L.U. 8 (as,em,i,mar,mt,rts,s&spa), TOLEDO, OHIO — Happy spring! Our local's 54th Annual Dinner Dance in March had some 425 people in attendance. Bus. Mgr. Roy Grosswiler led a moment of silence for recently deceased members. Then he and Pres. Eric Grosswiler recognized members for their years of service and awarded service pins.

Members recognized for years of service include the following: 50-year members — Glenn "Buck" Crosser, Lee Cutchall, Robert Dusseau, Howard Fought Jr., Greg Gumban Jr., Jack Hageman, Jerry Jacobs, Ken Kreuchauf, Richard Long, Dennis Myers, Louis Rockwood, Ron Steele, Al Vansickle, Clyde Wentling, Gerald Wilhelm and Mike Wittenmyer; 55-year members — Caeron Crook, Leonard Mientkiewicz, Robert Miller, Dennis Murphy and Jerry Rogers; 60-year members — Roger Bugaj, Ed Isaacson, Norm Mulligan, George Redmond Jr., Robert Stephenson, Norm Streichert, William Stuckey, Ray Szymanski and Tom Thomas; 65-year members — James Pudlicki and Ron Streichert. And most notably, 70-year pins went to: Clifton Linscott, Carl Mauss, John Saunders and Conrad Shoup. Congratulations to all!

At this writing, midterm primary elections in Ohio were scheduled for May 8. Prior to the election, the Local 8 Executive Board screened candidates and made a few endorsements; one of the most important was for Richard Cordray for governor. We hope everyone remembered to vote on May 8.

At press time, the Local 8 Sisters group meeting was scheduled for May 6. Women from all classifications were invited to meet, share ideas about Local 8 functions, discuss volunteer opportunities, and get to know fellow sisters.

Work safe and attend your union meetings.

Mike Brubaker, P.S.

L.U. 12 (i,o&se), PUEBLO, CO — The local's 118th Awards Banquet was held at the historic Pueblo Union Train Depot on Feb. 24.

Everyone had a great time mingling with friends, new and old. Service pins and retirement watches were presented, and several lifetime members were honored.

Our 55-year pin recipient, Bro. Larry Tatinski, was apprenticeship director from 1983 to 1993. Bro. Claude Toussaint was present with his family to receive his 60-year pin. Bros. Frank Kinder and Daryl McDonald are 65-year pin recipients, but they were not able to attend. Awards were also presented to the Outstanding New Apprentice, Casey Hunt, and the Apprentice of the Year, Jeremiah Minogue.

Congratulations to all of those who have paved the way and to those who continue in the IBEW tradition.

Susan J. Johnson, P.S.

L.U. 16 (i), EVANSVILLE, IN — It's been a busy spring for members Brandon Wongngamnit and Jeremy Sowder. They were essential in making the local's social activities a great success. In February they hosted the 2nd Winter Gala, a very nice evening with drinks, dinner, dancing, and opportunities to renew old friendships. Brandon and Jeremy also made certain the annual Easter Egg Hunt went off without a hitch. Special thanks also to John Parker, who entertained the kids dressed in his Easter Bunny costume.

The Local 16 Political Action Committee has also been busy with cornhole tournaments, a poker run, and a golf scramble. Proceeds from these activities fund pro-labor candidates for future elections.

March 17 marked the first of what will hopefully be many more St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The union hall was nicely decorated, and participants enjoyed an abundance of raffles, auction items and children's activities, as well as some of the best Irish food this side of the Emerald Isle. Over $6,800 was raised to help with IBEW causes. It would not have been possible without the tireless work of Bros. Bubba Fenton, Paul Lamb and Ricky Rush. Thanks to all who build this union.

Donald P. Beavin, P.S.

L.U. 22 (i,lpt,rts&spa), OMAHA, NE — When it comes to supporting our community, Local 22 members are always ready. Building stronger communities through strong union families is vital to increasing union density. Events like the Building Trades Chili Cook Off, the Local 22 Bowling Sweeper, and Powering Hope are prime examples of community support.

Recently, Local 22 sponsored several teams in the Omaha Building Trades Annual Chili Cook Off. While sampling great chili, members and their families spoke with local politicians about the challenges plaguing working families. The message? In solidarity, we can effect change.

The Annual Bowling Sweeper is right up Local 22's alley. Members and their families teamed up for great brotherhood, charity and prizes. The highlight of the event was the donation of all proceeds to the Local 22 Brotherhood Fund. This member-supported fund serves sick and injured members in their time of need. Congratulations to Bro. Mark Garner for bowling a perfect game!

Powering Hope is a community outreach program exclusive to Local 22. Members volunteer to assist lower income families with general electrical repairs. Approximately 25 families received much-needed assistance in 2017.

A big thank-you to all participating members. Your continued support makes Local 22 very special.

Joel Anderson, P.S.

L.U. 24 (es,i&spa), BALTIMORE, MD — We have ratified the ABM Electrical Power Solutions agreement and the City Light & Power agreement and are now entering into negotiations for our Voice Data Video agreement. Unfortunately, at this writing, the Triangle Sign negotiations are not going well. At press time, members at Triangle are entering their fifth month without a new agreement. We will be ramping up pressure to get this contract settled for our members.

We thank the union linemen from One Source Power for their help restoring power during the wind storm that affected thousands of homes and businesses including our apprenticeship school and union offices.

On March 22-24, the Labor Management Cooperation Committee (LMCC) held its Annual Drug Testing Tool & Boot Sale. A total of 347 members were tested over the three-day period. Over $40,000 worth of tools and 90 pairs of work boots were sold at discounted prices. Thanks to all who participated.

On Monday, April 2, wearing Local 24 hats, IBEW members participated in a rally at the State House in Annapolis to let our legislators know the labor movement in Baltimore and throughout Maryland is alive, doing well and getting stronger. I would like to thank the 200+ members who attended the rally.

Peter P. Demchuk, B.M.

L.U. 26 (ees,em,es,govt,i&mt), WASHINGTON, DC — Thank you to everyone participating in our annual Dollars Against Diabetes Golf Outing on June 4.

Please note a correction to our April article regarding the Manassas, VA, picnic: The Manassas picnic will be Saturday, June 16 (not June 23 as previously reported). The Edgewater, MD, picnic will be Saturday, Aug. 25. Mark your calendars for these fun-filled events!

Local 26 officers and agents have been very busy. We attended the JATC graduation on June 2. We also attended the IBEW Political & Legislative Affairs Conference, the IBEW Construction Conference, and the North America's Building Trades Unions 2018 Legislative Conference.

On March 16, we attended the 2018 Craftsmanship Awards program, held by the Washington Building Congress, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. Bro. Bruce E. Baldwin (see photo), a 39-year Local 26 member, received well-deserved recognition and was inducted into the WBC Craftsman Hall of Fame. Congratulations to all the contractors, and to Bro. Baldwin for being an extraordinary role model for all!

