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First-time Convention delegate experiences Boilermaker passion

Kaitlyn “Goose” Machmer

KAITLYN “GOOSE” MACHMER from Local 196 (Sayre, Pennsylvania), a first-time delegate to the 33rd Consolidated Convention July 18-21, said her first convention was an inspirational learning event. Machmer, who works as a carman at Union Tank Car in Altoona, Pennsylvania, attended the convention after her local’s president was unable to make the trip.

“It’s an eye-opener,” she said. “Some of the speakers are very motivating.”

Machmer said the passion she saw in the delegates surprised her, and that she was excited to go home and tell everyone about the experience.

If given the opportunity, she’d attend convention again, she said. “There’s so much compacted into a little time. It’s hard to pick one thing that stands out, but I learned that the Boilermakers are huge. I had no idea the different kinds of shops [that are] represented,” she said. “[One shop] even makes golf balls. That is cool.”