On Feb. 26, my life flashed before my eyes as I fell 12 feet from a Digger Derrick truck in Rochester, N.Y. I knew I was blessed to have an amazing family and group of friends, but I didn't know the true magnitude of love that surrounded me. Along with the best medical treatment I received, if it weren't for my friends, family, colleagues from JF Electric and electrical contractors from around the area and Syracuse Local 1249, I'm not sure I would have come out so strong.

After the fall I was left heavily sedated and on life support for three weeks due to a fractured skull. While my wife and two daughters sat by my side, they were also burdened with life's day-to-day tasks. Mark Lawrence and Dan Defoe, from Local 1249, took immediate action to help my girls. They made it so my family could focus on my recovery and not the paperwork. You never think you'll be the recipient of gifts from the union, but this support was critical when so much was unknown. My wife and daughters are especially grateful to the union and everyone else who prayed, sent cards, sent gas cards, etc. ... You all gave them strength.

My accident has also made me realize the importance of safety training. My colleagues, David Yoeman, Marty Foit and Jason Neshi, immediately applied the safety techniques they've learned to ultimately save my life. Our safety instructor, Richard "Frenchie" French, gave these men the tools they needed to help me. While you hope to never implement these techniques, you never know. Dave, Marty and Jason didn't hesitate and I'm so lucky to have had them by my side.

It's been six months since the accident and I'm home with my family, waiting for my first grandchild to arrive. I'm still battling some scars and building back strength, but all things considered I'm doing well. I've been a lineman for 40 years. My blood still ignites when a good thunderstorm comes roaring through, but I've also learned that life is precious. You only get one, so right now I'm focusing on what's important. I'm blessed to be part of a union, a community who protects and serves its members.

Allen Harter, Local 1249 member
Syracuse, N.Y.

I'm disturbed by the increasing "business unionism" I'm seeing from our International Office.

I disagree with the IO's stand on Keystone XL and I suspect a majority of IBEW members do.

In the July 31 issue of "Investor's Business Daily," a magazine rarely supporting working people or their unions, the IBEW was praised for opposing the Obama administration's green agenda.

Lately the parroting of the utility industry's rage against the EPA's Clean Power Plan has left me astonished. Not only is the IBEW using flawed, corporate generated talking points but it is working against the interests of our members and our members' families.

Cleaning up our most polluting industries will not only create more good IBEW jobs long term, but it will create tens of thousands of short term construction jobs and guarantee our families more healthy communities.

There are no jobs on a dead planet and I encourage our International Office to live up to the forward thinking of our founders.

Allen Shur, retired Local 569 business manager
San Diego

The IBEW has always been at the forefront defending worker rights and family values. Ed Hill and his staff would not have it any other way. The Right Choice always!

Gordon Young, Local 3 member
Flushing, NY