LOCAL 290 DOES NEED A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZING COMMITEE, I'LL VOLUNTEER

PERSONAL & PROPAGANDA:

I am still putting the “DO NOT PATRONIZE THE VANCOUVER COLUMBIAN NEWSPAPER” information (phone numbers and email addresses) here at the beginning.

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 slept in this morning until 7am and awoke to a 3+ after 9+- hours of sleep, with no lower back pain even though I didn't sleep on my lazy boy. I took my am pills, and put out my flag. I checked the west deck and there was plenty of bird seed left. I checked my email and made a suggestion to the our 290 group to restart an organizing program I had much fun with many years ago. I did get to Senator Wyden's office last Thursday and delivered my briefcase full of stuff from Kaiser, Social Security, Medicare, and gave Barbara the full package that sister Danni got in order for me and I also gave her the synopsis I made up of my trials and tribulations with all of them. It was a beautiful day, for picketing; or golf; but alas my meeting at Senator Wyden's office was more important and, even though I smothered myself in biofreeze and took a very hot shower, the few hours with Barbara I was maxed out. THANK'S AGAIN BARBARA! Senator Wyden's staff now has all that Kaiser stuff in some sort of order. I did also get an email from my AOH brothers and we will collectively get a condolence off to City Commissioner Randy's office; Randy Leonard's daughter committed suicide on Mother's day and I would ask all to say a prayer for him and his family. I moved the March of Dimes Walk link to my Charities section, and I did finally check out the BULL SESSION 2011 web site and it wouldn't do what I wanted it to do so I called Jim Moss and left him a message. I also got a return phone call from Bruce Scheppard, and asked him about taking him up on his BULL SESSION golf rain check when we are down in Vegas for Mike's game, he said it would be fine but he would not be available on Friday so I will be talking to Marty and see if he want's to take Chris out, I don't think it will snow this time?

I will put the prayer to St. Jude in here again for good friend and brother Portland City commissioner Randy Leonard and all our 290 brothers and sisters that have come before us and built Our 290 into the organization I am so proud to have been a member of, for almost 40 years.

For Commissioner Leonard and 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 friends Ron Wyden and Pat O'baby, good family friend Pat Percin, brothers Jimmy Judge, and Gerry Bruce, sister Donna, Commissioner Leonard and family, 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 still 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:

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, I did get a referral from my primary care doctor for a different type of Doctor after my new set of xray's for Medicare which I did, so we will see if it changes the (normal now) Denial of benefits, my BP today is 135/88/66 at 10am, a little high especially since I got that real good night's sleep last night. I did give Barbara a copy of the picket language I used, and sent to both the trust attorney and Lou. The trust attorney, 2 of the trustee's, Senator Wyden's office and my Primary care doctor are all aware now. 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 AGAIN, 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 get a referral for the chiropractor from my primary care Doctor, and she said she was prescribing 6 visits but she was a little skeptical that it would be approved, and surprise; it was denied. I do have a referred appointment to a physiologic Dr. at Kaiser Sunnybrook, apparently because there was nothing wrong (according to that last BATCH of Xray's) something to add to my full briefcase of my Kaiser stuff that doesn’t include the dozens of email's between Kaiser, my Doctor's, Trustee's and the trust attorney and I thanks to sister Danni it is all organized. I did get a copy of a GREAT letter from the trust attorney to Kaiser. I am also out of my mineral supplements that I get from Dr. Finley, so I ordered more and scheduled an adjustment with him. Now I know I am NOT GOING to get any help from anyone but the last time I did get a tratment from him I really felt good for a long time. WHY IS IT, WHEN YOU GET DIAGNOSED WITH M.S. ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE THINK YOU ARE STUPID ?

POLITICAL:

WELL DONE SENATOR MERKLEY AND SENATOR TESTER IN YOUR SENATE BANKING OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THURSDAY 5-12-11. THANK YOU, FROM A LONGTIME CREDIT UNION MEMBER, who is really looking forward to meeting with your (Senator Merkley) staff Wednesday to talk about the Boxer amendment.

WELL DONE, PRESIDENT OBAMA; YOUR BUDGET COMPARISON WAS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME, AND YOU NEVER FORGOT. IT REALLY TAKES A LOT OF GALL FOR THOSE REPUBLICAN'S; LIKE BUSH 2 AND GULIANNI TO TRY TO TAKE ANY SORT OF CREDIT, FOR GETTING BIN LADEN.

The President is considering signing an executive order that would require all corporations doing business with the government to JUST REVEAL their campaign contributions. But corporate interests are trying hard to stop him.

I signed a petition urging the President to enact this proposed rule. Can you join me at the link below?

http://pol.moveon.org/disclose_execorder/?r_by=27348-3220417-\ys7zLx&rc= disclose_ execorder_letter.email_cp.g0
Thanks!

THIS MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO SOME; BUT IF YOU LOOK UP RACIST IN THE DICTIONARY YOU SHOULD SEE A PICTURE OF DONALD TRUMP, AND ACCORDING TO MY LATEST INFORMATION HE IS DROPPING OUT (of the republican primary, not the KKK, if he is a card carrying member?)

