L.U. 12 (i,o&se), PUEBLO, CO — Local 12 celebrated 115 years at our Annual Awards Banquet on Feb. 28. The evening's activities began with drinks and a delicious dinner, followed by the presentation of service pins.

Attendees included recipients of five-year pins all the way to a 65-year pin recipient, Bro. Art Lazzarini, who unfortunately passed away on March 19 at age 91. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Our 50-year members are Russell Hylton, Darrell Mull and John Nieto. Kenneth Fowler received a 55-year pin.

This year seven recent retirees received their watches: Lawrence Ahlin, Louis DeNiro, Robert D. Grinstead Jr., Rick Hill, Douglas McCurry (pictured), Terry Stice and William Van Valkenburg.

The Apprentice Awards were presented by Apprenticeship Dir. Brian Miller. Nicholas Anderson received the Apprentice of the Year Award and Matt Melster was the runner-up. The Outstanding New Apprentice was Joshua Albers. The graduates of 2014 were also recognized: Trent Smith and Matthew Juarez. Everyone had a great time and we look forward to our next event.

Susan Johnson, P.S.

L.U. 16 (i), EVANSVILLE, IN — This year's annual Easter Egg Hunt was again a resounding success. Thousands of eggs were stuffed and carefully placed on the hillside in front of the hall. These hidden treasures were then gathered by the children and grandchildren of the membership. The Easter Bunny was on hand to greet everyone on this beautiful spring day. Thanks to the Entertainment Committee for a great time, and to Bro. John Parker for donning the big white suit, ears and all.

Local 16's Political Action Committee recently held another great Cornhole Tournament and Chicken Dinner. The committee also continues to serve tasty meals for sale before regular union meetings, and will be hosting the 4th Annual Golf Scramble on June 12, 2015. Proceeds from these events are used to help fund pro-labor candidates in future elections.

The membership also would like to thank Mayor Lloyd Winnecke for his continued support of skilled labor in the Evansville area. During his term in office he has promoted project labor agreements, worked adamantly for building a downtown convention hotel as well as the IU Medical Center, and stood firmly against any weakening of statewide Common Construction Laws.

Donald P. Beavin, P.S.

L.U. 24 (es,i&spa), BALTIMORE, MD — On Monday, March 23, two buses, loaded with IBEW Local 24 members from all classifications and walks of life, descended on the Statehouse in Annapolis.

We joined the ranks of other labor unions both blue and white collar to send a message to our new Republican governor that we will stand together and defend the rights of working families to have access to good wages, health care and pensions. We are pleased to announce that, once again, we have defeated another attempt at passing "right to work" legislation in our state. With our membership behind us we will continue to fight legislation and legislators that attempt to do harm to our members' livelihoods and how they provide for their families.

On Wednesday, March 25, Local 24 hosted an Industry Night at our union hall. The meeting was sponsored by the Maryland Electrical Industry Labor Management Cooperative Committee. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Recovery Agreement. The meeting was attended by 75 people consisting of local union officers and agents, representatives from the IBEW's Fourth District, NECA representatives and contractors.

Have a safe spring and summer.

Gary R. Griffin, B.M.

L.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC — All plans have been finalized for our Manassas, VA, picnic on Saturday, June 20 and our Edgewater, MD, picnic on Saturday, Aug. 1. Be sure to order your tickets so you don't miss out on this day of brotherhood, health awareness and fun!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 4th Annual Poker Run on May 2 and our Dollars Against Diabetes Golf Outing on June 1. These events were a huge success, and we were able to make a generous donation to worthy causes.

Two of our business representatives have retired and are looking forward to starting the next chapter in their lives. Congratulations to Michael Hoyt and Steve Zimmerman.

The following members passed away since our last article: William M. Ward III, Maurice O. Peed Jr., Lawrence F. Middleton, William Granberry, Kenneth C. Karsten, Gary W. Stone, Juan A. Richards and Franklin D. Golladay. They will be missed.

Best wishes to new retirees: Don E. Gray, Michael D. Peterson, Dennis G. Pratt, William A. Stuckwisch, Michael H. Jeffra, Rene Gonzalez, John E. Faris, Antoine Hart, Daniel J. Peake, William S. Crain and Michael E. Novitski.

Charles E. Graham, B.M.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH — Local 38 members continue to work on Phase 2 of the two-year, $120 million renovation to FirstEnergy Stadium for the Cleveland Browns football team.

Local 38 members working with Zenith Systems on the FirstEnergy Stadium project are currently working on the $50 million second phase, which includes: new club seats, renovated club and hospitality sections, the addition of a new club located across from the Browns' locker room on the service level, renovated suites, updated concourses, new concession stands and updates to the facade with team graphics and murals.

At this writing, a lot of work also was going on at Progressive Field for the Cleveland Indians baseball team, with many Local 38 members working there for Einheit Electric and Lake Erie Electric. At press time, the rush was on to get the work done before the start of the Indians' season. Einheit Electric was installing several systems including networks systems, broadcasting, Wi-Fi system, sound system, television and cabling for Major League Baseball upgrades. Lake Erie Electric had the "Remake the Gate C Entrance" job off East Ninth Street. The Indians project also includes: building a two-story, indoor-outdoor bar in right field; moving the bullpens up to give fans a better view of the players during warm-ups; expanding the Kids Clubhouse; and incorporating five neighborhood-themed vending areas.

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

L.U. 42 (catv,em,govt,lctt&o), HARTFORD, CT — During the winter of 2014 and continuing into 2015, New England has had a very long and hard winter with excessive amounts of snowfall and frigid temperatures. This has made the work picture for the local very slow and difficult. At this early spring writing we expect that once the snow melts and dries out, work should pick up.

As a reminder, the CDLA (commercial driver's license-A) test for Connecticut will be changing very soon. If you don't have your CDLA, we strongly advise you to sign up for the training through the OSHE Department. For any journeyman lineman and equipment operator, if you don't have your Massachusetts Hoisting License, please see the OSHE Department as well. With the amount of future work in the state of Massachusetts, we'll need a lot of qualified workers.

Make sure to put the upcoming 2015 events on your calendars: June 6 – Annual Bike Run; June 27 – Dinner Cruise; July 11 – Chartered Fishing Trip; July 25 – Annual "BA" Picnic; Aug. 29 – Annual "A" Picnic; Sept. 12 – Cod Fishing Trip; Oct. 3 – Trap Shoot; and Dec. 10. – Union Meeting/Smoker buffet.

Jacquelyn Moffitt, P.S.

L.U. 46 (as,c,cs,em,es,et,i,mar,mo,mt,rtb,rts&st), SEATTLE, WA — On Friday, Feb. 20, nearly 100 members of the IBEW Local 46 boarded buses and headed to the state Capitol in Olympia for a labor-wide Lobby Day. Members gathered into groups based on legislative districts and met with their legislators to discuss Shared Prosperity bills.

The Shared Prosperity bills included a raise in the minimum wage and addressed the issues of wage theft and anti-retaliation, as well as several other measures aimed at helping working class families.

After visiting with legislators, members of several labor unions gathered on the steps of the Capitol in solidarity to show support for workers and the labor movement. Speakers from the union building trades, the Washington State Labor Council and several state representatives also showed their support for the Shared Prosperity bills and the labor movement, and conveyed their vision for the future. Together, we sent the state leaders a message that labor stands united.

Thank you to Wendy Brown for her contributions to this article.

Angela Marshall, Rep.

L.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts,st&tm), PORTLAND, OR — When you want a project done in Local 48's jurisdiction the first step is "Talk to the Union." Bus. Mgr. Gary Young has his staff fighting for the approval of critical construction projects. Local 48 Bus. Rep. Mike Bridges is president of the Longview-Kelso Building & Construction Trades Council, and is fighting for projects that will put IBEW members and other building trades folks to work through project labor agreements (PLAs).

