BAC - News

620 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
202.783.3788

	Index
	Archives

Members Throughout the Union

Here’s a glimpse of what our members are up to when they aren’t on the job.

On May 5, 2005, Local 4 California member Joe Kisner began the day like any other, with a goodbye kiss to his wife Leslie and daughters Danielle and Aaren. Any comparison to a routine day ended there, however, as he embarked on the journey of a lifetime – a 2,655-mile hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, a feat he had dreamed
about since the age of 11.

In an interview with the Huntington Beach Wave, Kisner described his amazing trek, which began in Campo, California near the U.S.-Mexican border and ended three months later just north of the U.S.-Canadian border at Manning Park, British Columbia. Kisner trained for his journey by walking barefoot on the beach twice a week for a year to “toughen his feet.” To the more than 200 hikers who planned to tackle portions of the Trail that season, Kisner was known as “Tattoo Joe” for his prevalent body art. But it was his internal strength – not his unique façade – that saw him through the physical demands he would soon encounter.

From meeting cougars and black bears face to face, to crossing freezing rivers completely exposed to the elements in order to keep the only clothes he had dry, Kisner persevered. Averaging 30 to 35 miles each day, he survived every type of weather, including 28 days of record snowfall in the High Sierras, and near starvation due to a water-borne illness.

Given the magnitude of his undertaking, Kisner had to travel light – his pack weighed a mere 6.5 lbs. and contained a plastic tarp, foam mat, mosquito net, and a down sleeping bag. His clothing was limited to a button-down shirt, polyester thermals, socks, surf trunks, windbreakers, gloves, and sneakers. His diet was equally restricted, consisting of re-hydrated refried beans, power bars, potato chips, crackers, wild berries and water.

Kisner completed his hike on August 20th – more than 100 days from that spring morning when he left home. His journey earned him a place in a select group of nearly 1,000 hikers who have completed the Trail since it opened in 1968. Now that he has returned to the comforts of home and family, Kisner can fondly reflect on the fact that he made his boyhood dream a reality.

Local 2 New York



These walleye pikes were caught on Lake Delta in Westernville, NY by member Jim Catchpole of Local 2 NY – quite a fitting name for this fisherman!	Terry Phillips of Local 2 NY calls this picture his “Supplemental Income.” Just south of the Canadian border, Terry sets numerous beaver traps and prepares his catches for sale.

Local 7 New York/New Jersey


Local 7 NY/NJ member Bernard Ragukas spent some quality time with his grandson during a hunting trip in Pennsylvania.



Night or day, Local 7 NY/NJ member Charles Lynch’s fishing trips are a success!

Local 2 Delaware/New Jersey ADC


Local 2 DE/NJ ADC member Thomas Laba drove his grandfather’s boat while brother-in-lawn Charles Vanderbeck, pictured right, caught this 36-inch, 42-lb. striped bass on a fishing trip last June.

Local 1 Pennsylvania/Delaware


Local 1 PA/DE member David Wilson caught this 43-inch, 30-lb. striped bass in Cape May, New Jersey during summer 2005.	George Metz of Local 1 PA/DE shows off his drum catch, also from the Delaware Bay.


Whether he is fishing or hunting, Local 1 PA/DE member Pete DiPol is happy simply to be enjoying the outdoors with family and friends.


The Ayers family has varied interests. Local 1 PA/DE member Brian Ayers, above, is an avid angler. Son Brandon, below left and center, enjoys both football and fishing, while son Estil, below right, is interested in a different type of bass – guitars that is. Estil and his band, Bleeding the Dream, have been touring in Canada.

Local 9 Pennsylvania


Troy Thorpe of Local 9 PA claimed this spring gobbler, which weighed in at 22 lbs. and sported an 11¾-inch beard.	Sam Carns of Local 9 PA, left, enjoys fishing and calling “Fred” – a 12-year old wild bull elk that he has trained to respond when called. Fred’s antlers from Winter 2005 were an impressive 40 lbs. and scored over 400 Boone & Crockett points.


