L.U. 6 (c,i,st&u), SAN FRANCISCO, CA—In April, Local 6 members mobilized to better their community. Partnering with Rebuilding Together, 70 members renovated 14 projects, including schools, community centers, and homes of those in need. Many of our contractors donated service vans and material toward the effort. This outreach is a proud annual tradition for our local and our industry. Steve Powers, Jim Reed and Tom Burrows are commended for organizing the logistics, as are all the volunteers who worked so hard to improve the lives of others.

Local 6 continued our commitment to the community in May with the annual Motorcycle Charity Run. Members rode to Yosemite, spending the weekend at Camp Mather. Riders toured the majestic valley floor and breathtaking waterfalls of Yosemite. This event benefits the St. Anthony Foundation, which provides comprehensive services to those in need. Thanks to Steve Passanisi, Rich Reesink and all the riders for a fantastic weekend benefitting a great cause.

Work in the city continues to be slow. It is encouraging to see our brothers and sisters standing strong and supporting each other during this difficult time.

Phil A. Farrelly, Pres.

L.U. 8 (as,em,i,mar,mt,rts,s&spa), TOLEDO, OH— A Local 8 icon has retired! Congratulations to Bro. Roy C. Grosswiler, who recently retired after many years of dedicated service to our great union. He served in many capacities over the years: as teacher, officer, business agent, delegate, organizer, political campaign worker/organizer, and member at large! (Just to name a few.) His many contributions will not be forgotten. Hopefully we can learn from his loyalty and do our part to make our great union even better. Thank you, Roy. Enjoy your retirement—you deserve it!

Looking for a good time on Lake Erie? Consider joining us for the annual perch tournament on Aug. 29. Contact the hall to reserve your spot and get further details. Also the summer picnic/Labor Day parade is coming up. Please plan on attending. After the parade, a picnic will be held back at the hall. The food will be great and the children will have plenty to do, to give the rest of us time to visit. Enjoy the summer!

Ben "Red" Tackett, P.S.
Jim Kozlowski, B.M.

L.U. 24 (es,i&spa), BALTIMORE, MD—On May 5, members serving as shop stewards, and potential future stewards, attended an informal meeting to discuss ways to improve their abilities as representatives on the job site.

Implementing safe work practices and a review of overtime procedures also were discussed.

The Local 24 Members & Guests Golf Outing was May 31. The Captain's Choice venue allowed participants of all skill levels to play and have a good time. It was a beautiful day for fun, food and socializing with union brothers and sisters.

With great sorrow we mourn the loss of the following brothers thus far in 2009: John Bissinger, Charles Brazezicki, James Crowley, Malcolm Dunn, Kenneth Fitzberger, John Herbert, John Lusco, Thomas Simmons, Marvin Smith, James Synodinos, John Taylor, Robert Tester and William Zimmerman.

The Local 24 Annual Family Picnic is Aug. 9 at Conrad Ruth's Villa. Activities will include children's games, swimming, clowns, bingo, door prizes, dancing, great food and refreshments. I hope to see you there. Have a safe summer.

Gary R. Griffin, B.M.

L.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC— Hopefully you've requested tickets to this year's picnic to be held Sat., Aug. 29, at Camp Letts. If you have not and wish to attend, you may come by the hall in Lanham and purchase them. Again this year, the picnic will incorporate a health fair and 5k run/walk. No tickets are sold at the gate.

The Scholarship Committee made their selection, and this year's winners are: Daniel Bates and Christopher Coghill. Daniel is the son of Bro. Timothy Bates; he plans to attend Virginia Tech and study aerospace engineering. Christopher is the son of Bro. John Coghill; he hopes to attend St. Mary's College of Maryland and plans to study political science. Congratulations to Daniel and Christopher, and best wishes to all the very deserving applicants.

The following brothers passed away since our last article: William Caper, William Edwin Jeffers, Otis Pitt, Gary Figgins, Ernest C. Stone, Michael A. Murphy, Julian M. Cannaday Jr., Whitney L. Winegard and Thomas F. Davis.

Best wishes to recent retirees: Gary Annan, Towe Aston, Neddy Harwood, Vernal Holbrook, Steve Kemp, Dennis Holsinger, James Mason, Francisco Montano, Kenneth Weddle Sr. and Bernard Miller.

Charles E. Graham, B.M.

L.U. 32 (i&u), LIMA, OH—At the recent retirees meeting Bus. Mgr. Jerry Dickrede presented Cloyne Stauffer with his 50-year service award, and Homer Vance with his 60-year service award. After the awards presentation, the retirees socialized and reminisced about past jobs they worked.

We also congratulate recent Local 32 retirees: John Stump, Dave Copus, Ron Gross, Terry Thompson, William Teeters, Larry Axe, Mick Baughman, Don Podlesnik, Florian Smith and Dan Goetz. We thank these retirees for their many years of loyal service to the local and wish them much success in their retirement.

Our annual Local 32 Golf Outing was held at the Oaks Golf Club on June 27. Thanks to all who participated and helped make it a success.

At this time work is slow in our jurisdiction, and as always we appreciate the opportunities other locals have given our members.

Our condolences go out to the families of brothers who passed away in recent months.

Jerry Dickrede, B.M.
Doug Beining, P.S.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH—IBEW Local 38 members installed a new solar photovoltaic system on top of the new Cleveland State University parking garage in downtown Cleveland.

Two solar arrays were installed on the project by Local 38 contractors Ullman Electric and Midwest Cable & Wireways. One was a 15 kw, 236-foot-long array and the other a 13 kw, 207 foot-long array.

CSU also recently set an experimental vertical axis wind turbine on one of the university buildings being wired by Workbest Electric.

Other renewable energy projects now under way or completed in our area include a solar array and a wind turbine at the Tri-C Metro Campus by Bay West Electric, and solar arrays located at the Great Lakes Science Museum and Progressive Ballpark by Contemporary Electric.

Also at CSU, the new $40 million student center is being wired by Lake Erie Electric.

Local 38 extends sympathy to the family of Bro. Ed Shingary, who passed away June 5. Ed was a 60-year member and a well-respected business agent of Local 38 from 1967 to 1993.

