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Business Manager, Michael Grassy

Mail In Ballot

At the June membership meeting, the floor voted to change our bylaws with respect to local

elections. We will be using a mail in ballot system going forward as opposed to actually coming

in person. Proponents of this system believe that this will encourage more members to

participate in our election process.

I think that it is worth noting that this bylaw vote was decided by one (1) vote. This shows that

attendance at a meeting can make a big difference.

American Income Life

American income Life provides our accidental death and dismemberment insurance. This benefit

is free to all members. Every two years they send out a card to assign the beneficiaries of this

policy. You should have received this card by the time you read this. The card also asks that a

representative of American Income Life can set up an appointment to discuss the other options

and benefits that they offer. You are under no obligation to meet with anyone if you choose not

to. You will still be covered as a member of Local 159.

Retiree Luncheon

On June 11, we had our semi-annual retiree luncheon. Turnout was great and thanks to Maggie,

the food was too. We recognized four members for their extraordinary length of time as

members of the IBEW. Richard Schlagenhaft, 50 year member, Richard Gorst and Warren

Trager, both 55 year members, and Carmon Howe 65 years with the IBEW, all were presented

with service pins as well as a certificate acknowledging their time of membership.

Congratulations gentlemen and thank you.

Suchoman Scholarship

We did not award a Suchoman scholarship this coming school year. We currently have four

members on the scholarship committee and they are planning to get an early start for the next

school year. We can always use more help. If you would like to join the committee, please let us

know.

Policies and Procedures

As promised, we are moving ahead with getting all local policies and procedures, read in to

minutes and consequently placing them into an accessible location for everybody.

SPARKIE SENTINEL IBEW LOCAL #159

JuLY 2018

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Organizers Report, Casey Healy

I would like to thank the apprentices and journey workers that have

helped at career fairs and high schools with educating other young adults

about the pathways into the apprenticeship program. It’s always good

when they share their personal journey with others. You may not realize it

now but each and every one of you, may have changed some person’s life

in a positive way. You showed them what a career with the IBEW Local

159 is all about, and what they have to do to be part of it. Remember not

all people have the resources to go to college.

If you know of anybody that is interested in getting into the apprenticeship program they need to have

their application completed by 08/17/2018. They also need their high school transcripts to show they

graduated or have a (GED). They need one full year of high school math, minimum Algebra or higher with

a grade of C or better. They must be 18 years of age before the time of assignment. They can fill out an

application at IBEW Local 159 office M-F between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. If you know of a

person that is already an Electrician or a VDV Technician and they want to join the union or is just looking

for information about the trade have them contact me at chealy@ibew159.org or call me at the office at

608-255-2989.

“REGISTERED LICENSE” if you are working under this license (excluding apprentices) you need to take 24

CEU’s (continuing education units or credits) before your 1 year license expires. We do offer classes at the

hall with CEU’s. Go to our home page www.ibew159.org and click on member resources and then click on

class offerings. You will see a list of classes that are offered. A reminder for 1st & 2nd year CW’s, you

should take and complete OSHA 10, First Aid/ CPR and our 8 hour conduit bending class ASAP. Call the

apprenticeship office to register for classes (608) 221-3321. The updated fall class schedule for

2018 should be available in August.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That’s why we call

it the present”

United we stand - Divided we fall,

Casey Healy Office: (608)255-2989 ~ Cell: (608)515-3552 ~ Email: chealy@ibew159.org

Referral Agent, Greg Storkson

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

First, I would like to introduce myself to those who

may not know me. I have been in Local Union 159

for 28 years, starting as a material handler, inside

apprentice, and JIW. I became an organizer in

2002-2004 and have served on all apprenticeship

committees, education chairman, trustee for

pension trust, legislative committee, safety

committee, building maintenance committee,

treasurer, negotiations committee multiple times,

and was a contractor in our local for 5 years. I

have a background in accounting, budgets, and

have a working knowledge of how most of our local policies and rules apply to

our local. Thank you for your patience as I learn this new position.

