L.U. 6 (c,i,st&u), SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Recently, our local was contacted by Ronald McDonald House to discuss a plan to upgrade its property, which houses many families in need of medical care for their children.

I am proud to say that our IBEW Local 6 electricians turned out in great numbers to complete this task. Hats off to all who participated!

Thank you also to all members who marched with the Latino United Society in the Cesar Chavez Day parade. It is great to see the involvement of our members and families. Keep up the good work! Remember, staying active in the community helps everyone!

Tom O'Rourke, A.B.M.

L.U. 8 (as,em,i,mar,mt,rts,s&spa), TOLEDO, OH — The Local 8 hockey team did very well at the tournament in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on May 2-3. The team brought home six trophies this year. Awards included: for Top Goalie - Tony Bell; Top Defenseman - Chad Wheeler; and Coach of the Year - Bill Box. Trophies for MVP and Top Scorer went to Brad Matthews. The team also won the Division B Championship!

The team lost to Montreal by 3-2 — but beat Sudbury by 6-4 and Toronto by 6-3. They beat Boston 3-2 in overtime in the semi-finals and Niagra 4-1 in the finals.

Shown in the accompanying photo are Local 8 team members: Chad Ruch, Kurt Glenn, Brad Matthews, Tyler Reno, Tony Bell, Mike L'Heureax, Erick Schmidt, Jordan Ovalle, Brian Jennings, Bill Box, Chad Wheeler, Austin Trychel, Josh Rozanski and Rob Reiss. Congratulations, guys, on a job well done!

Mike Brubaker, P.S.

L.U. 10 (u), JOHNSON CITY, NY — IBEW Local 10 was chartered effective April 1, 2014. Former System Council U-7 local unions (then-Locals 83, 249, 966 and 1143) were amalgamated into newly charted Local 10 effective April 1.

Local 10 officers are as follows: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Michael Lutz, Pres./Asst. Bus. Mgr. Leo Yanez, Vice Pres. Tim Hlywa, Rec. Sec. Matt Green and Treas. Matt Wilson Sr. Executive Board members are: Chris Fox, Dave Androsko, Roman Cefali, Kevin Lyon and Fred Veitinger.

Congratulations to the new local and its officers and members!

The members at Cayuga Operating Company have ratified a contract extension through June 30, 2017. Congratulations to them and to the negotiating committee.

Meetings for the new local are being rotated through New York state. Please check for times and locations so you can attend.

Please make sure you are registered to vote for the important midterm elections coming soon.

Don Tuttel, P.S.

L.U. 12 (i,o&se), PUEBLO, CO — Bro. Ron Scott, longtime apprenticeship director of the Pueblo Electrical JATC for Local 12, has officially retired. Ron served as the JATC director from 1993 until his recent retirement.

Ron graduated from the Inside Apprenticeship Program in 1979. He has held many offices at Local 12 during his career. He served as: president, recording secretary, Executive Board member, Examining Board member, class instructor and organizer.

Ron was recently awarded his 40-year service pin. He has served our local well. His dedication is greatly appreciated and he certainly will be missed. Wishing you a happy retirement, Ron, from all of us at Local 12.

Susan J. Johnson, P.S.

L.U. 16 (i), EVANSVILLE, IN — The finest ideals of the brotherhood were showcased this past May when Cooking for a Cause held a barbecue to raise money for a fallen brother's family. Due to a tragic accident, this young man left behind a wife and two small children. Our departed brother's family were blessed by the proceeds of the fundraiser and touched by how many others were impacted by his life. Electricians from several jobsites as well as traveling brothers and the surrounding community came together to support this worthy cause.

Local 16's election of officers was held June 7. Results are posted on the Local 16 website; please visit www.ibewlocal16.com. Best wishes to all who were elected and thanks to all who were willing to serve.

Brothers in the local's PAC deserve thanks for their continuing efforts to raise funds in support of pro-labor candidates. Activities such as the April Cornhole Tournament and the annual June Golf Scramble bring the union and politicians together to discuss mutual goals.

Local 16 wishes to recognize strategic partner Mounts Electric Inc. for being honored in a recent issue of US Builders Review. Congratulations to the owners and the IBEW members on their well-deserved achievement.

Donald P. Beavin, P.S.

L.U. 22 (i,rts&spa), OMAHA, NE — We congratulate the graduating apprenticeship class of 2014. They were given a graduation party at the Round the Bend restaurant.

Inside apprentice graduates of 2014 are: Erik Anderson, Cory Bennett, Derek Bitzer, Eric Burns, Johnathan Burr, Nicholas Deveney, Andrew Dickinson, Scott Germain, Kyle Kruse, Michael Martinez, Joseph McMahon, Brian Meurrens, Benjamin Onken, Robert Parker, Ryan Peterson, Corey Porter, Clinton Reinecke, Cody Roberts, Robert Ryan, Timothy Scherlie, Nicholas Schulte, Eric Stevens, Matthew Weekly, Jesse White and Glenn Winsick.