Dennis Meaney, A.B.M.

L.U. 58 (em,i,rtb&spa), DETROIT, MI—Our local has seen a loss in work that we traditionally have performed for the auto companies, supporting the industry with building factories, doing line changes and performing shutdowns, which employed a large part of our membership for years. Now our local is working toward finding new possible opportunities in the information technology, solar photovoltaic and instrumentation fields.

These new fields will require us to obtain new skills by taking training classes to better prepare for and adjust to the possibility of new work. This is where our Electrical Industry Training Center is a real asset. Classes are offered day or night so that members can, at their convenience, increase their skills or meet job safety requirements.

In the spring, day classes were offered in BICSI, Photovoltaic Training and Instrumentation Part A, to prepare members for the exams leading to obtaining certifications needed for these jobs. The trade school also held a welding class to prepare members to pass the welding exams, and held an OSHA 10/30 with NFPA 70E class to cover the safety requirements.

If you have not yet taken any of these courses, the next time they are offered you may want to consider upgrading your skills.

Michael Curran, P.S.

L.U. 90 (i), NEW HAVEN, CT—In May Local 90 showcased our building and training center for the IBEW green-jobs open house. Ten booths were set up for green energy and green jobs. The training center was manned for tours and examples of our apprentice and journeyman training. All Connecticut state and federal legislators were invited to attend. The NJATC's green energy training for our membership was the flagship of the open house. We feel getting in the front of this industry is very important for our members and the planet. We received our state's political dignitaries in fine form, the IBEW way. All attendees including U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman and U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, along with representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, were impressed with all they saw and heard.

Officers from all IBEW locals in the state also attended along with IBEW International Representatives. We thank all who helped put the day together. Thanks to the Local 35 and Local 90 instructors who manned our booths and the school, and to Local 35 Apprenticeship Dir. Carl Difazio for his help. Special thanks to Second District Int. Rep. Brian Maher and Local 90 Apprenticeship Dir. Paul Costello, who put in many hours and drove this event home. IBEW = Green Jobs.

Sean Daly, V.P.

L.U. 96 (i), WORCESTER, MA—Local 96 elections were held June 1. Congratulations to elected officers and board members: Bus. Mgr. Leo E. Miller Jr., Pres. Robert M. Fields, Vice Pres. Paul A. West, Rec. Sec. Timothy G. West, Treas. Luke E. Carpenter; Executive Board members David W. Haigh, Jerry L. Johnson, John L. Ledger Jr., Joseph R. Messier; Examining Board members George V. Carpenter Jr., David A. delaGorgendiere, Thomas V. Keller, Michael E. Thayer and Michael P. Vizzo. Thank you to Election Judge Richard Borjeson and Tellers Wayne Gentile, Harry Hart, Raymond Looney and Samuel McQuoid.

Graduating apprentices were honored and perfect attendance awards were presented at the annual apprenticeship banquet in June. Featured keynote speaker was Marty Aikens, IBEW Local 103 business rep and Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust governing board member.

Area building trades, including members of Local 96, conducted a rally at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Worcester to raise awareness and show opposition to construction work at the hotel being completed by out-of-state, nonunion contractors and workers. It is hoped the hotel chain will consider in-state union trades for future construction projects. Thank you to all members who attended the rally.

Reminder: the annual golf tournament is Sept. 25. Additional information is available on our Web site www.ibewlocal96.org.

Luke E. Carpenter, Treas./P.S.

L.U. 102 (c,catv,i,it,o&t), PATERSON, NJ—Recently some of our union brothers were working in a switch gear room for a local refinery. The area they were working on was shut off. Close by in the same gear room, there was an arc flash explosion causing a fire and smoke. In the confusion of the moment Bro. Mark Conforti kept his composure as he helped his partner, Robert Flippo, a 40-year member, get out safely. Also he saw another brother disabled and lying on the floor of the smoke-filled building. Mark returned to the switch gear room and then carried Bro. Tom Cangiamila out to safety. Brother Robert Filippo made the 911 call for help. It was later learned that Tom had broken his ankle. Bro. Mark Conforti is a true hero and we are glad to have him within our ranks. Mark and Robert served our country honorably in the U.S. Army. After their tour of duty they completed their apprenticeships and have worked with us as IBEW members since their discharge. We at 102 thank them for their service to our country and for their gallant efforts on the job. We also wish Tom Cangiamila a speedy recovery.

Ed Fredericks, P.S.

L.U. 146 (ei,i&rts), DECATUR, IL—Once again IBEW Local 146 members will "power the party" at the Decatur Celebration. The free three-day celebration runs Aug. 7???9 in downtown Decatur and everyone is invited. We also volunteered at the Macon County Fair and held our annual golf outing. Check us out on Facebook.

We graduated 10 apprentices in May. Our newest inside journeyman wiremen are: Co-Apprentices of the Year Brian Wright and Jerry Greenburg; Dustin Brown, John Murphy, Luke Nohren, Damian Poe, Nicholas Probst, Jason Smith, Scott Tondello and Jonathan Wiley. Congratulations to all on a job well-done. The 2009 class had a combined grade point average of 92.08 percent.

We mourn the loss of retired members Matt Wrigley, Melvin Steele and Donald Rex Snider. Our sincere sympathy goes out to their families. They will truly be missed.

Congratulations to Larry Fehling on his recent retirement.

Everyone should remember in these economic times that an economy built on our values is an economy built on prosperity.

Rich Underwood, R.S.

L.U. 150 (es,i,rts&spa), WAUKEGAN, IL—We recently lost a fine man and good brother when retired member Tom Raven passed away. Tom was a longtime member of Local 150. He was involved with the apprenticeship program for many years and became the local's first full-time training director in 1979.

At that time we were located in downtown Waukegan in the old Morrie Mages Sports Store on Genesee Street. This was the first property the local ever owned and was bought in 1979 also. Tom continued as training director until his retirement in 1986 and helped lay the foundation for what our training program has grown into today.

