L.U. 16 (i), EVANSVILLE, IN — Local 16 celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a cookout to benefit the sick and needy. The building was well decorated and full of festive "Irishmen." Paddy the Leprechaun Piñata was a big hit with the younger crowd. Thanks to Bros. Stephen P. "Bubba" Fenton, Nick Vaught, Ricky Ricketson, Paul Lamb, and all who helped make this possible.

United Caring Services is bringing a new facility to Evansville. The Crisis Care Center will be a drop-off/stabilization unit that will provide frontline intervention to people overwhelmed by substance abuse and co-occurring mental illness. These are key contributing issues to homelessness and economic uncertainty. This effort is a major collaboration between health services, social agencies, government and law enforcement. Local 16's support, advocacy and volunteered labor have been integral to the success of this worthy project.

On April 1, the Wage and Benefit Package was increased. For new rates, please contact the union hall or go to the IBEW Local 16's Facebook page.

Local 16 will host this year's IBEW Midwest Regional Softball Tournament. This premier event, a great opportunity to build the brotherhood, will be held Aug. 2-4. For more information, call 812-867-9670.

Donald P. Beavin, P.S.

L.U. 22 (i,lpt,rts&spa), OMAHA, NE — In March, Local 22 was honored to host IBEW Int. Pres. Lonnie R. Stephenson for a "meet-and-greet" with the general membership. Attendees included many local labor leaders, elected officials, and candidates for office. The social event preceded the William Brennan Institute for Labor Studies' annual Promoting the General Welfare Conference at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. Int. Pres. Stephenson was the keynote speaker for this year's WBILS conference.

As you may have heard, Local 22's jurisdiction was impacted by disastrous flooding this spring. Many of our members and traveling brothers and sisters were affected. Local 22 collected donations and money to help those IBEW members most impacted by the flooding. On behalf of the members of Local 22, we would like to thank all the brothers and sisters who took time to donate, collect, and deliver much needed supplies to our members affected by the recent flooding in Iowa and Nebraska. They embody the true spirit of brotherhood!

Joel Anderson, P.S.

L.U. 24 (es,i&spa), BALTIMORE, MD — We are happy to report that the labor trustees were able to secure the following pension improvements: increase the future benefit amount; increase the reduced benefit that some members had to the full benefit amount; and increase the retirees' monthly benefit all while securing its future funding.

As previously reported, the state's prevailing wage survey had issues. We contacted the state and our attorneys, and our rates now prevail for the two counties in question as well as the rest of our entire jurisdiction.

On March 21-23 we held our annual drug testing, and tool and boot sale. I would like to thank the 336 members who took part.

On March 25, over 150 Local 24 sisters and brothers let their voices be heard at the Maryland state Capitol. We called on our elected officials to listen to our voice if they want to count on our vote.

I am pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO). I would like to thank our members employed at CCO, especially our shop steward Bro. Ricky Keffer.

Peter P. Demchuk, B.M.

L.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC — As of this writing, your local union officers and agents have been extremely busy. We attended the: IBEW Construction and Maintenance Conference; the North America's Building Trades National Legislative Conference; the Craftsmanship Awards dinner banquet; and the JATC graduation. Also, the local held its annual Dollars Against Diabetes golf outing.

All plans have been finalized for our Manassas, VA, picnic on Saturday, June 22, and our Edgewater, MD, picnic on Saturday, Aug. 24. Be sure to order your tickets so you don't miss out on all brotherhood/sisterhood fun! Also, the Chartered Fishing Trip is scheduled for Monday, July 15. And the Poker Run for Special Love is on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Results of the Local 26 elections will be announced at the general membership meeting on Friday, June 14, and the new officers will be sworn in at the general membership meeting on Friday, July 12.

Best wishes to recent retirees: David W. Hill Jr., Mark D. Lizzi, Gary F. Hutt, Paul D. Gregory, Thomas J. Heil, Joseph E. Winegardner, Carl A. Koziol, Darryl A. Watkins, Dale A. Lamanna, Michael A. McCowin and James P. McDonald.

The following members have passed away since our last article: Rostelle J. Bethea, Gregory D. Clum, Jimmie R. Bolton, William D. Sullivan Sr., Joseph P. Morgan, Joseph T. Mulcare Jr., David P. Moore and William R. Whitt. We extend our condolences to their families and friends.

George C. Hogan, B.M.

L.U. 34 (em,i,mt,rts&spa), PEORIA, IL — IBEW Local 34 has been busy with a flurry of manpower requests and a packed schedule of local activities for our members.

Work in our local has seen a sharp increase in need of manpower, and we currently sit under 100 on our out-of-work list for the first time in roughly two years. The work outlook remains strong for the foreseeable future with the beginning stages of OSF Hospital's plan to spend roughly $800 million over the next eight years. We also have another $100 million in work beginning in Peoria Heights. These two projects along with upcoming wind, solar and our usual industrial work should mean that our local brothers and sisters have ample opportunities to stay home and working.

Local 34 recently had our first Career Signing event take place at Illini Bluffs High School. Congratulations to Canton High School senior Logan Bayer and Illini Bluffs senior John Randle for signing on the dotted line to take their education to the next level and enter our inside apprenticeship program. It was definitely a memorable day for these young men and their families — their future is definitely bright.

Tim Sprout, A.B.M.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OHIO — We are pleased to announce the opening of our Union Trades Medical Centers, which are for the exclusive use of IBEW Local 38 and Laborers Local 310 members and their dependents. The centers opened on April 17 this year. To get complete information about our centers including eligibility, location, hours of operation, and contact information go to www.ibew38.org.

Using our Union Trades Medical Centers is not only free, but also the Labor Management Cooperation Committee (LMCC) is offering all members a $100 Giant Eagle gift card if they schedule a physical in 2019. If a member and his or her spouse both schedule a physical, they will receive a total of $200. This is a limited-time offer, so make your appointments soon. Please pass this information on to your spouse.

Work continues to be good and several more projects were recently announced including the next phase at the East Bank Flats. The new $120 million building will include apartments, retail and cinemas. Lake Erie Electric has the project and work is scheduled to start this summer. The new multi-use project including apartments and retail at Church and State roads has started, and Gateway Electric has the project. Crews from Lake Erie Electric are also on site at The Lumen. The new 34-story apartment building located in Playhouse Square is starting to rise as they are pouring a floor every five days now.

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

L.U. 40 (em,i&mps), HOLLYWOOD, CA — On March 2, our members came together to enjoy the excitement that the NHL and the Los Angeles Kings ice hockey team bring, as well as to experience the strength of union solidarity. Such events also highlight the importance of coming together to enjoy a day with friends and family, made possible as a result of IBEW members having great jobs with the union standing behind them.

A special thanks to second-year apprentice Josh Ledder, who led the charge in get this event off the ground. He donated his time to help fellow union sisters and brothers enjoy a day of hockey, while he also continued all of his work and apprentice education obligations.

