Government affairs raises $24,000 for LEF, CAF

IP Newton B. Jones, r., congratulates Darryl Franta, Local 359 (Edmonton, Alberta), after Franta won a 2006 Harley Davidson “Road King” motorcycle.

A 2006 Harley-Davidson “Road King” motorcycle topped the list of prizes offered through drawings during the 31st Consolidated Convention. The bike drawing raised nearly $20,000 for the Legislative Education Fund (LEF) and raised the eyebrows of delegate Darryl Franta, Local 359 (Edmonton, Alberta) who held the winning ticket. Franta, who has built and owned Harleys in the past, said this one is something special (it includes a Boilermaker emblem etched on the gear box).

Several other drawings benefited LEF and the Campaign Assistance Fund (CAF). John Peterson, Local 1998 (National City, Calif.), took home a Colt Freedom Bowie knife donated by Paul Yatsko, Local M300 (Aurora, Ind.); Mike Pittman, Local 374 (Hammond, Ind.) won a Boilermaker quilt donated by Allen Philips, Local 455 (Selma, Mo.); and Terence Garnet, Local S50 (Baltimore) won an embroidered jacket donated by MWG Apparel.

The Boilermaker government affairs department also raised $4,450 by selling limited edition, one-ounce silver coins commemorating 125 years of Boilermaker brotherhood.

Two delegates won the drawing for a Benelli shotgun or rifle (their choice) with proceeds going to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. The winners were Richard Engle, Local 28 (Newark, N.J.) and John Petronski, Local 128 (Toronto, Ontario).