He served in the U. S. Army during World War II and saw combat in Europe with the U.S. Army 44th Division. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as a master sergeant. He had many other interests: hunting, fishing, golfing, the Green Bay Packers, and time with his friends. He was a member of the Elks, VFW, Danish Brotherhood, Knights of Columbus, American Legion and the Moose. He is survived by his wife, Alice; son Patrick; daughter Marialice; and many other relatives. I, for one, will miss him. Godspeed, Tom.

The golf outing is scheduled for Sept. 13.

Wendy J. Cordts, P.S.

L.U. 180 (c,i&st), VALLEJO, CA—On March 24, the Local 180 Retirees Club held a 100th birthday party for its oldest member—a lovely, charming and elegant lady named Gertie Kinney. Her late husband, Ray Kinney, was a wireman at Mare Island. In keeping with the centennial theme, Bus. Mgr. Dan Broadwater presented Gertie with 100 lottery tickets. Gertie reminisced about heartwarming events with Local 180 members and their families, including inspiring stories about helping people during the Great Depression and life before the radio!

On April 25, hundreds gathered at our Old Timers' Awards Dinner to honor those who have proudly served our Brotherhood. A total of 141 members received service pins for service of 20 years and more. Two brothers received 70-year service pins—Lorin Gillespie, who still helps run his company, Union Electric; and retiree Harold Herrmann. Bros. Ed Parker and Gene Watson received 60-year pins and are still in the field practicing their craft and providing wisdom that comes only with enduring experience in the trade.

With one member marking an eventful century of life, many marking a half-century of service, and the upcoming graduation of 35 apprentices, Local 180 has much to celebrate.

Michael Smith, B.A.

L.U. 196 (govt,mt,o,t&u), ROCKFORD, IL—Our work picture is bad and we do not see much happening anytime soon. As of this writing, the state government cannot get a budget passed, so the governor will not sign the $29 billion capital construction bill—so the workers suffer once again.

We are still fighting some other trades who encroach on our IBEW work instead of going out and stopping the nonunion people doing their work. We will continue to fight with everything we have to defend our work. Our own members need to stand strong in unity with our union to retain our work. This is our fight to win or lose. Keep up the fight and we will prevail in the end.

Edgar R. Mings Jr., B.M.

L.U. 234 (i&mt), CASTROVILLE, CA—Our local proudly announces the graduating class of Inside apprentices: Ruth Dean, Scott Harris (honored as Outstanding Apprentice), Raul Marin, Jose Melgarejo, Nicholas Prelgovisk and Michael Stevenson. We also proudly announce the graduating class of Residential apprentices: Miguel Huerta, Michael Magana, Israel Rosas and Richard Acevedo. After their years of hard work in a rigorous program, we are pleased to present them as Inside and Residential journey-level electricians. Congratulations and thanks to each of them for their years of study and training. We welcome them to an industry where their skills and contributions will be needed to help meet ever increasing and constantly changing demands.

Once again we offered scholarships for graduating high school seniors in our jurisdiction. The winners were: Samantha Steele, who will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; and Veronica Arizmendez, who will attend Monterey Peninsula College. Honorable mention scholarships were awarded to Jessica Gamber and Tempestt Edward.

This spring our local sponsored the annual Castroville Artichoke Festival. We also provided volunteer support for this popular community event.

Stephen Slovacek, P.S.

L.U. 246 (ees,i,rts&spa), STEUBENVILLE, OH—As of this writing, our work is slowing after a very busy year. We thank all the traveling brothers and sisters as well as our own members for the professionalism shown on the First Energy, W.H. Sammis site. The job is a $1.2 billion scrubber/SCR project that is expected to finish in 2010.

We also congratulate the 12 new apprentices who were indentured at our regular meeting on May 27. We wish them the best of luck in their careers. Our newest apprentices are: Stephen Badgley, Michael Bell, Michael Butto, Dustin Crawford, Donald Hipkiss, Matthew Keller, Tyler Kelley, Lance Lucarelli, Chuck Nemeth,
Josh Richardson, Michael Robinson, Christopher Scammell and Greg Whiting.

We look forward to our family picnic set for Saturday, Aug. 1, at Brooke Hills Park in Wellsburg, WV. There will be lots of food, fun and camaraderie.

Phil Diserio, Pres.

L.U. 280 (c,ees,em,es,i,mo,mt,rts&st), SALEM, OR—Our apprentice graduation banquet in Albany on May 30 honored 58 new journeymen for a job well-done! Guest speakers included Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian, Bus. Mgr. Tim Nicol and Harvey Platt, of Platt Electric. Apprentice graduates listed below with an asterisk (*) by their name were "Outstanding Achievement" winners.

Inside—Casey Aiello, Nathan Albertson, Scott Bruce, Thaddius Crevier, Joseph Dassen, Mark Esbenshade*, Marvin Fredrickson, Nathan Gehring, Wade Gregory, Ian Jagels, Tony Jones, Dean Jones, Craig Langan, Richard Lay, Mitchell Martin, Kyle McKern, Jeremy Miller, Christopher Parker, Anthony Perkins, Ted Pugh, Justin Rochefort, Mark Sliper, Jeffery Thompson, Jon Train, Donstrato Vega, T.J. Vetkos, Benjamin Weber, Casey Westlake, Adam Zurcher.

Residential—Shane Barton, Joshua Beachy*, Jordan Branch, Chad Clark, Brandon Crawford, Casey Davis, Clint Holmes, Ryan King, Travis Kuiper, Mark Scheid, Noah Williams.

Limited Energy—Jon Abbott, James Bolton, Brandon Briggs, Andrew Bryson*, Shelly Cooper, Jim Kirkland, Kory Klein, Adam Kojoian, Larry Majors, Melisa Martinez*, Paula Montaque, Christopher Perkins, Phillip Purington, Craig Saunders, Michael Schmunk, Benjamin Shinn, Michelle Spade, Shawn Varner.

With sadness, the local mourns the loss of Bros. Scott Hurst and Ron Meyers Sr.

Please work safe and remember the picnic on Sept. 12 at Timber Linn Park in Albany. Bring your family and friends!

Jerry Fletcher, Pres.

