L.U. 1 (as,c,ees,ei,em,es,et,fm,I,mt,ptc,rts,s,se,spa,st&ws), ST. LOUIS, MO — We hope the holidays were a time of family and fellowship. The local Electrical Worker Minority Caucus spent a Saturday in November picking up trash in Ferguson, Mo. The EWMC returned in December to shop with a cop, gathering toys and items for citizens of that community.

Recent highlights of the pin ceremony were presentations of two 80-year pins to brothers Robert Dehn and Francis Zulauf. We look to our past to help plot the future. Get involved in the upcoming Alderman and school-board races. This is where future labor allies get started. We need you now more than ever.

Kyle Hunter, P.S

L.U. 25 (c,catv,es,i,ptc&rts), LONG ISLAND, NY — The new UBS Arena located in Elmont next to Belmont Park, the final leg of the Triple Crown, is the home of the National Hockey League New York Islanders. Construction began in early 2019. It has been a huge undertaking and a lot of manhours for a $1.2-billion construction project. Construction was completed in November 2021 with the soft grand opening on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, and the first New York Islander game at the arena on Saturday, Nov. 20. The new UBS Arena is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility.

Local 25 had over 400 local and traveling members working on this project. IBEW electricians worked six to seven days a week around the clock for two years in order to complete the arena. Construction was finished on schedule, even with all the restrictions with the pandemic.

One advantage of the IBEW is its unlimited supply of manpower. Without the help from all of the IBEW travelers, this job could not have been completed on schedule. Thank you to all of the men and women travelers that came to help.

Tom Lawless, P.S./B.R.

L.U. 43 (em,i&rs), SYRACUSE, NY — The brothers and sisters of the IBEW built the new $1 billion, 200mm silicon-carbide wafer manufacturing fabrication facility at the Marcy Nanocenter, which is the largest facility of its kind in the world. Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your world-class work and craftsmanship!

Jeff Cassano, P.S.

L.U. 51 (catv,lctt,o,ptc,rtb,t,u&uow), SPRINGFIELD, IL — In July 2021, with help from the IBEW Education Department, we hosted new steward training for 28 members. Your steward is the first person you should talk with if you have a question about your union contract or an issue at work. Stewards are one of many rank-and-file leaders that make our union strong. It is encouraging to see so many IBEW members wanting to be a representative of Local 51 to our members.

Work remains strong within our jurisdiction. We have five wind and two solar farms currently under construction. We hired 48 temporary union workers for Clinton Power Station's October refueling outage. We have recently started 10 line and three substation apprentices. Additionally, we have organized two directional boring companies, EI Utilities and S & S. Underground work has been picking up due to aging cable. Line-clearance tree trimming continues to remain at full employment.

On Sept. 15, 2021, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the long-awaited energy bill (P.A. 102-662) into law. Local 51 and other affected locals, in conjunction with the IBEW State Conference, worked this legislation tirelessly for the last several years. These collective efforts produced a bill that addressed the majority of the IBEW's concerns: saving the nuclear fleet, establishing nation-leading labor standards, allowing for renewable investments at existing plant sites, a new performance-based ratemaking process that allows for continued investment in infrastructure, inclusion and diversity provisions, worker protection and just transition language, to name a few. Thank you to everyone who played a part in getting this legislation across the finish line.

Our condolences to the families of those members and retirees who passed away in 2021: David C. Armstrong, John J. Biagioni, Leslie Bright, James E. Chandler, Robert W. Christa, Paul Doerr, Benedict "Ben" Dwyer, Thomas W. Ellner, Danny R. Espinoza, William "Bill" Fisher, John "Jack" Gooding, Janet K. Harrold, Ophelia Hill, Janet E. Hoff, Bernard "Bernie" Hoffman, Dale Johnson, Charles "Charlie" Jones, James "Jim" Kamin Jr., Glenn Korando, Harold Lange, Ronald D. Leathers, David Lohr, Robert "Bob" Lourash, Brian MacPhee, Russell E. Martin, Lewellyn Marquardt, James "Jim" McMullin, Keith "Kip" Miller, Orval Paris, William Pleasant, Donald D. Robinson, Eugene "Gene" Sanders, James W. Scott Sr., Clarence "Ed" Seth, Timothy J. Sexton, Terry Teegarden, Milo "Mike" Thomas, Joseph "Mark" Tomlovich, Clifford Turner and Lupe G. Vasquez. Rest in peace, brothers and sisters.

