L.U. 16 (i), EVANSVILLE, IN — Our local congratulates the graduates of the 2023 inside wireman program: Nicholas Ryan Ballow, Joshua Matthew Brandenstein, Dain Harmon Burress, Joshua Robert Burris, Andrew Wayne Carlisle, Austin Eugene Carr, Dylan Thomas Coomes, Breihan Alan Dike-Fetcher, Zachary Joseph Elpers, Evan Scott Fehd, Zachary Dane Flamion, Jeremy Kent Foster, Adam Lee George-Titzer, Grant Thomas Glaser, Talmon Orlando Haywood, J'Juan Chemere Helm, Jesse Ray Hertel, Gabriel Alan Horrom, Austin Lee Hughes, Justin Lee Hughes, James Woolery Koleszar, Landon De'Shawn Langley, Cameron Eon Lowery, Joshua Benjamin Melchiors, Anthony Caleb Miller, Seth Landon Parmley, Brian Alan Partridge, Andrew Lynn Peerman, Thomas Carl Pemberton, Luke James Pund, Katelyn Charlene Render, Yanniah William Scales, Kyle Robert Scherzer, Ethan Robert Schulthise, Ross Wade Topper, Chance Brown Tretter, Drake Allen Turner, Joseph Robert Unfried, Daniel Evan Welman, Andrew James Wimpelberg and Cheyenne Michelle Ziliak.

This year there was a tie for the academic award: Nicholas Ryan Ballow and Joshua Robert Burris each had a five-year grade average of 97.07%. The John D. Brenner Memorial Award went to Anthony Caleb Miller. Best wishes to each of these journeymen as they begin this new phase of their careers!

Donald P. Beavin, P.S.

L.U. 24 (es,i&spa), BALTIMORE, MD — Greetings from Charm City. In July, more than 70 apprentices and construction electricians joined the ranks of our VDV installer technicians and journeyman wiremen. The graduation ceremony was held in our hall, with more than 300 graduates, family members and guests in attendance. We were joined by Maryland Secretary of Labor Portia Wu and state Sen. Cory McCray, along with industry friends and supporters. This class dealt with the pandemic during their training. We are proud they held their commitment to our industry despite these circumstances. In addition, many are active in RENEW, the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus and various local union committees. Once again, congratulations on a job well done.

In August, Local 24 held its annual family picnic at Conrad's Ruth Villa in Middle River, Md. This year, more than 1,500 members, guests and their families joined together for a day of brotherhood and fellowship. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped us run carnival games, sell raffle tickets and hand out gifts. Also, a big thank you to our officers, agents and staff who prepared for the picnic. It was a pleasure to see our members, retirees and families at this event.

Live Better/Work Union!

Michael J. McHale, B.M.

L.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC — The Maryland picnic was held Aug. 19, the annual fishing trip was held Sept. 2, the annual poker run for Special Love was held Sept. 23, and the fall pension seminar will be held Oct. 7.

Please note that the November general membership meeting will be held the first Friday of the month, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.; and the December general membership meeting will be the second Friday, Dec. 8 at 4 p.m.

Best wishes to the following new retirees: Blair Bowen, Benjamin Bowling, Philip Boyd, Jesse Brown, Willy Calixte, Bruce Clodfelter, Robert Collison, Eugene Dailey, Francis Dean Jr., Ed Ellison, James Emerson, Richard Gacek, James Gallagher, Brian Groff, Vernon Hawkins, Matthew Johnson, Robert Kent, Stephen Kubanda, Rocco Maiorano, Isaac Mancilla, Christopher McCorkle, Elwood Ness, Neil O'Brien, James Ridley, John Schady, Steven Seaton, Belayneu Seifu, Keith Shumaker, Philip Spain, Solomon Thomas, Barry Williams and Floyd Wood.

The following members have passed away since our last article: Ronald Auth, Travis Barrett, Arthur Campli, Theodore Green, John Leslie, William Myers, Don O'Sullivan, Bruce Richardson, William Rutan and Brian Thomson.