Work in our area is very busy with open calls daily. We have been filling most

calls with our traveling brothers and sisters. Verona School will be manning up

soon. Didion Mills in Cambria has been slow taking on manpower. Most of the

schools are working overtime at this time.

INSIDE

Book I – 29

Book II – 63

RESIDENTIAL

Book I – 0

Book II – 0

VDV

Book I – 4

Book II – 2

Book III - 6

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I am in the process of setting up job site visits on a weekly basis. If you would like us to visit your jobsite

please call me at the hall and I will schedule a visit. I am also setting up stewards for jobsites. If you are

interested in being a steward or believe we need a steward on the jobsite please let me know.

I would personally like to thank Brother Kevin Buntrock for his 2 years of service as our Referral Agent

and for his dedication to our local. He was a great help training me for the Referral position and will be

missed.

Best Wishes & In Solidarity,

Greg Storkson Office: (608)255-2989 Ext. 114 ~ Cell: (608)334-6224 ~ Email: gstorkson@ibew159.org

Maggie Freespirit, Business Agent

Hello Union Sisters and Brothers,

I would like to thank Katy Hunt and Kathy Whittaker for their assistance helping out at three Madison high

schools for day-long careers in construction programs. Katy helped out at Madison East and Kathy helped

me at West and Memorial high schools. They both did a wonderful job in making the programs successful.

The hall held a new member orientation on May 24, with presentations by Casey, myself, Ammu, Lamarra,

and Cam Knuteson.

The apprentice completion ceremony was held on May 31st at the Esquire Club in Madison.

Pictures of the event are posted on Local 159’s Facebook page. Congratulations to all

completing apprentices on a job well done! Special congrats to the Outstanding Apprentice,

Matthew Meier.

Take a Kid Fishing Day was a success. It took place Saturday, June 2nd, at Tenney Park in Madison. Here

is a link to a photo album of the event: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157695840682031

The union is switching our funds over to Park Bank. One of the benefits is that Park Bank will help us out

with financial classes. So far they have held a homebuyers class and a retirement planning class.

Another benefit they offer is the IBEW Local 159 Bank at Work Program, which has good banking deals for

IBEW members. See their information flyer on our Facebook page in a post on June 15th.

The “Proud Union Home” yard signs are here and are available for pickup at the hall. I will also be

bringing some of them to union meetings.

Effective January 1, 2019: there will be an increase of one dollar for the IBEW Pension Benefit Fund

which means the monthly dues payments will then be $39.75 instead of the current $38.75. The local

keeps $1.75 of the monthly dues (that has not changed) and the rest goes to the International.

Tim Coger has started a 50/50 raffle to benefit the golf outing/Suchoman

Scholarship fund. There is a container at the hall (which will be brought to union

meetings as well) with golf tees in it, and whoever guesses closest to the correct

amount of tees will win half the money. The other half goes to the Suchoman

Scholarship Fund. The 50/50 works as follows: each guess as to the number of

golf tees in the container costs $2.00. When you guess, you put your name on a

list along with your guessed number. The closest guess wins. In the case of a

tie, whoever guessed the correct amount first, wins. The raffle ends and the

winner is decided at the union meeting on September 13, 2018.

The membership meeting attendance raffle for June was worth $600 and was not won. The name drawn

was Tyler Frey. This puts the raffle at $700 for the July union meeting, which will be on Thursday July 12.

At the June membership meeting, the members voted to sponsor a table at the Union Sportsman’s

Alliance Conservation Dinner which will be on Friday, September 14, 2018 at the Alliant Energy Center.

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One of the ten people at the sponsored table will win either a rifle or an ORCA cooler. Per past practice,

the ten people will be drawn from members attending the July union meeting.

Lastly, I would like to thank those people who have offered to be involved in a mentoring program.

Several people have stepped up to volunteer some time and it is truly appreciated now, and will be truly

appreciated by those who will be reaching out to you.

