L.U. 16 (i), EVANSVILLE, IN — Sept. 5 marked the 136th anniversary of the Tri-State Labor Day Association's yearly Labor Day celebration. Our local was well-represented with a good turnout of enthusiastic parade marchers. Brother Brian Partridge's daughter Breanna was honored as this year's "Labor Day Queen." After the parade, the southern Indiana IBEW locals got together to share a delicious meal. Special thanks to all who made this possible.

The hall's annual family picnic was held Oct. 2. This event could not have happened without the help of numerous volunteers preparing food, setting up the facility, obtaining door prizes, staging drinks and ice cream, handing out children's gifts, overseeing the half-pot and raffle tickets, calling bingo and cleaning up after the festivities. Thanks to everyone for continuing this great tradition!

The union has made substantial progress in expanding the residential market. In the past year, the number of working residential members has grown from 4 to 28. The group also recently negotiated a new agreement that made gains in wages and fringe benefits. For many of these folks, this was the largest raise they have ever received and demonstrated the strength of the Brotherhood.

Donald P. Beavin, P.S.

L.U. 24 (es,i&spa), BALTIMORE, MD — Season's greetings from Charm City! On Sept. 10, our RENEW chapter held its annual cornhole tournament at Key Brewery. Thirty-six teams competed this year. The winning team was made up of members Ray Gregory and Dennis Barnhart. T.J. Phillips and Steve Huff won the spirit award for having the best costumes. Our RENEW chapter has done a phenomenal job of growing this event. We are proud of our RENEW group's accomplishments and look forward to seeing what they do next.

Local 24 is excited to announce two additions to our staff: Chloe Starcher graduated at the top of her class in 2015 and is a member of our local JATC Committee; Derek Adolfo has served faithfully as a shop steward and is looking forward to his new position on staff. We are confident that Sister Starcher and Brother Adolfo will bring new perspectives and add their talents to our already impressive organizing team.

In closing, the members, officers and staff of Local 24 want to wish everyone a safe holiday season and a prosperous 2023!

Live Better. Work Union.

Michael J. McHale, B.M.

L.U. 26 (i,es,ees,govt,em&mt), WASHINGTON, DC — Happy Holidays! We wish everyone a healthy and prosperous 2023!

The four winners of this year's Local 26 scholarship award are:

Best wishes to the following new retirees: Marcus A. Avelleyra, Jeffrey R. Bransome, William A. Eaton, Gary M. Ebbes, Otis K. Foster Jr., Preston C. Fowler, Richard W. Fries Jr., Patrick Gayle, Charles E. Graham, Daniel W. Johnson Jr., Gregory A. Meterko, Alan L. Middleton, Frank J. Minott, Paul B. Nowak, Barry W. Rye, Brian M. Smith Sr. and Donald L. Walker.

The following members have passed away since our last article: Roger A. Barnes, Clayton T. Butler Jr., Meliza Holdren, William H. Hooten III, Neal L. Hovatter, Don P. Mackessy, Robert C. Martin II, Theodore J. Mobley, Sydney J. Mortiniera, Michael E. Moscati, Charles Noble Jr., David A. Rice, Steve W. Shaffer, Frederick L. Shipp and Robert L. Terrett Jr.

Joseph F. Dabbs, B.M.

L.U. 34 (em,i,mt,rts&spa), PEORIA, IL — Our local has much to be thankful for as we reflect on this past year. The year was complete with good steady work, low book numbers and many opportunities for the membership to break from work to enjoy leisure time with one another. Sisters and brothers came out in good numbers for our Galesburg and Peoria Labor Day parades; thank you for spending your hard-earned day off with us.

Quincy members held their annual picnic in September, and the Local 34 trap shoot was Sept. 17. The shoot was well organized, good fun and included raffles for those in attendance. Thanks to Local 34 Examining Board member, teacher and journeyman wireman electronics technician Zach Helms for organizing this event.

The JATC resumed classes in August and welcomed a new training director in September. Best wishes to departing Training Director Brandon Currie on his future endeavors, and welcome to 20-year member and journeyman wireman Matt Anderson as he takes on this position. Our current and future apprentices are in good hands.

To all our sisters and brothers: We hope this writing finds each one of you well, and that your new year is healthy and prosperous. Happy holidays from Local 34.

Steve Marold, Bus. Rep.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH — Once again members of Local 38 show their holiday spirit and willingness to give back to their community. Working with the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Local 38 members and their families volunteered to install over a half a million Christmas lights in Public Square for the annual Winterfest celebration. The time-honored tradition of Local 38 volunteering for the annual event was the inspiration of retired Business Manager Gil "Mr. Winterfest" Steele Jr.

