Leadership
Thomas (“TBird”) Bird
NARA President
888-793-8826
President Thomas “TBird” Bird has been a member of NARA since 2009. He is a dues paying member of IBEW Local 1245 for over 46 years. TBird retired in 2007 and went to work almost immediately to help spear head the offensive plan against his former employer’s attack to gut their hard earned health benefit. After the 3.5 year battle ended TBird went on to form 5 IBEW Retiree chapters, re-affiliate another and created a working leadership committee between IBEW Chapters in Nevada and California to work on solutions to increase membership and engagement with retirees. In his spare time, TBird enjoys traveling with his wife, Sue, riding his motorcycle, hunting, fishing, and spoiling his 5 grandchildren.
Norm Kloke
NARA Treasurer
702-636-8676
Norm was the Business Agent and Recording Secretary of Teamsters Local 631. He currently serves as President of the Southern Nevada Teamsters Retiree Club and is a member of the Southern Nevada CLC, Nevada AFL-CIO and on the board of his HOA. Norm is originally from Omaha, Nebraska, where he retired from Omaha Teamsters Local 554 and later Teamsters Local 631, Las Vegas. Norm has one son, two daughters, and 3 grandchildren. He is an avid golfer and believes in paying it forward.
Sue Bird
NARA Recording Secretary
775-742-5209
Sue retired from HIS/WARC as Chief Financial Officer, where she worked for over 28 years. She has worked in retail in the family business, banking, as Construction Contract Administrator and office manager for several businesses during her career. She is almost a native Nevadan having lived in Hawthorne, Carson City, Yerington, Tonopah, Reno and currently in picturesque Wellington, Nevada. She is proud of her 2 grown sons and 5 energetic grandchildren, and two 4 legged friends, Mason and Buster. Sue and Tom love to travel and enjoy spoiling their grandkids.
Clyde Adams
NARA Vice President
317-258-4687
Clyde Adams served on Local 111 UAW Executive Board for 28 years prior to retirement from Ford Motor Co. Indianapolis, IN. He is presently serving as Vice President of NARA representing CBTU is also a Trustee on Southern Nevada Council of UAW Retirees.
Ernie Buschmann
NARA Vice President
702-361-6420
Retired from Chrysler Jeep Corporation in 1998 with 35 years as an Industrial Electrician. Member of Local 12 in Toledo, Ohio, former Chief Steward and Executive Committeeman, former President of Monroe County Michigan Democrat Party. Currently, President of Southern Nevada UAW Retiree’s Council in Las Vegas.
Forrest Darby
NARA Vice President
702-435-7270
Forrest Darby has a degree in Political Science and he spent over 30 years as an IBEW Journeyman Wireman working in four western states, but primarily in Alaska and Nevada, with Local 1547 and Local 357. Also, while in Alaska, Forrest was an IBEW Business Agent. He is an avid reader and an analytic thinker. He has one son. Forrest has worn out many pairs of shoes in support of worker friendly Democratic candidates.
Fran Almaraz
NARA Vice President
702-210-8673
Fran is originally from Quincy, Illinois and moved to Las Vegas in 1980, married Michael in 1990 and been a Teamster since 1974..She ,is a member of the NV Silver Haired Legislative Forum representing Senate Dist. #21, Vice President of IBT Retirees Association . Fran and Michael love to travel. They have 5 children and 11 grandchildren. She is also on the Executive Board of Southern Nevada CLC.
George Dunckhurst, Jr.
NARA Vice President
702-557-9330
George is a 55+ year Gold Card member of LIUNA Local 872, past President and Business Agent retired undefeated. George is a passionate advocate for workers, their safety, the environment, community service and is listed in Who’s Who in America.
Patricia “Patti ” Gallimore
NARA Vice President
775-846-2952
Retired from AT&T Reno, Nv June 2011 with 31 years CWA local 9413 where she is a former Chief Steward and Executive Officer, Currently, President of Reno/Sparks NAACP branch, Secretary for the Democratic Women of Washoe County, Vice President, Northern Nevada Multicultural Coalition NARA Chapter and an advocate for women. Married 32 years to Don, with 4 children and enjoys her 7 grandchildren, and loves to travel.
Paul Harvey, Jr.
