L.U. 8 (as,em,i,mar,mt,rts,s&spa), TOLEDO, OH — Greetings, brothers and sisters. Local 8 welcomes a new signatory contractor. TaylorMade Electric, with a dozen employees, recently was organized after a campaign that resulted in a National Labor Relations Board representation election. Bottom-up organizing is an effective organizing tool.

Our work situation should improve this spring. We anticipate numerous planned industrial shutdowns, and the construction sector is finally emerging as well.

With sadness I report that former business manager Phil Couture passed away in January. Phil's passion for the labor movement led him to serve the Brotherhood in many capacities, spanning his entire career and into retirement. He was a great example of a union brother.

Mike Brubaker, P.S.

L.U. 10 (u), JOHNSON CITY, NY — Bus. Mgr. Gary Bonker started 2016 with training in mind. Local 10 officers received training in January. Stewards received training on Feb. 4 and Feb 16. Int. Reps. Julie Cosenza and Jim Ayrer conducted the training at the Local 10 offices. The training included topics such as: the grievance procedure, the National Labor Relations Act, legal rights, harassment, rules of a steward, organizing, union structure, legal issues, arbitration, labor laws, workers' compensation and more. Bus. Mgr. Bonker requested the training so that the officers and stewards would have the tools to do the best of their ability for the membership.

Registrar training was also attended by some of Local 10 officers in January. A very informative presentation was put on by Int. Reps. Ellen Redmond and Mike Welch in Albany, NY.

Another informative meeting took place in Albany attended by all the union leaders who bargain with energy company Iberdrola USA. Discussions included the newly formed Avangrid and what was taking place at different properties.

Don Tuttel, P.S.

L.U. 12 (i,o&se), PUEBLO, CO — The local's 116th Awards Banquet in February had an excellent turnout. The evening began with a happy hour, which was just that. With lots of laughter and camaraderie, the event is always a great time to mingle. The meal was delicious and the service pins were abundant. Numerous members were honored for a lifetime of service. Our 50-year pin recipients were: Bros. Ernest P. Cross, John Dent, Kenneth Griffin and Roy McKinney. Bro. Earl Ditmore received a 55-year pin, and Bro. Darwin McCurry was awarded a 60-year pin. Congratulations to all of those who have contributed to making the IBEW a great way of life.

Local 12 had a lot of changes last year, and this year looks to be a busy one. Bro. Jose De La Torre is the latest addition to our Membership Development staff.

We have a Local 12 election of officers in June, and the Inside Agreement expires in August. The Negotiations Committee has been appointed and is beginning training. Work has been steady, but no large projects are on the horizon at this writing.

Susan J. Johnson, P.S.

L.U. 16 (i), EVANSVILLE, IN — The festive holiday lighting display known as Fantasy of Lights, one of Local 16's major community service projects, generated almost $157,000 last year. These funds will provide approximately 3,200 sessions of rehabilitative therapy for people in need. Since its inception, $2,989,650 has been raised. The 2015 edition of FOL could not have been done without the apprentices. They came out in full force for setup, maintenance, and tear-down. On many occasions, they showed up before and after class to expedite the project. It is encouraging to know that the future of this local is in such good hands.

In May, Mel-Kay Electric Co. of Evansville, long regarded as one of southern Indiana's leading electrical contractors, is celebrating its 65th year as a signatory contractor of IBEW Local 16. The company was founded in 1951 by Melvin Kallenbach and is currently in its third generation of family ownership. To date, Mel-Kay has employed Local 16 electricians for over 7 million man-hours, primarily in the areas of health care, education, industrial, and commercial construction. Mel-Kay's current projects include a convention hotel and a new hospice facility in Evansville.

Donald P. Beavin, P.S.

L.U. 18 (u), LOS ANGELES, CA — The Utility Pre-Craft Trainee (UPCT) program was launched in 2011 as a partnership between IBEW Local 18 and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

This program was created in response to DWP's rising retirements and the need for good jobs in high unemployment areas in Los Angeles.

The program provides paid, pre-apprenticeship on-the-job training and a pathway to permanent employment in DWP.

Fifty-eight Utility Pre-Craft trainees have been hired to full-time employment, and there are currently 117 participants in the program. An important goal is the broad inclusion of workers from low-income and minority communities.

UPCTs rotate to work under journey-level trades to gain knowledge and training in the following: Electric Station Maintenance-Power; General Construction-Power; Electrical Repair Shop-Integrated Support Services (ISS); Mechanical Repair Shop-ISS; Test Lab-ISS; Home Energy Improvement Program; Water Distribution; Support Services; Conduit; Protective Coating; and Warehouse & Tool Room.

As a result of the rigorous classroom and on-the-job training, the UPCTs are qualified to compete in the following examinations: Electric Distribution Mechanic Trainee; Electric Meter Setter; Electric Station Operator; Electrical Craft Helper; Electrical Mechanic; Electrical Repairer; Electrical Tester; Maintenance and Construction Helper; Mechanical Helper; Steam Plant Assistant; Warehouse & Tool Room Worker; and Wind Plant Technician.

Shawn McCloud, A.B.M.

L.U. 22 (i,rts&spa), OMAHA, NE — IBEW Local 22 members are at work on a major $322 million building project underway at the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus.

The new Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center is the largest project ever at the University of Nebraska.

The Cancer Center will include: a 10-story Cancer Research Tower with 98 laboratories; a seven-story hospital tower with 108 beds; and the Chihuly Sanctuary for patients and caretakers.

The Chihuly Sanctuary will feature indoor and outdoor gardens and vibrant art installations designed by renowned American glass sculptor Dale Chihuly. The 5,000 square-foot addition will overlook an exterior healing garden lined with plants, trees, and flowers. Heated walkways will keep the outdoor garden open year round. The Chihuly Sanctuary, with its gardens and artwork, is designed to aid patients' recovery and will be a cornerstone of the Buffet Cancer Center's Healing Arts program.

Commonwealth Electric and IBEW Local 22 members are doing the electrical work on the project. At press time there are 82 IBEW electricians and six IBEW Sound & Communications technicians working at the jobsite. The project underway on the university campus is currently the biggest construction jobsite in the Omaha area.

