Officers and Board Members

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Officers

Robby Stern, President

Former attorney, pipefitter/welder. Lobbyist/assistant to President of Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO 15 years; Current Chair of Healthy Washington Coalition for health care reform.  Email: president@psara.org

 

Maureen Bo, Administrative Vice President

Former teacher of English and Spanish; union office secretary 12 years. OPEIU Local 8 shop steward and board member 6 years, union business manager 17 years.  Email: adminvp@psara.org

  

Bette Reed, Community Vice President

Active member of the Tenants Union and a voice for residents of low income housing. Past president of Seattle Senior Housing Advocates. Former aide in the Justice Department Civil Rights Agency and in a law firm specializing in Workers' Compensation cases. Past Director of a vocational training facility.  Email: outreachvp@psara.org

 

Jim Weston, Secretary

Former Spanish teacher/ professor, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Seattle/King County; later Santa Clara, CA, labor union secretary. Volunteer host two one-hour radio broadcasts a week for the blind.

 

Edyth Koch, Treasurer

Retired registered nurse; Treasurer of Seattle Senior Housing Advocates, Board member Washington Health Security Coalition, member Older Women's League; actively involved in health care reform.  Email: treasurer@psara.org

 

Will Parry, Editor, Past President

Former reporter for left-wing weekly newspapers, box factory worker, lobbyist Association of Western Washington Pulp and Paperworkers, staff of WFT. Board member King County Labor Council.  Email: editor@psara.org

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 Board Members

Joan Bethel

Community Activist; SEIU Local 6 retiree; Vice Chair Snohomish County Council on Aging. Radio show host/producer of "Focus on Aging" KSER90.7. Board member Health Care for All Washington.

 

Houston Brown

Former Air Force officer. Union officer for H.E.R.E., the hotel/restaurant union. Currently on PSARA Executive Board and advisory council to Aging & Disabilities Services.

 

Tim Burns

Retired from Northwest Airlines after 39+ years.  Served as Grievance Committee rep 26 years (12+ years as Chair), also as auditor and trustee (IAM LL 1040) and IAM DL 143 Vice President and contract negotiator.  Currently on LL 1040 Legislative Committee and retiree rep, and Vice Chair of the 30th Legislative District Democrats.

 

Steve Dzielak

Bio coming soon.

 

Rick Erickson

Retiree Coordinator of UFCW Local 21; 30 year member, shop steward, executive board member of UFCW 1105 (now UFCW 21).

 

Steve Kofahl

President of AFGE Local 3937, representing Social Security Administration employees throughout Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Also active with JWJ, WSLC and MLKCLC.

 

Rachael Levine

Former instructor in Early Childhood Education, Seattle Central Community College. President of SCC Federation of Teachers Local 1789 2 years; Volunteer, Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children 5 years; Neighborhood House Board member.
 

Gene Lux

Former State Senator appointed l973 and l988; former Representative l975-1988. Senior Lobby Board, Group Health Senior Caucus, WHCC Board, Fire Commissioner, 37th District King Co alternate to King Co Central Committee. General contractor - 1950 to present.
 

Bruce A. "Mac" McIntosh

Retired hospital worker. Activist and board member of SEIU Local 6 and 1199NW while working. Active in Pride at Work and SEIU Lavender Caucus. Very active working on gay and labor rights.

 

Chuck Richards

Retired after 40 years of teaching history and English as a Second Language in secondary schools and colleges in Washington, Puerto Rico and Massachusetts. Board member of Health Care for All-Washington and Washington Education Association. Actively promoting single-payer health care.
 

Frieda Takamura

Teacher, and then union staff member with the Washington Education Association. Human/Civil Rights Program Coordinator at WEA.  Active volunteer with many groups, including the Asian Pacific Islander community, State committees working to improve public education for students of  color and the Safe Schools Coalition.  Email: ftakamura08@gmail.com

 

Mike Warren

President, Chapter 3, Retired Public Employees;  President, WASARA; former chief shop steward and bargaining committee member; chair, Washington CAP, advocating for people with disabilities.. 
 

Elizabeth Zubitis

bio coming soon.

 

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Mexican Correspondents

Pauline Byrne, RN

Played prominent role in organizing City of Seattle clerical workers for IFPTE in mid-70s, graduated from SCCC Nursing program in 1984.  Served as Shop Steward for 1199 NW SEIU.  Former PSARA Board member, where she served as Chair of Advocate mailing committee. Currently residing in Oaxaca, Mexico.

 

Al Peppard

Journeyman carpenter served apprenticeship in Carpenter's Local 131 MLK County District Council of Carpenters, served frequently as Job Steward.  In 2000, retired from Boeing, where he had served as IAM Shop Steward.  Former Vice President and Secretary of PSARA, currently residing in Oaxaca, Mexico.