|
Letter from WSRCC President, Jack Arntzen
To Adult Family Home Providers:
As the newly elected President of the Washington State Residential Care
Council (WSRCC), I would like to take this opportunity to introduce
myself. I, along with my wife, have been involved in the care of
vulnerable adults for the past 14 ½ years. After retiring from a
rewarding career with the Department of Social and Health Services,
Economic Services Division, my wife and I opened the first of our two
Adult Family Homes (AFH). We joined the Fourth Corner Chapter of WSRCC
shortly after opening our first home and owe part of our success in
operating an AFH to the networking and education we received from this
organization. I eventually became the Fourth Corner Chapter delegate to
the statewide organization.
We have a number of issues confronting us as providers and as an
organization that we must deal with immediately.
First of all is the issue of who will represent the AFH providers in
collective bargaining that was enacted by HB 2111 & SB 5949 and signed
into law by the Governor. As you know, WSRCC overwhelmingly won the
first election by a vote of 594 to 214 because you as providers are
confident that WSRCC is the best organization to represent you in
collective bargaining. Who else knows our industry as well as you, the
providers, who direct the actions of the WSRCC Delegate board? The
second ballot will be coming out very shortly. I encourage you as
providers to investigate claims made by the Washington Federation of
State Employee’s (WFSE), the Save Our Homes Coalition (SOH) and the
Adult Family Homes association of Washington. You will find that their
claims are misleading, without foundation, and detrimental to our
industry. Be sure to vote and vote WSRCC.
Secondly, is the issue of the Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU)
HB 2672 & SB 6350 which attempts to unionize our caregivers. This is a
very dangerous bill for our industry and is similar to the one in which
the WSFE signed on in support of in the 2007 legislative period.
Hearings are ongoing on this issue during this 2008 Legislative period.
WSRCC has and will continue to oppose this piece of legislation,
Finally, as your president, with your support, we will keep our industry
thriving and profitable to the benefit of our vulnerable adults. Be sure
to vote and vote WSRCC.
Respectfully,
Jack Arntzen, WSRCC president
Our Mission
-
To serve as a support network for
Adult Family Home Providers.
-
To promote the interests of Adult
Family Home Providers through Legislative activities.
-
To provide accurate, timely
information regarding issues impacting care in and operation of
Adult Family Homes in the State of Washington.
-
To enhance services and care for
Residents of Adult Family Homes by strengthening the knowledge base
of Providers through ongoing, quality education.
-
To foster mutually beneficial
relationships with community resource people and others who
demonstrate an interest in residential care.
-
To promote personal and
professional accountability for Providers, as outlined in the Code
of Ethics, thereby increasing overall standards for quality
residential Care and business practices.
Contact Information
- FAX:
509-249-1167
-
- Postal
address
-
WSRCC
1601 Drake Court,
Yakima, WA 98902
-
- Electronic
mail
-
General Information: Jack Arntzen
jack_wsrcc_pres@yahoo.com
Membership Contact: Pat Reese
PMReese13@aol.com
Vender/Benefactor Contact: Roger Souve
Rogersouve@hotmail.com
|