We mourn the death of several members since our last article: Christopher D. Dykes, Stephen J. Lascola Jr., Timothy J. Munsey, Robert S. Gaines, Martyn R. Montague III, Samuel W. Kivett, Dustin C. Lueker, Leo G. Kelley, Christopher J. Parker, Eric J. D'Abadie and Michael H. Williams.

Best wishes to recent retirees: James M. Rowland, William T. Clark III, Ronald L. Carter, Carlos R. Ramirez, Allen J. Reese, Stanley Rice, William N. Reedy, Robert K. Bender, James P. Camba, David W. Kidd, Russell J. Low, Robert M. Lee and Edward F. Hanko.

George C. Hogan, B.M.

L.U. 34 (em,i,mt,rts&spa), PEORIA, IL — Local 34's Annual Steak Fry was Friday, April 6. Many prizes were raffled, and we raised over $1,000 for the sick and needy fund. Despite the cold weather, over 80 members attended to enjoy a steak dinner and share some laughs. Thank you to Pres. Mark Picton and all his volunteers, especially retired former president J.J. Walker, who always lends a hand and helps coordinate the evening.

Everybody should have already received our new Local 34 Newsletter. This newsletter will be sent out quarterly to our active and retired members. There will be a quarterly calendar of events, a business manager article, work outlook information and referral summaries to help keep everyone informed. As always, if you have anything that you would like to contribute, feel free to call the hall with suggestions or comments.

Temperatures have finally warmed up and we have seen a small increase in referrals. Most of the area's general contractors are reporting to be booked throughout, or close to, the end of the year. Thank you, once again to our nearby fellow IBEW locals that continue to employ our members, and we look forward to returning the hospitality in the future.

Tim Sprout, A.B.M.

L.U. 38 (i), CLEVELAND, OHIO — The work outlook remains strong and we are currently experiencing full employment as some major projects have finally gotten underway. The Amazon project in North Randall has about 140 members on site, between Ullman Electric, BCU Electric Inc. and G&B Electric. The site work has started on the Euclid Amazon site and that electrical contract was awarded to Zenith Systems. Herbst Electric continues to hire for the new Charter Steel Mill (see photo) and the Euclid Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Renovations have begun on the conversion of the Terminal Tower office spaces into apartments, and Gateway Electric is on site. Gateway crews also continue to grow at the new downtown Beacon Apartment Building as the steel continues to rise there. Einheit Electric has the first phase of the Q Arena renovations and the second phase will be awarded soon. Lake Erie Electric is finally on site at the new 35-story Playhouse Square Apartment Building, which just started in April on Euclid Avenue at East 16th Street.

The Local 38 Walleye tournament will be on Saturday, June 30, this year and the Local 38 Cedar Point Family Picnic will be on Sunday, July 1.

Dennis Meaney, B.M./F.S.

L.U. 40 (em,i&mps), HOLLYWOOD, CA — Brothers and sisters, the importance of community outreach, getting involved and giving back is a fundamental belief of the IBEW. The Electrical Workers Minority Caucus provides an opportunity for minority members and all our members to get involved and have their voices heard.

One of the key missions of the EWMC is to give back to our communities. On March 4, Local 40, alongside the So Cal EWMC Chapter, completed one of its many community service projects. We worked together with Los Ninos de la Calle Con Wendy Foundation in the city of Anaheim, near the Salvation Army, providing a hot lunch for any person in need. We provided over 40 meals and a warm welcome to a lot of good people that afternoon. Helping those in need is an important mission of the IBEW and So Cal EWMC. Through volunteer work and community service, we can give back, and show gratitude toward an industry and an organization that provide us with so much.

The IBEW and Local 40 encourage members to serve our communities any way we can, whether through donations, volunteering, phone banking, political action, or even simply attending your general membership meetings. Participating in community outreach reflects the type of dedicated and hard-working union members we are.

Juan Rodriguez, V.P.

L.U. 46 (as,c,cs,em,es,et,i,mar,mo,mt,rtb,rts&st), SEATTLE, WA — Mark your calendars for our two summer picnics! The Peninsula Picnic will be Saturday, July 21, at Salsbury Point County Park in Poulsbo. The Seattle Area Picnic is Sunday, Aug. 5. This year's Seattle Area Picnic will be at a new location, Vasa Park Resort, located on beautiful Lake Sammamish between Bellevue and Issaquah. Watch for more announcements as we get closer to these events.

The Washington state legislature passed several labor-supported bills in its 2018 session. Collective bargaining agreements will now be used to determine area prevailing wage rates. Apprentice Utilization on public projects will increase based on this new compliance law that offers incentives for AU. New contractors bidding on public works projects must complete training on prevailing wage law as a part of the responsible bidder statute. Washington will require completion of an approved apprenticeship to become a journey-level electrician beginning July 1, 2023. Many of these new laws had been stalled for years by an anti-labor state Senate, but thanks to labor's efforts in the special election in the 45th District, Democrats regained control of the Senate.

The SR99 Tunnel project is nearing completion with the roadway projected to open in late 2018. Local 46 has over 150 wiremen and apprentices working to complete the project. IBEW Local 46 thanks all the members and travelers who have helped make this project a success!

Warren Shill, V.P.

L.U. 48 (c,em,i,rtb,rts,st&tm), PORTLAND, OR — Local 48 is committed to making the entire electrical industry in its jurisdiction representative of the communities the local serves. To this end, Local 48 has been and continues to be involved in the following ways:

• Local 48 staffed a booth at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen's Show, where union representatives reached out to a broad range of people to talk about apprenticeship, employment, and the Qualified Electricians Coupon program.
• With full support of Bus. Mgr. Gary Young and Pres. Wayne Chow, the Sisters in Solidarity of Local 48 Committee was officially established in late 2017 and they now have a mission statement. Under the elected leadership of co-chairs Val Madsen and Debbie Spickerman, they intend to file for an International Charter. [Editor's Note: To read more, see news article "Women's Committees Empowering the Sisterhood," in the May 2018 issue of The Electrical Worker.]
• Sister Donna Hammond helped to introduce the electrical trade to kids in urban communities through the iUrbanTeen iTrades Career Day in February.
• Local 48 also welcomed the 26th Annual Oregon Tradeswomen's Career Fair on Saturday, May 19.

Local 48 is proud to welcome electrical workers from every background. All involved are excited when they see recruitment efforts pan out and growing numbers of applicants applying for the apprenticeship programs.

Ray Lister, B.R.

L.U. 50 (u), RICHMOND, VA — While traveling to Kitty Hawk, NC, two Local 50 linemen from Williamston, NC, Jeremy Aycock and Quentin Conner, encountered a scene they would never forget. The two linemen were delivering a vehicle to the Kitty Hawk office for storm restoration. While in route, they happened by a woman (a retired nurse) who was administering CPR to a man she had found face down near the beach.

