Brothers and Sisters,
As I write this, Senator John McCain is being laid to rest. I won’t go into his resume, that has been well documented and commented on in the media, instead I sit here and ponder the effect it has on his family and his affect on America.
It has been an emotional week for the McCain family as they attended services for the late Senator in Phoenix, the Capitol rotunda and the National Cathedral before his burial at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis.
Through it all his daughter Meghan has stood front center in forcefully speaking for her father and the ideals he stood for over his long public life. The following excerpt from her final tribute I believe sums up his life and the America he believed in.
Meghan McCain told mourners at the cathedral: “We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness.
“The real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who live lives of comfort and privilege while he suffered and served.
“The America of John McCain is generous and welcoming and bold, she is resourceful and confident and secure, she meets her responsibilities, she speaks quietly because she is strong.
“America does not boast, because she does not need to. The America of John McCain has no need to be made great again, because America was always great.”
Well said Meghan. Well said.
Since this is October, the election cycle is moving into high gear. If you are not registered to vote or have moved since the last election, you need to either register or change your registry. The deadline to do so is October 9th. You can do this at many government offices including the DMV and your local county board of elections.
If you don’t vote, don’t complain!
The Local 17 softball team once again made their presence known at the Cleveland Building Trades Tournament at Day Park in Parma. Even with a strong scoring effort in the second elimination game, our men went 0-2 for the tournament. A large thank you goes out to Brothers Ryan Todd for organizing the team and Mike Moennich for taking the mound and entering the Local in the tournament.
All apprentices should be comfortably engrossed in their studies with Brothers Jerry Reitz, Lucas Jenke and Tim Narowitz leading the classes. The motor alignment class being taught by John Taylor will be starting soon. Those mechanics who are signed up need to be looking for starting times and dates. If there is a class you would like to take, contact Business Manager John Driscoll, Jr. at the hall at 216-431-8088 or email him at JEDriscoll@iueclocal17.org.
By now the apprentice list should be out and new faces filtering into the trade. To those that work with these new apprentices, remember that we all stood in their shoes. It is your responsibility as the first mechanic they work with to create the kind of environment some of us wish we had when we started in the trade. Emphasis on safety and safe work practices is no longer optional, it must be the primary everyday, ongoing lesson which will keep them, you and those working around you alive.
Some of the incoming apprentices will have experience in other trades. We need to teach them the unique aspects of our trade and apply their knowledge to what we do. This makes our job and their learning process easier.
No job is a rush job where safety is concerned. That goes for all of us.
Until next month,
Work smart, work safe and slow down for safety.
Don
DKnapik@windstream.net
International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 17 