Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 2012)
IBEW’s Ed Barnes wins ‘Dancing with the Local Stars’ competition Fundraiser for Fort Vancouver National Trust raises $115,000 VANCOUVER, Wash. — Ed Barnes, a retired business manager of IBEW Local 48, was the top fundraiser at the seventh annual “Dancing with the Local Stars” benefit for the Fort Vancouver National Trust. Barnes col- lected $25,500. This year marked the first time that someone from organized labor was in- vited to participate in the mostly busi- ness affair. “I did it to let the business world know that union members are out there supporting their communities, too,” Barnes said. Overall, $115,000 was raised at the Sept. 15 dance competition held at the OCTOBER 5, 2012 Pearson Air Museum and attended by nearly 400 people. Seven local “stars” were partnered with Arthur Murray Dance Studio in- structors and taught dance routines. The community then “voted” for their favorite dancer with their dollars both online and at the event. The dancer who raised the most money was declared the winner. Each dancer committed to raise $5,000. Barnes has been soliciting donations from union and community members for several months, after a challenge to outperform Ryan Hart, district director for Republican Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler. Barnes set up a booth and donation jar at this year’s Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park, complete with a cardboard cutout of himself dressed in his dancing Roofers Local 49 members step up big at ‘Labor for Life’ blood drive garb. The picnic was attended by nearly 18,000 people. Barnes performed a foxtrot with his dance partner Kaylyn Haynes. Barnes also received an award for “Best Entrance,” voted by the audience. He was chauffered into the building in Local 48’s electric Chevy Volt automo- bile (photo below left) by current union Business Manager Clif Davis and his wife Theresa. “Without the hard work of these seven community stars this event would not be possible,” said Elson Stra- han, president and CEO of the Fort Vancouver National Trust. “We are im- mensely grateful for their dedication and support.” The Fort Vancouver National Trust is a private non-profit organization ded- icated to advancing the preservation and education purposes of Fort Vancouver National Site. For more information, go online at www.fortvan.org NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS “Amalgamate! Coagulate! Donate!” was the theme of the “Labor for Life” blood drive at the Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park sponsored by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. The Portland chapter of the Ameri- can Red Cross reported that 79 units of blood were donated at the two blood- mobiles set up at the picnic. Among the donors was Mike Morrow (pictured right), a member of Portland Commu- nity College Faculty Federation-Amer- ican Federation of Teachers Local 2277. Morrow has donated three gallons of blood in his lifetime. Typically, 30 to 35 pints of blood are collected at the picnic. The record is 90 pints donated in 2001. The local union with the most donors this year (nine units) was Roofers Local 49. The union received a “traveling trophy” at the Sept. 24 dele- gates’ meeting of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. The union will keep the trophy until next year’s Labor Day competition. Second place (seven units) went to Machinists Lodge 1005, and third place (six units) was awarded to Oregon School Employees Association- American Federation of Teachers Local 6732. “Collectively, this 79 units of blood saved 237 lives,” said Teresa Ro- druguez, donor recruitment represen- tative for the American Red Cross, in presenting the awards at the Labor Council meeting. Workers at the Portland Red Cross are members of Teamsters Local 223. Labor Day dunk tank raises $642 for Labor’s Community Service Agency A dunk tank at the Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park proved to be a big hit — and a nice little money maker for La- bor’s Community Service Agency, with $642 raised. The money will be used for the agency’s “Helping Hands” program this holiday season. Dubbed “Dunk a Labor Leader,” La- bor Day picnickers paid $5 for three chances to dunk one of seven union of- ficials and one politician recruited to “volunteer” 30 minutes sitting in a tank filled with chilly water. Tabs were kept on the union affiliation of those who purchased balls to throw. Volunteers were Bob Petroff, presi- dent of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council; Jodi Guetzloe Parker (photo right), executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council; Jeff Anderson (below), secre- tary-treasurer of United Food and Com- mercial Workers Local 555; Roben White, president of Painters and Dry- wall Finishers Local 10; Lee Duncan, a business rep for IBEW Local 48; Shad Clark, a business agent for Bakers Lo- cal 114; Jamie Partridge, a retired mem- ber of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 82; and Clackamas County Commissioner Jamie Damon. Laborers Local 320 won special bragging rights for the most participa- tion. Coincidentally, Guetzloe Parker is a member of that local. The dunk tank was sponsored by Union Plus Mortgage. PAGE 5
