Following more than a year of taking necessary precautions due to the covid pandemic, Port Maritime Councils in Michigan, St. Louis and Chicago resumed their annual golf outings in September.
All three events raise money from their Labor communities to help the PMCs fund charitable contributions, provide political donations to local officials and run their councils.
Two of the three councils use their outings to salute local union officials and worker friendly business people.
With the help of Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, the Chicago and Western Lakes Port Council honored two union leaders on September 22.
Chicago and Cook County Building and Construction Trades Secretary-Treasurer Mike Macellaio received the Labor Man of the Year Award. Macellaio, a member of Laborers Local 1092, thanked PMC President Robert Howard for the award, while recognizing the work done by the PMC and the MTD to promote the U.S.-flag merchant marine.
Accepting the Able Helmsman Award was Anthony Ballay, the Assistant to the Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters. In thanking the PMC, Ballay promoted the need for the infrastructure bills pending in Congress, especially for much-needed work on the inland waterways. He is a member of Carpenters Local 54.
The St Louis PMC honored three. From left are PMC Sec-Treas Bryan Powell, Able Helmsman Awardee Dan Walkenhorst, Jack Martorelli Labor Man of the Year Honorees John Orr and Jerry Donovan, PMC Pres John Stiffler, and MTD Exec Sec-Treas Daniel Duncan.
A day earlier, the Greater St. Louis Area and Vicinity Port Council presented ship’s wheels to three local representatives.
PMC President John Stiffler announced that the council’s highest award – Labor Man of the Year – is renamed in memory of its longtime president, Jack Martorelli, who passed away in August 2020.
Two union leaders shared the award – Jerry Donovan, who is the Business Manager for Insulators Local 1, and John Orr, retired Business Manager of Elevator Constructors Local 3.
In addition, Dan Walkenhorst received the council’s Able Helmsman Award. Walkenhorst is a workers’ compensation attorney.
On September 17, more than 100 trade unionists and allies gathered for the Michigan maritime Trades Port Council’s 42nd Annual Ron Krochmalny Classic in New Haven, MI. PMC Secretary-Treasurer Todd Brdak kept things moving all during a beautiful fall day.
The Michigan PMC was able to hold its event last year, but the number of participants was much lower than normal. “It was great to see so many people return and enjoy our outing,” Brdak stated.