L.U. 2 (catv,lctt,o,t&u), ST. LOUIS, MO — 2016 is proving to be a busy year, starting with several IBEW conferences and training sessions. IBEW Local 2 members have also ratified contracts with CenturyLink in Jefferson City, MO, and with Macon Electric Cooperative.

At this writing, Local 2 is also in the process of planning upcoming training, including steward training, for later in 2016.

In additional to contract negotiations, conferences and training, the first five months of 2016 saw 15 members of IBEW Local 2 achieve journeyman status: Ben Williams, Connor Stumpe, Bryce Menne, Anthony Rogers, Matthew Martin, Corey Woods, Carl Brown, Cabot Long, Zachary Helms, Wesley Herron, Lee Bell, James Feuerborn, Jeremy Buckallew, Kaleb Loughary and Eric Besand. Congratulations and welcome to all.

In May, Local 2 supported the Central Missouri Master Gardeners with their largest fundraiser of the year. We provided assistance to move flowers and vegetables to the Jefferson City Jaycees Fairgrounds for the Master Gardeners' annual sale. This fundraiser helps support all of their garden projects and their scholarship program.

Greg Benton, A.B.M.

L.U. 6 (c,i,st&u), SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The Local 6 membership showed up en masse for San Francisco's 165th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. We were honored to receive the first-place marching group award — with a "distribution system" float, dozens of dedicated marchers, a decorated platform truck from the Traffic Signal Division, the Galileo High School Drum Corps, and a cable car for retirees who braved inclement weather for the event. Special thanks to inside apprentice Jolene Wong and the volunteers who built the terrific float.

In April, the local received a Legacy Award for our continued participation in the Annual César Chávez Parade. The Local 6 Latino United Society's contribution of classic "low-rider" vehicles was noted at the presentation. This year we had a career-information tent at the festival after the parade to extend outreach with the local Latino community.

"Rebuilding Together," a community service volunteer event, was coordinated by retiring apprenticeship director Steve Powers and newly appointed director Pete Chursin. Inside wiremen and apprentices donated labor to update electrical installations at Phatt Chance Community Center, Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, and Catholic Charities of San Francisco. Members also wired townhouses built for Habitat for Humanity.

Michael McKenna, Pres.

L.U. 12 (i,o&se), PUEBLO, CO — At the time of this writing, Local 12 was making plans for our 2016 Annual Picnic, scheduled for Aug. 6 this year. We have the park reserved in Pueblo West for volleyball, softball, horseshoes, swimming, kid's games, a watermelon carving contest, gifts, live music and more. Don't forget the food and drinks! We love to see the members come together for something other than work.

Our nominations for officers occurred in May and ballot results were tallied at the June meeting. Elected for a three-year term were: Bus. Mgr. Thomas Kelley and Pres. Jason Olds. These brothers, as well as the new Executive Board members — Ronan Carbajal, Michael DeGraeve, Tony Huskey, Kyle Martin, Cody Rheuff and Mark Secora — were all sworn in at the July meeting. Thank you to the candidates, the election judge and the tellers for participating in this year's election.

The work picture is steady in our area, with no big jobs on the horizon at press time.

Susan Johnson, P.S.

L.U. 16 (i), EVANSVILLE, IN — On May 25, Local 16's JATC held another excellent trade show. There were 27 booths that gave out high-end door prizes including Milwaukee cordless drill motors, multi-meters, $100 gift cards, high-voltage hand tools, shirts, hats and more. This well-attended event helped showcase IBEW partnerships and innovations in the electrical industry. Vendors, staff and volunteers provided information and demonstrated their latest products and technology. JATC staff and volunteers grilled and served brats and burgers with all the fixings. Thanks to all who made the trade show possible.

[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.]

In southern Indiana, Deig Brothers Lumber & Construction Company Inc. has been saving customers money through a Small Business Energy Savings program. As the leading SBES trade ally, they have eliminated the waste of 1,588,068 kWh. This equals an annual savings to participants of roughly $158,807. Deig's average customer has saved $2,146 per year, and received $5,132 in various incentives. Kudos to the IBEW Local 16 members employed by Deig Brothers for helping put the people they serve on a more cost-competitive basis.

Members continue to raise funds through donations to benefit our sick or needy. For more information, please contact the union hall.

Donald P. Beavin, P.S.

L.U. 24 (es,i&spa), BALTIMORE, MD — On Saturday, June 11, Local 24 held its election of officers. Many brothers and sisters from across the jurisdiction came out to participate. The day was long and hot. Food and refreshments were enjoyed throughout the day by those in attendance.

Incumbent Bus. Mgr. Gary Griffin and his ticket were elected or re-elected by an overwhelming majority. Elected officers include both younger members and more experienced ones, allowing for continued growth and stability for our great union.

Officers elected for a three-year term are: Bus. Mgr. Gary R. Griffin, Pres. Carmen D. Voso, Vice Pres. John L. Rankin, Rec. Sec. David W. Springham Jr., Fin. Sec. Peter P. Demchuk, Treas. Timothy W. Medford; Executive Board members Norman B. Bage, Anthony A. Decint, Ellwood G. Hanks, Lester R. Starks III, Frank S. Voso; Examining Board members Charles S. Curreri, Jerome T. Miller and Cory M. Shifflett.

To all those who participated, whether as a candidate or as a voting member, thank you for getting involved and please stay involved.

A special thanks from all the candidates and members to the election judge and the election tellers for a job well done.

Michael Azzarello, A.B.M.