Our work outlook remains good, with several massive projects working under project labor agreements started and continuing to increase in crew sizes. As we enter next year, make sure all certificates, licenses, badging and the like are renewed. Enjoy the holidays and stay safe, sisters and brothers.

Dan Gallagher, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 46 (as,c,cs,em,es,et,i,mar,mo,rtb,rts&st), SEATTLE, WA — Hello IBEW family: As we enter our seemingly never-ending gray season here in the Pacific Northwest, we fondly think back to summer fun. This year we were fortunate to be able to honor past President Steve Anderson at our Peninsula Picnic in Silverdale, Wash.

Steve Anderson served as Local 46 president for two terms. Brother Anderson was president from July 1987 to July 1990. He was elected again in 1993 and served from July 1993 to July 1996. Business Manager and past President Sean Bagsby presented former President Anderson with an engraved gold 40th IBEW International Convention watch as a symbol of his hard work and dedication to Local 46.

In attendance were current President Warren Shill and former President Archie Van Valkenburg (president from July 2005 to July 2011). Local 46 would like to thank former President Steve Anderson for everything he did for our local.

We rounded out our picnic season in Bellevue, Wash., dunking Business Manager Sean Bagsby to raise funds for our Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, Women's Committee and Veterans Committee. Local members and their families lined up for their chance to dunk Brother Bagsby, raising $680 for our committees.

Megan Kirby, P.S.

L.U. 50 (u), RICHMOND, VA — Our local's leadership completed its third steward training session for 2022. We have successfully trained an additional 35 new shop stewards so far this year for a grand total of 150 supporting 80 locations across four collective bargaining agreements, representing 3,000 employees among four employers: Dominion Energy, Southern Company (VNG), Monongahela Power and Craig-Botetourt.

Stewards are an integral part of representing the members' day-to-day representational interests. These stewards have vast backgrounds and many classifications: nuclear control room operators, linemen, power plant mechanics, substation electricians and many more.

Local 50 leadership would also like to congratulate two recent retirees from their staff: Business Representative Glenn Dawson retired after 45 years, and Assistant Business Representative Bob Jones retired after 35 years. We wish them well in their next chapter of life.

John Albert, Treas./A.B.M.

L.U. 68 (i), DENVER, CO — Our local held its annual picnic Aug. 20. There were approximately 500 adults and 100 kids in attendance. Food, drink and the fellowship of brotherhood were enjoyed by all. Congratulations to Brother Dan Acosta, the winner of this year's horseshoes tournament.

Local 68 RENEW participated in the Eighth District RENEW softball tournament held this year in Casper, Wyo. While they didn't win, a good time was had by all. Several who attended have told me that they really enjoyed participating in the Day of Service activities that were planned.

On Sept. 6-10, I had the privilege of attending the IBEW International Women's Conference in Washington, D.C. Sisters Kayli Allum, Damary Beltran, Felicia Hackney and Brooke Wardrip were also able to attend. There were some really awesome breakout sessions and speakers. This old man learned a lot; thanks for letting me tag along.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of our recently deceased brothers and sisters: David J. Carter, John R. Carnell, John D. Deitz, Casey D. Jones, Michael J. Kelly, James A. Lucero Sr., Jerry L. Malone and Joe A. Mestas.

Morgan J. Buchanan, Pres.

L.U. 90 (i), NEW HAVEN, CT — Our local's annual retirement dinner was held Oct. 20 at the Woodwinds banquet facility in Branford, Conn. There were 14 retirees and eight 25-year pin acknowledgements.

The retirees honored were David Brancato, Gary Card, Thomas Comer Jr., Thomas Ferraro Jr., George Froehlich, Chris Hynes, Howard Larson, Henry McMillan, Robert McMillan, Donald O'Connor, David Opozda, Eric Peterson, Gabriel Schillo and Patrick Stanulonis.

The eight 25-year pins were awarded to David Baldi, Arthur Battaglino, Richard Betts Jr., William Brooks, John Goulet, Tyrone Jones, Phil Michaud and Anthony Purificato.

Business Manager Sean Daly and the officers of Local 90 wish the best of health and happiness and a joyous holiday season to our entire membership!

John Bellemare, Pres.

L.U. 108 (ees,em,es,lctt,mar,mt,rtb,rts,s,spa,t&u), TAMPA, FL — On a sunny Florida day this fall, our local partnered with Dade City High School and the school's agriculture program. A new agriculture facility for Dade City High is scheduled for new construction, but not until the old buildings and surrounding structures are demolished and removed.

