______________________________________________

 William Lucy,
 CBTU President

 GREETINGS,
 I am pleased and honored to issue the OFFICIAL CONVENTION CALL for
 the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists 32nd International Convention.
 The dates are May 21-26, 2003, and the setting we have chosen is the
 beautiful city of San Francisco, California. The headquarters hotel
 is the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, with the Holiday Inn-Financial
 District serving as the overflow property.

 The theme for this convention is "ADVANCING THE WORKING FAMILIES
 AGENDA." The format will include resolutions and policy papers
 designed to put forth our position on a wide range of domestic and
 global issues that will speak to the needs of working families. We
 will address labor rights and human rights, both at home and abroad.

 The settings for these discussions will be general sessions,
 workshops, national women's conference, retirees' conference, youth
 conference and community toxics seminar. We will also be convening a
 special task force on organizing, as well as a roundtable forum on
 leveraging the power of workers' pension funds. We will also host a
 town hall meeting exploring the urban policy crisis in America.

 We are pleased to have confirmed a number of dynamic speakers,
 including Ron Gettelfinger, international president, UAW, and Terence
 M. O'Sullivan, international president, LIUNA.
 In addition, we expect other luminaries to join us, including

 John Sweeney, President, AFL-CIO
 Hon. Cruz Bustamante, Lt. Gov., State of California
 U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, Oakland
 Hon. Willie Brown, Mayor, City of San Francisco
 Barbara J. Wood, Western Regional Director, Federal Mediation and
 Conciliation Service
 The convention would not be complete without such attractions as our
 gospel concert, Sunday worship service, and awards dinner.

 The CBTU convention is serious business and I urge you, as in the
 past, to come with your sleeves rolled up "ready to work." The
 mission on our watch is to tackle the tough issues and suggest
 solutions which will provide security, a decent standard of living, a
 voice in the political process, and generally make the quality of
 life a little better for all of us, particularly the least among us
 in our society.

 We believe these objectives to be consistent with labor's purpose and
 I call on all unions to maximize membership and delegate
 participation from their national, regional, and local levels at this
 convention to help make it a huge success and let our collective
 voices ring out in a resounding coalition of unity.

 32nd International Convention
 May 21-26, 2003
 Hyatt Regency Embarcadero Hotel
 San Francisco, California

 Wednesday, May 21, 2003

 7:00 a.m. Aerobics Class
 8:30 a.m. Credentials Committee Meeting
 9:00 a.m. Executive Council & Chapter Presidents Meeting
 10:30 a.m. C.A.R.A.T Team Staff/Coordinators Meeting
 11:00 a.m. Registration/Exhibits
 2:00 p.m. Health Fair - Convention Committee Meetings, Resolutions,
 Constitution, Sgt-at-Arms Rules, Scholarship, Youth, Youth
 Foundation, Golf Tournament
 4:00 p.m. Workshop Leaders Meeting
 6:00 p.m. Early Bird Reception (Holiday Inn)

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 Thursday, May 22, 2003
 7:00 a.m. Aerobics Class
 8:30 a.m. Registration
 9:00 a.m. Sgt-at-Arms Committee Meeting
 C.A.R.A.T TEAM CONFERENCE
 9:30 a.m. OPENING SESSION
 1:00 p.m. YOUTH CONFERENCE - Delegates Workshops, Pension Funds,
 Pension Power and Quality of Work (Special Roundtable discussion for
 Council Directors, Local Union Presidents, Secretary-Treasurer and
 Pension Fund Trustees)
 2:30 p.m. Delegates Workshops (Rotate)
 4:30 p.m. SPECIAL PLENARY SESSION (President's Address)
 6:30 p.m. Regional Caucuses
 7:30 p.m. Wine and Cheese Reception

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 Friday, May 23, 2003
 7:00 a.m. Aerobics Class
 8:00 a.m. Sgt-at-Arms Committee Meeting
 8:30 a.m. Registration
 9:00 a.m. NATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
 RETIREES CONFERENCE
 C.A.R.A.T TEAM CONFERENCE
 9:30 a.m. YOUTH CONFERENCE
 2:00 p.m. International Affairs Briefing
 5:00 p.m. TOWN HALL MEETING

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 Saturday, May 24, 2003
 7:00 a.m. Aerobics Class
 8:00 a.m. Sgt-at-Arms Committee
 9:00 a.m. Registration
 C.A.R.A.T TEAM CONFERENCE
 YOUTH CONFERENCE
 GENERAL SESSION
 12:30 p.m. "Shop Until You Drop" (Shopping Trip to Area Outlet Mall)
 7:30 p.m. GOSPEL CONCERT

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 Sunday, May 25, 2003
 9:00 a.m. WORSHIP SERVICE
 11:00 a.m. Business Session
 12:00 p.m. Executive Council Meeting
 1:00 p.m. Women's Committee Meeting
 6:00 p.m. AWARDS DINNER & CONCERT

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 Monday, May 26, 2003
 8:00 a.m. Executive Council Meeting
 9:00 a.m. CLOSING SESSION