"It's crucial that we secure these projects prior to bidding," Bridges said. "Every PLA on the front side saves union resources on the back side, and puts us and our signatory contractors in the driver's seat," he added. "These projects are also key and timely to training the next generation of journeymen through apprenticeship."

Here are a couple of the projects currently being supported that will be built union if they receive permits:

• Millennium Bulk Terminals is a $600 million coal export facility in Longview, WA.

• Northwest Innovation Works (NWIW) plans to build two $1.8 billion methanol plants. One at the Port of Kalama, WA, and another at Port Westward, OR. These facilities will take natural gas from pipeline to the proposed facilities where it will be converted to methanol.

Unions thrive on demand for labor. Gary Young and Mike Bridges are making sure that when you want a large project approved in Local 48, you should "Talk to the Union."

Bob Blair, P.S.

L.U. 50 (u), RICHMOND, VA — After a vacancy occurred, it was determined in April of 2015 that the chairman and other positions at the Norfolk Unit needed to be filled. After the nomination and election, Local 50 Bus. Mgr./Pres. Brad Stevens, administered the oath to Norfolk Unit officers: Ryan Gettier, chairman; Steve Patterson, vice chairman; and Jared Seeloff, recorder.

Members from the Chesapeake, Chuckatuck, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and VNG-Southern locations report to the Norfolk Unit meeting monthly.

Local 50 represents over 3,000 employees of Dominion, BARC Electric Cooperative, Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative, Monongahela Power (First Energy), and Virginia Natural Gas (Atlanta Gas-Light Resources).

John Albert, Treas./Sr. Bus. Rep.

L.U. 70 (lctt&o), WASHINGTON, DC — W.A. Chester, LLC, an IBEW contractor, is one of the leading electrical contractors for underground transmission and distribution cable systems installation, maintenance and repair for the nation's electric utilities and independent power producers. A few Local 70 members recently took time to demonstrate the latest state-of-the-art equipment — a 25,000-pound continuous pull winch truck with recording capabilities, and a dynamically positioning cable reel truck, for use during underground distribution cable installation operations in the Washington, D.C., area.

Utilizing the state-of-the-art equipment are the members out of Local 70, who work long hours and weekends in D.C., around the country and around the world. The IBEW members install, splice and terminate paper lead and high voltage cable, exhibiting their vast knowledge of the network systems that help keep our lights on. Thanks, guys, for all your hard work and sacrifices.

We mourn the passing of Bro. Dennis Porter. He will be greatly missed.

Jimmy Horton, B.R.

L.U. 80 (i&o), NORFOLK, VA — As winter gave way to spring, work throughout our jurisdiction has improved greatly. We currently have significant work, with many traveling brothers able to get to work here. Thanks to all the locals that have assisted in providing manpower to these projects. Work should continue to be strong through the summer and into the fall.

Congratulations to the following brothers who retired within the past year: Leonard Cressman, Richard Dailey, Lawrence Johnson, Ronald Ricks and Darrell Waters. Best wishes to each of these brothers for a long and enjoyable retirement.

W. Dennis Floyd, A.B.M.

L.U. 100 (c,em,i,rts&st), FRESNO, CA — Work continues to be good. Local 100 expects full employment through 2016. At this writing we are in contract negotiations with the National Electrical Contractors Association for a three-year contract.

In early May, Local 100 was proud to send Brianna Nelson to the fifth National Conference for Women in the Trades, "Women Building the Nation 2015," held by the State Building & Construction Trades of California.

Michael Caglia, P.S.

L.U. 102 (em,govt,i,mt,o&ws), PATERSON, NJ — George Meany, the AFL-CIO's first president, was a strong supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1974 the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO established the George Meany Award. This move provided an opportunity for labor to recognize members whose contributions to today's youth, through volunteer efforts with the Boy Scouts of America, went above and beyond. Labor has always been a vital part of our local community efforts; the brothers and sisters who are recipients of the George Meany Award not only contribute to their communities, but they also help shape the future of America — our children.

All of us at Local 102 our proud to salute Bro. Peter Dubicki, a recipient of this year's George Meany Award. Bro. Dubicki's volunteer efforts were recognized at our March membership meeting. In his statement to the membership, he took no credit for his service to scouting. Instead, Bro. Dubicki thanked the labor movement for providing him with a good salary and good benefits, thereby enabling him to do community work. Well said, Bro. Dubicki, and congratulations!

Bernard T. Corrigan, Pres.

L.U. 104 (lctt,o&u), BOSTON, MA — Twenty-nine years ago, a mother of two dared to apply to become a journeyman lineman and is now retiring as the first woman to become a JL in Local 104's 115-year history.

Judy McAndrew was asked an interesting question in her interview. Someone asked: "The dangers of line work could leave your children without a mother. What would that do to your children?" She replied, "What would it do if my husband was killed driving to work? Give me a chance, I won't let you down." Her direct nature and determination followed throughout her career.

With names like Lavey, Miller, Mackie and Cabral guiding Judy throughout her apprenticeship, becoming a JL was a year away although work in New England dried up. Her end goal would be met on the road. With two small children and the support of her best friend/husband, Richard, Judy headed to New York to complete her apprenticeship. A year later, she became a JL.

Judy worked for many companies, but for the past 21 years she worked for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). Judy led by example as an Executive Board member, steward, contract negotiator and most importantly, a true sister/friend. We all miss her already and hope she enjoys her retirement. She earned it!

Hugh A. Boyd, A.B.M.

L.U. 124 (ees,em,i,mar,rts,se,spa&t), KANSAS CITY, MO — The long-awaited Cerner Corp. project has broken ground on the former Bannister Mall property. The project will have a $4.45 billion price tag and will be built over a 10-year period. The company's new Trails Campus calls for 4.7 million square feet of construction in 16 buildings on 290 acres and will be complete in 2025. The Kansas City Council and the Missouri General Assembly generously approved various incentives.

Meanwhile, in our state Capitol the anti-labor legislators continue their attack on Missouri working families. Their bills include: elimination of prevailing wage, cutting unemployment compensation, paycheck deception, and of course "right to work" (for less). The IBEW's pushback effort is of the three-prong variety. IBEW members Joe Runions (Local 124), Jacob Hummel (Local 1) and Keith English (Local 1) are serving as ground troops on the floor of the Missouri General Assembly. These three representatives are assisted by an effective lobbying firm and a legislative education team led by Local 1 and Local 124 Presidents Tom George and Rudy Chavez. The fight is far from over, but we must prevail or the blood, sweat and tears of generations past will have been in vain. May God bless the IBEW.

We remember the following deceased members: Charles A. Burton, Frederick T. Brunker, Albert H. Champ, Dory D. Craig, Paul Crossland, Frederick V. Kornis, Eugene Silvers and Wesley K. Stites.

Congratulations to the recently retired members: Peter J. Asta, Mike D. Bedell, Tim S. Hawley Sr., Roy B. Miller III and Timothy Zeigler.

Steve Morales, P.S.

L.U. 134 (catv,em,govt,i,mt,rtb,rts,spa&t), CHICAGO, IL — Fifteen Local 134 young members attended the RENEW — Reach out and Engage Next-Gen Electrical Workers — Conference held here in Chicago in March. Attending were 450 brothers and sisters from across the U.S. and Canada. Local 134's RENEW Committee hosted a tour of our school in Alsip for over 100 attendees along with IBEW Int. Pres. Edwin D. Hill. Guests saw first-hand all the classrooms and the new renewable energy facility. Local 134's Patrick Lando and Harry Ohde made informative tour presentations and our guests were very impressed.