L.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC — Summer in the city! Local 26 congratulates the 2016 graduates of our apprenticeship program and the "R to A Upgrade" program. There were 177 graduates. Graduation ceremonies were June 4, and it was a pleasure to see so many supportive family members and happy graduates! Best wishes to the new journeyman electricians!

The Dollars Against Diabetes golf outing was June 6, and it was another huge success. We spanned four golf courses with 500 golfers participating. A huge thank-you to everyone who sponsored, volunteered and participated for this worthy cause!

The Manassas, VA, picnic was June 18 and the Edgewater, MD, picnic is Aug. 6. Both picnics provide fun for the families of our members, and it is always great to have such a fabulous turnout for these events and the health fairs.

Several members passed away since our last article: Roger J. Chancellor, James M. Williams, Roger C. White, Herbert S. Hawkins and Michael J. Glumac III.

Best wishes to recent new retirees: James P. Guelig, Michael R. Shannon, Stephen J. Williams, Terry S. Vance, Campbell D. Cox, Elmer M. McConkey, Edward W. Johnson, Norman E. Knotts, Clarence E. Williams, Thomas L. Wilson, Bruce S. Wines, Robert C. Cranford Jr., Beswick B. Brown, Robert B. Kincaid, Stephen J. Lascola Jr., Jan Leszkiewicz, Mark T. McKnew, Kenneth W. Runkle, Vincent F. Schoenbeck and Marion H. Green.

Charles E. Graham

L.U. 34 (em,i,mt,rts&spa), PEORIA, IL — Congratulations to the newly elected officers of Local 34. The election took place June 11.

Re-elected to office are: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Paul Flynn, Pres. Tim Sprout, Vice Pres. Bob McKnight, Rec. Sec. Mark Picton, and Executive Board members Greg Rosenak and George Rudd. Officers elected for a first term are: Treas. Marc Burnap; Executive Board members Ray Fisher and Todd Holzinger; Quincy Executive Board member Robert Sheely; and Examining Board members Brain Bong, Dana Marie and Corey Platt. Convention delegates are: Dave Lowder and Dave Ramsay. Local 34 has a history of officers that go the extra mile for the local and I have no doubt that this class of officers will also do likewise.

The new first-year apprentices will be the first class to start and finish their apprenticeship in our new training facility. They are: Jeff Armstrong, Chad Atkinson, Isaac Davidson, Bryce Doubet, Robert Gunther, Kiel Hamm, Dawson Hammond, Matthew Kaps, Corbin Lenaway, Jeremiah Moser, Nehemiah Nickles, Brock Orwig, Beriah Quick, Noah Peterson, Coday Razo, Jon Troglio, Samuel Shumaker, Anton Sturgeon, Joseph Van Unnik, Grant Zimmerman, Brett Coons, Taylor Ivey, Matthew Schmidgall, Jakob Varnes, Tristan Bernhardt, Andrew Bloom, Chad Bordenkircher and David Hudson. Congratulations to all and welcome to the Brotherhood.

Marc Burnap, Treas./P.S.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH — Local 38 members are working to keep Lake Erie clean at multiple area jobsites. Currently at East 140th Street, just south of The Shoreway in Cleveland, an underground $73 million construction project is nearing completion and will pump millions of gallons of sewage that otherwise might have been dumped untreated into the lake.

The Easterly Tunnel Dewatering Pump Station (TDPS) is a key component of Project Clean Lake, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's $3 billion master plan to drastically reduce the amount of sewage entering local waterways.

The pump station occupies a 24-story chasm carved out of shale and filled with miles of giant pipes, wires, valves, mega-horsepower motors, and electronic control panels.

Our members' work on the project includes wiring a bank of 1,600-horsepower motors that will spin, creating a suction that propels sewage to the Easterly treatment plant, where more of our members are working on other related projects. Congratulations to all members who have worked on this project.

I also thank all of our members who worked on the new Hilton Hotel at the convention center. I recently attended the groundbreaking ceremony on behalf of Local 38. The county executive reported that the project, which was done under a project labor agreement (PLA), was done on schedule and $20 million under budget. The new 600-room hotel looks great and is a great asset for Cleveland.

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

L.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts,st&tm), PORTLAND, OR — The IBEW has supplied the skilled labor that built the electrical infrastructure in America. Those IBEW skills have been passed along both on the job, and in the IBEW apprenticeship training programs. The Local 48 Electrical Training Center began in 1929 and has had only three training directors during that time: Dan Faddis, Ken Fry and Rod Belisle. There are currently a record number of 610 Local 48 apprentices participating.

Current Training Dir. Rod Belisle is proud of the following accomplishments:

• Paying off the debt associated with the JATC training facility. This will happen in the summer of 2016!
• Interviews of apprentices regarding rotation by the JATC Labor-Management Committee.
• Many apprentice curriculum updates, including the online Learning Management System.
• Building Information Modeling, Instrumentation, and an updated programmable logic controller (PLC) curriculum.
• A new Foreman Development Series being offered to the entire membership.
• "Mentorship Matters," a new apprentice advisory program being administered and coordinated through Bridget Quinn, NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center (NIETC) workforce development coordinator, and apprentice Melissa Farmer.

[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.]

What is the most rewarding aspect of Rod Belisle's job? Belisle says, "Working closely with the highly motivated students and staff," is particularly rewarding. "We have an opportunity to pass along longstanding IBEW skills, and to innovate the training for the skills that the IBEW will require tomorrow."

Bob Blair, P.S.