The local also thanks all those who attended the LA Kings Night event. We encourage our entire membership to get involved in one of our many future events or committee activities and opportunities. These opportunities include participation in: the Helmets to Hardhats program, the Basic Craft Car Show, the Volunteer Organizing Committee, the RENEW program, and the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus.

Michael Courtois, Treas.

L.U. 44 (catv,lctt,o,rtb,s&u), BUTTE, MT — Last July, RENEW officers were elected, forming IBEW 44 RENEW. Their first major fundraiser, a local-wide gun raffle, raised over $3,000 to help start a brotherhood fund. Kudos to the prize winners: Logan Davis won "bonehead" art by Bro. Tucker Serich; Josh Krzan won a Smith & Wesson .357; and Gregg Marlenee won a Henry Rifle .357.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who has supported this effort!

IBEW 44 RENEW made their first benefit donation to Colton Walter, whose son Calvin was life-flighted to Kalispell, MT. Calvin was diagnosed with transverse myelitis. IBEW 44 RENEW is proud to have set up the brotherhood fund and to start assisting the IBEW 44 family!

IBEW 44 RENEW is currently looking to create a T-shirt to continue to build the brotherhood fund. The T-shirt design will be on www.ibew44.org under the RENEW module if anyone is interested.

IBEW 44 RENEW has taken on reaching out to area job fairs, talking about the Mountain States Line Constructors apprenticeship school, and discussing what kind of education interested students should be seeking while in high school and how to apply.

Dwight Rose, Mbr. Dev.

L.U. 46 (as,c,cs,em,es,et,i,mar,mo,mt,rtb,rts&st), SEATTLE, WA — Summer is approaching and Local 46 has a number of events planned. If you would like more information on any of these events, please contact the union hall.

Our annual Organizing Blitz will take place Tuesday, June 18, and Wednesday, June 19. This event is a great opportunity to get out and talk with unrepresented electricians about all the advantages that IBEW membership offers.

Industry Night will be Wednesday, June 26, at Elliott Bay Brewery in Lake City. A number of our NECA partner contractors will be there to talk with unrepresented electricians about work opportunities with IBEW Local 46.

The Peninsula Picnic will be Saturday, July 13, at the Island Lake Picnic Shelter in Poulsbo. This is a family-oriented event, so bring the whole family and enjoy the food, fun, and camaraderie!

IBEW Local 46 and Puget Sound Chapter NECA are sponsors of radio station KISW's Pain in the Grass 2019 concert series. This three-day event runs Tuesday, July 30; Friday, Aug. 2; and Saturday, Aug. 3, at the White River Amphitheatre in Auburn. Our organizers will set up a booth at the event to promote IBEW membership.

The Seattle Picnic returns to Vasa Park Resort on beautiful Lake Sammamish Sunday, Aug. 18. This is a fantastic venue with a designated swimming area with a life guard. Please join us and be sure to bring the kids!

Local 46 is committed to organizing. Our membership has increased by almost a third in the last five years! We currently have over 5,700 members and we are continuing to grow.

Warren Shill, V.P.

L.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts,st&tm), PORTLAND, OR — Local 48 is currently experiencing a construction boom that is projected to last for quite a while. Of course, in construction we all know that projections don't equal labor hours, projects do. We do expect to see many calls for journey-level workers continuing through the summer and beyond, and our organizing department is hard at work finding workers to meet the increased staffing demands of our contractors. We also welcome travelers to help us meet this demand.

One often forgotten aspect of a construction boom is the dramatic increase in non-union contractors hiring untrained, unlicensed workers to complete their electrical work. Local 48 organizers and business representatives cooperate with enforcement officers to ensure that projects in our jurisdiction meet the requirements of our licensing law. With the work we are putting in, compliance is going up and non-compliance is getting more costly for the lawbreakers. This ensures that our communities aren't at an unnecessary risk for electrical fire due to people who don't know our trade trying to make a quick profit.

Ray Lister, P.S.

L.U. 56 (ees,em&i), ERIE, PA — GE Transportation, in Erie, PA, was purchased by Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies on Feb. 25. Wabtec Corp. instituted a new contract, ignoring the one in place with United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (UE) Local 506 that would have expired in June of this year. Wabtec cut wages by 40 percent and made overtime mandatory. Any new hires or re-called laid-off workers would have been paid the lower wage. Basically, a two-tier pay system. Realizing Wabtec had no intentions of honoring the current contract with the union or keeping the contract in place while negotiating a new one, UE Local 506 walked off the job. The "lockout" was the first work stoppage there in over 50 years.

Once IBEW Local 56 became aware of a fellow union's lockout, we took action.

On Sunday, March 3, at 8 a.m., 30 IBEW members took to the streets. We marched to the west main gate at Wabtec to support the 1,700 UE Local 506 members. Having worked with UE Local 506 previously at the plant, IBEW Local 56 felt it was necessary to support UE 506. Local 56 felt that the changes Wabtec wants to impose on these families are unjust and unfair. The hashtag #Solidarity4UE was created in support of the UE members.

William Brown, P.S.

L.U. 68 (i), DENVER, CO — Greetings, brothers and sisters.

The work picture here in Local 68 is holding steady, with projections for a strong next couple of years. Some calls are still hitting book two.

Local 68 members, along with the Denver Area Labor Federation and AFL-CIO, have been putting potential candidates for various positions in the upcoming Denver County races through the application and interview process. This process along with follow-up accountability will hopefully build strong, friendly relationships and not just money recipients. Check the Local 68 website or the hall for a list of endorsed candidates.

The Wireman's Brotherhood Fund annual bowling tournament was held March 16. Congratulations to: Betty Cox, 1st place, women; Christina Romero, 2nd place; and Maxine Blea, 3rd place. Bob Miller won 1st place, men; Collin Clair, 2nd place; and Jeremiah McQueen, 3rd place. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the WBF sick fund. All had a good time!

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of our recently deceased members: Mark A. Brady, Thomas E. Beall Jr. and Timothy C. Armagost.

Morgan J. Buchanan, Pres.

L.U. 70 (lctt&o), WASHINGTON, DC — Alice Collins is retiring! Alice has been our office manager for nearly 20 years and has done an amazing job. Alice has kept our union hall running smoothly for so long. We will miss her dedicated service and seemingly endless knowledge of how everything works.

Alice's husband, Bob "Fuzzy" Collins, was a proud member with Local 26 as a journeyman wireman with over 37 years of service. He was a hard-working family man, loved to go crabbing with his boys, and was a proud union brother. Sadly, he passed away in 2007.

Alice will have plenty to do in retirement. She has three sisters, a brother, three sons, two young grandchildren that she will be chasing around, and two older grandsons, who will enjoy having their grandma around a lot more. She's been planning several trips along the east coast and enjoys trying her luck at area casinos.

We greatly appreciate everything she has done for our local union and all the years of dedicated service. Her last day working was May 31.

Thank you, Alice, and enjoy your retirement!

