Masonry Magazine July 2005 Page. 50
News
News continued from page 46
Brian Walsh from Dublin (center) on his first day on an American job site, here with Leidal and Hart Mason Contractor's foreman Leo Crandall (left) and Safety Director Walter Kyewski (right) on a large high school project. He will experience other types of projects as well. The exchange program "gives our guys a different perspective, too," says Vice President Brad Leidal.
who was a newly minted journeyman when he went. "It's a slower pace of life over there," he notes. Wages are considerably higher, sometimes reaching six figures for bricklayers. Gierak says it made him appreciate what he has, and inspired him to be more involved in his BAC local. Karas, too, appreciated the slower pace, and the absence of jurisdictional disputes,
Not surprisingly, the most noticeable difference for the Irish apprentices is the faster pace of American construction sites. "It's rush, rush, rush," says Walsh, who has wanted to come to America "ever since I was a little boy."
Also, in Ireland, Walsh did not work with flashing, hydraulic scaffolding, grouting or hollow core block-only solid units.
"He's had to make a lot of adjustments," says Ryan Harmon of Leidal & Hart Mason Contractors. But, he notes, "Laying to the line and spreading mortar is universal"
For White, whose experience is historic stone restoration, the more production-oriented brick and block work on his current job site has been the biggest adjustment. "I am learning new stuff every day, and picking up tips," he says.
Both apprentices started their American sabbatical by quick immersion in OSHA regulations and other workplace practices. Walsh worked directly with Leidal & Hart's onsite safety director, while White studied with Gasca, who also takes him to other job sites to get a variety of experience, plus gentle critiques by other IMI instructors.
With another BAC apprentice just off to Ireland and a fourth packing his bags, BAC President John Flynn is optimistic about what the program can achieve.
"This is a program that can benefit both our union and the Building and Allied Trades' Union in Ireland," says Flynn. "There's always something to learn from our neighbors on the other side of the ocean, and our first two participants are already sharing what they learned with their fellow craftworkers to the betterment of our union and crafts."
Teachers Go for Network Version of Building Homes of Our Own
In less than 24 hours, more than 1,200 educators ordered Network Version 2.0 of Building Homes of Our Own, right after NAHB began urging them to order the interactive teaching tool and game for their middle and high school students before the end of the school year.
NAHB launched a direct e-mail campaign on May 4, and to date 1,700 teachers have already requested the program-further confirmation that Building Homes of Our Own is meeting a crucial need among educators and has students responding to simulation learning in the classroom.
"Building Homes of Our Own has been an awesome program to use with my students at West Middle School," says Cindy H., a middle school teacher in Tennessee. "We have been using the program for the last two years, and I'm thankful I received your program. The program reinforces hands-on learning. It truly engages students."
The Network Version 2.0 is available free to members and educators from www.HomesOfOurOwn.org.
Building Homes of Our Own is part of an ongoing education outreach initiative produced in partnership with the National Housing Endowment and Freddie Mac. Network Version 2.0 is made possible with support from the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters.
For information about bringing Building Homes of Our Own to teachers in your community, e-mail Kym Kilbourne at kkilbourne@nahb.com or call her at (800) 368-5242 ext. 8447.
Index to Advertisers
22 AMERICAN DISCOUNT ALUMINUM
www.ng.com
15 ARCHITECTURAL CAST STONE, INC. 39 MCAA
800536.2225
28 MOCHISEY LUMBER
32 O COMPANY INC.
#575
18 CAR WELD TOOLS, INC.
800346.3729
800.245.3544
42 De Too SHOP
33 DIAMOND BLADES
FACTORY OUTLET
329.0004
3BLADE DIRECT
37 ECO CHEM
80313.8505
25 E SERVICES
43 EZ SCAFFOLD CORPORATION
17 FOUNDATION SOFTWARE
IBC FRACO PRODесть, Ств.
372.2648
9GATORBACK
www.porta
24 INDUSTRIES, INC.
37 GLASS BUCKS UNUMITED
8GROUT HOG/EZ GROUT
4178072
www.guttagon
IFC MOLE
25 MSA
5403
4278
NON STOP SCATOL
54127
23 QURUTY DIAMOND
13 THE QUIKRITECO
24 Tes
100.1236
10 ROCKIVELL LIME CO
22 Se Rooks, N
1 SPEC MIL INC
54134
800446822
42 FOREST PRODUCTS
800414340
20 INDUSTRI
arpat
13
48 Masonry
July 2005
www.masoncontractors.org