Northwest labor press., May 06, 2011, Page 2, Image 2

MAY 6, 2011:NWLP
5/3/11
9:54 AM
Page 2
Motorcycle poker run is opportunity
to have fun, win prizes, and help kids
A new Harley-Davidson motorcycle
will be in the cards for one lucky raffle
participant at this year’s “Unions for
Kids” Motorcycle Poker Run Saturday,
June 11, at IBEW Local 48’s union hall
at 15937 NE Airport Way, Portland.
Registration for the event starts at 9
a.m. The drawing for the motorcycle —
a Heritage Softail Classic valued at
$19,949 — will take place at 4 p.m. A
limited number of tickets (4,000) will
be sold at a cost of $10 each. All pro-
ceeds go to Doernbecher Children’s
Hospital in Portland.
Money is also raised the day of the
motorcycle ride through registration
fees, from sponsors, a silent auction,
50/50 raffle, and a chili cookoff.
On this year’s list of auction items is
a Hamer “Slammer” strat guitar auto-
graphed by John Kay and Steppenwolf.
The instrument was donated by MIR
Music in Hillsboro.
Several union locals have kicked in
$1,000, including Machinists Lodge 63,
IBEW Local 302 (Martinez, Calif.),
IBEW Local 48, and Amalgamated
Transit Union Local 757. A challenge
is out for other locals to meet or beat
this donation.
Registration for the poker run is $10.
Each rider receives a document to record
PAGE 2
the playing cards they re-
ceive at four checkpoints
along a 75-mile poker
run route. Riders may
purchase two extra cards
for $5 each at the start
and end of the route for
a total of seven
cards. Bikes re-
turn to the start-
ing location be-
fore 2:45 p.m.,
and the high
and low poker
hands each receive a prize of $100.
A chili cookoff pits contestants
from five different trades. Tasting is
free. The taster then deposits a chip in
cans numbered correspon-
ding to the number of
each entry.
The winner
receives a plaque
which is inscribed with
the name and union local
number. Other vendors,
food, and entertainment
will be on hand.
Unions for Kids is a
nonprofit and an all-volunteer
organization, with all proceeds
going to the kids at Doernbecher
Hospital. Since its inception in
2003, the Poker Run has raised
$221,000 for Doernbecher.
For more information about
participating in the poker
run, donating to the auc-
Barbara Mathey, a member of the Union for Kids
tion, or purchasing tickets
board of directors, shows off the Hamer
for the motorcycle, contact
“Slammer” electric guitar signed by John Kay
Lee Duncan at 503-658-
and Steppenwolf that will be auctioned off after
7412 or visit their Web site
the poker run fundraiser for Doernbecher
at www.unionsforkids.org.
Children’s Hospital. Mathey is president/CEO of
IBEW and United Workers Federal Credit Union.
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
Workers Memorial Day
U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) speaks with Washington Federation of
State Employees President Carol Dotlich following an April 28 Workers
Memorial Day commemoration at Western State Hospital in Lakewood,
Washington. In the top photo, markers represent the 313 injuries suffered by
hospital staff. Workers Memorial Day was established by the national AFL-
CIO in 1989 to remember workers who have been killed or injured on the
job. Ceremonies are held nationwide. A noontime service was held at the
Fallen Workers Memorial in Salem by the Oregon AFL-CIO, where Secretary
of State Kate Brown and State Treasurer Ted Wheeler read the names of
Oregonians who died at work and in military service to the country. This year
marks the 41st anniversary of the federal Occupational Safety and Health
Act, which the labor movement played an instrumental role in establishing.
Photos by Nathe Lawver.
MAY 6, 2011