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Christine Griffin, the new Asst. Secretary In April, 2011, Dr. Jean McGuire, chair of the Council and Asst. Secretary for Disability Policies and Programs, left the Department of Health & Human Services to return to academia. Dr. McGuire served as Council Chair for four years, during which time the Council was staffed, the first PCA collective bargaining agreement was signed and the Council's PCA referral directory became operational. Her skills and dedication were essential to the success the Council achieved in all of these areas. At Dr. McGuire's last Council meeting, Vice Chair Paul Spooner offered a motion, passed unanimously, to thank her for her leadership.

From April through September, while the search for a new Asst. Secretary was underway, Stanley Eichner, General Counsel for the Department of Elder Affairs, served as interim chair of the Council. Atty. Eichner oversaw the conclusion of labor negotiations for the second labor agreement.

During the summer of 2011, EOHHS Secretary JudyAnn Bigby announced the appointment of Christine Griffin as the new Asst. Secretary. Ms. Griffin previously served as Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and as a Commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Secretary Bigby also appointed Christine Griffin as the new chair for the Council. "When I left Massachusetts for Washington," said Asst. Secretary Griffin, "legislation creating the Council had just been passed. I am pleased to see what the Council has accomplished and look forward to working with the Council to achieve its mission."

2nd Annual Paul Kahn PCA Award Event a Spirited Success  

From L to R: Terri Morris, Rebecca Gutman of 1199SEIU,Johanna Montalvo, Veronica Turner-Biggs of 1199SEIU, Luci Johnson, Noah Zizinga, Patricia Peles & Jack Boesen, Council Director.

On September 15, in Nurses Hall at the State House, The PCA Workforce Council and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East presented awards to five PCAs from different regions of the state for outstanding service in support of their consumer/employers. The Paul Kahn Awards for PCA service are named after the late artist and activist, one of the first persons in the Commonwealth to use a PCA.

The event was emceed by Ruth Kahn, Paul's wife, who also served on the selection committee. Co-hosts for the event were Sen. Pat Jehlen and Rep. Kay Khan, both of whom gave remarks on the importance of PCA work. To resounding applause and cheers from the audience, the skill and dedication of each recipient was detailed before they were presented with a plaque and a citation from their local legislator.

Honored at the event were Luci Johnson, Johanna Montalvo, Terri Morris, Patricia Peles and Noah Zizinga. In the photo are from L to R: Terri Morris, Rebecca Gutman of 1199SEIU, Johanna Montalvo, Veronica Turner-Biggs of 1199SEIU, Luci Johnson, Noah Zizinga, Patricia Peles and Jack Boesen, Council Director. 

Veronica Turner, Executive Vice President for 1199SEIU, gave closing remarks in which she asked for greater recognition of the work done by PCAs.

Profiles of the award recipients >>

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