Stompin’ at the Cow Palace

October/November 2001 IBEW Journal

All work and no play makes for a dull convention. After many participated in the Women’s and Minority Caucus meetings and the Political/Legislative Conference, and before beginning the serious business of the convention, it was time to have a little fun. And on Saturday, September 8, the delegates and guests did just that.

In the afternoon, delegates and guests took buses to the Cow Palace, the venerable arena south of San Francisco. The massive parking lot there played host to an outdoor barbecue and music fest. Featured were the masterful dance steps of the barbary coast cloggers (not a misprint—they don’t use capital letters in their name), Chariveri, a Cajun-music group, and the remarkable Bluegrass sounds of Ricky Skaggs.

As the sun was setting, it was time to file into the Cow Palace itself for the main event. The program featured a special 110th anniversary celebration of the IBEW, complete with actors portraying two fictional IBEW members, veteran Lenny Fuse and upstart Sparky Breaker. The show blended IBEW history and modern day achievements with singing and dancing by a talented chorus. Two guys wearing black T-shirts labeled "Hill, Local 712" and "O’Connor, Local 701," thrilled the crowd with aerial stunts performed with bungee cords. Rumor had it that they were professional acrobats and not the officers themselves.

But what really got the crowd going was the featured act of the night, country music superstars Brooks and Dunn. The duo, backed by some amazing musicians, belted out some of their greatest hits and old standards and had the crowd rocking and cheering.

On Sunday evening, September 9, officers, delegates and guests attended the Delegates’ Reception at the Moscone Center, a convention tradition that takes place before the start of business the next morning.