Jimmy Horton, P.S.

L.U. 80 (i&o), NORFOLK, VA — On May 4, the Local 80 Annual Picnic took place. There was a good turnout with all our brothers and sisters enjoying the food and festivities. The kids were "electrified" with the face painting, bounce house fun and a petting zoo. Bro. Woody Gregory has been in charge of the entertainment committee and always does an excellent job getting these events organized.

The work picture has continued to grow with upcoming projects starting up in late spring.

The Wegmans Food Market construction project has been completed and ahead of schedule. This was a Code of Excellence (COE) job. Al Gleeson Electric was the contractor performing this work. This project had various classifications and they all worked in a professional, workmanlike manner.

Our organizing campaign continues to be a success. We have signed a couple of new contractors along with new members.

Congratulations to Bro. Ervin ''Woody'' Gregory on his recent retirement. Bro. Gregory, all your hard work and dedication over the years have paid off.

Wil Morris, A.B.M.

L.U. 82 (em,i,mt&rtb), DAYTON, OHIO — Local 82 has partnered with the Dayton Physicians Foundation for Hope to put on a golf outing July 13 at Pipestone in Miamisburg, Ohio. Come out and play and you might get a chance to win $1 million on a hole-in-one challenge! Check out the web page ibew82.itemorder.com to register or sponsor this great event.

The Charlie E. Toon Fish Fry was another huge success — great turnout! Thanks to all who participated.

Congratulations to all the service-pin recipients and thank you for your longtime service. Also, congratulations to the new class of inside wiremen and teledata journeymen. Do us proud!

Doug Searcy, P.S.

L.U. 100 (c,em,i,rts&st), FRESNO, CA — Local 100 held its Annual Retirees Luncheon on March 12 to honor all members who retired in 2018. Not all were able to attend, but Local 100 would like to thank all those who retired last year for their many years of hard work and dedicated service to both our local and our industry.

Brothers, we congratulate you all on a successful career and wish you all the greatest of health as you start this new chapter in life! Our brothers who retired in 2018 are: Michael Caglia, Robert Clark Sr., Reginald East, Lynn Eichhorn, Troy Guynn, Richard Hougasian, Robert McDonald, Ernesto Moreno Sr., Charles Perkins, Edward Stanton, Jon Wiseman, William Yeager, and Gary Yoshino.

Jake Piland, A.B.M.

L.U. 102 (em,govt,i,mt,o&ws), PATERSON, NJ — We would like to congratulate Bro. Gary Pfarr on his retirement and thank him for his dedicated, longtime service.

Gary Pfarr became a member of the IBEW in 1987. His impact was immediately felt at then-Local 675 and when his former local was amalgamated into Local 102 he didn't miss a beat. For Gary it was never about the number attached to the local union, it was about making things better for our membership. Gary served as a trustee on our JATC, Welfare, Surety, and Pension Funds. He was an Executive Board member, Building Trades president, and most recently he has served as our assistant business manager.

He began his career as a business representative in 1998. During his career, he has garnered the respect of the building trades community, our contractors, and the end users we serve. Gary's work ethic is without question — at Local 102 we could not wish for a better friend or a stronger advocate for workers' rights. Gary's presence in the Union County region of our jurisdiction has had a direct impact on our market share in that area. His presence in our union office has touched us all forever. On behalf of the membership of Local 102 we wish Gary and his wife, Janice, a long and healthy retirement. He will be missed!

Bernie Corrigan, Pres.

L.U. 124 (ees,em,i,mar,rts,se,spa&t), KANSAS CITY, MO — IBEW Local 124 and a labor-wide contingent recently celebrated the groundbreaking for our new Kansas City International Airport.

This project has been a long campaign for organized labor, starting many years before voters approved the new single-terminal airport in November 2017. It will replace our current three-terminal airport that was built by organized labor in 1972.

The new $1.5 billion terminal will have more than 1 million square feet. There will be shopping and restaurants inside the terminal and 63,000 parking spaces across the street. The new terminal is expected to create 5,000 construction related jobs. This is great news for Local 124 and organized labor.

Steve Morales, P.S.

L.U. 130 (i), NEW ORLEANS, LA — The AFL-CIO hosted its annual winter Executive Council Meeting here at Local 130 in our Alexander Room. The 2019 meeting was a week-long event, which also utilized three board rooms and two functional staff rooms. Local 130 was honored to host all the AFL-CIO affiliated union presidents from across the continent. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards was a guest speaker. He welcomed the AFL-CIO and expressed his support for our mission.

Local 130 Bus. Mgr. Paul Zulli was appointed to the Electrical Training Alliance by IBEW Int. Pres. Lonnie R. Stevenson. Bus. Mgr. Zulli attended his first ETA meeting in February. He looks forward to attending our Apprenticeship Committee meeting to discuss different procedures and programs that could benefit our apprentices.

Our apprentices will transition from attending day classes back to attending evening classes beginning next semester. This transition will enable us to re-evaluate how we combine the hands-on education with the scholastic. We will also hire additional instructors who could bring a new dynamic with our hands-on experience.

Election conversation is in the air, and many candidates are entering the 2020 presidential race. Our membership must focus on how we make a living and how politics affects us. We are family oriented, morally involved members who want to do what is responsible. We have friends in both political parties. What is also important today is supporting candidates who support unions.

So why would we support politicians who support so-called "right-to-work" proposals and union busting. Why would we support politicians who lie to us about tax cut measures that actually prevent us from using travel expenses as write-offs, yet give billionaires a pass on their taxes? Before you pull that voting lever, please research the candidates on how they support your bread and butter.

Billy Buckel, P.S.

L.U. 134 (catv,em,govt,i,mt,rtb,rts,spa&t), CHICAGO, IL — After a very crowded field of 14 candidates in the Chicago mayoral primary, Lori Lightfoot received the endorsement of IBEW Local 134 and went on to defeat Cook County Board Pres. Toni Preckwinkle on April 2.

Our endorsement was of great importance to the membership of Local 134 as well as the IBEW. One very telling example of the value of this endorsement and the importance to organized labor is our market share in Chicago. It is well noted that when viewing the skyline of Chicago, the official bird of the city, "the crane," is visible. With over 60 of these construction cranes in operation last year, all are union job sites. There are hundreds of job sites that generate tens of millions of hours of union wages along with health care and retirement benefits.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot has assured Local 134 and the building trades this will continue during her term as mayor. Lightfoot's commitment to transparent government and building the middle class with jobs, education and the union movement is what we agree with. To outgoing mayor Rahm Emanuel, thank you for your support of Local 134.

Kevin Connolly, R.S.

L.U. 146 (ei,i&rts) DECATUR, IL — On May 11, the graduating apprentices enjoyed a nice evening to celebrate their success following five hard-working and studious years. The following received their certificates: Darren Allin, Don Brown, Brandon Bryant, Jon Burkhardt, Tyler Cothern, Blake Davis, Antonio Douglas, Adam Gensler, Alan Handy, Richard Karr, Jon Koester, Tanner Miller, Alan Pressley, Kevin Rhodes, Tom Tripp, Ian Weddle, Jacob Gough, Paul Grubb and Tyler Murphy.