The two IBEW linemen made a quick decision to help even though they had no practical experience, only recent training. Just weeks before, Dominion Energy had installed an automatic external defibrillator (AED) on the very truck the linemen were transporting.

The linemen were somewhat nervous initially but knew the man needed help. They were able to assist the nurse with use of the AED and care for the man until EMS arrived on the scene. Later, the family of the man who was rescued called Dare County Emergency Services to extend their thanks. The nurse also expressed her gratitude to Bros. Aycock and Conner for their willingness to help. She said the sick man's "chances didn't look good" until the two IBEW members showed up with the AED.

IBEW Local 50 represents over 3,000 electrical workers in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

John Albert, Treas./B.R.

L.U. 68 (i), DENVER, CO — Greetings, sisters and brothers. The work picture in Local 68 is starting to take off and should stay bright with several projects coming up.

The organizing department is still working on several organizing campaigns. If you would like to help out, please call one of the organizers and become part of the Volunteer Organizing Committee (VOC). I am sure they could use and would appreciate your help.

The apprenticeship has started conducting the Continuing Education courses, which are now required in order to maintain your Colorado state electrical license. Check the apprenticeship website for class schedules and times.

Stay safe this summer! Enjoy the work and the weather!

Morgan J. Buchanan, Pres.

L.U. 80 (i&o), NORFOLK, VA — Local 80 would like to thank all our members who showed up for our annual picnic. It was a good time for everyone and it's always a pleasure to see all our members enjoying the food, camaraderie and festivities.

We also look forward to our Norfolk Tides Baseball game. There was a good turnout the last time and we're hoping for the same this time around.

Local 80 welcomes our newest Membership Development/Organizer Shawn Bruce. Since day one when he accepted the position, he has hit the ground running.

The work picture has continued to grow and by early spring we will have full employment.

Local 80 extends our deepest condolences to the families of our recently deceased members: Bros. Donnie Necomb, Milton Powell, Herbert E. Larkins Jr. and Ralph D. Knight Jr.

Wil Morris, P.S.

L.U. 124 (ees,em,i,mar,rts,se,spa&t), KANSAS CITY, MO — Organized labor has been under siege in Missouri.

The anti-labor lawmakers who control the Missouri General Assembly along with special interest lobbyists are selling this "right to work" sham as a way for Missouri to create more jobs. This false notion that economic prosperity will only come if we can pay our workers less has been a complete failure in every RTW state so far. The anti-labor forces in the Missouri General Assembly waste time creating legislation aimed at eliminating our ability to organize. Legislation aimed at restricting our right to elect our representation. Legislation aimed at reducing workplace safety and legislation aimed at reducing our wages. This is just a continued attempt to erode our hard-fought rights that form the foundation of the American middle class.

On March 28, organized labor showed up in force at the Missouri state Capitol to voice opposition to this anti-labor legislation. Thousands of workers from across Missouri filled the halls and lawn of the state Capitol. Our success will be measured in our ability to repeal RTW at the ballot this year.

Steve Morales, P.S.

L.U. 134 (catv,em,govt,i,mt,rtb,rts,spa&t), CHICAGO, IL — Exciting new beginnings! On March 1 this year, Local 134 held its first union meeting at its new Bronzeville campus after recently relocating from its previous home of 60-plus years.

This state of the art facility boasts a 5,000-square-foot community center and a 17,000-square-foot Memorial Union Hall.

Prior to the meeting opening for regularly monthly business, Cardinal Blasé Cupich was on hand to bless Local 134's new union hall and the entire membership.

Bus. Mgr. Don Finn addressed the membership stating: "Tonight has been a long time coming for you, the membership — and, brothers and sisters, you deserve it! This campus has been constructed and is ready to house our great local for decades to come."

At press time, Local 134 was scheduled to hold its official grand opening on Memorial Day weekend in May.

Kevin Connolly, R.S.

L.U. 146 (ei,i&rts), DECATUR, IL — We are saddened to report the recent passing of three beloved members. The late Frank Slaughter, 77, was a 60-year IBEW member. Phillip Carter, 81, was a 47-year member. And Bart Kastl, 59, was a 19-year member. These three will be sorely missed by Local 146 members and all who knew these fine gentlemen. We extend sincere condolences to their families.

The work outlook for the summer is very promising. Projects such as Fuyao Glass America Inc., Taylorville water treatment plant, solar farms, and various hospital work projects are all planned. We also thank our traveling sisters and brothers who helped with the just-completed refuel outage at Clinton Power Station.

We had a wonderful day at our annual golf outing in Taylorville. The weather was delightful, and nothing can compare to a day on the links with your union brothers and sisters. Thank you to the Lake Shore Golf Club for its hospitality.

We congratulate and thank Joe Kidd, Kyle Parks, Myra Walters and Terry Frailey-Wood for their longtime service to the local. They all had the privilege of receiving their retiree watches at the March union meeting. We sincerely hope they have a long and enjoyable retirement.

Steve Tilford, R.S.

L.U. 158 (i,it,mar,mt&spa), GREEN BAY, WI — Local 158 has had a lot going on this spring. Manpower requests are coming in weekly, and we are looking everywhere for new members. At press time, our local was making plans to hold a job fair in May with hopes of attracting new members. Our contractors continue to bid and have been awarded some nice projects. Our apprenticeship classes are swelling as well. All good news.

We had our annual banquet in April celebrating our 99th year under the Local 158 charter. Next year will be our 100th anniversary and it will be quite the celebration. Once again, the banquet was well-attended, and everyone enjoyed a good time. We recognized our officers, retirees, veterans and our current apprentices. Many of the members in attendance received their years-of-service pins. To me this is always one of the highlights of the night. Those eligible for service pins who were not present at the April banquet will receive their pins later.

On the RENEW front: Our RENEW group organized an outing at the Green Bay Gamblers hockey game. They had a great turnout and it was a fun night. The Green Bay RENEW committee is planning more functions for this summer. It's good to see their involvement.

Donald C. Allen, B.M.

L.U. 234 (i&mt), CASTROVILLE, CA — It is with immense pride that we commend our nine 5th-year inside apprentices on their well-earned graduation this year. We salute the accomplishments of the graduates: Wallace Barnes, William Clough, Gerardo Espinoza, Nicholas Karakas, Beau Kelly, Ruben Lozano, Nick Luczak, Austin Pless and Chris Swim.

Graduates, the electrical industry needs you now more than ever. Your skills, ideas, professional attitudes, and eagerness to take on ever-increasing jobsite demands are especially required in the field today. This is your time to carry out the many ideas you have developed over the past five years of apprenticeship. As you join the ranks of a Brotherhood that goes back over a century, please remember to carry on the tradition of always working safely.