Joseph F. Dabbs, B.M.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OH — In July, the Local 38 Women's Committee organized volunteers to assist at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Local 38 members, officers, Building Trades Women's Committee members and others volunteered to prepare meals for area families. The volunteers served 246 families at the Euclid Pantry, packed 160 cases of bread, and assembled more than 2,000 children's meals and 6,000 senior meals. Thank you to Local 38's Women's Committee for making this happen.

"Our greatness has always come from people who expect nothing and take nothing for granted. Folks who work hard for what they have, then reach back and help others after them."

– Michelle Obama

Dan Gallagher, B.M.

L.U. 46 (as,c,cs,em,es,et,i,mar,mo,mt,rtb,rts&st), SEATTLE, WA — Summer in Seattle was filled with events!

In June, Local 46 held elections for local union officers. Congratulations to our 2023 elected officers: Business Manager/Financial Secretary Sean Bagsby; President Warren Shill; Vice President Chris Boling; Recording Secretary Christian Eaglehead; Treasurer Wayne Horton; Executive Board members Nicole Anderson, Chuck Carter, Erick Lee, Steve Murphy and Misty Wheeler; and Examining Board members Jessica Bendixen, Gary Dering, David Khbeis, Thomas Lindner and Brian Prezeau.

The Peninsula picnic at Island County Park on July 15 was a fun-filled family event on a beautiful Pacific Northwest day! A record 340 people attended the picnic. The folks attending had an opportunity to dunk the business manager to help raise funds for our new Veterans' Committee.

The Washington State Building and Construction Trades Convention was held June 27-29 at the new union-built Convention Center in Seattle. This was followed by the Washington State Labor Council Convention in SeaTac on July 18-20. These two conventions highlighted labor's legislative victories in 2023 and established the legislative priorities for the next year. Local 46 sponsored multiple resolutions at both conventions.

The Ninth District Progress Meeting, jointly hosted by Locals 46 and 77, was back in Seattle at the Westin on July 25-28. The progress meeting included a women's caucus, a RENEW caucus, and an EWMC inaugural caucus. There was also a fantastic evening event at the Museum of Pop Culture.

Warren Shill, Pres.

L.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts,st,tm&ptc), PORTLAND, OR — Our annual member appreciation picnic was held July 9, with an estimated attendance of more than 4,000. This is always a fun time for the whole family with food, games, activities, carnival rides, prizes and more. The Electrical Workers Minority Caucus also raffled off two amazing gaming packages, with proceeds going to further membership education and advancement. All that aside, we know that the next generation, the children of current members, can create lasting memories of what being in a union is all about, especially the IBEW.

Labor Day was celebrated on both sides of the river, as we say here. Kalama, Wash., and Canby, Ore., were the celebration sites with festivities put on by AFL-CIO central labor councils. Sharing our IBEW values, perspectives and stories with members of other unions really fosters feelings of friendship based on the key label we all carry, the "W" in IBEW: worker. Especially important on the day set aside for us, labor!

Looking ahead, we invite you to attend our second annual pin, coin and swag swap meet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 9 at our training center. Many rare and highly sought-after items will be on display or available for swap. See details on our website, ibew48.com.

Kevin Lux, P.S.

L.U. 50 (u), RICHMOND, VA — Business Manager John Albert, Vice President/Senior Business Representative Jason Davis and Business Representative Doug Williams visited several Virginia Natural Gas locations, including the Chesapeake and Pivotal Propane plants in Chesapeake, Va. Brothers Albert, Davis and Williams also visited compressor stations in Charles City and Ladysmith, Va. The members working at these plants provide an important and necessary service to customers and residents of Virginia.

Local 50 leadership reports that respected member Jon Herndon, who worked at Dominion Energy's Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, passed away recently after a long battle with cancer. Jon worked as a mechanic at VCHEC, which is a coal/biomass plant in the southwest Virginia town of St. Paul. Local 50 officers and staff worked to assist the family with benefits explanation in their time of need.

Local 50 represents approximately 3,000 employees of Dominion Energy, Virginia Natural Gas, Monongahela Power and Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative.

Jason Davis, P.S.

L.U. 68 (i), DENVER, CO — The work picture at our local is holding steady. Meanwhile, we are gearing up for the municipal elections in November. There will be opportunities to get involved in the interview/endorsement process, as well as canvassing, phone banking and postcard writing. Contact the hall for specific information. If you are not registered to vote or you are not sure, you can register or check the status of your registration at govotecolorado.gov or call the hall (303-297-0229).

