The Oracle - December 2014 - Oregon

The Oracle - December 2014
Oregon-Columbia Chapter NECA
Volume 53
Issue 12
WE DID IT!
Upcoming Events
Not only did we meet our ECPAC goal we surpassed it! Thank you to all that
contributed! Pat Maloney will be back at the Political Leadership Council
representing our Chapter.

Dec 8th—Board
Meeting 4:30pm

Dec 8th—Annual
Chapter Meeting—
5:30pm

Dec 12th—Harrison
–8:00am
Inside this issue:
ECPAC 2014
1
Sweetheart Ball
2
Annual Meeting
3
Merry Christmas!
4
In the News
5
Legislative Report
6
Safety
7
New Nowack
8
Manhour Stats
9
Market Recovery
9
Calendar
10
George Adams
Bob Agee
Lowell Arno
Laurie Benjamin
Brian Christopher
Rick Devlin
Michelle Doyle
Ray Ellis
Mike Falconer
Tim Gauthier
Bob Gotham
Gabe Gourde
Jim Hamilton
Stan Heil
Larry Henick
Jeff Holmes
Karl Jensen
Daune Lisoski
Ryan Landon
Jesse Lierman
Ian McHone
Darrell McNeel
Pat Maloney
Richard Martin
Milt Plews
Neal Rea
Ed Ryding
Sonja Rheaume
Peter Schwarzenberger
Trace Thompson
Steve Trapp
Deb Trusheim
Michael Trusheim
Randy Wagner
Mark Walter
Aaron Watzig
Mark Weinbender
Page 1
E.C. Company
Veteran
E.C. Company
Inland Electric
Veteran
Environmental Controls
Rosendin
Cherry City
Stoner
NECA
Veteran
JH Kelly
Cherry City
Heil Electric
Elm Electric
Cochran, Inc.
West Side Electric
Stoner
McCoy Electric
Cochran, Inc.
Tice Electric
Capitol Electric
Tice Electric
Capitol
OEG
Stoner
Dynalectric
Christenson
Dynalectric
Cherry City
E.C. Company
Team Electric
Team Electric
Dynalectric
Christenson
West Side Electric
OEG
2,500
100
100
100
100
300
200
450
535
200
100
100
100
535
1,000
1,000
1,000
100
2,500
250
100
1,000
250
100
100
250
100
535
100
200
200
250
250
200
1,000
100
100
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle
2015 Sweetheart Ball – Sentinel
Saturday, February 14, 2015
5:30 p.m. – Reception – Grand Ballroom
7:00 p.m. – Dinner – Governor Ballroom
Reminder to Accredited Representatives!
Please call Rosie at the Chapter Office, if you have any questions. Otherwise, email Rosie with
the names of the individuals who will be attending the Sweetheart Ball from your company.
If you are interested in staying at the Sentinel, please contact the hotel directly
at 503.224.3400. They will take your information. Remember to inform them you are part
of the “NECA Sweetheart Ball Group.” Also, please remember to ask for your
confirmation number.. Please note reservation deadline is January 13, 2015.
Please note that rooms are going quickly at the Sentinel and your attendees should be made
aware of this fact.
The hotel has already run out of rooms in our block for the penthouse level along with Junior
and Parlor Suites. If you do request one of these rooms, the hotel will extend a 15% discount
off the best available rate at the time of booking. Should you choose to do this, please make
your reservations directly with Johnny Pearson or Gena Berry. Be sure to let them know you are
with the NECA Sweetheart Ball Group.
We are told there are still rooms available in our block for Deluxe Queen/King and
Premiers King/Doubles at the previously quoted prices.
We are sorry for any inconvenience, but since Valentine’s Day is the date of the Ball, room
availability is limited.
Page 2
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle
NECA Annual
Membership Meeting
Monday, December 8, 2014
Chapter Office
5:30 pm—Reception
6:00 pm—Dinner
The Nominating Committee will make their report and the
membership will vote on two board positions as well.
After a brief recess, our Board of Directors will vote on
new officers for 2015
Please plan on attending the Oregon-Columbia Chapter’s
Annual Membership Meeting.
Veteran members are encouraged to attend.
PLEASE R.S.V.P to
Rosie @ 503-233-5787
Or Email
[email protected]
Page 3
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle
Page 4
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle
Winterhawks Teddy Bear Toss is on Dec 6
This year’s Family Fun Night is the Winterhawks Teddy Bear
Toss on Dec 6. The Winterhawks will be playing the Everett
Silvertips at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 7 p.m.
Please bring stuffed animals to throw on the ice after the
Winterhawks score their first goal! The proceeds will be
donated to several local children’s charities.
Please contact Rosie Garcia ([email protected]) for
tickets and more details.
NECA/IBEW Local 48 Unveils Mobile Website
To help make the partnership and the NW Electricians websites
more available, Pac/West is creating mobile versions of the sites.
The mobile versions of NECAIBEW48.com will launch the first
of December and NW Electricans.com will be launched toward
the middle of the month.
With the continuing trend of people using their phones and tablets
to get their information, as well as for business purposes, these
mobile versions will make it easy to view and access the sites. Be
sure to keep an eye out for them soon!
Got News?
Is your company working on an interesting energy efficient or cutting edge
project? Do you have a journeyman or apprentice who was recently recognized
for a job well done? The NECA/IBEW 48 partnership is always looking for