Greater Nebraska apprentice graduates are: Trey Burdick, Dru Johnk, Bryan Kiene and Korey Swiatek. Residential apprentice graduate: Michale Nelsen. Telecommunications apprentice graduate: Nicholas Ritter.

We have elected a new business manager/financial secretary at Local 22. Barry Mayfield won the election in June and takes office at a time of full employment for the local. May you also have great success in your term, Barry.

Chris Bayer, P.S.

L.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC — Summer in the city! Local 26 congratulates the 2014 graduates of our Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee program and the R to A Upgrade program. There were a total of 118 graduates. Graduation ceremonies were June 7, and it was a delight to see so many supportive family members and happy graduates! Best wishes to the new journeyman electricians!

The Dollars Against Diabetes golf outing on June 2 was another huge success this year. We spanned four golf courses with 450+ golfers participating. Thanks to everyone who sponsored, volunteered and participated!

Hopefully you were able to partake in the celebration of brotherhood outside the workplace by attending either the Manassas, VA, picnic on June 21 or the Edgewater, MD, picnic on Aug. 2. The picnics provide fun for the families of our members, and it was great to have a fabulous turnout for these events.

With regret we report that several members passed away since our last article: Anthony F. Pirrone, Matthew A. Hipsley and Christopher D. Bartholomew.

Best wishes to recent retirees: John F. Foltz, Bernard A. Johnson, Donald E. Martin Jr., Thomas F. Noyes, Robert H. Overton Jr., Paul J. Paskanik, Joseph E. Taylor, Richard F. Dooley, William F. Howard Jr., Ernest L. Jones Jr., Bruce C. Richardson, Charles F. Stroop and John P. Redding.

Charles E. Graham, B.M.

L.U. 34 (em,i,mt,rts&spa), PEORIA, IL — First, I would like to thank all of the travelers who helped us with our spring shutdown at Powerton Power Plant in Pekin, IL. Doing large projects in a short period of time would not be possible without our highly qualified brothers who make the sacrifices of working outside their home locals.

Secondly, I wish to apologize for not having submitted an article for the June issue of The Electrical Worker. I was off due to illness and could not make the deadline for that issue.

Since my last article, we have had several successful events: the Spring Golf Outing, the Local 34 Steak Fry, and Labor Night at a Peoria Chiefs game. Special thanks go out to: Bro. Dave Ramsay, for putting on a wonderful golf outing; Bro. John Walker, for his work in setting up the Steak Fry; and Bro. Dave Lowder, for arranging the Chiefs game event.

Finally, Labor Day is just around the corner. If you are able, please participate in your area's Labor Day events. We cannot allow the citizens of this great country to forget all the benefits that organized labor has brought to every American worker, not just unionized labor.

Marc Burnap, P.S.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH — Renovations at the union hall are progressing. The new roof is completed and the HVAC upgrade to replace the original 1960 system is in progress. The concrete and waterproofing work will follow. Thanks to all of our members who have been working on the project and doing a great job. To date that includes: Dave Mueller, Dan Shingary, Mike Romito, Jim Watt, Eric Johnson, Kevin O'Toole, Chris Chilia and Jim Zito. Special thanks to Eddie Immormino, who has been designing and overseeing the project.

The new American Greetings job, a $20 million electrical project, was awarded to union contractor Lake Erie Electric. Site work has started on the project and we should have members working on site this summer.

Work has started next door to the American Greetings site at Crocker Park, and Zenith and Contemporary Electric are on site. Some other big projects to be awarded soon include the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, the new Cleveland Clinic hotel, the new Case Western Reserve University medical building and the new Cleveland State University medical building.

Dennis Meaney, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 42 (catv,em,govt,lctt&o), HARTFORD, CT — On May 3, Local 42 held its first Trap Shoot at the Fin Fur Feather Club in Chaplin, CT. It was very successful and everyone who attended had a great time.

Our 10th Annual Motorcycle Run took place June 7, 2014. The riders traveled their designated route, and at the end of the run they enjoyed a barbecue buffet at The Knights of Columbus in East Hartford, CT. There was a good turnout and the event was a great success. All proceeds will go to the Bridgeport Burn Center.

We thank everyone for their support of the Motorcycle Run and for turning out for the ride. Thanks to all the volunteers who worked at the stops; and thanks for the donations from Local 42 members, fellow IBEW locals and affiliates. It truly would not have been such a success without all of your help and generosity.

The office staff of Local 42 and OSHE wish to congratulate Bus. Mgr. Milton R. Moffitt Jr., who received the Paul A. Loughran Memorial Award for Outstanding Leadership. The award was presented on May 23 at the IBEW Second District Progress Meeting in Hyannis, MA. It is a well-deserved honor for an outstanding job!

Jacquelyn Moffitt, P.S.

L.U. 46 (as,c,cs,em,es,et,i,mar,mo,mt,rtb,rts&st), SEATTLE, WA — IBEW Local 46 members participated in the successful effort to achieve a historic minimum wage for Seattle workers.

