Giving BACk
JOURNAL: ISSUE 4 - 2014
Community service is a natural extension of the solidarity BAC members share with one another when they join the Union. “The amazing thing is it never seems to matter how bad – or good – the economy is,” says BAC President James Boland. “Our members are out in their communities, working to benefit countless individuals and their neighborhoods as a whole.” The following charitable and service-related activities are only a few recent examples of members’ commitment to ‘giving BACk.’
Local 4 Indiana/Kentucky
Restoring Dugout after Storm
The wind storm that swept through Riverside Park – the home field of the Indiana Chiefs – in Hammond, Indiana last summer left the park’s main baseball field badly damaged. Sections of the outfield fence were twisted and flattened, light standards were detached, and a cluster of trees was toppled.
“The whole park was built by area building trade unions. It's something the city and all of us take great pride in,” said Pete Severson, an instructor with Local 4 IN/KY’s four-year apprentice training program. In April, Severson led the effort that included several second- and third-year apprentices to rebuild the home team dugout.
“It’s a great opportunity for our apprentices to learn while helping the community,” Severson added. With the Local’s generous donation of labor and time, the field was ready for the Chiefs’ 2014 season opener in mid-May.
 Credit: John Burbridge/The Times of Northwest Indiana |
| Pete Severson, left, a Local 4 IN/KY apprentice instructor, with third-year apprentice bricklayers Justin Hildebrand, front, and William Iversen, restoring Riverside Park. |
Administrative District Council of New Jersey
Rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy
Pamela and Bobby Vazquez lost their home in Union Beach, New Jersey during Hurricane Sandy two years ago. The couple, their daughter Annie and dog Molly have had to live in a trailer. After realizing that the donations they received would not cover the cost of a new foundation for their home, Bobby reached out to BAC, of which his late grandfather, father, and uncle were dedicated members of Local 5 NJ.
The Administrative District Council of New Jersey did not let the Vazquezes down. Over the course of four days, Local 5 NJ bricklayers and apprentices volunteered to build the foundation of the Vazquez’ home. “They built the foundation for us,” Vazquez said. “We lost so much, but yet we gained so much… Seeing the last part of the roof going up, that was amazing… It means a lot to us.”
“When a disaster like this happens, all we need to know is that we have each other and we hold onto each other,” said NJ ADC Director Richard Tolson. “When we can do things like this, we become closer and our community becomes stronger.”
Administrative District Council 1 of Illinois
Honoring Veterans
The completed La Grange Park Veterans Memorial.
On July 6, 2013, ten volunteers from Local 2 NY/VT poured a concrete driveway and sidewalk for the home of retired Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joseph Wilkinson and his family as part of Building for America's Bravest program, which builds custom designed, specially adapted homes for severely injured American service members.
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As a member of the U.S. Air Force Security Forces, Wilkinson served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Due to his leg injuries and paralysis, he retired in 2009. In the years since, he has faced considerable medical and financial hurdles.
"Our heroes deserve better lives," Local 2 Secretary-Treasurer Pat Tirino said. "We are glad to be part of the program to help our injured soldiers in every way we can."
To learn more about the Building for America's Bravest program, visit www.ourbravest.org.
Local 7 Canada
Raising Funds for Charities
Local 7 Canada won the mixed championship of the 22nd annual Daryl Lecuyer Memorial Softball Tournament held at Carlington Park in Ottawa, Ontario in June. Sponsored by the Ottawa-Gatineau Building Trades, this event raises funds for charities supported by all of the Local building trades, which fielded 15 teams from across the National Capital Region in this year’s tournament.
Members and supporters of the Local 7 Canada Softball Team. Front row from left, Joe Salvatore, Kyley Souliere holding Bat Girl Mila Salvatore, Stephanie Durkin, Jennifer 'Silver' Vollrath, Bat Boy Luca Salvatore holding the trophy, Jennifer 'JMo' Morrison, Lise Ross, Frankie Bordage, and Deanna Fimrite. Back row from left, Mike 'Lurch' Beuman, Jason Mercier, Denis Boucher, Jocelyn Boucher, James Lesway, Norm Bone, Steve Cleroux, Local 7 Business Manager Oliver Swan, and Shane Shields.
