L.U. 1 (as,c,ees,ei,em,es,et,fm,i,mt,rts,s,se,spa,st&ws), ST. LOUIS, MO — Congratulations to IBEW Local 1 Bus. Mgr. Frank Jacobs, and union officers of the Unity Club, who were unopposed and elected by acclamation on Wednesday, May 3, 2017.

Most pressing currently for Local 1 officers is the labor-wide fight against so-called "right-to-work" legislation that recently was passed by the Missouri House and Senate and signed by Gov. Eric Greitens. The Missouri AFL-CIO initiated a campaign, now underway, against the anti-worker law. [Editor's Note: The IBEW and other Missouri unions are collecting petition signatures to put a referendum on the 2018 ballot that would challenge the right-to-work law, presently scheduled to take effect on Aug. 28.]

Bus. Mgr. Jacobs noted that, "IBEW Local 1 has 35 notaries and 450 trained members gathering signatures of registered Missouri voters on petitions." If enough signatures are collected on valid petitions there will be a stay on Senate Bill No. 19. The goal is to have a statewide election on RTW.

Bus. Mgr. Jacobs stated: "Gov. Greitens is attacking union workers, [… action that also negatively impacts] retirees' pensions, industry funded education, good health care and higher wages that supply more taxes for our state budget." Jacobs added, "If a guy doesn't want to be union and work under a union negotiated contract … then work nonunion. You have a choice!"

Local 1 journeyman wireman Ricky Pipkins II said: "We choose to be union and pay dues because we want collective bargaining and we want representation. We want a voice in what happens next. It's a right and a privilege, not a burden! We have to stay strong together because if unions fail, then the standard of living will plummet."

We mourn the loss of several recently deceased members: James Walsh, John McLaughlin, James Siebert, John Grace III, James McNelly and Lucille Bequette.

Jan Bresnan, P.S.

L.U. 17 (catv,em,lctt,o&u), DETROIT, MI — In early March this year, DTE Energy encountered the largest storm in the company's 100+ year history. More than 800,000 or 40 percent of DTE's customers lost power. Several hundred poles were broken and many thousands of feet of wire were knocked down from the 60-mile-per-hour winds that battered the system for most of the day. I am very proud to report that through all this destruction and the subsequent restoration, not one of our members was injured. Moreover, every bit of the restoration was completed by the IBEW! Congratulations, brothers and sisters — you showed them again!

The work picture here is very good with open calls for linemen and tree trimmers. Please call the hall for more details or check the jobs board on the I.O.'s website at www.ibew.org.

At press, we were looking forward to celebrating our 125th anniversary here at Local 17 on June 5 this year. You don't get to grow this old without doing some things right. We are a very proud group of unionists, ready and willing to fight for what's fair and just.

We are saddened to report the passing of Brothers Pat Sheridan, Dana Markwood, Dave Catalier and Mike Darby — all outstanding people, every one of them!

Dean Bradley, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 19 (u), AURORA, IL — On the evening of Oct. 11, 2016, Local 19 members working for Nicor Gas were in the process of repairing a main hit reported earlier that afternoon in Romeoville, IL. Suddenly, the building exploded at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Amid all the chaos after the explosion, the members were able to determine that one of the five brothers at the site was not responding. Without thinking about their own personal safety, and while the building was on fire, Thomas Smith's co-workers cut him out of the section of the roof that had fallen on him.

Local 19 Bus. Mgr. Chris Harris presented the IBEW Lifesaving Award to the following members on April 26 this year: Ernie Garcia, James Sargent, Tim Erickson and Dale Vanderbough. Their astute responses and selfless acts of camaraderie saved the life of our brother Thomas Smith.

Natalia Guzman, Exec. Board

L.U. 37 (em,o&u), FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA — April 1-2 marked IBEW Local 37's annual Training Trust Fund Conference, an event that has taken place each year since 2011. This year's conference at the Delta in Fredericton, NB, Canada, marked a significant milestone for the local in that it was the official launch for Local 37 of the IBEW Code of Excellence. Approximately 135 people attended the event, which was themed "Celebrating Excellence."

The conference opened with internationally renowned keynote speaker Buhle Dlamini, who motivated and inspired participants to unleash their greatness. There were 15 breakout sessions to choose from, all themed around achieving excellence in every skill-set from communications and conflict resolution, to understanding emotional intelligence and how to manage stress. April 1 closed with entertainment from local comedian James Mullinger, who left everyone in stitches.

Participants received conference swag bags (UFCW 215-T), which included a Code of Excellence T-shirt (USW 9153). Members were encouraged to wear the shirt on the last day of the event to show their IBEW pride and commitment to excellence while listening to the closing keynote address by adventure seeker and athlete Will Gadd.

The 2017 IBEW Local 37 Training Trust Fund Conference was a great success and we look forward to the next one!

Ross Galbraith, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 41 (em,es,govt,i,se&spa), BUFFALO, NY — On the ballot this Nov. 7, New York state voters will decide on whether the state will convene a constitutional convention in 2019. The New York State Constitution contains many laws that we hold dear. The constitution states in the Bill of Rights that: "Labor of human beings is not a commodity nor an article of commerce. … No laborer, worker or mechanic … engaged in the performance of any public work … be paid less than the rate of prevailing wages. …" The state constitution also guarantees employees the right to organize and bargain collectively. During a constitutional convention, elected delegates decide on items to be voted on to be added or removed from the state constitution. We encourage all our members and all New York state IBEW members to vote NO on the New York State Constitutional Convention referendum this Nov. 7.

Our RENEW/IBEW3DYC group along with journeyman Art Chmura and others completely wired a new handicapped-equipped house for the family of a child with a rare disease. Bro. Chmura took the lead in laying out the job, providing material lists, and detailing what he needed our members to accomplish. IBEW, Local 41 and two of our NECA contractors, Ferguson Electric and Frey Electric, provided all the materials to complete the project. Thank you to all who participated.