Thank You,

Maggie Freespirit Office: (608)255-2989 Ext. 119 ~ Cell: (608)338-9075 ~ Email: mfreespirit@ibew159.org

WOMEN’S COMMITTEE

The Women’s Committee is up and running again! Please plan to

attend our next meeting at the Labor Temple on Wednesday, July

18th, 2018 @ 4pm

Retirees Club, Jim Virnig Our June Luncheon was at the Zor Shrine Hankwitz Hall and was well attended. The

door prize winners were: Roy Holm, Dave Flom, Dee Small, Rich Gorst, Ron Disch,

Ron Dommershausen, Band Boe, Joy Krey, Mike Stassi, Dave Baltes, Bob Call, Dave

Conrad, Jeff Rowley, Dave Ruhnke, Joy Thorp and Howard Czoschke.

Our July Luncheon will be at Fitz’s on the Lake at W11602 Hwy V, Lodi, WI.

Hope to see you there!

Fraternally,

Jim Virnig

June - WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Jackson Rindy Tanner Meehan Michael Zouski

Cole Maxwell Isaac Varebrook Samuel Bircher

Eric Sherman Edmund Scanlon Alex Ryser Alec Johnson

Kevin Katovich Seth Borgrud Brandon Neuberger Enri Dervishi

Gregory Hatzinger Dylan Dittberner Jeremy Maier Mitchell Miller

Kenneth Stewart Braedon O’Boyle Colton Surges Michael Ruff

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Take a Kid Fishing Day – June 3rd, 2018

A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL

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Education Corner

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

Summer is here. Remember to keep up on your state licensing. I remembered that mine is up this year.

It is not worth letting them expire.

There are many fun activities planned in the next few months for us and our families to enjoy. Try going

to some or all of them, it is great to feel connected.

For the educators out there, please check your emails. You should have received an email from the JATC

outlining what we are expected to do to set up classes for next year. With growing class sizes and

utilizing the training center more, it is critical we all get our dates in on time for elective classes, so they

can confirm room for the courses.

Finally let’s all stay focused on being safe both on the job and off.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jeremy Crabb

EWMC

Brothers and Sisters,

Save lives in your community!!

IBEW LU 159, in partnership with Blood Center of Wisconsin, will be having a blood drive on August 17th,

2018 at the 159 Hall at 4903 Commerce Ct, McFarland, WI 53558.

This is your chance to help save lives in your community by participating in a blood drive. Each pint of

blood donated may help as many as three people! This means another cancer patient can look forward to

tomorrow or a child can look forward to the future. Please show your interest now by clicking the link to

sign up below.

https://goo.gl/forms/mqsSqU2eVNeqr0Gd2

Thank you in advance for saving lives!

