Giving BACk

JOURNAL: ISSUE 1 - 2016

 

BAC members understand that communities stay stronger when we look out for each other. “No matter how bad, or good, the economy is, our members are out in their communities, working to benefit countless individuals and their neighborhoods,” says BAC President James Boland. The following stories on volunteer and charitable activities provide just a glimpse of BAC members’ generosity and commitment to ‘Giving BACk’ to our communities. 

 

Local 2 New York/Vermont 

Gulf War Memorial Built on SUNY Adirondack Campus 

SUNY Adirondack’s new Gulf War memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day, 2015. From left, veteran John Brady, Local 2 NY/VT member Kodi Riddell, veteran Justin Anderson, SUNY Adirondack Veterans Club President Nathan Mount, Local 2 NY/VT members Brian Libby, apprentice instructor Matt Zink, and Aaron Holland. Volunteers not pictured include Local 2 NY/VT Secretary-Treasurer Pat Tirino and Vice Chairman Kevin Potter.

SUNY Adirondack’s new Gulf War memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day, 2015. From left, veteran John Brady, Local 2 NY/VT member Kodi Riddell, veteran Justin Anderson, SUNY Adirondack Veterans Club President Nathan Mount, Local 2 NY/VT members Brian Libby, apprentice instructor Matt Zink, and Aaron Holland. Volunteers not pictured include Local 2 NY/VT Secretary-Treasurer Pat Tirino and Vice Chairman Kevin Potter.

Members of Local 2 New York/Vermont volunteered their time and expertise to install the new Gulf War memorial and its brick paver walkway at the State University of New York (SUNY) Adirondack in Queensbury, New York, honoring veterans of the Persian Gulf War and Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. 

Located adjacent to the existing Vietnam memorial, the 6-foot-tall memorial is a three-sided black obelisk with names of each war and representative photographs and maps engraved on each side. The monument sits atop a one-foot-tall round base adorned with round brass emblems symbolizing each of the five branches of military service. 

Local 2 NY/VT President Bob Mantello said that the members were humbled and honored to be a part of this project. “We can’t give enough credit to our servicemen and servicewomen who sacrificed so much for our country. It is our way to honor and support them,” Brother Mantello said.

 

Local 1 Pennsylvania/Delaware

A Christmas Gift to St. Joan of Arc Church

Philadelphia Daily News From left, Local 1 PA/DE members Richard Newcomb, Matt Stafford, and James Lennon restore a damaged brick wall at St. Joan’s.

St. Joan of Arc church in Harrowgate, Pennsylvania received a memorable Christmas gift from Local 1 Pennsylvania/Delaware last December when members volunteered to restore a damaged brick wall. 

The Catholic rectory, convent and picturesque chapel was unfortunately marred by a century-old, out-of-use cast iron incinerator that had become a safety issue for the 35 children attending the church’s after-school programs. After Sister Linda Lukiewski from the church conveyed the issue to Philadelphia Daily News reporter Stu Bykofsky who later wrote a story about it, a local recycling business responded and removed the incinerator for free. Due to the age of the structure, a brick wall was damaged during the removal process and a large pile of bricks tumbled out of its interior, creating another possible hazard for the children. 

Bykofsky wrote a second story about the incident and appealed for community support. Local 1 PA/DE President Dennis Pagliotti took charge of the project. Several Local 1 members volunteered and repaired the brick wall within a week. It might be just a new brick wall to many people, but “to Sister Linda and St. Joan, it was huge” and “a profound Christmas gift,” Bykofsky said.

 

Local 3 Massachusetts/Maine/New Hampshire/Rhode Island

Community Endeavor Makes Softball Dugouts a Reality 

Triton High School Girls Softball Members of Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI construct new softball dugouts at Triton Regional High School.

When a high school softball team wanted to have a home game and reached out for help, a team of 32 bricklayers from Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI answered the call, donated their time and labor on a weekend, and completed new softball dugouts at Triton Regional High School in Newbury, Massachusetts.

It was a long day of laying bricks, transporting buckets of wet cement and perfecting the cinder blocks for dugouts’ foundations, but Local 3 members enjoyed working with school students, alumni, local businesses, and many other community members, who also donated time, money and materials for this project. 

“We are proud to be part of a community where many are willing to give back,” says volunteer and Local 3 Field Representative David R. Kreamer. “It’s also nice to meet new people that you never would’ve had a chance to meet otherwise.”

