FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Media Contact: Aaron Pelo, apelo@miaflcio.org | 734.355.2741
Michigan AFL-CIO, Boy Scouts of America Honor George Meany Award Winners
WARREN, Mich., – The Boy Scouts of America, in partnership with the Michigan AFL-CIO, honored Steve Claywell, President of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council and Jay Bottorff of Teamsters Local 1038 with the 2023 George Meany Award. Each year, the award is given to an individual in recognition for their service to both the labor movement and the youth in their communities by volunteering in the programs of the Boy Scouts of America.
“The George Meany Award exemplifies the longstanding partnership between the Scouts and the labor movement, and the individuals awarded this year could not be more deserving of this distinction,” said Janssen LEMLEY, Director of Development for the Boy Scouts of America Michigan Crossroads Council. “Both Mr. Claywell and Mr. Bottorff have dedicated their careers to serving and mentoring their communities’ young people and their dedication to the Scouts is helping the next generation of workers forge bright futures and realize the promise of a good union job.”
From left: Janssen Lemley, Steve Claywell, Jay Bottorff, President Ron Bieber
The George Meany Award was established by the Boy Scouts of America and the National AFL-CIO in 1974 and recognizes outstanding union members for their service to their communities’ young people. Individuals are nominated by their Central Labor Council and must exemplify the values of the Boy Scouts by upholding the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their communities, workplaces, and personal lives. Since its inception, only 2,500 union members have received this prestigious honor.
“The work the Boy Scouts of America does to educate today’s youth about career opportunities in the skilled trades could not be more important or more timely,” said Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron BIEBER. “As support for the labor movement experiences a historic resurgence in support across the nation, the Boy Scouts of America continues to invest in educating young people about careers in the skilled trades, and, in turn, helps grow the labor movement.”
Awardee Steve Claywell with Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber
Both Mr. Claywell and Mr. Bottorff were honored and presented with their award at a celebratory dinner hosted earlier this spring. The dinner was a joint effort between the Boy Scouts of America and the Michigan AFL-CIO.
The Michigan AFL-CIO, Michigan’s largest labor organization, is a federation representing forty different labor organizations, eighteen different central labor councils, and eight constituency groups representing over 1 million union members and their families.
From left: Eric Welsby, awardee Jay Bottorff
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