Congratulations also go to recently retired members: Steve Cunningham, Rodney McClain, Kent Reeser and Bob Sargent. We sincerely wish a long and happy retirement for these four.

June 8 is the date for our annual golf outing, to be held at the Lakeshore Golf Club in Taylorville. Good times, good food, and good brotherhood are in the forecast.

Members recently ratified a new four-year contract with the Illinois chapter NECA, Midstate Division, by a vote of 136-18. Serving on our negotiating committee were: Justin Martin, Ken Musick, Josh Sapp, Steve Tilford, John Warner and Jeff Westendorf.

Our local reports a good work picture this summer including two potential wind farms, Decatur Public Schools projects, a Millikin University project, more than 100 electricians at ADM, and a late spring start for our much-anticipated $1.6 billion fertilizer plant project.

Steve Tilford, R.S.

L.U. 164 (c,em,i,o&t), JERSEY CITY, NJ — The Local 164 Social Committee has another exciting event coming up June 18, when they hold a trip to see the New York Yankees play the Tampa Bay Rays.

The committee, headed up by Bro. D.J. Heal, runs annual bus trips to see hometown sports teams play, including a New York Yankees, New Jersey Devils, and New York Giants game. Also scheduled is an annual fluke fishing trip set for July 27 this year. This is a wonderful committee that works hard year around to put on fun events for our members that show our support of our tri-state area sports teams.

Bro. D.J. Heal said he "sees the committee as a great way to promote brotherhood, solidarity and friendship among members off of the job site as well as being great family fun." This shows in the fact that the games are attended by apprentices, active journeymen and retirees as well as many of their children and family members. D.J. thanks the entire committee for all their hard work coordinating and organizing the events; they include Jim Flaherty Jr., Matt Benevento and Tom DiGiovanni among others. The committee thanks Bus. Mgr. Dan Gumble, Pres. Tom Sullivan, the Executive Board, and the membership for all the support.

Warren M. Becker, V.P.

L.U. 234 (i&mt), CASTROVILLE, CA — IBEW Local 234 proudly participated in our building trades' sponsorship of another Apprenticeship Readiness Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) class. The cohort of 25 young men between the ages of 18 and 25 graduated on March 29.

Rancho Cielo in Salinas, various community groups, the Laborers' union, and our Local 234 all pulled together to help these young men take a step closer to fulfilling their dreams of obtaining well-paying careers with benefits. Those careers will start as apprentices in unionized trades.

The North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) developed, promotes, and supports MC3. MC3 has been providing an opportunity for individuals to achieve a life goal of being a productive community member. From each of us here at Local 234, congratulations to each of you and we look forward to working together to build a bright future.

Stephen Slovacek, P.S.

L.U. 236 (catv,ees,govt,i,mo,rtb&t), ALBANY, NY — Local 236 members attended two rallies at the state Capitol building in Albany to support expansion of prevailing wage. This legislation would apply the prevailing wage to all projects that receive any public financing, including privately backed construction efforts. Hundreds of workers from all trades, both union and nonunion rallied on the stairs of the Capitol to show their support.

We are continuing our support to help wire a small home for a local veteran who has fallen on hard times. We will be reaching out to members for help soon.

We recently had a spaghetti dinner to benefit our Community Outreach Committee. There was a real show of support for this event both from the membership and the local community. Thanks to everyone involved.

Spring is finally here and although work in our area has been steady, we are looking forward to many big projects putting members to work. We would also like to thank all the various locals that have put our members to work and continue to do so.

Joseph Hlat, A.B.M./P.S.

L.U. 280 (c,ees,em,es,i,mo,mt,rts&st), SALEM, OR — Local 280 continues to give back to our communities through our public service funds. Our members generously contribute a portion of their wages to help organizations like youth baseball teams, high-school robotics teams, school dance teams, boys' and girls' clubs, and Habitat for Humanity just to name a few. Local 280 has donated well over a million dollars over 20 years back into the communities where our members work daily. This proves IBEW members care!

Speaking of giving back, longtime member Jerry Fletcher retired March 30. Jerry has been the face of central Oregon for many years. Jerry has worn many hats during his IBEW Local 280 career. He has served our local with dedication and also represented us well in his travels to other jurisdictions. I personally had the pleasure to serve under Jerry on the Executive Board when he was local union president. He personally taught me the phrase "I agree to disagree," and that's an approach we all could use more often when tempers flare up. Jerry will always be remembered as a passionate unionist, a great source of institutional knowledge and a damn good welder/craftsman. Jerry was the press secretary for Local 280 for many years. It's an honor to extend recognition to him for a career well done. Although Jerry isn't running away from us, we will miss him anyway.

Much success to all brothers and sisters in the coming months and years.

Drew Lindsey, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 302 (i,rts&spa), MARTINEZ, CA — This January, Bro. Jerry Phillips stepped down after serving as president of the Skillcraft Committee for 35 years. His dedication and commitment have kept our current facility looking brand new for 19 years! Jerry was one of the founding members of our PAC committee and became a member of the IBEW in 1961. He served on the Executive Board from 1989 to 2001. Jerry's service to this local is a wonderful example to new and younger members of how participation is the key to our success.

Bro. Jeff Lucot retired from the Health and Welfare Committee, where he's served since 1998. Jeff became a member in 1993 and served from 2004 to 2010 as treasurer and president.

These two brothers have our gratitude for their time and dedication. We have some big shoes to fill!

Melissa Vaughn, P.S.

L.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OHIO — A local union does not function on its own — it takes brotherhood to survive. Throughout the years many of our members, officers and apprentices have given much of their time and resources to help this local as well as their own communities where they show neighbors and fellow citizens what labor unions and the IBEW are all about.

During the past year, many have rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to help the less fortunate. Some members have helped to build with Habitat for Humanity or to rewire a home for a disabled woman. Some of our apprentices replaced an electrical service for a disabled utility inspector who was severely injured in a high voltage accident and fall. Other apprentices participated in their very successful annual canned-food drive.

Many members, officers and retirees have worked to elect labor-friendly candidates, through activities including phone banking, door knocking and volunteering on campaigns. Many more have given back by assisting with our numerous social events.

We are very blessed to have such caring and thoughtful members, and sometimes they may not receive the recognition they so greatly deserve. So, from a grateful Local 306, thank you, brothers and sisters. Keep up the good work!

Thomas Wright, P.S.

L.U. 340 (i,rts&spa), SACRAMENTO, CA — The first half of 2019 was a very successful time for our local. We have been extremely busy with multiple Job Fairs, Trade Shows, Pin Parties, Steward Training classes, an Open House, local elections, community involvement, signing on new contractors and of course, bringing in many, many new IBEW Local 340 members to fill the huge number of job calls coming through our union hall.

