UA RETURNS TO MICHIGAN

The United Association of Journeymen and Appretices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry once again honored the Washtenaw County area when they brought the 43rd Annual Instructor Training Program to Ann Arbor. This year, the seventh the UA has come to the area, was held on August 12-17th at Washtenaw Community College.

There werer 1,326 Instructors (the second highest number), with a record number of first time attendees - 305. Htere are over 2,100 popoel associated with this year's training program. Along with the UA's staff, there were 187 pople instructing, with manufacturer representatives and similar individuals assisting.

Also a number of vistors and dignitaries attend to learn about the UA and the Training Program. Each year the UA keeps up with the rapid growth and phenomenal new technologies affecting the industry, and this year they did so in record breaking number.

UA REGISTRATION & ORIENTATION

Let the fun begin - first on the agenda of activiites for incoming students is registration. Studetns recieve theri credentials, change classes when needed, and are welcomed to the area by the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor Vistors Bureau.

At the same time the Washtenaw County joint Training Committee consisting of representatives of UA Local Union 190 and the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association of Washtenaw County distribute book bags and other gifts, to help insure that all participating feel welcomed.

They are assisted by representatives of the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Vistors Bureau, who distribute maps and information about the area.

Student Orientation

The students are told of UA's expectations of them at the Student Orientation by H. Allyn Paramenter, UA, Director of Training (left) and George Bliss, UA Assitant Director of Training (right).

Don Ball of the UA Training Department also discusses the UA program with Roger Bertoia, Dean of Occupational Education at WCC reviewing information about the college.When the instructors leave to begin their calsses they are well-aware of what they will need to do to successfully complete this year's program, and hopefully, someday graduate as a Certified UA Instructor.

UA Training

Unmatched in the construction industry, the UA Intrustor Training Program is the premiere program of its type in the country. The training and cutting-edge technology that you see unfold on the following pages is a significant part of what the training is all about. Another facet of the program is the contacts and camaradrie that individuals form during the week, It gives the Instructors the opportunity to meet rradespersons they can laern from and use as a resource to contact when they go back and need advice. From their first year at the programs to their some day graduation, they make friendships that help them, and their Unions, for years to come.

Welding

The UA Welder Certification Program has no parallel in the building and construction industry. The program is designed to help meet the growing need for experienced, quality welders. Its provides pre-tested, certified and immediately availiable journeymen welders throughoutthe United States and Canada at no cost to the construction user.The United Association underwrites the cost of testing and qualifing its welders by independent testers, auitors and other third parties involved in the programs' success.

OWNERS/USERS MEETING

The Plumbing & Mechanical Contractors Association was proud again host an Owners/Users meeting during the 43rd Annual UA Instructor Training Program. The meeting includes only union-emplying contractors, and owners and users who we are working to show first-hand why the United Association's members are the best-trained craftspersons in the world!

Through the gacious accomodation of the UA's General President Marvin Boede an the UA Director of Training H. Allyn Parmenter, we have been aloowed to show owners the training of UA Members.

PMC's Chairman of the Board Lloyd Ziil emceed the event. The head table, in addition to Zill, consisted of featured speaker H. Alynn Parmenter, MechanicalContractors Association of Maerica's President - Bob Durr of Mechanical Construction,Inc., in New York (his forth visit in as many years), MCAA Past President, John Aern of the J. F. Ahern Company in Fond du Lac, Wisocnsin (his third visit in as many years), Ton Rohrer, UA International Representative, Pat Devlin, Business Manager of Sprinklefitters Local 704 and President of the Michigan Pipe Trades, Don House, Business Manager of UA Local 190 and PMC President Sandra Miller.

Allyn Parmenter addressed the owners and reviewed the programs and what they would be seeing on the tour (pictured below). He also discussed the magnitude of the program as it affects the Washtenaw County area. It is estimated that it brings up to $5 million during the week it is here.

Parmentor Honored At Owners Meeting

As reported elsewhere, the United Association has graciously allowed a special meeting to be held each year to tell owner/users about the UA Instructor Training Program. THis year it gave ua an ideal opportunity to honor Allyn Parmenter for his work in the industry.

Michigan's Governor Sends Certificate of Special Tribute

Lowell Perry, Director of Michigans's Urban Services Department and former Director of the Department of Labor, attended the luncheon represent Governeor Engle (picuted left).

He congratulated Allyn on the fine work, he has done throughout the years for the plumbing and mechancial industry and thanked him for bringing the program to Michigan.

Mechanical Contractors Assocaition of America Honors Allyn

Robert Durr, President of the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, presented Alynn with a Certifacte of Appreciation, "With the gratiude of the entire mechanical construction industry for his unswerving loalty and devotion to the cause of apprenticeship and journeyman training". Bob spoke with fondness of his memories of Allyn. He and Allyn have been friends for years, since both were memebers of the National Steamfitter-Pipefitter joint Training Committee, working together for the best training for UA members.

Michigan Mechanical Contractors Echoes the Praise

Russ Smith, President of the Michigan Mechanical Contracotrs Association presented a plaque from MMCA honoring Allyn for his "untiring efforts on behalf of the Training Department of the UA. Since the program cam to Michigan we are more aware of the magnitude of the program and its postive effect on our Industry.