Seattle will soon have the nation's highest minimum wage, after a historic 9-0 vote held June 2 by the city council, outlining a phased in $15 minimum wage.

IBEW Local 46 members are proud to have been one of the earliest supporters of and contributors to $15 Now, a group that initially began the fight for Seattle's minimum wage increase. Other groups also sprang up to fight for a strong minimum wage increase; these included groups such as $15 For Seattle, a collaboration of labor groups pushing for a living minimum wage.

Many of our members played leadership roles in this movement, some serving on steering committees and organizing councils, some pushing the broader labor movement to keep up the pressure until the very last hour, and others showing up to countless town hall meetings, city council meetings, rallies and marches.

After the historic city council vote, IBEW Local 46 — side by side with labor, community advocacy groups, and $15 Now — celebrated a victory for Seattle workers, and workers everywhere, with cake and ice cream supplied by local business owners who have supported the fight for a livable minimum wage in Seattle.

Angela Marshall, Rep.

L.U. 68 (i), DENVER, CO — Greetings, brothers and sisters. Local 68 is still fortunate to be able to put our traveling brothers and sisters to work on a regular basis.

Organizing efforts continue to flourish, with some small shops as well as new members through the CE/CW program. Thank you, Membership Development. If you know of any unorganized workers, please send them to our open house on Thursday evenings here at the hall. Refreshments will be available and contractors' representatives will attend. We also are still looking for qualified apprentice applicants on a daily basis at the Jack Spaar building.

Our annual summer picnic is Aug. 16 at the Westminster Elks. A reminder to our traveling brothers and sisters working in our jurisdiction: Please come join us for food and fun.

2014 midterm elections call for our continued grassroots political involvement. Please find some time to door knock, phone bank, etc. This is important to our livelihoods. Politicians can help (and certainly can harm) working people and our way of life.

Stay safe out there and take care of your brothers and sisters.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of our recently deceased brothers: Robert F. Beyeler, Gary L. Walker, Albert H. Work, Edwin L. Eubank, Daniel I. Bradford, Stanley V. Bergman, Thomas Lombardi Jr., Roy J. Spradlin, Steve Burnik and James P. Stapleton.

Jack Cox, Pres.

L.U. 94 (lctt,nst&u), CRANBURY, NJ — On April 28, IBEW Local 94 youth caucus NxtUp94 donated thousands of pounds of food to the Rise Community Services food pantry. RCS is located next door to Local 94 headquarters in Hightstown, NJ.

Those present for the NxtUp94 event included: Local 94 Bus. Mgr. Buddy Thoman; RCS Executive Dir. Leslie Koppel, vice president of the Monroe Township Council; and New Jersey Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, president of IBEW Local 269.

In just one year of its existence, NxtUp94 has participated in and organized community, social and political activities throughout the state to support and further the goals of the labor movement and the local union.

Leslie Koppel noted that the donation couldn't have come at a better time. "We were extremely low on supplies for the needy, and this will help many families who are struggling to put food on the table," Koppel said. "I want to thank everyone at IBEW Local 94 for their efforts helping to make the lives of the people in Hightstown a little bit better."

Bus. Mgr. Thoman said: "The success of this endeavor is a shining example of what our local union is all about. We power our state and empower our communities."

Frank Brennan, P.S.

L.U. 100 (c,em,i,rts&st), FRESNO, CA — Congratulations to the apprenticeship graduating class of 2014. The celebration for the graduates was held at the Elbow Room. Our new journeymen are: Mark Ackerman, Brian Brown, Robert Clark, Angel Dominguez, Mario Flores, Rene Garcia and Brian McWashington.

Brian Brown won the fifth-year competition and will represent Local 100 at the Western States Competition in Las Vegas later this year.

Regarding California State Certification requirements, JATC Administrator Chuck Stanton reported that continuing journeyman wireman upgrade classes will be offered by the JATC. Members should be aware of their certification expiration date. All members will be responsible for completing their certification renewal and mailing it in to the state. Members must have 32 hours of continuing education every three years for state certification.

At this writing, we are looking forward to our local picnic on Aug. 9 in Kingsburg, CA, at the Riverland. Volunteers are needed to make the picnic a success.

Bus. Mgr. Kevin Cole reports that the work outlook for the summer indicates an expectation that the local will have a clear book.

Attend your local union meetings, held the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

Think safety always.

Michael Caglia, P.S.

L.U. 134 (catv,em,govt,i,mt,rtb,rts,spa&t), CHICAGO, IL — The contracts for the Construction, Maintenance, Communication and Residential agreements were overwhelmingly ratified on May 31, 2014. The Joint Arbitration Board negotiated a greater than 9 percent increase for a three-year contract.

Summer brings the annual increase in school work projects, but overall the outlook is still slow.

Rosemont, IL, will host two upcoming events this fall: the IBEW Sixth District Progress Meeting in September, followed by the Illinois State AFL-CIO Conference in October.

