Tuesday, November 20, 2007

The Dogood Award of the Week

Once a week I intend on profiling a man or woman, who to me have demonstrated what I believe is a commitment to the ideals of civility, community responsibility, cooperative spirit and courage. So I launch the Dogood Award. There are a lot of people I was thinking of for my first choice, but I kept coming down to one individual, Mel Fishburn, President of the Berks County Building Trades Council.

Here is a man who consistently goes out of his way to help his union brethren, the community at large, political leaders and our communities. I understand from various sources outside the political world that Mel and the Trades are always available to assist no matter what the call. Mel has quietly demonstrated his resolve on various issues affecting the Trades by working hard to address issues pertaining to the building trades unions. He is effective in reaching out to local, state and federal political leaders to express the support for or opposition to legislation that would affect his members. Mel, and the men and women that comprise the trades, are recognized by both sides of the aisle for being effective, organized and efficient. Make no bones about it, under Mel's guidance; the trades have become a formidable tool in the political landscape of Berks County.

But with all that being said, Mel Fishburn is a quiet man who goes about his business and does not seek recognition for what he or his organization has done. In many discussions with Republican and Democrats alike, most refer to him being the individual that they know they can call on and he will give them a straight answer, whether it what they want to hear the answer or not. He is not cocky or rude, but yet his support and the support of the Trades is of utmost importance to the political players of Berks County.

Mel Fishburn is the type of Union leader we need to be a voice for the Working Families of Berks County. If you meet Mel, you will quickly realize that you are dealing with a very professional man with a great deal of intelligence, strength, conviction, charisma and wit. His Union members recognize him as honest and forthwith and know that with him in their corner, they have someone who will fight for them until the end. It is a perfect example of either working together or we will fail on our own.

The Trades clear and broad support, without any reservation, for the Democrats who have been elected to serve our County, such as Jim Bucci, Judy Schwank, Denny Hess and Kevin Barnhardt, demonstrates the level they are willing to go for the candidates they support. You can also clearly see their support of state and federal political leaders as well, by the strong support and endorsements they have given Tom Caltagirone, Dante Santoni and Tim Holden.

For all those reasons, I am honored and privileged to award my first weekly Dogood Award to Mel Fishburn, President of the Berks County Building Trades Council. Mel, please keep up the great work for our Community.

Respectfully, I am...
S. Dogood

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Absolutely on target. Mel Fishburn is the kind of man who works for his members. His values are the values of working Americans and those who the Democratic Party historically stands for. Democrats can be proud to call Mel Fishburn our friend. However, we must always be conscious of not taking our friends for granted. Organized Labor supports those who support them.