Our Organizing / Membership Development Department is working nonstop to ensure that we continue to grow. Their enthusiasm to fill the needs of our signatory employers by filling the many job calls coming in is infectious. They are organizing community events and creating opportunities that result in our local signing up past competitors and their employees in order to show them the IBEW way of life.

The future is very bright for Local 340 as we continue to grow and change. As former Pres. Bill Clinton once said, "The price of doing the same old thing is far higher than the price of change." Local 340 has changed, not just our location, but also how we do business, and we are very excited to see what the second half of this year brings for the betterment of our local and its members.

Have a great summer, brothers and sisters!

Robert D. Ward, B.M.

L.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD, IL — Throughout the first half of 2019, IBEW Local 364 remained busy with several projects finishing up and new ones ramping up. The 160-room Hilton Embassy Suites project is well underway with several journeyman wiremen on-site. This $87 million project has a December 2019 completion date.

The new Costco superstore is starting to take shape, with manpower estimates up to 20 wiremen for this construction project.

The Byron generating station outage is complete. Many thanks go out to our traveling brothers and sisters who helped us man the project. It was once again another successful outage.

The Dekalb wastewater treatment plant upgrades are underway. This is a $47 million project. Also in Dekalb there is a new Meijer grocery store set to begin construction.

Work is expected to remain steady throughout 2019, and it's shaping up to be another solid year for IBEW Local 364. Many thanks go out to all the traveling brothers and sisters who have helped us man the work.

Brad Williams, P.S.

L.U. 420 (u), WATERBURY, CT — This year in July we once again will be hosting our annual Charitable Golf Tournament. All proceeds will continue to go to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center. This year we should go over the $200,000 mark, all toward the needs of sick children in Connecticut. This is also our third year dedicating the golf tournament in memorial to our friend, our brother, and former business manager Frank Cirillo.

Joseph Malcarne, B.M.

L.U. 424 (as,ees,em,es,i,mo,o,ptc,rtb,rts,spa&u), EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA — Greetings, brothers and sisters.

Local 424 members prepared for the election by passing a motion to support the "stop the race to the bottom" campaign. This is an initiative put forward by the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) to address the concerns of unionized construction workers in Alberta. It will contain a series of videos and website information related to regressive labour laws like "double-breasting."

Local 424 members also passed a motion to endorse Jon Carson as the candidate for Edmonton-West Henday for the provincial election. Brother Carson was first elected to the legislature in 2015 as the member for Edmonton-Meadowlark. Thank you to everyone who came out to support Brother Carson during the election.

The local's new website is near completion and should be operational by mid-June. We thank our members for their patience with its development. There has been a lot of data to be transferred from the three different websites into one user-friendly site for our members to use.

Scott Crichton, P.S.

L.U. 494 (em,govt,i,mt,rts,spa&t), MILWAUKEE, WI — Milwaukee Electrical Training Trust purchased former ITT Technical Institute on Layton Avenue in Greenfield.

Milwaukee Electrical Joint Apprenticeship & Training Center (JATC) will operate two training center facilities — the south campus on Layton Avenue in Greenfield and the north campus on West Plank Court in Wauwatosa. The training centers are for Milwaukee / Fond du Lac / Sheboygan area apprentice electricians, residential wiremen, journeyman wireman electricians, and low voltage apprentices/technicians. The campus expansion will help with the growing demand for skilled trades workers in the electrical industry.

"To try to keep up with the demands of the electrical industry, we decided it was time to expand to another campus due to our customers' expanding needs," said Henry Hurt, chairman at the Milwaukee Electrical JATC trust. "You never stop learning when you're an apprentice or journeyman. This expansion allows us to keep current with technology and growth of the industry."

John T. Zapfel, B.R./Political Dir.

L.U. 530 (i,o&rtb), SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA — At the time of this writing, our local is experiencing high unemployment. This is unexpected as many projects have not only been approved but also were expected to be underway by now. Hopefully the list will start moving very soon.

June 7 will see Local 530 hold its local elections. Everyone needs to get out and vote. This is your chance to have your voice heard; it's your future. Membership participation strengthens our local.

Local 530 is saddened to report the recent passing of Bros. Bob Rose, Mike Anger and Jim Swass.

Al Byers, P.S.

L.U. 558 (catv,em,i,lctt,mt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), SHEFFIELD, AL — Greetings, brothers and sisters. The year 2019 has started off with one of the most positive work outlooks that Local 558 has ever experienced. In addition to being awarded a new project labor agreement (PLA) for the building of the Toyota/Mazda manufacturing facility in Madison, AL, the local union has also ratified a five-year contract with Russellville Electric Utilities and a three-year contract with Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative.

Local 558 and signatory contractors are working together to gain more of the market share in the jurisdiction by offering numerous electrical upgrade classes as well as NFPA 70E, OSHA 10, CPR, and Code of Excellence to give our members the edge to stay on top of the competition.

Foreseeing the major increase of upcoming work, Bus. Mgr. Tony Quillen, with the assistance and support of IBEW Fifth District Int. Rep. Gene O'Kelly and IBEW Int. Rep. Carmella Thompson from the IBEW Education Department, held the largest Code of Excellence class ever for a construction local with 115 in attendance. Bus. Mgr. Quillen would like to thank everyone who attended and has plans for additional COE classes to be held in the near future. In closing be safe, be thankful and God bless.

Mac Sloan, Pres./Mbr. Dev.

L.U. 640 (em,govt,i,mo,mt,rts,spa&u), PHOENIX, AZ — We held our annual IBEW Local 640 picnic and pin ceremony on March 9, and it was a huge success, with our largest crowd to date of over 1,000 members and their families. Congratulations to Lonzie Lee, who won the pie eating contest! We want to extend our thanks and appreciation to Bro. Lionel Webb and all the volunteers who helped to make it a great time for everyone. Congratulations to all the service-pin recipients also!

Our work picture is still looking good for the foreseeable future. We would like to thank all our traveling brothers and sisters who have come to help us fill our calls. We have the Intel project, plus several data centers and hospital jobs, along with several other various commercial and industrial projects.

Tim Wilson, B.R./P.S.

L.U. 666 (i,mt&o), RICHMOND, VA — Local 666 is heading into its 110th year with a continued strong work forecast. Many large projects are underway and many more are on the horizon. As always. we extend a heartfelt thank-you to all the brothers and sisters from other locals who have come out to give us a hand.

The 666 RENEW committee has really taken off, more than doubling in size in the past year. Through activities such as highway cleanup and charity walks, the RENEW committee has done an excellent job of providing a positive community impact on behalf of our local. Thank you to all the brothers and sisters who contributed stickers to the cornhole board project. The boards are ready if you find yourself in Richmond during one of our events!

Several members recently participated in the 16-week Foreman Development class. The class is designed to teach the skills necessary to become an effective leader to people considering a foreman position. With so many seasoned leaders heading toward a well-deserved retirement, we are truly fortunate to have so many younger members willing to step up and fill their shoes.