In solidarity,

Pablo Baxter

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JOSH ALT ROBERT DOYLE RYAN KAUFFMAN MANASSEHS RIVERA

ROBERT ANDERSON DYLAN EADES TYLER KIND GERALD ROBSON

CHAD ANDERSON MARK ECKSTEIN MATTHEW KOCH THOMAS ROWLEY

DAVID BADE TIMOTHY ELLIS TIMOTHY KOSHAREK JACOB RUNAAS

TIMOTHY BAKER JOSH ELROD MATHIAS KRANTZ AARON SCHMITZ

RICHARD BALLWEG JOHN ERICKSON RACHIA KRUEGER SHERYL SCHREIBER

JAMES BILLS TYLER FRISBY WILLIAM LARSEN STUART SCHWARTZ

JASON BRIETZMAN NATE FUEHRER ZACHARY LEE NATHAN SCHWOERER

REID BRITTON CHRISTOPHER GANDER TERRY LUND DONALD SMALL

NICHOLAS BRUNNER ROBERT GERMANN JEREMY MANGANO ALLAN SOELLE

DOUGLAS BUBOLZ KIRK GJERMO MITCHELL MARTINGILIO ROBERT SPENCER

LEVI BULGRIN ROBERT GOCKENBACH RICHARD MCCABE MICHAEL STASSI

MICHAEL BUNDERSON RYAN GOLICH EUGENE MELO THOMAS STENBACK

KURT BYSTOL MASON GORSKI JOSHUA MEYER JERRY SWAAGMAN

DONALD CASSELS ARTHUR GRAY ARMOND MOLL CRAIG SWENSON

JARED CHASE BERYL GRAY CHAD MOLL MITCHELL TANNER

ROBERT CLAUSEN STEPHEN GREENHECK KAYLA MUHS STEVEN VOGEL

COLIN CROOK RICK HALVERSON COLLIN NEVEL JOSHUA WAHL

MARK CULVER PATRICK HEALY JEFF NIESEN SHAWN WALLANDER

SHAUN DANIELS TODD HERRICK ERIC OOSTERWYK JEREMY WAUGH

JEREMY DEBOER JAY HOTCHKISS GREGORY PETERSON ANDREW WELLNITZ

MATTHEW DERENNE ANTHONY HUSTAD GARY POEPPEL MICHAEL WETAK

ELDON DODGE ALEC JOHNSON CANDACE PRIEBE JOHN WHITESEL

COREY DOMINY SHANE JOHNSON ERIC PROCES LYNN WILKINSON

RONALD DOMMERSHAUSEN MITCHELL JOHNSON CASPER PULLARA RANDALL ZANOYA

MARK KASTIGAR ANTHONY REINHOLD

The July birthstone: Ruby Flower: Larkspur or Water Lily

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If you are 35 or younger, there is a RENEW committee which meets before the meeting at the Labor Temple in Room 201 A&B. The RENEW committee is about developing friendships, doing well for the community, and building brotherhood among IBEW members.

Brothers and Sisters,

This past month has been a huge one for RENEW159. We manned a tent at the Central Park

Sessions. There were many people that stopped by and to hear about the benefits of being an IBEW

Electrician directly from members ranging from Apprentice to Journeyman.

BLOOD DRIVE...August 17th we need 30 volunteers to give blood to lock in our date. Please get ahold of

the office or email renew@ibew159.org if you are available. The blood goes to local blood banks

Come down to our 5th RENEW Chicken Shoot July 21st. Noon to 6pm. Food, prizes, family friendly, and a

solid chance to meet other brothers and sisters of our local.

Our elections went smoothly. Pablo Baxter will be our new Co-Chairperson, Eric Proces will be joining us

again as Recording Secretary, and I will be gladly serving another year as Chairperson.

Please come join us next month in our meeting at 4:30pm on the second Thursday of the month, upstairs

in the labor temple.

In Brotherhood,

Cam Knuteson

RENEW 159 Chairman

Q1: The month of July is named after...

The Julian calendar Pope Julius VI Julius Caesar

Q2: Which transportation "first" occurred on July 24th, 1814?

The first steam locomotive debuted

The first coast-to-coast railroad opened

The first balloon flight across the English Channel

Q3: Which U.S. governmental service was established in July of 1865?

The Federal Bureau of Investigation The Central Intelligence Agency

The Secret Service The Internal Revenue Service

Q4: What was the big news in Washington D.C. on July 2th, 1881?

Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel

President Garfield was assassinated

The Republican Party held its first convention

Q5: On July 5th, 1946, engineer Louis Reard's most famous invention made its debut.

What was it?

The Hydrogen Bomb Color Television The Bikini

Q6: Which aerospace achievement took place in July 20th, 1969?

The first female orbited the Earth

Man first walked on the moon

Cape Canaveral was officially renamed Cape Kennedy

Q7: In July of 1971, the United States passed the 26th Amendment. What did it do?

Minimum age for military service at 18

Minimum voting age in the United States at 18 Minimum drinking age in the United States at 21

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CLASS: Arc-Fault/Short Circuit/Selective

Coordination 4:30pm-7:30pm

RETIREE LUNCHEON 11:30am

5th Quarter - Verona

Daylight Savings Time

!!SPRING FORWARD!!

RETIREE LUNCHEON

Fitz’s on the Lake W11602 Hwy V

Lodi, WI 11:30am

RENEWs CHICKEN SHOOT

Deerfield Rod & Gun Club - 12pm-6pm

UNION MEETING: Labor Temple 1602 S Park St

5:30pm

RENEW MEETING: Labor Temple

4:30pm

PLEASE SEE: Additional Save The

Dates on the next page!

