Giving BACk to Our Communities
Television’s jarring images of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation probably won’t fade from our collective memory any time soon. Yet, even in the midst of tragedy, the outpouring of volunteer support was heartening for both victims and an anxious nation. [For an update on BAC’s efforts in the Gulf Coast, see article.]
No matter what the emergency or how dire the circumstances, BAC members are always willing to reach out to those in need by giving generously of their time and skills, whether it’s assistance to distressed members, building a veterans’ memorial, or rebuilding an orphanage half way around the world.
The following photographs provide just a glimpse of the lasting and far-reaching goodwill our members have generated in recent months.
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| Former BAC Executive Council member and current Local 3 CA member Brian Walker was part of a 21-member Rotary International team that traveled to the tsunami-ravaged village of Cuddalore, India in 2005 to supply badly needed fishing boats and begin construction of an orphanage for 200 children. |
Each year, hundreds of churches are destroyed or heavily damaged by arson, as evidenced by the recent fires in Alabama. As part of a volunteer group that helps stricken congregations rebuild called Burned Churches Ministry, Local 21 Illinois members Doug Kasper and Warren Savage, and Local 27 Illinois member Kenneth Lambert traveled to Selma, Alabama, where they helped to get work started on the new Sand Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, which was burned to the ground several years ago.
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| Corey Sipkin / Daily News |
On June 17, 2005, BAC contractor and Local 7 New York/New Jersey member Joe Curvino was fishing with a friend on the East River when a corporate helicopter took a nose-dive into the water just yards from their boat. The anglers raced toward the crash, tossed out flotation devices, and pulled two men out of the cold, swift current while the devices kept five victims afloat until more help arrived. A flurry of local and national news stories featured the rescue, and two days later, Curvino, center, with friend Charlie Stamm, right, and another Good Samaritan, Miguel Lopez, found themselves in Yankee Stadium’s choicest seats as fans and players alike, such as Yankee Captain Derek Jeter, saluted their heroism.
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In response to an urgent appeal from the Tri-Counties Central Labor Council for donations to help union members affected by severe rainstorms that overwhelmed much of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties in early 2005, Locals in California and Nevada raised more than $1,000. Above, Regional Director John Franco (now retired), left, and Local 18 CA Field Representative Pete Gerber, right, presented BAC’s Rainstorm Relief contribution to Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer Marilyn Valenzuela on behalf of Locals 3, 4, and 18 CA, and 13 NV.
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Local 9 MI member Scott Ignacio’s volunteer efforts brought him all the way to Haiti to help build a church. What struck Ignacio most about his visit were the differences between Haitian and U.S. masonry materials and construction methods. “Just about everything in Haiti is built with block and covered with stucco,” he reported. In addition to lending his bricklaying expertise to the project, local craftworkers taught Ignacio how they apply stucco.
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| Reprinted courtesy of The Repository, Canton, Ohio |
There was no shortage of accolades when Local 6 OH former President and 58-year BAC member John Negulis received the Stark County Excellence Award last spring in Canton. “Good Samaritan, an avid volunteer, and true example of excellence” were just a few of the phrases used to describe Brother Negulis at the award presentation. His continuing involvement with Local 6 and unflagging assistance to neighbors with transportation, repairs, and maintenance needs were also cited as reasons for his selection for the area’s highest civic honor.
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For ten years, Hearts & Hammers, an all-volunteer group supported by building trades unions in the New York City area, has relied on the generous participation of members of Local 1 NY in its Annual Renovation Day. Over the years this project has helped repair dozens of run-down homes in the Bronx for their elderly or disabled occupants. In 2005, members of Local 1, led by Field Representative Robert Cianfrone, celebrated Hearts & Hammers’ remarkable decade of community service in the best possible way – by repointing and resurfacing the once crumbling, unsafe brick and concrete front steps of this Bronx row house. With the Local 1 banner, from left, are members Shawn Davis, Cianfrone, Nestor Rosario, Eugene Wallace, and Jonathan Petgrade. Kenneth Murray also participated but is not pictured.
A number of Locals got a head start on a 2005 Convention resolution calling on Locals to encourage members to volunteer on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization that works to eliminate substandard housing around the world.
Working with Tile Partners for Humanity (TPFH), an affiliate organization of Habitat for Humanity, Local 4 IN/KY helped coordinate the tile installation in 24 Indianapolis homes. Under the direction of Local 4 Apprentice Coordinator Greg Waltz, 23 members volunteered, donating considerable time to the projects. Their participation “builds good relationships and lets the community know that the Union cares about these homeowners,” Waltz said.
This group photo was taken after the tile work on 12 homes was completed. From left, Marc Mularoni (TEC Specialty Products), Marc’s son, Adam Beck (Louisville Tile), Local 4 members Roy McDowell, Andrew Enslin, Jim Ostuni, Matt Hehman, Jay Hix, Mark Pardekooper, Brandon Strait, Doug Howard, Instructor Scott Wooldridge, Gary Perry, Dennis Dillon, Joe McGill, Jeff White, Apprentice Coordinator Greg Waltz, and Larry Johnson.
In June 2005, Local 2 NY volunteered to pour the concrete slab for a Habitat for Humanity house in Schenectady. From left are Local 2 President Bob Mantello, and BAC Northeast Regional Director Al Catalano.
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