Local 9 PA member Dave Kerchinski, right, shot this bull elk in Wyoming, scoring 363 points in the Boone & Crockett Club and tipping the scales at 910 lbs.	John Capo of Local 9 PA scored this eight-point 17½-inch spread during a recent hunting season.	Roy Roberts III, son of Local 9 PA member Roy Roberts, used his brand new Bear Bow to bag this eight-point buck – his first – in November 2006.

Local 5 New Jersey ADC


Local 5 NJ ADC member Don Rosewall made the catch of a lifetime on the Delaware Bay with this 85-lb. black drum.

Local 5 Tennessee

With over 5,000 hours of volunteer work, including 13 years of service on behalf of Big Cypress National Preserve in Ochopee, Florida that earned them a Presidential Commendation, 42-year Local 5 TN member John “Joe” Link and wife Darlene hardly have a moment to spare – even in retirement! Joe was also honored as the Oldest World War II Veteran while providing relief and support after Hurricane Wilma. But all their good deeds don’t stop them from fishing! Darlene caught a 37-inch, 15-lb. tarpon, while Joe caught a 28-inch snook.

Local 1 Maryland/Virginia/District of Columbia


Rob Karwacki, son of Local 1 MD/VA/DC member Dan Karwacki, killed his first deer – an 11-point, 165-lb. buck in December 2005 in Kent County, MD.

Local 8 Illinois

Dan Dugan of Local 8 IL is also known as Sensei Dugan to hundreds of karate students across central Illinois. Director, Chief Instructor and founding member of the Yoshukai Karate Alliance, Dugan incorporates the integrity of traditional karate into his teachings of Yoshukai – an element that is often missing in many commercial karate dojos. Dugan began his training in 1972 and is now the highest ranking black belt in Illinois.

Local 6 Illinois


Local 6 IL member Brian Fischer and his daughter caught these southern kingfish while fishing on the Frisco Pier on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. His daughter had the biggest catch at 15 inches, which is the maximum size for this type of fish. Fischer – another fitting name!

Local 52 Illinois


Local 52 IL member Mark O’Meara, far left, and son Adam, far right, a Local 52 apprentice, are shown here with friends and family during a successful fishing trip out of Chicago. Their total catch was 19.

Local 67 Illinois



Local 67 IL member George Ardelean caught this king salmon while fishing Chicago’s Montrose Harbor.	Jason Deel, right, of Local 67 IL and friend Steven Slaven harvested these nine- and eight-point bucks during a trip to central Indiana.

Local 56 Illinois

In 2005, team “Illinois Bricklayers” took Third Place in the Masters Class of the 1,000 Yard Long Range National Match Competition at Camp Perry, Ohio. Standing from left, Local 56 IL Business Manager Tim Aikens and member Mike James. Kneeling from left, fellow teammates Mark Grabowski and Jeff Marienthal.

Local 4 Indiana/Kentucky

Local 4 IN/KY members and family ventured out in Northwest Indiana to hunt pheasant in February 2006.

Front row, from left Patrick Brown, Trent Norman, Alex Niccum and retired Apprentice Instructor Jerry Kusek. Back row, from left, Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Brown, Field Representative Dale Johnsen and Apprentice Instructor Bob Green.	From left, Kusek, Johnsen, Kusek’s grandson Alex, Brown, Brown’s son Patrick, Green’s daughter Karrie and Green.


Retiree Dick Mahoney of former Local 1 KY, watches his son Shawn tee-off during the ninth annual West End Classic Golf Tournament to benefit the St. Anthony Community Outreach Center. Dick and Shawn are avid life-long golfers and both played at the high school-level.

