By BUSINESS MANAGER BOB WARD
NOTE: THE CHRISTMAS MEETING/RAFFLE/DINNER IN DECEMBER WILL BEGIN AT 5:00PM ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6th
There will be a short meeting, followed by a Holiday Dinner and the Operation Christmas Basket Raffle Drawing in Sacramento! Due to the Business Office moving in the Spring, this will be the last Christmas meeting to be held in this building on El Centro Road. All Active & Retired are welcome to attend!
EXTENDING THE HAND OF BROTHERHOOD
Prior to the start of the regularly scheduled membership meeting of November 1st, Vice President Mitchell Newman IV gave the Oath of Obligation to thirty-seven (37) new Local 340 members consisting of the classifications JIW’s, Construction Electricians, Constructions Wiremen, System Installers, Inside Apprentices, Material Handlers, Civil Service etc.) The “swearing in” of this number of new members is becoming more of the norm rather than the exception for Local 340 and your Organizing Department (Rusty Johnston, Jillian Elliot and Rob Saragoza) want to thank you all for your consideration and support of our new Organizing methods. We have definitely witnessed a turnaround in Rank and File attitude in regards to signing up and dispatching these former unrepresented workers to jobsites throughout our jurisdiction. A favorite saying of our 9th District International Vice President John O’Rourke is that IBEW Brothers and Sisters need to “Extend the hand of Brotherhood”. You are doing that and more. This new thinking is helping in our efforts to continue to build an IBEW Local 340 trained workforce consisting of all classifications. With the work we see coming up in the future, we must continue to grow and with your continued help and support, we will do just that. Thanks again.
MEMBERS RECEIVE 50+ YEARS OF SERVICE PINS
The Pin Presentation officiated by Vice President Mitchell Newman IV on November 4th here at the Hall was a great success. Brother Newman was humbled by both the stories each of the retirees shared about their careers as well as by the gratitude they all expressed for the IBEW in their own words when each of these Brothers took the microphone and spoke that day. Without our retirees, none of us would have the benefits and lifestyle we all enjoy today.
I want to thank Brother Newman, International Representative Michael Meals, as well as Local Recording Secretary Warren Adsit and Executive Board Members Ray Hughes and Rustin Johnston for taking the time out of their weekend to honor these retirees. I also want to thank the Business Office Staff members who showed up that Saturday to ensure the event went smoothly. Great job, everyone!
Receiving their 50 year “plus” pins were: Brother Dwight Evans, Ron “Fuzzy” Jarnagin, John Jeffcoat, Stephen Mulherron, Roy Ridley Jr., Michael Riordan, Ronald DeRobertis, Tom Melavic, Jim Strain, Louis Crockett, Marcus Delrincon, Gary McDowell, Larry Partanen, Joseph Quintana and Ray Kercher. (Note: The group picture of these retirees will be published in the February issue of the IBEW Electrical Worker.)
I also have to thank Sacramento Central Labor Council Director Fabrizio Sasso who presented Brother Roy Ridley with a special award to acknowledge him for his well over 50 years of volunteerism. Brother Ridley worked endlessly during his electrical career (and even after retiring in 2011) to continue his passion of promoting the Union Labor Movement. Brother Ridley was quite surprised (as well as a little emotional) when Brother Sasso called him up to the stage. I know I wasn’t the only one in the crowd that day when I found myself getting choked up a bit while watching this very humble man receive an award he so richly deserved.
SOUND & COMMUNICATIONS MEETING
On Tuesday October 24th, close to 50 Sound & Communication Installers and Apprentices showed up for their quarterly meeting. That was the biggest attendance in years for our S&C Unit and the members definitely took advantage of it by voicing their concerns about issues that affect them every day on the job.
One of the things asked for was that we resend the Negotiations Survey via an online fillable form. That survey has been emailed to every Sound & Communications member who has a valid email address on file with us and you should be filling them out and returning them to us now in order to have your voice heard. Check your email. If you did not get the survey, call the Hall so we can research your email address and get one to you.
Another request was that we invite a Trustee to your next Unit Meeting to answer Pension and Health & Welfare questions. That has also been done and in January, Brother Michael Meals will be attending your meeting.
THANK YOU VETERAN’S DAY VOLUNTEERS!
Speaking of volunteering, the following members took part in one of two Volunteer Projects on Veteran’s Day Weekend: Brothers Jason Green, Tim Coddington, Mark Steelman, Rob McClung, Justin Bonner, Ernest Kilpatrick and Shirish Ghandi. These projects were coordinated by our United Way Labor Liaison Brother Greg Larkins.
I also understand many of our members and their families volunteered that weekend in your own communities and on behalf of IBEW Veterans everywhere, thank you.