Local 108 members worked with students and staff of the school, ripping down the old structures and clearing the land for new construction to begin. Several dilapidated cow pens and buildings were destroyed, dismantled and carried away in preparation for the much-needed agriculture facility.

We'd like to thank all the Local 108 members who contributed to this very special event. Thanks for serving in our Dade City community on behalf of IBEW and Tampa electrical workers. Volunteers included Assistant Business Manager Troy Trice, President Michael Sladky, equipment operator Judd Barn, special equipment operator Ryan Vieu, equipment operator Jeff Haggin, fleet mechanic Chad Grimmer and equipment operator Clay Blommel.

Bruce Bailey, P.S.

L.U. 124 (ees,em,i,mar,ptc,rts,se,spa&t), KANSAS CITY, MO — As you have might have heard, the $4 billion Panasonic plant is coming to our jurisdiction. This project is expected to bring over 16,000 construction jobs if the suppliers decide to build in the area, as well. However, there has been no confirmation of those suppliers coming to the area. Panasonic and its supplier companies would provide an additional 8,000 jobs for the Kansas City market and further enhance its industrial and manufacturing prowess.

The plant is expected to finish at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. They are currently moving dirt on the location, but no general contractor or subcontractor has been awarded. If all goes well, electricians are expected to start manning the job in the fall of 2023.

Golden Plains Technology Park, also known as Meta, has seven IBEW/NECA contractors on site. There is no known timeline for when it will start to man up because underground work is still being performed. It's expected that many of those working at Kansas City International Airport will transfer there.

We wish you a wonderful holiday season, brothers and sisters.

Wade Kiefer, Bus. Rep.

L.U. 134 (catv,em,govt,i,mt,rtb,rts,spa&t), CHICAGO, IL — Our local's Retirees Club has grown recently in size and stature, thanks to a new focus on the spirit of our brotherhood. The retirees' monthly meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each month at noon, conducted at either the Local 134 union hall or the IBEW-NECA Technical Institute in Alsip, Ill.

Every meeting features a guest speaker to address our retirees on a variety of subjects, including updated health and welfare benefits, emerging electrical industry trends, labor leaders, and nonprofit organizations. There are also planned outings throughout the year to various sporting events and dinner theater.

The purpose of this organization is for its members to aid and assist one another and to promote the social and economic prosperity and the health and welfare of members and their families. Local 134 Retirees Club President Keith Berls has worked tirelessly with clubs like the Local 134 Motorcycle Club and Helping Hands to combine efforts to fundraise and support other members, veterans and families in need.

We encourage all retirees to come out and join the Local 134 Retiree Club. Applications can be found on our website (www.lu134.org ) under the Retirees tab.

Donald Finn, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 212 (i), CINCINNATI, OH — Work remains steady in our area. At the time of this writing, we have 23 on Book 1 and one on Book 2.

To celebrate Labor Day this year, our local and the Cincinnati AFL-CIO affiliated unions joined together at the Great American Ball Park. Members and their families took the afternoon to take in a Cincinnati Reds game.

To mark this inaugural event, we were joined by U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, who threw out the first pitch. The Reds may have lost the game, but labor won the day!

Happy Holidays!

Phil Bovard, P.S.

L.U. 280 (c,ees,em,es,i,mo,mt,rts&st), SALEM, OR — The work picture remains strong in our local, with projects for 2023 looking very promising at this point. We are on pace to surpass our record for man-hours set in 2019, and we increased membership by nearly 10% between August 2021 and August 2022. We continue to welcome new members and contractors into the IBEW. Thanks to all our members and contractors for their help in successful organizing.

After two years with no picnic in the Willamette Valley zone, we finally got together Sept. 17 on a perfect day for a picnic. It was great to see some of the newest members of Local 280 pitch in and make the picnic light work with many hands.

One of the highlights was Glenn Anderson and his father Jerry celebrating 100 years of the Brotherhood between them! Glenn is a 40-year member, and Jerry attended the picnic to receive his 60-year pin. Congratulations to all our retirees who showed up for their service pins and share brother/sisterhood with each other.

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

L.U. 288 (i,ptc,rts,spa&u), WATERLOO, IA — In the tradition of community involvement, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart, a friend of labor, asked for our local's help with replacing the LED lights in three towers on the Expo Plaza grounds in downtown Waterloo. Most communities struggle for funding with projects like this. It was made possible with donated efforts from 17 members who gave their time for the more-than-250-hour project.