The Buffett Cancer Center is scheduled to open in the spring of 2017. The Chihuly Sanctuary will open shortly thereafter. Work is on schedule and looking very good.

Mike Whisney, P.S.

L.U. 24 (es,i&spa), BALTIMORE, MD — On Nov. 24, 2015, the local's election for delegates to the 2016 IBEW International Convention was held. Thank you to all who participated and/or voted. Congratulations to those elected as delegates: Carmen Voso, Cory McCray, Frank Voso, Pete Demchuk, Ellwood Hanks and John Rankin.

Nominations for the Local 24 election of officers will be held in May, and the election of officers will take place in June this year.

The Annual Children's Christmas Party was Saturday, Dec. 12. A good time was had by young and old alike. Once again, the party was a huge success thanks to all the volunteers. On behalf of the local and the children, a big thank-you to each and every volunteer.

Stay well and stay safe.

Gary R. Griffin, B.M.

L.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC — It's springtime in Washington, DC, and that means cherry blossoms and final preparations for the Poker Run on Saturday, May 7, and our annual Dollars Against Diabetes Golf Outing on Monday, June 6. For additional information, please see our quarterly magazine, In Charge, or visit our website at www.ibewlocal26.org.

Just a reminder that the Manassas, VA, picnic is Saturday, June 18, and the Edgewater, MD, picnic is Saturday, Aug. 6.

The Local 26 Scholarship Committee is reviewing the many scholarship applications and will make a decision on this year's four scholarship recipients very soon. The winners will be announced in our quarterly magazine, as well as in an upcoming Local Lines article. Thanks to the many outstanding applicants for their participation!

We congratulate Fin. Sec. Michael Shoemaker on his retirement and wish him health and happiness in future endeavors.

Several members have passed away since our last article: Jerome B. Barefoot, Richard S. Roberts, Lawrence L. Nevitt, Lamont Gordon, Steve A. Whitehead, Phillip H. Robinson, John J. Costello and Dwayne C. Henderson. These brothers will be missed.

Best wishes to recent new retirees: Raymond J. Antoniuk, Roger Higgins, Dennis R. Phillips, Robert E. Roberts, Charles E. Redding, Thomas L. Spruill, Steven A. Holland, Hermitt Mosley, Martyn Montague III, Robert D. Kaminsky, Robert C. Einstein and Ronald S. Willard.

Charles E. Graham, B.M.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH — When I last visited the new Hilton Hotel in Cleveland, we had about 80 members working on the project getting it completed so that it will be open for the upcoming National Republication Convention to be held in Cleveland this summer. The stylish, 100 percent union-built project has 32 floors, 600 rooms, a restaurant and several lounges including the Sky Bar on the 32 floor, which features an open-air patio overlooking the Lake Erie shoreline.

Several big projects are scheduled to start this year. The new 48-story Nucleus Building is scheduled to start construction this summer, and the same developers are proposing an 18-story building to be built atop the 515 Parking Garage. The Huntington Building just got awarded $25 million in historical tax credits and should start the conversion of its 1.3 million square feet into apartments, offices, hotel space, restaurants and retail.

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

L.U. 40 (em,i&mps), HOLLYWOOD, CA — It is with a heavy heart that Local 40 reports the recent loss of a beloved brother, Neil Ryan Hastings-Reynolds (1978-2016). Bro. Hastings-Reynolds was a journeyman wireman "gangboss," who entered the IBEW apprenticeship program in 2005. He worked under the Motion Picture Agreement at Warner Brothers, Universal and Disney Studios. He grew up in LaCrescenta, CA, and graduated from Cresceta Valley High School. Our condolences go out to his wife, Ericka, and family members. Bro. Hastings-Reynolds was a great co-worker and friend to all the brothers and sisters in Local 40. Along with his family and friends, we at Local 40 mourn the loss of our brother.

On a brighter note, Local 40 had our "That's a Wrap" party in December 2015 and there was an unbelievable turnout. Thanks to all those who contributed, we donated two bins filled with food items and children's toys to the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission. We also held a C.O.P.E. raffle and raised over $600. Big thanks to our Ninth District Int. Rep. Tim Dixon and his wife for joining us in this celebration, and honoring our newly graduated apprentices, David King, Desiree Jones and Jesse Villegas. Congratulations to you all! Local 40 looks forward to another successful year ahead in 2016. Strength in Brotherhood!

Matt Gruber, P.S.

L.U. 42 (catv,em,govt,lctt&o), HARTFORD, CT — The work picture for Local 42 "A" members is slow at the time of this writing. Distribution and transmission work should pick back up sometime in early spring. Our membership has steadily increased to 540 "A" members and 520 "BA" members.

To all members of Local 42, please make sure that you are all up to date with your certifications: First Aid, CPR, Bucket and Pole Top Rescue (if you're a lineman/apprentice). This is mandatory in order to sign the book and go out to work. If you need to sign up for any future classes, please contact the Local 42 Occupational Safety & Health Education (O.S.H.E.) Department at phone number 860-643-4048.

The work picture for Local 42 "BA" members was steady throughout the recent winter season. We also have one of our contractors looking for experienced tree trimmers/driver groundmen who are willing to work long hours and travel throughout the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. If you are interested, please contact Jeff Neurath at 860-508-5903. We also have applications available at the union hall.

Think safe, work safe and be safe.

Jacquelyn Moffitt, P.S.

L.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts,st&tm), PORTLAND, OR — Local 48 is proud to announce the new Cowlitz Casino Project. The project is being developed by Salishan-Mohegan LLC in collaboration with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, and will be located near La Center, WA.

Bus. Mgr. Gary Young salutes the dedicated perseverance of those who helped secure this project labor agreement (PLA), including past and present Local 48 leaders.

As a Port of Portland commissioner and Oregon State Building & Construction Trades Council president, Bus. Mgr. Young understands the complexity of navigating such projects to fruition. The $100 million phase one of the casino project is forecast to provide jobs for 250 IBEW members. All planned phases will ultimately total $510 million on this PLA/all union project! "We should all celebrate the success of securing this important PLA project for our members," Bus. Mgr. Young said.

