BAC Sporting Life

On the job, BAC members give everything they have to carry on the Union’s proud tradition of craftsmanship, skill and productivity as trowel trades’ “best hands in the business.” Away from the jobsite, members bring the same enthusiasm and gusto to their many hobbies and sporting pursuits.

To kick off this year’s “Sporting Life,” the Journal is highlighting a remarkable weekend that offers a heartwarming and inspiring blend of love of the outdoors and Union service, OADC-style.

JOURNAL: ISSUE 1 - 2012

OHIO ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT COUNCIL

OADC Opens Outdoors to Special Needs Youth

The Journal thanks OADC Director Ken Kudela, Executive Vice President George “Mac” Mellert and his wife, Yvonne, for their contributions to this article.

Deer hunt participant Kendall Speaks with her grandfather, Roger Cremeans, left, and USA Director of Recruitment & Special Events Nate Whiteman.

On a brisk November weekend last fall, what started as an idea became a happy reality for 27 handicapped youngsters from Scioto and Lawrence Counties in southern Ohio.

Sponsored by the Ohio Administrative District Council (OADC) and Locals 7 Kentucky and 39 Ohio, and the United Sportsman Alliance (USA), the children and their families participated in the first-ever Ohio Youth Handicapped Whitetail Deer Hunt at Shawnee State Park in Portsmouth. The event included a guided whitetail hunt, meals and two nights’ lodging.

BAC volunteers set up 30 hunting blinds in the surrounding area on Friday morning. OADC Field Representatives Ted Linscott and Donald Mays provided gun safety instruction, followed by shooting practice. Later in the evening, participants were matched with the volunteers who would be assisting them during the hunt along with their parent or guardian.

Early Saturday morning, the hunters moved out to their blinds on ATVs for the exciting day ahead. Although no game was harvested, youngsters had a chance to take shots and all loved the chance to be outdoors, not to mention the camaraderie and personalized attention.  

That evening, the hunters and families were treated to a banquet to cap the weekend’s activities. Local 7 KY member George McCalvin, whose idea inspired the hunt, presented plaques and door prizes to attendees. Dave Tibbits of Local 7 KY and Dale McClary of Local 39 OH organized a silent auction held at the banquet to fund future hunts. Most memorable was the presentation of 410 or 20 gauge shotguns to each young hunter, courtesy of BAC.

At the BAC Executive Council meeting in February, OADC Director Ken Kudela, center, receives a special award on behalf of the OADC for outstanding community service. The OADC was honored for its role in organizing the first whitetail deer hunt for special needs youth in Ohio. From left, BAC Executive Vice President Ken Lambert, Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer, Ken Kudela, and Executive Vice Presidents Gerard Scarano and Tim Driscoll.

Representing the OADC were Director Ken Kudela, Secretary-Treasurer Fred Hubbard, Executive Vice President Mac Mellert, organizer Jim Dvorak, and Field Representatives Donald Mays and Ted Linscott.

To learn more about the hunt and to hear, in parents’ own words, the profound impact the event had on their children and their gratitude to BAC for taking the lead in organizing it, go to: www.youtube.com/BACInternational and watch the video titled “Solidarity in Action.”

In fact, after learning about the event and seeing the video referenced above, BAC President James Boland and Secretary-Treasurer Henry Kramer presented a special recognition award to the OADC and Locals 7 KY and 39 OH for “Outstanding Member Outreach” at the winter Executive Council meeting in February.