Local 234 members, their families, our retirees, fellow apprentices, instructors, JATC staff, and local officers all join in congratulating the 2018 graduates on their successful electrical apprenticeship graduation.

Stephen Slovacek, P.S.

L.U. 294 (ees,em,i,rts,spa&u), HIBBING, MN — IBEW Local 294's hockey team once again this year took the consolation trophy in the RLP Hockey Tournament held every year in Hibbing, MN.

Hearty congratulations to all: Korey Johnson, Nick Cimermancic, Jared Shevich, Sam Kinne, Dan Hendrickson, Cody Ekholm and Joe Carlson; back row, Scott Johnson, Chase Pavich, Oliver Putkonen, Nate Niemi, Jeremy Gustafson, Joe Garrison, Brian Ekholm, Nathan Potter, Charles Lenich, Tyler Gustafson and Petey McGraw.

Dan Hendrickson, B.M.

L.U. 306 (i), AKRON, OHIO — On March 24, we held our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Although the weather was still a bit chilly, the kids never seem to mind. Thanks once again to our regular group of volunteers who make these social events possible.

Once again, we find ourselves in another important election year, with the midterm elections coming up.

And as was predicted, those who oppose organized labor have been busy rolling back workers' rights over the past year and a half. Many states have pushed forward on repealing prevailing wage rates, passing so-called "right to work" measures and denying many the right to hold union elections.

As important as it is to elect labor-friendly candidates, it is equally important to register to vote and become involved in the issues that affect all working people. I urge every union member to register, educate yourself on what is happening and exercise your right to vote.

It is with great sadness that we report the loss of Bro. Michael Turnbull and retired Bros. Robert McMullen and Dennis Johanyak. Denny served the IBEW and Local 306 in many capacities throughout his 40-year career, including as a former business manager and as a Fourth District international representative. He was a dedicated fighter for workers' rights and was admired by members and friends for his leadership and integrity.

Thomas Wright, P.S.

L.U. 340 (i,rts&spa), SACRAMENTO, CA — At press time, we're very busy preparing to move into our new building. At this April writing, the move is a few months away but, in the meantime, we are going through over 115 years of paperwork. Our International Office is very good at providing the document retention guidelines, however, there are well over 100 boxes that were packed away years ago. In going through this paperwork, some of the "finds" have been awesome as the history of Local 340 has come pouring out of these dusty boxes. It has been so interesting to read meeting minutes from the years dating all the way back to our beginning, documenting both good and not so good times. When I get a chance, I plan to spend some quality hours reading these minutes, especially about when Locals 1336, 1188 and 442 were amalgamated into Local 340, events I have only heard about through word of mouth.

I'm proud to be part of the local's history now, knowing that 115 years from now, another business manager will be reading about the year 2018 when Local 340 got a new "home" because work was so good that we just outgrew this beloved building on El Centro Road. (I guarantee though, the way computers are going, there won't be as many dusty boxes for that business manager to go through.)

Robert D. Ward, B.M.

L.U. 364 (catv,ees,em,es,i,mt,rts&spa), ROCKFORD, IL — IBEW Local 364 is having another banner year with the completion of the new OSF Hospital addition, which marks the beginning of three new facilities for Swedish American Hospital and a large expansion of its existing downtown campus.

The Mercy Hospital project is well underway with over 150 journeyman wiremen on this project, with a projected completion by early 2019. In other parts of our jurisdiction, we have the Green River wind farm project underway replacing existing cell towers with taller ones.

Our Plug and Play concert on April 7 was a success with several musicians from Local 364 playing in their various bands or just getting together onstage to jam. Everyone attending had a great time of live music and solidarity.

Congratulations to our new journeyman wiremen, who as of our May meeting have topped out. We wish the recent apprentice graduates continued success and safety in their careers.

Our IBEW Local 364 picnic is planned for June 30, and our annual golf playday will be July 21 … just to name a few of the exciting events Local 364 has planned for our membership.

Brad Williams, P.S.

L.U. 400 (es,i&o), ASBURY PARK, NJ — Organized labor was represented again this year at the 45th Annual Belmar St. Patrick's Day Parade. Local 400 participants spent the morning at their pre-parade location celebrating with local building trade organizations, Central Labor Council members and members of IBEW Local 1820, which represents employees of New Jersey Natural Gas. The pre-parade gathering has become a must-stop destination for New Jersey politicians from both sides of the aisle who support organized labor.

We were visited by dignitaries including the following: New Jersey state Sen. Vin Gopal, a Local 400 member; Speaker of the General Assembly Craig Coughlin; Local 400 member and New Jersey Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling; Assemblywoman Joann Downey; Assemblyman Edward Thomson; Monmouth County Freeholders Thomas Arnone, Patrick Impreveduto and Gerry Scharfenberger; Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon; Monmouth County Sherriff Shaun Golden; New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Assoc. Pres. Wayne Blanchard; IBEW Int. Rep. Wyatt Earp; and many mayors, former mayors and council members from throughout our jurisdiction.

A special thank-you once again to Local 400 member Pete Sparandera for the use of his show truck, and to all our members who volunteered, marched in the parade and spent the day with friends and family.

Michael Ricca, B.A.

L.U. 412 (u), KANSAS CITY, MO — On March 26-27, an IBEW Local 412 delegation attended the Missouri State Council of Machinists Political & Legislative Conference in Jefferson City, joining delegations from several fellow IBEW locals and other AFL-CIO affiliates. This conference is known for its relevant labor-issues program and its access to legislators who impact those issues.

Debi Kidwiler, P.S.

L.U. 424 (as,ees,em,es,i,mo,o,ptc,rtb,rts,spa&u), EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA — Local 424 is proud to have hosted Provincial NDP Labour Minister Christina Gray after our union meeting on Saturday, Feb. 24. This was the first time in our local's history that a labour minister visited our union hall. Gray spoke to our members about Bill-17 and the importance of using Automatic-certification (card check) to go out and organize companies. There have already been a few successful organizing drives using Automatic-certification by other members of the Building Trades of Alberta — one involving Icon construction company and another at Kiewit construction. Members are encouraged to work with the organizing department to help our union conduct successful organizing drives.

Commercial construction is expected to continue at the Stantec tower in Edmonton until end of the year, and the Stanton Hospital project should be completed this November. Several smaller projects were awarded to our commercial signatory contractors. Members are asked to please have commercial experience before bidding for these jobs. Work has begun on the TransEd LRT project in Edmonton; two of our signatory contractors were awarded the electrical portion, and major completion is expected for late 2020. Industrial construction is expected to slow down for the remainder of 2018, as the Northwest Redwater Refinery and Fort Hills projects are completed. The 70-kilowatt solar array on the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) campus being built by Canadian Power PAC is the largest solar photovoltaic array built by IBEW Local 424 to date; thank you to all our members who have made this a successful project.

