L.U. 584 (ees,em,es,i,rts,spa&u), TULSA, OK The day began with a drizzling,
freezing rain. The drizzle turned into a sleet storm around 10 a.m., and by 2
p.m. when the funeral commenced, it was a driving snowstorm. Bro. Jimmy Pitts
would not have had it any other way. He would have wished a better day on
someone weaker and more in need of a milder day. When it was time to give, Bro.
Jimmy gave the most, and when it was time to help, he was already there.
Approximately 60 IBEW brothers gathered for the funeral of our fallen
brother. He was a champion boxer when he served his country in the 101st
Airborne. Bro. Jimmy was a strong man destined for the bull gang. No one ever
considered him for the terminating crew. He was meant to be pulling the largest
cables in the longest pulls. He never asked for light duty, even when he was
dying of cancer. A gentle giant, Jimmy was the kindest of brothers. Although the
bulk of his size didnt register with the U.S. Standards of Weights and
Measures, at 52" and 125 pounds, Bro. Jimmy Pitts had a lot of heart.
Local 596, Clarksburg, WV, members worked on the
recently completed windmill
project.
L.U. 596 (i,o&u), CLARKSBURG, WV The recently completed 44 windmills are now
generating 66-megawatts an hour. The project owner is Florida Power and Light.
The general contractor is Mortenson, and the electrical contractors are Merit
Electric and Queen City Electric. More windmill farms are planned for this area.
The following members retired in 2002: Ted Ramsey, Ron Haun, Henry Hale, John
Delaney, John Garner, Ron Hitt, Chet Hale, Sr., J. D. Pavelko, Jim Brooks and
Douglas Ash. Congratulations to all!
The work picture for this area still looks good for this year. Many projects
will hire off Book I this spring, maybe into Book II by late summer.
Some of the many Local 606, Orlando, FL, members
who contributed funds to
help the apprentices this
past holiday season are, from left, kneeling, Steve
Varricchio and Michael King, second row, Mike
Norcross, Sonny Ly, Cliff Gilmore,
Jr., Ricky Heaton
and April Dulin, third row, John Shirley and Teresa
Alcantar
and back row, Roger Shepard, Lonnie
Cannady, Roosevelt Newsome and Dexter
Samuel.
L.U. 606 (em,es,i,rtb,spa&u), ORLANDO, FL We wish to thank the many brothers
and sisters who contributed about $2,000 for our needy apprentices this past
holiday season. Along with the money received from the Brotherhood Fund, the
contribution helped to make Christmas much brighter for the apprentices and
their families. This is just one of the attributes of being a union member union
members make a difference.
Congratulations to Sister Teresa Alcantar, who was chosen as a regional
winner for the "All American Success Stories," sponsored by the Florida
Department of Education Work force Development.
Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of Bros. Rufus Leon Blackman and
Jim Bronson, who passed away.
Local 636, Toronto, ON, Canada, members at the
annual Unit Chairperson Seminar.
L.U. 636 (as,catv,em,spa&u), TORONTO, ON, CANADA Members recently attended
another successful Unit Chairperson Seminar. Chairpersons from across Local 636
get together to discuss problems in their areas, to learn and to catch up with
old friends.
We hope that 2003 will bring relief from the concerns of deregulation and how
it has affected the industry.
I would like to thank all who read the "Local Lines," and to say this will be
my last report. It has been a pleasure reporting for the local. May you all have
a wonderful 2003.
From left, Local 648 Hamilton, OH, Irwin
brothers Alan, Ralph, Clyde, Hank
and Alan
display their plaque at the retirees
Christmas party.
L.U. 648 (em,i,spa&u), HAMILTON, OH The Irwin brothers were presented a
plaque at the retirees Christmas party for their combined 209 years of service
to the IBEW and Local 648. Bro. Ralph Irwin has 60 years of service, Bro. Clyde
has 55 years, Bro. Hank has 50 years and Bro. Alan has 44 years. All four
brothers are now retired and all are in good health and attend our Retiree
meeting monthly. Thank you Brothers for your years of dedication.
The JATC is holding welding classes for our members and apprentices. Members
are either learning or tuning up their skills on stick, mig, tig and iso-phase
welding. Bro. Joe Pate is our instructor for all the classes.
We hope the work picture will start to pick up in late spring to early
summer. We have been working closely with our contractors and have been
successful on the last four school jobs and a hospital job. We also hope that
work will pick up at AK Steel.
Local 648 mourns the recent death of 35-year member Bro. Kenneth Brown.
Family and friends will sadly miss Kenny.
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