Local 1 Minnesota/North Dakota


Renee with her button buck and friend Jeremy Heinecke with his four-point buck, in Akeley, Minnesota.	Local 1 MN/ND member Renee Ritter holds the two trophy walleyes she caught in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Local 15 Missouri/Kansas


After Charlie Metcalf of Local 15 MO/KS caught this largemouth bass in Summer 2006, he released it to let it fight another day.	Local 15 MO/KS member Larry Denson, third from left, with his wife’s family on their second annual fishing trip to Sitka, Alaska in August 2006, where they caught a 37-lb. king salmon.

Local 5 Ohio

Ken Kudela of Local 5 OH and NOADC Field Representative, was the lucky winner of an 870 Wingmaster courtesy of a TRCP drawing at the 2006 BCTD Legislative Conference.

Local 35 Ohio


Local 35 OH member Roger Weichart added this beauty to his impressive fishing and hunting record. All in all, he has 23 bucks – 16 bow and 7 gun kills – and 23- and 26-lb. muskies.

Local 43 Ohio

Local 43 OH member and SOADC Field Representative Jerre Riggle began kayaking at the young age of 51 and was immediately hooked. In addition to pulling his wife Marilyn and brother John, a retired steel worker, into the fun, Jerre proudly tells fellow members that he is happy to take out anyone who is interested. With Class I – Class V rapids within 50 miles of his home, he knows he’ll never run out of lakes and rivers to explore. Left: Jerre with wife Marilyn. Top Right: Jerre with brother John. Lower Right: Jerre Riggle on the Mahoning River.

Local 1 Michigan


From left, son-in-law Jim, Burger, and son Jan.	From left, son Rick and Burger on a hunting trip in 2005.


Son Jan with his earlier kill.	Son Jan with his 2004 catch.	Daughter Catly on a pheasant hunt.

Local 7 Ohio


Since he retired to Satellite Beach, Florida, Local 7 OH member Charles Cliff enjoys surf fishing from the beach in front of his condo and golf.

Wisconsin District Council

In late September 2006, WI DC leaders took a charter boat out of Milwaukee onto Lake Michigan for salmon and trout fishing. Starting at 6:30am with winds at 10mph, winds built to 25mph producing five- to six-foot waves. They caught the boat limit of five fish per person totaling 30 fish ranging from 4-16 lbs. Standing, Field Representative Randy Weytens, Sr. Kneeling, from left, Field Representatives Ray Wersel and Wynn Jones, State Training Coordinator Mike Williams, Director Tim Ihlenfeld, who recently retired, and Field Representative Gary Burns.

Local 1 Oregon


“Start ‘em young” is the philosophy of Chester Dutton, 50-year retired member of Local 1 OR. Granddaughters Sara Vistica and Brittany Burchatz first began angling for trout in 1996 and by 2003, they had graduated to salmon fishing.

Local 18 California

Local 18 CA member Mark McNamara couldn’t be prouder of his daughter Mishelle and her pole vaulting accomplishments. Competing in the Valla Vista League, Mishelle has claimed three league championships, and hopes to take it four in a row in May 2007.

Local 18 CA members got together for a fishing trip in late September 2006.


From left, members Marcos Perez, Tony Mac and Ismael Maldonado.	Member Joe McCluney, Sr.

Field Representative Jon Coulson.	Member Jorge Enciso.

Local 1 Washington and Local 1 Oregon


When these members of Local 1 WA and 1 OR aren’t on the wall, they’re on the Columbia River sturgeon fishing. Retired Local 1 WA member and retired Business Manager of former Local 2 WA Gorge Lucker, left, and Local 2 OR members Rick Ameil, center, and Mike McGillivary, right, all display their successful catches.

Local 4 California


Sam Kaiser of Local 4 CA caught this eight-foot blue marlin while fishing off the coast of Maui, Hawaii. We are sorry to report that Sam Kaiser passed away in February 2007.	Whether or not the fish are biting is immaterial to Local 4 CA member Edward Lappie, Jr., who is happy just to be spending time with his granddaughter at Vail Lake in Temecula, California.

Local 1 Washington

In May 2006, Local 1 WA member Ernie Goodhue spent some quality time fishing with friends in Yakutat, Alaska.