Pictured Above: International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 17 Assistant Supervisor Alan Pero and Union Member/Operator JoAnn Santonocito - who came up with the idea to get her fellow Union Members more involved in their Union - take a brief timeout to speak with WNYLaborToday.com during the Union's Fishing Derby that was held over the weekend and attracted nearly 250 Local 17 Union Members and their families.  The second annual derby was held at Local 17's sprawling, 400-acre training facility in Lakeview, where an extremely large 2.5-acre pond is located and was stocked specifically with trout for the local event.  Santonocito is wearing an event t-shirt that was specially produced by Buffalo's American Images - a Union custom-embroidered and silk-screened apparel manufacturer.  The t-shirt was given to everyone who participated in the fishing derby.  (WNYLaborToday.com Photo)

Editor's Note: WNYLaborToday.com will post a Labor News Video Report on the Local 17 Annual Fishing Derby on Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper this week.  It will be located in the second video cube from the left in the bank of video cubes that appear across our Front Page.

(LAKEVIEW) - How can a Union continue to build and grow Union Brotherhood, Sisterhood & Camaraderie?  Well, in the case of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 17, it's holding an annual fishing derby in an extremely large 2.5-acre, stream-fed pond that's located on the grounds of the Union's sprawling, 400-acre training facility in Lakeview.

On Sunday, nearly 250 Union Members and their families - including a variety of young children - took part in Local 17's second annual fishing derby.  The event was the brainchild of Union Operator JoAnn Santonocito - who was caught by WNYLaborToday.com smiling from ear-to-ear as she gazed out at the large number of Union fishermen, fisherwomen and fisherkids who cast their lines into the pond under clear blue and sunny skies as the wonderful smell of a nearby hot dog cook-out wafted through the air.

"It's been a dream of mine since I was an apprentice.  We have this beautiful facility and it's a great opportunity to use it.  This is a fantastic response," Santonocito - who started as an apprentice with Local 17 in 1997 and is now a journeyman crane operator, as well as an avid fisherwoman - told WNYLaborToday.com. 

"This is all about family.  It's a family fishing day and the kids are catching some wonderful fish.  We all work so hard during the year that this is such a great way to relax with our families and enjoy Local 17's Union facilities.  Our members are loving this," she said.

The idea to hold a Union Fishing Derby on the property came from Santonocito a couple of years ago.  So it was no surprise that she approached Local 17's Alan Pero, the IUOE's International Representative for the Northeast Region - who is overseeing the daily operations of the Western New York Union - to find out if a member fishing tournament could be held.

"I thought it was a great idea," Pero told WNYLaborToday.com. "It was extremely important to me that our Union do this and that our members and their family members be involved.  In fact, I thought the event was even more special if the members involved their families."

Last year, despite rainy weather, 158 individuals - adults and children - took part in Local 17's first fishing derby.  This year, nearly 250 took part, casting their lines into the pond and hoping to catch not only the specially-stocked trout, but a number of other fish, including bass, blue gills, crappies, perch and sunfish. 

The top nine winners in several age categories received prizes - including a variety of fishing equipment that was purchased at the local Gander Mountain Outdoors Store, which discounted the items because they were going to be given away at the Union fishing event, Santonocito said. 

Several dozen special prizes were also awarded to those who caught trout, Pero said - including homemade gumball machines that were made by Local 17 Member Victor Grandits - who used mason jars to hold the multi-colored gumballs. 

All who participated in Local 17's fishing derby were treated to a hot dog roast and were given an event t-shirt that was specially produced by Buffalo's American Images - a Union custom embroidered and silk-screened apparel manufacturer. 

The pond is on land that was purchased by Local 17's membership years ago for its training site that is located just a stone's throw from Route 5.  The pond was actually used as a water source for an old brick-making company that had once been located there, Pero said.

"This is a wonderful event, sharing solidarity with the membership and introducing their family members to Local 17," Pero said.  "I've enjoyed walking around and talking to the members and watching their kids pull the fish out.  Their smiles and laughter does nothing but warm your heart, especially when you're watching a little child pull a sunfish out.  It brings a smile to your face."

"We're very fortunate our membership owns this property and the reaction of our members is overwhelming," Pero continued.  "You have to have solidarity.  It's the only way (Unions) exist.  What did Thomas Jefferson say?  'If you do not hang together, we surely hang apart?"

Local 17 Member Ed Gleason, a member of the Union since 1955, brought a friend from Springville and the man's 7-year-old grandson, who was visiting from the Tampa, Florida-area and had just caught a small sunfish as WNYLaborToday.com approached the group. 

"Absolutely," Gleason answered when asked if the fishing event promotes Union Camaraderie.  "There's not better Union than Local 17 and this is something for the Local to be proud about.  It's a good thing.  How can't you be proud?"  

Asked what may be on tap to make the event even better in year three, Pero joked that some of Local 17's members had asked him if the Union "could stock the pond with sharks."

"To top this next year?  Maybe put some sharks in there," Pero laughed.  "But it's really great to seeing Local 17's members enjoying 'their' property."