By the time you read this, Local 68's annual picnic will have taken place, but mark your calendars for the Christmas party: Dec. 9 from noon to 3 p.m. Be aware that with the planned remodeling and construction, some things will be different due to the limited space.

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of our recently deceased brothers and sisters: Andrew S. Brunet, James A. Connell, Gabriel M. Gonzales, Charles K. Herrick, Jerry M. Jackson, Ronald A. Kimsey, James C. Kloverstrom, Ronald J. La Rose, Larry G. McDuffee, Andrew W. McPherson, Martin P. Neimes Jr., James R. Phelps, Michael D. Shears, Nathan P. Shelton, Joseph M. Vacilek, Luther F. Vincent and Marlon E. Williams.

Morgan Buchanan, Pres.

L.U. 82 (em,i,mt&rtb), DAYTON, OH — Our local hosted a construction boot camp for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders in Dayton Public Schools at the end of June with the cooperation and coordination of the Dayton Building Trades, ACT Ohio and several apprenticeship directors.

The skilled trades in Dayton gave these young folks a chance to experience different aspects of construction with hands-on experience. Prior to graduation, the program was honored to have a visit from Sen. Sherrod Brown, who expressed an interest in the future of these young folks and encouraged them to join a trade union.

Ryan Brown, P.S.

L.U. 124 (ees,em,i,mar,rts,se,spa,t&ptc), KANSAS CITY, MO — Our local was happy to hand out many service awards to its members in July and August, starting with 10-year pins and finishing with two 70-year pins. The grand total for IBEW service among those recognized was 5,000 years! Thank you to those who came before us, as well as those who currently serve, for your dedication and efforts to make Local 124 a more perfect union.

Local 124 is working with other labor organizations and nonprofit groups to apply for a regional grant from the federal government. Under President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, billions of dollars have been allocated for greenhouse gas reduction efforts, and that means jobs for IBEW members. We are still in the early stages of the process, and awarded grants won't be announced until a year from now.

For those who live in Kansas, please remember to vote in November. There are municipal elections that will help shape the political landscape in the Sunflower State. Endorsed candidates can be found on the IBEW webpage, or you can call the hall (816-942-7500) for more information.

Wade Kiefer, Bus. Rep.

L.U. 126 (catv,lctt,o&t), PHILADELPHIA, PA — On June 17, our members competed in the National Sisterhood United for Journeymen Linemen's Fallen Lineworkers Benefit Rodeo in Hazelton, Pa. Our journeyman wiremen teams and apprentices were cheered on by family, friends and fellow members as they competed in multiple wood pole climbing events. We provided three judges who volunteered their time and knowledge, which helped keep the event moving along. This event is a great opportunity to showcase our skills to those who aren't familiar with what line workers do on a daily basis, leaving the spectators with a newfound respect for the trade, especially after watching our members compete during unfavorable weather conditions. Our local competitors are looking forward to the International Lineman's Rodeo later this year.

June 24 was the annual cleanup day at our Delaware union hall. More than 20 members helped spruce up our building and grounds, seen daily by local power company representatives and strategically located near a nonunion competitor. With the help of our members, Business Manager Richard Muttik's goal of visible presence and gained market share in Delaware for Local 126 becomes a reality, as organizing successes lead to more members with job opportunities close to home.

Events such as these are great opportunities to showcase the brotherhood and camaraderie shared by those in the trade, and we are grateful for all who attended and represented Local 126. If you haven't attended a union-sponsored event, I encourage you to do so, because you are the IBEW!

Michael Simmonds, A.B.M.

L.U. 150 (es,i,rts&spa), WAUKEGAN, IL — Our local has had a busy summer, and the work outlook is good for the rest of the year!

