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FROM THE BUSINESS MANAGER
I want to start the month off by thanking the entire membership for the opportunity to lead our Local once again for the next 3 years. It is truly an honor and a privilege to continue earning your trust as we head into another Officer term. I can assure you that I try my very best to be the kind of representative you all can count on. Respect is earned and not given, and I have lots more upcoming work to do concerning building upon that characteristic. I never try to make absolute promises, but I do give you my word that I will work hard every day to be a good decision maker and leader. My attitude, energy and effort level are something that I take personal pride in controlling day in and day out. I have big aspirations and many goals yet to accomplish, so again, thank you for your trust and I’m excited to continue working for you.
As many of our Outside Construction Members know, the work season has unfortunately started off very slow. Here is a quick snapshot of our current jobs board, as of this writing. For the Journeyman Lineman Books, we have 19 members on Book 1 and 8 members on Book 2. For Operator Books, we currently have 2 members on Book 3 and one member on Book 4. As for the Groundman Books, it looks like this; Book 1 has 2, Book 2 has 2, Book 3 has 2, and Book 4 has 39 individuals. Pole Inspection has 1 individual on Book 1. The Tree Trimmer Book has 1 person as well. And finally, the Gas Groundman Books has 3 on Book 4. Also as of this writing, NWE has 4 Journeyman Lineman openings, 2 Journeyman Gas (1 Fitter), 1 Machine Operator, and 1 Warehouse Trainee position. On the Cooperative front, Missoula Electric has a job opening for a temporary/seasonal Groundman position. Please make sure you log on to our Local 44 website page to stay current on all job openings.
One other very important tidbit I want to bring to your attention is participation in your area Central Labor Councils (CLC’s). These groups are mobilized advocates joined together to better the lives of all workers. The labor councils also organize and give working families a voice in the political process and are organized by county and/or region. CLC’s work with Local Unions and the AFL-CIO to build solidarity and promote membership communications, educational forums, community coalitions, community service projects, Labor Day parades, and numerous other group activities. These councils need our membership participation. If interested in seeking more information, please contact me, Kyle, or Dwight.
In Solidarity,
Scott Klungland
FROM THE ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER
In my travels I have had more than one conversation with construction members that have been around the block a time or two and have passed on a few observations concerning some of our newer members. It’s funny as I look back, some of these same guys tried to pass this knowledge to me when I was a Groundman, Apprentice, and even a J-L. I failed to listen of course, but they tried. In construction the work is not guaranteed! This is why almost anyone who has been around the trade for more than a few years is telling you that you don’t need a brand new jacked up truck to be an Apprentice. I know for a fact that this is not a requirement of MSLCAT. As a few of you may have learned last winter and are still learning now due to many of us still waiting for the work to break loose, we need to be smart with money and have some in the bank for lay off season, a term most of us haven’t had to deal with in a while! Sadly, I come from the school of hard knocks myself during 2008 when you couldn’t buy a job and my family knows what it’s like to be less than broke. We have had a ton of great work for a good number of years and without a crystal ball we won’t know the next tough time until it happens. I would implore you, if you haven’t already, save up 4-6 months of expenses (not wages) and put it away for a rainy day. While on the subject of being laid off, if you don’t work at least one day a month while your laid off, please feel free to sign the books, that will put the people that have been out of work longer than you back to work sooner, help a Brother or Sister out. I think the biggest mistake I have been making in trying to lead young people into the trade is not pointing out the sacrifice that most if not all of us who have succeeded in the IBEW have endured. It seems character building isn’t quite what it used to be but none the less be prepared to grow thick skin, as thick as armor, almost to the point of never being able to be rattled. Be prepared to spend many a cold lonely night in the cab of a vehicle while still being able to look presentable for work when you step out of it in the morning. Last of all, and I am guilty of this as well, please take care of our Contractors, give them the best quality work and 8 for 8 that we can. Complete even the most mundane tasks with vigor, you never know when our customer may start looking for another group of people to do our work. I understand that members reading this may take this as me talking down, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth as I have lived these mistakes and want nothing but the best for our industry as God willing, one day he may allow me back into my tools.
Your Brother,
Kyle Hintz
MEMBERSHIP & EMPLOYER DEVELOPMENT
What: Stan I Dupree Golf Extravaganza
When: Saturday, August 19th
Where: Bill Roberts Golf Course
Why: Good Times Good Friends
Due to some changes in the format, we have limited tee times, there will not be a shotgun start. The First available tee time is 8:06 AM every six minutes another team will tee off. The other change will be under 50 tees off from the Black Tees, 50 – 70 White tees and 70 + Red tees. Speak Easy 41 is a possibility for afterwards for awards, food and tasty hand-crafted delicious beer. Will have entry forms available in the office, on request and online. Mulligans will be sold with the entry fees. Again, Limited Spaces available, first come first serve on the tee times.
Fraternally,
Dwight Rose, D988003
406-459-3548 dwight@ibew44.org
YEARS OF SERVICE PINS
Following is the list of Years of Service Pins for 2023. We will once again have a pin presentation at the Montana Lineman’s Rodeo on July 15th in Butte, MT. Please RSVP to the Hall at 406-723-3203 if you would like to receive your pin at the rodeo. If you do not RSVP for the rodeo, then your pin will be mailed to the address that is currently on file in the Hall. If you think you have a pin coming and you are not on the list, please contact the Hall and we will look into it for you. Thank you for your cooperation and congratulations to all of you.
25 Years 30 Years 35 Years 40 Years
Chad Bykonen John Benjamin Troy Ferguson Michael Keller
William Caffyn Robert Emineth Steven Hermanson Eugene Larson
Kory Chartier John Haller Lawrence Moran Nathan Mattioli
Terry Dahly Ernest Hulit Bret Ophus John Piazzola
Jeffrey Eller-Winter Shad Jensen David Romsa Bill Story
Brian Godbey Sheldon Neumiller Oliver Zeiss II
Daniel Hansen Don Welling Jr.
JR Karo
Daniel Kokoruda
Kevin Lassila
Thane Maloney
Terry Munyon
Donald Oliver
Craig Read
Stefanie Ryan
Dusty Solomon
Chris Troupe
Rody Vetter
45 Years 50 Years 55 Years 60 Years
James Austin KC Dors Thomas Brodock Thomas Alsaker
Richard Bonnes George Gaudet Joseph Davis Samuel Atkins
James Burns Steven Larson Gabriel Foster
David Churchill Richard Letz Harold Griffis
Douglas Denton Steve Maciag Larry Hoyer
John Duncan Robert Martin Glen Kuehn
Michael Evans Scott Pendergast Phillip Letz
Stephen Frost James Schindler Gerald Neal
Allan Gilfillan Arthur Wilmer Robert Parker
Edward Hatten Dana Woodward William Pedersen
Duke Huravitch Dennis Pierce
Steven Johnson Earl Steele Jr.
Paul Mayernik John Yeoman
Russell Nolen
Michael Raunig
Edward Ryan
Martin Simons
Steven Simonson
Dan Smith
William VanAlstine
65 Years 70 Years
Robert Finkbeiner Richard Raunig
JUNE UNIT MEETINGS
We will be holding one General Unit Meeting in the months of June, July & August, on video, via the Zoom App. You can easily access Zoom by downloading the app onto your home computer, laptop, iPad, tablet or cell phone. Please see below and use the login info to access Zoom and attend the meeting. The call-in number to join by phone is (253) 215-8782.
Executive Board will be scheduled throughout the summer. Have a good and safe summer!
June 21, 2023 6:30 PM ID – 896 9451 4446 Passcode – 282633
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