Looking for more voices!
Posted on | June 9, 2010 |
by Carol Caldwell-Edmonds
On an early June evening, after a full day of work at UVM, yoga, and errands,a gathering of United Staff supporters met at my place to rehearse the song, “Voices in Union” and to record a demo that others can use to listen to, and learn from . I wrote this song, meaning I started singing to myself in the car, while commuting to a house we are renovating to move into in Belvidere, VT. Yes, I will commute all the way to UVM, just prefer country living. I wrote this song, inspired by the recent weeks during which the New Union Project/HUCTW helped US make new friends across campus. Thanks to you who had great insights and ideas about what union representation should be like for staff at UVM.
I had the sense that the United Staff movement was growing in a new way, as we were beginning to connect with people from more places around the UVM campus.We were all impressed by the sense of community and connectedness here, and I began to see things from a new perspective. I realized that I was not the only one who could see “a better way.” So, I recorded my little “car song” with my home equipment, created the sheet music and made the recording. At UVM I manage the Helpline and Computer Depot Clinic, you now know how and why I learned about computers and digital technology in the first place.
I hope that when you read the lyrics, which can be found on the website, that you get the same sense of awakening to a different view, and the desire to awaken those around us to realize that WE are always here, doing the most essential work of this university.
I hope that you will join US to move toward an organization that I am sure will emerge to be unlike any union you have known so far. If you would like to add your voice to one more track on our recording, then email US at union@unitedstaff.us
Thanks for listening and joining in the chorus, so to speak.