STAND WITH WISCONSIN TOMORROW AND MARCH 7th

PERSONAL:

I awoke this morning at 7am, after 8+ hours of sleep to a 3. I checked the south deck and it was just at freezing, with that snow, hail mix. I took my am pills, including my stop smoking one. I checked the west deck and the birdseed was covered with the snow/hail mix. I did call friend Brent Barton to ask him about getting some help from the Bar to help with getting the apprentices we commit to training to the next level; Construction Contractor. He did make a few suggestions and he said he will email me with some suggestions. I did call sister Danni and told her that brother Marty's B.D. Party is this Saturday night. I did make the PCC meeting at Jim Francesconi's office Tuesday and I thought it went well; there were a lot of good ideas floated. It was sure good to see him and the others again, especially Donna and she did tell me that Yusef was leaving for Guatemala City at the end of March for Americorps and could still use some assistance. Yusuf Word is in Americorps, and trying to get to Guatemala in Central America and spread the GOOD WORD about the U.S.A. (You can help by donating to him at 1825 S. Stevens St. Apt. 13 – Tacoma, Washington 98405.

I will take this opportunity to inform all about those “RALLY”S” scheduled by the OAFL-CIO:

My Brothers and Sisters:

The time has come for Oregon’s union movement to come together and make our voices heard as we stand in solidarity with workers in the Midwest who could lose their right to collectively bargain.

Join us at Director Park on Friday, February 25th at 4:00pm for a solidarity rally to show our embattled brothers and sisters across the nation that we are all in this together.
Director Park is located on Park Avenue in downtown Portland between southwest Taylor and Yamhill.

This is a short notice event. If you cannot attend, please come to the Rally for Jobs on Monday, March 7th. We will be meeting on the steps of the Capitol Building in Salem at noon. Transportation will be provided from Portland and details will be announced soon about where you can find buses to Salem.
I hope to see all of you on Friday. Wear red to show unity with workers everywhere.

It does appear they are organizing some buses so keep in touch with your local. I don't think it will quite be the Madison Wisconsin one, but one never knows?
I did hear Uncle Hank was back in the hospital so I would still ask all to include him in your prayers. I did add that new section; “AOH” to combine the various Irish statements and thoughts in a single section.

I am do hope weather cooperates for the life celebration of brother Gary Neibert this Sunday the 27th at 1pm at the hall and I hope to make it, and I also hate to have to report on the passing of 290 Brother Bob Barnett, please add him and his family to your prayers also.

I will now make another pitch for support for my election to our Internationals National Convention. I do want to keep my record intact of making every National Convention I have been eligible for since I joined the United Association. And please don't forget to register at the M.S. Walk Oregon for “WALLY'S WALKERS”, THANK YOU NORTHWEST OREGON LABOR COUNCIL FOR YOUR VERY GENEROUS DONATION, AND THANK YOU PAUL RIGGS and the CPBT for YOUR VERY GENEROUS DONATION.

I will put the prayer to St. Jude in here again for 290 brothers Richard Hopkins (Hoppy), Gary Neibert, Bob Barnett and the families of the Tucson shootings so please add them to your prayers also.

** For Brothers Hopkins, Neibert, Barnett and the Tuscon families **

Prayer to St. Jude for Eternal Life
You are my solace, St. Jude, in the face of loss and sorrow. I pray that you will guide my heart away from the darkness of fear and into the light of Christ. May the hope that St. Jude keeps alive in my heart be a source of comfort to all those who grieve. For in that hope, we know God's mercy, and we trust God's promise of eternal life. My soul longs for the fullness of life, which is only to be revealed when I meet my Maker in heaven. Stay by my side, St. Jude, so that my soul will always know the power of your healing love. Amen.

God grant that I may live to fish until my dying day, And when it comes to my last cast, I then must humbly pray. When in the Lord's safe landing net I'm peacefully asleep, that in His mercy, I be judged............Good enough to keep.

