On June 18, 2009 COPE Director Hubert Snead presented plaques to Local 527 members who were active in the grassroots efforts to elect Barack Obama for president. From September 2009 through Election Day these members enthusiastically stuffed envelopes, made phone calls, walked neighborhoods, knocked on doors and handed out leaflets. They were not being paid but helped do this work on their own time even though some lived far from the staging locations. Several members even had their children come help out. The hard work paid off!