Montgomery County Area Local, #3630 is the product of the opening of Suburban GMF in Gaithersburg, MD. in January, 1986 and a merger of Rockville Local, Gaithersburg Local and Silver Spring Area Local. The idea of a merger originated with former presidents Richard Disney of Rockville Local, Leo Doherty and Willie McDonald of Silver Spring Area Local and Joe Droneburg of Gaithersburg local.

It was a few years of negotiating between former Presidents, Mike Sweet of Rockville, E. Murray Poole of Silver Spring Area Local and Bill Wyckoff of Gaithersburg before a merger agreement was reached and a vote was sent to the membership of the three locals. Included with the vote to merge were the members of the executive board whice included Mike Sweet as President, Mike Kengla as Vice President, Silver Spring Representative as Morris Westbury and Gaithersburg Representative as Bill Wyckoff.

Silver Spring had previously merged with Takoma Park and Kensington, thereby becoming an area local with charter #3630. Rockville and Gaithersburg merged with Silver Spring under charter #3630. A new name was agreed upon and in November 1985, Montgomery County Area Local, #3630 also known as MCAL began.

Meetings for the newly formed local were held at Rockville Town Center hotel in Rockville and Casey Barns Community Center in Gaithersburg. The local grew in membership and in 1988 Larry Sledd was elected President. The local rented a townhouse at 15833 Crabbs Branch Way for meetings and union business. Tamara Thompson held the office of president from 1990-1998. During this time not only did the membership grow, but MCAL savings account grew so much so that APWU national treasurer, Doug Holbrook advised the local that it was a non-profit organization and to invest the savings into a building for the local.

Guidelines were given to the local to follow in the purchase of property. In 1991 the Building Committee was formed, chaired by Al Meech. The building committee hired the law firm of Gimmel, Weiman & Blomberg of Gaithersburg. The firm advised the local to form a corporation, to keep the property a separate entity from the Union. In December 1991, the MCAL/APWU Real Estate Corporation was formed. The original board members were Tamara Thompson, Laurence Callahan, Maria Thompson, Allen Meech, and Bill Wyckoff with Paul Delaine as the registered agent with the state of Maryland.

Several buildings were considered for purchase. The townhouse that the local was currently renting at 15833 Crabbs Branch Way, an industrial condominium located in Montgomery Airpark Business Center and 8501 Atlas Drive. The Airpark location was considered too far from the Suburban mail facility and the price was too high on the Crabbs Branch townhouse.

In February 1993, 8501 Atlas drive was purchased for $242,000.00. The building had previously been used as millinery, a place for making wedding gowns with only one office. The local approved $15,000.00 for improvements to the building. Three new offices were added, two bathrooms and the upstairs was divided into two sections with a wall enclosing the loft area. New carpet was installed and the entire building was painted.

In 1999, Paul Ricucci was elected president of MCAL and resigned his position a few months later. Vice President, Nancy Vellardita, finished his term as President. In 2001 Tamara Thompson was again elected President of MCAL. It was during this term with Paul Delaine as treasurer that a strategic plan was put into effect to become mortgage free.

Nannette Johnson-Corley was elected President in 2004, with Ricky Mathis as treasurer the plan that Paul made was carried out and on March 16, 2005 Montgomery County Area Local became mortgage free. MCAL continues to thrive with the most recent merge of the Germantown local in July 2007.

see mortgage burning photos below

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