The RENEW conference aimed to hone leadership skills in the young IBEW members. Discussions included ways to: move our union into the future, positively rebrand the union worker through organizing, increase member participation, and change the negative message spread by union busters.

Breakout sessions focused on the history of IBEW, the labor movement, furthering IBEW's positive image in the workforce, and more.

Many Local 134 members made special presentations at the conference, including Anthony Scorzo, Chantel Moore, John Felke and Harrys Buttons.

Our apprentices and young journeymen learned a great deal through their collaboration with fellow IBEW members. The camaraderie, networking, stories and fresh ideas will strengthen our local! A special thanks to all our Local 134 participants.

Frank Cunningham, R.S.

L.U. 146 (ei,i&rts), DECATUR, IL — At this writing we are continuing our fight against new Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, as he is advocating "right to work" through so-called Employee Empowerment Zones. Our new governor is also attacking prevailing wage, project labor agreements (PLAs), workers' compensation, and unemployment benefits. He is a prime example of why it is so important for union people to vote for labor-friendly candidates.

The Clinton Power Station outage was recently completed. Thank you to all the traveling brothers and sisters who helped to make this a successful outage. The Cronus Fertilizer project is a few months behind schedule and we look forward to its start sometime this summer. Other projects in the local have been delayed by the winter weather.

Our hardiest congratulations to recent retirees Dan Cooper, Bob Atkinson Sr. and Gary Jones. Thank you to all for your years of service and knowledge.

Condolences go out to the families of several Local 146 brothers who recently passed away: Bros. James Birge, Robert Garecht Sr. and Starlin Snodgrass.

Rich Underwood, R.S.

L.U. 150 (es,i,rts&spa), WAUKEGAN, IL — There will be several fun activities this summer for the membership. We will be having our annual picnic for members and their families at Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda on June 20 from 12 noon until dusk. We will be at Shelter E. If you would like to help out with cleanup, setup, etc. please sign up at the hall. Bring your family and come enjoy a day of family fun with your union brothers and sisters.

We will also have our annual golf outing on Aug. 7 at the Fox Lake Country Club. The cost is $55 per golfer. There will be a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Registration that day begins at 7:30 a.m. Sign up at the Hall. After Aug. 7 the cost is $60 per golfer. There will be food, prizes and beverages. Come on out for some fun and camaraderie!

It certainly hasn't taken our new Republican governor long to start enacting "right to work" zones. Don't ever think that your vote doesn't count. Look at what we have now leading this state. A very sad day in Illinois. Voting is more than a civic duty; it is a privilege of citizenship. Don't ever throw that privilege away.

Work seems to be on a slight uptick. Maybe some brighter days for all of us are ahead.

Wendy J. Cordts, P.S.

L.U. 158 (i,it,mar,mt&spa), GREEN BAY, WI — Wisconsin in two weeks' time became the 25th state to become a so-called "right-to-work" state. We joined our fellow Sixth District states Indiana and Michigan in having right-to-work shoved down our throats. On Feb. 24 the measure was introduced in the state Senate by the Republicans when they called for an extraordinary session to fast track this bill without much debate.

Thousands of people showed up at the Capitol in Madison to protest and try to give testimonials to the Senate committee, but it was to no avail. Over a dozen Local 158 members as well as myself attended the rally in Madison along with several thousand other IBEW brothers and sisters. Thanks to all who participated. The following week the State Assembly followed the same strategy with little debate and passed the bill. The governor signed it into law on March 9. Now that's democracy.

Our local is looking at having a busy summer workwise. Many projects are waiting to take off and there are many existing projects continuing to move along.

Donald C. Allen, B.M.

L.U. 164 (c,em,i,o&t), JERSEY CITY, NJ — As we all know, the great recession took its toll on everyone, and our local was no different. We all had to take steps to tighten our belts in order to weather the storm. Thankfully, the economy has begun to rebound and the work picture looks bright for the foreseeable future.

Bus Mgr. Dan Gumble and Pres. Tom Sullivan are proud to announce that after a five-year hiatus, we will once again be holding our Annual Local Outing and our Annual Dinner Dance in honor of our retirees. Our Local Outing will be held at Forest Lodge in Warren, NJ, on Saturday, Sept. 12, this year. Our Dinner Dance will be at the Sheraton in Mahwah, NJ, on Saturday, Dec. 12.

Our members know these are treasured traditions that are close to our hearts and we are so very pleased to be able to continue them this year. Whether you've attended in the past or have not had the opportunity to attend previously, don't miss the events this year; they will be fantastic.

Please come out and share in the fun and help us make memories that will last a lifetime.

Warren Becker, V.P.

L.U. 234 (i&mt), CASTROVILLE, CA — We are pleased to report on a recent visit of 3M representative Randall Momota, who presented a two-hour electrical tape training to a packed house of journeymen and apprentices. It is truly eye-opening to learn firsthand how the materials we use, and may take for granted in our daily work, have changed. They also have very specific manufacturer's instructions for proper application. A material's given listing and the NEC both require that the material be installed correctly according to the manufacturer's specifications.

The training session provided instruction on the correct way to apply 3M lined rubber tape. Learning proper taping techniques directly from the manufacturer was a great exercise and beneficial to all involved.

We look forward to more onsite manufacturer trainings to improve our field performance. A very grateful thank-you to our vendors and we enthusiastically welcome them to continue.

Stephen Slovacek, P.S.

L.U. 254 (ees,em,mo,o,rts&u), CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA — Sadly we say "farewell, our brother," to former Local 254 business manager Harold Taylor, who passed away this year.

Harold was Local 254 business manager/financial secretary during the 1970s, '80s and early '90s. While he was president of Local 254 and a working electrician, the local went on strike to get paid statutory holidays. The strike ended when the Alberta government agreed to bring in legislation for paid statutory holidays. Everybody who gets paid for statutory holidays now has this group of striking electricians to thank for paving the way.

Harold devoted his life to improving things for the union and the industry that he was so proud of. He also served as president of the Alberta Building & Construction Trades Council.

One of Harold's most important accomplishments was being part of a small group of industry leaders who brought to the electrical construction industry in Alberta its first Health & Welfare Plan and its first Pension Plan. These plans still exist today, but without the push by Harold and a few others, these plans might not have happened. Harold was a plan trustee at the beginning and right up to the day he died, serving as trustee from 1969 to 2015.

John F. Briegel, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 292 (em,govt,i,rtb,rts&spa), MINNEAPOLIS, MN — As the work picture continues to improve, it's great to see many of our traveling brothers and sisters return home. Local 292 would like to thank the local unions across the country that took good care of our members over the last 10 years.

With summer road construction getting into full swing, we must never forget those members who have lost their lives working on the side of the road. Just a few years ago, Local 292 lost two members to a distracted driver. Local 292 is working with one of our employers (Egan Company) to help strengthen the enforcement of driving laws. Don't be distracted while driving.

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

L.U. 300 (govt,i,mt&u), MONTPELIER, VT — Congratulations to Danielle Bombardier, Jazmine Thompson and Carmel Kelley, three inside wireman apprentices, for their time and efforts put forth that earned them the Governor's Wellness Award this spring. As well, congratulations to the four members at Vermont Electric Co-op for their time and efforts fostering an energized environment at their place of employment, which also earned them the Governor's Wellness Award — cheers! It's not every day IBEW members get recognized for their awareness and commitment to a healthier and happier work area — kudos!

Stay tuned for updates regarding the motorcycle rally this (late) summer, as well as the Relay for Life event (June), and of course, the Dragon Boat competition in August. The members of the Dragon Boat team (Solar Dragons) are attempting to reclaim their first-place position they earned a few years ago. Come by and cheer them on. We need your support so that we can support those in need.

Spring has finally sprung in Vermont and New England, and the construction season is off to a fast start. Local 300 wishes everyone a safe and prosperous construction season.