Local 41 is saddened to report the passing of David Buonamici, one of our apprentices who was always there to lend a brother a hand. David worked on the project detailed above and every other time we needed volunteers. David was kind, generous, funny, and loved the Brotherhood. He will be missed.

Gregory R. Inglut, A.B.M.

L.U. 47 (lctt,mo,o,u&uow), DIAMOND BAR, CA — Greetings, brothers and sisters. Hope everyone finally got some rest after all the storms we've had. Kudos to all involved for another great job with storm restoration work.

Several springtime events held earlier this year were a great success. Local 47's Steward and Safety Conference was April 21-23. The first-ever IBEW SoCal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off, sponsored by Locals 47, 465 and 569, took place April 8.

There are many more upcoming 2017 activities to look forward to.

The 17th Annual Members Memorial Golf Tournament will be July 21. Sponsorship for IBEW Local 47 Youth Summer Camp, July 16-July 20. The Local 47 Family Picnic will be Aug. 12. The date for the upcoming 14th Annual IBEW Brotherhood Motorcycle run had not yet been determined at press time.

It is with sadness that we report the deaths of several members this year: Andrew Lux, Gilbert Cortez, Don Jones, Joe Tenenbaum, Russ Abrams, Ralph Jackson, Eduardo Fernandez, David Morales, Darren Gainor, Santiago 'Jim' Perez, Luis Elizalde, Ronald Flores and Marion Leon. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends.

Best wishes and congratulations to our newly retired members: Curt Horner, Dave Noriega, Mark Gidley and Tom Hewitt.

Negotiations were completed with NECA, Henkels & McCoy, Asplundh Construction and other contractors for successor agreements to the outside line agreement. At the time of this writing, ratification by the membership was pending.

At press time, negotiations were underway with the City of Banning, City of Colton and the City of Anaheim, as well as for our members at Angels Baseball.

Mitch Smith, P.S.

L.U. 51 (catv,lctt,o,ptc,rtb,t,u&uow), SPRINGFIELD, IL — A new three-year agreement with the American Line Builders Chapter (line clearance work on electrical utility properties) has been ratified This affects 388 of our members working throughout Illinois. Tree work is strong and we are at full employment.

With the help of Int. Rep. C.J. King, we recently conducted steward training and had a great turnout.

Stewards for Local 51 are as follows (partial list): Decatur — Verkeitha Evans, Tracey Risby, Shateveon Goforth, Anitra Watkins, Lauren Dougherty, Kim Williamson, Lori Hearring, Wayne Brown, Cindy Oyler, Karla Jones, Rhonda Gooding, Steve Durbin, Tim Lynch, Christopher Maus. Bloomington — Casey O'Donoghue, Daylyn Wells, Brian Grimes, Adam Brendsel. Clinton — Karen Underwood. LaSalle — Dan Klein, Mike Rivara, Jake Newcomer, Mike Heredia, Tom Hocking. Oglesby — Mark Ambrose, John Zulkowsky. Peru — Eric Maggio. Princeton — Mike Sayler. Geneseo — Rick Preston. Belleville — Brian Abraham, Larry Hopkins, Tracy Greenwell, Jeff Seeley. Maryville — Justin Jostes. Sparta — Jennifer Morgan. Hillsboro — Mike Hiller, Kristin Shearlock. Mt. Vernon — Terri Allali. Baldwin Station — Stracy Chandler, Erick Crabtree, Nick Hummert, Jake Kiefer, Kyle Muenchau, Nick Ruettgers, Brent Morris. Galesburg — Julie Cone, Jeff Nichols, Brad Wheeler. Peoria — Brian Anton, Dan Haney, Tyson Lockhart, Jed Dooley, Scott Searle, Chris Culberson, Neil Bowling, Joe Cowell. Havana Station — Logan Cowin, Josh Mibbs, Jake Green, Shari Thurman, Travis Bohannon. Edwards Station — Anthony Robertson, Jason Kelch. Mt. Zion — Luke Culver. Petersburg — Brandon Blair. Chillicothe — Jason Morrell. Jacksonville — Loren Trader. Kewanee — Bryan Hood. Freeport — Chris Crase. Rockford — Lewis Masterson.

Our annual fish fry and family picnic will be Sept. 23 at the local union hall. Please plan to attend. As always, work safe and support your union.

Karlene Knisley, B.R.

L.U. 77 (lctt,mt,o,t&u), SEATTLE, WA — Greetings. With spring in full swing, Local 77's sponsorship of youth sports teams will begin to get our IBEW union label out into our communities. Last fall, one of our sponsored youth baseball teams went to the Cal Ripken World Series in Maryland. The team was 30-5 for the season and was 5-0 in the series, finishing No. 1 in the nation, losing only to Japan in the championship. This was the first time a team from the Pacific Northwest had reached the title game. One of the players on the team, Myles Mayovsky, who is the grandson of retired assistant business manager Tom McMahon, received the MVP award twice during the tournament.

At the 33rd Kansas City International Lineman Rodeo, Local 77 members Adam Craver, Jordan Wright and Mike Fogarty took first place in the Construction Journeyman Lineman team competition. Their score was 398 out of 400.

IBEW Lifesaving Awards were presented to six members — Dan Hannon, Bob Jacobson, Eric Tinghino, Preston Jerome, Ryan Rollins and Brandyn Ross — for their quick rescue action during a severe weather event. High winds caused a tree to fall on a truck down the street from where the line crew was working, trapping the occupants inside. The crew immediately proceeded to remove the tree and the smashed cab of the truck, saving the lives of the driver and passenger.

Rick Luiten, P.S.

L.U. 103 (cs&i), BOSTON, MA — On March 2, three Local 103 electricians working for the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) at the new Government Center Station were alerted to a train passenger who had collapsed and was unconscious in the station.

The three IBEW members, Dick Ryan, Ed Reynolds and Kevin O'Brien, responded immediately and began to administer CPR, and a MBTA inspector rushed over with an AED device. The AED was activated and within seconds the man was responding.