L.U. 300 (govt,i,mt&u), MONTPELIER, VT—The Local 300 Web site recently received a makeover. Union staffers Matt Lash and Holli Vidal, and apprentice Matt Murphy teamed up on the new creation.

"A distinctive Web presence is more important now than ever," said Lash, the union's marketing and business development director. "Our site combines modern technology and ease-of-use, enabling us to more effectively communicate with the community."
The site has special sections for members, such as a form to re-sign the referral over the Internet. It also features links to Local 300's blogger, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter pages.

"We are excited to dive into social networking, particularly to interface with young people," Lash said. "To my knowledge, IBEW Local 300 is the only Vermont labor union with a significant presence on these sites."
Nearly every weekday, material is posted on Local 300's Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as its blog. Much of it consists of news items about labor, business, human rights and politics. Users will also find information about upcoming events and calls to action.

People interested in joining the union can easily submit an inquiry via the Web site. For the first time there will also be information about the electrical apprenticeship and solar training offered at the hall.

Members are invited to visit the Web site at www.ibewlocal300.org.

Matthew Lash, P.S.

L.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OH—Energy saving lamps and increased appliance efficiency haven't had a big impact on total electrical consumption in the United States. Decreased auto, steel and related production in our part of the nation reduced total utility load by 17 percent in the first quarter of the year. This sent the utility scrambling to reduce costs. The utility chose to eliminate employees, raises and benefits while still paying a $2.20 per share dividend to investors! This impacts our IBEW members, their families and the local economy in a most negative manner. Perhaps this "load vs. layoff" scenario could be helped by the Renewable Energy Initiative. Wind, solar and water-driven generating equipment could fill in the valleys and trim the peaks while providing employment for skilled IBEW workers.

We send best wishes for a happy retirement to Bros. Steve Gurski, Dave Hinkle, Russ Ciancio, Ron Trent, Steve Schilling, John Kee and Larry Borth.

We mourn the loss of retired Bros. Thomas Boso and Thomas Washcoe and send our sincere condolences to their families.

Work safe and have work!

Bob Sallaz, P.S.

L.U. 322 (govt,i,it,lctt,o&u), CASPER, WY—On May 29, the WJATC turned out 14 new journeyman wiremen: Wes Wilkerson, Lisa Boyles, Jon Culhane, Steve Hoyer, Nick Maxfield, Lucy Lineweber, Jon VanMeter, Shawn McCartney, Kirk Lindsay, Kel Dishion, Kasey Brown, Aaron Dykes, Nate Wollman and Moseley Middleton. Congratulations to all the new brothers and sisters!

The work picture remains steady in the Inside and Outside branches. This summer is a busy one with several local union activities taking place. The Casper picnic was June 27. Members in the Jackson and Casper areas participated in Fourth of July parades. The local has a team in the Aug. 7 Relay for Life event in Casper. And the local's 75th Anniversary and Pin Presentation event takes place Aug. 15.

Chris Morgan, P.S.

L.U. 332 (c,ees,i&st), SAN JOSE, CA—Local 332 and the Santa Clara County Electrical JATC congratulate the 66 graduates in the class of 2009. Graduation was held at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose on June 5. The event was well-attended and Foothill College Pres. Judy Miner was a guest speaker.

Thirty-seven inside wireman apprentices graduated: Russell Balderama, Matthew Bishop, Melissa Both, Armando Cabrales, James Cheek Jr., Hamza Crnogorcevic, Robert Dalla, Stephen Donovan, Gary Fife, Alejandro Garcia, Faustino Gomez, Per-Ola Grubb, Josh Gutierrez, Charles Hambelton, Paul Holden, Eric Hull, Eric Latona, Sean Lockard, Jeremy Maestas, Matthew Maloney, Mark Martinez, Ryan McCabe, Ryan Muzinich, Marcos Nuno, Eduardo Padilla, Ronald Rodriguez, Manuel Sandoval, Humberto Santana, Peter Seaberg, Sara Sha, Nathan Shelton, James Staffaroni, Ricky Stepp Jr., Jorge Suarez, Joseph Tarango, Richard Welch III and Christian White.

Twenty-nine residential apprentices graduated: Richard Acevedo, Jose Batres, Nermin Bubic, Scott Casem, Jose Chavez, Eugene Delaney, Trancito Estrada, Paul Jason Fajardo, Richard Farley, Gregory Faucher, Carlos-Torres Fernandez, Erik Fernandez, Robert Garcia, Jose Gonzalez, Miguel Huerta, Lawrence Lombardo, Gustavo Lopez, Daniel Lorenzana, Antonio Marquez, Ryan Mason, Sergio Monzon, Arturo Ortega, Jason Perez, Israel Rosas, Joshua Rose, Roberto Santiago, Pedro Sernas, Julio Urrutia and Ben Wagnaar.

The committee also recognized Top Inside Wireman Apprentice Christian White and Top Residential Apprentice Scott Casem.

Gerald Pfeiffer, Pres.
Daniel Romero, JATC Dir.

L.U. 340 (i,rts&spa), SACRAMENTO, CA—Just one year ago, the Local 340 work picture was bright. Our membership was growing and we were looking forward to several more years of bountiful work.

Last fall that all changed. Construction dried up and jobs were cancelled, scaled down or postponed. As is the case in many areas, our work at this writing is still slim but we will have some work for our members by end of summer. Members who are out of work are utilizing their time off by salting, attending upgrading classes, renewing their state certification and helping out at the local as often as they can; but they are also, some for the first time, having to find ways to make ends meet through services provided through United Way, Union Plus, Health Fairs and the federal stimulus program created by our friend, Pres. Barrack Obama. Most of us have been there???no work and no idea when work will break. I appreciate all the IBEW members for their understanding, support and commitment to the IBEW during these unprecedented times and I believe it will get better!

We are saddened to report the passing of: Bros. James Muck, Norman Grothe, Michael Kee and John "Jack" Wyman.

Have a safe Labor Day weekend.

A.C. Steelman, B.M

L.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD, IL—April marked our Workers Memorial Day ceremony, at which fallen unionists who were killed or injured on the job are honored. Four union members were tragically killed on the job last year in northern Illinois.