November brings the midterm elections and as always, Local 134 will be mobilizing to help get out the vote for all the labor-friendly candidates across the state.

Frank Cunningham, B.R.

L.U. 146 (ei,i&rts), DECATUR, IL — On Saturday, May 17, we honored our 10 recent apprentice graduates for their success in completing the apprenticeship training program. Congratulations to the nine apprentice inside wireman graduates, and one apprentice telecommunications installer technician graduate. We also extend appreciation and a heartfelt thank-you to Rick Long for his 15 years as one of our instructors.

Josh Delahunty received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, with a grade point average of 95.08.

The summer has been a busy time for members. The Annual Golf Outing was a great success and the weather was perfect. We sent a team to the 38th Local 601 State Softball tournament, and we volunteered our electrical services to the Decatur Celebration once again.

We will now concentrate on supporting the re-election of Gov. Pat Quinn and work to defeat gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner.

We offer our condolences to the families of Bros. Bob Finley and James Delaney, who recently passed away. May their memories be forever in our hearts.

Rich Underwood, R.S.

L.U. 150 (es,i,rts&spa), WAUKEGAN, IL — Plans are proceeding nicely for several more social events this year. Please attend and get to know your brothers and sisters in a social setting. We always have a lot of fun at these events and it does promote a sense of camaraderie among the membership, which strengthens our local.

The 100th Anniversary Banquet will be held on 27 Sept. 2014 at the Marriot Lincolnshire. A mailing was sent and if you are planning on attending your ticket request must be returned by Aug. 11. Please be sure to include your food selection with your check and registration. All other pertinent information regarding guest rooms and group rates were included in the mailing.

The annual golf outing will be held on 23 August 2014 at the Fox Lake Country Club. It will be a shotgun start at 9 a.m. All are welcome, from the Tiger Woods wannabes to the once-a-year duffers. It is always an enjoyable event so come on out. Please sign up at the Hall. Cost after Aug. 1 will be $60 per golfer.

Zion Jubilee Days Parade will be held 1 Sept. 2014. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. Line up at Shiloh Park. Start position not yet determined so watch your email.

Wendy J. Cordts, P.S.

L.U. 164 (c,em,i,o&t), JERSEY CITY, NJ — On Saturday, April 26, Local 164 once again participated in National Rebuilding Day with Rebuilding Together — a national volunteer organization that provides home repairs and necessary renovations for homeowners in need of assistance. Rebuilding Together also works to help veterans' organizations as well as various other community organizations. This year, more than 75 of our Local 164 members, across Hudson, Bergen and Essex counties, turned out to volunteer to serve our communities.

Under the leadership of Bro. Manny Espinoza in Hudson County, Bro. Bill Watts in Essex County and myself in Bergen County, as well as numerous IBEW brothers and sisters who stepped up and led each project, we were able to collectively support 20+ projects with needed electrical repairs and improvements.

Bus. Mgr. Daniel Gumble, Pres. Thomas Sullivan, Bro. Espinoza, Bro. Watts and I would like to thank all the members who came out and gave of their time to help others in our communities. This volunteer community service effort wouldn't be possible without them.

Thank you to all who helped make National Rebuilding Day 2014 a success.

Warren Becker, V.P.

L.U. 180 (c,i&st), VALLEJO, CA — Congratulations to the Inside Apprentice Class of 2014: Cory Archibald, Jacob Booth, Joseph Castro, Joseph Cordeiro, Mateo Dancil, Aaron Fitzgerald, Joseph Gauci, Matthew Grafton, David Hill and Tyrone Lewis.

These fine craftsmen started during the depth of the Great Recession and attended school for a year before starting in the field. The cycle of our industry was not a lesson read in history, but rather witnessed in real time. They will be able to tell those apprentices who follow them to be prepared, and that the struggle was worth it.

Our hopes are for a market recovery and a return to full employment, along with the ability to control H&W costs. The CE/CW classification is helping to land small projects in the area. What we need is one of those book-clearing big jobs. The "big work" still remains at the end of the tunnel currently. We thank our Bay Area sister locals for welcoming our members.

Dan Broadwater, B.M.

L.U. 222 (o), ORLANDO, FL — Greetings, brothers and sisters. At the May 17 membership meeting, under "new business," the chairman opened the floor to nominations for Local 222 officers and delegates to the International Convention.

The following officers were nominated and elected by acclimation for a three-year term: Bus. Mgr./ Fin. Sec. James "Mike" Bell (delegate to the International Convention); Pres. Bill Hitt; Vice Pres. John Harrell; Rec. Sec. Fred Morgan; and Treas. Shelby Mathis. Executive Board members: Tony Elrod, Jim Puzon, Gary Robbins and J.J. Zlotowski. Examining Board members: Willy Dezayas and Danny Powell. Delegates to International Convention: Bill Hitt and Dale Smithmier.