Former business manager Ed Barnes, a committed advocate for the project since its inception 10 years ago, helped forge the relationships needed to secure this win-win project. Barnes, though retired, continues to work tirelessly for his local. He is a Washington Building Trades member, State Transportation commissioner, Clark County commissioner, and Southwest Washington Labor Roundtable chairman.

Local 48 Reps. Mike Bridges and Bob Carroll work with Bro. Barnes and continue to strengthen our community relationships. Their advocacy contributed to securing these union jobs in our current "right-to-work" climate. Both Bros. Bridges and Carroll also serve on many other labor-wide councils and organizations, too numerous to list in this space.

Bus. Mgr. Young encourages all members to join Local 48 leadership and take an active role in securing Local 48's future. "Breaking ground is especially exciting on another PLA project," he said.

[Editor's Note: To read more, see news story "Oregon Governor Appoints Portland Business Manager to Port Commission," posted on the IBEW website at www.ibew.org/media-center/articles.]

Bob Blair, P.S.

L.U. 50 (u), RICHMOND, VA — IBEW Local 50 wishes to thank the RENEW (Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical Workers) Committee, other volunteers and the Central Virginia Area Labor Federation for all of their efforts and time spent to help make project Holiday Hope 2015 a great success. Volunteerism and hard work continue to illustrate organized labor's commitment to those less fortunate in our communities.

Local 50 represents more than 3,000 workers employed by: BARC Electric Cooperative, Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative, Dominion Virginia Power, Monongahela Power, and Virginia Natural Gas. Members work in all phases of generation, transmission, distribution, operations and maintenance of electric and gas utilities in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, including two nuclear stations in Virginia.

John Albert, Treas., B.R.

L.U. 58 (em,i,rtb,spa&t), DETROIT, MI — This will be an exciting year at Local 58. Our projected work outlook has signs of full employment for our brothers and sisters of the IBEW. The new hockey arena project has started and will be ongoing, along with other projects in our jurisdiction.

The Local 58 Benevolent Fund party on Super Bowl Sunday was a huge success. Ten TVs and a recliner were offered as prizes this year. Congratulations to all the winners. The committee thanks all those who purchased tickets and provided the volunteer work needed to make this event a success. They are looking forward to their next event, which will be the Walleye Tournament on the Detroit River in the spring. Details will be available soon at the union hall.

The local is asking members and their families to become involved at the local government level, and we can help members do that. Become a precinct delegate in your voting precinct, get elected to a seat on your school board in your community, become a member of your city council or your county board of commissioners. YOU can make a difference and have influence on issues that affect all families. Contact the union hall for more details.

James E. DeLuca, B.R./P.S.

L.U. 68 (i), DENVER, CO — Things didn't slow down as much work-wise this recent winter as in previous years. We are still seeing some calls trickle through almost every week, as of this writing.

The local held another round of Code of Excellence classes on Dec. 10. Thanks to Int. Rep. Guy P. Runco for the informative session. Eighth District business managers met in Denver on Dec. 17 to discuss problems, solutions and registrar training.

On Jan. 15 and Feb. 17, we met with U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette and Jared Polis to respectfully voice our opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

On Jan. 23, retired 78-year member Emerald Nelson celebrated his 100th birthday. Congratulations, Bro. Emerald!

On Jan. 27, a diversity training session was conducted at Local 68 and it provided important, useful information. As we all make an effort to organize and as we welcome new apprentices, always remember to treat new members as you would want to be treated.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of our recently deceased brothers: Eugene H. Rightsell, Ronald G. Davis, Richard L. Waymire, Leroy M. Jagger and John P. McGrath.

Hope everyone had a good winter. "Brotherhood — Pass it On."

Jack Cox, Pres.

L.U. 70 (lctt&o), WASHINGTON, DC — Local 70 members working on the 230 kilovolt-ampere (kVA) Dominion Power transmission line in Virginia have been working long hours since the job started back in May last year.

The IBEW members started the project by lacing the steel and putting up the towers. This job has been a climbing job, through the heat of the summer and the cold of the winter. These members have worked very hard to get this job done. With safety a priority, and pride in a job well-done, the commitment to excellence shows.

Henkels & McCoy is the union contractor on the job and a great contractor to work for. Working together with Local 70 Bus. Mgr. William "Tip" Tipton, they have put together a great group of union brothers. They have worked like a team on a very physical job.

So here at Local 70, we wish to thank Henkels & McCoy, our IBEW members, and everyone who has helped make this another fine union job with a great safety record. At press time, the project is on pace to finish ahead of schedule. Brothers and sisters, you are greatly appreciated and make union labor the best in the world.

Union pride, union strong!

Jimmy Horton, B.R.

L.U. 80 (i&o), NORFOLK, VA — Work slowed some over the winter, but Local 80 members have been busy as of this writing. The Local 80 annual children's Christmas party saw a good turnout and included a visit from Santa. Thanks to Woody Gregory and his wife for heading up the party.

The Young Brotherhood of Local 80, our young workers group, continued their community service projects by volunteering their skills for a project on the battleship USS Wisconsin. They removed and replaced lighting for several displays and removed old cabling on the ship.

Local 80 Bro. Derek Samuelson, chairman of our Young Brotherhood group, was named to the national advisory board for RENEW (Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical Workers), representing the Fourth District.

Bro. Michael Iacobellis, JATC training director, was also recently recognized for his work. Bro. Iacobellis was honored as the IBEW Hour Power Instructor of the Year for all his work as both training director and fifth-year instructor. [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.]

Congratulations to both Bro. Samuelson and Bro. Iacobellis.

W. Dennis Floyd, A.B.M.

L.U. 102 (em,govt,i,mt,o&ws), PATERSON, NJ — After 42 years of service, Brother Wiley Haskins, who served as an Executive Board member, has hung up his tool belt and retired from Local 102. Having retired from the field, Bro. Haskins decided it was also time to step down from his position on the Executive Board. On Jan. 19, he submitted his letter of resignation to the Executive Board. Bro. Haskins became a member of Local 102 in 1974. He served on many local union committees including the Election Committee, Bylaws Committee, and Agreement Committee. He became an officer in 2006 taking his spot on the Examining Board, where he served until becoming an Executive Board member in 2009. We wish Brother Haskins the best in his retirement and thank him for his service to Local 102.