exciting projects and individuals to highlight. Please contact Alison Attebery at
503-685-9400 or [email protected] so Pac/West can obtain details.
Page 5
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle
T
National Republican Wave Does Not Reach Oregon
he whims of the voting electorate tend to
swing back and forth like a pendulum from
election cycle to election cycle. Historically
speaking, Republicans vote in greater numbers
than Democrats in non-Presidential elections. President
Obama’s low approval ratings accelerated this natural
trend, and created the ideal conditions for Republicans to
gain control over both chambers of Congress.
While voting preferences across the country are shifting
from blue to red, Oregon is a solidly Democratic state.
Oregon’s last Republican Governor, the Hon. Vic Atiyeh,
was elected in 1982. Oregon’s last statewide Republican
office holder, Jack Roberts, was elected as Labor
Commissioner in 1997. The last time Republicans held
majority control of the Oregon Senate was in the 2001
Session, and the last time Republicans held majority
control of the House was in the 2005 Session. There
were brief stints of equal power-sharing control in both
chambers (Senate: 2003; House: 2010), but Democrats
have been the only party to enjoy clear majorities for
roughly the last decade. The whims of the electorate still
swing like a pendulum, but at the state level the
pendulum tends to swing between slight Democratic
majorities in each chamber to Democratic
supermajorities.
Normally all eyes are at the top of the ticket; however,
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, who was running for his first reelection campaign, enjoyed a nearly double-digit lead in
the polls over the course of the entire General
Election—a lead that has steadily grown from 8 points to
19 points. Similarly, incumbent Gov. John Kitzhaber’s reelection chances were seen as an absolute, with a major
fundraising edge and another double-digit lead in the
polls. Even after accusations of ethical breaches by his
fiancé Cylvia Hayes emerged, the Governor continued to
lead in the polls, and went on to win by six points.
The frontlines of this year’s power play were fought in
the State Senate, largely due to environmental
organizations and anti-gun activists that were able to
secure millions of dollars from out-of-state billionaires
seeking to advance a more liberal agenda through the
chamber. One of the primary goals behind this
investment was to increase the Democrats’ one seat
Page 6
majority (16-14), in order to inoculate moderate Democratic
Sen. Betsy Johnson, who from time to time has dared to cross
party lines on matters of policy. Senate Democrats defeated
Republican incumbent Sens. Betsy Close and Bruce Starr,
bringing their majority to 18—a super majority, which allows
Senate Democrats to pass revenue rising measures unilaterally.
While Democrats currently have a larger majority in the
House (34-26), four of the five competitive races were seats
held by Democrats, creating an opportunity for the pendulum
to swing to the right. However, Democrats not only defended
their four vulnerable seats, they even picked up one
previously held by Republican Rep. Vicki Berger, who decided
to retire. One of the biggest surprises came from Washington
County, where two House districts currently held by
Democrats were considered very competitive and likely to
shift during a non-presidential election, as both of the
Democrats swept the districts by margins of seven or more
points. Democrats will now control the House of
Representatives with a 35-25 majority—one vote away from a
super majority.
In every election, there is always a measurable level of
negativity, but competitive races in this election cycle seemed
to make negative campaigning more of a focal point rather
than an addendum to their campaign plans. And the
unprecedented level of out-of-state money amplified that
more negative tone. Negative campaigning, by design and in
practice, has been proven to drive down voter participation.
However, knowing that turnout among key Democratic
constituencies tends to diminish during midterm elections,
liberal organizations prepared several measures designed to
increase turnout among Democratic base voters in this
election.
NECA Endorsed Legislative Candidates Win
NECA got involved in 46 legislative races in Oregon this
General Election. Forty-four (96%) of the NECA endorsed
candidates won their elections with only longshot
Independent candidate Chuck Lee (I-Keizer) and Senator
Bruce Starr (R-Hillsboro) losing. The PAC’s win-loss ratio
was considerably better than other construction related
interest groups. With NECA backed candidates in the driver’s
seat, we look forward to a successful legislative session in
2015.
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle
NIETC Safety News
—Barry Moreland
Oregon BCD Revises CEU Structure for Safety Related Courses
OR-OSHA uses a three step process when requiring employee training on
workplace safety and health hazards. First under their general administrative
rules applicable to all workplaces 437-001-0760;

