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L. U. 405 (em, i, rtb, & spa), CEDAR RAPIDS, IAForty-five members received awards for service and membership at the 2003 Awards Banquet and a special thank you to local secretary Judy Bull for organizing a great event and to Dostal Catering for an excellent prime rib dinner. Everyone had a wonderful time.

The 2003 Apprenticeship Graduation Banquet was held at the Barn Restaurant in Amana. Int. Rep. Clair Scott, Iowa NECA Representative Ryan Pendergraft and Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate addressed the assembly. This year we were proud to turn out 24 inside wiremen, two residential wiremen, and two VDV (voice/data/video) technicians. Ron Mulnix was named Outstanding Apprentice and will be awarded hand tools. He will attend the Outstanding Apprentice Program at the National Training Institute, University of Tennessee.

Please join us with a visit on the web. Our site has photographs of many of our members at work, play and in service to the community. There is a local history prepared for our 75^th Anniversary in 1989, a monthly calendar, a listing of our contractors, and information about the +5 Homeowner Protection Plan. The address is www.ibew405.org.

JIM SHEPHERD, P.S.

Bushed Economy

Members of Local 449 on the AWMTP job.

L.U. 449 (catv,em,i,o,rtb,rts,spa&u), POCATELLO, IDIt looks as if Local 449 is finally starting to feel the effects of the "bushed economy" and we are probably in for a long haul like everyone else. We still have a few travelers working but Book I has started to load up. I would again like to thank all the brothers and sisters who helped us out this last two years. The work you did is much appreciated. The photo is from the AWMTP job that most of you were working on.

We are still hopeful of picking up the work at the new Modello Malting Facility, however the main electrical package has not yet been bid.

Best wishes to our latest retirees: James Trevey, Bobby Smout, Gene Campbell, and Gil Humberger. Bro. Carl Carlsen passed away on May 10 and is sorely missed; our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Ned E. Jones, Pres.

Town Meetings

L.U. 481 (ees,em,i,mt,rts,s&spa), INDIANAPOLIS, INIn February, Bus. Mgr. ODonnell conducted seven town meetings, which were very well attended and proved an informative method of reaching the membership with more in-depth information. The negotiating committee listened to the membership concerns expressed at the meetings and in the surveys, made that the basis of the negotiations, and was able to win ratification of our contract. I thank the committee for that achievement.

Work has been very slow in our jurisdiction but the warm weather should help break the situation. We are pleased to announce four new signatory contractors: Excel Electric, M & R Electric, Richards Electric and Trauner Electric.

The local continues to look for people to volunteer in activities like Habitat for Humanity and Christmas in April. The time donated at these events is greatly appreciated.

Congratulations to all the apprentices who successfully passed their final exam and a special thanks to Lori Bozeman for her time as press secretary.

Steve Montgomery, Pres.

Turn It Around

The Local 557 members working to complete the Regional Educational Center at Saginaw Valley State University: Lavall Scott, Russ Combs, Joe Eickholt, Robert Renelt, Robert Kotcher Jr., Terry Jablonski, Rich Urbany, Bill Link, Mark Krieger and Tony Dupuis.

Local 557 (i,mt,rts,&spa), SAGINAW, MIOne year from now we need to get together with every coalition available to change the political climate in Washington and Lansing.

This is another year that is already in my record book as a bare-bones income year. These years seem to coincide with having Republican leadership. Work opportunities are the worst in decades. Now each member who has been working less than 40-hour weeks, laid off, or otherwise lost income, should consider the source, and see how government leadership strongly affects the situation.

The few members in this local with steady income, likely retirees, should remember brotherhood, and all of us need to get out and spread the news that our current president was not elected fairly, and we need someone who will put the Brotherhood to work. Get out and help now; getting ready to get labor-friendly people in office, we cant afford not to get with the program.

In early summer, jobs started putting hands to work. Committees have been formed to find more ways of finding more jobs for the local.

Funds we raised to support operations at the Childrens Zoo, along with volunteer efforts, bring pride when we can show the carousel and a new penguin exhibit and know we were involved. Keep up the good community action.

John E. Clemens, P.S.

Flag Day Parade

Local 577s Flag Day Parade float.

L.U. 577 (em&i), APPLETON, WIAt the end of June the current out-of-work list returned to the levels that have been normal ever since George Bush was appointed president. Recent good news of upcoming projects could mean that more Local 577 members are employed by the time you read this.

Appleton held its 53^rd annual Flag Day Parade, the nations largest, on June 14, 2003. Our locals float was proudly displayed in this event. Thanks to Jay Schraufnagel and Corey Wiegel for taking some time to make sure that the float was ready. Also, thanks to Social Committee members Doug Schulz, Tom Van Heuklon and Jay for giving up a Saturday morning to pull the float.

At the June membership meeting, Brother Donald Rogalski presented an American flag from his son, Staff Sgt. Robert Rogalski. A B-1 aircraft flew the flag over Iraq during "Iraqi Freedom" and again during "Operation Enduring Freedom." The flag and both certificates of authenticity will be proudly displayed in the union hall as a reminder of the sacrifices made by IBEW members and their families. Bob is a member of Local 577 who took honorary withdrawal in September 1991.

A full schedule of continuing education classes is set for the fall semester. Look in your August newsletter or on the Web site for the list. Set aside some time to further your education. In the last school year, 12 different classes had 592 attendees that spent 7,109 hours in evening training. Lets make 2003 a bigger year.

Greg Breaker, P.S.

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