2023 Campus Picnic for Staff a Success

As University of Arkansas employees look at brochures, Local 965 President Hershel Hartford (light blue shirt) talks with a staff employee at the May 17, 2023, University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic at the 1021 Food Hall.

Some 1,200 professional support staff of the University of Arkansas had lunch May 17 on the Staff Senate at its 2023 Staff Appreciation Picnic, according to counts by the senate and Chartwells food service, which hosted the meal.

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford talks with a University of Arkansas employee at the May 17, 2023, University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic at the 1021 Food Hall.
Liz Piccone, interim executive director of the Arkansas Education Association, talks May 17, 2023, with Local 965 President Hershel Hartford at the University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic at the 1021 Food Hall.
Local 965 logo Ts are displayed at the 2023 University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic, May 17 at the 1021 Food Hall.
AEA UniServ liaison Renee Johnson talks with UA IT staff member Stephen Ritterbush at the May 17, 2023, University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic at the 1021 Food Hall.

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A number of those picnickers stopped for brochures and conversation at the information booth of UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965. They met local leaders as well as officials of the Arkansas Education Association, held this year at the 1021 Food Hall (formerly Brough Commons).

Our volunteers to greet UA employees included, from Local 965, President Hershel Hartford, Past President Bret Schulte, and Secretary Kasey Walker; and from AEA, President Carol Fleming, interim AEA Executive Director Liz Piccone, Aspiring Ed and ESP organizer Kelly Givens, and UniServ Liaison Renee Johnson.

AEA Aspiring Ed and ESP organizer Kelly Givens; AEA UniServ Rep Renee Johnson; 965 Past President Bret Schulte; interim AEA Executive Director Liz Piccone; 965 Secretary Kasey Walker; AEA President Carol Fleming; and 965 President Hershel Hartford. They ran the booth of the Arkansas Education Association and UA-Fayetteville Education Association/Local 965 at the 2023 University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic, May 17 at the 1021 Food Hall.
The 1966 charter of what originally was called Arkansas Public Employees Local Union 965
Liz Piccone, Arkansas Education Association interim executive director, talks strategy with Local 965 President Hershel Hartford (light blue shirt) and Vice President Ben Pollock before the May 17, 2023, University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic at the 1021 Food Hall.

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Among other highlights of the event, immediate Past President Bret Schulte presented President Hershel Hartford with Local 965’s charter from the mid-1960s. A 42-second video is available to view on Facebook.

Local 965 President Hershel Hartford displays the 1966 charter of what first was the Arkansas Public Employees Local Union 965 after Past President Bret Schulte presented it to him at the 2023 University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic, May 17 at the 1021 Food Hall.
Local 965 President Hershel Hartford displays the 1966 charter of what first was the Arkansas Public Employees Local Union 965 after Past President Bret Schulte presented it to him at the 2023 University of Arkansas Staff Appreciation Picnic, May 17 at the 1021 Food Hall.