On behalf of all the officers, I want to thank all the members for their trust and confidence. We all will work as hard as we can to continue to earn that trust.

We have begun the Code of Excellence refresher program. Together with our NECA contractors we are visiting the crews in the field to refresh the membership regarding the many virtues that the Code of Excellence program fosters. We are constantly looking for ways to improve the program, so your input is always welcome.

J.M. Bell, B.M.

L.U. 234 (i&mt), CASTROVILLE, CA — We are pleased to report that — with essential assistance from Local 234 officers, Pres. Mike Ihnot and Bus. Mgr. Andy Hartmann, as well as substantial support from both Nissan and Monterey Bay Electric Vehicle Alliance (MBEVA) — an official "Cutting the Gas Hose" ceremony was held at the Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula, locally known as CHOMP.

One of our signatory contractors installed four Level-2 electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) chargers and, a first in this area, a Level-3 electric vehicle charger, generously donated by Nissan. We are grateful to MBEVA (a locally formed advocacy group) for promoting not only awareness but also tireless support for electric vehicle infrastructure development and implementation in the Monterey Bay area. A Level-3 EVSE can bring a vehicle to 80 percent charge in as little as 15-20 minutes, hence the term "fast charge."

Local 234 enthusiastically supports green emerging technologies, such as electric vehicles, which help us to leave the world a better place for our children.

Stephen Slovacek, P.S.

L.U. 236 (catv,ees,govt,i,mo,rtb&t), ALBANY, NY — On May 31, the Tri-City JATC held its 35th Annual Graduation Ceremony honoring the class of 2014. The class of 55 apprenticeship graduates was the largest in the Tri-City's history with several of the graduates being second-generation members. Bus. Mgr. Donald Rahm, along with his father, Donald, was in attendance to honor his son Michael Rahm, as he became a third-generation journeyman. In addition, Bro. James Powell was proud to honor his son Derek Powell, as he became a fourth-generation journeyman.

Other highlights of the evening included the presentation of awards to members of the class who had outstanding achievements throughout their five-year apprenticeship. Awards presented included an IAEI scholarship given to Andres Hincapie for overall outstanding achievement. A Klein toolkit for most on-the-job-training hours was presented to Michael Rahm, and the following received IBEW watches for their academic achievement: Raymond Parsons, with a 99.66 grade average; Stefano Manzinello, with a 97.86 average; and Justin Tougas, with a 97.26 average.

Congratulations and the best of luck to the entire class of 2014!

Michael Torres, P.S.

L.U. 292 (em,govt,i,rtb,rts&spa), MINNEAPOLIS, MN — IBEW Local 292 members showed up in large numbers, along with other IBEW locals in the state, at the Minnesota DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party) endorsing convention in Duluth. Because of our backing, secretary of state candidate Steve Simon won on the first ballot, gaining over two-thirds of the 1,200 delegates.

At the time of this writing, more than 550 Book 1 members are on the out-of-work book, with 73 of them traveling in North Dakota or to other locals. We want to thank the locals that are providing work for our members. We look forward to an improved work picture when our members will have an opportunity to work in their home local again.

For the third year in a row, members of IBEW Local 292 and the Minneapolis Building Trades are working side by side with current members of the Vikings football team to build a community playground at an elementary school.

Additionally, among other events, plans are underway for the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus and the Sisters in Solidarity to wire a home for Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors.

On Sept. 14 there will be a Health Fair that offers vaccinations for flu, pneumonia, and TDAP along with health screenings, sponsored by the IBEW Local 292 Health Care Fund. The event will take place at the UFCW Hall in Maple Grove, MN.

Carl Madsen, B.R./P.S.

L.U. 294 (ees,em,i,rts,spa&u), HIBBING, MN — IBEW Local 294 participated in the Como Oil Hockey Tournament with proceeds going to the Hibbing Youth Hockey Program.

The team consisted of journeymen and apprentices ranging in age from 24 to 60. This was the first time the local participated in the tournament and we hope to make it an annual event. The team was sponsored by area contractors and the local.

Carey Young, Pres.

L.U. 300 (govt,i,mt&u), MONTPELIER, VT — On Sept. 1, 2014, we celebrate Labor Day, a day dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Local 300 would like to say thank-you and best wishes to all IBEW members who continue to work for a better way of life for all workers. The first celebration of Labor Day was Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City.

Local 300 extends a heartfelt thanks to Second District Int. Rep. Rep. Kevin Cash and wishes him and his wife a wonderful, well-deserved retirement. Kevin's dedication, experience, and most of all, his ability to make people smile and enjoy life will be missed and always remembered.

I wish to personally thank Bro. Richard Golembieswski (Local 420) for revitalizing my belief that there are still people who truly value our American heritage and especially our American flag — Old Glory. Without members like Rich, our country would be less mindful of our historical and ethical backbone. The members of Local 420 have a valued asset in Bro. Rich. Don't forget to fly Old Glory high on Labor Day. For guidelines and customs relative to the American flag, visit www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm. Rich, I have the flag pointing in the correct direction — cheers.