We congratulate Bob Kaminski on his appointment to the Executive Board to fill the unexpired term of Brother Haskins. We also congratulate Brother Mark Battagliese on his appointment to the Examining Board.

We have a photo contest winner among us. All of us at Local 102 congratulate Brother Chris Plesnarski on finishing first in this year's IBEW photo contest. Great job, Chris! We look forward to showcasing the winning picture in our hall for all to see.

Bernie Corrigan, Pres.

L.U. 104 (lctt,o&u), BOSTON, MA — At this writing, the work picture within Local 104's jurisdiction is slow, but there is hope that spring will bring on some much-needed work to the area. Members should take advantage of this down time to update any certifications, such as CPR, First Aid or any OSHE classes offered. Remember that classes are offered at all three union hall locations: in Lewiston, ME; Barrington, NH; and Walpole, MA.

Also, I would like to remind the members that this is an election year. It is a presidential election year, and also the year for an election of Local 104 officers. Please get out and vote. It is important that the members of IBEW Local 104 let our politicians know who we are.

For the Local 104 election of officers, all Local 104 members in good standing will be receiving updates regarding nominations to be held in May, and the election of officers to be held in June.

Brian T. Murphy, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 124 (ees,em,i,mar,rts,se,spa&t), KANSAS CITY, MO — Economic growth in our jurisdiction lost a little of its upward momentum over the past 12 months. We are fortunate that since 2008, we have increased our share of the market by nearly 32 percent; otherwise man-hours would be down instead of holding steady. Our signatory contractors have the tools and incentives they need to grow market share even more in 2016.

The labor movement is still under fire from the corporate agenda in both Missouri and Kansas. In Missouri, the 2015 legislative session upheld the governor's veto of so-called "right to work," but yielded a veto override that reduced unemployment benefits by half. Local 124 continues to fight back by investing in political education. Two Local 124 members have stepped into the fight by running for the Missouri General Assembly. The challenge for unions will be to get our members to the polls. In Missouri the lack of labor turnout has created this extreme partisan imbalance that allows the corporate agenda to flourish. We must mobilize the vote in 2016.

We remember recently deceased members: Charles E. Alverson Sr., Daniel W. Brady, Marshall F. Charuk, Larry K. Dulaney, Jason H. Hayes, Ellis L. Jeffies, James N. Jewett, Herbert Marselus, Robert E. Myers, Fred R. Nuzum Jr., William Reintjes, Richard P. Strong and Donald L. Wissman.

Congratulations to recently retired members: David K. Binger, Danny Collins, Richard M. Glatz, James M. Griffin, Larry F. Hilliard, Larry G. Howard, Ronald D. Jarrett, Edward J. Leverich, Daniel McConnaughy, Gary E. McCracken, Wayne C. McNabb, Kenneth Sanchez, Stanely M. Sims, David L. Skelton and Brett M. Speark.

In solidarity labor wins.

Terry Akins, B.M. Steve Morales, P.S.

L.U. 146 (ei,i&rts), DECATUR, IL — The work picture here slowed considerably over the winter but is expected to pick up this spring. We continue to wait for the Cronus Fertilizer project to begin. The downturn has given members a chance to continue their education. Training Dir. Jason Drake has been busy coordinating First Aid, CPR, and AED classes. Also offered have been OSHA 30 and Welding, for apprentices as well as journeyman wiremen. Currently, 62 apprentices are attending classes and participating in on-the-job training.

The election season is now in full swing, and we all have seen what happens when we as labor do not show up at the polls. The 2016 elections are more crucial than ever for working people. It is important that we turn out in great numbers to vote, because the only thing that is helping organized labor to stay in the fight in Springfield is our super majority in the state House and Senate. It is critical for us to maintain these seats in Springfield so the middle class is represented and has a voice.

Congratulations to IBEW Local 146 member John Warner on his election as vice president of the Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly, and to Local 146 member Mary Sapp on her election as DTLA secretary.

Our condolences to the family and friends of recently deceased Local 146 member Steve Buchanan. Steve was a 47-year IBEW member and will surely be missed.

Rich Underwood, R.S.

L.U. 150 (es,i,rts&spa), WAUKEGAN, IL — Some of our summer activities are already in the planning stages so please watch your email or home mail box for further updates. And there will be a family picnic on May 14 at the Lakewood Forest Preserve Shelter C. Lots of good food, a fishing derby for the kids, and a baggo tournament. If you would like to help or have any suggestions or ideas, please see Jon Aunet.

There is still time to sign up for a JW continuing education class with the JATC. Remember, most of these classes count as continuing education credits for various state licenses and certifications you may already hold. Courses scheduled for April and beyond include NFPA 70E Work Zone Safety, Significant Changes to the 2014 NEC, IMSA Traffic Technician Level 2, Code Review, 10 Hour OSHA, NFPA 70E Work Safety Practices, and an Arc Welding Brush-up Session.

[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.]

Recently the Village of Lincolnshire passed a right-to-work ordinance. The village is currently being sued by four labor groups. If you live in Lincolnshire or are a regular customer of some of the businesses and establishments there, we are asking that you spend your monies elsewhere. And please be sure to tell the businesses that you are taking your monies out of town and why. Personally, I would never spend my hard-earned money in a municipality that is so hostile to working people of all kinds.

See you at the meeting.

Wendy J. Cordts, P.S.

L.U. 164 (c,em,i,o&t), JERSEY CITY, NJ — As spring approaches, we in Local 164 again find ourselves very busy in our ongoing effort to give back to our communities.

We are gearing up for our annual tradition of participating in "National Rebuilding Day" with Rebuilding Together, a great organization that coordinates volunteers to assist homeowners with repairs and upgrades to their homes that the homeowners cannot provide for themselves.

