Didn't seem like that many crewmembers made this meeting as compared to the last couple of joint meetings. However, if you didn't make it, you missed some fantastic presentations by both SS (our R&I) and FE (our NC chair). SS covered FDX's financial position as well as a GREAT "lessons learned" from watching other airline unions wrestle with their companies financial problems and what "caused" those unions to make poor or wrong decisions. VERY enlightening!!! He says the R&I is now reporting to the MEC quarterly about FDX finances vs the yearly requirement. One very telling "bullet" was his opinion that the Union/ R&I committee need to be HONEST (and have a track-record of being honest) with the crewforce in this area. I think the NC (including R&I) are trying to build back the union credibility that the MEC and officers have lost.
FE followed with a GREAT introduction on himself and the other members of the NC including their backgrounds and why he thinks they will be a good team. He showed a very simple "map" (all that's needed at this point) of how the NC is going to gather it's input from the crewforce (on what we want) to prepare for the next negotiations. He seems to be trying to lay the foundation to get this crewforce BACK behind the NC. From what he said he seems to want to fix/ improve the ENTIRE contract (scheduling first) vice helping a select group like our last NC.
DW followed after a brief break and covered the ALPA endorse/not endorse a presidential candidate. He says to take the survey AND let your block reps know how YOU feel and what YOU want done on this subject. He also talked about 777 issues (pay rates and duty times). He thinks that we'll have to become a FLAG carrier to really utilize the 777.
Other items that will be discussed at the MEC meeting:
Real time trip trading?
Web downloads of meeting minutes/notes for crewmembers who couldn't attend?
More hub turn meetings?

Hope I covered most of it. Any other inputs form others who attended??