Thanksgiving kicks off end-of-year charitable endeavors by our IBEW/NECA partners. On November 28, 2023, the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus (EWMC) will deliver 200 coats to families in need in the Hazelwood School District.  It’s part of EWMC’s 19^th annual coat drive that will give away more than 500 coats this year.  Then on Dec. 14, 2023, IBEW Local 1 will host the annual holiday gift giving party at its union hall for families served by the United States District Court Eastern District of Missouri, Probation Division. The Electrical Connection also donates $2,500 to support the program.  And right before Christmas, the IBEW/NECA partnership will again celebrate and support one of the nation’s largest “Shop with a Cop” programs in Farmington, Mo., brightening the holidays for more than 500 children.  It will be the 28^th consecutive year the Electrical Connection has supported the St. Francois County Sheriff’s “Shop with a Cop” program, which this year is held on Dec. 19, 2023. IBEW/NECA is donating $5,000 to help law enforcement purchase gifts for children in need.

                    EWMC Coat Drive                                 U.S Probation Holiday Giving Party                                          Shop with a Cop      

Meanwhile, for the 76^th year, NECA contractor Guarantee Electrical and its IBEW workforce are brightening the holiday season in Downtown St. Louis.  The IBEW/NECA team is lighting the iconic Salvation Army St. Louis Midland Division’s 36-foot-tall Tree of Lights in Kiener Plaza where it is beautifully framed by the historic Old Courthouse and the Gateway Arch. Since 1947, Guarantee has assisted with improvements. In 2019, Guarantee worked with SWITCH to create a tree-based platform to house the electrical box and to protect the electrical components, while also protecting it from intruders. The tree base provided an additional six feet of height and increased the visibility and branding of the Salvation Army with graphics and more LED Light boxes with plexiglass panels.  In 2020, Guarantee upgraded the existing lights and today the tree glows with 11,000 LED lights.

The array of proficient maintenance skills by our IBEW/NECA partners is constantly evolving with technology.  NECA contractor MidStates Energy Co. recently offered a primer on an obscure, but vital component to electrical reliability and safety – Load Tap Changers.  These are critical electrical components for maintaining a consistent voltage level to combat local or grid fluctuations. This equipment regulates the turns and voltage ratios without interrupting the load current.  Learn more.