L.U. 58 (em,i,rtb,spa&t), DETROIT, MI — The Retiree Association held its Annual Pin Party on Saturday, April 30, at the Training Center. Members with 50 or more years of service were honored.

The work picture remains good here, with the upswing expected to continue. Always be current with the MUST Safety Program and your Michigan Electrical License. In order to renew your electrical license in 2017, you must complete a 15-hour Code Update class, offered at the Training Center.

The Local 58 Annual Family Picnic will be at Camp Dearborn on Saturday, Aug. 6. Bring your family out for a great event for kids of all ages.

March with us on Labor Day with the whole family. The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. at Michigan and Trumbull, with coffee and donuts at the hall before we march. Afterward, all are welcome back for a light lunch and a chance to see old friends. Celebrate and enjoy the fruits of your labor with family and friends.

Join us at our General Membership Meetings and Dinner with the Brotherhood, provided by the Entertainment Committee before each meeting. Our committees look for new faces to join them and participate in the activities and services they offer to our members, families and communities. Please join us and participate to make all of our lives better. More hands make the task easier.

Make sure you are registered and vote on Election Day. Please contact the hall for information about how to support labor friendly candidates by assisting with lit drops, phone banks, etc.

Jim DeLuca, B.R./P.S.

L.U. 68 (i), DENVER, CO — Greetings, brothers and sisters. Local 68's job calls have slowed down during the last couple of months, but there is light on the horizon with jobs coming up.

We completed our local union election, which was conducted entirely by mail-in ballot. Congratulations to all who won election to office, and thank you to all who participated.

At this writing, we were in negotiations for our Sign Unit. As of press time, the next step was mediation, as negotiations had stalled out.

The Denver Area Labor Federation and the Colorado AFL-CIO started the process for political candidates to seek endorsement from labor; the process involved an application, interviews and apprenticeship tours. These steps, along with follow-up accountability measures, will hopefully help elect good friends of working people to office who will honor their commitments.

Local 68 hosted a Workers Memorial Day event here at the hall on April 29. We had a very good turnout for a solemn occasion of tribute. We are reminded: "Safety First." (Asking workers to overlook a simple safety violation would be asking them to compromise the value of their co-workers' lives.)

The Local 68 Retirees Club held their last meeting before summer break with a presentation of IBEW service pin awards. Retirees were honored for IBEW service ranging from 45 years to 65 years. Altogether, awards presented represented a total of 880 years of service. Wow! Congratulations to all honorees and their spouses.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of our recently deceased brothers: Charles C. Wilkes, Wilbur W. Mays, Raymond J. Ross and Craig A. Nevala.

"Brotherhood — Pass It On."

Jack Cox, Pres.

L.U. 70 (lctt&o), WASHINGTON, DC — Bruce & Merrilees Electric has been a union contractor since 1948. B&M is headquartered in New Castle, PA, and located an office in Abingdon, MD, in 2013. The company has employed IBEW Local 70 members for more than 15 years.

Bruce & Merrilees utilizes Local 70 personnel for transportation related projects, such as traffic signal intersections, highway lighting and intelligent transportation systems, as well as for work at high-voltage substations.

B&M regularly competes with nonunion companies and has had success in gaining market share over the last several years.

Safety is a core value for Bruce & Merrilees and its commitment is that each worker goes home safely at the end of every day. The company continually updates and upgrades its fleet of equipment and tooling to ensure the safest and most productive fleet available. B&M also incorporates the latest technology for use in the field, including tablets for foremen and continual training for all personnel.

Local 70 and Bruce & Merrilees have maintained a great relationship and the local wishes to thank the company for its continued union support. We also thank our members for working long hours, maintaining an exemplary safety record, demonstrating excellence, and ensuring timely job completions.

Jimmy Horton, B.R.

L.U. 82 (em,i,mt&rtb), DAYTON, OH — Thanks to everyone who helped put on the retirees' and children's Christmas parties last year. Much time and effort goes into planning and putting on such events. Thanks again to everyone involved!

The Local 82 softball team put on their Annual Charlie Toon Memorial fish fry — chalk up another successful night! There was a great turnout. Thanks to everyone who came out to help and support a great cause.

Congratulations to the 2016 apprenticeship graduating class on topping out! It has been a long five years but you made it, graduates! As graduates, you will train our future journeymen, so remember how you wanted to be treated and be patient — you were there once!

At the time of this writing, Local 82 was making plans to celebrate its 100th birthday on June 25! Happy birthday, Local 82!

The Local 82 softball and golf leagues have started. Come on out and support your local!

Doug Searcy, P.S.

L.U. 94 (lctt,nst&u), CRANBURY, NJ — On Friday, April 29, NxtUp94, the young workers' committee of IBEW Local 94, donated over $6,500 worth of food to Rise Food Pantry, located next door to Local 94 headquarters in Hightstown, NJ. The young workers placed donation containers for the drive at every work location, in addition to collecting monetary donations from members, in lieu of food. This was the third annual food drive organized by NxtUp94.

"I am overwhelmed by how much our young workers' committee has accomplished in just four short years," said Local 94 Bus. Mgr./Pres. Buddy Thoman. "They are involved in social, political and community events all throughout New Jersey, which helps further the goals of our local union and the labor movement."

New Jersey Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo, who is president of IBEW Local 269, commended his IBEW brothers and sisters for putting together this much-needed food drive. "This is a great way to get our young members involved, and to help our community at the same time," he said.