Be safe and Happy New Year!

Karlene Knisley, B.R.

L.U. 55 (c,lctt,o&u), DES MOINES, IA — Hello, brothers and sisters: Disaster hit in the form of a derecho and 43 tornadoes on Dec. 15, the first recorded derecho ever to happen in December anywhere in the U.S. Some places recorded winds over 105 mph. We ended up with many line personnel working a lot of overtime to get transmission lines up and running and then working to get the power restored to a lot of small communities. That really threw a monkey wrench into the plans of our 2021 Christmas party. It was held at the Shriners building in Altoona. For those who did not make it, we had a really good time! Thanks to the staff for putting it together. Our local continues to be blessed with a lot of work. If you're looking for a job, give us a call!

Local 55 is celebrating 125 years this year! Let's continue to work safely! Never put your fingers where you can't see them!

Myron Green, P.S.

L.U. 89 (catv,em,lctt,o,ptc&t), SEATTLE, WA — As business manager, I was honored to present 60-year pins to two retirees: Brothers William (Bill) Davis and Robert (Bob) Brownrigg both reach 60-year milestones this year. Brother Davis, as many will remember, was the former business manager of Local 89 and later became the director of the Telecommunications Department at the International Office. Brother Brownrigg was a business representative for Local 89 during his tenure.

Bill gave me my start at the local by appointing me to a national committee years ago. It is my privilege to recognize his contributions and commitment to our local while celebrating this milestone in his life. These two members collectively represent 120 years of membership and service. Congratulations, gentlemen!

Matt Carroll, B.M.

L.U. 97 (ptc&u), SYRACUSE, NY — For the past 12 years, our local's members from National Grid's Albany Overhead Line and Underground Electric Departments have given back to the community by performing a day of service at the Ronald McDonald House of Albany. In prior years they hung Christmas decorations, cleaned and dusted indoors and trimmed hedges, raked flower beds and hung wreaths and lights to decorate the outside of the buildings. Due to the coronavirus, this year they were restricted to working only on the outside of the buildings. They are shown here in late November using bucket trucks to raise a Christmas tree to the second-story porch of one of the buildings. Once the work was done, our members took up a collection to help with the expenses. Over $5,000 was raised, which was then matched by National Grid and donated. Well done, everyone!

Dan Machold, B.R./P.S.

L.U. 125 (lctt,o,t&u), PORTLAND, OR — While we cannot control what happens with the pandemic or politics, we can maintain focus on what matters in the IBEW — safety, organizing, education, professionalism and taking care of our brothers and sisters.

Members throughout Local 125 know Brother Cliff "Zeek" McCarthy. He has served on our Executive Board for eight years, yet many know him through his involvement in the Pacific Northwest Lineman Rodeo, where has served for years as the chief judge. Zeek has worked at Clark Public Utilities since 1996, where he became a foreman in 2005 and served on the 125 Club Board.

Zeek is known for mentoring new members and always making safety his priority. He has an unwavering commitment to his trade and simply won't take on a project unless he can give it his all. "Zeek's hard work and devotion has created a culture of safety," said Business Rep. Travis Hefely.

As Zeek prepares for his upcoming retirement, we want to thank him for his tireless service to our great union. We wish him a long healthy retirement and promise to remember words he lived by: Rules and tools prevent accidents. Thank you, Zeek!

Marcy Grail, A.B.M.

LU 129 (i), LORAIN, OH — Summer and fall of 2021 thankfully provided a much-needed relief for our members and their families. Despite the ongoing health precautions, we were able to participate in league softball, have our annual golf outing, host a new event called The 129 Fun Ride (motorcycles and one scooter) and, most importantly, attend in-person monthly meetings.

A special thanks to Brothers Nick Yannucci (softball organizer) and Business Manager John Novak (golf-outing coordinator), who stepped up for these activities; and YES, please attend union meetings.

Work remains steady from now into next year. Many members are working at the Geothermal project at Oberlin College and the Blue Can project in Huron. We are cautiously optimistic that a few large projects are on the horizon.

