By: Duane Ballard

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

This year’s Local 659 Conservation Dinner was a huge success. We had about 150 attendees and lots of guns, prizes and other outdoor stuff given away. Our auction was also a huge success and a lot of fun going back and forth with the bidding.

Vice President Anthony Davis and I would like to thank everyone who helped make this event a huge success. To all of our volunteers, bartenders, and everyone else, thank you for making it a huge hit. Our event would definitely be nothing if not for the members and people who come and have fun, spend money, and support the outdoor projects we put on for the kids and the community. A huge thank you!

Along those lines, on the Wednesday after the event, Anthony and I went and purchased a pavilion package at Carter’s Lumber to be put up at Blue Gill Landing. This package was purchased with the funds raised from the Sportsman Dinners.

A $17,000 (32′ x 40′) pavilion will be put up on May 10th, at Blue Gill Landing in Genesee Parks. We are looking to get some volunteers to come and help us construct it on May 10th, and possibly the weekend after. If you are interested in helping, please contact me here at the Union Hall. Give me a call 810-232-4130, ext 216, or sign up here, and I’ll put you on the list.

I just returned from International’s annual Financial Conference. At this conference, we finished up all federal tax paperwork and submitted it to the federal government. It is a lot like your personal taxes, but way more in depth with our spending and how dues money is kept.

The big push at this one was the UAW International elections next year and correct addresses of our members. If you moved recently, make sure to update your address at the Hall. If you are a GM member and have changed it with the company, there is no need to change it here at the Hall, because GM automatically updates our system. When those ballots are mailed, we need the correct address to send them to.

Finally, the weather seems to be breaking for the better. I now enjoy the longer daylight when I get home. It gives me way more time to get stuff done and longer time to run my dogs.

Mondays and Thursdays are grandkids nights, and with the time change and days going longer I get to spend more time outside with them. The only bad thing about this time of year is all the mud and the baths they need when we come in. Enjoy the longer days, get a kid outside, and prep for this upcoming summer.