As of January 1st, 2013 the JATC has a new look. Replacing Greg Stephens and Mike

Huizenga respectively are Mike Koch and Gary Walls. Mike completed his apprenticeship

in 2001 and has been actively continuing his education with Journeyman classes. Those

classes include OSHA10/30, Solar Photovoltaic and Telephone Systems. Mike is looking

forward to the many challenges that come with his new position. Gary Walls completed

his apprenticeship in 1988. Gary was top in his class being named the Reuben C Rose

Award winner. Gary worked his way up at Utilities Instrumentation Services and now has

an ownership role with the company. UIS is a company that relies on special and

continuing training for their employees to serve the demanding needs of their customers.

This background will help to lead the AAEJATC in offering the best training to both our

apprentice’s and journeymen. Good luck and thanks for committing your time for our

industry.

Training Center News March-April 2013 BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER V O L U M E 2 . I S S U E 2

NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER’S

MIKE KOCH AND GARY WALLS

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

NEWSLETTER

FEEDBACK 2

LEW’S

SOAPBOX 2

BOB’S VIEW 3

JOURNEYMEN

TRAINING 4

THE LAST

WORD 4

MIKE KOCH GARY WALLS

UNION FOR LIFE For anyone interested, we are starting a campaign to raise

awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. All funds raised will go

to the University of Michigan Cancer Research Hospital. We hope

to match the success that we have had with our fund-raising for

Mott’s Children’s Hospital. Our first organizational meeting will be

held on March 20th 2013 at the JATC Training Center. We will be

meeting at 5:00pm, so please come and bring your ideas. So far we

are looking at T-shirt sales, a golf outing and a 5k walk/run.

Together we can make a difference.

P A G E 2

Lew’s Soap Box

We need your feedback on what if anything you would like to see in future

newsletters. Is the newsletter getting information out to the membership? If

it is, is it the type of information you want? We would like to have

members send in pictures and brief letter as to whats going on in the field.

Helpful hints on how to install electrical equipment more efficiently. Maybe

events that you would like other brothers and sisters to know about that

would promote brotherhood. But we need to hear from you to know if this

is something that we are going to continue or if its not filling a need we will

try something else. So call 734-475-1180 or email jsalyer@aaejatc.org to

continue this newsletter or contribute to our contents.

Feedback is Needed for Newsletter

On December 14th Bob and I were invited to attend a day at the U.L.

testing facility in Northbook Ill. In the morning we were taken on a tour

of the testing labs. What an interesting place. It was just amazing how

extensive the area is. We toured three floors and room after room of

labs, each focused on a different area of testing. I would have liked to

take pictures but cameras were not allowed. There were wet labs to test

washing machines, dishwashers, and wet location electrical equipment.

We visited the lab where they test equipment for use in hazardous

locations to see how they set up the equipment , loaded it with

flammable gas and measured how well it contained the explosion.

Vacuum cleaners, smoke detectors, microwaves, you name it they test it.

I could have spent a week there !

In the afternoon we were educated on how to use the U.L. white book

and how to obtain information on specific items.

During the presentation we were shown how some companies are

forging the U.L. label. It is unfortunate that there are companies that

are such low lifes but it is a reality.

As you are buying equipment look for the offset U and L and for the

registration mark. U.L. is also using an holo

gram type sticker on the cords of electrical equipment.

Please support U.L. and what it means for us. It

means safe, quality equipment produced by respect-

able companies.

Bob’s View: Looking Back

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 2 . I S S U E 2

This month let’s look back in

time at some memorabilia that

was given to the Training Center

by Doug and Mary Ann Doneth.

One of the jobs that Doug

worked on was the remodel of

the Michigan Theater where he

saved these two meters that

were being removed. Notice

that the voltmeter and the

ammeter are DC meters, not

AC. There aren’t many

buildings that have large DC

systems in them but the theater

had equipment that required it.

We will be adding these meters

to our collection at the

Training Center and eventually

into a display case for Local

252 history.

Mary Ann is also a collector of

memorabilia and donated the

union dues pins in the second

picture from her larger

collection, some of which she

has on display at her office.

Check them out the next time

you stop in there. The pins

were issued when you paid

your dues for the quarter

indicated on the pin. It is a

simple system that maybe we could

bring back. In our new right-to-work

state, how many of you would be

willing to show your solidarity for

your union by wearing a pin that

states “I PAID MY DUES”.

Looking at the last picture, how many

of you can remember carrying a lunch

box to work like the one in the

picture (or remember your dad

carrying one)? Can you remember

morning break when everyone got

out their thermos bottle (also with an

IBEW decal on it) for a cup of hot

coffee and a snack to hold them over

until lunch? The camaraderie of

coworkers and union brothers was a

good feeling that kept us warm and

feeling strong even on the coldest

days. It’s still a good feeling!

Ann Arbor Electrical Joint

Apprenticeship & Training Center

13400 Luick Drive

Phone: 734-475-1180

Fax: 734-475-1209

Website: www.aaejatc.org

JATC COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN: BRIAN KOEPP

SECRETARY: BRIAN PAHL

TRUSTEE: PAT COLVIA

TRUSTEE: JIM JOHNSON

TRUSTEE: GARY WALLS

TRUSTEE: MIKE KOCH

The Last Word : Kids

APPRENTICE COUNCIL

DAVID BELL

JESSE NICKERSON

COLE WALTER

JEFF MCCANN

RICHARD STEFFEN

BILLY JOHNSTON

FRANK PAPP

JOURNEYMEN

TRAINING

JOHN SALYER

PAGE 4

1. ERPI Part A Exam : March 26th

2. CPR/ First Aid: Tuesdays March 5th,

12th, 19th and 26th. Classes will Max out

at 30 people per class. We will also be

holding classes in June, August and

December.

3. Fiber Optical Training: February 11st

thru March 4th Mondays includes CECs

What a gift our children are. They are truly the legacy that we leave

behind. Brother Lance Chapman knows this all too well and what a

legacy he has. Lance’s 16 year old daughter Jenna has been chosen to

represent Michigan as National Youth Correspondent to the

prestigious Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George

Mason University. The Stockbridge High School Junior is one of 250

students selected nation-wide to travel to Washington D.C. this July

for a week long intensive study of journalism and media. She’ll attend

events at the National Press Club, U.S. Capital, and Newseum-D.C.’s

most interactive museum of news history, galleries and exhibits. And

far from the traditional classroom, she’ll participate in energy-charged

role playing that will challenge her to solve ethical problems inherent

to journalism. I look forward to turning on ABC, CBS, NBC or CNN

and seeing her report on the issue’s of the day. Safe in the knowledge

that any story dealing with labor issue will be reported on with the

understanding of what it means to be part of a working family. Lance

has taken the time to make sure Jenna knows what the UNION has

afforded her family, along with Lance’s hard work and UNION

Training he has been able to provide a great middle class life. So take

the time to talk with your kids, let them know what it means to be a

UNION member. You never know where that legacy might show up.