MECHANICS COMPETITION 2012
WINNER ANNOUNCED: Congratulations to Brian Soika, the new champ and Local 12 Mechanic of the Year!
On January 22, 2011 the first annual Mechanics Competition of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 12 was held. The purpose of the competition was to prove who the best Mechanic of Local 12 is. The Mechanics who competed were Bobby “The Magician” Musap, it has been said when you see Bobby’s final product at work you, it is so good that he must be using magic to make it look that good, Zachary “Zeus” Moran, legend has it that Zach’s mechanical capabilities are like that of the Greek god Zeus, Rick “The Perfectionist” Petersen, those of you who have worked with Rick, know that he will settle for nothing less than perfection, Tom “Terrific” Soika, when it comes to insulating everything Tom does is terrific, Brian “Quality is Job One” Soika, everyone knows that Brian attacks his work with the main objective of providing quality craftsmanship, “Sensational” Segundo Sanango, everything Segundo does is sensational, Luis A. “The A Stands for Awesome” Guallpa, those who have seen Luis’s work summarize it in one word – awesome, and of course the winner of the 2011 Mechanics Competition Kevin “Kid Salamander” Soika.
Kevin “Kid Salamander” Soika is everything you want in a Heat and Frost Insulators Local 12 Mechanic. Kevin is proud to be a member of Local 12 and he takes pride in his work. He is dedicated to making himself the best Mechanic he can be and it clearly shows in his finished product. Kevin not only does excellent work but he does it fast as well. Legend has it that when Kevin was born, before the doctor could cut the umbilical cord, Kevin grabbed the scissors and cut the cord with such precision that he impressed the doctor much like he impresses his fellow Local 12 members with his precise cuts with his shears. At a very young age it was clear that Kevin had not only a special talent to be an excellent Mechanic but he had the desire as well. It is rumored that when Kevin was only five years old his mother Maryanne could not find him one day. She panicked because as all the kids in the neighborhood were playing in the Soika’s backyard, Kevin was nowhere to be found. Finally she called Dave and he rushed home from work, only to find Kevin in the basement insulating the hot water heater, hence the nickname Kid Salamander was born. When in school while other kids were telling their teachers they wanted to grow up and become the President of the United States, Kevin “Kid Salamander” Soika was saying that he wanted to become the General President of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers. When other kids were asking for GI Joes for Christmas, Kevin was asking Santa for a Dexter knife. While other kids wanted a part time job or a paper route Kevin “Kid Salamander” Soika was trying to figure out how he could work on permit for the summer for Local 12. Finally his time came in the year 2000 and he became a member of Local 12. Since then he has dedicated himself every single day to being the best Local 12 Union Member and Mechanic that he can possibly be. To make himself stronger Kevin “Kid Salamander” Soika pushes the Thomas J. Donnelly work van from Riverhead to Manhattan every day. To make himself quicker Kevin “Kid Salamander” Soika chases a grease pig around his back yard every day. The bottom line his dedication knows no bounds.
So if you have the courage to put your money where your mouth is and challenge Kevin “Kid Salamander”, the Heavyweight Champ of Heat and Frost Insulators Local 12 on January 14, 2012 at the Union Hall, contact Al Wassell at 718-784-8883 or email him at al@insulatorslocal12.com. The entry fee is $30.00; $15.00 goes toward the prize of the winner of the contest and $15.00 goes toward donations for sick members. All members are invited to attend. A $15.00 donation is requested at the door and all of the collected money will go toward donations for sick members. The competitors must be at the Union Hall by 6:30 AM and the competition will start at 7:00 AM. The competition will go from 7:00 AM through 3:30 PM.
So on January 14, 2011 come one come all to see the brawl for it all at the Union Hall. The winner will be announce at the February 1, 2012 Union Meeting.