Have an outstanding summer and enjoy the family time.

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

L.U. 302 (i,rts&spa), MARTINEZ, CA — The IBEW stands for quality, efficiency and professionalism. Our members in the local community build that community and promote the opportunities in electrical construction and the IBEW.

Recently — working with a Richmond-based training and education center — we were able to place nine men and women into jobs on a large 34.5 kV solar project in our county. Seventy IBEW workers cleared from our hall placed 85,000 solar panels on land that had previously sat idle. The nine RichmondBUILD cohorts distinguished themselves and our local by showing the kind of professionalism and work ethic that we are known for. The pre-training they received at RichmondBUILD was a perfect segue into our own CE/CW (construction electrician/construction wireman) program, creating a wonderful partnership.

Working under the new CE/CW designation, their scope of work was limited. But their opportunities in the IBEW and the electrical construction industry are limitless!

This new addition to our local has resulted in many journeymen being employed as well, and has encouraged this contractor and others to bid and secure work in the cutting-edge solar installation industry in our area.

We offer the community a handshake as an equal partner, helping its men and women find careers building the future around us.

Bob Lilley, A.B.M.

L.U. 304 (lctt,o&u), TOPEKA, KS — We are eight months into new leadership here and have hit the ground running. Bus. Mgr. John Garretson, Asst. Bus. Mgrs. Gene Sicard and Brad Miller, and Organizer/Dispatcher Mark McCubbin will represent each and every member. Newly elected officers also include: Pres. Anthony Lira, Vice Pres. Doug Counseller, Treas. Jenny Rohr, Rec. Sec. Ginger Smoot; and Executive Board members Larry Anderson, Linda Avery-Brown, Tania McNeive, Steve Short, Jacob Simon and Kevin Welch.

Organizing drives, negotiations, and membership trainings along with Code of Excellence are just a few things that Local 304 will be hitting members with. We hosted a two-day COE Training, which was conducted by IBEW Seventh District Int. Reps. Gary Buresh, Larry Chamberlain and Todd Newkirk. Representatives from four IBEW Locals (66, 769, 1002 and 304) and NECA, as well as Southwestern Line Constructors Apprentice Training directors all attended. Local 304 is now officially trained to conduct COE Training. Different seminars have been arranged and will be held in various locations throughout Kansas. Members make all local unions thrive and with each member's involvement our organizing drives will be successful.

We are also proud of all our retired members. We recently acknowledged retired Bro. Robert Warthen, who received his 70-year service pin.

John Garretson, B.M.

L.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OH — On March 28 we held our annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Uniontown Community Park. Although the weather was still a little chilly, the kids didn't seem to mind one bit. We had a great turnout, and "Mr. Cottontail" even made a surprise visit. Thanks once again to our Social Committee and regular core of officers and retirees who made this all possible.

Speaking of retirees, Local 306 congratulates retired Bro. Bentley "Buz" Hudson. Buz was recently honored with the Janice Humanitarian Award, presented by the Happy Trails Farm Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, for his longtime volunteer work with abused and neglected farm animals. In addition to assisting in the care of the animals, his years in the construction trade have served him well in the building and rebuilding of the many farm structures needed as the sanctuary continues to grow. Upon receiving the award I'm told that, for the first time ever, Buz was completely speechless!

A reminder to all: Please mark your calendars for the many upcoming social events this summer. Events include: the golf outing in June, the family picnic in August, the car show in September, and the COPE members pig roast in October.

With sadness we report the loss of retired Bros. Herbert Freyman and Garry Sickle. We send our condolences to their families.

Thomas Wright, Mbr. Dev.

L.U. 340 (i,rts&spa), SACRAMENTO, CA — Work is picking up here in Local 340's jurisdiction after a very long drought and I couldn't be happier. That being said, I can't stress enough the importance of safety on the job especially with those members who have not worked in a while. Employers are obligated to ensure safe working environments, but it is up to the worker to take steps to reduce the risk of work-related injuries or illnesses. As union members, you've all had the safety training both in the classroom and on the jobsite and know what needs to be done to keep yourself healthy and working. Get good sleep to be at your best and when you do have to lift something on the job, be sure to do so correctly to avoid back injuries. Stay in touch with your Safety Committee and report on-the-job injuries immediately.

To promote more positive exposure for IBEW Local 340 in the communities where we live, we now have a custom designed, street-legal, four passenger electrical utility vehicle (purchased by our LMCC). It prominently displays the IBEW Local 340 logo and will enable us to show our colors at community events such as political drives, parades, picnics, etc.

Rest in peace, Bro. Boyd Atkin. A 59-year member, Bro. Atkin passed away at age 91.

Tom Okumura, B.M.

L.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD, IL — Over four days in March, Local 364 participated in the fifth annual Northwestern Illinois Building Trades Career Expo held at the Carpenter's Training Center in Rockford, IL. Students from all of the area junior high schools and a few high schools attended. Altogether, 650 students participated in the hands-on experience.

The Northwestern Illinois Building Trades is an alliance of craft unions, including: Boilermakers, Bricklayers, Carpenters, Electrical Workers, Ironworkers, Painters & Glaziers, Plumbers & Pipefitters, Sprinkler Fitters, Teamsters, Operating Engineers, Cement Masons, Elevator Constructors, Heat & Frost Insulators, Laborers, Sheet Metal Workers, and Roofers & Waterproofers. We work together to improve the quality of life and create job opportunities for 15,000 members in an eight-county region in northern Illinois.

The Career Expo showcased the building trades as another option to secondary education and presented information on potential career opportunities. We helped these students with many hands-on activities, demonstrated various aspects of the electrical trade and provided them with details about the apprenticeship program.

The Apprenticeship Committee thanks Bros. Greg Cote, Ty Hillman, Jeff Schnaiter, Tom Felder, Chad Eckman, Tyrone Bell, Ryan Stevens and Sister Theresa Fernbaugh for helping out with this event.

Chris Molander, P.S.

L.U. 440 (i,rts&spa), RIVERSIDE, CA — In December of 2013, Local 440 created our "Young Workers" group. We had a strong start with over 50 members participating, holding our monthly meetings one hour prior to our general membership meeting. For various reasons, in time the group lost steam and eventually our monthly meeting seemed nonexistent.

In March 2016, Local 440 Executive Board members Kasey Wooldridge and Bryan Fromdahl along with myself attended the second annual IBEW RENEW (Reach out & Engage Next-Gen Electrical Workers) Conference in Chicago, and I think we came back fired up and ready to go! The RENEW Conference allowed us to see what other locals are doing across the nation, and also reminded us just how important our involvement is to our survival and success!

On April 3 this year we came together to rebrand our "Young Workers" as the Local 440 chapter of RENEW. Over 30 members attended and we even had some brothers volunteer to cook for the night. We hope to see this group grow and thrive, taking ownership of the legacy that we as this next generation plan to leave behind. All ideas are welcome and we look forward to working together to make them happen.

Bernie Balland, Mbr. Dev.

L.U. 530 (i,o&rtb), SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA — At this writing, our jurisdiction is experiencing a small work boom, and we would like to thank our brothers and sisters from surrounding locals for helping us to man jobs during this time.

That being said we'd like to take this opportunity to thank Locals 424 (Edmonton), 993 (Kamaloops) and 773 (Windsor, Ontario) for employing our members who choose to work on the road.

Local 530 is saddened to report the passing of Bro. Jim Wright.

Al Byers, P.S.

L.U. 558 (catv,em,i,mt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), SHEFFIELD, AL — Greetings, brothers and sisters. At the time of this writing, Local 558 has successfully completed the spring outage project at the TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Athens, AL. We thank all of our members and the travelers who assisted in this endeavor. Work has still been very steady, and several contracts were ratified. We are pleased to announce that the Florence Electric Department and URS Facility Technicians contracts have been negotiated and ratified, along with the Russellville Utilities' annual wage increases.