The favorable work conditions have allowed us to develop a better understanding with elected officials and businesses who gladly take our hard-earned dollars, but don't always reciprocate with opportunities that benefit our members. Recently, we have met with both political parties to continue the push for equitable wages, benefits and bidding opportunities. A plan to provide member-spending awareness to private and non-profit organizations is also being put in place.

Moving forward, we are not waiting on corporate growth speculation but will be proactive in developing new, and strengthening existing, relationships.

Thank you to the Fourth District leaders who are providing us with the necessary "tools" for success and to our members who embrace the future of the IBEW.

Paul Kress, P.S.

L.U. 141 (ees,i,o&u), WHEELING, WV — Greetings, brothers and sisters: Work in our jurisdiction remains slow, with 95 members on Book 1.

Local 141's Social Committee was quite busy during the holiday season. The local participated in several community Christmas parades, complete with our own float. We resumed our holiday festivities in 2021 with a member Christmas party, where service pins were awarded. Brothers Larry Neidert, Ken Davis and Mickey Cupp were in attendance to receive their 50-year service pins, and Brother George Miller received his pin for 75 years of service. The Local 141 Social Committee also hosted a kids' breakfast with Santa and holiday dinner/dance for the members and their families. Both events were well-attended and enjoyed by all.

Local 141 is mourning the passing of Brother Dave Myers Sr. He will be sadly missed.

Please stay safe and healthy.

Kurt "Bug" Reed, P.S.

L.U. 159 (i), MADISON, WI — We held a pin ceremony and hosted a retirees' holiday luncheon, where many acquaintances were renewed and many stories were told. Special shout-out to these retirees on their milestones: Jane Liess, 40 years; Gerald Miller, 60 years; and Kenneth Frederick and Allen Mulderink, 65 years. Congratulations, everyone!

Efforts continue to reinstate our apprentice rotation to ensure they are exposed to diverse work experience. Many Local 159 members have attended JATC meetings in support of rotation and cited negative effects they are seeing without it. The Code of Excellence is now part of second-year apprentices' night-school curriculum, taught by the business manager and agents.

We continue to advocate for overdue raises for members who are state employees. Raises were approved on paper, but legislative action is still needed. Republication Wisconsin State Senator Chris Kapenga likened the raises to "something out of communist Russia," asking how everyone could be paid the same wages, the hypocrisy being that all our state senators are also paid the same for doing the same "job."

A shout-out to all our instructors: They always go above and beyond. We cannot thank them enough for all they do for the betterment of Local 159!

Sue Blue, B.M.

L.U. 245 (govt,lctt,o,rtb&u), TOLEDO, OH — As we navigate into our 120th year, we'd like to recognize a very intricate part of our local. Stop and take a minute to think about all the hard work that goes into running a local union; many of us forget to recognize who does all of the behind-the-scenes business and planning.

Local 245 would like to thank and recognize our administrative assistants Lisa Tracy and Amanda Parker for their hard work throughout the year. In addition to their administrative commitment, Lisa and Amanda organize our local union membership functions like the well-attended Family Toledo Walleye Night and the Toledo Mud Hens baseball games. The time and effort put into these events for our membership is very much appreciated and deserves recognition. During the holiday season, both Lisa and Amanda continued to give back to our membership by putting time and effort into our December (holiday) membership meeting, from decorating to making a delicious meal for our membership. We are truly thankful and blessed to have Lisa and Amanda on our team. All of us at Local 245 are proud of their creativity, professionalism and willingness to go that extra mile, and the local would not be what it is today without them.

As of this writing, negotiations with Energy Harbor at the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant had spanned over a year; these negotiations have concluded and the membership employed at the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station will have an opportunity on Jan. 6 to vote on the tentative agreement reached by the parties. Walleye Power Bay Shore Plant negotiations are still ongoing, and Local 245 will continue to negotiate for our membership and their families for as long as it takes to reach an agreement that we can recommend. We have dates scheduled for upcoming bargaining sessions to begin with the city of Rossford Fire & Rescue Department, Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative and Nelson Tree Service.

Most importantly, please continue to follow all safety rules and safe-work practices. Stay healthy and be safe. Thank you to all of our members for working countless hours SAFELY.

Brian Gendaszek, P.S.