We look forward to another great day of giving back and helping others by volunteering our time to perform much-needed electrical repairs and upgrades. This is always a great event and a day of brotherhood among our brothers and sisters and the residents of the communities where we live and work.

Bus. Mgr. Dan Gumble and Pres. Tom Sullivan wish to thank all our members who volunteer their time for this worthy cause. As the local volunteer coordinator, I also extend a heartfelt thank-you to all our volunteers as well. This great work simply couldn't be done without the dedicated members who volunteer.

Warren M. Becker, V.P.

L.U. 194 (i,spa&u), SHREVEPORT, LA — On Dec. 9 last year, Local 194 held its Annual Christmas Luncheon for our local union retirees with 140 in attendance. At the luncheon, we awarded a number of IBEW service pins.

Service award recipients were as follows: receiving 40-year service pins – Charles "Lynn" Craig, Henry James and John D. Sherrer; 45-year pins – William "Bill" Bogues and Travis C. Camp; 50-year pins – Charles D. Evans, Harvey R. Kemper and John W. Sims; 55-year pins – Samuel S. Sherville and John W. Tyler; 60-year pins – Robert "Bob" King and James W. Lee; 65-year pins – Leo C. Cryer, Guy R. Friend and William M. Jones.

Terry Reynolds, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 222 (o), ORLANDO, FL — At the Dec. 7, 2015, Line Construction Benefit Fund (LINECO) trustee meeting, the board of trustees honored Ernie Pastor, who recently retired from the board after 26 years as a management trustee from the Southeastern Line Contractors Chapter of NECA.

Ernie was also honored by Local 222 Bus. Mgr. Mike Bell for 60 years of distinguished service as an IBEW member. In the 1990s, Ernie was the president of Olson Electric and as such was very active in the industry. Serving in many capacities to improve our industry, he was also a member of Local 222. On behalf of Local 222 officers and members, we wish Ernie and his wife, Ann, a happy and long retirement.

On Dec. 19 last year, Local 222 held its annual Christmas party at the office facility in Orange Lake, FL. More than 200 people attended. Winners of the corn toss were as follows: first place – Lucas Engh and Brandon Ray; second place – Joey West and Jason Bowen; and third place – Dave Boom and Jason Mathis.

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

L.U. 234 (i&mt), CASTROVILLE, CA — With heavy heart we share the sad news of our sudden and tragic loss of Bro. Christopher Burditt on last New Year's Eve. We take solace that he spent his final hours among family and close friends engaging in one of his many passions: archery.

We are grateful that another of his passions was the IBEW. With an ancestral background firmly intertwined with our local, Chris, after graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, completed his Inside apprenticeship in 2010 and after a short stint in the field went on to be appointed treasurer and organizer in September 2011.

A testament to the many lives Chris touched could be seen in the overflowing crowds at both his memorial service and reception. Many of those who came to pay their respects found themselves on the sidewalks around the block in both directions, as there were too many people to fit into the building.

Chris worked tirelessly for our local. His efforts led to the bettering of relations, signing of contractors, and adopting project labor agreements (PLAs). In addition to serving on the Examining Board, he was a COMET instructor and our liaison with the Castroville Artichoke Parade & Festival. See accompanying photo for his IBEW conduit-inspired parade entry, through which he coached several apprentices to hone their conduit-bending skills.

Chris, we salute you.

Stephen Slovacek, P.S.

L.U. 254 (ees,em,mo,o,rts&u), CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA — Congratulations to Bro. Noel Murphy, winner of the 2015 City of Calgary Public Safety Communications Board of Governors' Award honoring his public safety work at 9-1-1 and recognizing his dedication to public service.

During 33 years of prior military service specializing in air traffic control, Bro. Murphy served in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, as chief of Airspace Operations to monitor international airspaces with American counterparts. NORAD is a combined organization of the U.S. and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty and defense for North America. Bro. Murphy, working with an American officer, was responsible for alerting the U.S. president and the Canadian prime minister to the terrorist attacks on 9/11. After the attacks Bro. Murphy and his team were responsible for rewriting airline hijacking policy and procedures.

Upon retiring from military service in 2005, Bro. Murphy's career with The City of Calgary 9-1-1 began. Affectionately known as "Papa Murph," he demonstrated his continuing passion for public service through his concern for citizens, stakeholders and co-workers. Bro. Murphy served as an IBEW union steward for nine years, utilizing his impressive knowledge to assist co-workers and serve members, always willing to lend support and have hard conversations with anyone, including management.

Bro. Murphy will officially retire at the end of May. Local 254 thanks Noel for his stellar job serving as shop steward and as a contract negotiator, and extends congratulations on his remarkable 40+ decades of public service and his union involvement.

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

L.U. 292 (em,govt,i,rtb,rts&spa), MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The winter season arrived a little late but quite suddenly in Minnesota. By late January, the temperature had dipped below zero for an extended period. As a result of the cold weather and the holidays, the work picture slowed a bit.

The new Vikings Stadium (US Bank Stadium) is nearly 85 percent finished at press time, and the push is on to finish by July.

Our other projects include: the 1.5-million-square-foot Amazon fulfillment center; the remodeling and expansion projects for both of our airport terminals; and several other large projects.

With these projects, we should be able to keep our list of out-of-work brothers and sisters to a minimum. We extend a special "thank-you" to all the travelers who came to help us man our jurisdiction in 2015! The upcoming summer season looks promising as well.

Eric Peterson, B.R.

L.U. 300 (govt,i,mt&u), MONTPELIER, VT — Greetings, brothers and sisters. Vermont set new record-high temperatures for the month of February. The recent winter season in Vermont was extremely mild and non-snowy, the polar opposite of the previous winter. This has been a pleasant occurrence for the many Local 300 members working on solar installations.

Happily, I can once again boast that Local 300's membership involvement has bumped up a level.

Our local is blessed with an outstanding team of apprentices. This collection of fresh IBEW members is and will be a force for the non-union contractors to reckon with! Several of the apprentices are hosting, preparing and serving dinner to out-of-town families who have children receiving specialized medical care at our local hospital. While the meal-planning team is working hard, the fundraisers for research on type 2 diabetes in children are getting things rolling.

