By SHERI GASSAWAY
Correspondent
\Marcia Cline, best known for her tireless work as labor liaison for the United Way of Greater St. Louis, has been honored with the first Community Voice Award from the Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) Education Fund.
Cline worked for the United Way for 21 years and retired in July 2012. Prior to that, she was a member of several labor unions and was employed by Westinghouse Electric, the Human Resources Development Institute of the Missouri AFL-CIO and St. Louis Community College.
Additionally, Cline has served and continues to serve on a variety of boards and committees including, the St. Louis chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Greater St. Louis Labor Council, the State Rehabilitation Council for the Missouri Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Governor’s Partnership on Early Childhood Care & Education and many others.
Cline received the first-ever award for her leadership and caring for the St. Louis community for more than 40 years. She was honored at a recent luncheon at the Genesis Banquet Center in Lemay.
Pat White, president of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council, served as a guest speaker at the event and said he first met Cline when he was a shop steward for the gas workers union.
He said he watched Cline sit in front of anywhere from 50 and 80 guys who really didn’t have giving on their minds and try to convince them to donate part of their weekly paycheck to the United Way.
“They say big things come in small packages and that certainly describes Marcia because when I got back into the office, I saw the money coming in,” White said. “The gas workers were quite generous so she must have done a great job.”
White also commended Cline for leading by example and encouraging others to get involved whether it be a parade, a rally or working at the polls.
“When people see folks like Marcia who are constantly involved whether it be with the Coalition of Labor Union Women or serving as sergeant at arms for the labor council, it resonates with our younger members to get involved with their locals,” White said. “She’s everywhere.”
Dayna Stock, who serves as the United Way’s vice president of regions and special initiatives, also spoke at the event. Stock, who joined the organization in 2014, said she never had the chance to work with Cline, but is familiar with her work and fondly remembered by the United Way.
“There are plenty of ways to serve your community, and Marcia really exemplifies that,” Stock said. “Community service, a life of service and helping others is noble, and it’s right. I congratulate you on receiving this well-deserved honor”
Earline Jones, president of the Missouri ARA Education Fund, thanked Cline for her many years of service and presented her with the award.
“We are honored that you and your family are here today helping you celebrate this extraordinary accomplishment,” Jones said. “We salute you for your remarkable leadership and humanitarian efforts you continue in our communities.”
Cline thanked for organization for the kind, generous award.
“I think many of you who know me know that I think of myself as a soldier in the Labor Movement,” Cline said. “The only reason I’ve been able to accomplish anything is because when I asked you to do something, you said yes. This award is really for all the people in this room who really stepped up when I asked for help.”
The Missouri ARA Education Fund, which was chartered by the National Alliance for Retired Americans in June 2010, is a statewide senior advocacy organization representing community-based groups and individuals who work together in recognition of the role played by older and retired workers in the life of the state and nation.
For more information on the Missouri ARA, visit moaflcio.org.
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