L.U. 269 (i&o), TRENTON, NJ — The holidays always bring tradition with them and our local union hall was glad to welcome back an old friend after a year's absence from his traditional indoor visit. Yes, Santa was back, perched on his ornate throne inside the union hall along with his diligent helper (Terri), listening attentively to the Christmas wishes of the children and grandchildren of our membership. The union hall was once again filled with the joy of the holiday season as hot chocolate, candy canes and beaming, smiling faces were in abundance. After telling Santa their hopes for the holidays, each child was directed straightaway to a sprawling gift table where they selected a special gift from the local to take as a token of remembrance from their special evening with Old Saint Nick! Santa even managed to convince a few of his most capable helpers to brave the chilly night air and bring holiday cheer to our member's streets and avenues, announcing their arrival with strobe lights and air horns! These special helpers and all the other good souls who made celebration come to life all deserve our thanks. Without them, Christmas at the hall simply wouldn't be.

Brian Jacoppo, P.S.

L.U. 313 (i&spa), WILMINGTON, DE — The real strength of our local was on full display at the retirees meeting this past December. We're talking about our members being back together socializing, energized and engaged. The retirees miss the camaraderie from when they used to work together, so being able to capture a little of that is always a nice fix.

A solid showing from longtime members reflects the actions of an organization that is still thriving. It also has the making for a lot of laughs and some tall tales. When the fresh faces show up each Christmas, it always leads to new versions of old stories to be recalled and embellished. Next time, you decide: What's funnier, the story or the guy telling it?

Collectively the old hands have seen it all; and with the GM and Chrysler jobs closed down and shipped south, we miss the big job shutdowns that used to bring gangs of us to work together. Newer members have lost that chance to learn from having so many seasoned mechanics all under one roof. Tricks of the trade are important, but to hear the local's history could be even more so.

A quality product has long been the calling card of Local 313's best. Maintaining high standards and becoming the new role models is our path forward.

Thank you to all who stay involved. This keeps us strong.

Be well!

Bruce W. Esper, P.S.

L.U. 343 (i,spa&st), LE SUEUR, MN — We honor those members who passed away in 2021: Alton Anderson, John Brown, LeRoy Fickert, James Howard, Michael Lazor, Lemoine Nadeau, Kevin Petersen, Donald Scovill, Charles Ulrich and Robin Zernechel.

We recognize one individual for saving a life: First-year apprentice Walker Schreiber saved his cousin's life during a deer hunt. His cousin experienced a seizure and collapsed while crossing a stream. Once back on the shore, it was determined that Walker's cousin was not breathing. Walker used his recently learned CPR training from the JATC, and after clearing the water from his cousin's lungs, he began breaths and compressions. Soon, his cousin was breathing again. Thank you, Walker.

We appreciate the lessons history can teach us. Minnesota-born author, Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951), published a novel, "Arrowsmith," in 1929. It was about a doctor battling a pandemic on a Caribbean island. In 1935, he wrote, "It Can't Happen Here," the story of a fear-mongering dictator who was elected president of the United States and trampled on democratic norms while boasting patriotism and a return to traditional values. These stories were fiction. The reality is that we need to support the IBEW's mission: To secure a better life. As Minn. Gov. Floyd Olsen (1931-1936) said, "The rights labor has won, labor must fight to protect."

Tom Small, P.S.

L.U. 347 (em,i,mt,rtb,rts&spa), DES MOINES, IA — January 2022 marked the historical record of our local, with the first general membership meeting in the new hall. This new hall, proposed more than a decade ago, has finally come to fruition. The new building at 6809 SE Bellagio Court, Ankeny, Iowa, is the product of the efforts of the building committee: Aaron Haug, Terry Pohlman and Scott Gardner, with the blessing of the membership. This facility provides our membership with a structure to be proud of and should serve the brothers and sisters of Local 347 for many years to come. It can be seen from I-35, but if you're in the area, stop in and look around.

A combined 2021 and 2022 Pin Party & Recognition Ceremony will be held on Mar. 12. The event will be in the Bishop Ballroom at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.

Local 347, along with Locals 55 and 499, will host the Eleventh District Progress Meeting, tentatively scheduled for June 20-23 at Embassy Suites in Des Moines. Opportunities for local volunteers will be available.