God bless everyone and keep the faith.

Jeffrey C. Wimette, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 302 (i,rts&spa), MARTINEZ, CA — May was a very busy month for IBEW Local 302. With the state primary elections and several measures on the ballot, our members were busy with phone banking and precinct walking.

On May 28, we indentured our newest class into our apprenticeship program. One evening later, we proudly welcomed our recent apprentice graduates as new journeyman inside wiremen and sound & communications installers.

Our newest journeyman inside wiremen are: Sean Carter, Serena Clements, Leonel Cruz, Daniel Grimshaw, Aaron McCormick, Nathan Nunes, Ryan Oxford, Steve Page and Randy Strock. Our newest sound & communications installers are: Qadir Al-Amin, Victor Chavez, Kevin Doktor, James Espinosa, Willie Mallory III and Christopher Singh.

These young members not only successfully completed our rigorous, top-level training, but also had to endure some of the most challenging economic times this local has ever faced. Despite these challenging conditions, they showed perseverance and foresight in completing their training and joining the ranks of the IBEW.

Among those who gathered to recognize the recent graduates were: contractors, former business managers, International Representatives, Local 302 Bus. Mgr. Ron Bennett, the assistants and staff. All joined together in welcoming these new wiremen and sound & communication graduates as we cast our eyes to the future of our local and our industry.

Bob Lilley, A.B.M.

L.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OH — With the midterm elections and the governor's race fast approaching, it is very important that everyone remembers to register to vote. If you have moved or had a change in any of your personal information since the last election, please remember to update your voting status. Also, if you have friends or relatives who are public employees — such as teachers, firemen or police officers — please remind them of 2011 and what Gov. John Kasich tried to do to them with SB-5 and what may happen if he is allowed a second term.

On June 21 the annual Local 306 Golf Outing was held at Paradise Lake. As always everyone had a good time and enjoyed the friendly competition. A complete list of winning teams and individuals will be included in the fall edition of our local newsletter.

In July we had yet another social outing — the annual picnic, which was held at Sluggers and Putters. This is a great venue and a great family get-together with something for everyone. Thanks go out to our Social Committee for putting the event together every year.

With great sadness we report the passing of retired Bros. Clifford Boggs, William Brant and Rodney Hubbard. We send our heartfelt condolences to their families.

Thomas Wright, Mbr. Dev.

L.U. 388 (em,i,rts&spa), STEVENS POINT, WI — The local was saddened by the tragic death of one of our young journeyman wiremen, Nick Stuttgen, last November. Nick leaves a wife and a large family, and many friends who will never forget him.

IBEW Local 388 and its members have long awaited the arrival of construction season; this past winter I believe went into the record books as the coldest and snowiest on record.

Our work outlook seems very positive for the next couple of years with construction of the Weston 3 power plant ReACT emission control project. ReACT (Regenerative Activated Coke Technology) is a unique antipollution control system, which is being started as of this writing.

Other projects have started getting off the ground, with the prospect of not only putting Book 1 hands to work but also hiring a few travelers. So, if you are traveling and in the area please stop in and sign our book.

Guy LePage, P.S.

L.U. 412 (u), KANSAS CITY, MO — Congratulations to Bro. Joseph W. Greene Sr. on his recent retirement from Kansas City Power & Light following nearly 70 years of service.

Bro. Greene, affectionately known as "Mean Joe" Greene, began his career at KCP&L in 1945. He briefly left the company and returned in 1947 as a machinist. In April 1948, Bro. Greene became a member of IBEW Local 412. During his tenure, he was a safety representative, served as a union steward and was elected to the local union Executive Board in 1974 for a two-year term. Early in his career he held a janitor position at KCP&L and subsequently advanced to work as an apprentice mechanic, journey mechanic, and tool room attendant at Hawthorne Station. His longtime, accomplished career in the electric utility industry concluded with his May 1, 2014, retirement.

Bro. Greene, an active community leader, recently was honored by the IBEW Electrical Workers Minority Caucus for his "dedication and devotion to all you have served and touched over many years."

Congratulations and best wishes for a happy retirement to Bro. Mean Joe Greene.

Note: Thank you to Renee Mosby for providing information for this article.

Debi Kidwiler, P.S.

L.U. 530 (i,o&rtb), SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA — Once again Local 530 members took time out of their busy Mother's Day weekend to sell flowers to raise money for the M.S Carnation Campaign, a fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. This year we sold $4,274 worth of carnations. As every year, this annual event wouldn't be possible without the organizing done by Bro. Darren Vail. Thank you to Darren and all the volunteers who helped.

Local 530 competed again this year in Big Bike for Heart & Stroke. Thanks go out to Bro. Bryan Spowart for organizing our team and to all members who collected donations and rode the Big Bike.

Local 530 would like to thank the following locals for helping to employ our members during these slow times: Locals 105 (Hamilton), 586 (Ottawa), 1687 (Sudbury), 993 (Kamloops) and 424 (Edmonton).