Bro. Paul Williams addressed the crowd regarding the day years ago when he was injured and another brother was killed on the job. A strap used for moving a generator was severed, causing the object to lunge and hit them. He remarked that not a day goes by when he doesn't think about that day, and said he hoped this tragic incident would be remembered so it would never happen again.

The IBEW played a major role insuring the ceremony commenced without a hitch. Sister Trisha Welte planned the event. Bro. Steve Bjork coordinated the color guard, which included our members Bros. Paul Happach, Patrick Elliott and Spencer D'Augustin.

Two monuments exist commemorating our fallen brothers in Illinois. On our memorial are these words: "This Memorial is dedicated to the men and women of Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin who are members of organized labor and died while at work in their chosen occupation. Let them always be remembered."

Ray Pendzinski, P.S.

L.U. 388 (em,i,rts&spa), STEVENS POINT, WI—Local 388's election was held and newly elected officers were sworn in at the July meeting. The local thanks members who stepped up and ran for office; it is a big commitment, but well worth it.

The work outlook in our jurisdiction is a little grim and no big projects are on the horizon at this time. We can only hope that other locals around the country start getting busy.

Local 388 officers will take Code of Excellence training. The COE is another tool to help regain market share. If promoted right the COE shows that IBEW members are the best trained and most qualified electricians in the industry—and that choosing the IBEW for your next project "Is the Right Choice."

The five-day train-the-trainer for solar class was held in July for IBEW members from around the state. We are fortunate to have use of the Midwest Renewable Energy facility, a state-of-the art facility for solar and wind training in Custer, WI.

The local thanks member Steve Faucher's son, Spc. Patrick Faucher, for his service to country and we wish him a safe deployment while serving overseas. We also thank all Local 388 members who have served their country honorably and returned safely.

Guy LePage, P.S.

L.U. 412 (u), KANSAS CITY, MO—Union Bro. Chris Dame, apprentice mechanic at La Cygne Generating Station, is leaving for a year on deployment to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Chris is in the Army National Guard. We wish him a safe return.

On May 20 at a KCP&L Employee Memorial Service, employees stopped to honor our lost brothers and friends, men who were husbands, fathers and sons...men who went to work one day and never went home. There are 58 names on the memorial now. These men lost their lives while performing their jobs. Like most utilities, the former Aquila facilities have suffered through times of loss. Those names have been added to our memorial.

Each person lost had a story. This year we saw some of those stories. We learned which ones were linemen, electricians, mechanics, operators, laborers, plant helpers or foremen. Some were journeymen. Some were apprentices. We saw that some left a spouse and children. We read how they lost their lives...contact with an energized line, a fire, a fall from a ladder, breaker explosion, or steam line rupture. Some worked for KCPL a few months, some for years. All are missed. We remember them.

Deborah Kidwiler, P.S.

L.U. 424 (as,ees,em,es,i,mo,o,ptc,rtb,rts,spa&u), EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA—After a very slow fall and winter, work started to pick up in early June. Many economists say we are at least out of the recessionary "free fall." Now the question is the pace of economic recovery.

Our contractors on Shell's Scotsford Refinery expansion are calling for larger numbers of apprentices and journeymen, often two or three days a week. The project is still far from "peak" manpower yet, but at least many of our members are starting to be able to get off the books and back to work. We hope the project ramps up in earnest after summer holidays.

Other good news: The Keephills Thermal Generating project should also start taking off by the fall. If so, it should all work out well for both the workers on the job sites and production factors for the clients. That is because the trend in recent years here in the "Great White North" has been for "late" below normal cold springs, but also "late" fall seasons with above average temperatures. If that trend continues, there will a longer period of warmer weather when the projects start to peak. Keephills, with a large percentage of the work mostly "inside," will actually be a good job during winter.

At this writing we were looking forward to Local 424 summertime social events such as a family picnic, golf tournament, exhibition pancake breakfasts, (in both Edmonton and Calgary) and the anniversary banquet and dance (Members' Appreciation Night).

Dave Anderson, P.S.

L.U. 494 (em,i,mt,rts&spa), MILWAUKEE, WI—Shea Electric & Communications sponsored member Dan Shea to attend a Chamber of Commerce function called Leadership Fond du Lac. One criterion was to complete a community service project. Dan, with his group, then formed Team "1st on the Lake." Their team decided to assist the Association of Retarded Citizens of Fond du Lac. They would paint the facility, replace the outside sign and do a complete energy lighting upgrade.

Shea Electric purchased material at half the cost and applied for a "Focus on Energy" incentive grant for the rest. Team "1st on the Lake" approached Local 494 members and asked them to consider donating their time and talent on a Saturday for the cause.

On Saturday, March 14, some 20 union journey wiremen representing all of the Kettle Moraine area signatory contractors showed up at 8 a.m. to begin the project, which involved 170 light fixtures. By 10:30 a.m. the job was 100 percent complete, the work area cleaned up, trucks repacked, and the old ballasts and lamps removed for disposal.

Hopefully, paying it forward on projects like this will change attitudes and open some eyes toward our local and its contractors.

John Jacobs, B.R.

L.U. 502 (c,em,i,it&t), ST. JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA—Local 502 members are coordinating several fundraisers including a giant yard sale in support of Bro. John Dunn, who was severely injured in an auto accident. Bro. Dunn will be traveling to California for therapy training which is not covered by insurance.

After several months of instruction at our new training center, seven Local 502 members passed their Interprovincial Construction Electrical Licenses.

Congratulations to Bros. John Brennan, Joe Brennan, Rick Brown, Paul Charlton, Ben Keenan, Darcy Oickle and Jamie Roberts. We look forward to maximizing the use of our training center in coming months.

At our May regular meeting Local 502 was pleased to welcome four new members to our union: Stuart MacDonald, Jason MacRae, Jason Rector and Jeff Thompson.

The Point Lepreau Nuclear Station refurbishment and Canaport LNG continue to employ the bulk of our membership. We look forward to a busy 2009 with major work coming at the Irving Oil Refinery and the Potash Corp. mine in Sussex.