NARA Vice President
702-580-3903
Paul Harvey, Jr. spent 30 years as a journeyman sheet metal worker with SMART Local #88. Paul sat on the executive board for most of those 30 years; he also served as President of Local #88. Paul Harvey, Jr. is currently the President of the SMART Local #88 Retirees. Paul and Debby have 5 Daughters, 2 sons and 9 grandchildren. Paul and Debby love to fish with their grandchildren, passing down family traditions. He believes and is committed to preserving Social Security and Medicare for generations to come. “Everyone has the right to retire with dignity.“
Richard Miller
NARA Vice President
702-287-7129
Richard Miller began his teaching career in 1958 in his home state of New York. Rich is an activist, organizer and a born leader. He retired in 2002 after serving as a Vice President of the United Federation of Teachers and moved to Nevada and continued his leadership role of the Las Vegas AFT retirees and his community: as he organized them into cohesive and vocal organizations. Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn appointed him to his Prescription Drug Policy Makers Summit after hearing him testify on the need to lower drug costs in 2007. He has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. He and his wife, Janet, enjoy traveling the world with their grandchildren.
Rita Weisshaar
NARA Vice President
775-722-2788
Rita Weisshaar holds a degree in Business Administration with a major in Management from the University of Nevada, Reno. She is also active in many community organizations including Hot August Nights, Sheep Dip, and High Desert Harmony women’s chorus. Rita and her husband Ben are active in their church and have been involved in the music ministry for many years. They love to ride motorcycles and travel. They have 4 children and 6 grandchildren.
Roger Bremner
NARA Vice President
775-885-1953
Native Nevadan, University of Nevada Graduate, Former 6 term member Nevada State Assembly, Insurance Broker-Retired State of Nevada Administrator, 4 children, lives in Nevada’s beautiful capital, Carson City.
Rusty McAllister
NARA Vice President
702-459-1414
Rusty is the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Nevada AFL-CIO, past Fire Captain of the City of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue. He is a member of Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285 and served as its Treasurer and was Chairman Board of Trustees, on the Las Vegas Firefighters Health & Welfare Trust. Rusty also served on the Nevada PERS Police/Fire Advisory Committee, Nevada PERS Board of Trustees, Nevada Fallen Firefighters Memorial Board, Clark County Public Education Foundation Board, N.F.P.A. Professional Qualifications Committee, and attended the I.A.F.F. Harvard Trade Union Program. Rusty is married and has one son.
Wendy Boszak
NARA Vice President
775-224-0180
Wendy moved to Reno in 2000 from Vermont where she was a high school vice principal. Wendy served as an administrator in the Lodi, CA and Pershing Co. school districts as well as a special education teacher in the Washoe Co. School District. Wendy retired from education in 2012 and became President of Women of Washoe – WOW. She was appointed to the Reno Senior Citizen Advisory Committee in July of 2013. She also serves as a Board member for the Northern Nevada Literacy Council. She leads NARA’s Women’s Committee and is a member of NARA’s Legislative Committee. WOW is a coalition partner with the Senior Coalition, Nevada Coalition for Women’s Equity (NCWE) and the Northern Nevada Progressive Coalition (NNPC) and she represents WOW at these meetings. Wendy is an avid skier as well as a kayaker and hiker.
CJ Miller
NARA Trustee
775-331-0461
CJ is a native New Yorker and has resided in Sparks, NV since 1999. She graduated from University of South Florida with a B.A. in Accounting and has 35+ year career in Management Accounting in private industry; she currently operates a small business preparing tax returns.. She is a long-time progressive activist. She is a member of the Executive Boards of: Democratic Women of Washoe County and Nevada Gun Safety Coalition. In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, music, motor cycling, the beach and especially her dog.
Robert Vieira
NARA Trustee
530-394-8342
Bob has been a proud union member of I.B.E.W. 1245 for forty-six years. After retiring six years ago, he served as the IBEW. Local 1245 Reno-Sparks Retiree, Recording Secretary. He also served as an Advisory Councilmember to the IBEW Local 1245 E-Board for fifteen years and Shop Stewart from 1968-2010.
Darlene Hayward
NARA Sargent at Arms
702-739-8842
Darlene is a retired US Postal Worker, where she served as Sargent of Arms. She is CEO of People Helping Other People, a member of the Red Hat Society, and a volunteer for Veteran outreach and supports local school children. Darlene is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was a comic entertainer traveling internationally in her youth and taught aspiring dancers in both Wisconsin and Las Vegas. She has one son, and 16 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Darlene loves to travel and serve her community.