Al Byers, P.S.

L.U. 558 (catv,em,i,mt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), SHEFFIELD, AL — With most sincere sadness we report that Local 558 lost a dear brother in the line of duty on June 5, 2014.

Chris Williamson, a husband, father of three, and a dedicated IBEW lineman for Florence Utilities, was tragically taken while doing repairs after a severe storm passed through north Alabama.

Chris was employed at Florence Utilities for 20+ years and was initiated into the Brotherhood on Jan. 27, 2003, as an apprentice lineman. He went on to successfully complete his four-year apprenticeship training here at Local 558 and became a journeyman lineman in May 2008. Bro. Williamson was an avid outdoorsman, participated in his children's Little League sports, and spearheaded a Wild Game Cook-off at his church that raised $25,000 to help less fortunate families during Christmas.

The tremendous outpouring at his memorial was a display of honor, service, unity and brotherhood. His name will be spoken with reverence, and his memory will forever live in our hearts. Chris Williamson E-111.

Tony Quillen, Pres./A.B.M.

L.U. 570 (i,mo,spa&u), TUCSON, AZ — Congratulations to Local 570's recent apprenticeship graduates. The new journeymen are: Gerald Detelj, Nicholas Nolasco, Levi Clark, Adrian Padilla and David Fregonese.

Unfortunately, work is still slow for our inside members.

As for our units, the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) sites in Fort Huachuca and Yuma both ratified their contracts with Exelis Inc. in May 2014. Contracts will run until July 2017.

Scott W. Toot, Pres.

L.U. 606 (em,es,i,rtb,spa&u), ORLANDO, FL — Sister Janet Skipper, assistant apprenticeship director, led a four-woman delegation from Local 606 to the Women Building California & America conference recently. The conference goals are to see more women enter the construction trades and to offer tradeswomen opportunities for networking, skill building, leadership development and organizing.

Attending with Sister Skipper were Theresa White, Lorraine Llauger and Tina Howell. All four sisters agree that the conference was a huge success and encourage other IBEW locals to send representatives to the next conference tentatively scheduled for April 2015.

It is with great sadness that Local 606 announces the death of the following brothers: John O'Brian, Mike Brewer, Jimmy Mathias and Hermann "Skip" Bonner. All of these gentlemen were strong union brothers and they will be sorely missed.

Fernando Rendon, R.S./P.S.

L.U. 666 (i,mt&o), RICHMOND, VA — Bro. John N. "Nick" Ware was initiated into IBEW Local 666 on Aug. 18, 1939. Congratulations, Bro. Ware, on your 75th year of membership!

Bro. Ware's first union job was with Cornell & Waldbauer, wiring housing for pilots at Byrd Airport in Richmond.

During World War II, Bro. Ware was sent to Camp Lee for basic training and to serve as an electrician for the U.S. Army. Once he arrived in England, Bro. Ware installed watertight doors on barges that had been sunk at Dunkirk to prepare them for the coming invasion of France. As Allied forces made gains into Europe following D-Day, he helped keep the locomotives running.

Bro. Ware returned to his former employer after the war, and was eventually asked to run work, including frequent work for Miller & Rhoads department store. In subsequent years, Mr. Waldbauer retired. Then in 1971, Mr. Cornell announced his retirement and offered to sell the business to Bro. Ware. Cornell & Waldbauer carried on as a signatory contractor under Ware's leadership until his retirement in 1980, when he sold the business.

Many thanks, Bro. Ware, for your longtime service to your local union and to your country!

Charles Skelly, P.S.

L.U. 692 (i,mt&spa), BAY CITY, MI — The Cross Winds wind farm has started to hire. IBEW Locals 692 and 557 are jointly involved on this project. The hiring has been slow because of weather conditions.

Bro. Rich Rytlewski was appointed business agent for business development.

This 2014 midterm election year is very important, as are all elections. This year we have our races for governor, for the state legislature, and for the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as various local races, to be concerned about. Please come to meetings and get involved.

Our retirees meet once a month in a different location every month. This is a good chance to stay in touch with retired brothers and sisters.

It is hard to believe after this brutally hard winter that we will have to worry about the heat this summer. Please use precaution this summer with all outdoor activities.

Let us never forget the hard work of brothers and sisters who came before us and who fought to make our union strong. Let us continue to fight hard to keep our union strong!

Let us never forget our members and nonmembers who serve our great country in the military. We thank them for their service.

Tammy Gottleber, 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), WEST FRANKFORT, IL — As of this writing, we had a pending arbitration set for June 26 at Hamilton County Telephone Cooperative concerning a unilateral 66 percent reduction to pension benefits.

