The Evolution Continues

F our times a year, each of our members receives their copy of the Official Bulletin. You have let us know that you appreciate the increased use of color and graphics as well as the much broader scope of content. The move towards a “magazine” look and feel was well received and you have always supported any changes that make our publication more interesting and relevant to you.

The origin of the Official Bulletin was the 22nd International Convention held in Chicago, Illinois in 1915. During that convention the delegates approved a recommendation by then International President Charles C. Shay to begin publishing a monthly magazine “containing items of interest concerning the labor movement in general and the news of our International organization in particular”.

Today, the “Bulletin” as it is often referred, is a quarterly publication that allows the International to communicate with our local unions and our individual members. It provides an opportunity for our members to not only obtain information relevant to their own specific craft, but also see for themselves the wide-ranging diversity of our membership and the broad spectrum of work that they perform.

Over the years we have listened to you, our readers, and have developed a number of new sections and expanded others. With this issue, the evolution continues as we introduce a new section entirely devoted to photographs of our members in the workplace.

In the past, we have generally published these photographs in the On The Road section of the Bulletin, but we wanted to provide an opportunity for members from all our crafts to share their photos with their sisters and brothers. While static group shots are great, the submission of “action shots” of our members at work is also encouraged and welcome.

As you will see on page 46, the new section is presently entitled Crew Shots, but since this is intended to be an area of the Bulletin devoted entirely to you, our members, we invite you to submit any other suggestions that you may have. If we select your submission we will give credit where credit is due and publish your name (and photograph of course) in the issue where the change takes effect.

The staff of the Official Bulletin and myself are always striving to improve the quality and relevance of our publication. We believe the members of this great Alliance deserve no less. You are encouraged to take the time to submit suggestions or ideas for content in future issues. Ours is a publication that has always had the member as its primary focus and this is the direction in which we will continue.