You are officially notified that the Thirty-Eighth General Convention of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America will be held at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois, beginning Monday, August 21, 2000, at 10:00 a. m. and will continue in session from day to day until the business coming before the Convention has been completed.

The basis of representation for Local Unions in the Convention, in accordance with Section 17-C, is: one hundred (100) members or less shall be entitled to one delegate; more than one hundred (100) members and not more than five hundred (500), two delegates; more than five hundred (500) and less than one thousand (1,000), three delegates; one thousand (1,000) members and less than fifteen hundred (1,500), four delegates; fifteen hundred (1,500) members and less than two thousand (2,000), five delegates; two thousand (2,000) and less than twenty-five hundred (2,500), six delegates; twenty-five hundred (2,500) and less than three thousand (3,000), seven delegates; a Local Union with three thousand (3,000) or more members shall be entitled to eight delegates plus one additional delegate for every 500 members over three thousand (3,000). The number of members of the Local Union shall be the number in good standing in the month that the Convention Call is issued.

A Local Union owing two or more months’ per capita tax to the General Office is not entitled to representation at the Convention. Local Unions must pay enough to reduce their arrearage below two months’ per capita, prior to or at the Convention, in order for their delegates to be seated at the Convention.

Upon payment of a special per capita tax of $50 pet year, which shall be payable not later than July 1 of each year, Councils shall be entitled to representation by election of one delegate. As in the last General Convention, Council delegates will not be entitled to vote in the election of General Officers. Council delegates will nonetheless be credentialed and seated as delegates to the General Convention in accordance with the UBC Constitution and will have full voice and vote on all Convention matters except the election of General Officers.

In accordance with Section 17-F, all Local Unions and Councils are directed to issue notice of special called meeting(s) for the purpose of selecting delegates to the Thirty-Eighth General Convention by secret ballot. Section 17-F provides as follows: "The election of delegates and alternates shall be held by secret ballot within the time specified by the General Executive Board. All members shall be notified by mail to attend the meeting at which the delegates are to be elected. No member shall be eligible unless working for a livelihood in a classification within the trade autonomy of the United Brotherhood as defined in Section 7 or in employment which qualifies him or her for membership, or is depending on the trade for a livelihood, or is employed by the organization as a full-time officer or representative; provided, further, that members who are life members, apprentices, trainees or probationary employees shall not be eligible. A member must have been twelve (12) consecutive months a member in good standing of the Local Union and a member of the United Brotherhood for two consecutive years immediately prior to nomination, except where the Local Union has not been in existence the time herein required. To be eligible for nomination or election as a delegate to a General Convention, a member must meet the requirements of Section 31 D."

Individuals who are automatically elected as General Convention delegates by virtue of proper election to another office in their Local Union or Council may qualify for credentials if such automatic delegate status is provided for in the Local Union’s or Council’s Bylaws and the requirements of Section 31-J are met. Documentation of the above criteria should be submitted with the Local’s or Council’s delegate designation form.

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Nomination and election of delegates shall be at special called meeting(s).

For nominations conducted by Local Unions for General Convention delegates, all members must receive notice by mail of the number of delegates to be elected and the time, place and date of the nominating meeting. This notice shall be by letter or postcard and shall be sent not less than fifteen days prior to the date set for the nomination of delegates. Notice of nominations must be mailed to each member at his or her last known address as reported to the Recording Secretary under Section 44-F No other form of notice is permitted. (Notice in newspapers or similar publications shall not constitute prior notice, but may be used as a supplementary notice.)

For elections conducted by Local Unions for General Convention delegates, all members must receive notice by mail of the time, place, and date of the election. This notice shall be by letter or postcard and shall be sent at least fifteen days prior to the date set for the election of delegates. Notice of the election must be mailed to each member at his or her last known address not less than fifteen days prior to the election. No other form of notice is permitted. (Notice in newspapers or similar publications shall not constitute proper notice, but may be used as a supplementary notice.)

A Local Union may use a combined notice of nomination and election if it contains all the necessary information, is mailed by letter or postcard to each member at his or her last known address, as indicated above, and is sent at least thirty days before the election and at least fifteen days prior to nominations. If a Local Union sends a combined thirty-day notice, nomination and election of delegates may be held at the same special called meeting.

To be eligible to vote for delegates in a Local Union, a member must have held membership in the Local Union for at least twelve (12) consecutive months (unless the Local Union has not been in existence the time required) and be in good standing at the time of voting. Contracting members are not eligible to vote. The benefit status of a member shall not be considered in determining his or her eligibility as a candidate for delegate or his or her eligibility to vote for delegates.

Where two or more Local Unions have merged, the period of membership required as a condition of eligibility for nomination for delegate or voting in an election for delegates may be established by including continuous membership in any of the Local Unions whose merger resulted in the existing Local Union.

Delegates must have their dues books, or the equivalent thereof, with them to show that they are members in good standing for twelve months prior to their election and the expense of each delegate attending the Convention is to be paid by the Local Union or Council he or she represents.

A blank Delegate Designation Form with a self-addressed envelope, addressed to the General Secretary-Treasurer, is being provided to each Local Union and Council along with this Convention Call. This form is to be completed by the Recording Secretary immediately following the delegate election and mailed promptly to the General Secretary-Treasurer.

The completed Delegate Designation Form containing the names and addresses of elected delegates, along with the Local Union’s or Council’s election notice and other required information, are to be returned to the General Office by April 30,2000.

When the information required, including the home addresses of the delegates, is received at the General Office and the elected delegates’ membership status and eligibility are found to be in compliance with our Constitution and Laws, credentials and further information will be sent to the delegate’s home address and not to the Local Union or Council.

Fraternally yours,