By: Duane Ballard

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

Happy New Year! I truly hope you and your families had a great Holiday Season and got to enjoy your UAW negotiated time off. With a new year comes new beginnings and new challenges.       

This year will be no different and matter of fact, will be a lot more challenging here at the local, financially and work wise. 2026 will be a very busy year and will require a lot of patience from all. Just to give you an idea, this year, will contain our General Elections along with District Elections. We have Constitution Convention along with the elections that go with them. Our International Board election will be later this year which is done with a mail in ballot. Financially this will be a very expensive year for the local once you add up all the elections, conferences and the education training we will continue to try to get to our members and future elected members. Like I said, PLEASE HAVE SOME PATIENCE!

A few years back we changed our By-Laws to be able to hire retirees to help work our elections. It is a win -win for everyone. It gives our retirees a little extra cash, as well as, saving the hall from a huge expense of paying lost time wages.

For you retirees check the next couple of Searchlight issues for a notice with more information and on how to sign up to help work our polling locations. The hall pays 12.00 an hour and very flexible hours.

 Please if you have moved lately or are not sure the hall has your right address, verify it here at the hall. There is a QR code in the Searchlight every month to confirm it. If you can’t use the QR code then call or write the hall with your address.

The International Board Elections will be mail in ballots from a 3rd party and we need all addresses updated. These ballots will be mailed out sometime in August. Let me for warn you that this will be in the time frame of our Federal Government elections and you will be bombarded with election material from UAW in local elections. Please read it, before you circular file it.

W2 should be done by the time you read this article, so if you have not received yours yet please contact the financial office.

We are having our 7th Annual Union Sportsman’s Alliance dinner on February 28, here at the hall. This is a great time with union brothers and sisters for a great goal.

Last year we worked with the Genesee County Parks to put over 300 fishing poles into kids’ hands and give them a taste of the outdoors. Also, the funds help build a pavilion at Bluegill Landing for future events.

This year we have a project in works to add fishing spot for the kids with new docks. If you know someone who would like to sponsor a table or part of the event, please contact me. The flyer for the dinner is in the paper and you can also register on the QR code at the upper right of the flyer. 

            New Years are all about a fresh time and resolutions. Make one of your resolutions to get a kid or someone you know into the outdoors. No matter what you do in it, it can be enjoyed. Whether it be hunting, fishing, outdoor sports, or just a walk down the road. Make it a year to smell the spring, feel the heat of summer, listen to the fall, and enjoy the chill of winter.  Make it your resolution to get a kid outdoors.