Two of our local apprentices are getting experience working on an solar arrray on

Plymouth Road at the old Pfizer complex. This is a DTE project subcontrated to J Ranck.

Both Cody and Dan will get to see installation of panels, DC wiring, AC wiring, inverter,

switchgear, and controls. This will add to the class room studies that the JATC curriculum

affords all our apprentices. And now the NJATC has developed jointly with Underwriters

Laboratories a UL PV Installer cerification. This is a very exciting partnership, one that

hopefully will include more specialized training that is available to both our Journeymen

and Apprentices. We will be putting a PV Class on this spring and hope to have a UL

cerification test at the conclusion of the class. Hope you can take advantage of this

opportunity.

Training Center News JANUARY-FEBUARY 2013 BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER V O L U M E 2 . I S S U E 1

APPRENTICES CODY ENGLISH AND DAN

DELAGARZA INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

RIGHT TO

WORK 2

SOLAR

PICTURES 2

BOB’S VIEW 3

JIM

MARTINDALE 3

JOURNEYMEN

TRAINING 4

THE LAST

WORD 4

MIKE HUIZENGA

RETIRING FROM JATC

Mike Huizenga is retiring from the Ann Arbor Electrical JATC after 19 years of service

as of January 1st, 2013. Mike has seen many changes since he first joined the JATC in

1994. The JATC moved 5 times and had to rebuild after a fire, four different Training

Directors, several different instructors and too many committee members to list from

both labor and management. But through it all Mike was there, putting in the time and

making the decisions that have shaped our local. I’ve known Mike a long time and, as he

would tell you, we didn’t always see eye to eye. Hell, I think most of the time! But we

could always argue without getting our feelings hurt (I still don’t know if he has any)

because right or wrong he always wanted what was best for the industry and our Local.

Because of Mike’s years of service I can honestly say the Local is better today than if he

had not served. So with that, let me just say good luck and I hope you enjoy your

retirement.

P A G E 2

RIGHT TO WORK/ANOTHER LIE On December 11th, 2012 the Michigan Legislature passed two Right to

Work Bills. These bills cover both public and private sector Unions. Governor

Rick Snyder stated it wasn’t about harming Unions but a matter of fairness. These

new laws will not apply to Police or Fire Departments, so if that were true, there

would be no need to exclude them. Just Another Lie. So on that chilly Tuesday

morning, there I was with more than 12,500 of my Brothers and Sisters raising

our voices in protest. Governor Snyder decided to listen to the Koch Brother, Dick

DeVos and the Tea Party and sign the Bills. What was it Japanese Admiral

Isoroku Yamamoto said after the attack on Pearl Harbor, "I fear all we have done

is to awaken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve." This is not the

end, but the beginning of our opportunity to tell our story to the public. To fight

the stereotype of “union thugs”, let them know about our Training, Charitable

Works, Job Safety, Community Involvement and other goodwill endeavors. It’s

also the beginning of the 2014 elections. We ALL must resolve to do the most

we’ve ever done to get the people in office that look out for working families.

Signing your COPE form, walking door to door, working the phone banks, and

talking to family and friends about what the UNION has done, and will do, to

build and keep a middle class in America. This won’t be easy, it won’t be cheap,

but it’s OUR opportunity so please don’t let it slip away. The Gaint IS awake and

now is his time.

MORE PHOTO’S FROM DTE SOLAR PROJECT

Bob’s View: New UL Photovoltaic Certification

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 2 . I S S U E 1

The National Joint

Apprenticeship and Training

Committee in conjunction with

UL have implemented a new

Photovoltaic Installation

certification that can be obtained

after taking our Solar

Photovoltaic class. In addition,

the NJATC has developed a

new class presentation vehicle

called Continuing Education

Training, or CET, which will be

an on-line computer based

training system which allows

the student to work at their

own pace to complete

assignments between

designated face-to-face class

days with the instructor. Since

journeyman classes are run at

night, the best time to do a PV

class is after we go on daylight

savings time which means

holding classes in the summer.

Not many of us look forward

to going to class in the summer so

the new CET method looks like a

very good fit for those interested in

taking our photovoltaic class and

getting certified as an installer by

UL. A tentative schedule would be

ten weeks long with four face-to-

face classes when the instructor

will evaluate the progress of

students, answer questions, and

present additional information using

our PV trainers. Look for the

summer training schedule in the

Building Tradesman or check the

calendar on our website. We are

excited about this new training

method and sincerely hope that it

will fit your needs!