MONTHLY BASIC DUES INCREASE – ALL ACTIVE MEMBERS
Effective with January 2017 dues, monthly membership basic dues for all Local 340 members increase by $1.00. If you self-pay your basic dues, be sure to increase your monthly payment by this amount. Also, if you haven’t done so yet, you might want to take advantage of paying online via our website. Just log on to www.ibewlocal340.org and enter your username and password. Click on “Dues” in the top left hand corner. Once you enter your credit card information, you will receive a receipt that can be printed out and the actual IBEW Official Receipt will be generated and mailed to you the very next day by the secretaries in the Business Office.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS BASKET RAFFLE DRAWING 12-6-17 – Get your tickets now, or attend the December 6th Meeting/Drawing/Dinner @ 5PM at the Hall for a chance to win $1,500 cash, a shotgun or 150 Lottery Scratchers and many other prizes. You do not need to be present to win!
TOY & FOOD DRIVE – DEADLINE LOCAL 340 TOY & FOOD DRIVE
We are again going to “bulk up” the Christmas Baskets that will be given to our members in need. Donations of food and toys are appreciated. Please bring them into the Hall before December 15TH and as always, thank you for your generosity. If you are a member in need, or know of a member who might need some help during the holidays, call Patty at the Hall. (Please note that the names of our families in need is kept very confidential.) The deadline date to have a family placed on the list for a Christmas Basket is Friday December 15th.
LOCAL 340 MEMBERS & THEIR FAMILIES SAVE BIG ON THE FOLLOWING TWO FAMILY EVENTS!
GLOBAL WINTER WONDERLAND
Global Winter Wonderland is returning to Cal Expo this year with lights, entertainment, ice skating, carnival rides, international cuisine and holiday shopping. This event begins on November 11th and runs all through the Holidays. We have arranged with the event to offer discounts to Local 340 members but tickets must be purchased online and in advance. Just log on to www.globalwonderland.com/public/sacramento/index.cfm and enter the Promo Code of IBEW340.
UNION APPRECIATION DAY WITH THE KINGS – March 25, 2018!
I mentioned this in my last two articles but it’s worth mentioning again! There are still tickets left for the Sacramento Kings vs Boston Celtics game in March. This game is going to honor all Union Labor Trades, especially those that helped to build the Golden One Arena. If interested in attending, act now. Tickets can be purchased online @ www.sacramentolabor.org/news-actions-events or by calling Teresa Villasenor @ 916-927-9772. Please note that this offer is open to all members and there are a limited supply of the discounted lower level seating tickets available. We are hoping Local 340 has a great showing of members at this game.
LOCAL 340 BROTHER NEEDS KIDNEY TRANSPLANT
Journeyman Inside Wireman Brother Justin Gomez (17 year member/ 43 years of age) received a kidney transplant in 2004. That kidney is failing and though the prospect of him getting a 2nd kidney donation from another sibling is very promising in the future, Brother Gomez is having to give himself dialysis twice weekly and is unable to work. He could definitely use financial help to get thru this and that’s where we all come in! There are several ways you can help!
You can donate money by logging on to the following GoFundMe link: https://www.gofundme.com/4nmntwo?pc=sms_db_co2876_v1&rcid=38b7850ad086455fbdd7cd96c7df838c or you can send donations on his behalf to the Hall and we will get them to him. Please be sure to make your checks out to Justin Gomez (NOT Local 340).
Another way is to attend a benefit that will be held on his behalf on Saturday December 9th from 7-11PM. A minimum $20 entry fee will get you a ton of delicious appetizers, live music and a raffle. All proceeds will go directly to Justin and I believe, he is going to try and attend if his health permits. This fundraiser will be held at Bella Bru Café, 4690 Natomas Boulevard in Natomas…just 3 miles away from the Hall! We hope to see a lot of Brother and Sisters there supporting this young man.
HOLIDAY BUSINESS OFFICE & TRUST OFFICE CLOSURES
Friday December 22nd closed @ noon
Monday December 25th Christmas – closed all day
Monday January 1st New Years Day – closed all day
Wishing all of you a Safe & Happy Holiday Season
NOTICE FROM THE TRUST OFFICE REGARDING OPEN ENROLLMENT
Health & Welfare Open Enrollment runs from November 1, 2017 thru December 15, 2017. Changes to your current medical plan must be made during open enrollment. Call Teresa Raney in the Trust Fund Office @ 916-923-0666. The deadline date for changes is Friday December 15th.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS
SACRAMENTO DECEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING – NOTE THE CHRISTMAS MEETING/RAFFLE/DINNER IN DECEMBER WILL BEGIN AT 5:00PM ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6th – We encourage all Active and Retired members to attend this last meeting here at the Hall on El Centro Road. Next year we will be in our new building.
REDDING UNIT MEETING – NO REDDING MEETING IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR. (See above for information on the last December Operation Christmas Basket Raffle/Meeting/Dinner at the Union Hall!)
SOUND & COMMUNICATIONS UNIT MEETING – Quarterly on the 4TH Tuesdays of January, April, July & October at the Hall – NEXT QUARTERLY S&C MEETING Tuesday January 23, 2018 @ 5:00PM
CIVIL SERVICE UNIT MEETING – Quarterly on the 3RD Thursdays of January, April, July & October at the Hall. NEXT QUARTERLY CIVIL SERVICE MEETING Thursday January 18, 2018 @ 5:00PM!