Safe travels to you all this summer.

Jeremy Davis, 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 — We enjoyed another successful Retiree Luncheon this year on April 2, with 110 retirees and guests in attendance.

We have first contracts at Akin Water District (with several improvements in wages) and the City of Poplar Bluff for the dispatchers in the Police Department. A new five-year agreement with Ozark Border Electric Cooperative that includes 3.0 percent annual wage increases has been approved.

The political winds in Illinois have definitely been shifting since newly elected Gov. J. B. Pritzker was sworn in. Legislation that prohibits local legislative bodies from enacting so-called "right to work" zones has been passed and signed into law — and several other issues important to the labor movement also have the governor's support. The administration is pushing for more "vertical construction" projects (buildings such as schools, hospitals, etc.) that would employ our members.

Our Annual Bass Fishing Tournament will be June 8 at Crab Orchard Lake. Our Annual Golf Outing (all proceeds benefiting The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children) will be held June 21. Please see our website or Facebook page for more details.

As of this writing, our referral books are as follows: Inside Construction – 96; Outside Construction – 15; and Line Clearance – 5.

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

L.U. 712 (c&i), BEAVER, PA — At our December 2018 union meeting, we had 27 honorees who received their IBEW years-of-service pins. Each of these members received a pin for being a member for 50 to 70 years. We had the honor of presenting Richard J. Halicek his 70-year pin. His son, Richard M. Halicek, is also a member of Local 712 and recently received his 35-year pin.

Richard J. Halicek served as a journeyman wireman for several contractors until his retirement in 1992. His son, Richard M. Halicek, is currently a journeyman wireman working at the Beaver Valley Power Station in Hookstown, PA.

We thank both members for their dedication and service to Local 712.

Frank E. Telesz Jr., B.M.

L.U. 716 (em,i,lctt,rts&spa), HOUSTON, TEXAS — Hello, brothers and sisters. I hope everyone is doing well. I am happy to report that our contractors are aggressively bidding work in our jurisdiction, and we are seeing job calls starting to pick up. We appreciate the other locals that have put our members to work.

Congratulations to our class of 2019 apprenticeship graduates. We now have 50 new journeyman wiremen. Job well done, graduates.

The retirees enjoyed a well-deserved luncheon and service-pin presentation. One retiree, Eli Hudson, received his 70-year service pin. Congratulations to all the retirees who received service pins. Thank you to all for your longtime service to the IBEW.

Thanks to all the volunteers and attendees at the St. Patrick's Day parade. This was the Houston St. Patrick's Day Parade Commission's 50th year anniversary hosting the parade. Also, thanks to those who joined us for the Cesar Chavez march as well. We had retired members and members of the Houston Electrical Workers Minority Caucus helping us build the float and participating in the parade and the march. It seems that anytime Local 716 has some sort of function going on, we can count on seeing some retirees and Houston EWMC members participating.

A big thank-you to all of our members who volunteer their time to help make Local 716's functions a great success.

Damon Sebren, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 776 (i,o,rts&spa), CHARLESTON, SC — Apprentices are our future. Help them. Teach them. We are growing a great new crop of apprentices here in Charleston, SC. Not only do they ensure the survival of our local, but they also spread the word to other young people about what organized labor is. No one else could do that as effectively as they can. Some younger folks might not be receptive if you try to talk politics with them, but if a respected peer does it, it hits home. Treat apprentices with the same respect you want from them.

It's June, a beautiful month to be in South Carolina. It's hot but there's a lot of water here. The beaches, two huge lakes and many rivers make a day off here a lot of fun. Drop by our Local 776 office and sign our book. It's a great place to work. Our phone number is 843-554-1080, if you have questions or want to check our job line.

Finally, we are saddened by the untimely passing of Steve Mann, a longtime member of our executive board and an IBEW member since 1987. He was just 53. Our hearts go out to his wife, Rona, and all his family. Keep the faith.

Andrew Weiner, P.S./E-Board

L.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON, AZ — Greetings, brothers and sisters! Please join IBEW Local 1116 in welcoming Andy Betancourt as our new TRICO Unit chairman. Andy replaces Chris Neely, who accepted a management position.

Organizing is our focus this year and we are taking another run at Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Co-Op. SSVEC is the largest nonunion co-op in Arizona. Bus. Rep. Sarita Morales is working with State Organizing Coordinator Robert Sample, scheduling meetings with those employees. If you're interested in helping with organizing, please contact Sarita at the union hall. Internal organizing is ongoing. If there are any nonmembers in your work area, talk to them about becoming a member, or if you're not comfortable with that, contact your E-Board representative to speak with them.

The Women's Committee has been established. Contact Alberta Adrian, Jackie Ehresman, Sue Trumbull or me if you're interested in joining us! We are working on what our focus will be and what we can do for all of you and our union.

The temperatures are climbing. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Be sure to use your sunscreen, stay hydrated and get into the shade when you have an opportunity to. Snakes, bees and other creepy crawlies are out and about, so be aware. Stay safe!

Sharon Williams, R.S./P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 1, ST. LOUIS, MO — At this early spring writing, it's finally starting to get warm here. Go outside, walk, play golf, ride your bike — stay active.

The Retirees Club meetings will be: July 17, Sept. 18 (luncheon), and Nov. 20. We'll start at about 10 a.m. Come to a meeting and reconnect and reminisce with former tool partners.

Retired member Tom George Sr., former president of Local 1 and former Missouri state representative, was honored by the Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans at a recent luncheon. He was recognized for his many decades of service helping working people of Missouri. Congratulations, Tom.

Neal McCormack, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, NORTH NEW JERSEY CHAPTER — Greetings to all! Well, we had a long winter (regardless of the groundhog's predictions)! But, thankfully, weather-wise, not too bad in our area. As of this writing, we're enjoying spring weather and looking forward to our "snow birds" return.

Several members attended the 31st Annual Reunion for Local 3 retirees in February. This year it was held at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. It was a great luncheon and opportunity to connect and reconnect with others.

We continue our monthly meetings throughout the year and are looking forward to our spring luncheon at La Terrazza Restaurant, our visit to Santorini, and our annual picnic at Kruckers Picnic Grove. Plans are in the works for fall season activities.

Wishing everyone a great summer!

John Krison, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, WESTCHESTER / PUTNAM CHAPTER — This year's Local 3 Retirees Luncheon was again held in the grand ballroom of the beautiful Sheraton Center in Manhattan on Feb. 22. This year, the weather was a bit more cooperative, cool and breezy but fine. Thirty-eight of our members were able to make the trip on a chartered bus.

Local 3 Pension Dir. Maureen Steiger did an excellent job as master of ceremonies. The speakers included: Local 3 Bus. Mgr. Christopher Erikson, Sr. Asst. Bus. Mgr. Raymond Melville, Joint Industry Board Chmn. Dr. Gerard Finke, and employer representative Steven Lazzaro.

