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Local Bricklaying Contest Held in Pleasanton
News from the Apprentice Office |
Wall of Trowels Planned for Western States Contest
We held our local contest on Saturday April 8 in Pleasanton. The weather was nice and there was a good crowd
on hand to watch the competition and support the apprentices. An excellent lunch was served at the end of the
contest, thanks to Tom Spear. Tom is currently in his second term as Secretary/Treasurer for BAC Local 3 and
is a long time supporter of apprenticeship. Thanks again.
Twenty five apprentices competed for a chance to advance to the 2006 Western States Apprentice Bricklaying
Contest, which will be held on June 3. The Contestants were allowed five hours to build the project, which
consisted of one hundred, forty four bricks. Congratulations to each of the contestants for their diligent
effort toward craftsmanship. Thanks also to the apprentices who worked as tenders for the day.
Judges for the annual contest were Pete Garcia who works for Bratton Masonry, Steve Reich, of John Jackson
Masonry, and Skip Gainer, BAC 3 Field Representative. Thanks a lot for your commitment to our training program,
and donating your time to this event.
Finishing in first place was Joe Porto, followed by Raul Ramos, and Jose Perez, who tied for second place. Other
contestants selected to advance to the Western States Contest are Josh Height, Tobie Lee, Justin Jones, Jose Moises
Correa, William Phillips, Orlando Ortiz, Joel Lopez, Warren Cheatham, and Allan Walls.
Next year the local contest will be held in Fresno.
School Attendance
As the school year comes to a close it looks like our overall attendance will finish down slightly from last year.
While the Marble crafts are experiencing a noticeable slowdown, Brick and PCC are holding fairly steady regarding
school attendance. There are three students in the running for perfect school attendance, Jimmy King, Orlando
Ortiz, and Kristian Trotter. Students who maintain perfect attendance during the school year will receive $50
for their achievement.
Western States Contest
Planning is ongoing for the Western States Brick & Tile Apprentice Contest. Originally scheduled for
Burlingame, the contest will be held in San Francisco on June 3, 2006. We last hosted this event in 2000,
when the contest was held in Monterey.
The host committee has taken a number of steps to make this contest a memorable event. For the convenience of
our guests, we plan to have buses operating continuously between the host hotel and the contest site, from 6:45
am until 6:45 pm. We expect a thirty minute interval between buses. The Awards Banquet will be held Saturday
evening at the host hotel, Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, beginning with a reception at 6:30 pm.
Our apprentices have been working on various elements for the contest since last December. Most recently we
poured the concrete bases for the brick projects, which will be donated.
Apprentices representing BAC Local 3 CA and their contractors are Joe Porto, currently not working, Raul Ramos,
Cornerstone Masonry, Jose Perez, Rossi Masonry, Josh Height, John D. Wait Masonry, Tobie Lee, John Jackson
Masonry, Justin Jones, P. T. S. Masonry, Jose Moises, Cornerstone Masonry, William Phillips, also not working,
Orlando Ortiz, Chappell Masonry, Joel Lopez, Cornerstone Masonry, Warren Cheatham, The Henson Company and
Allan Walls, Lilja.
Gauged Brickwork
We recently added a link to our web site. You will find it on the Links page and
click on Gauged Brickwork. I think you will find it interesting. John Laviniere gave me permission to print
an article from his web site in this news letter. You will find it on the Back Page.
Recently Certified Journeymen
Bricklayers
Congratulations for choosing a respected and rewarding craft.
BAC Local 3 and the Apprentice Training Committees for Brick and Tile are hosts for the 2006 Western States
Apprentice Brick and Tile Contest. The contest will take place at Fisherman’s Wharf in the 500 block of
Jefferson Street in San Francisco beginning at 7:45 am on Saturday June 3, 2006. We hope you will join us
for this event.
As a tribute to Local 3 Bricklayers, we plan to create an impressive display by mounting 500 used bricklayer’s
trowels on a wall at the contest site. We are asking for your support in this endeavor. You may write your name,
years as a union member/bricklayer on the front of the trowel. You can also write the name of your contractor or
other information if you like. Please donate as many used trowels as you can spare.
Our apprentices and union field representatives will be collecting the trowels at the jobsites. Trowels
can also be mailed to the apprentice office if that is more convenient, or you may call the apprentice office
(510-553-0991) and we will have someone pick up your donation.
Your trowels will be returned to you after the contest.
The Legacy Of The Bricklayers Of The Past
What is the spirit that lives in such men that they dedicate their
life span to the craft of bricklaying?
Is it because they have tapped into the essence of life? Which in my view is to constantly move forward,
upward and to leave a mark, an impact, a memory in the minds of people, that you too walked this path and
contributed to its betterment.
Is this the same spirit that embodied The Great Pyramid Builders?
The knowledge gained by the bricklayers of the past encompassed geology, mathematics / applied geometry,
science, structural engineering, draughtsmanship, architecture, art, carving and ultimately the most enriched
form of brickwork and brick construction, gauged brickwork.
The legacy of the bricklayers of the past is the foundation upon which all buildings continue to be built,
to be built off of solid foundations, to be wind and watertight, constructed out of a combination of knowledge
and skill, precision, art and craft, but most importantly pride in ones work and a strong will power.
John Laviniere
News from the Apprenticeship Office
Michael Mendoza
Wall of Trowels Planned for Western States Contest
Michael Height
Back Page
John Laviniere