The members credited their heroic actions to years of safety training with the IBEW and work on the MBTA.

The general manager of the MBTA was quick to recognize these brothers as heroes. The three also received a congratulatory call from U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy, and a commendation from Gov. Charlie Baker. When asked if he wanted to say something to the man if he had the chance, Ed Reynolds said, "I wish you well, heal quick and enjoy your life."

This was a great day for the train passenger, the MBTA, Local 103 and the entire IBEW. This story is the epitome of timely action to "Do Your Job."

Lou Antonellis, B.M.

L.U. 111 (em,govt,lctt,mt,o,rtb,spa&u), DENVER, CO — The 2017 IBEW Local 111 Policy Committee Meeting was held at the Renaissance Denver Hotel in Denver on Saturday, April 8. Local 111 hosted a reception the Friday evening prior for all attendees and guests. These members sacrifice their weekends to participate in this very important meeting and we want to acknowledge and thank them for their service to their union.

The Policy Committee Meeting is held every year pursuant to the Local 111 Bylaws, Article VII. This year there were over 60 members in attendance from several geographic areas, representing their individual units. The Policy Committee further approved and adopted four new policies, which included: Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Policy; Electronic Mail and Internet Policy; Electronic Document Retention and Destruction Policy; and the Whistleblower Policy.

The local union faces many challenges as we continue general negotiations with Public Service Company of Colorado, and various other utilities. Proudly, we defeated the decertification filed by a nonmember employed at SECOM. The bargaining unit members prevailed — they stuck together and won in the end to maintain representation. Congratulations to the members of SECOM.

Denny Wallace, P.S.

L.U. 113 (catv,ees,em,i,mo&o), COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Well, it looks like 2017 is shaping up to be a good year as far as work is concerned. Many of the jobs scheduled to break ground already have, or are close to doing so. With so many of the members working, it looks promising that we will be putting out calls off of Book 2, as well as continuing to organize the unrepresented workforce in the jurisdiction.

Special thanks go out to all the members and their families who participated in the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. We followed it up with a packed union hall for a successful fundraiser and a barbecue that was enjoyed by all.

Here is a date for your calendar you will not want to miss. Friday, July 7, is the date for our annual Apprenticeship Completion Dinner. This is a great chance to salute our new graduates and give them big congratulations. Call the union hall for details.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Brian Putnam, P.S.

L.U. 125 (lctt,o,t&u), PORTLAND, OR — With all the uncertainty in the workplace due to changes in politics which affect the laws that influence our industry and subjects of bargaining, our members continue to feel the effects of an endless stream of attacks on workers' rights. It is important that we, as Local 125 members, work on things in our control. How can we turn things in our favor? Talk to your co-workers directly when there are union issues. Attend your union meetings regularly. Ask questions. Promote the IBEW by doing quality work safely and efficiently. Make an effort to attend city council meetings and hear about opportunities that affect our work. Participate in hearings and help explain issues that most citizens don't understand. Contact your business representative if you're willing to stand up for our local.

As summer approaches, keep safety at the forefront of your lives — at work and home. It is critical that we collaborate with each other and ensure that we protect the conditions afforded us through our collective bargaining agreement.

Plan on attending the following events and support our brotherhood:

• Pacific Northwest Lineman's Rodeo: July 22
• IBEW Local 125 Golf Tournament: July 28
• IBEW Local 125 Softball Tournament: July 29-30

Marcy Grail, A.B.M.

L.U. 191 (c,i,mo,rtb&st), EVERETT, WA — At this writing, local union elections are underway. We wish to thank all outgoing officers and welcome our newly elected officers. One of the first duties of our new team is participating in Leadership Training, conducted by IBEW Ninth District staff.

At the training, roles and duties of each office are reviewed. Teamwork is stressed, with ample time for questions and discussion.

We also review the upcoming events and all officers are encouraged to take an active role in the many volunteer opportunities the local union offers. These include social events, community service and political involvement.

By serving as role models both at union functions and on the job, each officer has an important responsibility to strengthen our union. Thank you all for your service!

Bill Mirand, P.S.

L.U. 197 (em&i), BLOOMINGTON, IL — We are pleased to report that many of the local municipal candidates organized labor supported for the elections in April were successful. We thank those who made their voices heard and cast a ballot. We have seen that every vote does count. The town of Normal mayoral race was won by a slim margin of 11 votes. Mayor Chris Koos has brought many projects into our jurisdiction and recognizes the quality of using union labor on those projects; for that we are pleased he won.

We completed two important volunteer projects for our communities and we appreciate those who helped. The American Legion in Leroy asked if we could provide lighting for a Memorial Wall they wanted to get built by Memorial Day. The Easter Seals Camp at Lake Bloomington approached us about providing power to a snack shack for the children who attend the camp in the summer. These projects benefit the community, and they also benefit our local by providing an opportunity for getting to know one another better and strengthening the bonds among our brothers and sisters. Thank you to the volunteers!

If you have not yet signed up for the Local 197 Golf Outing, it's not too late to do so. The outing will be at Fairlakes Golf Course in Secor, IL, on Saturday, July 29, at 8 a.m. Please come out and spend some time together. Remember to get involved in the local and stay involved!

Mike Raikes, Pres.

L.U. 213 (c,catv,em,i&u), VANCOUVER, BC — IBEW women from three British Columbia locals recently gathered for a one-day leadership training course, an event that was jointly planned by Local 213 and the union's International Office.

IBEW Director of Education Amanda Pacheco travelled from Washington, DC, to act as chief instructor. She was joined by Int. Rep. Tracy Prezeau of the Education Department.

"To work effectively in any organization, you need to understand the rules" said Local 213's Lisa Langevin, who took the lead in organizing the event. "The prime motivation behind this course was education about process in the union."

