[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 72 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DONALD OETMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2010

  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Donald 
Oetman as he retires as Director of UAW Region 1D. A celebration of 
Don's life and contributions to the UAW will be held on May 21st in 
Grand Rapids, MI.
  Donald Oetman was part of the original group that organized 
Micromatic Textron in Holland, MI. In 1965 they formed Local 1502 when 
Don was only 20 years old. He served as Vice-President of the Local and 
two years later became its President. During this time he held the 
position of steward and ex-officio member of all standing committees at 
Local 1502 and served as vice-chairperson of the Allegan-Ottawa CAP 
Council for 12 years. Don remained the Local's President and its 
bargaining chairperson until he was appointed to the International 
Union staff by then UAW President Owen Bieber and Director Robert 
Fliearman in 1984. In June 1995 he was appointed Assistant Director of 
Region 1-D and elected Director at the 33rd Constitutional Convention 
in 2002. He was re-elected in 2006.
  Committed to community involvement, Don serves on the Board of 
Directors and the Labor Participation Committee of Greater Kalamazoo 
United Way and the Holland United Way. He is co-chair of the Muskegon 
Area Labor/Management Joint Committee, he is on the Board of Directors 
of Blue Care Network, sits on the Blue Care Network Audit Committee, 
serves on the Economic Alliance of Michigan Board of Directors and the 
Board for the Alliance of Health, the Kalamazoo Area Labor/Management 
Committee, the Red Cross Board, sits on the Board of the Michigan State 
University Labor Studies Program, the Holland United Labor Building 
Corporation, the Michigan Association of United Ways, and the Private 
Industry Council of Allegan and Ottawa Counties. He is a lifelong 
member of the Coalition for Labor Union Women.
  Don is a member of the Allegan County Democratic Party and the 
Michigan State Democratic Party. He was a delegate to the 2000 
Democratic National Convention and was an Al Gore Elector for the State 
of Michigan in the Electoral College. Don and his wife Corlyn have two 
daughters, one son and six grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me and 
applaud the work of Donald Oetman. From the age of 18 he has acted to 
improve the lives and working conditions in our factories and offices 
and many people have benefitted from his commitment to the ideals of 
labor. I will miss his counsel and camaraderie and I wish him the best 
in the future.

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