LOCAL 1 WASHINGTON Local 1 WA Gold Card member Carl “Ron” Lofgren has been skiing since 1958 and is still going strong. This photo was taken at Mt. Bachelor in Oregon last year. At the age of 72, Rob bought a new pair of skis in anticipation of a snowy 2012!    LOCAL 1 NEW YORK Local 5 NY retiree Frank Matra enjoys his leisure time in Florida, especially fishing for black drums on a nice day.	LOCAL 1 NEW YORK Local 1 NY member Miroslaw Filipkowski caught this 43-inch northern pike in Reservoir Gouin in the Canadian province of Quebec.    LOCAL 3 MA/ME/NH/RI Local 3 MA/ME/NH/RI 24-year member Michael J. Rossi Sr. caught this giant cod in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.    LOCAL 5 NEW JERSEY Local 5 NJ member Rick Tillman and son Josh pose with a 12-point, 139-score buck. Young Josh took this buck on the opening day of December 2010 hunting season in Gloucester County, New Jersey.
LOCAL 4 INDIANA/KENTUCKY On September 24, 2011, Local 4 IN/KY Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Brown, Field Representatives Tim Spaulding and Kevin McClanahan, and member Bob Green spent the morning on McClanahan’s boat, “Lucky Irishmen”, on Lake Michigan. Luck was indeed with them as they harvested coho and king salmon. From left, Bob Green, Tim Spaulding, and Jerry Brown.
Local 4 IN/KY member Carey Chalos’ family bagged this 130-pound buck in Newton County, Indiana on November 25, 2011. From left, Carey’s husband Mike, and sons Michael and Wyatt.	Local 4 IN/KY member Carey Chalos’ son Wyatt shot this 130-pound buck at 50 yards with only one bullet from his muzzle loader. It was also Wyatt’s first hunt.
LOCAL 6 ILLINOIS Chris Robertson of Local 6 IL shot this whitetail buck with a Thompson Center 50 caliber muzzleloader at 135 yards in Fulton County, Illinois in late 2010, earning him 1st place in the non-typical muzzleloader division and “Best in Show” at the Illinois Deer Classic in Peoria, Illinois. This buck’s gross score was 203 and the net score was 197 5/8, which was qualified to enter the Boone and Crockett record books.   LOCAL 1 MISSOURI Local 1 MO member Chris Kabat holds one of five similar-sized fish he caught on the same day. At the angler’s request, the Journal has been asked not to divulge the location of his top secret fishing hole!	LOCAL 21 ILLINOIS Local 21 IL member Ralph Jensen bagged this 10-point buck in Illinois.    LOCAL 5 PENNSYLVANIA Dave DeMarco, a 31-year member of Local 5 PA, caught this 12 ½-foot shark weighing approximately 475 pounds about 20 miles off the Massachusetts coast on Blue Water Charters out of Green Harbor, MA last September. Without benefit of a harness or fighting chair, it took brother DeMarco 2 ½ hours to land the shark, which was caught with on 80-pound tackle and pollock carrcess.    LOCAL 8 WISCONSIN Avid hunter and Local 8 WI retired 50-year member David Kurczewski goes out with his hunting companion, Brittany spaniel “Augie”, in Waupaca County, Wisconsin.
LOCAL 1 CONNECTICUT Local 1 CT member Bobby Gallo knows how to live the “sporting life.” In the left photo, he poses with a big striped bass caught in June last year. At right, he poses with an 8-point buck he shot in November. “The only way to unwind after a big concrete pour is to go after big bucks and big striped bass,” says brother Gallo.  LOCAL 1 CONNECTICUT Local 1 CT member Bobby Gallo knows how to live the “sporting life.” In the left photo, he poses with a big striped bass caught in June last year. At right, he poses with an 8-point buck he shot in November. “The only way to unwind after a big concrete pour is to go after big bucks and big striped bass,” says brother Gallo.
LOCAL 4 WISCONSIN Local 4 WI retired life-member Donald Loewen has been hunting deer in northern Wisconsin since he was 16. Brother Loewen harvested this buck in Cable, Wisconsin.  Brother Loewen, who bought a condominium in Naples, Florida in 2003, enjoys fishing from the Naples Pier. Here he proudly displays the Spanish mackerel he caught on the Pier last November. “I retired from BAC at age 62 and have been enjoying the good life now for 16 years,” he says. “The benefits of being a union bricklayer and stonemason are now paying off with the help of my union pension.”	LOCAL 55 OHIO Local 55 OH member Terry Downs II, right, with his 12-year-old son, Holden Hemming, who shot this 12 point, 170 4/8 score deer on the first day of youth hunting season in 2009. This shot made both record books of Ohio Big Buck and Boone & Crockett.  Brother Terry Downs II’s son, Caleb Hemming, center, front row, signs to play for Ohio Christian University’s men’s soccer team. The Logan Elm High School graduate, who also has a welding certificate from Pickaway Ross Career & Technology Center, plans to major in psychology.