With energetic, caring members the IBEW will not only survive but also continue to flourish. To all those who come together to form this team, we give a heartfelt thank-you!

Bro. Chad Bell, a journeyman wireman and apprenticeship instructor, attended a "train-the-trainer" course for the installation of Tesla Powerwalls, rechargeable lithium-ion battery products. In the accompanying photo, Bro. Chad is pictured at the Tesla factory in California. Tesla requires its personal training prior to any installation. I believe that Vermont is one of the first Northeast locations (if not the first) where the Powerwall is being offered for installation.

We at Local 300 wish you and yours the very best!

Tim LaBombard, Mbr. Dev.

L.U. 302 (i,rts&spa), MARTINEZ, CA — In this election year, let's remember who we are and what we stand for.

We are not one particular political party, gender, race or background. We are the hands that harness the energy that drives the future of America.

When politicians talk about "jobs," remember that it is not just the job that is important. It is fair compensation for a career of applying our skills efficiently, producing a quality product under respectful conditions.

When "jobs" are discussed in large, dehumanizing numbers, the discussion misses something. References to the "thousands of jobs being sent overseas" often miss the fact that the thousand workers trained to do those jobs are unemployed here in America.

Those in government who used to advocate for us are being replaced by global-economy advocates. Others are downright hostile toward unions, blaming fair wages for a sluggish economic recovery and lack of competitiveness.

Listen carefully, brothers and sisters. There is a big difference between the lip service of "fighting for working men and women" and advocating for our right to build, maintain and participate fairly in the fruits and benefits of the future of America.

We deserve more than pandering. We deserve a seat at the table.

Bob Lilley, A.B.M.

L.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OH — At our December union meeting, service awards were presented to eligible members in appreciation for their longtime IBEW service. Award recipients included: for 65 years of service – William Campbell, Arthur Goodspeed and Eugene Mortimer; for 60 years – Donald Brown, Roger Casseday, Eugene Givens and James May; 55 years – Bruce Adams, David Brisbin, John Felber, John Hornacek, Dennis Johanyak, Leonard Klein, Richard Muha, Daniel Popa, Robert Stewart, Bernard Taylor, Richard Vence, Arthur Weber and Philip Yankulov; 50 years – Richard Brauser, Robert Crookston, Howard Masters and Lowell Young; and 25 years – Frank Bindreiter, Molly Dougherty, Janice Gemind, Carol Hilton, Gregory Jarvis, Shawn Johanyak, Robert Kachovec, Andrew King, George Kungl, Brian Lawrence, James Livers, Steven Mangus, Christopher McDevitt, Mark Michl, Thomas Racco, Robert Schumacher and Arlett White. Congratulations and thank you, sisters and brothers, for your longtime service.

Also in December our Children's Christmas Party was a great success. We had a large turnout and attendees were entertained by a juggler, a balloon sculptor, and a visit from "Bro." Santa and Mrs. Claus. Thank you to our officers and the social committee for all their help. Thanks also to retired Bro. George Manus, who for many years has been our photographer at most Local 306 events, taking pictures of award recipients and each child visiting Santa at the Christmas parties.

With sadness we report the loss of retired Bros. Alfred Sander and Robert Biehl. Our condolences to their families.

Thomas Wright, P.S.

L.U. 332 (c,ees,i&st), SAN JOSE, CA — The San Jose chapter of the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus at Local 332 is on the rise! It has been up and running as a committee for a couple of years now — and in January 2016, the group received their official charter at the annual EWMC Conference.

Volunteerism is a long-standing tradition in Local 332, and we are proud to have the EWMC enriching our communities and strengthening our Brotherhood. Recent EWMC contributions include staffing a Department of Veterans Affairs phone bank to benefit homeless veterans, and assisting with the annual decorating of San Jose's "Christmas in the Park" displays.

David Bini, Organizer

L.U. 340 (i,rts&spa), SACRAMENTO, CA — I am happy to share the following, which was written by Local 340 construction wireman Bro. Will McKee, one of six Local 340 delegates who attended the 26th annual Electrical Workers Minority Caucus Leadership Conference in January:

"As a new member of IBEW Local 340, I was grateful to be able to attend the EWMC conference on behalf of my local. This conference provided a wealth of information regarding race, immigration and the future of organized labor as well as offering a multitude of networking opportunities. Our delegates included a business development representative, three journeyman inside wiremen, myself and another brand new construction wireman member. [The delegates] were inspired and amazed at the magnitude of this conference. We worked side by side with over 425 EWMC members in the New York community installing various fixtures in schools, churches and businesses, and also cleaning up garbage around the city. It was record-breaking cold, but there were no complaints!

"There was also much to learn as we attended the workshops and panel discussions on myriad topics including prison reform and its relationship to the labor movement, understanding privilege, cultural competency and, for the first time, a panel discussion on LGBT issues. I was proud to be a part of this amazing event."

Thanks, Bro. McKee, for sharing this with us and thanks to IBEW Local 3 for hosting this year's event. I know from personal experience that this conference is always life-changing for the many delegates who attend.

Tom Okumura, B.M.

L.U. 352 (u), LANSING, MI — Committed to giving back, we turned our efforts to the City of Flint in January. The water crisis there touched us deeply. It's in our Michigan community, and one of our Local 352 sisters lives and raises her children in Flint. Our local partnered with the non-bargaining side of our company in fundraising efforts and we collected donations of bottled water that were delivered to residents of Flint.

Organized in 1903, IBEW Local 352 became signatory to the Lansing Board of Water & Light in 1913. Local 352 members who work at Lansing BW&L include journey workers, electrical tradesmen and clerical workers, as well as operators who work in water production, transmission and distribution.

We began replacing all of our lead water pipes in 2004, and have replaced more than 13,500 of them to date. In January, our brothers and sisters were called upon to share their skills with the people of Flint and to show how efficiently lead services can be replaced with copper. They had local news outlets follow them with camera crews, and even had The New York Times join them at a job for a story highlighting their replacement process.

