Record heat didn’t stop Local 601, 602, 901 and 902 members from showing up for Labor Day Picnic In the Park

Brats, buns, beans and snowcones for 200. Check. Volleyballs. Check. Bean bags. Check. Cornhole boards. Check. Live music. Check. 

Record heatwave. Not planned. 

Local 601 Membership Secretary Sharrilyn Helgertz was the lead organizer for a Labor Day Picnic In the Park with not only Local 601 but also 602, 901 and 902 members last Saturday. “We wanted to highlight Labor Day because it is our holiday and bring together MAPE members to celebrate the good work they’re doing for the state of Minnesota,” Helgertz said. 

More than 70 members and their families showed up for the Labor Day weekend holiday picnic at Carver Lake Park in Woodbury. “Face painting was extremely popular and the games were a big hit,” Helgertz said. There was a cornhole tournament with cash prizes and volleyball and bocce ball were also available to play.   

The event was scheduled from 11 a.m. until five p.m. But with a record high of nearly 100 degrees people cleared out by mid-afternoon. “We had a live band set to play starting at four o’clock so they played to those of us left cleaning up and putting things away,” Helgertz joked. “Because it was so hot, people just didn’t have the stamina to do all of the activities we had planned for them.”  

Helgertz, who said she “got to meet a lot of people,” added she would happily plan another picnic with the other locals on Labor Day weekend “but, hopefully, it won’t be as hot next time.”       

Local 601 Membership Secretary Helgertz said her local enjoys getting together socially and giving back to the community. “We wanted to bring people together and engage them on what matters to them. We kept coming up with more and more ideas so we had to limit ourselves to one event a quarter, two social events and two service events for the year.” The group has participated in events like MAPE Cares where they made  Valentines cards for seniors and assembled hygiene packages for other Minnesotans and member appreciation events like food or a round of golf at Can Can Wonderland and enjoying apples at a nearby orchard.