The option of allowing retirees to return to work for a maximum of 600 hours is to be extended into 2022. Please contact the hall if interested.

The work outlook for Local 347 continues to be positive.

"The labor movement means just this: It is the last noble protest of the American people against the power of incorporated wealth." – Wendell Phillips, 1871

Mike Schweiger, P.S.

L.U. 455 (em&u), SPRINGFIELD, MA — Our local held a surprise retirement gathering for Brother Brian Kenney, who was the business manager/financial secretary. Brian was a 38-year member of the IBEW upon his retirement. The names of the people in the photo (from left to right) are Brian Robinson, Jonathan Kaczmarek, John Beaudoin, Brian Kenney, Daniel Hamel, Robert Blanchette, William Freeman and Todd Neumann. Congratulations to Brother Kenney on his retirement!

John J. Beaudoin, B.M.

L.U. 481 (ees,em,i,mt,rts,s&spa), INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Our local's members finished out 2021 in a good way, giving back to the community and helping those in need. Our members and contractors donated nearly 15,000 lbs. of canned goods as well as over $1,500 in monetary donations to a local food bank. The food and money donated will help those who are struggling during these trying times. Thank you to the members who donated.

To close out the year, members were called upon to take down the stringers on Monument Circle. Indianapolis is the host city for the College Football Playoff National Championship, and we were asked to take the stringers down two weeks early on Dec. 31. While this is a recognized holiday, we had nearly 100 members show up to help up accomplish this task in record time. Thank you all who helped and gave up some of your holiday.

Wishing all of you a happy and healthy 2022!

Blake A. Andrews, B.R./Treas.

L.U. 611 (catv,es,govt,i,lctt,o,spa,t&u), ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Our Children's Christmas Party was held on Dec. 4 at the Sid Cutter Pilots' Pavilion. It was a bigger venue than we have used in the past, and it was a much-needed change as we had outgrown our previous site. The committee once again outdid themselves, with lots of food, plenty of games for the kids and adults and a visit from Santa Claus. Thank you to all that put this successful event together.

In one of their final actions before leaving office, two of Albuquerque's councilors sponsored legislation requiring PLAs on public works projects expected to cost at least $10 million and that employ workers from three different crafts. A general contractor who successfully wins applicable city projects must use a PLA that governs all construction work. Over the past three fiscal years, the city has had six projects that would have met those requirements. PLAs do not prevent nonunion companies from winning bids if they enter into the requisite PLAs.

Intel in Rio Rancho has begun to ramp up; B&D Industries has been putting in calls to help man the $3 billion-dollar project, and they might start paying an incentive in the near future.

On behalf of the local, I would like to send condolences to the family and friends our members who recently passed away: Bahe Begay, Charlie E. Brush, Philbert Grey and Michael R. Martinez.

Don't forget to attend your local meetings and to get out and vote at election time.

Darrell J. Blair, P.S.

L.U. 683 (i&ptc), COLUMBUS, OH — Our local joined the Central Ohio Labor Council at the St. Stephen's Community House for the 67th annual Christmas Cares/Union Shares event Dec. 18-19. This event helps feed approximately 3,000 families in need around central Ohio for the holidays. This is always a great opportunity for our apprentices to put in community service hours and for our members to volunteer as well. We would like to thank all of the members who participated in this great event!

Our jurisdiction will be in need of hundreds of inside wireman in 2022. At the time of this writing, we have open calls that are filling at a slow pace. With the OSU Medical Center Tower continuing and multiple data centers coming out of the ground, we could have hundreds of open calls at the time of this article printing. There also is a utility-scale solar project in our jurisdiction with a signatory contractor that will need manpower in late spring/early summer. I would like to encourage our traveling sisters and brothers to continue taking advantage of the opportunities in the local.

Mike Morey, Pres.

L.U. 697 (c,es,i,mt&se), GARY AND HAMMOND, IN — During the holiday season, there was a welcome feeling all around the local. Our very own Santa came to visit us here at Local 697 and provided that joyous holiday atmosphere for the families. A special thanks to Santa and his team of Christmas helpers!