We swore in our 2023 apprenticeship class Aug. 2. Our apprentice technicians are Ethan Hamel and Florian Orobey. Our apprentice wiremen are Austin Andrews, Ethan Andrews, Matthew Camacho, Jose Escobar, Joshua Gelden, Christopher Habjan, Travis Hanck, Zachary Huff, Joseph Mentone, Anthony Morales, Marshall Murphy, Kane Palmer, Tristan Post, James Raymond, Jake Repinski, Haley Skala, Joseph Smiesko III, Logan Tenhagen, Amar Thalji and Alexander Waldal. Congratulations to all of you on taking your oath and becoming a member of Local 150!

Electing politicians who support and vote for pro-labor legislation has proven to directly benefit the members of the IBEW. These officials helped pass laws that require union-friendly project labor agreements for state-funded projects and responsible-bidder ordinances at county levels. These laws have positively impacted our local communities and members statewide by providing good-paying jobs to the IBEW's trained, skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Let's continue to do the work to protect our work!

Aaron M. Rendon, R.S.

L.U. 158 (i,it,mar,mt,spa&u), GREEN BAY, WI — If you are a football fan, you've heard that the Green Bay Packers have been selected to host the 2025 NFL Draft. This news will directly affect Local 158's workload. Lambeau Field is undergoing renovations, and the IBEW is doing the work. With this announcement and the number of people coming to the area, we will see a lot of ancillary work in the near future.

I would like to thank all of our members who are working at Lambeau Field. We just finished a beautiful new players' area. We are putting the final touches on two new video scoreboards and working on remodeling all of the concession stands. Our relationship with the Packers has been long and proud. Go Pack, go!

Jesse Jacques, B.M.

L.U. 212 (i), CINCINNATI, OH — We stayed busy through the summer. At the time of writing, we have 48 JWs available on Book 1 and one on Book 2. The outlook going into fall looks steady.

We held our swearing-in ceremony for new officers July 18. Congratulations to all the newly elected officers, and especially Business Manager Richard Fischer, who was sworn in for his fourth term!

Phil Bovard, Pres.

L.U. 300 (govt,i,u,mo&lctt), MONTPELIER, VT — Words cannot express our gratitude for the women and men who spent countless hours supporting the businesses and families affected by the devastating flooding that ravaged our Brave Little State in July. The outpouring of support by IBEW members and affiliated unions was heartwarming and forever appreciated. Thank you to those who continue to assist with the recovery now and in the future.

As union members, we reap the benefit of being at the table to negotiate our wages, benefits, conditions of employment and rights as employees. And sometimes, we union members need to be reminded that these rights come with obligations such as staying informed, getting involved, staying open to compromise, understanding what compromise means and promoting the common good, to name a few. So I would like to politely remind all of us that with rights come obligations, and rights without obligations lead to lawlessness. Be well, be safe and keep the faith.

Jeffrey Wimette, B.M.

L.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OH — Greetings, brothers and sisters, from the Rubber City. Our annual golf outing was well-attended and a huge success. Thank you to all of the volunteers who helped.

Congratulations to this year's graduating class of commercial and residential wiremen. Cody Ols was selected as winner of the Vern Saylor Award. Cody exemplifies hard work, is dedicated to his brothers and sisters, and is passionate about serving his local.

We will hold the annual Christmas party Dec. 2. Please keep an eye out for updates on location and time.

Also, we congratulate Mitch Douglas on his appointment to fill the unexpired term of president. In addition, we congratulate Mike Prock for filling the unexpired term of vice president. Last, we would like to pay homage to those brothers and sisters who so boldly paved the way for the future generations here at Local 306.

Chuck Zittle, A.B.M.

L.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD, IL — Our local held its 20th annual Golf Playday at Silver Ridge Golf Course in beautiful Oregon, Ill., on Aug 26. A fantastic time was had by all. In recognition of the 20th Playday, we had a grand prize raffle for a Las Vegas trip for two, as well as a hole-in-one shot to win a new side-by-side four wheeler, a chance to win a top-of-the-line drone and several other great door prizes.

We also had maximum attendance, which made for several hours of great brotherhood, and a fantastic steak dinner to round out the day. Special thanks to all our traveling brothers and sisters who attended and continue to help us with our local work during this busy time.

Our Facebook data center continues to blaze forward with all the deadlines being met on time or ahead of schedule. This is a testament to the skill and productivity of all our working men and women on this project. Our manpower is about 1,000 members on this project, and our ability to perform at the highest level possible is something we should all be proud of.

