OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE !! WELL DONE, ALL OF YOU

PERSONAL:

I am still putting the “DO NOT PATRONIZE THE VANCOUVER COLUMBIAN NEWSPAPER” information (phone numbers and email addresses) on the front page.

They need to hear our voices: Scott Campbell, Publisher
360-735-4500
scott.campbell@columbian.com
Lou Brancaccio, Editor
360-735-4505
lou.brancaccio@columbian.com
Circulation
360-694-2312
circulation@columbian.com

Be respectful, but tell them why you are contacting them.

Now back to my regular blog:

I awoke this morning at 7:30am after 9+ hours of sleep to a 3. I took my am pills and it is supposed to be a nice day, maybe even nice enough for golf, but I have that 290 proposal meeting at the Convention Center this morning. I checked the birdseed on the west deck, and it was all gone. I put just a little out and a few showed up. I will be clearing much of my blog again today. I did keep the do not Patronize The Vancouver Columbian. but no report on the scheduled PLA meetings with PPS & PCC. I will repeat again; That ALL the MCA contractors offer's were absurd but it has succeeded in uniting the membership. If there are ANY CONTRACTOR PEOPLE READING THIS BLOG I WILL TELL YOU ALL AGAIN, YOU HAVE SUCSEEDED IN UNITING THE 290 MEMBERSHIP, which was proven by the votes taken today.

Don't forget the March of Dimes walk for Babies on April 30th in Vancouver for sister Clare Schropshire, as we all know, I will not be able to walk but I will make every attempt to be there in support of her efforts and as soon as I get her team web page I will share with everyone. Join us if you can.

I will put the prayer to St. Jude in here again for all our 290 brothers that have come before and built this organization into the organization I am so proud to have been a member of for almost 40 years.

** For those brothers and sisters that are no longer with us. **

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 sister Danni, sister Clare, 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:

It's still not to late to register and get started with fund raising, donate to a walker (WALLY'S WALKERS), (6 days until the walk) or find out about other 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 and it has been noticeable to others also. My BP was 128/82/65 at 6:15pm today. After I got my last “explanation of benefits” as it said, 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?? When I turned in my latest Lloyd Center Pharmacy receipt it was for my LDN and I did finally get the “denial”, and it appeared they were blaming Medicare, so I guess we have to kill a few more tree's. I have a full briefcase just of my Kaiser stuff that doesn’t include the dozens of email's between Kaiser, my Doctor's, Lou and the attorney and I guess I better get it all organized, as I did get the appeal letter from the trust attorney, and I have to send him my “appointment of representative” form he he sent.

POLITICAL:

DON'T FORGET THE NWOLC BREAKFAST WITH CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER – RSVP 503-235-9444 and as I understand it Mayor Sam has been invited to one on APRIL 21st, and I really want to make that one also.

I am so proud of my congressman, EARL BLUMENHAUER; for telling that farce oversight committee, supposedly charged with oversight of (I think) of Medicare and Social Security, instead used their "powers" to attack that welknown anti-senior organization called AARP.

I have a question for my republican friends; When I put my money in the bank and then draw it out, do YOU consider that an entitlement? HMMMN?? I also received an email to sign on a petition for a NEW CONSTITUTIONAL AMMENDMENT that would require Congress to live under the same laws they pass for the rest of us; I signed on to the petition immediately.

It appears that the House decided to, throw the baby out with the bath water and voted to kill the affordable housing programs; SCROOGES, every damn one of them, including a few democrats!!

MY MOST IMPORTANT SECTION STILL!!

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, Due back stateside soon but; IT APPEARS THAT NEPHEW RHYON WILL BE HEADED BACK IN MAY, so a prayer a day for both, from all my readers would sure make me feel better.

ONE RIBBON STILL UP, FOR CHRISTOPHER; my new face book friend, 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; and I am looking forward to your NWOLC breakfast to be able to personally thank you.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE OREGON MILITARY SUPPORT NETWORK.

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:

Our last meeting was dominated by the “Unite Ireland” issue and I did remember my camera and was lucky enough get Rita's “autograph” on my February photo. I didn't get the names down for my 15 year AOH picture yet; but I did get a few new photo's. I did tell cousin Jim he should have been there when it was taken, and that it was the AOH that Built St. Francis Church in SE Portland, which just happens to be the official church of the Neil Kelly award winners; WELL DONE TOM. (interesting factoid; That was also the church that my #2 W.O.W. Woman, who accompanied Judi and I on our trip to Ireland; attended and was married in; Dianna PAULEY McCoy, whose Birthday is coming up April 19th) I have found out that the first Monahan that showed up on any U. S. past history was an Ann Monahan who arrived in New York on April 5, 1848 aboard the ship “Waterloo,” at the time of the famine, and in 2 day's it will have been 163 years, I'm not sure where you will be, or what you will be doing, but good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I will be giving her her Dew at the “Dubliner west” at 4:30pm pacific daylight time, and those brothers that will be at the “Dubliner” east will raise a toast to that very brave woman. ONE OF MY HERO'S! At my last count we may have close to a dozen celebrating at KELLS, I better forewarn Jared tomorrow. I also found out from Uncle Larry that I have a cousin in Olympia, Washington who is writing a book and I will try to share as much information as I can and I facebooked Larry's daughter and asked her to send me her email address (no response yet) so I could share with her; at least until Larry's son springs for a new computer for his dad. ;-)