**** My daily prayer, is to Mary Mother of God…..”O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today. For cousin Mick, uncle Hank, nephew Arron, Kelli's Mom, good friend Ron Wyden, good family friend Pat Percin, brothers Jimmy Judge, and Gerry Bruce, sister Donna and those who are having health issues; protecting Christopher and Rhyon and all in need. We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your care and intercession, those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help ALL of us, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever, Amen.”

I know I have been repeating things, apparently too much, on my blog; but some of this stuff I need to be reminded of and some of this stuff others need to be reminded of.

KAISER AND M.S. REPORT:

I did get our request off to the 290 E-board for the M.S. Walk. To register and get started with fund raising, donate to a walker (WALLY'S WALKERS), or find out about volunteer opportunities, visit www.walkmsoregon.com.

This is also my attempt to keep track of my experiences with Kaiser Permanente and my Neurologist and his RN. So far with the Ampyra and the 4.5mg LDN, I think I'm noticeably better. My BP is 118/76/73 at 1pm today. After I got an “explanation of benefits” this is not a bill but in the billed amount was $84.10 ( exactly the LDN amount) in the next column was the allowed amount of $84.10, the member responsibility was 0.00, Kaiser paid 0.00; if the member responsibility was 0.00 WHY DID IT COST ME $84.10?? It sounds like the trust attorney is trying to get to the bottom of it and I did get an email from him yesterday and apparently I am supposed to get a call from someone higher up the food chain. I did clean a little off of my “nest” here on my Lazyboy and I have a full briefcase just of my Kaiser stuff. I will remind everyone that I WILL be taking action with Kaiser Member services, if and when I need to.

POLITICAL:

I did receive a letter of request from Senator John Kerry for a donation to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and if you take action before March 31st your donation will be matched. I have an envelope and while I can't do too much I will do something. (you can online at www.dscc.org/vision (remember CORPORATIONS ARE NOW CONSIDERED PEOPLE) and we have 2 friends; right here in river city; that can be helped by this Committee, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WASHINTON) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OREGON). Don't let these seats become “Walmart seats”.
www.credo.com has a petition to tell the republicans in congress, who HAVE government health care, what the republicans like to call “Obamacare”; to give it up if they are so bent on taking it away from the 30+ million AMERICANS now covered under the new Health Care Law. I hate to report now that I watched the House of Representatives vote to not allow the IRS to spend any money on the new health care bill. “I GOT MINE” They also are trying to help the Wisconsin 14, Chris Larson, and his fellow Democratic senators, are literally working to evade capture by state police in order to prevent this radical attack on public workers. He's asked for Credo Support and they deserve it, you can find out more at their website; click above.

Another issue that concerns me with this NEW congress is the “SPENDING CUTS” they are considering, and it seems at the TOP of the list is “entitlement” spending. One of the talking heads shows said entitlement spending (social security, Medicare?) makes up for 84% of federal spending, does that mean that the D.O.D. Budget with 2+ wars, and interest on the current National Debt only accounts for 16%. I do think they may have it backwards. I have a question for my republican friends; When I put my money in the bank and then draw it out, would YOU consider that an entitlement? HMMMN??

MY MOST IMPORTANT SECTION!!

YELLOW RIBBON SECTION:

A PROGRAM THAT IS ALSO LOOKING FOR HELP: LETS BRING EM HOME !!

http://www.lbeh.org/

Don't forget to say THANK YOU, to all those servicemen and women who have served or are serving.

NEPHEW CHRISTOPHER IS STILL IN AFGHANISTAN, DAMN; AND IT APPEARS THAT NEPHEW RHYON WILL BE HEADED BACK. So a prayer a day for them from all my readers would sure make me feel better.

ONE RIBBON STILL UP, FOR CHRISTOPHER, AND WHEN RHYON GETS REDEPLOYED, HIS RIBBON WILL GO BACK UP.

