Photo courtesy of British Columbia 525M

Retired British Columbia 525M Pres. Robert Jennings, left, receives congratulations from Brian Cormier, the local's new president during a retirement party in Jennings' honor. At center is Jennings' wife Marlene.

"If I had it to do over again, I'd do exactly the same thing."

There are few people lucky enough to make that conclusion on the occasion of their retirement. Robert Jennings, president of British Columbia 525M for 26 years, is one of those fortunate enough to have found his calling and enjoyed his career.

"Never did I not want to get up and go to work," Jennings said, "whether working in the trade or doing this job. The job satisfaction was great. It's been a great time. I've enjoyed it. I can't even call it work. It becomes part of your life."

Jennings said he reached the decision to retire because he "thought it was time for a change. I felt comfortable with it, and I felt there were other people quite capable of doing the job. I had some things I needed to do, and I got those done. I didn't want to leave in the middle of a term, so I decided it was time."

He said he will continue to do volunteer work with the local. "I'll be there if they need me. But I want my successor Brian Cormier to feel comfortable in the job."

Jennings joined the union in 1956 as an apprentice photoengraver finisher. Originally a member of Photoengravers Local 54, Jennings was chairman of the merger by-laws committee that helped complete the merger in 1964 with Lithographers Local 44 to create a new Lithographers and Photoengravers (LPIU) Local 210. Later mergers with the Bookbinders led to the creation of the Graphic Arts International Union in 1972 and the GCIU in 1983.

Jennings served on the local's executive board from 1960 to 1974, when he became a full-time local organizer. He was elected president in 1975 and held that post until his retirement.

At the International level, Jennings served on the GAIU International Council and the GCIU General Board and was active at International conventions since 1978. He was a trustee for the GCIU Supplemental Retirement and Disability Fund and chaired the Pacific Regional Conference. He served as an executive council member for the British Columbia Federation of Labour and as a member of the provincial apprenticeship board.

Jennings said he is "going to enjoy retirement thoroughly. I plan on doing a lot of things I don't get to do enough of now. I plan on spending a lot of time with my four grandchildren, a lot of skiing, traveling and maybe improve my golf game a little bit. That won't be hard – it was pretty bad."

He said he and his wife Marlene already have a trip planned to Australia and hope to go to France and Italy.

For the International and local, Jennings said: "I just hope they have every success in improving the lives of members and their families. That's what we're all about."