Rise Community Services Exec. Dir. Leslie Koppel, who is also a Hightstown councilwoman, noted that the food donated in the drive helped to feed 2,000 people for over a month, including 600 families and 700 children.

Frank Brennan, P.S.

L.U. 96 (i), WORCESTER, MA — Local 96 recently held its graduation ceremony for fifth-year apprenticeship graduates. Congratulations to these new journeymen. The ceremony was held at Holy Cross College in Worcester. Speakers included: Worcester Building Trades Council Pres. Brian Brousseau, Worcester Interfaith Community Organizer Frank Kartheiser, and Massachusetts Building Trades Council Rep. Chelsea Feuchs. Words of advice for the graduates included encouragement to stay involved in the community and participate in Local 96 activities and events. Member participation in local and community activities will help carry the local into the future.

Local 96 apprentices from the first-, second-, and fifth-year classes joined community members from the City of Worcester to help clean Coes Pond and a neighborhood beachfront. Third-year apprentices also pitched in to help in the community by completing much-needed repairs for Aids Project Worcester. In addition, members rallied together and donated items to Veterans Inc., also in Worcester. The organizations that benefited from these efforts appreciate the time, hard work and donations provided by Local 96 members. Thank you to our members for giving back to the community.

Local 96 members participated in showing their support for fellow IBEW Verizon workers from Local 2325, who were on strike. Thank you to the members who walked the picket line to stand in solidarity with our fellow brothers and sisters.

For more Local 96 news and information, please visit us online at www.ibewlocal96.org.

Luke E. Carpenter, P.S.

L.U. 112 (c,i&st), KENNEWICK, WA — The IBEW Local 112-NECA Electrical Apprenticeship Class of 2016 donated $5,000 to the Arc of Tri-Cities.

Judy Westik, executive director of the Arc, was present for the occasion to accept the donation. These funds will go toward support of the Arc's advocacy services section. These services help parents of special needs children navigate the system and gain access to support for their children.

Travis Sellers, Mbr. Dev. Rep.

L.U. 130 (i), NEW ORLEANS, LA — The VA Hospital is one of Local 130's largest projects and is now nearing completion. This project proved to be a very complex undertaking, and we congratulate the IBEW members involved on its success.

Such a large project created logistical issues in terms of handling and storage of materials and equipment. Safety concerns, inspections and building revisions were a normal daily routine for our foreman and journeymen. Our brothers welcomed the challenge and wore it as a badge of honor.

Every journeyman we encountered on our frequent tours was quick to display their work. The pride and quality of their craftsmanship was second to none.

This is the second major hospital project we completed in the last four years. The UMC (University Medical Center) Hospital was completed first and is the VA Hospital's neighbor just across the street. The construction of these two major medical facilities has provided New Orleans a medical stability that had been lost since Katrina.

Our members and traveling brothers and sisters should be proud of their fine work and contribution to our city.

We recently held our Outstanding Apprentice of the Year Competition. Bros. Brandon Billiot, Ross Karraker and Roy Moliere displayed a professional performance throughout the event. The scoring was so close that the complete testing was reviewed a couple of times. Roy Moliere was chosen as this year's Outstanding Apprentice of the year. These three young men represent the finest qualities the IBEW has to offer. We are all proud of them.

Billy Buckel, P.S.

L.U. 134 (catv,em,govt,i,mt,rtb,rts,spa&t), CHICAGO, IL — On Wednesday, May 18, over 10,000 people from various religious, community and labor organizations throughout Illinois traveled by bus or personal vehicle to attend a rally at the state Capitol in Springfield.

The purpose of the rally was to preserve existing prevailing wage laws that our anti-union Republican governor's administration is attempting to change with a so-called "turnaround agenda."

Local 134 had 16 buses and over 1,300 members in attendance, all wearing bright lime green T-shirts and voicing opposition to so-called "right-to-work" measures.

The Shannon Rovers led our contingent as we all marched through the streets to the Capitol building, where we listened to various leaders from the organizations represented. Their message was heard and our presence was seen. The vote to preserve prevailing wage passed with the help of four dissenting Republican votes. This is just one of the many challenges facing all working people in our state and we will continue the struggle for as long as it takes.

In other news, our RENEW (Reach out and Engage Next-gen Electrical Workers) group hosted its first Retiree Breakfast on June 12. We all look forward to this becoming a well-attended annual event.

Frank Cunningham, R.S.

L.U. 146 (ei,i&rts), DECATUR, IL — Local 146 held its election of officers on June 7. Elected were: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Joshua Sapp, Pres. John Warner, Vice Pres. Jeffriee Taylor, Rec. Sec. Steve Tilford, Treas. Myra Walters; and Executive Board member Chris Hays, Lynn Richards, Mary Sapp, John Shores Jr., Stephen Tomer, Jeff Westendorf and Chad Young.

Congratulations also to retiring Asst. Bus. Mgr./Dispatcher Ron Cummings on his retirement. Also, congratulations to Kenny Musick on his appointment to that position.

The local's annual golf outing took place in June. The weather was good, and it was a great day of golfing and brotherhood.

Members have also once again volunteered at the Macon County Fair and the Decatur Celebration. Thanks to all for participating.

With great sadness, we said goodbye to members Bill Lancaster and Harold Truxell, who recently passed away. These brothers and their service to the local will never be forgotten.

