The MAPE Membership Committee is launching “Member Spotlight” in an attempt to recognize and acknowledge our members and teams of members who give up their breaks and lunch hours to do the recruiting work, which benefits all of us. We hope to recognize and thank our dedicated members for the work they do year-round, not just at Delegate Assembly time. If you know a MAPE member who is dedicated to growing our union by signing up fellow members, please let us know. We want to hear about our brothers and sisters who are taking the time to meet and talk face-to-face with new employees and existing fair shares, and helping to build their MAPE local by increasing our numbers. We are looking for members who take the initiative -- those who empower others. Please include specifics! Where does she or he work? What have you observed this member doing to build the union, specifically? Numbers are helpful if you have them. We need stories! Send them to jsmith@mape.org

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Frank Barr from MAPE Local 1303 wears many hats: he serves as MAPE Region 13 Director, is a very active steward and works hard to recruit MAPE members. This all in addition to the very challenging work he performs every day as a psychologist at the Lino Lakes Correctional Facility. Frank has focused on talking with new employees, as well as existing fair shares about the importance of being a voting union member. Last May, 1303’s membership was just under 65 percent. It is now up to more than 82 percent and the worksite needs only 13 more fair shares to join up to hit 100 percent membership. When Frank talks with new employees and fair shares, he emphasizes that you need to have the union backing you up in the harsh, unforgiving and oftentimes punitive prison workplace setting. One person out there alone can be very vulnerable in this environment. Steward work is Frank’s first passion, and recruitment is the natural complement to representing members in investigations and grievances. Frank believes strongly in “vigorously defending MAPE members” and sees his role as “being in front of the members.” Frank does a walk-through of the facility every week to make sure that his co-workers are not encountering undue workplace problems. This has had the effect of MAPE being very much a presence at this particular workplace. He actually had an intern ask him if he could join MAPE!

In addition to being a super MAPE activist, Frank is very active in his community, serving as a volunteer mediator for Washington County Court Services, and chair of the Parish Pastoral Council at St Jude of the Lake Church. Frank is also a long-term member of the YMCA, the American Legion and the Twin Cities Men’s Center.

Frank Barr