Congratulations to IBEW 502 contractor Jacobs Industrial on securing the maintenance contract for the Canaport Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal. We look forward to continued employment growth at this new plant.

We mourn the passing of Bro. Jacques Leblanc.

Dave Stephen, P.S.

L.U. 520 (i&spa), AUSTIN, TX—Congratulations to the 2009 Austin Electrical JATC graduating apprentices: Garrett Aery, Joshua Brantley, Christopher Cox, Luis Gonzales, Shannon Gutierrez, Cody Himmelreich, Christa Lee, Adrian Martinez, Rafael Martinez, Luis Rivera, Aurelio Ruiz, Richard Sandoval, Christopher Tindall and James Westover. Outstanding Apprentice of the 2009 graduating class was James Westover. In honor of fellow classmate Bro. Guy Horanzy, who tragically lost his life last year in a job site accident, the 2009 graduating class built a horseshoe pit with a marble plaque in his memory.

Congratulations also to the first photovoltaic class for Local 520, partnering with Imagine Solar. Local 520 is pleased to announce that 30 members completed the 40-hour course in preparation for their NABCEP entry examination.

Lane Price, P.S.

L.U. 530 (i,o&rtb), SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA—As reported in the May issue of The Electrical Worker, Local 530 earlier lost the work building Canada's largest solar farm while it was still in its infant phase. [See North of 49??—"Ontario Locals Gear Up for Green Energy Act," May 2009 Electrical Worker, pg. 4.] Since that report, we have reached an agreement with the new owners of First Solar, formerly OptiSolar Farms Canada Inc. Hopefully by the time this article is published, we will have our licensed IBEW electricians and apprentices in the field, the way it should be.

With a great deal of unemployment in Sarnia at this time, we are hoping some of the upcoming projects will help elevate this situation. When the jobs will break and how many members they will take is little comfort with a long list.

With next to nothing going on as far as new construction, several of our members are on the road and we'd like to thank Kitchener Local 804 and Sudbury Local 1687 for these work opportunities.

Local 530 is excited to host the annual slow-pitch tournament this September. We look forward to seeing all players and teams and showing them a good time.

Local 530 is saddened by the recent passing of Bro. Ted Jackson.

Al Byers, P.S.

L.U. 538 (i), DANVILLE, IL—As of this writing many of our members and apprentices are unemployed, with continued hope for the economy to turn around soon. Recently, Local 538 accepted the retirement applications of Reggie Mullins, George McKinney and Terry Starr. We wish them well in future endeavors and thank them for their service to the electrical construction industry.

The JATC wishes to announce the newest journeyman inside wiremen. Kevin Goeppner and Matt Hinchee recently completed their apprenticeship and will participate in upcoming graduation ceremonies. Congratulations on an excellent performance both on the job and in the classroom, Kevin and Matt!

The Danville and Westville Labor Day parades will be Monday, Sept. 7. The Danville parade starts at 10 a.m. Please bring your family out to support labor.

The Local 538 annual picnic is Saturday, Sept. 26, at Forest Glen State Park. Please bring the family out to spend time with old friends and meet new ones.

Kathie Porter, Tr. Dir.

L.U. 540 (i), CANTON, OH—We here in Local 540 congratulate the graduating apprenticeship class of 2009. Good luck to all our new journeymen.

A workplace safety reminder: When wearing a safety harness while working at an elevated height, remember that the manufacturer recommends that for a 6-foot person with a 6-foot extendable lanyard, you must be tied off at least 18 feet above ground. If you are tied off at less than 18 feet above ground, get a shorter lanyard and be aware of your tie-off point.

Another big safety item is arc flash. If you are not sure of the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear when working on or near energized parts, find out. OSHA and NFPA70E have the answers for all your arc flash questions.

Work safely out there!

Jerry Bennett, P.S.

L.U. 558 (catv,em,i,mt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), SHEFFIELD, AL—North Alabama JATC held its Apprentice Graduation Banquet on May 22. Guest speaker for the event was IBEW Fifth District Int. Vice Pres. Joe S. Davis. We appreciate and extend our thanks to Bro. Davis for his kind participation.

The lineman class had three members graduating: Roy D. Dowdy Jr., Tyler W. Poag and James A. Puckett. The wireman class had 20 members graduating: R. Andrew Brimer, Joshua R. Brooks, J. Adam Carroll, Timothy R. Cleveland Jr., Robert J. Dotson, Marcus D. Hankins, Troy C. Jones, W. David Kimbrough Jr., Robert E. Lynn, Eric W. McMurtrey, Joshua A. Patterson, Benjamin D. Quinn, Brandin R. Roberts, Brian K. Rogers, Brian K. Tripper, Noah M. Vickers, Chadwick P. Walker, Jason W. Williams, Matthew C. Williams and Bradley Wilson.

The Outstanding Apprentices for 2009 are Marcus Hankins (wireman) and James Puckett (lineman). Congratulations to all for their hard work and thanks to our instructors for a job well-done.

Steve Crunk, Pres.

L.U. 570 (i,mo,spa&u), TUCSON, AZ—Local 570 and the JATC congratulate the first participants in Tucson to complete the NJATC Photovoltaic Systems course. [Photo below.] It is an excellent course to prepare journeyman wiremen for all tasks associated with installation of solar photovoltaic systems. We also thank Chris Brevick for his help in starting our solar program. Dan Chavez, Photovoltaic Systems instructor, brought forth leadership and contagious enthusiasm for learning this challenging, complex subject in eight six-hour classes. At the end of the 48-hour course, 17 photovoltaic students took the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification exam. The NABCEP credential is being referenced by an increasing number of state agencies. We salute the journeyman wiremen who completed this course.

Scott Toot, Organizer

L.U. 606 (em,es,i,rtb,spa&u), ORLANDO, FL—Several politicians scouted out the latest green-jobs training at the Central Florida JATC during an open house event held Memorial Day weekend.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson and Florida state Rep. Geraldine Thompson were among the many elected officials who showed up to see how IBEW members are being trained locally for current and future green jobs.

