Posted:
February 10, 2014
By Tom Bethel
National President
In a recent message to the union, Captain Glenn Macario captured what I consider to be a defining sentiment for American Maritime Officers.
He wrote to report on the generous donations and volunteer work of the officers and crew of the USNS VADM K.R. Wheeler during the holiday season and over the course of 2013 on several projects local to the vessel in South Korea. In describing these extraordinary contributions to the community, Captain Macario wrote in terms of raising the bar, and he noted the vessel's crew never rests on past success.
His message is one of many we receive highlighting in various ways the remarkable dedication and commitment of AMO members in every trade. Going above and beyond to make a positive difference, elevating the efficiency of routine operations, facing difficult situations with professionalism and pride, capitalizing on opportunities for improvement - whatever circumstances may arise, this union's membership consistently finds a way to set a superior standard.
I would describe the roles and responsibilities of both the AMO administration and the AMO Plans in service to the membership in the same way. While working separately and diligently to sustain the core functions of the union and the benefit plans, each of us must always be seeking that superior standard, preparing to meet the challenges to come and building upon what is established for the benefit of all AMO members.
An early and apparent example was the construction of AMO National Headquarters on a parcel that formerly housed the AMO Dispatching and Accounting Departments. The headquarters building replaced the scattered status quo of union offices and departments, consolidating all services under one roof for the convenience of the membership.
The headquarters building supplies our union with the ability to host our own membership meetings, rather than leasing space from the AMO Plans, as well as the ability to conduct two of the three annual meetings of the AMO National Executive Board and the AMO Plans Board of Trustees in-house, saving both the union and the plans considerable cost. Headquarters also provides meeting space for members and officials, and a venue for negotiations with AMO-contracted companies.
As with all other AMO-owned properties, there are no mortgages on the land or building.
At its foundation, AMO National Headquarters is a fitting reflection of AMO's status as the largest and strongest union of U.S. merchant marine officers, and it was built as a base for our union's ongoing effort to develop relationships with new employers in the U.S. and international fleets in order to expand the career opportunities available to the AMO membership.
For AMO members who haven't recently attended a course at STAR Center, dramatic improvements have also been made by the AMO Plans at the school and throughout the campus at 2 West Dixie Highway. An even more substantial project is now underway.
With intentions similar to those of the union, AMO Plans is developing the area formerly occupied by AMO on the campus in order to improve service and convenience for AMO members and families. The work on this project is just getting started. When completed, the improvements, in broad strokes, will include:
Installation of a new and expanded galley with indoor and outdoor dining areas - for too many years, AMO members and their families have had to dine in crowded conditions at STAR Center. This galley will be housed in a new building to be called "The Member Services Building."
Replacement of the existing galley at STAR Center with a check-in center for AMO members arriving to attend classes - STAR Center Student Services will be relocated to the same area, which already features convenient driveway access.
Construction of "The Member Services Building" will also place service centers for the AMO Medical, Pension and Vacation Plans in one location on campus - this comprehensive facility will eliminate the need for AMO members to travel the campus in order to have benefit needs addressed and questions answered.
A detailed report, including information on how the project is being paid for and descriptions of each improvement, will be provided in the near future.
Also in January, AMO Plans launched the 2014 Health & Wellness Program with the AMO Living Well Health & Wellness Fair on campus. The program is composed of several elements, each involving guidance and training for AMO members and families from on-site professionals.
Among the objectives of the Health & Wellness Program are providing fitness training to maintain or regain fit-for-duty status, offering professional guidance on lifestyle choices for remaining healthy and for managing chronic medical conditions, and continuous improvement in quality of life for AMO members and families. AMO Plans has reported on this program in the most recent Benefits Connection newsletter, which is distributed to AMO Plans participants.
Another long-term project came to fruition last month with the start of the first session of The Engineering Candidate Hawsepipe Program on January 27. This program - which was developed by AMO in collaboration with the Seafarers International Union and the training divisions of the benefit plans of both unions - is designed to advance entry-level mariners to third assistant engineers within 30 months. STAR Center is now accepting applications for the next session.
The TECH Program is one of the AMO recruiting initiatives I have recently written about in this space. The others are the Stipend Program for maritime academy cadets and the targeted military recruiting program for veterans who are retiring or leaving military service. In combination with our union's regular and productive recruiting efforts at the maritime academies, I am confident these programs will ensure a stable flow of new AMO members from all pathways for years to come.
With the amount of new work in the pipeline for AMO, the recruiting programs will become increasingly important over the next few years. As most of the ships now being built for the Jones Act trades are tankers, AMO and STAR Center have developed an accelerated program for AMO members to earn the Tankerman PIC Endorsement. Among other things, the program reduces the amount of sea time required for earning the endorsement from 90 days to 30 days without sacrificing valuable training or experience in the process. The U.S. Coast Guard approved the program in December and STAR Center is now accepting applications for enrollment.
Projects and programs such as these can take months - more often years - to plan, establish and initiate. Each requires expertise, commitment and thoughtful preparation. All demand the dedicated efforts of an effective team. This is an advantage held by our union, and we are able to employ it to the lasting benefit of AMO members and families while other officers' unions look to the past and struggle for stability and direction.