[Editor's Note: To read more, please see Who We Are article, "The IBEW's Innovative Solution to Flint's Water Crisis," on page 19 of this issue. The news story is also posted on the IBEW's website at www.ibew.org/media-center.]

We are so proud of all our brothers and sisters!

Maggie Rich, V.P.

L.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD, IL — Local 364 held its semiannual Retirees Luncheon on Jan. 21. Sixty retired members and their spouses attended. Bus. Mgr. Alan Golden addressed the crowd and thanked the members for their dedicated years of service. Everyone enjoyed a great time.

The work situation looks brighter for Local 364 with the upcoming addition of a new 188-bed facility by Mercy Hospital. This 263-acre campus will include three buildings including a hotel. The $450 million project is one of the largest in Rockford's history. Local 364 is eagerly awaiting the start of the project, which should begin in the spring with a completion date of 2018.

All politics are local. That being said, Local 364 is gearing up for the political season with endorsed-candidate information being distributed to all our members. Gov. Bruce Rauner's relentless attacks on labor have spawned resurgence in the labor movement. Now more than ever, we need to mobilize our efforts to protect our worker rights that our forefathers have worked so hard to preserve.

Brad Williams, Mbr. Dev.

L.U. 400 (es,i&o), ASBURY PARK, NJ — On Jan 12, 2016, Bro. Eric Houghtaling was sworn in as a state legislator at the 217th session of the New Jersey General Assembly. Bro. Houghtaling ran as a Democrat and his victory in a Republican stronghold was a monumental task and a great success.

Assemblyman Houghtaling is a 38-year IBEW member and current registrar who has been an elected public official for the past 18 years. He served Neptune Township for many years as a councilman and mayor.

Thanks go out to Local 400 Bus. Mgr. Guy Peterson for his unwavering support of Bro. Houghtaling's candidacy for the New Jersey Assembly seat. Demonstrating fierce dedication, Bus. Mgr. Peterson worked tirelessly to help build support for the campaign, both in terms of financial backing and manpower, from IBEW local unions in New Jersey, the building trades, and the AFL-CIO.

Local 400 is proud to have one of its own join two other IBEW members currently serving in the New Jersey General Assembly. General Assemblyman Joseph Egan, deputy majority leader, is a member of IBEW Local 456. Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, deputy speaker, is a member of IBEW Local 269. Our brothers will be hard at work introducing legislation and voting for laws that will benefit the working families of New Jersey.

Raven Morris, P.S.

L.U. 446 (i), MONROE, LA — Local 446 wishes to congratulate three members who recently retired. Bros. Donald Hebert, Donald Cooper and Donald Jennings retired in 2015 following longtime careers of dedicated IBEW service.

Bus. Mgr. Joshua Palmer presented these brothers with their IBEW retirement watches in recognition of their service. The local extends best wishes to Bros. Hebert, Cooper and Jennings for a long and happy retirement.

Joshua Palmer, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 494 (em,i,mt,rts,spa&t), MILWAUKEE, WI — During our apprentice interviews, one of the questions asked of all our applicants is, "What would you do in an emergency situation?"

Two Local 494 members working with Nelco Electric — construction wireman Derrek Larson and journeyman wireman Jake Zacharias — were put to a real-life test and passed with flying colors.

During what would have been a normal work day, they observed something that appeared abnormal. They investigated a locked closet at the school they were working in and found an unresponsive employee.

Dialing 911 and administering first aid, Derrek and Jake were able to keep the person they found alive until emergency responders arrived.

For their act of heroism, Bros. Larson and Zacharias each received an IBEW Local 494 Challenge Coin presented by Bus. Mgr. Dean Warsh.

Congratulations to these brothers for their remarkable quick thinking.

Kurt Jante, B.R.

L.U. 558 (catv,em,i,mt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), SHEFFIELD, AL — Local 558 was honored to be a part of the first Union Sportsmen's Alliance banquet in conjunction with the Alabama AFL-CIO on Dec. 3, 2015, in Trussville, AL. This was a groundbreaking event and exceeded all expectations considering it was the first year for the event. Plans are to hold the event annually. The proceeds raised from this event will be invested back into the Alabama Wildlife Conservation efforts. It is inspiring to know that the IBEW has played a pivotal role in assisting from day one and that our members represented our local in excellent fashion.

We are proud to announce that we have solidified a three-year contract with NECA, a five-year contract with Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, and a sevem-year contract with Franklin Electric Cooperative. Work has slowly begun to pick up, with our scheduled spring outage at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. There will be a fall outage at the nuclear plant this year as well.

Notification will soon be released regarding plans for our 7th Annual Spring Picnic, to be held May 21 at Spring Park in Tuscumbia, AL.

We send our best to the Brotherhood and anticipate a very productive 2016.

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

L.U. 570 (i,mo,spa&u), TUCSON, AZ — On Dec. 19 last year, Local 570 members, officers and family closed out 2015 by volunteering to help pack and distribute Christmas food boxes for distribution to more than 600 union members of the Tucson community who were in need of a helping hand for the holidays.

Local 570 included turkeys for the 40 members of our local who received food boxes. Thanks go out to all the volunteers; they had fun and enjoyed the spirit of camaraderie working together to make the project a success.

We have an election of officers coming up, as well as negotiations for the inside agreement and negotiations for some of our units.

The work picture is still slow starting out 2016. Thank you to the fellow IBEW locals that are working our brothers and sisters on the road.

Scott W. Toot, Pres.

L.U. 640 (em,govt,i,mo,mt,rts,spa&u), PHOENIX, AZ — Our 2015 apprenticeship graduation ceremony was held in January and hosted by Phoenix Electrical JATC Training Dir. Shawn Hutchinson and Asst. Training Dirs. Lee Emms and Stephan Cole. We had combined classes totaling 30 graduating apprentices. Congratulations to all these graduates on becoming inside journeyman wiremen.

Graduate Shawn Davis was recognized for perfect attendance. Graduates Shawn Davis and Andrew Fritsch received Academic Achievement Awards. The 2015 Apprentice of the Year Award went to Shawn Davis. Great job, brothers.