The government of Alberta has several positions open on the Provincial Apprenticeship Committee. Local 424 encourages members to apply for these positions, as they provide an important opportunity for us to provide input to the Ministry of Advanced Education about training and apprenticeship ratios. For information on how to apply, please contact the business office or apply online at: https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/sources/pdfs/forms/APPL_LAC_PAC_MEMBER.PDF.

Scott Crichton, P.S.

L.U. 466 (em,es,i&rts), CHARLESTON, WV — Local 466 commends our IBEW RENEW group on their community service projects and all the great work they are doing.

Following is a report submitted by the RENEW group on their recent activities:

"Having recently started an IBEW RENEW group within their local, the younger members are becoming more involved with their local union. They started off by having 15-25 members, young and old, volunteering in flood-relief efforts to restore power to over 150 residents affected by the record-breaking flood that tore through their jurisdiction in June of 2016. They also worked with the affected area's Little League Baseball Association to help get their field lighting and concession stands back in working order for the start of the baseball season. The RENEW members were enjoying volunteering and reached out to all members and area churches to volunteer their time; whether the job be big or small, they wanted to help.

"In December of 2017, the RENEW group, with the help of their local and fundraising efforts had raised some money and wanted to continue to give back to the community as well as have a member-­appreciation event. So, they collaborated with their local union and organized a Teddy Bear Giveaway at the local children's hospital in Charleston. They didn't stop there. They also organized their first annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa for the members and families of IBEW Local 466. It was a very successful event, with a great turnout. They continue to plan member-appreciation solidarity events for the near future, even coming together with neighboring local's RENEW groups to bring more people together."

Dustin Vaughan, Exec. Board

L.U. 530 (i,o&rtb), SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA — On April 28, Local 530 participated in the Annual International Day of Mourning. Every year on this day we remember those who have lost their life on the job and those who suffer from workplace illness.

At the time of this writing, we have full employment and would like to thank other brothers and sisters from surrounding IBEW locals for helping us man our local's current projects.

Local 530 is saddened by the recent passing of Bros. Ross Rutter, Bill Cole, Wayne Norman and Bob Trella Sr. May they rest in peace.

Al Byers, P.S.

L.U. 558 (catv,em,i,lctt,mt,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), SHEFFIELD, AL — On March 2, Local 558 celebrated its 100th anniversary! This was a wonderful celebration for our retired and active members. We had a very large crowd that exceeded our initial expectations. The event shed additional light on the rich history of Local 558, inspiring a deeper and more passionate appreciation of what our forefathers fought for.

Int. Pres. Lonnie R. Stephenson sent a beautiful plaque, which we proudly have on display in our office. Int. Pres. Stephenson had planned to attend the event, but his flight was cancelled due to unexpected weather conditions.

Our guest speaker was Int. Rep. Mike Pace, who reflected on the accomplishments of Local 558 and the partnership we've had with the Fifth District. Bus. Mgr. Ralph Mayes, as well as former business managers Doug Watkins and Steve Crunk, also gave encouraging remarks.

A milestone of this nature in the South is nothing to take for granted. We've endured some tough battles and celebrated some sweet victories, but there's more work to do. To all our sponsors, we sincerely thank you for your support. Thanks to the generosity of all involved, we had an unprecedented event. More importantly, thank you to our past, present and future members for everything you do. We were honored to join with everyone to celebrate this special occasion.

Tony Quillen, Pres./A.B.M.

L.U. 640 (em,govt,i,mo,mt,rts,spa&u), PHOENIX, AZ — The Local 640 work picture is still strong for the foreseeable future. However, a large portion of the Intel work has been pushed back until this fall. We still have several hospital and data-center jobs that will be starting.

Our members recently voted to ratify a new three-year contract. Notably, the new contract was settled without using the services of an arbitrator. The newly ratified contract provides the best three-year increase ever at Local 640. The contract takes effect July 1, 2018.

The recent contract ratification marked the first time in 38 years that our members had an opportunity to vote to ratify a full three-year contract. Since 1980, it has been settled by an arbitrator. We hope this success will usher in a new era of settling our differences at the bargaining table, and not having to put them in someone else's hands. Congratulations to all involved.

We also wish to congratulate our apprentices who graduated on Jan. 19 this year. Welcome, new journeymen!

Tim Wilson, B.R.

L.U. 666 (i,mt&o), RICHMOND, VA — As we move into the upswing of the construction cycle, please consider the idea of stewardship. Not just the steward on the job, but the responsibility we all have to one another.

As IBEW members, we all must do our part to practice accountability and work together to build solidarity and strengthen our union. We only grow and thrive when we live up to the ideals we espouse. If you see issues that need to be addressed, take the appropriate steps to resolve them responsibly.

The next few years have great potential for progress, regaining market share, and increasing the ranks of our membership and our contractors.

Solidarity and accountability are key to our success. Stewardship means we are our brothers/sisters keepers. Our mandate is to organize all workers in the industry. To keep a boom from becoming a bust, we must educate and build solidarity in the ranks of new members, not ostracize those with a different background or classification. This is a potential turning point — we must be willing to take action.

J.D. Jenkins, Pres.

L.U. 692 (i,mt&spa), BAY CITY, MI — With great pleasure and pride we would like to congratulate the recent apprenticeship graduation class. We are committed to providing world-class electricians, and the members of this graduating class are examples of our endeavor. Congratulations, wiremen — continue to do us proud.

Our work picture is still slow, so thanks to our sister IBEW locals for helping out.

Brothers and sisters, remember to stay safe out there and keep hydrated during the hot weather. Know the symptoms of heat injuries, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Also, look out for your co-workers and watch for such symptoms.

Have a great summer.

Mark Thompson, P.S.

L.U. 702 (as,c,catv,cs,em,es,et,govt,i,it,lctt,mo,mt,o,p,pet,ptc,rtb,rts,se,spa,
st,t,u,uow&ws), WEST FRANKFORT, IL — The primary election in Illinois took place in March, and Bus. Rep. Jason Woolard made a strong showing in the 117th House District. We continue to support his campaign and encourage all our members to stay engaged.

On March 31, our RENEW group held its 3rd Annual Bass Fishing Tournament. This was our most successful tournament yet, with 45 teams participating. Thanks to all who came out to participate. Many thanks to our RENEW committee for putting on a great event that gets better each year!

Our Retiree Luncheon on April 3 was well-­attended with about 120 in attendance.

At press time, we are in negotiations with many represented properties, including the following: Cairo Public Utility; City of Miner, Missouri; and Southwestern Electric Cooperative.

Our Annual Golf Tournament will be Friday, June 15, at the Franklin County Country Club, where we will also kick off our Solidarity Ticket sales.

In Missouri, we will need all our members, along with their family and friends, to join us in defeating Proposition A — the phony "right-to-work" legislation.

