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(Updated 07/23/2010)
Josh Smith Scholarship Award
Electrical Workers Minority Caucus National Chapter awarded Josh Smith the National Scholarship Award for 2010. Josh's mother, Melissa Braswell is a member of the Tampa, Florida Chapter. Josh completed all of the requirements to receive a $500 check in January. Josh was not able to attend the Scholarship dinner, but his mother accepted the check on his behalf.
WORKING TOGETHER IN HARMONY
The EWMC Conference was definitely the highlight of my month. I was assigned to the crew that installed a new 400-amp service on the Victory Temple (241 N.E. Hancock). Before we could finish this project we had to demo the old service that was originally installed in the 1940’s and in obvious need of replacement. The new service is modern, larger and should be sufficient for the church for at least two small remodels. Donna Hammond (our local EWMC official) promised us overcast and 50-degree weather; with no rain for this project. Donna delivered on her promise! Though 65-degrees and sunny would have been preferable, no rain (or snow) in January is still amazing.
Many of the EWMC members did not believe us when we told them that days with no rain in January, in Portland, Oregon are – well – rare indeed. The constant, unrelenting rain that fell for the remainder of the conference convinced that we were telling the truth. Now is also a convenient time to mention that we had outstanding support from Westside Electric. Westside supplied us with the service, sub-panel, materials, and two very capable JW’s needed to make this project a success. I’m sure Donna Hammond will thank everyone involved with this project profusely and by name very soon. What I learned from this project was not how capable our contractors or JW’s are – I already knew that! What I take away from this conference that changed my thinking was the skill level of ALL wiremen in the IBEW.
I made up the service with a JW from Mississippi. He and I never spoke about making up the service entrance conductors, we just did it. He would bend the conductor, get the correct length, mark it with his thumb and index finger, and then pull the conductor out so I could cut it. After cutting the wire I would mark the wire with phase-tape, slather on some anti-oxidant, and push the wire into the lug. He would then tighten the lug with some wrenches that we “borrowed” from the lineman, who were now on site also. We would then repeat the process on the next conductor. Only after the project was complete and all covers mounted did we finally introduce ourselves.
At the time I thought to myself: ‘well, that was easy!’ I did not realize the significance of what had just happened: without speaking, two IBEW members from opposite sides of the U.S.A. had correctly and efficiently made up a 400-amp service with parallel conductors. It did not matter that he was black and I am white; that he is from Mississippi and I am from Oregon; that he is in his 50’s and I am in my 40’s; that his accent is far different from mine. None of the meaningless things that divide the rest of the U.S.A. mattered – only that we make up this service “the right way”. If two IBEW members from such different backgrounds can work together, without speaking, to complete a simple task just image what thousands of IBEW members could accomplish when we DO communicate and cooperate with each other? The results would be revolutionary!
By Brian Trueb-Bresee, IBEW Local 48
The Courage to Lead / The Power to Make a Difference –
We Stood Up!!!
The Electrical Worker's Minority Caucus (EWMC), Portland, OR Chapter, hosted the 20th Annual EWMC Conference this year at the Benson Hotel with the support of IBEW LU48 BM/FS Clif Davis, IBEW LU 48, NIETC, BLMCC, EWMC Seattle Chapter and IBEW LU46. The EWMC conference occurs every year in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) National Holiday. This time was chosen for several reasons, but primarily because it is a time that the nation recognizes the leadership and service of Dr King. As with past conferences, the host city benefits tremendously by hosting the conference. I would like to share with you the benefits that LU 48 received for hosting the conference this year and how our delegates "stood up" and proudly represented the local union.
The conference theme and consistent narrative this year was "The Courage to Lead -- The Power to Make a difference." The EWMC conference isn't your typical IBEW conference. It's more like an annual homecoming, when all of your brothers, sisters, uncles, aunt and cousins come home for the family reunion.
So, they came. We also asked our family to come home to Portland and to give service and they did. We greeted our IBEW family members at the airport and assisted them in utilizing the various modes of transportation to the Benson Hotel. The airport / hotel greeters were coordinated by brother Aaron B. Strong. The arriving delegates received greetings from Jerry Simon, Ricky Brame, Lee Mitchell, Bob Blair, Shelton Harrison, Jessica Ford, Marcia Hurd, Cheryl Kinney, Jonni Ocejo, John Dixon, Angela Peterson, Marjorie Ramirez, Michelle Pelster, Ken Fry, Ed Barnes, and Bob Palandech. These brothers and sisters staffed the PDX welcome booth from 10:00am to 10:00pm for four days to welcome our IBEW family back home to Portland. We had approximately 330 delegates and guests arrive at PDX and that translates into over 330 visitors (including spouses and significant others) eating, drinking, sleeping, and shopping in the City of Portland.