We were honored to have three special guest speakers at the graduation ceremony: IBEW Seventh District Int. Vice Pres. Steven M. Speer, a Local 640 member; Electrical Training Alliance Exec. Dir. Todd Stafford; and NECA Field Rep. J.T. Osborn. They all had great things to say to our new journeyman wiremen.

[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.]

We extend condolences to the families of our recently fallen brothers: John Laundry, Wesley Miglio, Richard Pollard, Warren Coughlin, Ernest Gautier and John McCahon. May you rest in peace, brothers.

Our work outlook is starting to pick up as of press time, and that is needed to put our brothers and sisters back to work after a very slow 2015. We extend thanks to all the locals that have kept our members working in our slow times.

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

L.U. 666 (i,mt&o), RICHMOND, VA — At this writing, there are fights for union and worker rights in statehouses all across the country, including Virginia.

The Republicans have taken advantage of the 2010 and 2014 off-year elections where they made big gains in statehouses. One major issue near and dear to legislators on the right is attacking unions. These attacks come in the form of so-called "right-to-work" legislation or by attempts to roll back prevailing wage law. There is also a great resistance on the right to any meaningful action on rampant worker misclassification in the construction trades and elsewhere. The upcoming presidential election is getting a great deal of coverage already, but the local and state elections are just as important. Find out how your representatives vote on issues important to working people, and remember it when you vote.

Recent retirees include: Walter D. Potter, Aubrey C. Collawn III, Riz B. Yu, Sherry P. Krouse, Kris I. Mitchell and Steven T. Repole.

Charles Skelly, P.S.

L.U. 702 (as,c,catv,cs,em,es,et,govt,i,it,lctt,mo,mt, o,p,pet,ptc,rtb,rts,se, spa,st,t,u,uow&ws), WEST FRANKFORT, IL — In our never-ending battle to improve the lives of our members and all working families, we continue to oppose politicians who attempt to destroy that which we strive to achieve. Indiana has already enacted "right-to-work-for-less" legislation, and the Republican governor in Illinois, as well as the Republican-controlled House and Senate in Missouri, are pursuing that agenda. As we work through this election year, please join us in helping to elect a labor-friendly slate in all three states!

Our Annual Retiree Luncheon will be on April 6 this year, again at Rend Lake; doors will open at 11 a.m. Please contact the Union Hall at (618) 932-2102 to RSVP for yourself and your significant other.

In Indiana, we supported House Concurrent Resolution 54, which would recognize "the hardworking men and women who work every day of the year so that Hoosiers in every corner of our state have safe, reliable electric energy to power their homes, schools, churches and businesses by urging the Governor to designate February 29, 2016, as Electric Lineman Appreciation Day across Indiana."

As of this writing, our referral books are as follows: Inside Construction – 103; Outside Construction – 10; and Line Clearance – 4.

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

L.U. 704 (catv,em&i), DUBUQUE, IA — I recently attended a meeting for all of Local 704's apprentices. Bus. Mgr. Tom Townsend and Bro. Pete Hird, Membership Development, presented an informative and valuable program. They spoke about the many aspects of our working agreement. Apprentices and journeymen alike are urged to contact the union hall if they have any questions or if they would like any clarifications regarding our agreement. Many times the knowledgeable voice of experience can clear up or address potential problems before issues develop into misunderstandings.

Local 704 extends condolences to the family of Bro. Milt Avenarius, who passed away at age 80 in December 2015. Milt was a loyal member of Local 704 for 55 years. He previously served on the apprenticeship committee and also as an instructor. Volunteerism was a major part of Milt's life and his commitment to our Dubuqueland area. He was involved with activities at the Dubuque County Fair, the Dubuque Arboretum, and the National Mississippi River Museum, where he was instrumental in establishing a Blacksmith Shop. He spent many hours, right up to the last days of his life, educating museum attendees about the art of blacksmithing.

Ron Heitzman, P.S.

L.U. 1040 (em), HARTFORD, CT — Local 1040 Bus. Mgr. John O'Toole reports with great sadness the loss of Bro. Wayne Betts, who passed away Nov. 25, 2015.

Bro. Wayne was a good friend to all who knew him. He was a proud member of Local 1040 for 53 years and an employee of the Wiremold Company in West Hartford. He will be missed but not forgotten.

Don McNamara, P.S.

L.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON, AZ — Local 1116 recently said a fond farewell to our former business manager, Frank Grijalva. Frank led our local for more than eight years and now has moved on following his appointment as a Seventh District International Representative, effective Feb. 1 this year. Frank is a 28-year IBEW member and has also served the local in positions including financial secretary, vice president and president. We thank Frank for his dedicated leadership and wish him the very best in his new endeavors. We know he will serve the district well in his new position. Frank will be missed here at Local 1116, but we know his appointment will be a gain for everyone district-wide.

Stepping up to fill Frank's former position is newly appointed Bus. Mgr. Scott Northrup, our former president. Bus. Mgr. Northrup was appointed to fill the remainder of the unexpired term of office. Bro. Greg Carter was appointed president to fill that vacated seat. Bro. Andrew Koch was appointed to the vacated vice president's chair. At the time of this writing, a new E-Board member had not been appointed to fill Andrew's former position.

We also thank Roger Asplin for his participation as local union press secretary. He has stepped down from that post due to a new job assignment.

Sharon Williams, P.S.

L.U. 1466 (u), COLUMBUS, OH — 2016 is gearing up to be a busy year for Local 1466. We are in the midst of a historic, three-year collective bargaining agreement that was negotiated with American Electric Power. This is something we tried to achieve for many years, and are glad that it finally came to fruition. We still have a lot of work ahead of us to get where we need to be, but this is a good start.

We are also in the early stages of planning for both Union Stewards training and also a 2016 Code of Excellence training/workshop for our members. We had originally planned to conduct this training in 2015, but unfortunately were unable to solidify a date because of scheduling conflicts. We will be discussing possible dates for training this year at the various union meetings, and will keep everyone updated. We hope to see as many members as possible in attendance.

As the weather warms up, please continue to work safe and keep an eye out for your fellow brothers and sisters you work with every day!

Jimi Jette, P.S.