The apprentices led the tours and spoke about the training and the benefits of the apprenticeship program. Lead Instructor Juan Santos gave a presentation on the working solar system attached to the JATC classroom.

Even though the JATC has provided alternative energy training for many years, Pres. Obama has brought greater focus on green-energy jobs. We expect there will be a flood of new work in these areas. As always the IBEW/NECA will be the leader in educating our members.

Janet D. Skipper, P.S.

L.U. 640 (em,govt,i,mo,mt,rts,spa&u), PHOENIX, AZ—Local 640 welcomes our new full-time instructors in our new facility. Jeff Ficcardi graduated in 2006 as apprentice of the year and Stephan Cole graduated from the apprenticeship program in 2004. We are proud of these guys for stepping up and taking on the important task of training our future apprentices. Thanks, guys, and keep up the good work.

Frank Cissne, B.R.

L.U. 654 (i), CHESTER, PA—Congratulations to all the fifth-year apprentices who are graduating to journeyman status this year. Their work over the last five years in the classroom, on the job and in the community is greatly appreciated. We look forward to their continued involvement in the local. Graduating are: Joseph Conroy, Steve Devenney, Mike Everett, Sidney Freeman, Joe Gibbons, Mike Hagner, Aaron Jeter, John Keenan, Mike Murphy, Dave Smagala, Jason Snyder, Matt Thompson, Frank Toth and Jason Vandenbraak.

I am sad to report on the passing of retired Bro. Harry Bolt. Harry was initiated into the IBEW in June 1974. He retired in July 1994 and moved out West to Arizona. Our deepest sympathies to Bros. Keith and Dave Bolt, sons of Harry and active Local 654 members, as well as the entire family.

Jim Russell, V.P.

L.U. 684 (c,i,rts&st), MODESTO, CA—On June 3 a Code of Excellence meeting was held for everyone at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto. A video presentation, COE PowerPoint, and comments from area contractors were featured. Fifty-three members received certificates for completing required training classes, OSHA 10, Electrical Project Supervision 1, and CPR/ First Aid. Foreman classes require OSHA 30, EPS 2 & 3, NFPA 70e, and Harassment Training. Also attending the June 3 meeting were officials from area school districts, government and industry.

Our JATC offers these same courses as well as OSHPD hospital, test instruments, Hilti tools, photovoltaic systems, motor control and transformers, and many others in its continuing education series for inside journeymen. Join us to update your skills.

On Aug. 22, our annual picnic will be held at Hagaman Park along the banks of the Merced River and we're doing the cooking. Service pins will be awarded at the picnic.

On Aug. 14, fifth-year apprentices graduate: Anthony Bond, Erik Calef, Raymond Carrera, Andrew Harrison, Thomas Ludwig, Justin Lytal, David Marrujo, Clayton McClanahan, Rod Fulerson, Michael Mendoza, Jonathan Pound, Brandon Strohmeyer, Erika Watson and Pete Zamaripa. Welcome aboard to all. May the wind always be at your back.

Torrey Newton, P.S.

L.U. 688 (em,i,t&u), MANSFIELD, OH—On April 2, a reception was held for seven state representatives elected to the Ohio State House. We are proud to have supported these elected officials and look forward to working with them for years to come.

The Jefferson Jackson Celebration was held April 25. Brian Addington, Mike Crider, Dan Lloyd and Carl Neutzling represented Local 688 at the dinner. The food was delicious and the speakers were entertaining and insightful.

Healthy Life Screening provided ultrasound screening to detect health problems such as blockages or aneurisms. There was so much interest, a second day was added.

Local 688 negotiators are pleased to announce a new three-year agreement was reached with Embarq.

Willie Thompson and John Wallery donated time and expertise at Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center to repair fixtures.

Local 688 wishes Bros. Danny Converse and Jim Herrick well on their retirement. Congratulations to Malcum Salyers and Tony Barclay, who each have new grandchildren.

We are sad to report the loss of Bros. Fred Balduff, Dan Goodwin and Roger Young. We send our condolences to their family.

Dan Lloyd, P.S.

L.U. 700 (em,i,o&spa), FORT SMITH, AR—Local 700 and the Fort Smith Electrical JATC hosted a graduation ceremony April 25 to honor our newest journeyman wiremen. Graduates are: Michael Cusick, Roger Ellis and Bryan Taylor. Michael Cusick received a plaque and a new set of tools for being the outstanding apprentice for his class. Outstanding apprentice certificates were also awarded to the following apprentices: Forrest Walker (4th year), Damon Gregory (3rd year), Steven Russell (2nd year) and David Jones (1st year). We are very proud of these young men. They are an asset to Local 700.

Debbie Carter, P.S.

L.U. 702 (as,c,catv,cs,em,es,et,govt,i,it,lctt,mo,mt,o, p,pet, ptc,rtb,rts,se,spa,st,t,u,uow&ws), WEST FRANKFORT, IL—On April 30, Local 702 member Mark Fromm, age 49, died on the job while working aloft for Verizon. Bro. Fromm leaves behind his wife and two children. Mark, with his positive attitude, will be sadly missed by all.

Frontier Communications has made acquisition to purchase Verizon Telecom in 14 states including Illinois. Local 702 as well as the other IBEW locals will file to intervene.

On May 8, an "inland hurricane" hit southern Illinois leaving over 40,000 people without power, telephone, and in some cases water. Local 702 wishes to express our appreciation to the more than 2,000 linemen and tree trimmers who worked in our area to restore power. All IBEW members worked safely and efficiently to help our communities that were declared disaster areas by Gov. Pat Quinn.

Marsha Steele, P.S.

L.U. 756 (es&i), DAYTONA BEACH, FL—The sun is shining bright...but the work picture is slow. Daytona is still struggling with unemployment. The economy has impacted all tradesmen very negatively. We are not exempt from the toll of the past eight years of corporate greed and exploitation. However, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel with the progressive leadership we have elected.

