Jerry Regenscheid, a member of St. Paul Plumbers Local 34, installed a new faucet for a St. Paul homeowner during the union’s “Water’s Off” day of service April 5.
Members of St. Paul Plumbers Local 34 were among 96 union plumbers from across Minnesota who volunteered to fix plumbing problems for 81 elderly, disabled and low-income homeowners April 5, during the annual “Water’s Off” service event.
It marked the 20th consecutive year Minnesota’s union plumbers teamed up with their contractors, members of the Minnesota Mechanical Contractors Association, to make “Water’s Off” happen, and several elected officials thanked them for their efforts at a kickoff breakfast at the Roseville Radisson.
“You’re not here for yourselves,” Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton told the volunteers. “You’re here to better other people’s lives. I congratulate you for your commitment to humanity.”
Each year, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties helps identify homeowners who need plumbing assistance, and Dayton presented CAP staff member Marcy Paulson with an award recognizing the agency’s contribution to “Water’s Off.”
“Water’s Off” started in the Twin Cities in 1994 and is now a national volunteer program.
“We’ve been through some tough times in the Building Trades, but the room was just as full then as it is today,” said Harry Melander, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council. “This is the type of stuff we need to keep doing so people understand what the Building Trades really are about.”
Gov. Mark Dayton presented Marcy Paulson of Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington County with an award honoring the agency’s contribution to Water’s Off.
Union Advocate 
Great post. I’m dealing with some of these issues as well..