In the months to come, more will be reported as projects reach completion, new initiatives are launched and our work to raise the bar at AMO continues. In the meantime, and as always, I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to call me on my cell phone at (202) 251-0349.
Building on the present, investing in the future of AMO
By Tom Bethel
National President
In a recent message to the union, Captain Glenn Macario captured what I consider to be a defining sentiment for American Maritime Officers.
He wrote to report on the generous donations and volunteer work of the officers and crew of the USNS VADM K.R. Wheeler during the holiday season and over the course of 2013 on several projects local to the vessel in South Korea. In describing these extraordinary contributions to the community, Captain Macario wrote in terms of raising the bar, and he noted the vessel's crew never rests on past success.
His message is one of many we receive highlighting in various ways the remarkable dedication and commitment of AMO members in every trade. Going above and beyond to make a positive difference, elevating the efficiency of routine operations, facing difficult situations with professionalism and pride, capitalizing on opportunities for improvement - whatever circumstances may arise, this union's membership consistently finds a way to set a superior standard.
I would describe the roles and responsibilities of both the AMO administration and the AMO Plans in service to the membership in the same way. While working separately and diligently to sustain the core functions of the union and the benefit plans, each of us must always be seeking that superior standard, preparing to meet the challenges to come and building upon what is established for the benefit of all AMO members.
An early and apparent example was the construction of AMO National Headquarters on a parcel that formerly housed the AMO Dispatching and Accounting Departments. The headquarters building replaced the scattered status quo of union offices and departments, consolidating all services under one roof for the convenience of the membership.
The headquarters building supplies our union with the ability to host our own membership meetings, rather than leasing space from the AMO Plans, as well as the ability to conduct two of the three annual meetings of the AMO National Executive Board and the AMO Plans Board of Trustees in-house, saving both the union and the plans considerable cost. Headquarters also provides meeting space for members and officials, and a venue for negotiations with AMO-contracted companies.
As with all other AMO-owned properties, there are no mortgages on the land or building.
At its foundation, AMO National Headquarters is a fitting reflection of AMO's status as the largest and strongest union of U.S. merchant marine officers, and it was built as a base for our union's ongoing effort to develop relationships with new employers in the U.S. and international fleets in order to expand the career opportunities available to the AMO membership.
For AMO members who haven't recently attended a course at STAR Center, dramatic improvements have also been made by the AMO Plans at the school and throughout the campus at 2 West Dixie Highway. An even more substantial project is now underway.
With intentions similar to those of the union, AMO Plans is developing the area formerly occupied by AMO on the campus in order to improve service and convenience for AMO members and families. The work on this project is just getting started. When completed, the improvements, in broad strokes, will include:
A detailed report, including information on how the project is being paid for and descriptions of each improvement, will be provided in the near future.
Also in January, AMO Plans launched the 2014 Health & Wellness Program with the AMO Living Well Health & Wellness Fair on campus. The program is composed of several elements, each involving guidance and training for AMO members and families from on-site professionals.
Among the objectives of the Health & Wellness Program are providing fitness training to maintain or regain fit-for-duty status, offering professional guidance on lifestyle choices for remaining healthy and for managing chronic medical conditions, and continuous improvement in quality of life for AMO members and families. AMO Plans has reported on this program in the most recent Benefits Connection newsletter, which is distributed to AMO Plans participants.
Another long-term project came to fruition last month with the start of the first session of The Engineering Candidate Hawsepipe Program on January 27. This program - which was developed by AMO in collaboration with the Seafarers International Union and the training divisions of the benefit plans of both unions - is designed to advance entry-level mariners to third assistant engineers within 30 months. STAR Center is now accepting applications for the next session.
The TECH Program is one of the AMO recruiting initiatives I have recently written about in this space. The others are the Stipend Program for maritime academy cadets and the targeted military recruiting program for veterans who are retiring or leaving military service. In combination with our union's regular and productive recruiting efforts at the maritime academies, I am confident these programs will ensure a stable flow of new AMO members from all pathways for years to come.
With the amount of new work in the pipeline for AMO, the recruiting programs will become increasingly important over the next few years. As most of the ships now being built for the Jones Act trades are tankers, AMO and STAR Center have developed an accelerated program for AMO members to earn the Tankerman PIC Endorsement. Among other things, the program reduces the amount of sea time required for earning the endorsement from 90 days to 30 days without sacrificing valuable training or experience in the process. The U.S. Coast Guard approved the program in December and STAR Center is now accepting applications for enrollment.
Projects and programs such as these can take months - more often years - to plan, establish and initiate. Each requires expertise, commitment and thoughtful preparation. All demand the dedicated efforts of an effective team. This is an advantage held by our union, and we are able to employ it to the lasting benefit of AMO members and families while other officers' unions look to the past and struggle for stability and direction.
In the months to come, more will be reported as projects reach completion, new initiatives are launched and our work to raise the bar at AMO continues. In the meantime, and as always, I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to call me on my cell phone at (202) 251-0349.