USW Local 2-232

formerly PACE 7-232

Representing  employees at Briggs & Stratton Corp. and Strattec Security Corp. in Milwaukee, WI

Season's Greetings 

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Membership Meeting 

Sunday January 18, 2009

Frank Monreal's El Matador

9155 W. Bluemound Rd. Milwaukee 

9:30a.m.

Nomination and Election will take place for Recording Secretary to fill the vacancy of Karen Clark, who is retiring January 1, 2009

Nominations will take place for the following positions:

Trustee at Large, Strattec Grievance Rep, Briggs Grievance Rep, 2 Briggs Bargaining Committee Members

   Members are urged to Attend this Meeting.

Union Member organizes fun afternoon at circus for special kids each year for 35 years

by Scott Godshaw

Jerry Behrens

Jerry Behrens, a Briggs & Stratton employee since 1976, is a big man. He is as big in the heart department as he is in stature! Every year for over 35 years now he has been responsible for organizing a fun-filled afternoon for special children and adults alike to the Shrine Circus!

The tradition started when he took his daughter Deanne, born developmentally handicapped, and a few of her friends to the Circus. Behrens says of his daughter, now 38; “I’m blessed by this child! I’m in awe of this child! She is the happiest child I have!”

The event, which now has approximately 1800 special people attending with tickets donated entirely by the Shrine Circus, has only just begun! Behrens would like to see 10,000 special people fill the Arena! The special kids used to come from ARC, a United Way agency, formerly known as The Association for Retarded Children, now known as The Association for Retarded Citizens. Today, people from agencies all across Southeastern Wisconsin, including The Ranch, Jackson Center, Lutheran Social Services, Threshold in West Bend and others are invited to share in the magical afternoon at the Circus.

“I want everybody that can go to the Circus, to be able to go! I want to reach everybody! I’m a religious person. God meant for me to do this. I never publicize this unless the special handicapped children benefit from this and reap the rewards.

“I’m a little selfish. My reward is that I get to see their faces light up when they watch the Circus! I live to see their smiling faces! My enjoyment is seeing their faces”, Behrens adds excitedly with a gleam in his eye.