It's time to welcome a new year, and 2022 has started off with repeated uncertainties. But one thing that has been evident here in northwest Indiana is that we are back to work and want to continue in that optimistic direction. We have various projects all around the jurisdiction. Along the lakefront, U.S. Steel, Cliffs and BP refinery are at a steady pace with continued maintenance and smaller upgrade projects currently underway, with a strong schedule for 2022. There are several school corporations in the jurisdiction, and health- care systems with new facilities under construction as well. I look forward to growing our membership with all the optimism of the work ahead. Mark your calendar for the spring blood drive on Mar. 25.

Joree Richards, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 1245 (o,u,t,em,catv,lctt,govt&pet), VACAVILLE, CA — While most families hunkered down amidst one of the biggest snowfall months in history, thousands of our local members have been working tirelessly alongside other first responders on the massive storm response operation. Many have sacrificed time with their own families over the holidays to assist those in storm-ravaged communities. "In this season of giving, I am continuously inspired by our selfless members who truly exemplify our union's core values," remarked Business Manager Bob Dean.

In a landslide election victory, workers at the California Independent System Operator have voted 46-11 to join Local 1245. Based in control rooms located in Folsom and Lincoln, these workers are the nerve center of the power grid, serving 80% of California and portions of Nevada, which comprises one-third of the Western Interconnection. CAISO facilitates over 28,000 market transactions every day to ensure enough power is on hand to meet demand.

As the utility landscape continues to change, Local 1245 is committed to providing members with the skills they need, particularly as automation becomes more pervasive. Unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, are a prime example. In recent years, utilities have increased their use of drones to carry out certain work that has traditionally been done by IBEW members. Three years ago, Local 1245 launched a pilot program to train a small group of linemen to perform this drone work, rather than let the work be outsourced to nonunion operators. In the fall of 2021, we initiated another round of drone training at our new Woodland JATC training facility.

In Outside Construction, the work outlook continues to be strong in both Northern California and Nevada.

Read more at ibew1245.com.

Rebecca Band, Communications Dir.

L.U. 1347 (ees,em,ptc&u), CINCINNATI, OH — For the fifth year in a row, our local had the opportunity to donate over 100 teddy bears to the beloved and well-deserving children at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Dec. 2021. We hope these small gifts can really make a difference for those that are staying at the hospital during the holiday season. If our membership has the ability to spread a little cheer, we are going to do so! With that being said, we wish to also extend a thank you to all of those working hard within the medical field. Here's hoping for good health and wellbeing going forward.

Andrew Kirk, B.M.

L.U. 1547 (c,em,i,lctt,o,ptc,t&u), ANCHORAGE, AK — Business Manager Marcie Obremski and Assistant Business Manager Doug Tansy presented 56-year IBEW member Knute Anderson a plaque in recognition of his years of service to our local at the U102 Fairbanks general meeting. Brother Anderson served 39 years on the Executive Board, 28 years as president of the Executive Board, 27 years on Alaska Electrical Health & Welfare Trust, 23 years on Alaska Electrical Pension Trust, two years as vice president of the Executive Board, six years as Executive Board treasurer and three years as Executive Board recording secretary, U101 Wireman representative and U101 recording secretary. Thank you, Brother Knute, for all of your work on behalf of Local 1547. This is what leadership looks like!

Melinda Taylor, Communications Dir.

L.U. 1837 (rtb&u), MANCHESTER, ME — Members of our local at Sinclair Broadcasting WGME-TV 13 in Portland, Maine, have approved a new three-year contract agreement with substantial raises in 2022 for all members in all job classifications, ranging from 5.2% all the way up to 49.9%. Most members will see a wage increase of at least 7% in 2022, followed by an additional 5% over the next two years.

During negotiations, when the company's initial wage offer fell far short of what the union negotiating team was seeking, members voted overwhelmingly to reject Sinclair's offer and authorize a strike. Eventually, the company found more money and improved their wage offer, finally showing the appreciation for the value of their employees that they had expressed across the bargaining table. "I am proud of our membership," said Chief Steward Jack Amrock. "They had the courage to say, 'No, this is not good enough!' While we didn't get everything we were looking for, we have laid the foundation for the future."

Members at Gray Television WABI-TV 5 in Bangor also ratified a new contract. They will receive wage increases of at least 5% total over the next 18 months.