A place for players to “hang their hats,” the new dugouts will also serve as a tangible symbol of the community’s endeavor towards common goals.  

Triton High School Girls Softball

The volunteer group poses after completing the dugouts. 

 

Members Shovel Out Snowbound Bus Stops

On a cold Saturday morning last December, Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI dispatched crews of apprentices to shovel out snowbound bus stops in Providence to ensure passengers travel safely.

From left, volunteers from Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI Felix Rodriguez, Nick Barney, Annie Commons, and Gerald St. Angelo. 

A succession of storms had made snow removal a daunting task for area individuals, businesses and communities. With nearly 4,000 stops statewide, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority did not have enough personnel to clear them all in time. Members of Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI and the Rhode Island AFL-CIO quickly organized a community effort to assist the Authority. 

“Public safety is a top priority,” says Local 3 President Chuck Raso. “When our community needs help, there is no doubt that we’ll take an immediate action.”      

Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI apprentices clear snowbound bus stops. From left, Gerald St. Angelo, Felix Rodriguez, and Annie Commons. 

 

Local 8 Southeast 

A Safe Home Delivered for Wounded Warrior 

Aerial view of the project with volunteers in August 2015.    Local 8 SE volunteers from left, David Herrera, Billy Merrell, and Jose Cruz Sr.    Local 8 SE President Jay Smith helps build the house for Sgt. Galloway.

Local 8 Southeast members worked with non-profit organization Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) last August to build a specially-adapted home for Army Sergeant Noah Galloway in Alabaster, Alabama, helping him rebuild his civilian life. 

On December 19, 2005, Sgt. Galloway was on a routine mission near Yusufiyah in Bagdad, when his vehicle drove over a roadside bomb which took his left arm above the elbow and his left leg above the knee. After a long period of rehabilitation and recovery, Sgt. Galloway, now a personal trainer and motivational speaker, is inspiring tens of thousands with his enthusiasm for life and his passion for helping other veterans across the country. 

When Sgt. Galloway first volunteered with HFOT in 2010 and helped construct a home for his fellow injured soldier, he witnessed the impact of a specifically adapted home. HFOT made a decision to build one to fit Sgt. Galloway’s individual needs.

Expertise provided by Local SE members and brothers and sisters from other unions made Sgt. Galloway’s dream of a safe home come true. The home has many safety features including wider doorways for his wheelchair, accessible kitchen cabinets, safety bars in the shower, carpet-less floors, and more. 

“The house is a small token of appreciation for Galloway’s service and sacrifice,” says Local 8 SE President Jay Smith. “We will continue working with organizations like HFOT 
to build our heroes the houses they deserve.” 

 

International Union

First row from left, Local 5 NJ member Kirk Buddenbaum, Local 4 NJ member Eric Doherty, Christi Engelhardt, Local 5 NJ member Carmelo Martinez, Local 1 PA/DE member Kyle Miller, Tom Antista, and Matt Stafford; 2nd row from left, Kristin Buddenbaum, Local 5 NJ member Ren Engelhardt, Local 5 NJ Vice President Joseph Pillo, Local 4 NJ President Ken Simone, NJ ADC Director Richard Tolson, BAC Executive Vice President Gerard Scarano, Local 1 PA/DE Secretary-Treasurer Joe Battaglia, Local 1 PA/DE Chapter Chair Rich Newcomb, Colin Newcomb, Local 1 PA/DE members Nick Weir, Tony Merkle, and Matt Quigley; last row from left, Local 5 NJ member Habibu Paasewe, Michael Tolson, Local 4 NJ member Yoenni Romero, Local 5 NJ Recording Secretary Leon Jones Jr., Local 4 NJ Field Representative/Recording Secretary Ronald Green, Local 1 PA/DE members Matt Schanbacher, Charlie Feeney, Matt Feeney, and Matt Stafford. 

North America’s Building Trades Unions hosted its annual Labor of Love fundraising event on June 27-29, 2015. To date, the event has raised over $50 million in support of research and treatment efforts by the Diabetes Research Institute to find a cure for diabetes. 

The Softball Slam, as a part of the annual event, took place at Surf Stadium in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Members of New Jersey Administrative District Council and Local 1 Pennsylvania/Delaware participated in this year’s games and helped raise a total of $330,000 for this year’s Labor of Love.