We celebrated our 6th Annual Spring Picnic at Spring Park in Tuscumbia, AL, on May 16. We are encouraged that each year our annual spring picnic has grown in size, fellowship and activities. This annual tradition provides much enjoyment and camaraderie for all members, young and old, and their families. It is our hope, that with our membership's support and participation, the spring picnic will definitely continue to grow and unite our Brotherhood for many years to come.

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

L.U. 570 (i,mo,spa&u), TUCSON, AZ — The work picture remains slow in southern Arizona.

The local held its annual picnic in March this year. We had a good turnout and everyone had a good time. Thank you to all the brothers and sisters who volunteered their time. This was one of the best years for member participation.

Our units are going through contract negotiations and elections this year.

Thanks to the efforts of Asst. Bus. Mgr. Pete Sabin and our stewards, the unit membership has increased.

Congratulations to all of the 2015 graduating apprentices on passing the Apprentice of the Year exam.

Scott W. Toot, Pres.

L.U. 606 (em,es,i,rtb,spa&u), ORLANDO, FL — Local 606 has a long history of activism by its members. Recently, a delegation made up of Sister Janet Skipper and Bros. Larry Kidd, Jim Sullivan and Jason Richards travelled to the state Capitol in Tallahassee to lobby elected representatives on a number of important issues. Some of the major issues discussed were stopping a proposed ban on project labor agreements, and continued funding of certified apprenticeship programs.

Bro. Richards and Local 606 Pres. Clay McNeely represented the local at the recent RENEW — Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical Workers — Conference in Chicago. Workshop topics included: labor law, political candidates, parliamentary procedure, leadership training, and opposition to so-called "fast-tracking" of trade policies. Jason and Clay agreed that the training was outstanding, and they came home with many ideas to expand the RENEW program in Local 606. I encourage everyone to follow the lead of activists like Jason and Clay. We can make our locals and the IBEW stronger by attending local union meetings, getting involved and becoming activists.

With great sadness we report the death of 38-year member Rick Merriam. Rick was also a Local 606 JATC instructor for 27 years. He trained countless apprentices over those years and his contribution to Local 606 cannot be measured. Rick will be sorely missed by everyone.

[Editor's Note: The National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (NJATC) rebranded in 2014 and transitioned into the Electrical Training Alliance. See "NJATC Transitions into the Electrical Training Alliance," The Electrical Worker (Sept. 2014), and at www.ibew.org.]

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

L.U. 640 (em,govt,i,mo,mt,rts,spa&u), PHOENIX, AZ — Local 640 wishes to recognize the members who have stepped up and enrolled in the Foremen Development Series. Recently we've had our largest classes ever with 23 journeyman wiremen attending. We wish to show them our support and thanks for helping our union to succeed in this highly competitive market.

Enrolled in the FDS class at the time of this writing are: Chris Beloit, Tim Bobbin, Coner Donovan, Samuel Gladden, Jeff Goergen, Anthony Imperiale Sr., Thomas Macewicz, Rudy Mariscal, Phillip Maron, William Martinez, Byron K. Mitchell, Robert Montoya, Brandon Noble, Luis Puente, Theodore Rinehart, Wesley Rhodes, Eric Rice, Lawrence Rodriguez, David Santiago, Stefan Tomoiaga, Jose Valdez, David Weston and Juan Yepez. Instructors are: Roy Hamilton Sr., Mike Lambert, Jay Randall and Ed Parra.

We also extend our best wishes to Bus. Agent Roy Hamilton Sr. on his retirement. Roy has over 40 years of service covering about every position here in Local 640 including foreman, organizer, Executive Board chairman, and business agent. Roy's experience and personality will be dearly missed here in Local 640 but his retirement is definitely well-deserved. Good luck, Roy, in your future endeavors.

Our work outlook is still slow but looks to be picking up soon. Thanks to all the other locals that have been able to help keep our members employed in our slow times.

Jeff Sears, Mbr. Dev./P.S.

L.U. 654 (i), CHESTER, PA — Local 654 apprentices and Asst. Bus. Mgr. Kevin Hassett were honored by the borough of Marcus Hook commissioners for their volunteer work repairing and re-lamping the borough's Christmas light display last year. Thanks go out to all the volunteers for a job well done. We plan to work with the borough to make this year's display even bigger and better. Volunteering in the community is a great way to present ourselves in a positive light, while helping others.

As of this writing, we are blessed to be experiencing near full employment, with many ongoing and future projects planned. To preserve our future, please remember to attend union meetings, be involved, and purchase American made products.

James Thompson Jr., P.S.

L.U. 666 (i,mt&o), RICHMOND, VA — We extend a warm welcome to our newest IBEW contractor, Commercial One Electrical. The company became signatory in January.

The Solar PV training classes being held at the Richmond JATC are underway. The first 10-week session was well-attended. [Editor's Note: The National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (NJATC) rebranded in 2014 and transitioned into the Electrical Training Alliance. See "NJATC Transitions into the Electrical Training Alliance," The Electrical Worker (Sept. 2014), and at www.ibew.org.]

Please welcome our newest organizer, David Small, to the Local 666 staff. We are expecting great things from him! Check in and ask him if you can help with an ongoing effort. It takes staff and volunteers to make the biggest changes in our jurisdiction!

Congratulations to recent retirees: James Carter Jr., Charles B. Sweeney, William Eddleton, Steven T. King, Lionel W. Viar, Jerry Harris and Michael Powell.

As of press time, with the data center job in full swing, work is good in our jurisdiction. Thanks to all the travelling brothers and sisters who have helped us man our work!

Charles Skelly, P.S.

L.U. 684 (c,i,rts&st), MODESTO, CA — The SunPower Quinto project in Gustine, CA, is in full swing. This job has all but cleared our books and has become a huge boon to our area. We would like to say thank-you to all of the traveling brothers and sisters and to Local 440 apprentices who have come out to this job to help us man it up.

We are eagerly anticipating the start of the 200-megawatt Wright Solar project slated to start in the same area. Our work picture seems to be very promising over the next couple of years and our organizers are working very hard to ensure that this trend continues. Good job, guys!

Dave Jones, P.S.

L.U. 692 (i,mt&spa), BAY CITY, MI — At this writing, our Negotiating Committee is hard at work in negotiations with our contractors. At press time, our contract was scheduled to expire on May 31 this year.

Please call your state senator or state representative to oppose repeal of the state's prevailing wage. We have talking points on our website www.ibew692.org; or you can call the union hall for information on how you can help.

There is a planned fall outage at the Karn-Weadock Power House in Essexville. This should put a few brothers and sisters to work. We are picking up work in the northern area. Thank you to Travis Brady, Membership Development coordinator, who has been going to job fairs and working on our non-signatory competition. Thank you also to Rich Rytlewski, Business Development, for visiting businesses and numerous general contractors.

Our Retirees Monthly Luncheon is usually the third Thursday of each month. This is a great chance to get together with members you've not seen in a while. Come and enjoy stories of the past and catch up with retired members. Watch for details in the Building Tradesman Paper.

We are sad to report the passing of retired Bros. John A. Dilloway and Oscar Ranke. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families.

Speak your voice — to senators, members of the House of Representatives, friends, family and neighbors. We need to stand up and let them hear our voice. We need to stand together, union strong!

