Retired Carpenter Looks to Local Carpenter Union for Assistance

Retired-Carpenter-Looks-to-Local-Carpenter-Union-for-AssistanceMembers of the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC) recently constructed a wheelchair ramp for the wife of a former IKORCC member.

After 44 years of service in the IKORCC, Roy Ruehl retired from Local Union 1005 in 1991. During his time with the Carpenter’s Union, Ruehl frequently volunteered his time and talents to help people in the community. Knowing that the IKORCC is very involved in the community, he requested a wheelchair ramp on the outside of his house to accommodate his wife.

Eight members from Locals 599, 1005 and 1485 - and one of the member’s sons - volunteered to build the ramp, completing it during the first week of July. Most of the materials used were donated, and Ruehl picked up the remaining costs.

“It’s great to be able to help out a fellow IKORCC member,” said Dale Newlin, IKORCC Treasurer. “The IKORCC is one big family, and we look out for one another. Roy was very involved in volunteer work during his time in the IKORCC, and this was our opportunity to say thank you to him for all of the hard work he put in during his 44 years of service.”

“It is a blessing to have this ramp,” said Ruehl. “The winter was really hard on my wife. To see her outside of the house and utilizing the ramp is great. I want to thank Dale for getting the project moving and the carpenters who helped install the ramp.”

The Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters represents more than 32,000 professional tradespeople in 43 locals in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and parts of West Virginia and Tennessee. A proud affiliate of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, which has a century-plus tradition of representing the best of the building trades, the council works in partnership with more than 30,000 contractors, helping them find the best possible talent for their projects. The hallmark of the regional council is three-fold: training, professionalism and partnerships for economic development.