"But there were also secondary goals: bringing new women into the Women's Committee, and creating another networking opportunity for women in the hall and from other locals."

Fifteen women attended from Local 213, and another nine came from British Columbia Locals 230 and 258.

Prezeau said the International Office designed and delivered a customized course for this occasion.

"This new curriculum can now be used for all sorts of other purposes," Prezeau said. "It's for any group of activists who want to understand union governance better, and make their local and the IBEW stronger."

Todd Nickel, P.S.

L.U. 229 (em&i), YORK, PA — Local 229 is happy to report full employment of our construction members and a strong work outlook for the remainder of 2017 and into 2018. Several large projects are underway. The Calpine Block 2 project expects to hire at least 60 workers in the coming months and will be working at least five 10-hour days per week with construction running through the end of 2017. Commissioning is scheduled to begin the first quarter of 2018.

The Johnson Controls project being performed by I.B. Abel Inc. is going very well, with the "office" complete and the "test lab" going full force. This is a 100,000 plus man-hour Code of Excellence project, the largest COE project done in Local 229 to date. The pride of craft and quality of workmanship is impressive! The IBEW/NECA team is clearly demonstrating why we are the absolute best choice and best value for any customer.

Peach Bottom Atomic power station has several projects coming up and a fall refueling outage. CB&I and Matrix will be hiring for this site.

We will need a substantial number of travelling brothers and sisters to meet the anticipated calls in the coming months. Anyone looking for work please sign our Book 2.

Matthew Paules, B.M.

L.U. 245 (govt,lctt,o,rtb&u), TOLEDO, OH — Nuclear energy matters. This is the message the union leadership is trying to get out, with the help of the members and their families. We are asking everyone to contact their state representatives and share their concerns over the possible shutdown of the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station. Davis-Besse employs 700 people, and approximately 230 of those are our members with good paying jobs. Davis-Besse supplies millions of dollars in tax revenue to state and local governments. Davis-Besse is also the second largest green power producer in the state. We want and need your support on this issue.

On a sad note, I regret to report the passing of Dave Bacon, a former business manager. Dave was a good union man, who did a lot for Local 245 and the IBEW. He was a personal friend, boss and mentor. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Just a reminder to the membership: this is the year for Local 245 officer elections. Nominations will be made at the Sept. 7 union meeting; this is your chance to get involved. Remember, the union is only as strong as its membership.

Until next time work safe, enjoy the summer and don't forget about the Mud Hens game on July 30.

Ray Zychowicz, P.S.

L.U. 269 (i&o), TRENTON, NJ — There was little activity inside the nonunion construction site fence on this one Saturday in early May, but there was plenty of activism on the outside of the fence surrounding the future site of the Aldi Supermarket and Panera Bread store.

All the major building trades joined our brothers and sisters of the IBEW along Route 33 in Hamilton, NJ, to protest the use of nonunion labor on these very locally positioned businesses.

Workers were joined by local politicians to present a united front against companies that would engage in unfair labor practices and ignore local building interests. Workers and local businesses alike benefit greatly when projects such as these use local union labor.

Good wages mean expendable income, which in turn means an economic boon to the entire community. The short-sighted business owners know this, yet they choose to line their own pockets rather than give a boost to the community whose money they will gladly accept when they open their doors for business.

By standing together, we can have our say and do our best to make sure these companies do their best to be fair and just to the good people who will be patronizing their establishments.

Brian Jacoppo, P.S.

L.U. 303 (em,i,lctt,mar,o,rts&spa), ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO, CANADA — IBEW Local 303 electricians worked with Andritz Hydro to complete refurbishment of the Sir Adam Beck G-10 generator with zero incidents, on time and on budget. This refurbishment demonstrates the versatility of Local 303 members who proudly maintain the existing hydro generation facilities while building new renewable-energy projects across the Niagara region.

Helmut Klassen, P.S.

L.U. 343 (i,spa&st), LE SUEUR, MN — Brothers and sisters, happy Independence Day!

We live in a country free from oppression, a country where we can petition our government for change to benefit the citizenry. As union members, we also have the right to petition not only our contractors but our local union as well for the benefit of our trade. Our collective bargaining agreement is the rule book the union and the contractors follow to ensure mutual success for the employees and employers.

Twenty-eight years before the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 granting American women the right to vote, the first women became members of our union at the 1892 NBEW Convention. Just four years later, Sister Mary Honzik of St. Louis became the second paid organizer of the then-National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. This entitled the NBEW to be recognized as the first union to have a female organizer on staff. There is no inequality in pay between men and women belonging to IBEW construction locals. Union membership has its privileges.

Remember, the Local 343 summer picnic will be held in August in Rochester.

Spend it where you earn it. Buy "Made In USA."

Tom Small, P.S.

L.U. 347 (em,i,mt,rtb,rts&spa), DES MOINES, IA — Local 347 has recently enjoyed the good fortune of a bountiful supply of work. Both Facebook and Microsoft data centers are starting more work at their existing sites. Two downtown Des Moines high-rise structures are clearing the regulatory hurdles. Planning is in process for a new airport in Des Moines, with construction expected to start in the next three years. By some estimates, we haven't seen this kind of a workload since 1977. I know the "old-timers" do appreciate the boom times; some of the veterans of this trade can tell stories about not being able "to buy a job" in this area in the mid-1980s.

On April 1, 2017, the local threw a pin party. It was very well-attended — and of particular note was the presentation of a 65-year service pin to Bro. Bud Glass. Congratulations, Bud — looking good! The presentation was made by Jason Ballard, who also deserves to be congratulated on his recent election by acclamation to the position of local president. The previous president, Scott Farnsworth, has taken a position as assistant business agent. Progress all around.

Have a safe Independence Day.

Mike Schweiger, P.S.