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 — It is often said that elections have consequences. We are experiencing exactly that in all three states within our jurisdiction. In Illinois, Gov. Bruce Rauner continues his attack on working families with his anti-labor agenda. In Indiana, the Republican-led Legislature passed a "religious freedom" bill that laid the foundation for sanctioned discrimination. In Missouri, as of press time, a right-to work-for-less bill has passed from the Republican House to the Republican Senate, where it has been passed out of committee and could be taken up on the floor for consideration. Members must remain engaged and vigilant in the political process and realize that a certain party campaigns on a particular platform that sounds appealing, but then attempts to enact an alternative set of policies aimed at hurting those who work for a living, especially those in organized labor. Public pressure and action at the polls will be the only course to counter and rebuff these efforts. Please talk to your co-workers, family members and friends before every election.

Our Outside Construction and Line Clearance work is steady and looks promising. As of this writing, our referral books are as follows: Inside Construction – 54, Outside Construction – 12, and Line Clearance – 1.

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

L.U. 760 (i,lctt,o,rts,spa&u), KNOXVILLE, TN — Henry Ford once said. "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."

Over the last six months, Local 760 has held Code of Excellence classes and over 120 proud IBEW members have attended. Members have shared their work experiences on the job and gotten to know each other a little better in the process. IBEW principles have always stood for quality workmanship, safety, a strong work ethic, and a pride in being part of something bigger than one's self. The class makes sure that IBEW members maintain a high standard and professionalism that has no comparison. IBEW's first president, Henry Miller, and all of the brothers and sisters who stood up for workers' rights would be proud of our young members today. When there is a good and healthy exchange of ideas in the workplace success will always take care of itself, and quality is doing something right when no one is looking.

Jason Leary, Organizer

L.U. 1466 (u), COLUMBUS, OH — In late March, Local 1466 had the opportunity to attend the IBEW RENEW — Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical Workers — Conference, as well as the AFL-CIO Next Up Young Workers Summit. It was very inspiring to see such a young, diverse group in attendance from all across the United States, as well as Canada. We are also in the midst of ramping the RENEW program in Local 1466, and would like to encourage members of all ages to come and get involved in the local. If you have not traditionally been involved in the union, we would love to have you become a more active member of the IBEW, and there has never been a better time than right now.

The Executive Board has also begun planning our annual Fall Family Picnic, held the last weekend in September. As always, this will be a family friendly event, with kids activities, door prizes, food and fellowship. Flyers with more details will be sent to the union stewards in the coming months. Please make plans to attend. We would love to see you there!

Jimi Jette, P.S.

L.U. 2324 (t), SPRINGFIELD, MA — We recently said goodbye to longtime Asst. Bus. Mgr. Kathy Collins, who retired in March. Kathy was instrumental in helping our members deal with their daily issues on the job. She also had a hand in helping people with at-home issues by being our representative on the Work and Family Committee. Kathy will be missed and we wish her a happy, healthy retirement. We also welcome our new Assist. Bus. Mgr. Jeremy Dillensneider. Best of luck with the new job, Jeremy.

Christine Casino, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 1, ST. LOUIS, MO — Greetings from St. Louis. At this early spring writing, warm weather has returned to our area. February seemed much colder than usual this year. I "had" to escape to southern Florida a couple of times in February.

At the retirees meeting in March, Dick Weller announced that he was stepping down as president of our Retirees Club. He was president for 13 years. Larry Bausola will fill the position as president. He has big shoes to fill.

At press time, our May 20 club meeting was approaching. Our next Retirees Club meeting will be July 15. I hope everyone can get outside and enjoy the nice weather before it gets too hot.

Neal McCormack, R.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, NORTH FLORIDA CHAPTER — Our chapter held its annual Christmas/Hanukkah holiday party in Delray Beach South Civic Center on Jan. 7. Attendance was great with an overflow group of many Local 3 retirees attending.

Our meetings feature informative talks aided by invitees, with topics primarily about retirement. Currently we are having lively discussions about employment, legislation that affects us, and questions regarding other union benefits.

The chapter meets on the second Friday of each month at 10 a.m. in the Delray Beach South County Civic Center from October to May. Many of our members are "snow birds" and we welcome all Local 3 retirees to our affairs and meetings.

As shown in the accompanying photo members enjoyed dancing after a delicious luncheon and fabulous entertainment at our party.

Dick Dickman, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, SUFFOLK CHAPTER — At this writing in early spring, happily, our long winter is finally over. I know this because all of our "snow birds" are coming home.

At our March meeting, Richie Duva acted as chapter chairman and was in charge of running our meeting. I gave a report on our Retirees 52nd Annual Luncheon, which was held at the Sheraton Hotel in New York City. It was great to see many new and old friends.

Allan Eimer read an email from Olivia and Hank Schmidt about our upcoming trip to the Rockefeller Estate in Westchester County.

At our April meeting Thomas Gallagher, Local 3 pension director, was our guest speaker. He spoke about employment and job opportunities within our industry. He urged that all members and their families register to vote. Gallagher also provided information about how to sign up to become an IBEW Political E-Activist and encouraged retirees to stay involved politically and in the union. Olivia Schmidt asked those interested in going on the trip to the Rockefeller Estate to please sign the reservation sheet.

John Schoenig reported on our upcoming December 2015 Holiday Party. He told us about the new entertainment planned, which will help make it a great success. Please see John to make your reservation for the party.

Our Chapter Chmn. Jack Foley spoke about our upcoming stay at the Long Island Educational Center.

Harvey Goldman, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, WESTCHESTER / PUTNAM CHAPTER — On Feb. 18 this year, chapter Fin. Sec. Dominic Malandro, Treas. Dick Mills and Rec. Sec. Marty Hogan had the honor of presenting a check for $12,000 to Fisher House Foundation CEO Ken Fisher at Fisher Brothers headquarters in midtown Manhattan.

The Fisher House Foundation provides lodging and, in many cases, transportation to the families of our wounded servicemen and women to enable them to be with their love ones during their recovery.

This money was raised, mainly, through donations from the members of the Westchester/Putnam Chapter, Local 3 Retirees Club, and with the cooperation of the Brooklyn Chapter, the Queens Chapter, the Square Club of Local 3, the Bronx Acorn Club, and our Golf Outing sponsors. This is the third year that, through the generosity of our members and friends, we were able to contribute to this worthy cause. We do not consider this a charitable donation; we see it as a debt that we, as Americans, can never fully repay.

Dick Mills, Treas.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 26, WASHINGTON, DC — When you retire, you think, "Oh, I'll have plenty of time to do so many things I always wanted to do." But watch out … a vacuum is just waiting to suck up your time. If you identify with that, join one of our travels to escape!

In our Retired Members Club, we are always on the move. We recently enjoyed a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands, cruised to Vancouver (to visit our Canadian sisters and brothers) and flew back home!

To join our 2016 cruise, contact retired Bro. Rick Warner, our travel coordinator, at 240-472-0438. Our start point is sometimes Washington, D.C., and sometimes Baltimore Harbor. Any of our IBEW family (working or retired) as well as their families are welcome to join us!

In May we helped as volunteers at the 4th Annual Local 26 Motorcycle Poker Run. Proceeds benefit the "Special Love" program, a camp for children battling cancer. Helping with such projects keeps retirees involved. Of course, the elections for 2016 are approaching — a good time to help with telephone banks.

At our June meeting, we will present service pins, plaques, etc. to retired members with 50 or more years of service!

The club will begin selling our annual raffle tickets at the union picnics in June and August, and continue before regular union meetings — until our drawing at the RMC November meeting.

Stay safe and have a good summer.

Susan Flashman, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 35, HARTFORD, CT — Spring has finally arrived in Connecticut — we hope.

On March 30 our members were invited along with other Connecticut Building Trades to the AFSCME headquarters in New Britain, CT, by the Alliance for Retired Americans in reference to the future of Social Security. In attendance were U.S. Rep. John Larson and Sen. Chris Murphy. Rep. Larson is introducing The Social Security 2100 Act, which would expand benefits for all current and future Social Security recipients, cuts taxes for over 10 million seniors, ensures the system remains solvent for the rest of century, and addresses the projected shortfall of the Disability Insurance program. The meeting was very informative.