* Labor Temple

1602 S Park St Madison, WI

WOMEN’s COMMITTEE

MEETING: Labor Temple Bar

1602 S Park St 4pm

2018

EXECUTIVE MEETING:

Local 159 Hall 4:30pm

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Additional Save the Dates - (OTC = Page 9, On Calendar)

OTC - Retiree Luncheon: Monday, July 11th, 11:30am at Fitz’s on the Lake at W11602 Hwy V,

Lodi, WI

OTC - RENEW Meeting: Thursday, July 12th, 4:30pm at the Labor Temple, 1602 S Park St, Madison

OTC - Union Meeting: Thursday, July 12th, 5:30pm at the Labor Temple, 1602 S. Park St, Madison

OTC – Women Committee Meeting: Wednesday, July 25th, 4pm at the Labor Temple, 1602 S Park

St, Madison

OTC - Executive Meeting: 4:30pm Monday July 23rd at Local 159 Labor Hall

OTC - RENEW’s Chicken Shoot: Saturday, July 21st - 12pm-6pm at the Deerfield Rod & Gun Club

IBEW Day At The Races: Saturday August 11th @ Jefferson Speedway. Deadline to Sign Up: July 27th.

Red Cross Blood Drive: Friday August 17th @ Local 159 Hall

RENEW’s Tough Mudder Competition: Saturday, September 8

Golf Outing: September 29th, Bridges Golf Course

– Yard Signs Available at Local Union 159 Hall

A1: Julius Caesar

A2: The first steam locomotive debuted

A3: The Secret Service

A4: President Garfield was assassinated

A5: The Bikini

A6: Man first walked on the moon

A7: Minimum voting age in the United States at 18

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* MONTHLY DUES (effective 1/1/2018) *

$18.00 IBEW Pension

$19.00 Due to IBEW General Fund

$ 1.75 Local 159 Dues

$38.75 Total

1st Quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) Pay by December 31st

2nd Quarter (Apr/May/June) Pay by March 31st

3rd Quarter (July/Aug/Sept) Pay by June 30th

4th Quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) Pay by September 30th

Death benefits are assessed for any active or retired member who passes away.

Active members pay $1.00 for each death benefit. This is also a benefit for all #159 active and retired members. We are currently on death benefit #250. If

you currently have your union dues set up on auto pay with your bank, make sure you are sending $38.75 each month. Remember to check on

death benefits. We accept checks, cash (in person), debit/credit cards (in person or by phone during business hours) and money orders.

DUES NOT PAID IN A TIMELY MANNER MAY CAUSE THE

LOSS OF SOME OR ALL BENEFITS.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY DUES TIMELY. IBEW #159 IS NOT

REQUIRED TO SEND OUT BILLING STATEMENTS

IBEW LOCAL 159 4903 COMMERCE COURT

MCFARLAND WI 53558 608-255-2989 www.ibew159.org

Follow us on Instagram at ibewlocal159 or like us on Facebook

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Find breaking news & information at the Local 159 Facebook page: facebook.com/IBEWLocal159

Contacts

Local 159 Office (608) 255-2989, office@ibew159.org

Apprenticeship Office (608) 221-3321, wijatc.org

Department of Safety & Professional Services (DSPS)(Licensing) (608) 266-2112, dsps.wi.gov

WEEBF, Health Insurance & Benefits (608) 276-9111, weebf.org

(Wisconsin Electrical Employees Benefits Fund) or (800) 422-2128

Office open late, First Wednesday of every month, until 7:00 p.m.

Retirement Luncheon, Second Monday of every month at 11:30, location varies.

Union Meeting, Second Thursday of every month, Madison Labor Temple, 5:30 p.m.

Renew Meeting, Second Thursday of every month, Madison Labor Temple at 4:30 p.m.

Executive Meeting – Fourth Monday of every month, Union Hall at 4:30 p.m.