The first Saturday was rained out after just three hours. On the following day, after eight hours, Tower 1 was completed. On Thursday, the crew finalized Tower 2. The anchor crew finished Tower 3 on Friday. On the last day, the wiring crew finalized the connections and lit them up.

This was another great opportunity for our community to see our members' skills and abilities in action. The Expo Plaza hosts a farmers market on Saturdays, which made the safety aspects more challenging. This is nothing new for our wiremen up in the lifts!

Thank you to Jarrod Barker, Jesse Billings, Mason Dietrick, Jim Hageman, Chuck Kacher, Dave Killion, Tom Posusta, Austin Rindels, Brady Stone, Matt Teeter and Lee Walsh. A big shout-out to Leshaun Daniels, Chad Feuchtwanger, Austin Hall and Ben Simmons for putting in extra time to complete the installation. Special thanks to Paulson Electric for coordinating the lifts, tools and materials.

Pictures of the project are on the Local 288 website (www.ibew288.org ) under the Photo Gallery tab. Thank you, brothers and sisters; it was a pleasure sharing this great opportunity with you all.

Ritch Kurtenbach, P.S.

L.U. 300 (govt,i,lctt,mo&u), MONTPELIER, VT — Twenty-eight employees/members from Green Mountain Power traveled north of the border to support storm recovery following Hurricane Fiona. Recovery operations continued for over four weeks to restore power to residents and commercial customers. We greatly appreciate the time, efforts and support shown toward our friends and neighbors to our north and are happy to see everyone made it home safe.

We hope all enjoyed a festive Thanksgiving with family and friends and had a successful hunting season. We wish you all a safe and happy holiday season this December and will see you in the new year when negotiations and labor – management discussions continue. Be well and be safe.

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

L.U. 302 (i,rts&spa), MARTINEZ, CA — One of our renewable diesel projects is going, with a second starting in the fourth quarter. Those projects have calls going in to Book 2 almost every day and make for a great time to organize.

We are also starting a new first-year class of inside apprentices. We would like to welcome to the following brothers and sisters to our local and to the IBEW: Reece Byrd, David Cardona, Harrison Case, Dylan Davis, Richard Delgado, Samuel Espinoza Jr., Jason Forsyth, Gabriel Gonzalez, Joaquin Jacinto, Blake Jaskolski, Luis Jovel, Terrell Koon, Brandon McRae-Selph, Benito Murillo, Nicholas O'Regan-Crow, Alexander Pankey, Jack Parker, Isaiah Perez, Kevin Schwartz, Joseph Sindicich, Abel Villalobos, Manuel Villalvazo, Joshua Wiens and Brandyn Wu.

Tom Hansen, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 340 (em,i,rts&spa), SACRAMENTO, CA — This year, we were able to bring back our beloved family-friendly event, the annual membership picnic. The turnout of members and family was such a wonderful sight to see that it felt like old times. Slowly but surely, we are all finding a new normal. There were laughs, reminiscing, prizes and plenty of drinks and food to go around. We hope that all who attended the event enjoyed it as much as we did bringing it all together.

As for other events taking place within our membership, we were happy to hold new member orientation classes at our hall once again. These classes have helped many new members, their spouses and former members get to know what their union has to offer. It is great to see all the new, eager faces as they ask questions at these classes.

We hope all other locals continue to stay safe as we enter the holiday season and end the year.

Robert D. Ward, B.M.

L.U. 354 (i,lpt,mo,mt,rts,spa&t), SALT LAKE CITY, UT — On July 10-15, 14 siblings from our local attended Grace Carroll Rocky Mountain Labor School, which is hosted at the University of Utah. This AFL-CIO-affiliated weeklong training is hosted at different universities throughout the Rocky Mountain region. It is the only labor school of its kind and teaches about labor law, labor history, organizing, negotiating and much more.

It was a treat to hear from many veteran labor activists and scholars. Solidarity, insights and merch were exchanged among multiple IBEW locals (68, 111, 291, 322, 354 and 357), Teamsters, BCTGM, UA, IW, IATSE, UFCW and others.

We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity and have brought home a lot of knowledge to improve our local and be better union workers and activists. We encourage our siblings from Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico to attend next year.

Sarah Hatfield, P.S.

L.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD, IL — At our September union meeting, our local swore in our newest group of first-year inside apprentices, as well as our low-voltage VDV apprentices. Our work picture in Local 364 remains robust to say the least, and we anticipate 2023 to be an even better year than 2022.