DON'T FORGET, THE SOFT LANDING BILL, and thank you SENATOR PATTY MURRAY and CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER for helping with it.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE OREGON MILITARY SUPPORT NETWORK, I DID INFORM SENATOR PATTY MURRAY OF OUR EFFORTS.

If you are flying the American Flag, please keep flying it until ALL our Troops return home.

At the 11th Hour, on the 11th Day, of the 11th Month a cease fire was signed to end the war to end all wars in 1918. How's that worked out so far?

AOH REPORT:

I received my latest AOH NEWSPAPER and I want to congratulate the Anaconda, Montana AOH Division 1 on their 125th anniversary and point out that the Montana State President, Tom Pahut, is my cousin and the Division 1 brothers carrying the AOH banner on the first page of my blog are direct decedents of my Grandfather, also pictured on the first page “John L. Monahan”. And I did tell cousin Jim he should have been there and that it was the AOH that Built St. Francis Church in SE Portland. (interesting factoid; That was the church that my #2 W.O.W. Woman attended and was married in; Dianna PAULEY McCoy.)

I also need to report that Uncle Hank has returned to the hospital, and all prayers appreciated.

While the Montana AOH received a Governors Proclamation with a 3 day celebration on their 125th anniversary; It appears our Mayor will be doing a proclamation instead of the AOH resolution and I hope to be able to make that Council meeting.

SPORTS:

Well the All Star break is over and that the week off should have helped the banged up Blazers but based on that Laker Game they could have used a little more time. I did see where the Oregon M.S. Chapter is putting together a fund raiser game with the Blazers.

I sure hope baseball pre-season gets here soon.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS & CHARITIES:

Lets get started with fundraising, donate to a walker, “WALLY'S WALKERS”, or find out about volunteer opportunities, visit www.walkmsoregon.com. Thank You, Ed and Luanne Barnes, Lynn Lehrbach and Lori Vaughn for getting me started. AND ALSO THE MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS OF THE NORTHWEST OREGON LABOR COUNCIL, AND BROTHER PAUL RIGGS AND THE CPBT FOR THAT VERY GENEROUS DONATION, and I do hope U.A. 290 acts favorably again this year.

I'm still trying to find the updated 2011 BULL SESSION website, without any luck. I did speak with Jim Moss and he told me they had a board meeting and he said that Pack West was reworking the Website to allow for a payment plan for the Tournament and Dinner-Auction, I still haven't called Paul, but I will share it as soon as I get it. THANK YOU JIM ! AND THANK YOU ALSO TO THE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 290 FOR YOUR VERY GENEROUS DONATION. ALL HELP APPRECIATED.

The American Rights at Work still needs help. We must not take our eye off that MAIN issue, our two Senators haven't; E.F.C.A. It is very disappointing that it was not lame duck accomplishment, especially in light of the ongoing protests in Wisconsin, and the mine disaster in West Virginia and those Rig explosions in the Gulf. I do think that both Senator Robert Byrd and Paul Wellstone are rolling over in their graves. And based on what I have been hearing the Republican's have Organized Labor directly in their cross hairs at least for the next 2 years.

The U.A. Local 290 “Don Salee” Member Assistance Program.

OTHER STUFF AND COMMUNICATIONS:

MICK, BOB , RON, JIM and CHRISTOPHER, stay positive and we will meet on the golf course (but I'm not sure if Ron even Plays) but I will take it easy on all of you. I also talked to good friend Scott Gardner and he wants to get together for some golf. I also heard from good friend and brother Joe McCarthy and he is going in for surgery on his rotator cuff, but as soon as he is well we will get out also.

May love and laughter light your days
And warm your heart and homes
May good and faithful friends be yours wherever you may roam
May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures
May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours

Whether you attend a church service, a Mosque, GLBT gathering, or Synagogue service, please say a prayer that God; yours, mine or ours; keeps our service men and women in the Palm of their hand.

Mike; My blog, is over 5 pages, and under 2,700 words today, I think.