Matthew Beck, B.R.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, WESTCHESTER/PUTNAM CHAPTER — After many telephone calls made by our Chairman David Torres, we were able to gather enough members to put together another Christmas/Hanukkah Luncheon at the Leewood Golf Club. The ongoing pandemic, causing the cancellation of our regular meetings, made it very difficult to bring our members together. Unfortunately, we only had 52 attendees, but the good side of that number was the ease of maintaining proper social distancing.

Brother Ted Jadus — who always does this, but rarely gets the recognition — brought our American flag and chapter banner and set them up in the dining room.

Again, we had our accordionist, Brother Steve DiDonato, entertaining us with Christmas music to the delight of the crowd. Our 50/50 raffle to benefit the Fisher House Foundation was won by Leonora Hightower, who promptly donated her winnings to the FHF.

This year, only four members were awarded "Gold Member" status, having reached the age of 80. Of these members, Bill Brkich and Dick Mills were in attendance. Dominic Malandro was unable to attend due to illness, and Michael Helwig was awarded posthumously. Business Agent Richard McSpedon presented the awards.

Dick Mills, Treas.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, SOUTH JERSEY CHAPTER — From Dec. 1-24, 2021, our Vice President Lou Cohen and volunteers from the South Jersey Local 3 Retirees helped the U.S. Marines in the annual Toys for Tots, located in Hazlet, N.J. More than 125,000 toys were donated, sorted and sent out to various charities in N.J.

The club's holiday party was held on Dec. 15, 2021, at the IBEW Local 400 hall. We had a hot and cold buffet. Our raffle winners were Joe Cronin Hector Jordan and John Ninivaggi. A great time was had by all.

Stay safe!!

Anthony Savarese, Pres.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 26, WASHINGTON, DC — This past year has been another challenge, but with the help of Zoom, we have been staying touch with our retired members. It has gone so well that although we are now able to meet in-person, we have kept the Zoom option. This has allowed retired members in other areas of the country to stay connected like never before!

Thanks to the technology that Local 26 added before the pandemic, we were able to easily share our in-person meetings with distant members: A small unseen benefit to the cloud that still hangs over us all! We held our annual raffle and drew the winners at the November meeting, still adding Zoom for anyone who wanted to watch.

In October, we were able to resume the annual Retired Members Crab Feast. Luckily, the weather was better than expected and the crab feast was held outside and catered. We had more than 60 people sharing stories over a delicious meal.

The need for medical equipment has not gone away during the pandemic. Now that doctors can perform more elective surgeries, the need for recovery equipment remains.

So, although we are still in a pandemic era, we must move forward. We are trying new ways to cope. By now, we hope you have all had your booster shots. The loss of life continues, but we are still hoping for a better time in 2022. In the meantime, stay safe, wear your face masks and keep the 6-foot rule for separation! Until we have a cure, it's the best way to lower your risk and the risk for everyone around you!

Susan Flashman, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 35, HARTFORD, CT — Our last meeting of 2021 was our Christmas luncheon held on Dec. 8, 2021. We had a great time, and we hope to see more retirees when we resume our meetings on Mar. 9, 2022. Most of us wore our new "Local 35 Retiree" hats that were given to us at the meeting.

Retired Second District International Representative Richard Panagrossi passed away recently. I knew Richard as the business manager of Local 90, then as an international rep. and then as he was appointed to the Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration and the Connecticut Board of Occupational Licensing.

I also knew Richard as a friend because of an unusual circumstance. In July 1999, I had open-heart surgery for a valve replacement. About three months later, the president of Local 35 asked me to reach out to Richard because he was going to have the same procedure and had questions. From that day, we became friends, calling each other from time to time during our gradual recuperation with our new mechanical valves. We would also see each other at IBEW events and retirement dinners, at times listening to our tickers. Later, in 2008, he was coincidentally at my niece's wedding via a mutual friend. I was surprised and happy to see him. He was a genuine person in all respects, and I will sincerely miss my friend.

We would also like to recognize our members who passed away during 2021: Michael Amenta, Charles Bradley Sr., William Broughton, Frank DelMastro, Tito DiBenedetto, Gerard Gosselin, Munere Haddad, Greg Marsh, Dennis Murphy, Richard O'Neil, Gershon Sosin and Benny Zarrilli. Our condolences go out to their families.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!

