduction events at the following locations:
Claremore Veterans Center – September 22-23
Oklahoma State Reformatory – September 24-25
Oklahoma State Penitentiary-September 24-25
Ardmore Veterans Center-September 24-25
Pauls Valley Southern Resource Center-September 24
DOC Main Offices-September 24
Jess Dunn Correctional – September 24
Dick Conner Correctional-September 24
Talihina Veterans Center September 29-30
New Lawton Veterans Center OPEA Members Include:
Gabriella McAuley, Vicki Reid, Cynthia Ferguson, Deborah Cox, Harriett O’Daniel,Michelle Maldonado,John Stevens, Sharon Ray, Angela Miller, Bonnie Smith-Jackson and Kimberly Sammons.