L.U. 357 (c,i,mt&se), LAS VEGAS, NV — The Electrical JATC of Southern Nevada's 2017 apprenticeship graduation ceremony was held May 6 at the IBEW Local 357 union hall. Guest speakers U.S. Rep. Dina Titus and U.S. Rep. Jacky Rosen addressed apprentices and guests. A dinner sponsored by the Southern Nevada IBEW/NECA Labor Management Cooperation Committee followed the ceremony later that evening at the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas.

Outstanding Apprentice Award recipients were Anthony Kober and Bryn Kutch. The Mike Laux Award, for most union meetings attended, went to LeAndre Brown and Nguyon V. Knight. Clyde Green Sr. Memorial Awards for grade point average went to LeAndre Brown and Fernando T. Leon. Perfect Attendance Award recipients were: Michael A. Dexter, Anthony Kober, Fernando T. Leon, Jeffrey F. Nunez and Daniel Pascual.

Training Dir. Madison Burnett and Asst. Training Dir. Robert Buntjer presented this year's 26 inside wireman and six installer/telecommunication graduates. Wireman graduates are: Francis T. Ackam, Lorenzo D. Bookhart, Emilio Braun, Jamal G. Brooks, Joshua E. Chavarria, Aaron J. Darancou, Michael A. Dexter, Pedro Flores, James Halsey, Nguyon V. Knight, Bryn G. Kutch, Fernando T. Leon, Kevin Manyagi, Leonardo J. Moya, Jeffrey H. Nunez, Daniel Pascual, Taylor H. Raats, Koran R. Rucker, Jeffrey M. Sandoval, Lawrence Scarpaci, Hugo D. Solorio, Adam T. Terrio, Joshua J. Tice, David A. Wedlow, Edward A. Weist, Ronald C. Young Jr. Installer/Telecommunication graduates are: Dustin R. Birney, LeAndre J. Brown, Anthony M. Kober, Nicolas R. Lantrip, Glenn A. McPherson and Robert L. Smith III.

Jennifer Tabor, P.S.

L.U. 375 (catv,ees&i), ALLENTOWN, PA — Local 375 has been extremely active this spring with multiple events reaching out to the community and within our membership. Many occasions have been driven by an ambitious and dedicated group — Local 375's Third District Youth Caucus (3DYC), co-chaired by Jordan Morales and David LeBlanc. With their collaborative efforts, the Allentown St. Patrick's Day parade and our 375 Night at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms were extremely successful.

As in previous years, Local 375 marched with the labor contingent in the St. Patrick's Day parade. Building upon that tradition, we again saw a larger labor turnout and made a strong showing for working people. Our T-shirt this year was designed by Ryan Jones, a second-year apprentice. The community response to labor's participation was overwhelmingly positive.

On April 7, the 3DYC held an event with over 60 in attendance at a Lehigh Valley Phantoms game. The Phantoms are a minor-league affiliate for the Philadelphia Flyers. Utilizing the stadium's party deck, the members experienced NHL prospects in action while strengthening our brotherhood. This was the first event held by the 3DYC at the Phantoms.

We thank those who attended these and all other Local 375 events. The local also wishes to express its deepest gratitude to the members of the 3DYC. With their tireless dedication to Local 375 and the IBEW, all of this has been possible and has helped to facilitate growth within our communities and our membership.

Christopher Kaufman, B.R.

L.U. 379 (i,o&rtb), CHARLOTTE, NC — We have been notably busy for the last year. Construction is booming in our region and we are aggressively pursuing relationships that will broaden employment opportunities for our members.

Member education continues to be the key to our success. In 2015, we adopted the 7th District IBEW-NECA Code of Excellence. To date, Asst. Bus. Mgr. Edgar Brown has trained over half our membership in Code of Excellence and it has improved productivity across the jurisdiction.

Bro. Brown and Pres. Scott Thrower are also teaching the Foreman's Development Series. Twenty journeymen graduated from FDS in May.

Our young workers group, BOLT379 (Brotherhood Organizing Leaders of Tomorrow), received its RENEW charter in April. In May, these young members volunteered with The Big Spring Clean, a city-wide conservation effort to beautify the banks of the Catawba River.

We held the first Charlotte Area Bass Fishing Tournament in March as presenting sponsor, and plans are to make it an annual event. The tournament was organized in partnership with the Union Sportsmen's Alliance and it will be the first of many!

All in all, a positive report on the work and the potential for Local 379. Have a fun and safe summer!

Ashley Hawkins, Organizer

Feb. 4 saw the passing of Dean Francis. Dean was a 48-year IBEW member, and was serving as an Executive Board member and job steward. Our local grieved with his family as his unexpected passing left behind boots that could never be filled.

"IBEW Night with the Ducks" in March was another success as over 300 members and families spent a Friday night watching the Anaheim Ducks beat up on the Winnipeg Jets. This was another free event put on for our members that included a ticket to the game, a hot dog, and drink for all those in attendance.

We would like to thank members John Leyvas (Executive Board), Greg Soderman (Executive Board), and Michael Ball (Examining Board), who have stepped up and recently been elected to fill open positions on these boards.

On May 13, our RENEW group hosted a successful community outreach day at the Boy Scouts of America's facility in Irvine. They worked on electrical upgrades to provide a safer environment for all the local troops who use the facility each week. Twelve members volunteered and worked on the May 13 project, and our RENEW group continues to grow. Thank you, brothers and sisters!

Neal Lauzon, Pres./A.B.M.

L.U. 449 (catv,em,i,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), POCATELLO, ID — The work picture for both Inside and Outside construction is looking very positive. We have been getting into Books 2 and 3.

The new Naval Reactors Facility project at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is set to kick off this summer as well as the FBI Data Center project in Pocatello, which should start in June. There are some other good-size projects that will be coming up.

Congratulations to our Apprentice of the Year honoree Jimmy Nix. I'm proud to say that we will be sending Bro. Nix to the National Training Institute (NTI) this July. Also, congratulations and best of luck to Gavin Shelton, who will be our contestant for the Western States Apprenticeship Competition.