On Sept. 28, we had our groundbreaking ceremony for our brand-new Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. This historic event is 25 years in the making, and we couldn't be more excited about this project finally getting underway. Local 364 Business Manager Alan Golden was among the group of the many elected officials and Hard Rock business partners who helped break ground on this project. Construction began immediately after the event, but as reported previously, the bulk of this work will not begin in earnest until spring 2023, with mostly site and foundation work taking place until the end of 2022.

Our Facebook project continues to steamroll forward, with approximately 600 wiremen and wirewomen on the project and three new buildings underway. This project has been a steady source of employment both at present and for the foreseeable future, with multiple contractors and classifications onsite.

We would like to again thank all the traveling brothers and sisters who have helped us man this work through all its ups and downs. We simply could not have come this far without you.

Brad Williams, P.S.

L.U. 558 (catv,em,i,lctt,mt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), SHEFFIELD, AL — The reporting for our local has been one of the most positive and pleasurable tasks that we have undertaken in 2022. We are excited to say that work is still plentiful, and the future for Local 558 members appears very promising. The new Facebook campus in Madison, Ala., is in full swing, as well as the expansion and addition to the Mazda/Toyota motor facility. The TVA Colbert Simple Cycle project at the old TVA Colbert Steam Plant in Tuscumbia, Ala., is also steadily progressing.

In other news, the local held its service pin presentation ceremony for 2020, 2021 and 2022 on Sept. 12 at the regular union meeting. This meeting was the largest monthly union meeting of Local 558 and was held at the Marriott Shoals Conference Center in Florence, Ala., with over 600 eligible recipients and over 300 brothers and sisters in attendance. IBEW Fifth District International Representative Gene O'Kelley was also in attendance.

We send our best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season to all.

Mac Sloan, Pres.

L.U. 606 (em,es,i,rtb,spa&u), ORLANDO, FL — Brother Larry Kidd was recently honored with induction into the Florida Labor Hall of Fame and the A. Philip Randolph Award for a lifetime of working in the labor movement. Brother Kidd started his IBEW career as a Local 606 apprentice, and he soon became a member of the local. He volunteered in local functions and became a salt on nonunion jobs. He was soon brought on staff as a full-time organizer.

Larry has held numerous roles within the labor movement of Orlando. These include delegate to the Central Florida Labor Council, treasurer for the Central Florida Building Trades, Local 606 Executive Board member, president of the Orlando Labor Management Cooperative Committee, political coordinator for Local 606 and president of the Apprenticeship Committee.

Brother Kidd has been a true labor leader, not only in Local 606 but throughout the state of Florida. He was recognized for his dedication to furthering the labor movement with his induction to the Florida Labor Hall of Fame. We all wish Brother Kidd well on his much-deserved retirement. Thank you, Larry, for all you have done for Local 606 and for the Florida labor movement!

Fernando Rendon, P.S.

LU 640 (em,govt,i,mo,mt,rts,spa&u), PHOENIX, AZ — We are booming in Arizona, with several very large jobs going, including data centers, chip plants, a processing plant, hospitals, commercial office complexes, solar plants and battery storage facilities.

We want to congratulate our organizing team, as we recently surpassed 3,000 members and are still growing. The weather is getting better every day: Come out and help us man the work and enjoy an Arizona winter! We have numerous customers who are paying incentives.

Wishing all of you and your families a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Tim Wilson, P.S.

L.U. 728 (em,i,rts&spa), FT. LAUDERDALE, FL — Chasing a dream requires diligence, passion and a strong work ethic, qualities that our apprentices have shown they possess. A colossal congrats from Local 728 to the July 2022 graduating class of the Florida East Coast NJATC! Special shout out to Jim Stubblefield for his achievement as Apprentice of the Year.

Continue to be diligent and passionate by keeping up the good work, which keeps our union strong.

Zac Cassidy, B.M.

L.U. 1288 (u), MEMPHIS, TN — I'm happy to introduce the newly elected officers of our local, the first to receive IBEW Strong training while receiving new officers' training.

I am very confident that our new team will have what it takes to help us with our efforts in making a the IBEW stronger and more united. Please extend your support as we embark on this new journey.

As business manager, I understand how important it is to attract and retain talent to meet the needs of our members. I am committed to steering my team in the right direction, though regardless of our differences, as union members we have to work together as one to achieve this goal.

In closing, I would like to thank International Reps Jeremy Sundeen and David Stephens for conducting this training with Local 1288. I would also like to thank the members for their open mindedness and the important progress we're making toward diversity, equity and inclusion.

Corey Hester, B.M.

