Between grueling work schedules and dedicating weeks to grassroots community canvassing, finding a moment to pause can feel nearly impossible for union leadership and members alike. Local 663 President and Business Manager Jason Mendenhall admits he tends to be ultra-practical. But thanks to an enthusiastic executive board and a push to think outside the box, the local recently traded the daily grind for a day of pure fun.
This spring, Local 663 hosted its premier Blueprint for Balance (B4B)-sponsored members’ night out at Main Event in Independence, Missouri. It proved to be a massive success, bringing together hundreds of members and their families for an afternoon of community building, bowling, arcades and great food.
For many locals, the logistics of organizing a massive gathering can be daunting. However, Local 663’s leadership discovered that partnering with an established entertainment venue made the process incredibly seamless.
“This was just about as easy as it could get, truly,” Jason shared, noting that the entire event was organized in five or fewer site visits with the Main Event staff. The venue handled food and drinks and provided logistical support. They even generated a custom RSVP system and registration QR codes.
To get the word out, Local 663 utilized their regional texting service to spread the word to their entire membership base. Paired with flyers distributed on jobsites, the response was overwhelming. Initial registrations even spiked to over 600 RSVPs.
Ultimately, the night out reminded everyone of the power of brotherhood and sisterhood outside of the jobsite. As Jason puts it, “there needs to be a time that we just get together, let the kids run around… and just really, truly start building true community.”
Field Representative Josh Schmidt emphasized this message, noting that the true value of the night was restoring a sense of tight-knit community within the ranks.
“The children were everywhere,” Josh said. “It was the perfect timing to have a family-oriented event… it was like this ‘come home’ type moment for us.”
While the focus was on fun, the event also served as a valuable touchpoint. As members walked in, they filled out surveys to spark member-to-member conversations and signed active local initiative petitions before heading off to the arcade.
The event also acted as a springboard for a larger conversation on member wellness. Local 663 distributed B4B water bottles and towels, prompting a discussion on how the union can better support the health, nutrition and physical fitness of its workforce.
Josh pointed out that for a workforce with a reputation for being rough around the edges, traditional wellness messaging can sometimes fall flat. Moving forward, the Local is working with the B4B team to explore ways to introduce wellness resources directly into monthly union meetings. There is also a strong push to target resources toward members’ spouses, who often drive the nutrition and lifestyle habits of the entire household.
To optimize attendance, Jason plans to take advantage of the unique pros and cons of each season and really think about what kind of events his membership would appreciate. For instance, he explained that hosting the event during early spring drove more attendance because it provided people with a reprieve from the cold weather. While standard union picnics on hot summer afternoons can be tough for working families to attend, this family-oriented event offered an attractive alternative.
For more information or help hosting an event like this at your Local, reach out to the B4B team at B4B@lhsfna.org.Â
[Hannah Sabitoni]