We are excited to be working with the Union Sportsmen's Alliance this year, as we strive to reach out to our community and show them what the IBEW's partnership with the Union Sportsmen's Alliance is all about.

It is with deep sorrow that we report the passing of several retired members: Bro. Franklin Chippewa, Bro. Robert "Bob" Wetherbee, and Bro. John Richard "Dick" Wheeler, who was a retired journeyman wireman and contractor.

Congratulations to Bros. Gordon Turnbow, Edward Shepherd and Vance Harada on their retirement.

Craig McDonald, Pres.

L.U. 459 (catv,ees,em,govt,mt,so&u), JOHNSTOWN, PA — Congratulations to Third District Int. Vice Pres. Michael D. Welsh on his recent appointment, effective June 1, 2017. Vice Pres. Welsh was appointed to fill the unexpired term of office of recently retired former Vice Pres. Donald C. Siegel.

Int. Vice Pres. Welsh, a native of Johnstown, PA, previously served as an IBEW international representative. He is a former president and assistant business manager of Local 459, from 1995-2002.

Vice Pres. Welsh began his union membership with Local 459 on Nov. 1, 1976, with the Pennsylvania Electric Company and later GPU Energy at the Conemaugh Generating Station. With his strong work ethic, he has always shown commitment to the local unions and members of the IBEW. His dedication to serving the IBEW membership has long been evident through his actions including: conducting local union meetings; participating in contract negotiations; taking part in local and nationwide Labor-Management Political Action Committee events; working at the state and national level on political issues important to working people; and volunteering for get-out-the-vote campaigns.

Local 459 wishes retired vice president Don Siegel a wonderful retirement. And we wish Vice Pres. Welsh continued success in his new leadership position. As always, we look forward to working with him in the future.

Brendan M. Wolf, Pres./A.B.M.

L.U. 465 (lctt&u), SAN DIEGO, CA — On Saturday, April 8, our local co-hosted the first ever of its kind IBEW SoCal BBQ & Chili Cook-Off that brought together IBEW Locals 465, 569 and 47 for a great day of family fun!

The event was a truly collaborative effort by the three IBEW locals. In today's challenging times, with technology rapidly changing and the utility landscape transforming, it is more important than ever for utility locals to partner with inside and construction locals to develop strong relationships. By bringing our families together at the BBQ & Chili Cook-Off, we also made strides in building a strong and lasting partnership. Plans are to make the BBQ/Chili Cook-Off an annual event. IBEW Local 440 members also made the trip down from Riverside to join in!

The event featured a live band, a bounce castle and games for the kids, with over 500 attending and dozens of teams competing. Trophies were awarded for best dishes.

We thank Local 465 Executive Board officers Matt Fish and Art Gomez for their months of hard work to make sure the event was a success. Thank you to all our teams, judges and volunteers, who also helped tremendously! Our local won the top prize, and Local 465 Grill Master Matt Fish received a handmade "BBQ Grand Champion" award and various other awards.

We look forward to expanding our event next year and continuing our efforts to build on and strengthen solidarity and brotherhood among fellow IBEW locals!

Nate Fairman, B.M.

L.U. 499 (u), DES MOINES, IA — Local 499 organized and negotiated a first contract with Woodbury County Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) in Moville, Iowa. Josh Madsen, an employee at the REC, contacted us to inquire about having the local represent the eight employees there. The negotiating began shortly thereafter and approximately three months later, the workers have a new 2.5-year contract that calls for a 3 percent wage increase in the first year of the contract and a 3 percent wage increase in the second year, along with on-call pay and a registered apprenticeship program.

The new IBEW members are: Andy McGill, Brad Koele, Jason Kreber, Dustin Brosamle, Josh Koelher, Josh Madsen (steward), Joe Casper and Tom Brockhaus. [Photo, at top.] Welcome to the Brotherhood!

George Fong, P.S.

L.U. 557 (i,mt,rts&spa), SAGINAW, MI — Work has been at a steady rate in our local. With winter projects now over, our summer projects are starting to man up. We have a pretty good work outlook for these upcoming summer months.

Recently, our local has started some great events. We have walked in the Freeland Walleye Festival parade, and we also had our first annual IBEW Local 557 Walleye Fishing Tournament. These events have been a great success, providing opportunities for our members to get together and build on our spirit of camaraderie and brotherhood as a local.

Local union members have really stepped up in recent months — including many of our younger members who are progressing through the ranks of their apprenticeship, as well as our younger journeymen.

It is great to see increasing member participation in our communities. As a small local, we pride ourselves on our members' community involvement. It is truly inspiring to see so many members taking action and getting involved — bettering our local, our communities and the entire labor movement.

Howard Revard, P.S.

L.U. 569 (i,mar,mt,rts&spa), SAN DIEGO, CA — The first-ever SoCal IBEW BBQ and Chili Cook-Off — organized by EWMC San Diego and IBEW Locals 569 and 465 — was a huge success! Plans are to make this an annual event. [Photo at bottom, left.]

Twenty chefs squared off from IBEW Locals 47, 465, 440 and 569 on April 8 at IBEW Local 569's union hall. Over 500 attendees tasted offerings of tri-tip, ribs, chili, chicken, and potato salad. Kids were entertained with face painting, a clown and movies. And a live band kept the beat up as smokers and grills blazed and families ate their fill.

Here are the winners of the SoCal IBEW BBQ and Chili Cook-Off — you'll note that IBEW 569 took first place in four out of the five categories:

• Grand Champion BBQ: Matthew Fish, IBEW 465
• Grand Champion Chili: Erin Page, IBEW 569
• 1st Place Ribs: Johnny Simpson, IBEW 569
• First Place Chicken: Daniel Machain, IBEW 569
• First Place Tri-Tip: Matthew Fish, IBEW 465
• First Place Potato Salad: Gaston Aguirre, IBEW 569

Thank you to our hardworking members and volunteers who helped make this event successful! Next year, the 2nd Annual SoCal IBEW BBQ and Chili Cook-Off will be bigger and better — so mark your calendar now for April 7, 2018, and stay tuned!