Kenneth R. White, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 134, CHICAGO, IL — As we enter into the new year of 2022, we still find ourselves fighting to stay healthy during the rising coronavirus cases and deaths all over the world. Please do all you can to stay healthy.

Our club tries to do its best to support and honor all our veterans. Our veterans give up so much to protect our freedoms. They leave their families to serve, they leave the safety of our boarders to serve and take the ultimate risk for service — loss of life. Our club donates to the Honor Flight Chicago for our senior veterans. We participate in the annual Memorial Day Ceremony by donating a wreath to place at the Mount Emblem Veterans Memorial for fallen soldiers. Business Manager Don Finn started the first annual Veterans Day Luncheon, held Nov. 11, 2021 to honor our local's veterans and their families. Many Retirees Club veterans were in attendance.

On Dec. 4th, 2021, Local 134 Business Representative Jim Valleyfield got together with the Retirees Club Vice President Keith Beris and took donations, buying socks, t-shirts and undergarments. This haul filled five trucks and was escorted by Keith Beris and the Local 134 Motorcycle Club to the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center for homeless veterans through the "Socks for Soldiers" program.

On Oct. 25, 2021, the Retirees Club appointed to its Executive Board myself, Sue Kleczka, as present commentary & press secretary and James Duffy, following the passing of two board members in Sept. 2021. I have the honor of being the first woman retiree in the club's history to sit on the board.

I regret to end with sad news: the passing of Richard Sipple on Jan. 3, 2022. Rich was a member of the IBEW for 59 years, retired on Jan. 1, 2008. He served as president of the Retirees Club from 2012 — 2014. Rich stayed very active in our club, and he was a very fun guy. He got the club tickets for the annual Honor Flight Chicago Hockey Classic games, as well as tickets for his hometown Schaumburg Boomers summer baseball games. He and his wife Diane played a big part in setting up our December holiday parties. Rich will be missed by all.

Sue Kleczka, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB of L.U. 353, TORONTO, ON, CANADA — Our budget for 2022 has been approved, and Local 353 South Unit (Toronto) has not been able to meet due to our size (usually 110-120 attending) and Ontario guidelines. But our North Unit (Barrie) has had two breakfast meetings with 27 attending in November and 37 in December. Thanks, John Hawkins.

On Jan. 5, 2022, Ontario returned to Step-2 lockdown, with schools closed as well as restaurants, bars and gyms. We continue to hope and plan for reopening by thinking outside the box. Normally, we participate in two Kidney Clothes drives each year (spring and fall), but with our hall closed and no meetings held, this has not happened for two years. Still, somehow, bags of used clothing gathered in our storage room, so thanks to Holly DeJong and Wayne Lawrence, who drove them to Kidney Clothes Depot with notes attached that they were from Local 353's retirees. The Kidney Foundation acknowledged this donation. This is an example of how to continue community service during these trying times.

In 2022, if we are able, our pin and award breakfast should acknowledge 108 50-year, 74 55-year, 16 60-year, 26 65-year and 6 70-year members for years of service.

Robert Rynyk, Pres.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 756, DAYTONA BEACH, FL — Hello everyone: We hope you are all doing well and staying healthy. As of now (Jan. 2022), it looks like we will not be starting retiree meetings until September. The office at the union hall has nothing to do with this, so please do not contact them for information.

A pin ceremony was held in December, and we want to congratulate and thank everyone for their years of service to the union.

We are sad to report that we have lost the following members since my last article: Carl R. Allman, William J. Driggers, Dymon B. Gardner, William B. Hirschi III, Clifford E. Kelley Sr., Bradley S. Michels, Scott L. Robertson, Thomas G. Rodgers and George E. Snowden. Our condolences go out to all their families and friends.

Diane Gibbs, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 1042, SANFORD, FL, CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER — We would like to announce that Rick Hamilton is retiring after 51 years of faithful service. Rick came to Florida Power & Light right out of high school as a helper and learned and grew within the company through the years. A certified journeyman who finished his career as a restoration specialist, Rick spent the past ten years working at the Sanford Service Center. Please wish Brother Hamilton all the joy and happiness that life has to offer in the next chapter of his life as he enjoys his golden years!

Ellen Stephenson, P.S.