Congratulations to the class of 2016 apprenticeship graduates. Inside wiremen graduates are: Justin Moma, Austin Schultz, Ryan Kneller, Heath Righter, Andrew Rempe, Justin Baker, Brandon McCormick, Marc Stuart, Brandon Weiss, Ben Davis, Justin Probst, Sam Richardson and Clayton Walter. Telecommunications graduates are: Nathan Hilligoss, Joe Galvan, Bryan Newhouse and Derek Rodman. Kudos to these new journeymen on successfully completing the apprenticeship program.

Rich Underwood, R.S.

L.U. 158 (i,it,mar,mt&spa), GREEN BAY, WI — After a slow start to the construction season, calls for manpower from our books are steadily taking place. This is not unusual across the state. As of this writing, we expect to be looking for manpower by mid-summer.

For that reason, Local 158 held a job fair in May with the goal to organize potential electricians for membership. There was a good turnout for the fair and attendees showed interest. We were able to find experienced electricians as well as those who were inquiring about a career in the trades. We provided applicants with information about what the IBEW has to offer. The IBEW state organizers and coordinator, along with local members and staff, did an outstanding job for the event. Thanks to all.

Our local held its annual anniversary banquet in April. We celebrated our 97th year as IBEW Local 158. Over 270 people attended, an awesome turnout.

At the banquet, IBEW years-of-service pins were awarded to active and retired members; some members received retirement pins; and our apprentices were recognized for their achievements.

And as a surprise presentation, a plaque was presented to myself from the Apprenticeship Committee and the membership in recognition of our efforts in constructing a training facility for our members. It was very touching. Engraved on the plaque is a Benjamin Franklin quote: "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." It was a very nice evening indeed.

Donald C. Allen, B.M.

L.U. 164 (c,em,i,o&t), JERSEY CITY, NJ — On June 2, Local 164 held its election of officers. On behalf of the membership, we would like to thank our election judges, Dana DiCrosta, Bruce Englebrecht and Russ Solleder, for their hard work and their professionalism. We also thank all of our election tellers, whose hard work helped make our election process a smooth and orderly one.

Officers elected for the upcoming term are as follows: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Dan Gumble, Pres. Tom Sullivan, Vice Pres. Warren Becker, Rec. Sec. Todd Heuer and Treas. Val McHale. Executive Board members: John Callari, Chris Cunningham, Rich Davies, Victor Docherty, D.J. Heal, Chris Larson and Jason Reiser. Examining Board members: Rick Anastasi, Vinny Colucci, Anthony Hall, Michael Sabarese and Eric Williams. Delegates to the I.O. Convention: Warren Becker, John Callari, Chris Cunningham, D.J. Heal, Todd Heuer, Chris Larson and Jason Reiser. Alternates to the I.O. Convention: Steve Clay and Kevin Marion.

Thank you to our outgoing officers, who served the local with pride and distinction. Also, we would like to thank all the members who ran for office in this election; it was good to have the expression of so many thoughts and ideas.

Warren Becker, V.P.

L.U. 222 (o), ORLANDO, FL — Greetings, brothers and sisters. The "Sunshine State" is living up to its name as of this writing, with late May temperatures already in the 90s. Experts predict a very active summer weather-wise in the tropics, so everyone please be prepared for an eventful hurricane season.

Local 222 had six apprentices top out between January and May of 2016. They are as follows: journeyman linemen — James Copen, Joshua Wilburth, Brian Latimer and Jerry Davidson III; and underground residential distribution (URD) technicians — James A. Sheppard IV and Michael Overturf. Congratulations and continued success to all.

The local wishes to thank Bro. Richard Helman for providing the accompanying photo of three IBEW father-and-son teams working on our south Florida distribution work — all six of whom are working for the same contractor. As Hank Jr. would say it's a family tradition.

Everyone stay safe.

William "Bill" Hitt, Pres.

L.U. 234 (i&mt), CASTROVILLE, CA — On April 29, the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council held its 16th Annual Labor Awards Dinner, where Local 234 Pres. Mike Ihnot was honored as Unionist of the Year. He and the other honorees were recognized for their many accomplishments and celebrated by our national, state and local leaders, including state Sen. Bill Monning.

Our 66th Apprentice Graduation Ceremony was held May 6 at the Hyatt in Monterey, CA. For Sound & Communications, Mohammed Garaan not only completed his program with perfect attendance but also was selected as overall Outstanding Apprentice for Northern California. Our four Inside apprenticeship graduates were: Andres Duenas, Jose Garcia Jr., Justin Petrie and Randyn Trybom. Bro. Trybom was selected as overall Outstanding Apprentice. Our industry will be stronger with the welcome addition of these newly minted journeymen arriving with their skills, ideas, professional attitudes, and eagerness to take on the ever-increasing jobsite demands. Congratulations, graduates.

Stephen Slovacek, P.S.

L.U. 292 (em,govt,i,rtb,rts&spa), MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust has undertaken building a new, multi-tenant T-3 office building constructed with union labor.

The T3 office building is one of the first modern structures of its size to be constructed of wood in this country. It is a 221,500-square-foot, seven-story building. The AFL-CIO Investment Trust-financed project is a reinvestment of trade union pension funds, employing union construction workers. We would encourage other locals to invest in lease space.

T3 stands for "Timber, Transit, Technology." Timber - promoting the old-school style of construction, using renewable resources. Transportation — for the location of the office building, which is accessible by light rail, bicycle paths and mass transit. Technology - looking forward with the latest technology innovations.

This beautiful wooden-structure building project in Minneapolis has generated an estimated 606,000 union construction hours. In addition, it will be maintained by union employees. The building is being funded, constructed, maintained and occupied by union people like ourselves.