L.U. 1340 (i&o), NEWPORT NEWS, VA — Our local and the Hampton Roads JATC sponsored an awards banquet Sept. 17 at the Landing at Hampton Marina in Hampton, Va.

Graduates of the class of 2021 are Daniel Bryant, Aaron Johnson, Cian Penha and Noel Robinson. The Class of 2022 included Irwin Baker, Dominique Byrd, Thomas Denardi, Charles Goetz, Robert Love and Grant Sheilly.

The local also presented service pins to members as follows: Addison (Max) Goddard, Bobby Kessler and Arnold Robinson, 65 years; Charles Moore and Richard (Wayne) Ramsey, 55 years; Richard Adams, James Avery, Ralph Jordan, James Pegram and W. Robert O'Neal, 50 years; Jonathan Leaman, Ralph Pacheco, Roc Samuel and Robert Yourgal, 40 years; Derrick Ewell, William King, Robert Reichenbach, David Smith and Robert Vandegrift, 30 years; Gary Boyd, David Brogden, Edward Green, Charles Hogge, Regie Jones, Cheryl Killion, Nick Knebl, Benjamin Manning, Dempsey McFatter, Kai Moxley, William Quisenberry and Jeffrey Stroud, 20 years; and Joshua Ambrose, Stacy Arndt, Timothy Bryan, Kellen Gill-Mash, James Hairston, John Howard, Matthew Irby, David Kohfeldt, Drew Roberts, Mark Swisher and Alan Toliver, 10 years. Congratulations to all!

Jim Avery, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, WESTCHESTER/PUTNAM CHAPTER — After three years of fighting the pandemic, we still have not returned to normal, business-as-usual operations of our chapter. We have suspended our Zoom meetings to try to get more of our members to physically attend. We won't see the effect of this suspension until next month.

Our annual fishing trip this year was July 14. The turnout was better than expected. Thirty die-hard fishermen boarded the charter boat, Shamrock IV, for a day of fishing on Long Island Sound. The weather was great, everyone caught fish and everyone had a good time. The pool was won by Ted Jadus, who caught the largest porgy.

We are working on plans for our annual Christmas/Hanukkah party in December. We hope to hold it at the Leewood Country Club, as we have for the past seven years.

Dick Mills, Treas.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 26, WASHINGTON, DC — We have continued to meet via Zoom in addition to the in-person meetings. It allows our distant members a chance to visit as well. If you are reading this and are a member of Local 26, please get involved! We always need volunteers to keep the club active! Our travels have been limited due to COVID-19, but if you have any suggestions, please contact our travel coordinator, Rick Warner (240-472-0438).

We have already begun collecting dues for 2023 — it's exciting to see so many recent retirees joining! If you are over 50 years old (retired or not), please consider joining our meetings, travels and annual events (crab feast, cruise and raffle drawing). If you are in the area visiting on the second Saturday of the month, call the local for details. We usually host a lunch following the meeting, so bring a side dish and join us!

This year, the retired members club helped the Local 26 Motorcycle Club's annual Poker Run. The money collected goes directly to Special Love, a camp for children with cancer. This year the retirees will be attending the annual Union Sportsmen's Alliance fundraiser to help support the good work they do.

In October, we honored our veterans by helping to wash the Vietnam Veterans and Korean War memorials, both in our jurisdiction.

Our November Thanksgiving meeting is when we pull the raffle winners. If you didn't receive a telephone call, you did not win this year. Sorry, and better luck next time! We are always thankful for the support that the members and retirees give to the raffle.

We thank the members who have contributed equipment to our medical equipment supply; their generosity has helped many members recover from illness and surgeries. Our coordinator, retired Sister Susan Flashman, is stepping down this year, and a committee has formed to replace her. If any local is interested in starting their own medical equipment program, please contact Sister Flashman at flashmanbissell@aol.com.

As we look forward to 2023, it is not without sadness for the retired friends and family we have lost. We remember them at each meeting with a moment of silence. We are grateful every year that we can share time and swap stories.

Susan Flashman, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 35, HARTFORD, CT — Dennis Machol and I visited the apprentices' first class in September. We spent extra time to meet and greet the first-year class to emphasize the benefits and pluses of being in the IBEW.

Our Christmas meeting will be Dec. 14, and then we will be off from January to February. I encourage the retirees to attend all meetings, but especially the December Christmas meeting.

We extend our welcome to new Business Manager Michael Nealy and Business Representative John Bowen to Local 35. I would like to give a special mention to our office manager, Vicki Dougherty, who is retiring after 32 years. She will be dearly missed by all.