Retired Local 35 member John Ekenbarger of New Hampshire was recently awarded medals earned during his service in the Korean War. At age 19, he was held captive as a prisoner of war in North Korea for more than two years. U.S. Rep. Ann Kuster, D-N.H. said, "Rather than wilt under the grueling stress of being held as a POW, John remained resolute. He remained true to himself and his brothers-in-arms." Now at age 84 and surrounded by family, he was awarded the medals he earned.

On Memorial Day in May we remember the men and women who have served in the military and sacrificed for our country.

Kenneth R. White, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 38, CLEVELAND, OH — It has been awhile since I last wrote with news from the Retirees Club.

We all hear a lot of talk about global climate change. Here in Cleveland, February broke all records for cold!

From what I hear Cleveland has a pretty good employment picture with all the construction planned for the 2016 IBEW Convention. I hope that continues after the convention. I pray that all our members will be working this spring. Wired by IBEW Local 38 is the way to go.

Our club has many trips planned in addition to all our special lunches and parties. The Christmas party was a big success last year. Some of you younger retirees, please come and join us.

We are very blessed with members and their spouses who put these club events on. It doesn't matter to them, spring or winter, they get the job done. I love it!

Please remember to pray for our military and America as we go through a time of world unrest. God bless our departed members and their families.

Until next time be happy and don't forget to stand up for America, home of the free and the brave!

Arthur Lesjak, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 42, HARTFORD, CT — The Retirees Club wishes to invite anyone who's a retired member of Local 42 to come and join them. If you want to get out of the house or take some time out of your busy life for a few hours, then come on down and join them.

Club meetings are held bimonthly on Tuesdays at the local union hall. Annual dues are $12. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. sharp. They start the meeting out with a discussion of upcoming business and events. They end the meeting sharing stories of old times over donuts and coffee. The Retirees Club would love to have you. If you're interested give us a call at 860-646-7297 for more information.

The Retirees Club thanks all the ladies in Local 42's office for all their hard work and for making everyone feel welcome. They work hard putting all the events together to make them enjoyable.

Save the following 2015 dates: June 6 - Annual Bike Run; June 27 – Dinner Cruise; July 11 – Chartered Fishing Trip; Aug. 29 – Annual "A" Picnic; Sept. 12 – Cod Fishing Trip; and Dec. 10 – Union Meeting/Christmas Party.

Jacquelyn Moffitt, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 60, SAN ANTONIO, TX — Our club members like to think of themselves as a very unique group of family and friends. We get together once a month, at noontime, for nine months of the year. Our meetings are held at the Plumbers and Pipefitters Training Bldg., 3630 Belgium Lane. We take care of club business and share a theme lunch furnished by the members, including a covered dish or dessert. At times the club will order lunch to be delivered to give the ladies a break from the kitchen. The theme is based on a holiday or event for that month. And it's no ordinary room for this unique group; ours is always decorated to complement the theme. After lunch the group cuts loose with their bingo skills — picking the right card is so important.

Since the club is self-supporting, our main source of funding comes from the annual golf tournament held in April. At the time of this writing, we were looking forward to this year's April 25 tournament and the outcome was pending. As of press time, the outstanding amount of support and donations the club has received for the fundraiser thus far indicates a huge success.

To all retired members of Local 60, please come and add your uniqueness to this group.

Sandy Rogers, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 103, BOSTON, MA — Local 103 held its Second Annual Winter Retirees Luncheon at the Naples Beach and Country Club in Naples, FL, on Tuesday, Feb. 24. More than 220 retirees, spouses and guests attended. Bus. Mgr. John Dumas welcomed everyone and gave a brief overview of Local 103's status and its various funds. Bus. Mgr. Dumas introduced our newly appointed IBEW Second District Int. Vice Pres. Michael P. Monahan, as the guest speaker. Recently retired Int. Vice Pres. Frank J. Carroll also attended. The Retirees Luncheon was certainly enjoyed by all attendees. The occasion was an opportunity for friends and past tool partners to catch up and reminisce.

Local 103 held its Fourth Annual Blood Drive on April 14 at the union hall. Also, a number of vendors were in attendance for the event. They provided blood donors with screening for blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose. Nutrition was also a focus that day, and a nutritional counseling session was available to those interested. Also, tobacco cessation information was available to anyone looking to kick the habit.

Kevin C. Molineaux, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 134, CHICAGO, IL — As of April 8, 2015, our Retirees Club has permanently moved all regular Retirees Club Wednesday meetings to the Apprentice School at 115th & Ridgeland in Alsip, IL. The school has free ample parking. Meetings start at 12 noon for greet-and-meet time, with coffeecake and coffee provided. At 1 p.m., our regular meeting begins with guest speakers who discuss issues of special interest to retirees. If club members have any suggestions or ideas regarding speakers for our meetings, please speak to any board member.

Thank you to all retirees who are participating members. If you are not a regular club member, you're welcome to come to any of the meetings and get acquainted and reconnect with some of the people you worked with in the past.

Come and see for yourself what our Retirees Club has to offer: theater outings, golf outings, tours, lake and riverboat outings, and many other activities and events too numerous to list in this article.

See our monthly newsletter for more information on all outings in upcoming months. On June 10, we will still have our catered luncheon at the Local 134 union hall, starting at 12 noon. Come early for greet-and-meet with like-minded folks.

Louis Rodriguez, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 212, CINCINNATI, OH — On Nov. 17, 1928, Howard Kaufman Sr. was obligated into IBEW Local 212. His sons, Glenn, Fred, Howard and Bob, would also follow him as Local 212 electricians. On Jan. 29, 2014, Fred's son Kent died suddenly leaving a deep heartache that could not be healed. Fred died in his home on Jan. 24, 2015, joining Kent, his father, and his brothers in eternity ending the Kaufman era in Local 212 — representing 196 years of faithful IBEW membership. Fred was age 83. We extend our deepest sympathy to Fred's wife, Marietta, and his family, especially Kathy Painter, Local 212 office manager.

With deepest sorrow, we also report that six additional Local 212 members passed on from this life into the next. We honor these departed brothers: Richard Louis - 69 years of service; Elmer Henderer - 58 years' service; John Mueller – 47 years; David Fox – 46 years; Joseph Boeing – 36 years; and Raymond Ober Jr. – 27 years. All together, these six men represent 283 years of faithful IBEW membership. Our prayers extend to the families of these dear friends. May God comfort them.

Welcome to new members: James Hausfeld, John Lupp and George Weil. George is a third-generation Local 212 member.

FYI: The Retirees Club picnic will take place at Fernbank Park, 11 a.m., on July 1. A big shout-out to the "sparkies" in Florida.

Bob Schaefer, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 257, JEFFERSON CITY, MO — Our Retirees Club enjoyed the luncheon/meeting at the Knights of Columbus site in Westphalia, MO, on March 31. Everyone is glad winter is finally over, our snowbirds are back home and we are in the process of spring cleaning and getting gardens ready.

Guests at our luncheon were Local 257 Bus. Mgr. Don Bruemmer, Organizer Mike Fanning, and Apprenticeship Training Dir. Rick Stokes.

Bus. Mgr. Bruemmer answered questions about our insurance and introduced Bro. Fanning. Bro. Stokes thanked the volunteers who again helped this year to judge and grade at the Skills USA Competition held March 27 at Linn State Technical College. This makes 12 years our members have volunteered for the event. Volunteers were: Jerry Rehagen, Emil Fischer, Herman Grothoff, Kenny Schulte, Bob Kauffman, Steve Klepel, Ron Holzhouser, Dan Schroeder, Larry Jones, Roger Stokes, Dan Linderbusch and Jim Breid.