Gretchen Newsom, P.S./Organizer

L.U. 625 (c,ees,em,i,it,mar&mt), HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA — Congratulations to the members who completed the apprenticeship program and received their journeyman certification. They are: Arton Dembogaj, Mike Wood, Jeff Huxtable, Cayden Lyghtle, John Robinson, David K. Murray, Cody Newton, Jordan Riley, Charles Dickson, Ricky Bowie and Mark Walsh.

Recently retired members include: Bros. Darrell Simpson and Stephen McDonah. We look forward to seeing you at the Retirees Reunion on Sept. 23.

Two retired members passed away in March: Bro. Bill Crowell, at age 69, and Bro. Larry Coolen, who was 65. Our sympathies to their families.

Recreation events coming up are: Family Day on July 29, at Atlantic Playland on Lucasville Road in Hammonds Plains; and the Golf Tournament in Penn Hills, scheduled for Sept. 24. Stay tuned for Next Gen events coming up.

Our Local 625 Hockey Team took home the cup at the IBEW Local 1928 Annual Hockey Tournament. The event, started in 1973, pits 12 teams from Local 1928's different units and power stations against each other for a friendly game. Thank you to Bro. Jim Sponagle for the invite and to Bro. Matt Andrea for organizing the team and going undefeated. Well done.

Tom Griffiths, A.B.M.

L.U. 759 (u), FT. LAUDERDALE, FL — Bros. Jason Maysonet and Christopher Liotti (pictured at right) received their Line Specialist Certificate of competition at a recent union meeting.

Local 79 is busy with contract talks, as our current contract expires Oct. 31, 2017.

We also held local elections for Local 759 officers, E-Board members and delegates. At press time, election results were not yet available.

With summer here, afternoon thunderstorms will bring in extended work hours. We would like to remind all members to continue to work safe and watch out for one another on the jobsite. Hopefully hurricane season will be kind to us.

As a reminder, Local 759 holds its monthly meetings the first Thursday of each month.

Glen Plock, P.S.

L.U. 777 (u), READING, PA — Three Mile Island (TMI) nuclear generating station, nestled on the Susquehanna River just southeast of Harrisburg, PA, in Dauphin County, is being considered for a possible shutdown.

As many know, the low cost of natural gas and green sources of generation are driving the wholesale market price of electricity down. That's leaving a number of power plants with higher operating costs vulnerable and unable to compete in power auctions. Exelon, which owns and operates TMI, has committed to running the plant until 2018.

There is pressure on the state Legislature in Harrisburg for legislation to help TMI and other nuclear power plants throughout Pennsylvania. There is, of course, a big economic concern for the state and an importance in maintaining power plants as part of the infrastructure with varying fuel sources.

With approximately 230 jobs on the line at TMI, Local 777 members need to continue to contact their state representatives. Local 777 has its fingers crossed in support of our brothers and sisters at TMI and the future of nuclear generation.

Mark Power, P.S.

L.U. 915 (i&mt), TAMPA, FL — Local 915's Annual Cookout and Service Pin Presentation in April saw a good turnout. This traditional night gives our new and retired members an evening of brotherhood and fellowship that is incomparable. From those who paved the way, mentored and continue to teach through their stories, experiences and early struggles, to our 14 newly sworn-in members, all are encouraged to continue to fight for the future of our trade.

We were honored to welcome a special guest speaker, Florida AFL-CIO Pres. and IBEW Local 177 Bro. Mike Williams. Bro. Roce Simpson and his volunteers were recognized for the preparation and serving of the food and refreshments.

Local 915 was proud to recognize for his 70 years of service Bro. Joseph Cain. Other pin recipients in attendance were: for 60 years of service - Harold Hudson, Franklin Johnson, Robert Kaiser; 55 years - David Slayas; 50 years - James McKendree, Walt Swisher; 45 years - James Niemeyer; and 40 years - Mike Davis, Rick Hindman, Steven Bower and Sydney Ward.

This year's Brother of the Year Award honoree was Bro. John Keifer, recognized as a brother who quietly works behind the scenes on whatever is needed for his local.

Theresa King, P.S./R.S.

L.U. 1049 (lctt,o,u&uow), LONG ISLAND, NY — At our March general meeting, the membership re-elected Bus. Mgr. Ronald Bauer, the officers and the Executive Board. On behalf of Bus. Mgr. Bauer and Executive Board Chmn. William Roulette, I would like to congratulate and welcome Bros. Frank Elio and Bryan Hughes as our newest Executive Board members. I would also like to thank Bros. Walter Hora and Everett Lewis Jr. for their years of dedicated service to the Executive Board and the membership of Local 1049.

At press time, we were looking forward to our 25th Annual Golf Tournament on June 16 and anticipating its great success. Proceeds of the event fund our Widows and Widowers Fund and our Scholarship Fund. Our annual scholarship(s) will be awarded in July.

The work picture for the entire membership continues to look strong. Our next quarterly Outside Division meeting will be Aug. 3, at 5:30 p.m.

See you at the next general meeting.

Thomas J. Dowling, R.S.

L.U. 1105 (i), NEWARK, OH — The Schneider family has a long tradition of IBEW Local 1105 membership. It began with Hugo Schneider, who was initiated in December of 1941 into former Local 874 (which later merged with Local 1105). His son, Michael Schneider Sr., joined the Brotherhood in 1988. His grandson, Michael Schneider Jr., followed suit and became a member in 1996, which brings us to Hugo's great-grandson, Jay.

First-year apprentice Jay Schneider started his career with IBEW Local 1105 as a construction wireman in March 2016. He was accepted into the local apprenticeship program in June 2016. Before entering the trade, Jay served our country as a specialist in the Ohio Army Air National Guard 2nd Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. Since that time, Jay has been called back to active duty on contingency operations to help protect our country and some of our vital resources.

