Veteran's Day

Please take some time Wednesday to reflect on all those that have served our great country.
Without their courage we would not have some of the freedoms we take for granted today.

Health Reform Call-In Day

Thursday November 5th, we are asking everyone to call your members of Congress at
1-877-323-5246 and tell them health care reform can't wait and must:

Include a public health insurance option that will bring down costs and guarantee quality affordable health care for all.

Reqire employers to pay their fair share to prevent them from shifting costs for their workers to taxpayers and firms that offer good benefits.

Ensure affordable coverage for pre-medicare retirees who cannot get affordable coverage on their own.

Reject schemes to tax health benefits which would unfairly raise cost for workers, especially vulnerable workers.

Streetcars in Downtown Boise?

Thursday, there will be an open house featuring information about the streetcar project including history of the project, potential benefits, possible funding sources and decision making processes.

Thursday October 1st
821 W. Idaho St.
11:30 am to 8pm.

You can attend this open house and then head over to our monthly meeting which takes place at 6pm.

Labor Day 2009

We had a great turnout at the annual Labor Day picnic. Boise Central Trades and Labor council again put together a great afternoon with lunch, kid's activities and guest speakers including Congressman Walt Minnick. The food bank is now well stocked! Thanks to all who attended and donated.

Volunteer Picture

Friday September 11th, we will be gathering at ANSER Charter School for a picture with some of the school children to be used in a thank you article and plaque. If you helped out on the project and can make it down on Friday we would love to have you there. We had 30 volunteers on this project and it was a great showing of Teamwork and Brotherhood. Thanks to all who helped!!

Union Meeting Night

Please remember this Thursday September 10th, is our meeting at 6pm at the hall. Hope to see you there.

It's All About "THE PUNCH"

Now that the Bronco fans had their home opener and everyone was talking about the post game antics (full season suspension for a punch?) Let's talk hockey! October 16th is opening night for the Idaho Steelheads. If you would like to join me on opening night just let me know. This has been a family tradition for years with us. I will be buying the tix on the first day they go on sale.
The vouchers I will be using are $15.00 with $4.00/per ticket of that money going back to support youth hockey in the valley. These are 4-5 bucks cheaper than purchasing at the arena, with no added fees. It will be a great night out, and who knows, you might even see a punch! (without a suspension).

Labor Day Picnic

Please join the Boise Central Trades and Labor Council at the annual celebration of Labor Day.
Monday sept. 7th, 12 noon - 4pm. in Munincipal Park. Family friendly with jumps, games,raffles and more. Lunch donation is $3.00/person or 3 items for the food bank. Hope to see you there.

35th ANNUAL HOG ROAST

IBEW Locals 291 & 449 will be holding their annual Hog Roast September 5th, 6th & 7th at the Elk Flats campground between Pine and Featherville. A good time will be had by all! Please call the hall for more information.

saturday August 8th

We had a great turnout again last Saturday as we enjoyed a fantastic mix of community service and brotherhood. Remember there is still plenty of time to help out on this project as it nears completion. We have people there on a daily basis, just give me a call and become part of this great event.

Saturday August 8th

Please join us this Saturday Aug. 8th for another day of volunteer work at ANSER charter school. I will be there at 8 am. for another day of brotherhood and fun as we help out our community. This project will have a couple of more weeks work and the school is very thankful to have us helping out. They will be publicly thanking all the trade unions that have donated time to them with some sort of press release. So come on out and be a part of this.

Langley Gulch Update

Idaho Power held a public meeting in Canyon county last night (8/6/09) and gave details on their plans to build a 300mw natural gas fired generation plant. They expanded on the benefits that would come to local services with the construction. It would benefit the area even more if they would require local labor and contractors to be utilized on the project. For all intensive purposes local labor are rate payers and financing the project.

Langley Gulch

There will be an open house tonight in Caldwell regarding the Langley gulch power plant and the placement of the transmission lines. Purple Sage School, 25709 El Paso Rd. 5:30-7:30.

Thanks Again!

Work is progressing on our volunteer work at ANSER Charter School. We had a great turnout last Saturday. Thanks to all who showed up, John Campbell, Joey Campbell, Ira liburd II, Don Gibson,Lonny Wearin, Dave Tolan, Doug Arnold, Jared Isdell, and Greg Oyama. We got a lot of work done and had fun as well. Please try to make some time to come out and help.

HELP FIND ROBERT!!