As of this writing, our referral books are as follows: Inside Construction — 114, Outside Construction — 15, and Line Clearance — 10.

Mark Baker, B.R./P.S.

L.U. 776 (i,o,rts&spa), CHARLESTON, SC — Spring has sprung in Charleston. A pleasant ocean breeze cools our pastoral steel mill, which is having its scheduled spring shutdown. Okay, I might be stretching the truth a teensy bit about the breeze, but we're tough. Bring a towel. And we do have a lovely ice machine.

Here are a few new items: Jody Perry has become the newest member of our Executive Board and we welcome his enthusiasm and experience. We also have a new training coordinator, Bobbi Meyer, who is overseeing our apprenticeship and training programs.

We recently held our first new-member orientation night, where new members learn the written and unwritten rules of the road. (Professionalism and the spirit of brotherhood are always so important; we all want to be welcome and reflect well upon our local when we travel for work!)

The house we are wiring for Habitat for Humanity has, of course, passed inspection!

Finally, we have had a new Brotherhood Night take root, where brothers and sisters meet for a bite to eat and raise funds for our sick and needy. We have some musicians in our midst who play some country and blues, too! Who knew? Getting to know each other fosters harmony, and that's what we're about after all isn't it?

Andy Weiner, P.S.

L.U. 890 (i), JANESVILLE, WI — Local 890 Bus. Mgr. Leo Sokolik recently presented retired Bro. Herbert Koerner with a 50-year IBEW membership pin. Bro. Koerner was initiated into the IBEW on Aug. 2, 1966. Herbert also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Thank you, Bro. Koerner, for your military service and your support of the IBEW.

Jason Heidenreich, P.S.

L.U. 952 (i), VENTURA, CA — The IBEW Local 952 Charitable Activities League (CAL) held its seventh Annual Charity Golf Tournament at the San Buenaventura Golf Course. Through generous sponsors, $3,000 in Target gift cards were donated to the Ventura Vet Center. These gift cards go directly to the veterans who come to the Vet Center in their time of need.

The Vet Center has contact with more than 3,000 veterans, ranging from veterans of the Vietnam War to Operation Enduring Freedom. The Vet Center is free to all active-duty and discharged veterans, with a wide variety of services offered including homeless outreach, veteran advocacy, counseling for addiction, couples and bereavement, as well as a helping hand during difficult transitions.

The board members of the IBEW 952 CAL extend their sincere gratitude to the dedicated staff of the Vet Center. As the relationship between Local 952 and the Vet Center grows, the mission to honor and provide for the veterans of Ventura continues to flourish as the veterans transition from military service to the unionized workforce.

Dane Sutherland, P.S.

L.U. 1116 (em,lctt&u), TUCSON, AZ — Hello, brothers and sisters. 2018 will be an active year for contract negotiations. Please attend your regular unit meetings to keep up to date on what's going on. If you did not receive a proposal packet from the local, that is because we do not have your current address. It is essential that we have current contact information for you, so call the union hall to update your records.

Our local is now active on social media; you can follow us on Facebook and Instagram at IBEW Local 1116.

This year we hope to organize more volunteer events and membership activities. As always, we ask that our members wear their IBEW volunteer shirts to show solidarity and pride in our union.

We held our first IBEW Off-Road Fun Run on April 7. It was a tremendous success and will become an annual event! We had 19 vehicles participate. We are considering a fall run, and we will definitely hold another expanded run next spring. Members can expect to see photos in the quarterly newsletter, and we'll post video on our Facebook page as soon as it's edited.

Child ID kits have been distributed. If you didn't get yours, call the union hall. Otherwise the kits will be distributed to members on a first-come, first-served basis.

Thank you to our active members for all that you do. It can be difficult to keep up with everything in our busy lives, and I want you to know that you are appreciated. In solidarity.

Sharon Williams, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 1, ST. LOUIS, MO — Hello from St. Louis. At this writing in the first week in April, the morning temperature was 29 degrees. I hope by the time this is published, the weather will be warmer. Get out and take a walk or ride a bike. Exercise is good for the body, mind and soul.

So-called "right to work" legislation is still an important issue. In Missouri, organized labor and friends of working people successfully collected enough petition signatures to put a question on the ballot asking voters if they want to keep or kill the new "right-to-work" law. So, we will have an opportunity to vote this horrible law out of Missouri. The statewide referendum will be on the ballot in either August or November. The date for the referendum has not yet been decided at press time. Please make sure that you, your family and friends are registered to vote. And vote for labor-friendly candidates.

Neal McCormack, P. S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, NORTHERN NEW JERSEY CHAPTER — Greetings! We had a long, cold, snowy winter and, as of this writing, we all look forward to some warm weather. Several of our "snow birds" and members vacationing were fortunate to be able to attend the 30th Reunion for Local 3 Retirees in March at the Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood, Florida (see photo). It was a lovely luncheon meeting and so great to reconnect with others.

We continue our monthly meetings throughout the year and look forward to our spring meeting/luncheon at Bellisimo Ristorante. A group of us are going on a bus trip to Niagara Falls and Toronto in June. We're all looking forward to our annual club picnic in July and Santorini in August.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer!

John Krison, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, SUFFOLK CHAPTER — We recently enjoyed a wonderful bus trip to the Bronx Botanical Gardens to see the Dale Chihuly Glass Exhibit. After lunch we went to Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. We took a tour of the cemetery and learned about some of the famous people buried there, including Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Miles Davis and W.B. "Bat" Masterson, to name just a few. The tour guide also gave us a little history about some of the ornate mausoleums. Thanks to Olivia Schmidt for all her hard work in organizing this trip.

Our Annual Food Drive for Long Island Cares and our Toys for Tots Drive were both a great success, thanks to all our club members. It is a good feeling to help those in need.

Everyone had fun at our Annual Holiday Party at Watermill Catering. There was plenty of food, drinks, raffle prizes and music for dancing. A wonderful thank-you to John Schoenig and his committee for all their hard work. A special thank-you to John's wife, Cathy. Once again thank you to Eileen Crisostomo for our beautiful favors.

Club Chmn. Jack Foley and his wife, Ann, wished everyone a happy and healthy new year. Jack presented service awards to Harvey Goldman, Eileen Crisostomo and Jim Burke.

Harvey Goldman, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 3, NEW YORK, NY, WESTCHESTER/PUTNAM CHAPTER — The Westchester/Putnam Chapter of Local 3 retirees held their annual fall golf outing on Oct. 18, 2017. The weather was a bit chilly in the morning, but that did not deter the 85 golfers who participated (see photo). The temperature did warm up, and our golfers enjoyed a very pleasant fall day.

The event was again held at the Leewood Golf Club, a beautifully manicured course in Eastchester, NY. As the golfers completed the course, they returned to the clubhouse patio to enjoy a sumptuous barbecue of burgers, hot dogs and barbecued chicken, with all the trimmings.