PMCA and UA Local 190 Honor Allyn

Plumbers and Pipifitters UA 190 and the PMCA also honored Allyn. Everyone is appreciative of the outstanding work that Allyn does for this program. But, from the prospective of Don House of Local 190 and PMCA President Sandra Miller, the friendship they have with Allyn is foremost in their minds on what they will miss.

They honored him with a porcelin sculpture of two eagles representing the friendship inscribed with "True Friends are like Eagles, They Never Fly in Flocks".

UA INSTRUCTOR

Platform Guests (l to r) George H. Bliss, III, Lous J. Ackerman*, John F. Greenwood*, John A. Lindstrom*, Rev. Robert L. Irish, Donald F. McNamara*, Marvin J. Boede* H. Allyn Parmenter, Martin J. Maddaloni*, C. Randal Gardner*, Dr. Gunder A Myran, Charles W. Greenleaf, Jr., Francis J. Coyne*, James E. Gain*, and Thomas J. Hunter* (*General Executive Board, UA)

Graduation Services

H. Allyn Parmenter, UA Director of Training (below left) presided over the 43rd Annual United Association Instructor Training Program Completion Ceremony held August 16, 1996 at the prestigious Power Center for the Performing Arts at The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. A significant crowd was on hand showing enthusiastic support for the one hundred forty one men and women who becames Certified Instructors of Journeyemn and Apprentices. Spectators joined in vociferously to make this an outstanding, most memorable graduation ceremony.

Parmenter, noting the significance of Instructor Training to the UA, stressed the need to provide the best, most competent, most highly trained tradespeople in the industry. Following an Invocation by Rev. Robert L. Irish of Holy Trinity Chapel (Ypsilanti), and the Introduction by Parmenter, Marvin J. Boede, General President of the United Association presented his final charge to the Graduation Class. As he prepare for his upcoming retirement he spoke of this being his favorite UA program. Boede (below right) challenged the graduates to go out and be the very best to demonstrate the value and impact of the aggressive training program.

GRADUATION

Speakers for the event included (left) Dr. Guner A. Myran, Pesident of Washtenaw Community College (WCC) where the Instructor Training was held, and (right) Charles W. Greenleaf, Jr., Vice President for University Projects, Michigan State University.

Myran, who has been greatly impressed with the level of professionalism of the US program, spoke of the importance of the Instructor Training program to WCC, and of his pleasure working with Mr. Boede and Mr. Parmenter these past seven years. He also spoke of what a great benefit it has become to the total Washtenaw County area.

Greenleaf commented on Michigan State University's commitment to and involvement with the UA Instrucotr Training program, expressing pride in and wholehearted support for the program. He praised the very high level of training the UA Instructors recieved, noting the wide range of topics as well as the depth of the materials presented.

Amid screams of "Aloha" (left), an other enthusiatic voacl encouragement and exuberant applause, Martin J. Maddaloni, General President Elect, UA, and George H. Bliss, III, Assistant Director of Training for UA, awarded the Certificates to the graduates as their names were read by Parmenter. Our graduating Instructor, Jerry Tee (right), was honored by UA 190 brothers with a chorus of "Local 190's Safety Director" for obvious reasons as he graduated.

Good-bye

As the program ended Allyn Parmeter thanked all in attendance for their support and help throughout his years of service to the UA. He told them he would always cherish their frienship. The program would have ended, but the crowd was not to be denied as then from the audience came a resounding "Thank you Mr. Parmenter!" and the thousands in attendance sprang to their feet for a thunderous ovation to Allyn as he completed his fianl graduation - just a few minutes late.

UA Medical Gas Training

We are all cognizant of the need for 100% of medical gas installation to be 100% perfect. 100% of the time - it is no less than a life and death situation. That's why one of the post-graduate technical courses is Medical Gas Piping and Brazing. Here students are taught to "build it right the first time".

Applied Basic Electricity

One of the many Applied Knowledge and Technical Courses is Basic Electricity. It gives the UA Instructor a general knowledge of applied electricity through study of hands-on experiences with motors, switches, power supplies, fuses, breakers and other overload and control devices.

How to use simple equipment safely on the job is stressed as the Instructor learns to make checks on circuits and to measure voltage, amperage and resisitance in various practical situations.

UA COMPUTER PROGRAM

Computers are a way of life, and an important part of training program. Students learn the multi-benefits of computer aided drawing in the plumbing and mechanical industry. The UA program has made every effort to locate software to help the Industry. These are programs that are marketable and affordable for the contractors to use when they are back in the field and at their Local. The programs replace labor intensive small-scale models and still offer full 3-dimensional representations of work to be done or in progress.

Professional Courses

The UA believes that the instructors who teach the apprentices and journeymen of the piping trades, are the key to maintaining the high level of performance for which we have long been recognized. This commitment is why one of the more popular programs is the five year Professional Courses on Principles of Learning and Elements of Trade Teaching. Instructors relize the importance of knowing the correct way to "teach".