I also want to report that Uncle Hank has returned from the hospital and emailed me and I understand he is doing better, all prayers are still appreciated.

While the Montana AOH received a Governors Proclamation with a 3 day celebration on their 125th anniversary; WE had a wonderful address by THE RITA O'HARE. Our City Council will be doing a very good proclamation and I do plan to try to make that Council meeting. And when and if I make the Mayor Sam NWOLC Breakfast I hope to be able to thank him personally. Now I still have to find an appropriate frame and after last the dinner I will probably be heading downtown to Kathleen's of Ireland to look for an appropriate frame. As I understand it the picture from our February meeting should be in the next issue of the AOH Newspaper and maybe then I will get all the names for my picture. Thank You Ann Monahan for you bravery.

I still think we need a few OREGONIANS on Father McManus's “Congressional Friends” list. We must never forget the Ballymurphy Massacre of 1971, (40 years searching for justice) and we need to realize along with a number of Irish Catholic's, including a priest, that were assassinated that day there were also a number of Northern Irish Protestants. This battle for justice that is being waged here in the U.S.A. by father McManus is also being waged in Belfast Northern Ireland by a heroic Belfast protestant named Raymond McCord Sr., whose son was also assassinated. His book will be available on Amazon and I am going to try to get a direct link with the help of wife Judith; our own personal Amazon book distributor. You also might be interested to know that the book launch and a book signing will be held at the Phoenix Park Hotel on May Day in Washington D.C.; a hotel I have been to many times as you know by now and it is above one of my favorite D.C. Drinking establishments in Washington; THE DUBLINER !! (which I have always considered KELL'S EAST.)

SPORTS:

Blazer's at home tonight and they should clinch a playoff position.

I did see where the Oregon M.S. Chapter is putting together a fund raiser game with the Blazers, I'm just not sure when.

I did see that the Portland Timbers are selling individual tickets, I believe at very reasonable prices.

It appears that we are in for some nice golf weather so I can get out and practice.

I am sure glad the baseball preseason is over. I will also be checking for familiar faces if I am lucky enough to get the Orioles game next week, just in case there is a delegation from the Oregon B.T. at Camden Yards.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS & CHARITIES:

Don't forget the March of Dimes Walk on April 30th in Vancouver, for Clara Schropshires team.

You still have time, donate to a walker, “WALLY'S WALKERS”, or find out about volunteer opportunities, at www.walkmsoregon.com. Thank You, Ed and Luanne Barnes, Lynn Lehrbach and Lori Vaughn for getting me started. AND ALSO THE MEMBERS of LOCAL 290, THE NORTHWEST OREGON LABOR COUNCIL, AND BROTHER PAUL RIGGS AND THE CPBT FOR THEIR VERY GENEROUS DONATIONS.

I found the updated 2011 BULL SESSION website. ( http://www.bullsessioncharity.com ) While I still haven't gone there yet myself, I did get their 2011 letter and booklet. REMEMBER – IT'S FOR THE KIDS ! 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; now more than ever. We must not take our eye off that MAIN issue, our two Senators haven't; E.F.C.A. And based on what I have been seeing and 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.

LOCAL UNION REPORT:

I did make the meeting today and we did give the negotiation committee all the tools they need !

My blog may be a little hard to follow (so THAT'S new :-P) because I will be “working to the rule” because I am still on strike.

Thanks again to all my Sisters and Brothers for electing me to attend this years International Convention, and I think I will have a co-driver for the trip.

OTHER STUFF AND COMMUNICATIONS:

I did get my new supply of “Business Cards” from Hollywood Impress and here is the link for all you Politico's that need a “BUG” on your STUFF. www.himpress.com I have used them for decades and they have ALWAYS met my needs. I am promoting them; not selling for them.

MICK, BOB, RON, and JIM, who appears to be recovering nicely from his knee replacement surgery, and CHRISTOPHER, stay positive.

WITH COUSIN JIM AND FRANCES'S WEDDING ON JULY 30TH and the convention being August 8TH to the 12TH I hope to start my drive the 3RD or 4TH to at least get in a visit in with Uncle Larry; it is sure shaping up to be a very busy summer.

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 6 pages, and under 2,600 words today, I think.