For the past five years, our chapter has been a strong supporter of the Fisher House Foundation. This golf outing was the most successful we've ever held. Through this event, we were able to raise approximately $4,000 toward our yearly goal of $10,000, to aid the military families of our nation's wounded heroes.

Dick Mills, Treas.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 53, KANSAS CITY, MO — Well, brothers and sisters, spring has finally arrived, although it is hard to tell with the weather we've been getting. Hope everyone is doing well. We did hear about a few of our retirees who have been ill and required surgery. Hopefully everyone is getting healthy and ready for summer.

Don't forget the 30th Annual Local 53 Crappie Tournament/Fish Fry on June 9 at Truman State Park on Truman Lake. Contact the hall for more information. This is always a great time!

Remember, this is a big election year. We must elect people who will stand up for working people in this country. Another huge issue on the ballot in Missouri will be a voter referendum on the state's new so-called right-to-work law. We must get our members, families, friends, neighbors and everyone educated on this — and vote to overturn the right-to-work law. Vote "no" on Missouri Proposition A. Let's not allow Missouri to be a "right-to-work-for-less" state. At press time the timetable for the vote had not yet been determined; it will take place in August or November.

Sadly, we lost three more retirees: Robert "Shale" Sherman, Richard "R.O." Bickford and Kenny "Tadpole" Rose. Rest in peace, brothers!

Duane Pearce, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 60, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — Local 60 will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a banquet and raffle on July 21 at Villita Assembly Building, 401 Villita St., in San Antonio.

Raffle prizes will be as follows: 1st prize — a 2017 Ford F-150; 2nd prize — a 2017 Indian Scout motorcycle; and 3rd prize — a $1,000 Visa gift card. Tickets are limited for the banquet and raffle. Retirees and active members may purchase tickets at the Local 60 union hall.

At the time of this writing, Retirees Club members were in the final stages of planning their Golf Tournament fundraiser, which was scheduled for April 28 this year. With the number of sponsors and teams committed, this year's tournament will go down in history as the largest to date. The club would like to thank everyone who was involved in this year's successful tournament.

The Local 60 Retired Members Club will be on their summer break in June, July and August. Meetings will resume on Sept. 13, at 12 noon. The club meets at the Plumbers and Pipefitters training building, 3630 Belgium Lane, on the second Thursday of the month at 12 noon. Local 60 retired members and spouses of retired members are invited to please join us.

Sandy Rogers, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 105, HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA — On April 8 we celebrated the retirement of over 30 IBEW brothers. Congratulations to all! Family, friends and retirees applauded them for their years of dedicated service and joined them at Michelangelo's for a buffet breakfast. Brothers celebrating their retirement were honored with a handsome, engraved IBEW clock.

As mentioned previously, to become a Local 105 Retirees Club member you must be 55 years or older, and the club fee is $25 a year.

At the time of this writing, Retirees Club members were looking forward to several events that were scheduled for the month of May: a dance on May 6 at Michelangelo's; a Bowling & Euchre Banquet on May 23; and a Pig Roast on May 31.

We will have a barbecue at the June 15 Retirees membership meeting. Additional upcoming events include the following: On July 13 — a bus trip to the Grand River Raceway & Casino for a buffet dinner; and in August — a bus trip to St. Jacob's Market, a lunch at the Stone Crock, and a play called "Out of Order" at St. Jacob School House.

We hope to see all the new retirees at these future retiree events! Remember our motto: "Don't wait — participate!"

All the above events were made possible by our hard-working local union members and Executive Board, both past and present. Our sincerest thanks to every one of them!

Eden McLean, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 134, CHICAGO, IL — We had an exciting March 14 luncheon meeting, our club's first meeting at our new Local 134 home at 2722 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. I must admit I had a hard time saying goodbye to our old three-story, red-brick historic building. The old building will be torn down and replaced by a new high-rise building.

Our new home was previously a school, which has been totally transformed into an incredibly impressive building that should make all affiliated with Local 134 very proud. While finishing touches are being made to the new meeting hall, our luncheon meeting was held in the gymnasium, the only one part of the school that was kept intact. The gymnasium, which was beautifully redone, is dedicated as a tribute to and named in honor of our late former business manager Terry Allen, a great union leader whom we lost to cancer in November 2014 at the early age of 54.

At our March 14 meeting, club officers were elected, and a delicious lunch was served. We elected our new Pres. Kevin Gibbons and our new Vice Pres. James Jennings. Alan Sindelar continues as recording secretary, and Bernard Martin continues as treasurer. Former president Jim Fliris joins the Executive Board along with Thomas Bohn, Mario Coletta and Walter Felde.

I wish you all a fun and safe summer season.

Sue Kleczka, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 212, CINCINNATI, OHIO — If it's June, July cannot be far behind. Our Annual Club Picnic will be held July 11, at 11 a.m., at Fernbank Park on River Road. It is always great visiting with friends, catching up on the latest adventures of each other's lives. Spend time with people you haven't seen for a while because, as we all know, the gift of life can end at any time. The same advice for the Annual 212 Family Summer Picnic in early August at Stricker's Grove in Ross, Ohio. I hope to visit with many old friends at both events.

Our deepest sympathy to the families of recently departed brothers: 64-year IBEW member Charles Louis; 54-year member John Harrison; 48-year member Paul Kuhn; and 40-year member David Smith.

I also submit a correction for the club's March 2018 article: 20-year member Samuel Allen, not Samuel Adams, passed away Nov. 11, 2017. I regret the error and promise to do better in the future. May eternal rest be upon all our faithful departed members.

Now is the time to research candidates for the November elections. Democracy should not be sold to the highest bidder. We cannot expect corrupt politicians to correct their corrupt system.

Bob Schaefer, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 236, ALBANY, NY — On Oct. 10, 2017, the IBEW Local 236 Retirees Club held their 43rd Annual Luncheon at Treviso in the Italian American Center. Attending were 60 retired members, spouses, guests, and widows of retirees who are no longer with us. The food was great, and the day spent together reminiscing was even better, with everyone enjoying the occasion.

Retirees Club then-Pres. Phil Clemens welcomed all in attendance for his last time before turning over the role of president to Bob Jenne, former vice president. The Retirees Club thanks Phil for his many years of dedicated service to the club. We also thank photographer Ken Hinckley for his work behind the camera lens during the luncheon. Special thanks go to Local 236 Bus. Mgr. Mark Lajeunesse, Asst. Bus. Mgr. Michael Torres, Local 236 members and staff for their continued support of the club.

On a somber note, it is with regret that we announce the passing of Local 236 Retirees Club Rec. Sec. Jim Porter. Jim was an active and valued member of the club who will be greatly missed. We offer our condolences to Jim's brother, Jack Porter, a Local 236 retiree, and the entire Porter family.