They served. The host city also benefits from volunteer hours of community service. The City of Portland received over 200 volunteers who put in at least 6 hours in various communities, totaling 1200 service hours in the Portland area. They fed the hungry at the Blanchett house, boxed food at the Oregon Food bank and FISH. Delegates repaired and painted walls at Lifeworks Treatment Center, Imani House, and Impact NW Hazelwood. They organized shelving at His Hands / His Feet, installed a new electrical service at New Directions Community Church and worked with Reach and performed small electrical repairs for low income and disabled senior homeowners. In total we had over 30 community service projects and I would like to thank IR Keith Edwards and Hilary Colbert for their collaboration. In providing these volunteer opportunities for the visiting delegates to serve and for the local organizations who were desperately in need of our support we met the spirit of community service MLK Jr. envisioned. Meanwhile, the EWMC youth delegates were in the classrooms at Jefferson H.S. and the Native American Youth Association sharing the IBEW story and career opportunities that exist in the IBEW.
We asked the delegates to support local charity by bringing unused cell phones with them. We collected 38 cell phones, 29 chargers, 2 earpieces and 4 holders for victims of domestic violence. Cell phones that were in working condition can be used by victims to make that one call that could save their lives. The non-working cell phones will be exchanged for a cash donation.
Thirty community service projects is quite an undertaking, but transitioning the delegates to and from these projects was challenging as well. We had brother Ronnie Jimmerson who stepped up and took the lead for coordinating transportation with his core-team of brothers Ricky Brame and Terry Tims Sr. They stood up and showed up and demonstrated excellent NW hospitality. We also had a host of local talent who provided oversight and direction on projects and they were: Retiree Omar Shabazz, Chris Valentine, Pete Green, Jonni Ocejo and Delores Doyle. We also had the support and donations of NECA Contractors - Westside, Westhills, Cache Valley Teledata, and O'Neil Electric.
They Gave. In addition to the 1200 volunteer hours, the EWMC delegates gave financially to the local community and that donation is matched by the national. A local organization is selected by the hosting local to receive the financial donation. This year, we selected the Healing Roots Center - a culturally specific treatment center for domestic violence and substance abuse. When the hat was passed, the donations were split between a local charity and the relief effort for Haiti. The delegates gave $7,380.00 and it was matched by the National EWMC. Therefore, by hosting the EWMC conference, we were responsible for over $14,760 going directly to the Portland community and to Haiti relief. All delegates were encouraged to give blood at their local Red Cross upon returning to their homes.
They worked. The workshop schedule is always intense and fluid. And there's something for everyone. We had a focus on green technology and located the solar array from NIETC in the lobby of the Benson. We had a choice of rotating through Building Greater Power through stronger labor Community Alliances, Sustainable Careers, Business Opportunities and Community Development, The Power of Communications, How To & Why start an EWMC Chapter, Navigating Uncertainty - An Economic Survival Map, Standing With Immigrant Workers, and There's Power in Diversity.
They listened. Delegates were greeted by our friends and allies in the City, State, County and District. They received greetings, welcomes and speeches from Mayor Sam Adams, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, 9th District IVP Mike Mowrey, 7th District IEC Patrick Lavin, Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber President Gale Castillo, IBEW LU 46 BM/FS Virgil Hamilton, Oregon State AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain, Deputy Director OR State Human Services Dept former State Senator Margaret Carter, African American Chamber of Commerce President Roy Jay and the City of Portland’s Official Greeters – The Royal Rosarians.
They networked. After a long day of work the delegates were given an opportunity to socialize and network in the grand "hospitality" suite that was co-hosted by the BLMCC, IBEW LU 46 and IBEW LU 48. The delegates were given an opportunity to further their discussions from the workshops, network from earlier conferences, or stop by before heading out on the streets of Portland to enjoy the town. The Local 46 suite provided a nice relaxing atmosphere after an intense of day of speakers and workshops. They explored what to do in PDX, from the Japanese garden to Patti Labelle. John Nelsen let everyone know where to go for fun and entertainment in the city. We also had a private tour of the Shanghai Tunnels for the delegates coordinated by Jessica Ford. And for the host city hospitality Friday night, the delegates enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Portland Spirit where they also networked and invested their personal resources on beverages, photos and etc. (I want to say that they spent money here)
They Shared. We had an open mike session to check in and see what was up with generation "Y". As we go forward, it's very important that we check in to see who's with us and if we're meeting the needs of our constituency. Is the union still relevant? I believe it is however; it may have to modify its' current form to adapt to this younger generation who have been influenced by different events than the previous generations. These are issues that the IBEW needs address, to grow and flourish.
The conference was both a lot of work and a lot of fun. In accordance with the national by-laws, this was an election year. The delegates were confident with the direction and leadership of the National Executives and unanimously re-elected BM IBEW LU 2127 sister Robbie Sparks as President, BM IBEW LU 595 Victor Uno - V. President and ABM LU 1245 Dorothy Fortier - Sec / Treasurer.
I cannot express in words our thanks and appreciation for the extra effort that was extended by everyone on behalf of the conference and most especially the staff of IBEW LU 48. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. We Stood UP!!!
Respectfully Submitted,
Sister Donna Hammond
President
EWMC Portland, OR Chapter
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