State Employees Hold I Conference At Roosevelt About 50 state persons em em- em employees plo les and Dd their partners hea hea- hea heard rd of the progress of Utah State Public Employees Association at a regional conference at the Frontier Grill in Roosevelt Fri day evening Bob nob Association tion president reported that 84 percent of state employees are arc covered by the merit system and that has been achieved in one year which he termed great progress DON SMITH first vice I dent outlined the new health insurance program I James F Marshall l tion secretary secretary manager manager dis dis- dis disclosed I closed that membership in the Association is increasing rapid rapid- ly rapidly He reported the increase as from last year to nearly this year The organization is six years old and contains 60 percent of the total state employees The goal Is now 80 percent he said lIe reported that the Little Hoover Commission had sugg sugg- sugg suggested ested organizational changes with a reduction of staffs but he said that this needs more study also recommended by the Com Com- Commission mission Mr Marshall encouraged a stronger er merit system CARE CAREER ER STATE employees help the system of checks and balances he averred lie He said that Joseph att chairman of the Little Hoo ver Commission had told of the great need for an employee grievance procedure Jerry Petersen Utah Sales representative for Nationwide Insurance outlined his insurance i company's State Senator Leland I Vernal said that he had voted for the improved employees reo re- plan lIe stated he would like to see percent membership in the Association Satisfied employees are more use to the state he opined State Senator Gordon Harm Harm- Harmston ston Roosevelt said that people must hand band together in a com com- common mon Interest as not much can be done by one individual alone these days STATE REP Ashel J Man Man- Manwaring waring said that dedicated pub lie lic servants would have no dif dif dif- difficulty in getting funds from the legislature Ile He urged up up- up upgrading grading in public service Albert W Heggen supervisor of Vernal regional office of Utah Fish and Game Dept in in- in introduced speakers and special guests John Evan Jones provided entertainment