Last, the Hard Rock Casino has slowly manned up through August and September, and once all the floors and walls are up, we expect this project to really get rolling. At the time of this writing, we don't have timelines, but all indications point to this project needing a lot of manpower.

Brad F. Williams, P.S.

L.U. 424 (as,ees,em,es,i,mo,o,ptc,rtb,rts,spa&u), EDMONTON, AB — July was a busy month for our local, with a number of member events in Edmonton and Calgary. In Calgary, we held the annual Stampede Breakfast on July 7, organized by Unit 2 Chair David Handley and volunteers from the Calgary area. We were honored to have MLAs Shannon Phillips (Lethbridge-West) and Heather Sweet (Edmonton-Manning) in attendance.

On July 15, we hosted our family festival at the Local 424 hall in Edmonton. The event was a resounding success, with many members and their families attending. Thanks to Brother Jon Hamilton and volunteers from the NextGen Committee for putting together another successful event.

The annual retirees' pancake breakfast and barbecue took place July 21. We were privileged to welcome several politicians and officials from all levels of government, including federal Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault and Edmonton Strathcona MP Heather McPherson. Additionally, several New Democratic Party Caucus MLAs, including labour critic Peggy Wright and Councillor Jo-Anne Wright, conveyed greetings on behalf of Edmonton. Business Manager Michael Reinhart also met high school students participating in the educational partnership program. (See accompanying photo.)

In June, our local held its annual golf tournament at the Quarry Golf Club, which was attended by more than 130 golfers. Our thanks go to our sponsors and the donors of some great prizes, which are very much appreciated.

At the end of May, our province held its election and returned the same labour-unfriendly government to power. Our efforts will now focus on holding the government accountable to labour issues, which are also middle-class needs and rights. If you did not vote, please pay attention over the next few years and assess whether your decision was the correct one.

Our local held steward training May 18-19, conducted by Brother Jim Watson. There is upcoming work that will require additional stewards.

In March, our collective agreement was tentatively agreed on and accepted by both parties.

Scott Crichton, A.B.M.

L.U. 540 (i), CANTON, OH — Our local celebrated its new 2023 journeymen June 2.

Congratulations to all the apprentices on successfully completing their JATC apprenticeship. Graduates Ben Sanders (inside), Dalton Ferrell (telecom) and Jacob Johnson (residential) are the 2023 Apprentice of the Year recipients.

The following brothers and sisters graduated:

• Inside: Drew Berger, Austin Boron, Tyler Burrier, Dan Connelly, Tyler Dodd, Amanda Flickinger, Logan Hammer, Don Johnson, Dillon Kovac, Joe Lettrich, Mike McClain, Justin Mikesell, Blake Offenberger, Sol Peters, Ben Sanders, Shane Simon, Tyler Troyer and Thomas Tucker.
• Residential: Jacob Johnson, Alex Olsen and Adam Ruegg.
• Telecom: Russell Derwin, Dalton Ferrell, Andrew Kuhnash and Brody Male.

The Vern Wolgamott Award (for perfect attendance) winners are Dan Connelly and Ben Sanders.

Local 540 welcomes our new journeymen and wishes them the best of luck in their calling.

Rick Waikem, P.S./R.S.

L.U. 568 (c,ees,em,i&o), MONTREAL, QC — Congratulations to Gagnon Line Construction for initiating a safety training course in which more than 250 local members participated over a three-day period in three cities in Quebec.

The safety course included a theoretical session, a back-to-basics climbing information session and the practice of how to individually lower a co-worker all the way to the ground.

Everyone had the chance to participate, and this yearly activity was very much appreciated by all Local 568 members.

Thank you, Gagnon Line Construction!

Guy Fournier, B.M./F.S.

Formation en Sécurité et Prévention pour les Monteurs de Lignes du Local 568

Félicitations à Gagnon Line Construction pour avoir initié un cours de formation en matière de sécurité qui a impliqué plus de 250 membres du Local 568 sur une période de trois jours dans trois villes différentes à travers la province de Québec.

Le cours de sécurité était composé d'une partie théorique, d'une séance d'information sur les principes de base de l'ascension et, finalement, d'une pratique sur la façon de secourir individuellement un collègue en le ramenant jusqu'au sol.

