Local 5 Oklahoma/Arkansas Member Broadcasts to the World

Joe E. Creekmore, pictured above with Local 5 OK/AR President Ed Navarro, uses the power of the airwaves to get the union message out. The HAM radio operator helped his Local and the labor movement by broadcasting editorials regarding the state’s Right-to-Work initiative this year. The 39-year retired BAC restoration specialist from Tulsa, Oklahoma keeps in contact with fellow radio enthusiasts around the world, including Australia, Sweden, and Scotland.

Local 15 Missouri/Kansas Honors Kansas City Chapter Members

Local 15 MO/KS Gold Card members: front row, from left, Joseph Canino, Walter Creason, David Earle, Max Hower, and Harry Maynard. Back row, from right Edward Roos, Lawrence Patti, Bobby Phillups, and Nelson Slavens.

Local 15 40-year members, from left, Ron Honeycutt, John Mancuso, Charles Snoderly, Graydon White, and Joseph Ventura.

Local 15 25-year members, from left, Greg Gehring, Scott Hydeman, and Charles “CT” Morris.

Local 3 Iowa Presents Service Awards

Local 3 IA President Gary Crees presented service awards during the Local’s Semi-Annual Statewide Meeting in April. Front row, from left, 50-year member Walter Six, Vice Chairman Terry Stevens, 40-year member Joe Neisen, and 25-year member David Williams. Back row, from left, 50-year member Carl Schuler, 40-year member and Apprentice Coordinator Russell Gunderson, Vice Chairman Clayton E. Phillips, 40-year members Richard Brown and Gust Johnson, Jr., and Crees.

Fifty-year Local 3 member James Hoelker received his Gold Card at May’s Sioux City Chapter Meeting.

Fifty-year Local 3 member John Haase received his Gold Card at August’s Ames Chapter Meeting.

Josef Bognar, Sr. Receives IU Award

Retired Local 25 ON President Josef Bognar, Sr. was presented with a plaque for his many years of service to his Thunder Bay-based Local Union. From left, Local 25 Business Manager Rick Eade, Vice President Frank Fragomeni, Josef Bognar, Sr., and BAC Director for Canadian Affairs Joe Bognar, Jr.

Local 2 Alberta Annual Membership Awards

Local 2 AB Business Manager Peter Homan welcomed members to the Local’s annual membership awards last holiday season. From left, 40-year members Oskar Schneider and Leo Schaal, 25-year member Bob Cox, President Walter Meznaric, Vice President Lyle MacPherson, 50-year member Lloyd Finlayson, Recording Secretary Chris Siever, 25-year member Ken Wishart, and Homan.

Aurora, Colorado TeenSpree Festival Features Bricklayers, Building Trades

In January, Local 7 CO Organizer Jim Silverthorn received the Gold Pinnacle Award from the Inter-national Festival and Events Association for his work on behalf of Aurora, Colorado’s TeenSpree, a festival for local teens. Silverthorn, pictured here, was responsible for bringing the Colorado Building Trades on board and introducing hands-on trade demonstrations, including bricklaying, to the festival. The demonstrations show how area youth can pursue successful careers through building trades apprenticeships. Silverthorn was selected from a field of 1,200 entries competing for the Award.

Atlantic Province Conference Achieves Refractory Agreement

The Atlantic Provinces Trowel Trades Conference (APTTC) signed a three-year contract with the Atlantic Chapter of the Refractory Contractors Association in Charlottetown, PEI, in April 2001. The contract provides for a 3 percent increase in wages and increases in travel and living allowances. Seated from left, Refractory Contractor Association Chair Eroll Robinson and APTTC Secretary-Treasurer Fred Vautour. First row, from left, Local 2 NB Business Agent Gerald Reinders, refractory contractor Robert Gallant, APTTC President Clarence Gallant, and Local 1 NS Business Manager Stewart Bezanson. Second row, from right, Local 2 NS Business Manager Ray Deleskie, Local 5 NB Business Manager Ivan Doucet, Local 4 NB Business Manager Arthur Gallant, and Local 1 NF Committee Member Chris McHugh.

Madera Tile Setter Enjoys Active Retirement

A stroke forced Local 3 CA member Ernest “Buzz” Busby into early retirement, but not inactivity. After turning to yard work, travel, and just plain relaxing for enjoyment, Busby was left unsatisfied. Now that he’s feeling better, Busby is developing his woodworking skills on projects including this home office center. Busby is pictured at far right with his family.

Beiting Family Service Spans More than 70 Years

Joseph Beiting was elected Financial Secretary/Treasurer of Local 2 KY in 1925, retiring in 1950. One year later, his son Richard was elected to the same position. Today, after 52 years, Richard Beiting continues to serve Local 2 as Secretary/Treasurer. Beiting’s Local leadership extends to his work as an IMI staff member, and Training and Placement Director with Job Corps. He has received two BAC Craft Awards for Public and Union Service. Together, this father-son team has provided 77 years of service to the members of Local 2.

Local 5 West Virginia Honors Members at Christmas Party

The officers of Local 5 WV honored members at the Local’s annual Christmas Party. Front row, from left, 25-year member Paul Finley, Jr., 25-year member George Murphy, Jr., 40-year member Billy Daniel, and 25-year member Billy Joe Smith, Jr. Back row, from left, Local 5 Field Representative Dave Carte, President Billy Steele, Secretary Billy Joe Smith Sr., and Vice President Larry Wilkes. Not pictured are 50-year members Frank Beckner, Dewey Bocock and Billy White, and 40-year members Gary Wagner and George Wilburn.