Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

I hope you and your families are enjoying a safe and healthy holiday season. The start of a new year is right around the corner and is a good reminder to get caught up on any licensing or certifications that may need renewing. Please check our website or this news magazine for a list of classes at the Training Center. If you are looking for seat time over the winter months, please call the Training Center office. The colder weather is here so it’s a good time to take advantage of our International Training Center in Crosby, TX. Please check the International’s website for a list of classes and to register.

It was another fun and successful year at the Local 4 William D. McLaughlin Charitable Golf Tournament in August. Our luck continued with another beautiful day. Congratulations to the Committee on their hard work planning a top-notch tournament that raised $95,000 for children’s charities.

It was great to have IUOE General President John Downey at our September Body Meeting to install Business Manager Mike Bowes and the elected officers of the Local. Congratulations to Mike and his staff on their new, well-deserved term. I would also like to congratulate Kevin Murray on his new role as Organizer. Kevin is a terrific addition to Mike’s team and will serve the Local well.

Congratulations to Business Manager Mike Bowes and Funds Administrator Greg Geiman, as well as his team in the Funds Office, on another Healthy Living and Retirement Planning Fair. They did a great job bringing so many service providers together for the event. It was nice to see so many members coming through Polar Park, whether meeting with plan professionals to amend their retirement savings plan or getting healthy-living support.

The Training Center has been busy this fall and winter. November was a particularly busy month as we were open for applications to the Apprenticeship Program. The application period is now closed, and we are processing the many applications that were received. We expect to be interviewing potential candidates that have completed all steps in March or April with the JATC. This is a very competitive process that starts with approximately six hundred applicants. We are hoping to have a talented and hard-working new class next spring.

The Training Center is expecting delivery of a new GPS ready CAT 140 motor grader this month or next. Thank you for the continued support of the Training Center Trustees as well as Business Manager Bowes. This support makes it possible to continue to upgrade the equipment for the membership.

Congratulations to all the 50-year members that were recognized at our October Body Meeting. 

I hope you and your families enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!