Tout le monde a eu la chance de participer à cette activité annuelle qui a été très appréciée par tous les membres du Local 568 de la FIOE.

Merci, Gagnon Line Construction!

Guy Fournier, Gérant d'Affaires/Secrétaire Financier

L.U. 654 (i), CHESTER, PA — Members enjoyed a day on the links, courtesy of an outing hosted by Brothers Tom Loughead and Jerry McClintock on June 16. This marked the third year for the event, and it was a great way to start Father's Day weekend. About 60 members, along with friends and family, enjoyed the early morning shotgun start, scramble format, prizes and giveaways. Lunch was at Local 654's hall under the shade of our pavilion.

We always appreciate members who step up and volunteer to organize various Local 654 events. Any opportunity to get together in brotherhood and camaraderie is always welcome!

Chris Schieler, P.S.

L.U. 728 (em,i,rts&spa), FT. LAUDERDALE, FL — It's time to plant the seeds of hope and a new, brighter future for yourselves and our local. Massive congratulations to the July 2023 graduating class of the Florida East Coast JATC!

The following graduates can be seen in the accompanying photo: Henry Arzola, Abner Bautista, Scott Culbertson, Michael Drummond, Jose Gonzalez, Stephan Grover, Bryan Korbelak, Bryan Roman, John Shattuck and Nelson Valiente.

Effie Cruz, P.S.

L.U. 756 (es&i), DAYTONA BEACH, FL — In May, local officers, our RENEW group, journeymen, apprentices and local contractor Brad Giles (owner of Giles Electric) worked together to remove old solar panels from our building's roof, which needed to be replaced after recent hurricanes. Thanks to everyone who helped out, including Joe Bardwell, Jeremy Childress, Kent Delcher, Chevy George, Travis Hanna, Hayden Hawkins, Hakeem Olukorede, Bryan Porter, Evan Sartain, Bryce Scholz, Russ Shadowen, Aaron Steffen, Andrew Wilde, Trevor Woyton and Tim Zens — and we can't forget our foreman, Max the dog!

Our work picture is slow, but we are expecting it to pick up next year for projects at the Kennedy Space Center. However, we don't expect any Book 2 until late next year.

We held our 10th annual Labor Day ride for the children of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital on Sept. 2, going from Tampa's Local 915 across Florida to Local 756 with food, drinks and raffles. This event is a collaboration of multiple inside locals and line Local 222, with all proceeds going to St. Jude's.

Matthew Nelson, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 1340 (i&o), NEWPORT NEWS, VA — The quick actions of Brother Charles Goetz helped rescue two food truck workers Jan. 3. While working in the electrical room at the Newport News Shipyard, Brother Goetz heard "a loud boom that shook the walls next to me."

He looked out the door and saw a food truck on fire and heard screams. He sprinted toward the area without hesitation, asking one of the victims if anyone else was inside and noticing another victim coming out of the burning truck, clothing on fire. Recalling the events, he said, "The safety training I received from the IBEW 1340 apprenticeship helped me through every step of the dangerous situation."

Being first on the scene, Charles assisted the injured workers until help arrived. The first responders were thankfully able to extinguish the fire moments before it reached a propane tank just feet away from a person.

For his courage and decisive action, Brother Goetz received a handwritten letter of thanks from Jennifer Boykin, president of the shipyard, and special challenge coins in recognition of his efforts.

We regret to report the passing of retired Brothers Thomas Burke II, Larry Hudson and Carl Morrissette.

Jim Avery, P.S.

L.U. 2304 (u), MADISON, WI — At our local's July union meeting, Dave "Pokey" Poklinkoski was honored with a 45-year membership award. Poklinkoski, who served as president and business manager of Local 2304 from September 1985 to October 2018, has been a dues-paying member of the local since July 1978, when he started as a temporary employee at Blount Generating Station in Madison.

Pokey served on every bargaining committee for the local from 1981 to 2018 and continues to be active in the local union. He serves as president emeritus of the local and secretary of the Retirees' Club. Brother Poklinkoski, we honor you with great thanks and solidarity!

Nate Rasmussen, B.M.