To read more about the project, see article "Ground Broken for Union-Built, Eco-Friendly Office Building," at website www.minnesotabuildingtrades.org/news/ground-broken-union-build-eco-friendly-office-building.

Eric Peterson, B.R.

L.U. 300 (govt,i,mt&u), MONTPELIER, VT — At this early summer writing contract negotiations with Asplundh were underway for a first agreement for 104 members in Vermont. The negotiating committee is well-versed and proud to be part of the process. We are hopeful for a positive outcome. Stay tuned for future updates.

The construction season is underway and the rage for this year seems to be solar and battery (Tesla) installation. Commercial construction appears to be on an upward swing and we anxiously await the awarding process for these projects.

Safety in the industry and all work places needs to be raised a notch by our members. We cannot allow management to alter or change work practices arbitrarily to suit any need to create a speedy, less efficient and less safe work force. Only we can be the voice of concern for all. And only we can watch out for our fellow sisters and brothers. Work hard, work safe, and go home to your family strong and sound.

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

L.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OH — On June 3, a banquet and awards ceremony was held to honor the achievements of our 2016 apprentice graduates.

Opening remarks were given by Bus. Mgr. Michael Might. The invocation was given by commercial graduate Marcus McHaney. Guest speaker was Bob Doherty, regional sales manager with Wolff Bros. Supply. Diplomas and awards were presented by Chmn. Larry Thompson and Training Dir. Paul Zimmerman, followed by closing remarks from Jason Walden, NECA chapter manager.

This year's graduates are as follows: Residential – Adam Boyd, Jordan Jenior, Christopher Rowland and Nicholas Sampson; Tele Data – William Dehil and Matthew DiChiro; and Commercial – Andrew Brown, Christopher Chaney, Kevin Cultrona, Brandon Foulks, Brian Friend, Zachary Glagola, Mitchell Griffis, Micah Herndon, Ronald James, Jason Laing, James Lockhart, Chad Lyons, Eric Markiewicz, Dayne Maynard, Marcus McHaney, Dean Miller, Brad Novotny, Jason Patterson, Scott Raberstein, Jeffrey Rager, Matthew Robinson, Daniel Rowe, Daniel Skeens, Brandon Talkington, Rosalee Terhart, Jason Thesing and Herbert Ward III.

Highest grade point average awards were presented to: Residential – Jordan Jenior, 91.73 grade point average; Tele Data – Matthew DiChiro, 93.73; Commercial – Brandon Foulks, 97.12. Graduates recognized for perfect attendance were: A. Brown, K. Cultrona, B. Friend, Z. Glagola, J. Lockhart, C. Lyons, E. Markiewicz, M. McHaney, S. Raberstein, J. Rager, M. Robinson, D. Rowe, D. Skeens and R. Terhart.

Congratulations to all our graduates on successfully completing their apprenticeship.

We end on a sad note in reporting the passing of retired Bros. Theodore Wands, Charles Engelman, William Rankin and Wilbur Repp. Our condolences go out to their families and friends.

Thomas Wright, P.S.

L.U. 352 (u), LANSING, MI — It's a busy year for us at Local 352! We have elections this year and our contract negotiations are underway, but we took time out recently to participate in the 13th Annual Stand Down for Veterans event. I wrote about this event last year when we began collecting donations for the homeless veterans in our area. We collected nine large boxes of assorted clothing, shoes, and personal hygiene items to distribute to veterans through the Volunteers of America and we were at the event handing out small bags to people we met. The bags contained toothbrushes, combs, travel-sized toothpaste, lotion, new socks, etc.

There were many vendors at the event offering free services like health screening, eye exams, haircuts, and other assistance. Free clothing and shoes were available and a meal was provided. We shared a booth with Advent House Ministries, a Lansing area nonprofit that offers transitional shelter, outreach services, GED programs, and regular meals for the local homeless population. We partner with Advent House throughout the year to cook and serve meals for the homeless. There is nothing more rewarding than giving back!

Maggie Rich, V.P.

L.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD, IL — On Wednesday, May 18, several members of IBEW Local 364 attended the "Rauner is Wrong Rally" in Springfield, IL. The event was sponsored by the AFL-CIO and AFSCME. Over 10,000 people attended the rally and made it loud and clear that we will not stand for Gov. Bruce Rauner's anti-union, anti-middle-class agenda.

IBEW Local 364 held our Apprenticeship Graduation Banquet on Friday, June 10. Inside wireman graduates are: Zack Blackwell, Brian Degenhardt, Alex Fisher, Tyler Hartzell, Chris Martenson and Justin Sinkiawic. The VDV technician graduate is John Garza. Congratulations to our new journeyman wiremen and VDV technician as they begin their new careers. May they be safe and prosperous.

On Saturday, July 23, Local 364 held its 15th annual Electrical Workers Golf Playday. We had over 100 golfers attending this event, which featured a 55-inch big screen TV as a grand prize. All in attendance had a great time.

Brad Williams, P.S.

L.U. 494 (em,i,mt,rts,spa&t), MILWAUKEE, WI — On April 27, the Milwaukee Area Technical College hosted the 2016 Apprenticeship Banquet at the Italian Community Center. The electrical apprenticeship program is part of the group of 22 apprenticeship programs recognized that evening. Among honorees were 106 apprentice graduates from those programs. Additionally, several students were presented a Practical Skills Award. IBEW Local 494 was fortunate to have five apprentices receive the Practical Skills Award. Congratulations to all!