This Friday July 31st, the Boise Central Labor Council is asking for your support. They are needing Union members to meet at Garfield School (corner of Boise Ave & Broadway Ave.)at noon for a 3 hour shift, as part of a mass effort in helping police with the search for this 8 year old boy. CLC would like you to wear a union shirt if possible.

Saturday August 1st

This Saturday we will be having another work day at our ANSER Charter School volunteer project. 202 E. 42nd st. in Garden City. I will be there about 8 a.m. Hope to see you there.

Saturday July 18th

This Saturday we are having a volunteer work day at ANSER Charter School. If you have the time please join us. 8 am on, show up when you can. 202 42nd st. in Garden City. Thanks.

And The Winner Is....

At the last Union meeting I put the names of all the volunteers who helped out on the past projects Local 291 has sponsored into a raffle jar. These included two Habitat houses, Idaho City welcome sign, Idaho City community center, Computers for Kids, and the Interfaith Sanctuary. One entry was deposited for each day worked. The prize was a $50.00 gift card to Fred Meyer.
And the winner was....Steve Rivas. Thanks Steve and to all the volunteers out there, We ARE making a difference in our community.

Langley Gulch

Idaho PUC is hosting a public hearing tonight on the Langley Gulch 330 megawatt natural gas plant south of New Plymouth. Stay tuned for more information.

Thanks to all volunteers!

We had a great turnout Saturday at the ANSER volunteer project. Thanks to all who showed up.
Nick Baumann, Doug Arnold, Dan Miller, Randi Nelson, Lonny Wearin, Ivan Swanson, Alex Kelly, and Greg Oyama. Also a big thanks to those who have helped us out so far, Dave Tolan, Rodney Thrall, and Josh Nelson.

I would also like to give a big thanks to the contractors who have stepped up to provide us with the needed ladders and tools, Power Plus, Lea, Enterprise, Romar, Alloway and Tri-state.

We Need Volunteers

IBEW 291 along with Plumbers and Pipefitters 296 and Sheet Metal Workers 213, have been asked to donate labor to ANSER Charter School for their remodel. Charter school's receive no funding for their facilities. This is a great opportunity to promote union's in the valley! They are very excited to have us on board and we have contractors that have stepped up and started to help us out with tools. Please contact me and come on out to help. These volunteer projects are a great way to spend time with your fellow Brothers and Sisters.

CANCELLED STEWARD CLASS

The steward training class scheduled for Friday June 26th has been cancelled. When a new date is known the information will be posted.

NUKE IN IDAHO? (part II)

On Monday June 15th, Elmore County Commissioners unanimously decided to consider in more detail, a proposal to rezone land for a nuclear power plant. Seems there are some details to work out with the county's comprehensive plan. AEHI CEO and President Don Gillispie said "The commission today could have rejected our rezone request outright -to the delight of our opposition-but they instead chose to give it, and their comprehensive plan, further consideration."

CONGRATULATIONS!

Hats off to the Pittsburgh Penguins for winning the Stanley Cup in Detroit's house! It was a fantastic game 7 that i'm sure will lead to a great rivalry next season. Only 4 months until the puck drops in October!

NUKE IN IDAHO?

The Elmore County Commission yesterday decided after a one hour debate to postpone their decision to rezone 1300 acres of farmland to heavy industrial near Hammett until next Monday the 15th in order to receive more legal advice. Stay tuned!

UPDATES

Please send me your e-mail address so I can keep you, the membership informed of current happenings in and around the local and our industry. If you have been using e-mail to resign the out of work list I have yours already. But if you are working I would like to include you in any updates I send out electronically. Thank you. mark@ibewlocal291.org

Hey All You Bikers

Not those with the heavy throttle hand, if you ride a road or mountain bicycle give me a call and let's set up some after work or weekend rides. I am looking to get out there with some other bicycle minded members and just have some fun. Contact me at 343-4861 or mark@ibewlocal291.org

Way to go Penguins!

Let's keep it going. Red Wings are going down!!

Volunteers

Please make sure I have your phone # and/or e-mail address as we do have some projects coming up this summer.

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Go Penguins!! Beat the Red Wings.

Green Jobs Open House

Please join us Thursday May 28th for our Open House. Come down and see the new solar trailer in action! SW Idaho JATC, 121 E. 34th St. Garden City, Id. 1-3 pm.

