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Planning Continues for Western States Contest
The Western States Brick and Tile Apprentice Contest has been held annually since 1952. Originally exclusive to
California apprentices, the contest this year will attract apprentices from fourteen states. The contest location
typically rotates between the geographic areas of participating Local Unions.
The Apprenticeship Office was notified on October 27 that we will host the Western States Brick and Tile
Apprentice Contest for 2006. Local 1 Oregon had volunteered in May, 2004 to host this contest, but decided
to back out at this late date.
The Apprenticeship Office began preliminary planning right away, with our first objective being to select a
suitable location to hold the event. We looked at more than 20 union hotels in Sacramento, San Francisco and
San Jose. On November 29, at a joint meeting of the Brick and Tile apprenticeship committees, the decision
was made to hold the event at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, in Burlingame, California on June 3, 2006.
Prior to the vote BAC Local 3 president, Jim Bresnahan, who preferred a San Francisco site, stated that regardless
of the outcome of the vote he wanted everyone to work together to make this a good contest.
We have since worked diligently to bring about a prestigious event within a very tight timeline. Our initial step
was to work out details with the hotel in Burlingame for guest rooms, meeting rooms, banquet facilities, and
reception and contest areas. After ironing out the details we entered into a contract with the hotel on
December 8.
Next we designed the contest projects and made arrangements to donate them to the City of Burlingame, Parks and
Recreation Department. Material donations for the projects have been arranged and a number of other deals are in
the works. On March 30 the project drawings will be posted on our web site: bac3train.com.
Contest announcements and registration packets have been assembled and mailed to local unions and apprenticeship
committees in the fourteen states that make up the Western Region. We expect to receive notices in the coming
months informing us of the actual number of contestants, enabling us to fine tune our plans.
The contest will be for Bricklayer and Tile Layer apprentices enrolled in union programs within the Western
Region. The Bricklayers will be allowed six hours to complete their projects. We will have more on the projects
once they have been announced. In addition to the contest, planning is under way for craft demonstrations by
our PCC and Marble Apprentices as well as exhibits by selected suppliers and contractors.
The financial expense of the event is borne primarily through advertising. Our ad campaign is scheduled to begin
on February 9. We will be seeking support from contractors, suppliers, vendors, and participating local unions
and apprenticeship committees. Considering the last time we hosted the Western States Contest was in May 2000,
we are hopeful for generous support.
Mark your calendar for June 3. We look forward to seeing you at the contest. Look for more information on
the Western States Contest in the April newsletter.
Since our last newsletter, we have registered twenty nine new apprentices, ten Bricklayers, eighteen
Pointer, Cleaner, Caulkers and one Marble Finisher. Eight apprentices completed the training program
during this period and were certified by the JATEC, two Bricklayers, four Pointer, Cleaner, Caulkers,
one Marble Mason, and one Marble Finisher. BAC Local 3 donates a union jacket to all certified journeymen.
If you have not received your jacket, you should contact the union office, 1-800-281-8781.
Travel reimbursement checks were mailed on January 25. The JATEC has revised the rates and mileage
requirements for compensation, effective from September 10, 2005. Distances are measured by crow,
with the per class rates listed below;
Mileage Chart:
Travel Reimbursement
In addition to the mileage chart above, apprentices must receive full credit for the school dates to receive reimbursement. Make every effort to be at school on time.
The checks mailed on January 25 are for the first nine classes of the school year. Reimbursements for the second half of the school year will be mailed on June 28.
If you have any questions pertaining to travel reimbursement contact the apprenticeship office.
Local Contest
We plan to hold our local Apprentice Bricklaying Contest on April 8 in Pleasanton. The contest, made up of
apprentices from our Fresno and Pleasanton schools, will begin at 8:45 am. Project drawings are being developed
and will be sent to contestants on March 30. Twenty five apprentices will compete for a chance to advance to the
Western States Contest, scheduled for June 3 in Burlingame, CA. The April 8 contest will be a good opportunity
to visit our school and show support for the apprentices.
Recently Certified Journeymen
Bricklayers
Marble Finisher
Marble Masons
PCC
Congratulations to each of you for choosing a respected and rewarding craft.
Bob Keeles has served as a trustee on our apprenticeship committee for more than sixteen years. He was
removed as a labor trustee this month.
I first met Bob in 1996 when I began teaching the bricklayer apprentices at our current school site
in Pleasanton. Bob and Jimi Souza, another casualty of politics, faithfully visited the apprentice
school during the early years. They would often ask who is this guy or that and knew most of the apprentices
on sight. Bob has been fair regarding matters coming before the committee, and always acted in the best
interest of the apprenticeship program.
I recently spoke with Bob to thank him for his dedicated service to our apprenticeship program, and express
my admiration of his character. He is a man who is comfortable with who he is and says and does what he feels
is right. Unfortunately, these traits are not shared by all of our committee members.
Thanks Bob for your many years of dedicated service.
Respect
is the willingness to show consideration or appreciation.
We are taught from a young age to respect our parents. As we grow up we are told to show respect for our
elders, teachers, and persons of authority. Respect for someone is often expected in our society based on
an individuals position or station in life. This can sometimes be an absurdity. For example, an individual
who holds a position may not be worthy of respect. In these cases we can show a certain respect for the
position itself.
We should be respectful of the world we live in, animals, the environment, laws, other people and their ideas.
Do not do or say things that will intimidate or embarrass someone else.
In order to be worthy of respect from others we must first develop self respect. This doesn’t happen solely
at will, but builds with time as we grow to become ourselves, putting aside the fear of how we may be perceived
by others. As an apprentice you should show respect for your fellow craft workers, employers and most
importantly yourself.
The key to gaining respect from others is showing respect.
Zack Lambert
News from the Apprenticeship Office
35—50 miles $10
50—75 miles $25
75—100 miles $30
100 + miles $40
We hope to see you there.
Andrew Keith
Paulo Palacio
Roberto Enriquez
Kelly Moran
Jose Bernal
Hector Florean
David Campos
Timoteo Gomez
Thanks for Your Service
Michael Height
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Zack Lambert