The icing on the cake for that evening was the 2016 Distinguished Service Award presented to the president of the Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council, Daniel J. Bukiewicz. Dan is a card carrying Local 494 member. He was recognized for his dedication to spreading the word about apprenticeship in the area schools. In his speech, Dan recognized the 18 affiliated trades/locals that actively participate in the apprenticeship programs. Congratulations, Dan!

IBEW Local 494 is proud to have recently celebrated our 110th anniversary! On May 21, we hosted an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony for our Local 494 Historical Museum. If you are in our area, please stop in to visit. Congratulations and thanks to all of our 494 members!

John Jacobs, B.R.

L.U. 558 (catv,em,i,mt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), SHEFFIELD, AL — It is with broken hearts and sadness that we report Local 558 lost a dear brother to an accident on April 11, 2016, while in the line of duty at work.

Brother Wendell Smith, initiated Sept. 24, 1990, tragically lost his life while doing routine maintenance at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Wilson Dam.

Brother Smith was a highly respected wireman and known by many as the "go to guy." More importantly, he was recognized as a loving husband, father, and man of high integrity. Brother Smith was an avid deer hunter and car enthusiast. He was escorted to his resting place in a 1971 Chevrolet Truck that he recently restored.

His impact cannot be fully expressed in this article, however, it has been evident through the outpouring of love and support not only by members in this local, but also throughout the entire Brotherhood.

Brother Smith is survived by his dear wife, Lisa, and their two daughters, Jessica Joiner and Kendra Hanback.

On behalf of Brother Smith's family, his co-workers and the Local 558 staff, we thank the union membership for assisting each other in sickness or distress, as stated in the "objectives" of our IBEW Constitution.

Brother Wendell, you will be missed and forever remembered as a man of honor. We will forever speak your name in reverence.

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

L.U. 568 (c,ees,em,i&o), MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA — Local 568 is proud to honor one of our pioneers, a 60-year member. Brother Richard Courtemanche worked on various projects in the United States, including: the George Washington Bridge, the Panama Building, an International Expo in New York, Newark Airport and the World Trade Center. In Canada, he worked on the General Motors manufacturing plant in St. Thérèse and elsewhere. Bro. Courtemanche, age 95, received an IBEW certificate of honor and gold watch. We wish him well.

Following the May 5 election of officers, Quebec Local 568 wishes to introduce the new business manager and the executive committee members. Newly elected officers are: Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. André Jean, Pres. Marc Thomas, Vice Pres. Nicolas Dorais, Treas. Steve Pouliot and Rec. Sec. Ronald Rousse. Executive committee members are Sylvain Jean, Vincent Lefebvre and Kenny Routhier. Guy Fournier was appointed assistant business manager.

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Le Local 568 (MONTREAL) — est fière d'honorer un de nos pionniers, membre en règle de la Fraternité depuis 60 ans. Le confrère Richard Courtemanche a travaillé sur différents chantiers aux États-Unis, pour en nommer quelques-uns : Pont Georges Washington, l'Édifice Panama, Expo international de N.Y- au pavillon Futurama de G.M., Aéroport de Newark et le World Trade Center; au Canada il a travaillé à l'usine de construction d'automobile Général Moteurs de St Thérèse et plusieurs autre. Le confrère Courtemanche, âgé de 95 ans, a reçu un certificat d'honneur et une montre en or de la part de la Fraternité. Nous lui souhaitons encore une longue vie.

Suite à l'élection tenue le 5 mai dernier, le local 568 du Québec désire vous présenter son nouveau Gérant d'affaires ainsi que les membres du comité exécutif. A été élu au poste de Gérant d'affaires monsieur André Jean, Marc Thomas à titre de Président, le vice-président Nicolas Dorais, le trésorier Steve Pouliot et le secrétaire/archiviste Ronald Rousse. En terminant, les 3 membres du comité exécutif sont Sylvain Jean, Vincent Lefebvre ainsi que Kenny Routhier. Guy Fournier a maintenant été nominé en tant qu'assistant Gérant d'affaires.

André Jean, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 570 (i,mo,spa&u), TUCSON, AZ — Congratulations to the apprenticeship graduating class of 2016. The recent apprentice graduates are: David Balich, Michael Burnside, Donald Casey, Thomas Cramer, Israel Gomez, Delbert Gum, Ryan Guthrie, Jeffrey Hixon, Forest Lohman, Enrique Martinez, Nicholas McGrath, Patrick McKnight, Daniel Palacio, Fernando Rangel, Miguel San Juan, Richard Solomon and Wesley Stark.

We are proud of these new journeymen. Graduates, you have completed the first leg of your journey — be the best wiremen you can be and pass on the knowledge to upcoming members. A big thank-you to the instructors, Bruce Carroll, Jim Redzinak and Ben White, and to the family members of the graduates for their support.

Scott Toot, Pres.

L.U. 576 (i), ALEXANDRIA, LA — Our apprenticeship graduation ceremony was held in May 2016 and hosted by Alexandria Electrical JATC Training Dir. Matthew Hennings. On behalf of Local 576 and NECA, we congratulate all the graduates on becoming inside journeyman wiremen. The 2016 graduates are: Justin Barrett, Jacob Ducote, Danny Laurent, Terrance Lofton, Christopher Nichols and Dominic Redd. Graduate Terrance Lofton was recognized as this year's outstanding apprentice.

[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.]

Matthew Hennings, Tr. Dir.

