District Council 50’s Retirees’ Club President and Painters Local Union 1791 member Robert “Bob” Ha must have wondered why he had received a personal invitation from IUPAT General President James A. Williams to attend the 2009 IUPAT General Convention in Las Vegas.  Sure, he and Jimmy Williams had become friends over the years, but why the invite?  In the middle of the convention, Hawaii’s Bob Ha realized he was being honored as the first winner of the “Retiree of the Year Award.”  The prestigious James A. Williams Bridge Builder Award was IUPAT’s way of honoring the many years of loyalty and service that Bob Ha has given to our union.  In an unrehearsed, yet perfect acceptance speech, Bob congratulated General President Williams and his Executive Board on their re-election and thanked them for the honor.  So next time you see Bob Ha at any of our District Council meetings, please be sure to congratulate him.