Apprenticeship Today

From the President’s Desk

Well ready or not, here it comes April 6, 2002, the BAC Local 3 Brick Contest. This is a day that I really look forward to, it’s great to see the apprentices put their best effort to place in the finals. I want you apprentices who compete to remember, that it’s not the first one who completes his/her project that will win 1st Place.

There are normally three judges that do the judging. This is not an easy task but I believe they are always fair and impartial. There are many things they will be judging you on and all of this will be talked about before the contest begins. The one thing we all need to remember is that this should be a positive experience one that should be remembered as being fun.

I hope that when you step on to that slab to start your project you take a good look at the project print and start your project right. Check your bond and get it correct, and please don’t forget to breathe, try to focus on what Mike has been trying to teach you for the amount of time you have been in the program. Winning is not everything, just do your best..

Last week I received a card from Don Sullivan, it was a sad card because it was Don saying goodbye. Don has been fighting a bout with cancer and from his letter he is tired and throwing in the towel. I have only known Don since I have been in office four years. I don’t know him as a quitter and will always remember him as just a tired fighter.

Don Sullivan is a great man, he is always there on the management side to carry the torch. Don is seated as a trustee on the JATEC, Health & Welfare and Pension. He must of went back to the beginning of these trusts because when something is in question he is there with an answer and can always remember what was in the past.

I’ve written Don a personal letter saying goodbye. After losing my father, mother and Sara Kraw in the past two years, it came hard. I wanted to thank Don for all he has done for the union. If it wasn’t for Don, we might not have a BAC scholarship fund. I hope that enough was said in my letter to express my gratitude to Don for the four-year education as a fellow trustee, because as trustees I believe there is no labor or management just you the member.

News from the Apprentice Office

In our last issue I mentioned that I would be traveling to Hilton Head, South Carolina in November to attend a Conference on Apprenticeship. The International Masonry Institute did a commendable job organizing and conducting the conference. The speakers were excellent, the food was great and the hotel offered a relaxed atmosphere. It was nice to have the opportunity to speak with individuals from other areas of the country regarding their programs. We all seem to face many of the same challenges for which there are no clear solutions. The International Masonry Institute is a tremendous resource of which we should attempt to make better use. I am looking forward to attending again next year.

We will hold our local contest in Pleasanton on Saturday, April 6. The apprentices who are selected to compete will receive their instructions on the morning of the contest. The design of the project will be unknown until this time. The apprentices who score the highest in the eyes of the judges will represent local 3 at the Western States contest in Anaheim on June 1.

Last year we held our contest in Fresno.

The apprentices performance at our contest is reflective of the training he is receiving on the job from our local 3 craftsmen. Remember, today’s apprentices are the craftsmen of the future.

Any contractors or journeymen who would like to attend will be welcome. It is always reassuring to observe the diligent efforts of our contestants. We typically serve lunch when the contest ends, about 1:00 pm. The winners will be announced once the judging is complete and the scores have been tallied. Please contact the apprentice office if you need further information.

Recently Certified Journeypersons

Marble Mason
Charles Woodard

Bricklayers
Fred Moe
Tony Franchi

PCC
Taula Seals

Congratulations to each of you for choosing a respected and rewarding craft.

Story Poll

This column, made up of job stories, questions and answers, suggestions and comments is a contribution of our readers. If you would like to contribute to this article please send your correspondence to the apprentice office.

Several months ago the apprentices were asked if any of them would like to take part in a community service project which would allow them to receive extra credit for school hours. There was a respectable show of hands considering the project would be scheduled for a non school Saturday. The apprentices are already committed to eighteen scheduled Saturday classes which makes their willingness to take part in this project quite commendable.

We normally reserve donation work for non profit organizations but for this project, we made an exception. H.C. Muddox is a brick manufacturing plant in Sacramento. They have furnished us with bricks for our schools as well as for the 2000 Western States Brick and Tile Contest in Monterey. At their invitation about thirty of our apprentices visited Muddox for a tour of their plant a couple of years ago. This was a good opportunity to do something for them. Their project would also allow the apprentices an opportunity to do some installation they may not otherwise do very often. The project involved installing thin brick in their conference room. We decided to do the work on two Saturdays, January 12 and 19 since no school was scheduled for those dates. For supervision, we turned to Gary Peifer whose contributions to the apprentices are too numerous to mention.

After a quick breakfast it was on to Muddox to get things underway. Felecion Jones, Jim Losey, Delvon Morgan, Pete Perez, Jerry Turley, Freddie Vasquez, Jeff Woodard, and Doug Thompson were ready and waiting. We probably would have had a couple of more but the Raiders were playing in Oakland. Our objective was not only to complete the job, but to make it a learning experience as well. The brick patterns would be running bond with a soldier at chair rail height and top of wall and a couple of panels of herringbone. Each wall would display a different type of brick, Railroad Blend, Mountain Rose, Old Town Red and Dusty Rose. As always there were cuts to make, mud to mix, units to stock and clean up to be done. The apprentices put forth a gallant effort and did a fine job. We were finished with the setting by about 7:00 pm.

We returned on the nineteenth to grout the joints. Felecion Jones, Jim Losey, Delvon Morgan, Pete Perez and Freddie Vasquez were on hand for this task. We finished the cleanup and called it a day around 4:00 pm.

Many thanks to the apprentices who participated. Remember, what you get out of your apprenticeship is a direct result of what you are willing to put into it. Thanks also to Gary for his continuing efforts and to H. C. Muddox for being a good friend of apprenticeship.

Words of Wisdom

Pride

Pride has been called one of the seven deadly sins. Yet we need to have pride. Pride in our chosen profession, Pride in our work, Pride that the structures we create will stand the test of time. Structures we can be proud to show our children. Masonry is usually not covered with other materials, but is exposed for all to see our workmanship, which is a result of the pride we take in our efforts.

You should take pride in your union. It is your union. It will only be as good as you are willing to make it. Attend meetings, take an active part in what is basically your future. Do not wait for the other guy to do it, it will never get done.

For those in PCC, examine the structures you are repointing or involved in such as seismic upgrades. Look at the workmanship and the efforts of those who came before you. Remember the bricklayers are the oldest union in the construction industry. Be proud of your heritage!

Don Sullivan