L.U. 606 (em,es,i,rtb,spa&u), ORLANDO, FL — Local 606 hosted the biannual retiree luncheon at the main hall with over 30 retired brothers attending. It was a chance for them to reminisce and be brought up to date on what the local is doing currently. If it were not for these hard working brothers and the skills and knowledge they have passed on, Local 606 would not be doing as well as we are. We honor their legacy and are grateful for their dedication to the IBEW and Local 606.

Work is booming right now with Book 1 essentially clear. We thank all the travelers who are filling the calls that continue to come in. The Disney Animal Kingdom Avatar project has peaked with 200 electricians and is scheduled to be completed on time in early 2017. The long delayed airport people-mover project has finally started and calls are being filled there. A major organizing drive is scheduled for our eastern jurisdiction where a large project is planned that may employ up to 200 electricians. This will coincide with the grand re-opening of our satellite hall in Melbourne. We project that work will continue to remain steady, giving us the opportunity to not only put travelers to work, but also to organize new members into our great union.

Fernando Rendon, R.S./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 — Over 300 IBEW Local 702 members spent the day with us "Rallying Against Rauner" at the Illinois state Capitol in Springfield on May 18, where our very own Local 702 Bro. Logan Hall spoke in front of over 10,000 about how the governor's so-called "turnaround agenda" would cut prevailing wage, eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees, and hurt working families. Many thanks to all who went with us to the rally that day.

On April 27, our Newton Unit members raised over $5,000 for the family of deceased member Jimmy Taylor, who passed away March 6 this year from cancer; proceeds will go directly to Jimmy's son for college expenses.

On June 3, our members held a BBQ Rib Sale to help Local 702 members Ethan and Elizabeth Robinson, whose twins (one girl, one boy) born May 13 at 24 weeks have been dealing with multiple issues that come with being premature. We were able to present the family with $10,462, thanks to the generosity of our members who bought rib slabs or gave outright donations to the cause.

We have a new five-year agreement at Southwater, a rural water treatment plant and distribution system company, with no concessions.

As of this writing, our referral books are as follows: Inside Construction – 101, Outside Construction – 29, and Line Clearance – 1.

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

L.U. 760 (i,lctt,o,rts,spa&u), KNOXVILLE, TN — With many demographic changes hitting the job market, the IBEW will have many challenges ahead regarding market forces and the workforce, and we will look to the upcoming generation of members to help keep our union strong.

Wages, classifications, benefits, and even safety and training standards are sure to be affected if the demand for skilled workers is not met with conviction. The IBEW has addressed these challenges since 1891, and has always been a leader when it comes to training for all craftsmen. The U.S. military and the IBEW have trained more people with the highest standards than anyone else in the country.

So called "right-to-work" laws have always been about an employer holding the rights, and people without rights doing the work.

Local 760 here in Knoxville and the SELCAT/JATC programs have been training journeyman linemen/journeyman wiremen for generations. With this kind of training, a union skilled craftsmen can work anywhere in the country, and have the documentation to prove it, for a better future.

[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.]

Jason Leary, Organizer

L.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON, AZ — Local 1116 has lost an honored union sister and brother. Bus. Rep. Danell Carter lost her valiant battle with cancer in April. And Richard "R.C." Cavaletto passed unexpectedly in May.

In many ways, Danell and RC were a lot alike. Danell was a unique individual, full of joy and happiness, always looking out for and helping those around her. Danell was a recipient of the well-deserved Mother Jones Award. She spearheaded our internal organizing committee, and her efforts made our local a shining star within the IBEW.

R.C. was a dedicated union member who served on the Local 1116 Executive Board and as the local's press secretary for many years. He was always ready to help with whatever project was put in front of him.

Both Danell and R.C. worked tirelessly for the membership — organizing members, picnics and charitable donations, and doing all they could to share the benefits of the union and engage people around them.

We will continue to move forward in their absence, honoring their memory by carrying on with those things that meant so much to them. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the Carter and Cavaletto families.

Sharon Williams, P.S.

L.U. 1206 (mt), NEWARK, OH — With winter behind us, Local 1206 would like to wish an enjoyable and safe summer to all IBEW members.

Local 1206 recently ratified a three-year agreement in March with Owens Corning. Thanks go out to our negotiating committee, Dan Coakley, Eric Porter, and Deny Hogue as well as Rec. Sec. Eric Jones and Bus. Mgr./Pres. Rich Cady, for representing our local.

Local 1206 also welcomes our four newest union brothers: Don Santee, John Cullison, Ramiro Del Toro and Jason Santavicca.

Congratulations to Bro. Mike Ashcraft on his retirement. Also, congratulations to Bus. Mgr./Pres. Rich Cady on his upcoming retirement from Owens Corning. We thank Bus. Mgr. Cady for his longtime, dedicated service.

Jeffrey A. Cady, Treas.

L.U. 1466 (u), COLUMBUS, OH — Local 1466 would like to remind all of our members and their families that our annual Fall Family Picnic will be Saturday, Sept. 24. We will, once again, be having gift raffles, kids activities, and a catered lunch. This is always a good chance to relax and reconnect with your fellow union brothers and sisters.

In other news, Local 1466 was awarded the 2016 United Way Impact Partnership Award for our joint effort with American Electric Power (AEP) to help those in need through the generous contributions of our members. We thank all of you for your continued support.

We wish everyone a happy Labor Day. This is a day to honor you, as members of organized labor, as well as remember the struggles of those who came before us. Please, take the time to enjoy your day!

Jimi Jette, P.S.