PINNACLE — Shoals residents Jack and Linda Marion traveled to Raleigh last Saturday where they attended the North Carolina Asa Philip Randolph Institute’s (NC APRI) 35th annual Award Banquet. The evening was a special one for Jack Marion, who was awarded the group’s Community Service Award.

“I feel extremely honored to be recognized by the A. Philip Randolph Institute for my community service,” Marion said. “Through the Machinists Union, the AFL-CIO and now the Alliance for Retired Americans, I have had the opportunity to help my community become a better place to live.”

The banquet was held at the Hilton North Raleigh. Keynote speaker for the evening was N.C. State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer MaryBe McMillan. Also speaking was the Rev. Dr. Lawrence Miller, presiding elder of A.M.E. Zion Church.

Jack and Linda Marion have lived in the Shoals community for the past 31 years, raising their two children. Linda Marion is well known as a portrait artist and owner of her Shoals art studio.

Jack Marion began to work for US Airways in 1973. After joining the IAM (Machinists) Local Union 2444, he has remained active in unions for some 20 years. He served for 10 years as political chairman, where he says he lobbied to keep jobs in the United States by fighting against NAFTA, CAFTA and trade agreements with China. He also worked with the North Carolina AFL-CIO and has had an ongoing relationship with APRI.

Marion retired from US Air in 2004 and began substitute teaching at Shoals Elementary and Pilot Mountain Middle schools.

In 2007, Marion returned to the work force, accepting a position with the Alliance for Retired Americans as Western NC Organizer. The position included an area ranging from Burlington to Asheville and Charlotte, including Greensboro and Winston-Salem as well as smaller towns and his own community.

“It does require a lot of travel time,” he said. “I visit senior centers, educating residents on benefits such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicare Part D, long-term care and programs for affordable health care.”

Marion said he also provides residents with information on upcoming legislation that could affect their benefits and encourages them to be “political advocates” by contacting their representatives about bills affecting benefits.

A current bill that Marion is encouraging residents to support is US Senate Bill S.330. Marion describes the potential effect of the bill as authorizing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers to reduce the cost of drugs provided through Medicare-operated drug plans. He also encourages endorsement of the Employee Free Choice Act.

A key role in his position with the Alliance for Retired Americans, Marion said, is the formation of retiree clubs within senior centers and with union retirees, again mobilizing seniors as advocates. Recent examples included a March trip, when he and a dozen seniors traveled to meet with a group of three N.C. congressmen to discuss Social Security, Medicare and Medicare Part D and to encourage the formation of senior advisory groups. Another recent trip saw a group of seniors travel to Greensboro for the Fourth White House Healthcare Forum, where those attending were informed of White House healthcare programs now under consideration.

In his current position, Marion said, he readily makes himself available to speak to seniors about these and other subjects. One current hot topic is the upcoming conversion to digital television, a move for which he says many seniors in our area are unprepared. In discussions, Marion not only provides information about the conversion but also demonstrates how a converter box can be installed.

“Through his lifelong activism, Jack has truly made a difference in protecting jobs for Americans, defending seniors’ benefits and supporting affordable health care for all,” said Edward J. Coyle, executive director of the national Alliance for Retired Americans. “We are incredibly proud and appreciative of all of his past efforts, and look forward to working together for many years to come.”

The APRI was founded by labor leaders Asa Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin in 1965 as a non-profit, non-partisan organization of black trade unionists to fight for racial equality and economic justice. Today, the APRI has approximately 150 chapters in 36 states, including North Carolina. NC APRI chapters provide support for local unions during organizing campaigns, provide outreach programs and services – including an officially certified NC food bank – for community members in need, and run voter registration drives and GOTV efforts.

“It was a great evening,” Marion noted. “I was impressed by the dedication of all the APRI leaders and members that participated in the awards banquet. I’ve made some extremely good friends while working with APRI and these are all people I greatly respect. I am humbled to receive this award.”