New agreements to report on: At Tri-County Electric Cooperative, members moved their insurance to LINECO with the employer paying 100 percent of the premium, 2.5 percent annual wage increases for five years, and five weeks' vacation at 20 years. At Wayne White Electric Cooperative, members are under a new three-year contract with 3 percent wage increases each year. At Ozark Border Electric Cooperative, members ratified a new five-year contract that includes a defined benefit pension plan with a 2.0 multiplier, LINECO insurance paid at 100 percent, and a 3 percent wage increase each year.

We currently have opened or will open contracts this year with: Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Wabash Telephone Cooperative, Egyptian Telephone Cooperative, SEMO Electric Cooperative, City of Olney, Mt. Vernon Electric Motor Shop, Pemiscot Dunklin Electric Cooperative as well as our Inside Construction Agreement.

Our Outside Construction and Line Clearance work continues to be strong, and as of this writing, our referral books are as follows: Inside Construction — 85, Outside Construction — 6, and Line Clearance — 3.

Mark Baker, B.R./P.S.

L.U. 1106 (catv,rtb&t), MASON, MI — On May 1, Local 1106 Safety Committee members and Frontier Communications management met for their biannual statewide safety meeting In Alma, MI.

Local 1106 has participated in these meetings every year since 1990; the meetings are held in May and November (on the first Thursday of the respective months). The union-appointed safety reps, as well as management, bring their concerns and issues to the forum, where the issues are discussed and solutions are developed. Some issues are resolved on the spot and others are discussed at every meeting as a reminder that safety is always the top priority. The union reps then take this information back to their unit meetings and company safety meetings to remind all of us about the importance of safety.

If you have a safety concern that you would like addressed at one of these meetings, bring it to your rep so it can be added to the next agenda. If that concern needs immediate attention, don't wait; tell someone now. If you are interested in being a member of the Local 1106 Safety Committee and safety is your priority, please contact your unit E-Board member so you can be considered. Our next safety meeting is Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014.

Dave McCarthy, V.P./P.S.

L.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON, AZ — Our new office and union hall are up and running.

We held our nomination of officers at our first monthly meeting in the new hall on May 1, enjoyed some pizza and members checked out our new home. We also swore in Florentino "Tino" Duarte, our first new member to take the oath of obligation in our new hall.

Our union members at Tucson Electric Power and Southwest Energy Solutions in Springerville received the Powder River Basin Coal Users Group's Plant of the Year Award during PRBCUG's annual conference on March 31. Springerville Generating Station is a 1,600 megawatt facility which comprises four units of comparable generation capability.

At this writing, SGS was scheduled to hold a celebration lunch on site June 12 for the employees. IBEW 1116.1 Unit Chmn. Rick Ryan expressed his pride regarding the membership's accomplishment and stated: "It is good that someone notices the hard work and dedication our membership puts into their daily efforts. Without our pride and professionalism, this award would not be possible."

Congratulations to the TEP/SES members on this fine accomplishment.

Richard "R.C." Cavaletto, P.S.

L.U. 1316 (i&o), MACON, GA — On June 5, IBEW Local 1316 and the Macon Electrical JATC welcomed five new journeyman wiremen into our ranks.

The recent graduates are: Bros. Gilberto Gonzalez, Andrew Johnson, Larry Billue, James Lumley and Ryan Ward. These new journeymen are pictured below with Local 1316 Bus. Mgr. Ralph Snowden and Macon Electrical JATC Dir. Wesley Jarrard.

Bro. James Lumley was also chosen to receive the Morgan Bowen Award for outstanding performance during his apprenticeship; the award included new tools from Klein and a $300 check.

We congratulate these young men for their accomplishment and the hard work and perseverance it took to reach this milestone in their careers.

Harry Murray, Mbr. Dev. Dir.

L.U. 1466 (u), COLUMBUS, OH — IBEW Local 1466 recently held another round of negotiations with American Electric Power (AEP) to try to work out a first contract for our Distribution Dispatch Center employees. After many rounds of setbacks and tough negotiations, as of press time it looks as though things are finally starting to move in the right direction. We hope that we can expect to have a tentative agreement very soon.

In other news, Local 1466, along with AEP, was awarded the Engaged Leadership Advocacy Award from the United Way of Central Ohio. This award recognizes the contributions of Local 1466 members to the annual United Way campaign, and our members' commitment to the communities where we live and work. Thank you to all for caring and taking the time to make a difference.

We hope everyone is enjoying their summer, working hard and staying safe!

Jimi Jette, P.S.

L.U. 2324 (t), SPRINGFIELD, MA — On Saturday, May 3, IBEW Local 2324 held its sixth annual Benevolent Fund Golf Tournament. Nine teams played this year raising over $5,000.

There was a closest-to-the-pin contest and a great many raffles. Dinner was served after the tournament and awards were handed out.

The IBEW 2324 Benevolent Fund helps support members in need as well as charities in the area. This year one of the groups we are working with is the Fallen Lineman Organization, which helps to improve the lives of families of linemen who have died on the job. We have also recently worked with the groups Friends of the Homeless and Wreaths Across America.

The golf tournament was a great day of fun to raise money for many great causes.

Christine Casino, Exec. Board