We are saddened to report that we lost two members this year. John Gilmore, a member for 64 years, passed away Jan. 26. Leonard Steinman, a 65-year member, passed away March 2. Our prayers go out to their families.

Delores Melloway, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 353, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA — The Local 353 Next-Gen committee was looking for a project, so they took on our Retirees Club for a clothing drive that would benefit two Ontario Kidney Foundation camps, one for kids who had a kidney transplant, and one for families of dialysis patients.

The retirees' drive was Tuesday, April 6, at their monthly meeting/luncheon, attended by approximately 120 retirees.

The Next-Gen committee chose the Sunday, April 12, Annual Benefits/Wages Members Meeting for their drive. It was anticipated that approximately 600 working members would attend, each with one bag of clothing for this worthy cause. Guess who won the challenge?

Sometimes it's easy to forget that retirees in our local suffered some of the worst unemployment years in our history, but sacrificed and created most of the benefits enjoyed by Local 353 members today. These include: a shorter work week, a Pension Plan, Health & Welfare Plan, a Sports, Entertainment & Retirees Trust Fund, a Building Fund and an Education Fund, just to mention a few!

All of those early officers, trustees and plan administrators are now retired or passed on. We thank current officers and members for their continued support of retirees' and widows' concerns. Retirees are a founding pillar of the IBEW.

Robert Rynyk, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 530, SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA — Local 530 IBEW held its 73rd Annual Dinner Dance Banquet on Friday, Nov. 21, last year. Service pins were awarded to all eligible members including many journeymen from our Retirees Club.

Service Pins awarded to our Retirees Club members were as follows: for 35 years of service — Herb Burdett Sr. and Tom Holmes; 40 years — Eric Lawton; 45 years — Fred Sterling; 50 years — Bob Chapdelaine and Al Wetering; 55 years — Jim Hodgins, Bohdan Kohut, Edward McCormack, John Mentanski and Tony Neuhauser; and for 60 years — Jim Foster. Congratulations to all these members, who enjoyed a wonderful "work life" and now have been able to enjoy many healthy and productive years of retirement.

We continue to enjoy monthly events together, our latest being our annual trip to the Point Edward Casino on St. Patrick's Day.

We lost a faithful member of our club recently. Jim Wright passed away March 17. He had the distinction of being one of our founding club members. We will miss his cheerful smile and gentle personality. We send our condolences to his family.

To all our fellow retirees, we wish you a wonderful, safe and healthy summer.

Nancy P. Philbin, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 570, TUCSON, AZ — The Local 570 Retirees Club recently took a field trip and held their last meeting before the club's summer break started. The March meeting was held at the Tucson JATC facility.

[Editor's Note: The National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (NJATC) rebranded in 2014 and transitioned into the Electrical Training Alliance. See "NJATC Transitions into the Electrical Training Alliance," The Electrical Worker (Sept. 2014), and at www.ibew.org.]

Retirees Club meetings will start back up in October. We hope all have a safe and wonderful summer.

Scott W. Toot, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 611, ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Top news: The "right-to-work" bill proposed in the New Mexico legislature is dead, at least for 2015. It was the most bitter and contentious anti-worker measure on record. For the first time in 60 years Republicans controlled the state House, but Democrats controlled the state Senate. The House voted to pass RTW in the recent legislative session, but the Senate tabled the bill. Because of the partisan divide, the bill was never brought up again on the floor. However, it is obvious that the bill will reappear in 2016.

Local 611 bookkeeper and office manager Angela Horchheimer recently retired. Angela is the wife of Local 611 retired journeyman wireman and former training instructor Steve Horchheimer. We wish them both the best in retirement.

Local 611 member Pat Armstrong has closed Armstrong Electric. His manager, Bro. Jimmy Carlisle, has chosen to continue the business, now Carlisle Electric. We wish both Bro. Armstrong and Bro. Carlisle all the best. They both have our best wishes, prayers and support.

We extend condolences to the families of recently deceased retirees: James O. Wood, Percy Kirk, Jerry D. Turner, Franklin D. Mize and Arthur Velarde.

The local still has plenty of 100th anniversary books left, so call and reserve your copy.

Tracy Hall, Pres.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 640, PHOENIX, AZ — We are now at that time of year when we Golden Age Road Runners enjoy a few months off from meetings. The recent season passed quickly.

Unfortunately we lost some members from our ranks, one being Lucille Decker, a board member, and wife of past president Jim Decker, whom we lost just over a year ago. Both were extremely active in our club activities and will be missed dearly.

Our board is working closely with the Apprenticeship Committee on details pertaining to a new scholarship program that G.A.R.R. is reestablishing for apprentices demonstrating both skill and volunteerism in their activities. The hope is the changes we are instituting will promote more activism in the young folks following in our footsteps.

Our local union picnic and pin event, usually held in April, was deferred this year until Oct. 3, when there will be a gathering of all seven Arizona IBEW locals in Tempe at the SRP Pera Club for festivities from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. You must RSVP by July 1.

We wish everyone an enjoyable summer of relaxation. We hope all of the Local 640 retirees will join us at the union hall at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 16 for our first breakfast meeting of the 2015-'16 season.

Daryl Knupp, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 702, WEST FRANKFORT, IL — The 2015 IBEW Local 702 Retiree Luncheon was Tuesday, April 7, at the Rend Lake Resort Conference Center with over 150 in attendance. Local 702 Bus. Mgr. Steve Hughart welcomed everyone and blessed the gathering and meal with a prayer. Local Pres. Jimmy Sanchez and the current office staff were introduced to the retirees. Former officers and staff in attendance were also recognized.

The retirees and their families were thanked for their years of service and loyalty to IBEW Local 702.

A motion was made, seconded and approved to suspend the reading of the minutes, financial report and deaths until the next regular meeting. It was announced such meeting would take place on June 4 at the Golden Corral in Carbondale, IL, at 11:30 a.m.

Door prize winners were George Phillips, for oldest retiree (age 92), and Larry Brooke, for longest distance traveled to the luncheon. St. Louis Cardinal Baseball tickets were won by Carl Lowry and gift certificates were won by Dave Emery, Don Mull, Ritchie Glenn and Jimmy Lipe.

At the conclusion of the luncheon, retirees were given a final show of appreciation, and invited to come back next year and to bring more retirees with them.

Mark Baker, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 756, DAYTONA BEACH, FL — By the time you read this we will have completed all our meetings before our summer break. We wish you all a happy and healthy summer and safe travels. We have had some great meetings with our ever-popular Low Country Boil in February, Awesome BBQ in March, Fried Chicken Feast in April and our very popular Fish Fry in May. We were also happy to welcome some out-of-town union members at our meetings; we love having you visit.

With sadness, we pay our respects to the members who have recently passed. We send our condolences to the family and friends of late Bros. George H. Vaughn, Claude C. Vaughn, Leslie E. Kash and Charles C. Card. Our brothers will be missed.

We wish to invite any retired or unemployed brothers and sisters and their spouses who are in the area to come and join us. Our meetings are held the second Thursday of each month, 11:30 a.m., at the Local 756 Union Hall, Port Orange, FL.

Diane Gibbs, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 995, BATON ROUGE, LA — We had our luncheon at Drussilla Restaurant on the first Monday in March. The seafood there was good and the service was excellent. Approximately 26 members attended.

At our regular bi-monthly meeting on April 6, we made plans for our combined luncheon with the wives. It is to take place at the union hall on the first Monday in June at 11:30 a.m. Every couple or single is to bring a covered dish.

It is with deep regret that I report the recent loss of several of our retirees: Lynwood Browning, Joseph B. Boneventure, Charles F. Bond, Alvin L. Stephens and Gillie Crumholt. They all will be missed.

W. Roland Goetzman, P.S.