The Retirees Club is hoping to increase attendance at our monthly meetings, which are held the second Wednesday of each month at the Elks Lodge in Rocky Hill. Dues are only $35 per year, and lunch is served. It's a great time to reconnect with your sisters and brothers, and we hope you will join us. See you there!

Kenneth R. White, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 53, KANSAS CITY, MO — I don't have a great deal to report on, so this article is dedicated to being thankful and remembrances.

First, I would like to show thankfulness to Local 53 for being such a great union. The members who have served Local 53 — former and present business managers, business representatives and secretaries — worked hard and provided the work and our health insurance and retirement plans. Thank you very much.

We also remember our brothers and sisters that have passed on. All of them represented themselves in the best way good union men and women should. It was a privilege to have known them, worked with them and enjoyed great times with them. My thoughts and prayers are always with Local 53 and its members.

Mark your calendar: The 35th annual Local 53 crappie tournament/fish fry has been scheduled for April 29, 2023.

Duane Pearce, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 58, DETROIT, MI — Our Christmas party will take place Dec. 7 at the union hall. Last year's celebration was the first in a couple of years, and we are thrilled to be having another. Our party will offer its regular festivities, good food, great conversation and gift baskets for donations to our children's charities and the local benevolent fund. 'Tis the season to give!

We have sad news to report: Our treasurer of 30-plus years, Ray Owen, passed away on Sept. 15. He had taken a fall and went into the hospital Sept. 14, having just submitted the treasurer's report for September for the president to present at our monthly board meeting that day. Ray was 100 years old. He was an active VFW member and a longtime board member of our Retirees Club. He was always ready to take on additional tasks and got the job done. He will be missed for as long as he lives in our memories. Rest in peace, Ray!

As we move into the new year, let's keep our eye on Washington and our local elected officials. United we stand, divided we fall!

Pat Nuznov, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 60, SAN ANTONIO, TX — After a hot and dry summer break, the Retirees Club enjoyed a BBQ lunch catered by Pure Country at their Sept. 8 meeting. After lunch, Business Manager Gary Aiken gave a brief update on the local's current events.

A short business meeting was held, at which time the progress report on a potential golf tournament fundraiser was discussed. Brother Gene Chamberlain, chairperson, stated that such an event takes much time and work and asked for a show of hands of all who would be interested. There appears to be a lack of interest in hosting such an event. Club President Coy Rogers announced that the Years of Service pins will be awarded at the Local 60 picnic Oct. 22. A list of pin recipients was published in the local's newsletter. At the end of the meeting, we honored Brother Joe Lyssy, who passed on May 23, with a moment of silence.

The club meets the second Thursday of the month, September through May, at 11:30 a.m. at Local 60's union hall: 3518 N. Loop 1604 E., San Antonio, Texas.

Sandy Rogers, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 134, CHICAGO, IL — Seasons greetings from all of us to all those involved with the IBEW. Here's hoping we all have a better year ahead. We have all been affected by the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and the time that it's taken to get back on track. This life-changing pandemic — along with the war in the Ukraine, frequent disasters brought about by climate change, mass shootings and the ongoing threats to our democracy — makes us contemplate what the future holds for us all. However, with all that has happened, we can see that these struggles can bring out the good in people who want to help one another. We pray for all who have suffered and hope some normalcy soon returns to their lives.

Now for the highlight of the year: The 40th IBEW International Convention was held here in Chicago at McCormick Place. It was amazing to see everyone gathered here to celebrate our great brotherhood/sisterhood of local unions. A big "thank you" to all involved for putting this event together.

I took a picture of President Joe Biden with my phone at the convention, and it was such an honor to be in the same room as he spoke so candidly and passionately to us all. He had my full attention with every word, and it made me realize what a great speaker he truly is. As he left the podium, it came to mind that we don't just get older, we get wiser.

Take care of each other, and have a fun, safe holiday.

Sue Kleczka, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 212, CINCINNATI, OH — The Christmas holiday season is a great time to connect with family and friends with a holiday card, a phone call and getting together for a party. However, some of the dearest people in our lives are no longer with us. Gladness and sadness, all wrapped up in pretty paper and colored lights.

As always, I encourage everyone to make the most of the time we have by spending it with each other. Some of us are healthy, and some of us are not. Don't delay: Be a blessing to someone.

