Bill Van Loo has served
as M.E.B.A.'s Secretary-Treasurer since 2006. He is a
third-generation member who graduated from the Calhoon
M.E.B.A. Engineering School in 1983 and shipped out for
17 years. As an engineer he shipped out on freighters,
tankers and containerships calling on ports in Europe,
South America, Asia, Africa and North America. He holds
a Chief Engineers License.
He was a key cog in a
rank and file push to solidify the Union’s democracy in
the early 1990s. His hands-on approach and attentiveness
has resonated with the membership which has validated
his candidacy for office in every election since 2001.
Members first ushered Bill into office a decade ago as
the Union’s Branch Agent in Baltimore then re-elected
him three years later. His ability to multi-task, his
contract savvy and experience along with a strong work
ethic made him the natural choice to ascend to the
District Executive Committee – the Union’s governing
body – in 2006. He has also served as a Delegate at five
National M.E.B.A. Conventions.
Bill has been very
involved with local labor and maritime associations and
his knack for political networking is paying dividends
at HQ which is located at the foot of Capitol Hill. He
also heads up M.E.B.A.’s Political Action Fund.
Bill
harbors deep connections with M.E.B.A.’s School in
Easton, MD where he, his wife Vicky and daughter Ali
reside. He founded the Calhoon Alumni Association and
championed the project to build the beautiful new
Memorial Park on School grounds that honors fallen
merchant mariners. He is also Chairman of the M.E.B.A.
Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation.