IBEW Local 1105 would like to thank Jay for his service and dedication to our country. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jay and his family and we look forward to his return.

Donny Rutledge, Organizer/P.S.

L.U. 1141 (em,i,mow,rts&spa), OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — For the third year in a row, IBEW Local 1141 members, friends and family volunteered at the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, commemorating the resilience of the city in the years that followed the tragedy on April 19, 1995. It was a cold, drizzly day for our water stop volunteers and runners — but that didn't dampen our spirits.

Whether you were hitting the pavement or passing out water, all of you who participated were a big part of helping spread what the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood looks like in action. To see highlights, please check out our video coverage on www.IBEW1141.org.

I also want to pause for a moment to remember the lives lost in the 1995 attack. As I wrote on our website:

"May those lost rest in peace, and may we honor them by never forgetting our principles as we work toward a brighter future for our members, families, all of Oklahoma, and beyond."

Thank you to all the dedicated members of our local for showing what solidarity in the community looks like.

Dewayne Wilcox, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 1245 (catv,em,govt,lctt,o,pet,t&u), VACAVILLE, CA — Local 1245 mourns the tragic death of member Zackary Randalls, who was shot and killed during a work-related ride-along in Fresno, CA, after just six weeks on the job. Randalls leaves behind a wife and two young children. The local has been working with the employer and other labor groups to provide resources and support for the Randalls family during this difficult time.

In the wake of the Oroville Dam Spillway crisis that resulted in the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of residents, Local 1245 members are working diligently on the spillway restoration project, which is expected to continue through the end of the year. Local 1245 members have also been hard at work on a number of other issues and projects related to the wave of massive storms that occurred earlier this year.

A group of IBEW Local 1245 organizing stewards recently returned from Georgia's 6th Congressional District, where they worked to support labor-endorsed candidate Jon Ossoff, who was running to fill the U.S. House seat recently vacated by Tom Price. The local also had another team of organizing stewards in Montana, working to help elect union-endorsed candidate Rob Quist to the congressional seat formerly held by Ryan Zinke. [Editor's Note: At press time, results were not yet available for Georgia's 6th Congressional District runoff election, held June 20. The At-Large Congressional District of Montana special election for the U.S. House of Representatives was May 25; Rob Quist's opponent was elected.]

In Outside Construction, the work outlook remains strong, with contractors in both California and Nevada expected to ramp up crews through the spring and summer.

Rebecca Band, P.S.

L.U. 1253 (i&mo), AUGUSTA, ME — Summer is finally here in Maine as Local 1253 gears up for its annual picnic of steak and lobsters. If you haven't received your invitation, please contact the hall. Local 1253 honors its 50-year and 50-plus-year retired members with a pinning ceremony at the picnic. Always a pleasure to honor and recognize our retired members in a public forum.

With summer comes the construction season — Jackson Laboratory, Sappi Paper Company and Colby College should be starting their capital improvement projects. Local 1253 welcomes the chance to organize new members and help traveling brothers and sisters.

Congratulations to Bro. Marc Gibbs on his retirement. Local 1253 wishes Bro. Gibbs, a recent IBEW pensioner, a long and healthy retirement.

On a sad note, retired member Allen Simmons passed away March 19. He will be missed.

Chuck Fraser, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 1347 (ees,em&u), CINCINNATI, OH — IBEW Local 1347 members, friends and family gathered together on Saturday, April 29, at Matthew 25 Ministries to donate time, money and supplies for families affected by severe weather storms and disasters.

Our Local 1347 members are constantly working to maintain power and electric through those damaging storms, and they always want to try and help more families affected by these powerful, destructive storms.

With our RENEW group members leading the charge, we see Matthew 25 Ministries as a way we can help our community outside of our daily jobs and especially during difficult times to provide additional necessities. Thank you to Matthew 25 Ministries for allowing Local 1347 members to make a positive impact in our community.

Andrew Kirk, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 1501 (ees,em,mo,pet,rts&t), BALTIMORE, MD — At a recent AFL-CIO meeting in New Jersey, Local 1501 Bus. Mgr./Pres. Dion F. Guthrie had the honor to meet with national AFL-CIO Pres. Richard L. Trumka and discuss many major issues facing the labor movement under the current presidential administration in Washington. It is generally agreed that labor took it on the chin in the 2016 election, but it is hoped that some good is coming out of that election.

We believe that many in the labor movement have had their eyes opened to the political farce we now face in our country.

In addition, we believe many in the nonunion workplace are now looking at becoming union, as shown by the example of the recent win-win in the IBEW organizing campaign at Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., where we have welcomed more than 1,400 new members. [Editor's Note: See news articles " Victory: More than 1,400 BGE Workers Join the IBEW," in the March 2017 issue of The Electrical Worker; and " BGE Workers Get Their Union — Baltimore Local 410 Chartered," May 2017 issue of The Electrical Worker. The articles are posted on the IBEW website at www.ibew.org/media-center/Articles.]

These developments will go a long way to bringing many new members into the fold, as people are scared to death of this current administration in Washington.

James S. Boyd, F.S./P.S.

L.U. 1837 (rtb&u), MANCHESTER, ME — IBEW Local 1837 members Nicholas Weatherbee and Gregory Williams have been promoted to "lineworker first class" at the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC). Bro. Weatherbee works in NHEC's Plymouth District and was originally hired as a mechanic by the company in 2006. He took a position in the line department in 2013. Bro. Williams works in the Ossipee District's line department and started work there in 2012.

Both members recently completed a four-year apprentice program that requires 8,000 hours of instruction in the many different aspects of line work. The apprentice program was started at NHEC in 1988. IBEW chief steward Arthur Cornelissen presented Nicholas Weatherbee with his certificate for successful completion of the program at NHEC's Lineworkers Training Day in April. Gregory Williams also was awarded the certificate but was unable to attend the ceremony.

Matthew Beck, Organizer/B.R.