NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS |
IBEW Local 48 hosts ‘Drive Thru’
Picnic(s) for 6,700 members
COVID-19 restrictions are still making it difficult
for folks to get back to normal, but the worldwide
pandemic didn’t stop IBEW Local 48 from hold-
ing its popular summer picnic.
Having to cancel the picnic in 2020 because of
the pandemic, the local brainstormed on how to
make it happen this year.
“I got a wild hair to try a drive thru picnic. I
presented it to the Executive Board and got the
green light,” said Tracey Powers, financial assis-
tants/communications director for Local 48.
The picnic was held in shifts over two Sundays
in July.
On July 11, 4,200 members pre-registered and
were assigned time slots between 11 a.m. and 3
p.m. to drive to the union hall in Northeast Port-
land to pick up a bag filled with barbecued brisket
and chicken, mac and cheese, potato salad, and
dinner rolls. During the registration process mem-
bers indicated how many lunches they needed for
their family. Powers said the food was a step up
from their traditional summer picnic at Oaks Park,
where hot dogs and hamburgers were served.
Members also got a T-shirt, a lawn sign, and
raffle tickets for a chance to win a great prize.
Kiosks were set up throughout the parking lot
at the union hall, and members drove from station
to station to pick up each item.
That scenario was repeated on July 26 for an-
other 2,500 members.
“It went really well,” Powers said. “The mem-
bers seemed very appreciative that we made the
effort to have a summer picnic at all.”
Powers said, too, that it couldn’t have happened
without the 60-plus volunteers from the local,
which included members, apprentices, officers,
Executive Board, staff, and the credit union.
For more photos or videos go to: https://www.
ibew48.com/resources/photos or https://www.
ibew48.com/resources/videos
August 6, 2021 | PAGE 7