Convention opens with a flourish

With a sense of mission and anticipation in the air, more than 1,000 delegates and guests witnessed the opening of the Boilermakers’ 31st Consolidated Convention in Las Vegas July 24th. IVP Joe Stinger welcomed the assembly, a Marine Corps color guard presented the colors, and Carrie Power sang the American and Canadian national anthems.

After guest speakers Lt. Gen. (ret.) Harold “Hal” Moore and former U.S. Congressman Richard Gephardt inspired the delegates, International President Newton B. Jones and International Secretary-Treasurer William T. Creeden provided overviews on the state of the Boilermakers union, including the challenges and opportunities we face together.

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Following the opening speeches, the Credentials Committee accepted the credentials of 662 delegates who had registered by July 23rd, and the Rules Committee reported the rules that would govern the convention. Then the Committee on Constitution and Law began its process of examining and changing the Constitution. They got through Articles 1 and 2 before the convention recessed for the day.