Jim Martindale: VDV Education Open To All

For the last ten years I have been teaching the VDV apprenticeship, and journeymen training programs. The

majority of these classes are offered to all members, and there is still great opportunity within our low voltage

group that you may not be aware of. This is your opportunity for continuing education, job growth, and skill

diversity that will be imperative as our industry grows and changes. Take a moment to read through a sample of

what we have to offer:

Basic networking class: This class is four weeks long, taught at night, teaching technicians how to work on basic

networks. There is also training on programming consumer level equipment, as well as the basics for Cisco

equipment. For a JIW, this class will teach color codes on network cables, and give students the confidence in

installing low voltage lighting systems, including building automation systems.

Optical Fiber F.O.A. Certification: This class teaches the termination and installation practices of optical fiber.

Good for all members of local 252, because who couldn’t use another nationally recognized certification! Fiber is

the way of the world, or at least it is going that way. This class is 16hrs long.

Security Systems Training: This class teaches students installation practices, and the programming of intrusion

protection systems, card access, and door control systems. For low voltage members this is one of most sought after

skill sets a technician can have because there are not that many members that can complete a system from A to Z.

For JIWs, learning these skills can enhance your ability to stay on jobs longer, and become a valued worker on

projects. For some reason door control systems and handicap buttons are almost always forgotten until the end of

projects and if you’re the only one left on the job, you can show them that you can get it done. This class is 16hrs

long.

I am open to hearing what classes you think will enhance your skill set out in the field. Other classes are available;

I just need to know what the membership wants. Feel free to email me, or catch me on the job site. I am willing and

able to teach, and research additional classes for the membership.

Moving forward in the future, building a strong Local 252!

James M. Martindale

Jmarty32@yahoo.com

or if your like Bob Kosky, a

weekend of antiquing. The

point is, set a goal and be

about it. Now is also the

time to think about your

professional goals. What can

you do to make yourself a

better electrician. You are in

an ever changing field that is

full of opportunities. Lighting

controls are changing to low

voltage. Are you ready for

Cat 5 terminations and

programming software

control? Do you have OSHA

30/70E Training? Just a few of

the goals you could set, like

the NIKE say’s “Just Do It!”

Happy New Year. I hope

everyone has a productive,

prosperous, and safe new year.

Sometimes, its a great time to

look back and reflect, but I think

we should let this past year go.

Instead, let’s set some goals for

ourselves, both personal and

professional. Make sure to set

aside time for family and friends.

But also, when was the last time

you set aside time for yourself?

Do that something that will not

only recharge your batteries but

will make the memories that can

sustain you in the hard times. It

might be running a marathon, a

trip to Hawaii, a golf weekend

Ann Arbor Electrical Joint

Apprenticeship & Training Center

13400 Luick Drive

Phone: 734-475-1180

Fax: 734-475-1209

Website: www.aaejatc.org

JATC COMMITTEE MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN BRIAN KOEPP

SECRETARY BRIAN PAHL

TRUSTEE PAT COLVIA

TRUSTEE JIM JOHNSON

TRUSTEE GARY WALLS

TRUSTEE MIKE KOCH

The Last Word : Goals

APPRENTICE COUNCIL

DAVID BELL

JESSE NICKERSON

COLE WALTER

JEFF MCCANN

RICHARD STEFFEN

BILLY JOHNSTON

FRANK PAPP

JOURNEYMEN

TRAINING

JOHN SALYER

PAGE 4

1. Instrumentation Class: Starts January

7th Mondays & Thursday thru March 28th

2. OSHA 30/70E Class: Starts January

10th Thursday thru March 7th

3. License Prep Class: Starts January 8th

Tuesdays thru February 26th

4. ERPI Part A Exam : April 1th

5. CPR/ First Aid: March 20th, June

19th,September 18th & December 18th

6. Network systems: January 7th thru

January 28th Mondays

7. Fiber Optical Training: February 11st

thru March 4th Mondays includes CECs

8. Asbestos, Lead and Silica Training

with Certification Card February 12th