Bricklayers Advance to International Apprentice Contest
September 17, 2003

FORT RITCHIE—Seven BAC apprentice bricklayers have earned a chance to compete at the inaugural BAC/IMI International Apprentice Contest, to be held in Washington, D.C at the National Building Museum on October 18, 2003.

The contest involves four levels of competition, beginning with local and regional contests held earlier this year. The international semifinal contests are taking place in August and September at the International Masonry Institute’s (IMI) National Training Center at Fort Ritchie, MD. The contest includes hands-on competitions in the respective crafts, plus a written test. Judges include prominent construction experts.

BAC apprentices receive their training through local union and BAC/IMI programs. “This contest gives young craftworkers an opportunity to show everyone how serious they are about their careers,”says BAC President and IMI Co-Chair John J. Flynn. “And it presents a healthy future for the industry.”

October 18th also marks the opening of an exhibition at the National Building Museum, “Masonry Variations,”and a Family Masonry Mania Day.

The five brick finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Ben Culver BAC Local 27 IL
Wesley Jeffrey BAC Local 1 OR
Todd Kline BAC Local 5 OH
Steve Koontz BAC Local 5 OH
Shannon Turner BAC Local 4 IN/KY

The two alternates are:

Tom Whiteford BAC Local 9 PA
Cory Roden BAC Local 1 MO

IMI is a joint labor-management cooperative program of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) and the contractors who employ its members. Its core programs are quality craft training and technical assistance to the design and building communities  The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents 100,000 skilled masonry workers in the United States and Canada.  It is the oldest construction union in North America. For information on BAC go to www.bacweb.org for IMI or International Apprentice Contest participants, go to www.imiweb.org.

The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents 100,000 skilled masonry workers in the United States and Canada. It is the oldest continuously operating construction union in North America.

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