Bus. Mgr. Erikson explained how the Republican administration threatened to use our pension benefits to bolster other multiemployer plans, unrelated to the IBEW, that have become financially unsound. This is the pension that was negotiated for us, which we all depend on. Bus. Mgr. Erikson also stressed that no other labor union treats their retirees as well as Local 3. The membership agreed, unanimously. [Editor's Note: To read more, see December 2018 news article "IBEW Leaders Mobilize on Capitol Hill to Kill Pension Attack, For Now," posted on the IBEW website at www.ibew.org/media-center/articles.]

As always, the most enjoyable part of the day is the opportunity for our members to rekindle old friendships, and to trade stories of the jobs they worked on over the years.

Richard Mills, Treas.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 24, BALTIMORE, MD, EASTERN SHORE CHAPTER — In 2018, retired members of Local 24 got together and established a second Local 24 Retired Members Club, the Eastern Shore Chapter, which was chartered in June 2018. Club members have enjoyed the opportunity to socialize with old friends, get information about their pension, benefits and other topics of interest, and plan outings and activities.

Last fall, the club visited Seacrets Distillery in Ocean City, MD, for a fascinating tour followed by lunch. At their meeting in June, members will choose the destination for their next trip.

The Eastern Shore Chapter meets quarterly on the first Wednesdays of March, June, September and December, at 11 a.m., at Local 24's hall in Salisbury, MD, and welcomes all IBEW retirees in the area.

Bob McIntyre, Pres.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 26, WASHINGTON, DC — It is my pleasure to announce results of the Retired Members Club's election of officers. At our club meeting on Feb. 9, officers were elected for a three-year term: Pres. Richard "Dick" A. Bissell, Vice Pres. Richard "Rick" Warner, Rec. Sec. Susan C. Flashman, Treas. James "Jim" Handley, and Sgt. at Arms Robert "Snuffey" Holcomb. Additional members of the Executive Board are: James Antonivich, Henry Becker, Jerry Papa and Ronald "Ron" Stokes.

In April, our club took another cruise to the Caribbean. Bro. Rick Warner is already filling the cabins for the 2020 cruise to Europe!

As of this writing, the club is almost at the 500 dues-paying-members mark.

The club will break for June, July and August. In August, we will gather for our annual raffle mailing, which usually takes three days to complete. Thanks to our volunteers, the project is fun.

Our summer travels include trips to crab feasts, to a favorite casino, and in June and August to Local 26's annual Virginia and Maryland picnics. These events are great opportunities for retired members and those who are still working to enjoy visiting.

We have lost some members since our last article. They are still with us in the form of some memory books, and in May, a video presentation. As retirees, we remember that joining the union was one of our best decisions!

Susan Flashman, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 53, KANSAS CITY, MO — Spring has finally arrived and I think we are all ready for it. Seems like winter lasted forever. Hope everyone is doing well. Get out and enjoy this great weather.

By the time this article comes out, we will have had our annual Crappie Tournament/Fish Fry and our Spring Luncheon put on by the local. Thank you to the local for both of these events. They are both great events and enjoyed by all.

A lot is going on in politics right now both at the state and federal level. Talks of cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and even getting into our pensions that we and our brothers and sisters before us worked so hard for. [Editor's Note: To read more, see December 2018 news article "IBEW Leaders Mobilize on Capitol Hill to Kill Pension Attack, For Now," posted on the IBEW website at www.ibew.org/media-center/articles.]

Our opponents are also pushing so-called "right to work" in Missouri again. Please stay informed and involved and vote.

We still have our club meeting at the Lumberyard Bar & Grill in Urich, MO, at 11 a.m. on the second Thursday of the odd-numbered months. Please feel free to come join us.

Sad to report we lost another retiree, Carl Terry. Rest in peace, brother.

Duane Pearce, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 60, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — By the time you read this, the club's 7th Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser will be in the history books. At the time of this writing, we were looking forward to the event scheduled for May 4 this year. Hopefully the seventh annual tournament will be the biggest and most successful. Club members thank everyone involved with this event. Special thanks go to Betty Cannon, whose organizing skills were outstanding in putting together and arranging distribution of the prizes.

The club will take their summer break in the months of June, July and August. We will pick up again on Sept. 12; the location for the meetings may change. With the completion of the new Local 60 union hall, retired members are invited to hold their meetings there. The Plumbers and Pipefitters have been most gracious and accommodating in allowing Local 60 retirees to utilize their training room to conduct club meetings. Prior to the September meeting, an announcement will be posted in the local's newsletter regarding the Retirees Club meeting location.

Local 60 mourns the passing of John Weber, who died March 26 this year. Bro. Weber was a 78-year IBEW member. Initiated on Dec. 4, 1940, he reportedly was the most longtime member of Local 60. Prayers are with his family.

Sandy Rogers, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 105, HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA — On Sunday, April 7, many retirees attended and enjoyed the Annual Retirees Breakfast at Michelangelo's. Our thanks to all who put together this outstanding event!

Our club officers worked hard to organize the following events: a trip to Cairn Croft Niagara on April 9-12; a dinner/dance at Michelangelo's on May 5; the Annual Pig Roast on May 23; and the Annual BBQ at the Retirees Club meeting on June 21.

Club officers also arranged several outstanding summer events including: a trip to Grand River Raceway & Casino on July 12 (includes bus and buffet); and in August, a visit to the Butterfly Conservatory & Bird Kingdom, Niagara (includes lunch and a visit to the Chocolate Factory). For Sept. 25, there will be a boat trip on the Lynn River, a lunch at the Erie Beach Hotel, a visit to the Cider Keg Farm Market, and a stop at Hewitt's Dairy for ice cream!

We have bowling on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., and Euchre on Mondays at 1 p.m. It's so much fun!

So, why not join and enjoy these outstanding events! Those age 55 and over are eligible, and membership fees are only $25 a year per person. Spouses/partners are welcome! Don't wait — participate!

These events and much more are made possible by our Local 105 members and Executive Board. Our genuine thanks to all!

Eden McLean, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 134, CHICAGO, IL — Welcome, summer! The freezing temperatures in Chicago last winter, with wind chills of 50-degrees below zero, caused many problems for us all. With power outages, horrible road conditions, and our first responders like our firefighters having to work in these conditions, we salute you all.

Here in Chicago we did enjoy a chilly but sunny day for our March 13 luncheon meeting, which had a St. Patrick's Day theme. About 75 to 80 members enjoyed an excellent lunch of corned beef and cabbage. This was also our first luncheon meeting held in the beautiful Memorial Hall at Local 134's new building. At this meeting, we also held our Retirees Club's odd-year election for our Executive Board members. James Martin, Donald Mahoney and Richard Connolly were re-elected and sworn in by Local 134 Bus. Mgr. Don Finn.