I want to remember and thank all the IBEW brothers and sisters who have added so much joy and happiness to my life over the years. Since retiring 15 years ago, I have had so much fun sharing meals and drinks, memories and laughs; using our collective memories as we walk down memory lane together at our monthly meetings; the summer picnics and the Christmas dinner parties. As a 60-year Local 212 member, I enjoy so many great memories with many terrific, talented and genuinely decent people, all of whom I hold in the highest regard. Thank you! I am delighted to be an IBEW member.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year in 2023!

Robert Schaefer, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 257, JEFFERSON CITY, MO — In a blast from the past, Herman Grothoff shared a 1970 news advertisement from Greater Jefferson City Pacesetters, which celebrated the 10th anniversary of G&H Electric Co. Many current IBEW retirees, at the time members or apprentices, were featured in this advertisement.

The July retiree dinner was held at American Legion Post 5 in Jefferson City, with 47 members and guests in attendance. The August retiree dinner was held at the Ashland Masonic Lodge, with 38 members and guests in attendance. Both dinners were served family style, providing excellent fried chicken and brisket with all the fixings and homemade desserts.

Twenty-three retirees attended a performance of "Dreamgirls" at the Lyceum Theatre on July 20. The retirees met for lunch at the 87 Diner in Boonville prior to the musical.

At the time of this writing, the retirees are making plans for the Labor Day parade on Sept. 10, which will be the first time that the parade has been held since the pandemic began. Retirees participate with a float and distribute candy and goodwill on the parade route. Thanks to Dave Loaiza for providing the float for the retirees.

Connie Hamacher, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 317, HUNTINGTON, WV — Congratulations to all of our retiree club members who recently received their service pins! Members who received recognition for their years of service include Paul Dixon, Dwight Dunford and Douglas Shaffer, and they can be seen in the accompanying photo.

Jerry Booth, Pres.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 349, MIAMI, FL — Attendees at our August meeting and potluck luncheon spent time together writing words of encouragement to our overseas warriors and thanking them for their dedication and service to America.

November found our retirees on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas for a five-day cruise to Mexico. A big thank you to Candy Nelson for the time she invested to make this cruise possible.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people affected by Hurricane Ian and with our brave and heroic brothers and sisters who continue in the union tradition of stepping up where needed after catastrophic disasters.

Our monthly meeting and potluck lunch is held on the second Thursday at noon at the union hall. Bring a dish, and join us for a brief meeting and lots of fun and fellowship.

Brenda Auer, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 405, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA — On Oct. 6, our local's retirees club took a charter bus to St. Louis from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to visit IBEW Local 1 and the Henry Miller Museum.

They enjoyed a catered lunch by Rigazzi's Italian Restaurant on the Hill while John Kahrhoff gave a history report of Henry Miller and the founding of the IBEW. After that, our retirees made the short trip to the Henry Miller Museum for a tour with Dave Roth. They even took a photo at the IBEW Local 405 bench in Founders Plaza.

On the way home, they drove by what used to be Stolle's Hall. For most, this was their first time at the Henry Miller Museum, and it did not disappoint. Thank you to the staff of Local 1 for making this trip possible.

Junior Lunsman, B.M./F.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 649, ALTON, IL — I always pause when reporting the passing of members and loved ones, recalling how their lives touch us and the industries we toil in. We mourn for them but honor their lives with remembrance:

The Retirees Club meets at 9 a.m. on the last Thursday of each month for breakfast at the Eagles Nest Restaurant in Bethalto, Ill. Our retiree group is open to all bargaining-group retiring members.

Strength in unity!

Terry Wilhite, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 683, COLUMBUS, OH — The Retirees Club has elected new officers and is busy supporting, facilitating and hosting a variety of fourth-quarter events. In October, we held our 64th annual 25-Year-Club Banquet, Nov. 12 marked our second annual Veteran's Breakfast, and Dec. 10 will ring in our 41st Seniors Club Christmas Luncheon.

Our Constant Contact email newsletter has been foundational to rebuilding our club post-coronavirus, and we have 73 dues-paying members and a total of 97 receiving our email newsletter. Congratulations to our new officers, stepping up to lead the club into the future: Pam Obert (secretary); Rick Deime (treasurer); Vice Presidents Rich Hutchinson, Keith Stephenson and Denny Austin; and President Bill Carpenter.

Bill Carpenter, Pres.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 756, DAYTONA BEACH, FL — We have resumed retirees club meetings, and we would love to see all of you. Currently, we are providing sandwiches and drinks, so there is no need to bring a covered dish. Desserts are welcome.

Meetings are held at the Local 756 union hall in Port Orange, Fla., on the second Wednesday of the month at 11:30 a.m. Please note that the day of the month has changed. We look forward to seeing you.

Diane Gibbs, P.S.