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Retired Int. Rep. Bill Brownie was recently presented a meter lamp as thanks for his service and dedication to Local 659. Bro. Brownie served as business manager from 1981 to 1987, after serving as vice president from 1975 to 1978 and president from 1978 to 1981. He also served on the Executive Board and on the Examining Board. Bro. Brownie was appointed to the Ninth District staff in 1987. We wish him all the best in his retirement.

An agreement was reached with the City of Roseburg and Consumers Power Unit A. Negotiations are ongoing with Avista (physical and clerical units) and the Springfield Utility Board.

Kathy Joy, R.S.

Project Labor Agreement Reached

Lansing Community College MTEC Building to be constructed with the help of Local 665 members.

L.U. 665 (i,rts,&spa), LANSING, MIThe ground breaking is over, and the dirt has started to move for the new Lansing Community College MTEC Building. This facility will house most of the apprenticeship and technology classes now offered at the main Lansing campus. The new building will give Local 665 apprentices a much needed classroom upgrade and will also provide office space to apprenticeship instructors. The project labor agreement will provide Local 665 and other local trade unions with many great jobs. The agreement with Lansing Community College, promoted by its president, Paula Cunningham, has tremendous potential to create more jobs in Lansings future. With work still slow in the area, this is just what we needed.

Our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Mike Strang, 35 year Local 665 member, who passed away on April 21, 2003.

Jeremy Hidalgo, P.S.

Big Achievements

L.U. 684, (I,rts,c&st), MODESTO, CABrothers and sisters of the IBEW, the work picture here has been as dismal as our surrounding jurisdictions in Northern California. Summer school jobs keep the top of Book One on life support.

June 28, our annual picnic was held at Hagaman Park along the Merced River. Service pins were awarded to the following members: 50-years: Warren Brown, Charlie Clem, Ed Hurley and Sam Nickerson; 55-years: Les Gordon, Ed Perry and Arthur Swanson; 60-years: Lloyd Drury and Ted Phares.

Congratulatons to our graduating apprentices: Adam Jautaikis, David Jones, Mao Khuth, Larry Machado, Toby Maciel, Dayne Martins, John Burdick and Keith Mortela. Good Luck! Youll need it in this economy.

Torrey Newton, P.S.

Be Thankful

L.U. 697 (i), GARY AND HAMMOND, INWe have much for which to be thankful. We are still citizens of a free country. However, never let us be lulled into thinking that somehow these rights and freedoms are forever inherently ours because we were born with them. The wealthy through the ages have always had the freedom that comes with being able to buy favor, but it was America that first conceived the experiment in self-government, based on the concept that all men and women are created equal.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are great notions, but the reality is that the struggle to maintain those principles requires that we remember what those principles were and still are by definition. As our society is infused with people of different cultures and political backgrounds, we must realize that the liberty we enjoy exists because we as a nation oppose totalitarian concepts of government, and by constitution and law, these concepts cannot be tolerated as principles equal to our own.

The Declaration of the IBEW found in the front of our Constitution speaks to principles on which our nation is founded. The union movement has beenand hopefully will continue to beone of the primary mechanisms to keep our nation in balance between the interests of the wealthy and powerful, and the common citizen. Celebrate freedom, but ferociously guard against those who would redefine history and the principles that is the foundation of our nation and our union.

David A. Soderquist, P.S.

Congratulations Retirees

L.U. 704 (i&em), DUBUQUE, IACongratulations to Bros. Dave Althaus and Keith "Chubs" Lewin, who are joining the ranks of 704s retired members. I have personally worked with both of these dedicated electricians and I am honored to recognize their lifetime accomplishment. Bro. Lewin was initiated in 1968 and last worked for Westphal & Company, Inc. Bro. Althaus was initiated also in 1968, last working as our local organizer. Best wishes, men!

On July 1st, Dubuque County began collecting a 1 percent local option tax for school construction. Local 704 is inviting the Dubuque Community School District to sign project labor agreements to ensure the use of local labor on upcoming new school projects.

Barnstead International, a branch of Local 704s manufacturing division, will add 20 new positions at the Dubuque facility. These will include five production jobs and the remainder will be management positions. Growth of Dubuqueland industries is always welcome.

Work is continuing on Dubuques riverfront. The Grand Harbor Hotel is completed. Construction is presently underway on the Grand Harbor Convention Center, which is slated for completion this fall. The Woodward Discovery Center and Wetlands Exhibit are two additional riverfront projects to be completed later this summer. We presently have full employment, with 15 traveling brothers on board.

Ron Heitzman, P.S.

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