Renfro23

Local 249 planning member events for 2023

By Tony Renfro

In December we reviewed the numerous activities the local hosted and participated in and all the work our active standing committees put into
making those events successful. After a short time off for the holidays to recharge our batteries and spend time with our families, we are back at
it again.

The month of January we already kicked off with a brand-new batch of Martin Luther King Jr. t-shirts and hoodies, featuring the words “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” With all the obstacles and challenges ahead of us this year, I can’t think of a better message to focus upon.

With all the hard work ahead of us, we also need to make sure to maintain a healthy balance of fun as well. There is a paint and sip event being held at the union hall on January 28 where participants will learn how to paint a blossoming cherry tree in front of a mountain. For some sweet treats and gifts for your sweethearts the Consumer Affairs Committee will be hosting a bake sale and silent auction February 13-14. The Motorcycle Committee will be participating in their annual Roses for Widows event, where they deliver a card, candy and rose to widows in our local communities on Feb 10.

Sign-ups for the chili cookoff event have begun. The event will take place at 9am on March 5 with a $500 prize for winning first place giving you plenty of time to perfect your winning recipes. Immediately following the chili cookoff will be a Cornhole tournament starting at 10:30. Get those registrations in for a fun-filled day at the hall.

It is no secret that one of my passions is the education and enrichment of our kids. One of the best programs we offer to members for their children is this scholarship competition. We award a first, second and third place winner each year to those who show a clear and unique understanding of the impact of unions in today’s society. The sign-ups for the Charlie Suffridge Scholarship Contest have begun, and the deadline to enter is 5:00 pm on Friday, March 17th. There are two writing prompts to choose from and you must sign-up to receive the code you will use when submitting your entry. This is one way we invest in the future of our families and our union, so take advantage of this opportunity for your family.

Please take the time to attend and support these events. Now more than ever we need to strengthen our relationships with each other as brothers and sisters in this union. Let’s build the bonds now that will take us through the tests to come.

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