As she sat behind her tidy desk July 27 at MSEA-SEIU
headquarters, Effie Purdy pointed to a neat stack
of a few manila folders an arm's reach away. They
represent her remaining unfinished business in her
46 years of working for our union, most of it running
our union's popular Income Protection plan.
Mrs. Purdy, as members of our union know her, wants
that stack of folders off her desk before she retires
on July 29. So if you're one of the few people who
haven't returned a phone message from Mrs. Purdy
about your Income Protection claim, this is your
reminder that she wants you to call her back right
away.
Mrs. Purdy never kids about these things, but this
time she's more serious than ever. The reason is
that she can't stand the prospect of leaving even
a single piece of unfinished business behind.
"These are all that are left over. I've called
these people and told them we need further information,"
said Mrs. Purdy as she pointed to the stack of manila
folders. "I want to have it all tidied up. I'll
be calling them again later today. I'll call them
tomorrow, too, if that's what it takes. But I really
am retiring on July 29, so they'll need to ask for
(fellow staffer) Andy (Wing) if they wait much longer."
Our union will hold a retirement party for Mrs.
Purdy from 11 AM to 1 PM on Thursday, July 29, at
MSEA-SEIU headquarters. MSEA-SEIU members are invited
to stop by and thank her for her years of service
to our union.
Mrs. Purdy, age 91, started working for our union
on November 2, 1964 - before many MSEA-SEIU members
and staffers were born.
She oversaw the creation and implementation of
our union's Income Protection plan since its inception
in 1968. Income Protection provides short-term disability
insurance to our members. Mrs. Purdy has been an
invaluable resource to our members who participate
in it. "I was the one who put it into practice,"
Mrs. Purdy said. "I joined it when it first came
out. I wasn't going to get left out."
Now, as she ponders her retirement, Mrs. Purdy
said she's going to take a month off before considering
what to do next.
How about going on a cruise? "People have suggested
that, but I do not like the water," she said.
"For at least a month, I'm going to rest. I'm not
going to get up at 4 o'clock or 5 o'clock in the
morning," she said. "I've had several people suggest
that I volunteer because they think I'm good with
people, and that there are people out there who
would enjoy that. I've got to have something to
do. I can't sit around."
A few things on her to-do list are to spend more
time with her family, including her three grandchildren
and four great-grandchildren, including trips to
the family camp.
So what's her suggestion to others who want to
live fulfilling lives?
"The only suggestion I have is to do your work,
and do it on a daily basis as much as you can,"
she said. "Particularly in a job like this, things
have to be done."
Thank you, Mrs. Purdy, for a job well done!