STEWARD CLASS

On Friday June 26th we will be hosting a steward training class in the morning and a Code of Excellence steward class in the afternoon. Please contact the hall for information. 343-4861

FEED THE FOOD BANK

Thursday June 4th, food bank donation night at our monthly meeting. If you can, please bring a donation to help stock the food bank. And please remember, if you or someone you know is in need of a food donation just let us know.

SOLIDARITY POKER RIDE

3rd Annual ride will be Saturday June 13th. Registration deadline is June 5th. $20.00 will include t-shirt-bbq-poker entry. Forms to sign up are at the hall.

Habitat House

Thanks to all the volunteers who came out to help trim out the duplex on Friday. We had 12 people show up to donate their time in helping to make a difference in the lives of others.

Habitat House Trim-Out

Friday April 24th 9 am, 3894 Patricia Lane. Please call to sign up. Great way to enjoy some time with other members while giving to our great community!

CODE OF EXCELLENCE

Our next COE class is scheduled for Tuesday May 5th, 5pm at the union hall. Last class had 80 people in attendance! Don't get left behind. Sign up tody by calling the hall. 343-4861.

UNION MEMBER DISCOUNTS

Did you know that as a union member you are entitled to many discounts through Union Plus.
Mortgage help, AT&T wireless, travel discounts, scholarships and many others are available just
by visiting www.unionplus.org. Check it out today!

WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY

Tuesday April 28th marks the 2009 Workers Memorial Day. Please join us for a candlelight vigil in the parking lot of the union hall sponsored by the Boise Central Trades and Labor Council. 8:00 to 9:00 pm

MOURN for the dead.
FIGHT for the living.

HEY HOCKEY FANS!!

It is that time of the year again, time for the "second season", the playoffs. Our Idaho Steelheads are heading into the first round of the Kelly Cup Championships fresh off an amazingly strong 2nd place finish. Goalie Matt Climie is expected to start after his return to Boise after playing 3 games in the NHL for the Dallas Stars. Let's go to a game!

MVLL

The volunteer project at the Mountain View Little League complex is temporarily on hold. As things turn around I will get that information out.

MONDAY NIGHT GOLF!

It is that time of year again so please come out and join us for a round of golf and brotherhood.
Every Monday night at BOISE RANCH, 5:15 PM.

MOUNTAIN VIEW LITTLE LEAGUE

Starting early next week we will be needing volunteers for the project at the MVLL complex. Some of this work will be during the week as that is when their representative is available. Please call or email me if you are interested in helping. mark@ibewlocal291.org.

FRIDAY OUTLOOK HOUR

Starting Friday March 13th we will be opening up the meeting room at the hall for anyone intereted in talking about work on the road, carpooling to sign books, registering on ERTS, or anything pertaining to the current work situation. If this interests you come down next Friday from 9-11 a.m.

IBEW LOCAL 291 POOL & DART TOURNAMENT

Mark your calendars and please join us Saturday, April 4th, 11 a.m. for our 2nd annual tournament. A great time was had by all last year! Come on out and try to defeat the former winners. Barb's Tavern 400 N. Kings Rd. in Nampa

VOLUNTEER PROJECTS

Upcoming projects include, Mountain View Little League in SW Boise and Habitat House trim out. Dates to be announced soon. Please call or email to sign-up.

COE

We have had many requests for another Code of Excellence course, so I am happy to say the next date is Thursday, March 19th, 5pm at the union hall. Please RSVP to 343-4861 by Wed. March 18th, 5pm.

GREAT TURN OUT !

We had 51 members attend our Code of Excellence class last Thursday. At the end of the night, when all were asked their opinion, Apprentices, JW, F & GF, all said it was something they could adhere to. I would like to thank everyone who showed up and welcome those that did'nt, to come to our next class, sometime in March. ( date TBA ). Thanks also to 8th Dist. Int. Rep. Antunes for putting on a great class. See you in March.

STEWARDS

If you have attended a steward class in the past and are interested in taking the Code Of Excellence steward class please contact the hall @ 343-4861.

CODE OF EXCELLENCE

Please attend this important class. We have not had a COE put on for some time, so even if you have attended one in the past, it would not hurt to retake the course. We would like to have as many trained people as we can. While I know work is slow in the valley at this time, it is always a good policy to maintain the highest standards that we can achieve as union electricians.

Please RSVP, 343-4861.
Thursday, January 29th
5 pm at the hall.

WINNER

Robert Mott is the winner of the contest!