The next generation of space flight—the Constellation program at Kennedy Space Center—will require many man-hours of work for all trades. Signatory contractors are in place to bid some of these upcoming projects. Unfortunately, many non-signatory contractors are also poised to bid these same projects. At least with the new Obama administration, we can rely on strict enforcement of the Davis-Bacon Act, which was almost completely ignored during the reign of the Bush regime. Some of our commercial contractors will be working on school projects during the summer. This should provide a little relief for our members and keep our signatory contractors busy for a few months.

Our JATC is also in the process of training instructors for the new photovoltaic installations. These future "green industries" are rapidly emerging. The next struggle will be insuring these new green-power generation installations are properly classified as electrical work.

Daniel Hunt, P.S.

L.U. 776 (i,o,rts&spa), CHARLESTON, SC—Our apprenticeship class was devastated this year by the tragic loss of second-year apprentice Robbie "Slim" Wyndham III to an automobile accident. Robbie was a third-generation member, behind his grandpa Robert "Shine" Wyndham and dad, Robert "Slick" Wyndham Jr. Robbie will be remembered by his classmates and our local union.

On a brighter note, the CJATC is proud to announce our two graduates this year. Doyle Yandell has been working for Allison-Smith Company. Josh Snider has been working for Cache Valley Electric. Congratulations to Bros. Snider and Yandell on becoming journeyman wiremen. Always continue your education and upgrade your training.

Chuck Moore, B.M.

L.U. 804 (i&o), KITCHENER, ONTARIO, CANADA—Congratulations go out to our hockey team, who gave an excellent performance and showed fine form by winning the "A" division championship in the first OPC tournament ever held outside of Canada. Local 3 put on a great tournament.

Once again congratulations to team members Gary Boudreau, Darryl Burns, Jason Scott, Steve Correia, Neil Morgan, Derek Scott, Greg Nichol, Matthew Scott, Jay Wettlaufer, Scott Eby, Ben Snell, Jason Radbourne, Tim Yantzi, Dave Brooks, Brad Hackert, Gary Ring, A.J. McGeoch and Craig McInally, as well as coaches Rick Floto and. Richard Hertner.

Glen Hicks, P.S.

L.U. 968 (catv,i,mt,o,rts,spa&t), PARKERSBURG, WV—IBEW 968 is excited to announce the completion of our first Photovoltaic Systems training course. Mark Holbert, Dave Lamp, Chris Furr and Doug Spears worked together to plan and teach the 10-week course. A combination of 17 journeymen and apprentices, as well as the instructors, received their certificates. We have also been in contact with local government officials about several alternative energy projects and our desire to help them maximize any green technologies funding our area receives.

Congratulations also to our fifth-year apprenticeship class. Jason Blue, Josh Blue, James Carpenter, Kent Elliot, Jeffrey Hively and Tyler Pitts recently advanced to become journeyman wiremen. The Parkersburg Joint Electrical Apprenticeship Committee also recognizes Josh Blue as the fifth-year class outstanding apprentice.

As with most local unions, we continue to endure the fallout from the recession, and our work picture has been very slow. Several of our large local industries have been directly affected by the automakers' woes, but hopefully the citizens of this great country can learn the importance of buying American and supporting those who support domestic manufacturing!

Jeff Fox, B.M.

L.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON, AZ—Congratulations to recent apprentice graduates. The new journeymen are: Brad Baron - electronics; Walter Bryant - relay technician; Jose Orta - metering; Aaron Grelle, Gerhard Muehle, Brian Seelow and Ryan Russell - ERTF; Chris Peru and Jesse Shirey - substations; Alawnzo Brown, Casey Dills, Gary Fiscella, Enrique Lopez, Joseph Goerke, Lance Mitchell and Neil Mitchell - line construction. Good Job!

Tucson Electric Power fleet repair shop service technicians have been receiving additional training; the company has brought in manufacturing reps and also had classes away from the shop. It's a good investment for in-house union craft workmanship.

Congratulations to our Unisource Gas members, who ratified a new three-year labor agreement in June. We are currently in contract negotiations with Southwest Energy Solutions-Tucson, SES-Meter Reading, SES-Springerville and Asplundh Tree Experts.

R. Cavaletto, P.S.

L.U. 1316 (i&o), MACON, GA—The Macon Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee is proud to announce the graduation of a new class of journeyman wiremen. The new journeymen are: Halley Duncan, Kevin Williams, Tony Stephens and Kareem Rouse. Halley Duncan received the Morgan Bowen Award for outstanding performance during the five-year period of apprenticeship training. A graduation dinner was well-attended by the new journeymen, their families and committee members.

Michael Gardner, Org./P.S.

L.U. 1928 (i,o&u), HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA—IBEW Local 1928 held its annual hockey tournament March 27-29. Eight teams took part this year. The tournament was held at the County Rick in Coxheath, Cape Breton, and was hosted by the members at the Lingan Generating Station.

Congratulations to the members from "Western Line" for winning the 2009 IBEW Local 1928 Hockey Tournament. The event was a success and enjoyed by everyone who took part.

Mike MacDonald, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 1944 (t), PHILADELPHIA, PA—Elections for the local were accomplished with the following results: Bus. Mgr./Pres. Mary Lou Lane (New Castle), Vice Pres. Yvonne Baney (Altoona), Fin. Sec. Cindy Wolfe (New Castle), Treas. Donna Hall (Philadelphia) and Rec. Sec. George Greiner, III (Altoona).

Installation of officers was held in July and all the newly elected officers and Executive Board look forward to a great working relationship, working together as well as working "for" the union members.

The New Castle Unit of Local 1944 and AT&T are still working out the complete contract and I hope to have more information for the next article. Please keep our sisters at AT&T in your thoughts for a good working contract.

George Greiner III, R.S.

L.U. 2324 (t), SPRINGFIELD, MA—On May 31, 17 members of Local 2324 graduated from Springfield Technical Community College.

The graduates were all enrolled in the Next Step Program, an educational benefit negotiated with Verizon in the 1990s that provides enrollment in a four-year program at local colleges to IBEW and CWA members. Each graduate received an associate degree in Applied Science, Telecommunication Technology. Local 2324 congratulates all the graduates and wishes them continued success.

Joe Floyd, P.S.