The IBEW Local 134 Helping Hand Fund was created to assist brother and sister members in need of assistance. Through all the generous donations we previously received, we have been able to help over 400 brother and sister members by providing various forms of assistance. Our fundraising party in April 2019 once again proved that we are a true brotherhood.

Have a fun and safe summer.

Sue Kleczka, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 160, MINNEAPOLIS, MN — IBEW Local 160 and the Retirees Club made a $1,000 donation to the Firefighters for Healing organization, presented to FF4H founder Jake Laferriere.

Firefighters for Healing helps to support the Firefighter community, burn-injured children, their families and anyone going through recovery from a fire. The organization helps with replacing essentials when all has been lost in a fire. They contribute financial assistance for corrective surgeries and donate to local burn units.

Fran Stade, V.P./Treas.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 212, CINCINNATI, OHIO — Last year, the U.S. Congress conceived a plan to bail out financially weak multiemployer pension plans. Congress thought subsidizing those plans by taking money from healthy plans (like our NEBF plan) was a good idea.

In November, approximately 250 IBEW leaders visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to inform our legislators that this plan was a really bad idea. The mobilization action was successful in stopping the attack for now. Medicare and Social Security benefits could be next. Don't wait for this to happen. Contact your elected representatives and senators and let them know you disagree with this type of band-aid legislation. At our March meeting, that is what our Local 212 retired members did. We mailed postcards to our congressmen and told them: "Keep your hands off my pension — I am watching you and I vote." We must always remain vigilant. [Editor's Note: To read more, see December 2018 news article "IBEW Leaders Mobilize on Capitol Hill to Kill Pension Attack, For Now," posted on the IBEW website at www.ibew.org/media-center/articles.]

It is with great sadness that I report the recent passing of several IBEW Local 212 members: Stephan Book, who was a 62-year member; Charles Phiester (58-year member); Robert Channel (48-year member); Daniel Patterson (45-year member); and Charles Buckler (24-year member). May God grant them eternal rest.

The Retirees Club Picnic will be at Fernback Park on July 3. The Local 212 Family Summer Picnic will be held in early August at Stricker's Grove in Ross, Ohio.

Bob Schaefer, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 257, JEFFERSON CITY, MO — The Retirees Club met on Tuesday, March 26, at Reinhardt Circle in Jefferson City for our monthly luncheon. We had a great turnout. Apprenticeship Training Dir. Rick Stokes discussed plans for the April 2019 Skills USA Competition at Linn State Technical College. Again this year, our retirees volunteered to help judge the event.

Our retirees wrote postcards to U.S. senators and representatives urging them not to harm healthy multiemployer pension funds in order to fix struggling or failing plans. We rely on our monthly pensions. If they tax our pensions, raise premiums and/or force burdensome requirements on our plan, our families will suffer. We hope through these postcards our elected representatives will get the message. I urge anyone who has not already sent a message or talked to your elected representatives regarding this issue to please do so. [Editor's Note: To read more, see December 2018 news article "IBEW Leaders Mobilize on Capitol Hill to Kill Pension Attack, For Now," posted on the IBEW website at www.ibew.org/media-center/articles.]

We are saddened by the passing of Bro. Bernard Schulte, who was a Local 257 journeyman electrician for 30-plus years. Our prayers are with his family.

Also, tragically, Local 257 member Mark Hooibrink and his wife, Laura, lost their home to fire in Claysville, MO. Our prayers are with them, and we wish them a speedy recovery from their loss.

For our April 30 meeting, we enjoyed a wonderful trip to Warm Springs Ranch, in Boonville, MO, home to the famous Budweiser Clydesdales.

Delores Melloway, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 531, LAPORT, IN — We honored several new retirees at a recent monthly meeting. I must be getting older or these guys are retiring early because they don't seem that old to me. Congratulations to: Ray Walters, Mike Sobecki, James Zickmund, Jeff Boo, Ned Pease, Dean Harmon and Paul Steinheiser. I had the pleasure to work with some of these guys, and I wish all a happy retirement.

Special thanks to Paul Steinheiser for his longtime service as an apprenticeship instructor. Bro. Steinheiser, you have made a difference in the future of our local and the lives of many journeymen. I know you made a difference to me. Thank you.

Jeremy Woolever, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 702, WEST FRANKFORT, IL — The Annual Retiree Luncheon was April 2 at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, in Mount Vernon, IL, with 110 retirees and guests in attendance.

Following a welcome by Asst. Bus. Mgr. Jamie Hatfield and blessing by retired member Terry Wright, attendees enjoyed a fantastic meal.

Bus. Mgr. Seve Hughart addressed attendees, introduced current and retired staff and Executive Board members, and thanked Cindi's Catering for the great food.

Door prizes were won by Keith Felty (702 neon sign) and Duane White (Cardinals tickets), while Frank Baker, Leon Langan, Sue Maculevics, David Pasley, John Prusaczyk and Donnie Girten won gift certificates. Mark Nix and Chuck Prusaczyk each won a knife donated by Jr. Marlow.

Retirees Club Pres. Gary King read the financial statement, reported deaths for March and April, extended the club's appreciation to Bus. Mgr. Hughart, then mentioned the club's goal of establishing a scholarship.

The next Retirees Club meeting will be June 6 at Golden Corral in Carbondale, IL. For next year, the annual luncheon is tentatively planned for April 7. Pres. King closed the meeting with a thank-you to all retirees and their families for their dedication and loyalty to IBEW Local 702.

Mark Baker, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 756, DAYTONA BEACH, FL — Hope everyone is doing well! We wish you a safe, happy and healthy summer break. We look forward to seeing club members again in September.

Congratulations to our chili cookoff winners, Greg Stone and Bonnie Pettingil, and thank you to our judges. We would like to ask club members that if you can … please try to bring a side dish or dessert when you come; it makes our meal so much more enjoyable. You can get a list of our monthly meals at the meeting. Congratulations to Mike Miller for receiving his 45-year pin at the January meeting.

Sadly, since our last article, three of our members passed away. We send our condolences to families and friends of: Werner Gruber, Edward E. Kilby and Richard F. Paczkowski.

We invite any retired and unemployed brothers and sisters and their spouses who are in the area to come and join us. Our meetings are the second Thursday of each month (September through May), 11:30 a.m., at the Local 756 union hall, Port Orange, FL.

Diane Gibbs, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 995, BATON ROUGE, LA — At our meeting on the first Monday in April, we voted to have a combined luncheon with our spouses on the first Monday in June, at 11:30 a.m. We hope all the club members will try to attend. Attendees are requested to bring a covered dish. It could be a vegetable, a salad or a dessert. The meat and drinks will be furnished.

In March we all met at Drusilla restaurant for a luncheon and enjoyed the get-together.

It is with regret that I report the loss of a former member whom I worked with on many occasions, the Rev. Rudolph "Rudy" Hughes. We traveled together on several trips. He could take a piece of copper wire and shape it into a miniature tricycle. He will long be remembered.

W. Roland Goetzman Sr., P.S.