Ohio-Kentucky Administrative District Council
Restoring Historic Boy Scout Memorial
Fifteen apprentices from OH-KY ADC’s Northern Ohio Regional Training Center volunteered to repair the historic H. Karl Butler Memorial at Camp Manatoc in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in May. More than 100,000 Boy Scouts have marched in front of this monument since 1932.
Under the supervision of Apprentice Coordinators Flory Fernandez and Jeff Garnett, apprentices removed and replaced deteriorating mortar from the walls of the 83-year-old monument and repaired its steps. Their donated time and materials exceeded an estimated $20,000. The apprentices plan to revisit the site next year for maintenance.
“This project benefits both the community and our apprentices who have gained hands-on work experience through volunteering,” OH-KY ADC Director Ken Kudela said. “It also shows that we arm our members with both craft skills, and with a sense of serving our community.”
From left, apprentices Steve Massey, Jose Tossas, and Richard Kellwood of Local 5 OH restore the wall and steps of the Memorial.
 Local 6 OH apprentice Chase Owens prepares the joints between the stones for new mortar. |
 Apprentices Tyler Reynolds, left, and Jose Tossas of Local 5 OH work on the Memorial steps. |
Local 5 Ohio
Rebuilds Home for Wounded Veteran
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From left, the owner of Anderson Industrial Construction and Local 5 member Al Anderson, and Local 5 members Joe Goebel, Rob Anderson, and Donald Anderson. |
Sgt. Everett “Alex” Haworth was severely injured in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan in April 2012 and was awarded the Purple Heart. After returning to civilian life in Olmsted Township, Ohio, he discovered the house he bought for his family had toxic black mold despite passing an inspection.
Two non-profit organizations, Housing Our Nation’s Outstanding Returning Soldiers (H.O.N.O.R.S.) and the Northeast Ohio Foundation for Patriotism (NEOPAT), appealed to the community for help. Members of Local 5 Ohio employed by signatory contractor Anderson Industrial Construction responded immediately. With donated money, materials and labor, construction of the new home broke ground on May 9th.
OH-KY ADC Director Ken Kudela said, “Being able to help Sgt. Haworth and his family is a privilege for us. It’s just one way to express our respect and appreciation for our veterans.”
Administrative District Council of Eastern Missouri
Constructing Art Sculpture
Bricklayers of Local 1 Missouri of the Administrative District Council of Eastern Missouri, students and instructor Mark Kreutzman of the St. Louis Job Corp Masonry Program, along with the iron workers, carpenters and oper-ating engineers joined forces in August to complete the Recess Project for artist Geoffrey Krawczyk in Laumier Sculpture Park in the suburb of Sunset Hills.
According to the artist, the Recess Project is an architectural depiction of the remnants of one of the neighborhood’s distinctive four-family brick flats. The walls themselves are comprised of brick from a neighborhood brickyard, laid in traditional style, and engraved with thoughts, critiques, and comments from citizens of St. Louis and the surrounding area. The structure is constructed solely with local union labor to further commemorate their role in the building of eastern Missouri.
 An overview of the Recess Project design. |
 Local 1 Missouri members install bricks for the Recess Project. |
International Union
Supporting Diabetes Research
Every year, North America’s Building Trades Unions partner with the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation to fund the effort to find a cure for diabetes. Since 1986, approximately $51 million has been raised through a multitude of charity events that include golf tournaments, poker runs, bowling tournaments, softball tournaments, sporting clay tournaments, and fishing tournaments.
In June, the Labor of Love softball slam, along with other outdoor activities, was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. BAC members and supporters formed two teams and helped raise a total of $320,000.
Members of the NJ ADC softball team. Front row from left, John Xanathopolis, Melissa Smith, Jamie Vanacore, and Ryan McSorley. Second row from left, Ron Green, Joe McSorley, Don Engelhardt, Chris Castagnola, Nick D'Orazio, Ken Simone, Richard Tolson, and Joe Pillo.
Members of the BAC softball team. Front row from left, Steven Powers, Thomas Pinto, Robert Powers, Tony Merkel, and Tom Antista. Second row from left, Sandy Ruddy, Matthew Schambacker, Dennis Pagliotti, Rich Newcomb, Mike Barlow, Alycia Keehn, Matt Feeney, Charlie Feeney Jr., and Nick Weir.