Bob Jenne, Pres.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 257, JEFFERSON CITY, MO — The Retirees Club met at the VFW Post 280, Columbia, MO, for our monthly luncheon. We all enjoyed a nice meal before the meeting.

Several members volunteered again this year to help with the Skills USA Competition at Linn State Technical College on April 6. We thank them for their help.

On a sad note, retiree Herb Bruemmer, father of Local 257 Bus. Mgr. Don Bruemmer, passed away Jan. 24. Herb Bruemmer was a Local 257 member and received his 65-year IBEW membership pin in 2017. Several other members of his family are also Local 257 members. Retiree Carlos Hamacher, father of Local 257 member Sam Hamacher, passed away Feb. 3. The late Mr. Hamacher retired as a longtime Local 257 member in 1984. Our condolences go out to their families. Our brothers will be missed.

On March 28, our state AFL-CIO and building trades held another big rally at the state Capitol to advocate repeal of "right-to-work" legislation. Proposition A will be on a statewide ballot later this year. Vote "no" on Proposition A to defeat right-to-work. As retirees, this affects us too, so tell everyone you know to vote. The vote will take place in August or November; the date had not yet been decided at press time. For more information on union efforts to defeat right-to-work, visit www.WeAreMO.org.

Hope everyone had a nice spring. We look forward to warmer weather and outdoor activities. We also look forward to seeing our "snowbirds" back.

Delores Melloway, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 353, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA — As we look at our club's successes of 2018 — our annual overnight trip to Niagara Falls, our annual Spring Kidney Clothes Drive, our Annual Pin/Awards Breakfast for members with 50 or more years of service, and our annual exchange trip to Local 105 Hamilton — we are hopeful that the rest of 2018 will be as enjoyable and successful, but there are some challenges to deal with soon.

June 7, 2018, is the date for our provincial election, which may decide the quality of life for many, especially if the Trump-like politician Doug Ford (Conservative) is elected and his policies of cutbacks are implemented. This could be a game changer for these times of uncertainty.

Our local and the IBEW are fortunate to have leaders, past and present, who continue to recommend that the membership support social benefits that are provided for working members and retirees.

Now that winter is behind us and no longer a concern, we look forward to summer luncheons and other upcoming events that have been finalized as of press time, including an overnight trip to Kingston, Local 804's Annual Oktoberfest, and our Gala Annual Christmas Dinner/Dance. Thank you to all who invest their time on behalf of our retirees and who help make our events a success.

Robert Rynyk, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 530, SARNIA, ONTARIO, CANADA — At the Annual 2017 Local 530 Dinner Dance, retirees Maurice Auger and Ross Smith received IBEW 65-year service pins. Following is a short profile of these two special retired electricians from IBEW Local 530.

Early in his career, Maurice Auger and his father answered an advertisement posted by Brogden Electric of Sarnia seeking workers in the electrical field. Maurice and his father travelled from their home in Quebec to Ontario and then on to Sarnia and were hired by Brogden Electric. Maurice joined IBEW Local 530 in 1952 when he was age 21. He settled in Sarnia and raised his family there. Maurice said there are 40 electricians in his family, working throughout the country.

Ross Smith was born and raised in Petrolia, Ontario. His uncle Bob Whitty was already a member of Local 530 in the early 1950s, and with his help Ross got into the electrical field on a job at Dow Chemical when he was only 16. He became a member of Local 530 in 1952.

Ross served as Local 530 business manager from 1965-1971. He oversaw the founding of the Local 530 IBEW Pension Plan in 1970. His son, David Smith, is also a Local 530 member.

We are proud of all our retirees who served our union well through their working lives and on into retirement, Maurice and Ross being two of them.

Nancy Stinson Philbin, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 611, ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Greetings. Hoping all you retirees are enjoying your retirement and good health.

The 2018 state legislative session came and went — and once again, "right-to-work" was held back, thanks to all of you who spent countless hours camping out at "the Roundhouse." One county (not Bernalilo County) did vote "yes" on one RTW measure — and the New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, filed a lawsuit against that Sandoval County RTW ordinance.

The Retirees Club is starting a new project, but we need everyone's help to make it work. Our goal is to assemble a collection of stories about union members past and present. We all have stories about past events on and off the job that are funny, interesting or entertaining. I'm sure you also have stories to share. We would like to read your stories, even if they are about someone other than yourself. No names or stories will be used or printed without your "signed" permission. I will contact each of you once I receive your story. Please include your contact information.

Don't forget to attend a Local 611 union meeting, held the third Saturday of each month; this is still your union too.

Our condolences to families of recently deceased brothers: journeyman wiremen Peter M. Calderon, Troy Canada and Harrison Herder Jr.; and retirees Jack R. Marker, Ramond A. Cordova, Ralph Cochrane, Danny Jaramillo, Louis R. Jacobs, Andres O. Martinez, Juan B.A. Villareal, Tommy L. Spoonts and Richard W. Corman.

Tracy Hall, Pres.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 666, RICHMOND, VA — Congratulations and good wishes to recent Local 666 retirees: Danny L. Garner, Frank L. Myers Jr., Jerry R. Nuckols, James D. Stargardt, James W. Walton, Ferlanda M. Williams and Charles E. Wright Jr.

Hope you all enjoy a long, healthy and happy retirement!

Charles Skelly, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 702, WEST FRANKFORT, IL — The Annual Retiree Luncheon on April 3 saw approximately 120 in attendance.

Business Manager Steve Hughart welcomed retirees and guests then opened with a prayer.

After the meal, Retirees Club Pres. Gary King gave the financial report, read the deaths for February and March, and expressed appreciation to Bus. Mgr. Hughart. He informed the group that another trip to the Henry Miller Museum in St. Louis was in the works and talked about a possible Retirees Club scholarship program.

It was announced that the next regular Retirees Club meeting will be Thursday, June 7, at Mackie's Pizza, 2704 Walton Way, Marion, IL.

Bus. Mgr. Hughart spoke about the local's Annual Golf Tournament (June 15), where we will begin sales of our Solidarity Tickets. He reported that the Labor Day Picnic will be at Rent One Park in Marion, IL, again this year.

The business manager introduced Bus. Rep. Jason Woolard, who is running for Illinois state representative in the 117th District. Jason spoke to the group and thanked everyone for their support.

Bus. Mgr. Hughart closed with a thank-you to all the retirees and their families for their dedication and loyalty to IBEW Local 702.

Mark Baker, P.S.

RETIREES CLUB OF L.U. 995, BATON ROUGE, LA — Our club met at the Drusilla Restaurant for our Annual Luncheon the first Monday in March. As usual the food was good and we had a good turnout.

At our April meeting, we voted to have a covered-dish luncheon the first Monday in June. Every member is to bring either a vegetable, salad or a dessert. The wives are especially invited to be there. As before, the meat and the drinks will be furnished.

W. Roland Goetzman Sr., P.S.