each employer must see that workers are properly instructed and
supervised in the safe operation of any machinery, tools, equipment,
process, or practice that they are authorized to use or apply.
Additional general requirements for all work under covered under construction
regulations 1926.21;

employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations
applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.
And more specifically to address certain tasks, tools or exposure to unique hazards like shock and arc flash, 1910.332;

Qualified persons (i.e., those permitted to work on or near exposed energized parts) shall, at a minimum, be trained in
and familiar with the following:
(i) The skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment. (ii) The
skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts, and (iii) The clearance distances
specified in §1910.333(c) and the corresponding voltages to which the qualified person will be exposed.
Notice that I reference OR-OSHA rather than BCD, specifically the electrical division, as the agency that requires employee
training on workplace safety and health topics.
Much like Washington L & I did a few years ago, Oregon BCD recently revised their continuing education approval process
which significantly impacts credit towards safety related classes. The CEU credit was a primary reason many electricians and
technicians enrolled in classes like Aerial and Forklift Training, Confined Space and Asbestos Awareness. Those courses no
longer are approved for any credit.
The following safety courses maintain CEU credit, although some have reduced number of approved hours.
Course
CEU Hours per
Renewal Cycle
Course
CEU Hours per
Renewal Cycle
NFPA 70E
4
Basic Life Support (CPR /
AED)
2
OSHA 10
4
First Aid
2
OSHA 30
16
First Aid and BLS is taught together
While the NIETC class catalog and website reflect this new information, members may not identify the changes. Please share
this information with your crews to avoid potential problems with license renewals.
Page 7
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle
Please welcome the newest member of the NECA family
Claire Julia Nowack, born November 13th at 2:11pm.
Mother and Father are happy and tired!
Page 8
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle
Annual Chapter Meeting
December 8th
5:30 Reception
6:30 Dinner
Page 9
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle
December 2014
Sun
Mon
Tue
1
Wed
2
Thu
3
Building Trades
12:00pm
7
8
9
Board Meeting
4:30pm
Cornell
Pension
Meeting
10:00am
Annual Chapter
Meeting
5:30pm
14
21
28
15
16
Code Committee
12:00pm
NIETC/JATC
9:00am
22
23
29
30
Fri
4
5
6
11
12
13
NECA JLC
8:00am
Harrison
8:00am
BULL Check
Presentation
4:00pm
10
BALMCC
11:00am
17
18
19
20
27
OSU Committee
10:00am
24
25
26
NECA Office
Closed at
12:00pm
Christmas Day
LU 48 & NECA
CLOSED
NECA Closed
31
NECA Office
Closed at
12:00pm
Page 10
Sat
Oregon-Columbia Chapter, NECA
The Oracle

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