SENATOR JOHN ENSIGN SHOULD GO TO JAIL...........FOR A LONG TIME !!

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 will make another plug now for the petition for a Constitutional Amendment to REQUIRE Congress to live under the SAME laws they pass for us.

Do you suppose congress's solution to extend and save Social Security and Medicare by CUTTING benefits, instead of raising the maximum would have any thing to do with the fact that THEY would have to pay Social Security taxes for the whole year?? OR MEANS TEST IT so those with good pensions (like union members) couldn't qualify? DO I EVEN HAVE ANY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS LEFT??

MY MOST IMPORTANT SECTION STILL; I HOPE I CAN CONVEY THAT TO SENATOR MERKLEY'S STAFFER WEDNESDAY !!

YELLOW RIBBON SECTION:

A PROGRAM THAT IS ALSO LOOKING FOR HELP: LETS BRING EM HOME, NOW; I AM STARTING TO RUN SHORT OF YELLOW RIBBON !!

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 BACK STATESIDE NOW, AND MARTY AND I WILL BE GETTING TO LAS VEGAS FOR A MEET UP WITH HIM AND MICHAEL ROSS, AS MICHAEL HAS A TOURNAMENT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, AND I DID HEAR FROM LAS VEGAS BRUCE AND MY BULL SESSION RAIN CHECK IS STILL GOOD, I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE SNOWING THIS TIME?

IT APPEARS THAT NEPHEW RHYON WILL BE HEADED BACK TO AFGHANISTAN SOON, BUT THE PRESIDENT DID SAY HE WOULD BEGIN DRAWING DOWN TROOPS SOON. But a prayer a day from all my readers would still make me feel better.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE OREGON MILITARY SUPPORT NETWORK.

Joining Forces: As part of the Obama Administration's commitment to America's military families, the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden launched their Joining Forces initiative, which will bring together all sectors of American society to lend a hand to military families.

If you are flying the American Flag, please keep flying it until ALL our Troops return home, soon I hope as I am running out of yellow ribbon.

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 have little more to report on the “Unite Ireland” issue except I did foget to tell Barbara Smith W. to try to get Ron to become a “congressional friend”, and I also spoke with Congressman Schrader's office to try to recruit him, it's not on my list for my meeting with Senator Merkley's staff but it MAY come up Wednesday. I didn't get the names down for that 15 year AOH picture yet, but maybe at our next meeting, which is put off for a week, we will now meet at KELLS on the 24th.

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 April 5th it was 163 years ago. ONE OF MY HERO'S!

I also would also ask again, for all my brothers to say a prayer for the Leonard family.

I also want to report that Uncle Hank has returned from the hospital and I spoke with his wife, my aunt; on EASTER morning and she told me he was 100% better, but all prayers are still appreciated.

While the Montana AOH received a Governors Proclamation with a 3 day celebration on their 125th anniversary; and a great article in my newly received AOH Newspaper; WE had a wonderful address by THE RITA O'HARE, and maybe I can get the gaelic translated for me. Thank You Ann Monahan for your 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 I did ask Suzanne in Kurt's office, but forgot to ask Barbara in Ron's office to join in our efforts, but I also need to tell you I have loaded up Ron with this Kaiser, Health Care battle I have going on, but I have not given up.
Even with my Senator Mekley staff meeting Wednesday I do plan an making the AOH sub-committee meeting also. I also saw where those brits were still fighting to get at Irish Americans. 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 is supposed to 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 was 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:

I did see that the Portland Timbers are selling individual tickets, and they are at very reasonable prices and they are playing very good, a draw at Seattle.

I still hope that that nice golf weather gets back around and I can find a “Wally Catcher” so I can get out and practice or play.

My baseball reports will be limited to, the Mariners, a heartbreaking last few day's a 14 inning loss and then a 12 inning loss in Baltimore, 1 inning short of 3 games in 2. Judi asked me who do I root for when the Orioles play the Mariners? I told her the Orioles, unless Felix is pitching; and it IS next year for the Cubs. I also got a good report from brother Marty that nephew Michael is off to a good start for the Rangers, and I am really looking forward to his tournament in Vegas.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS & CHARITIES:

I found the updated 2011 BULL SESSION website. ( http://www.bullsessioncharity.com ) I finally got on and I was very disapointed in what I found there, so I called Jim M. and I will also try to send an email to Ed Ellis with my concerns. I AM HOPING THE LOCAL USES SOME OF IT'S ENTRIES FOR THE MEMBER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 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:

Thanks again to all my Sisters and Brothers for electing me to attend this years International Convention, and It appears I will be flying, but based on that letter about Intel from the General President it should prove to be a very interesting Convention.

I will check out what I can when we are in Vegas for Mikes Memorial weekend tournament. And thank you Bruce for saving that round of golf; odds are we won't be seeing snow.

OTHER STUFF AND COMMUNICATIONS:

Thank you Sister Danni for organizing my Kaiser stuff.

THE BBQ WAS FOR KARA at Bobbie and Dennis's Saturday; CONGRATULATIONS KARA; WELL DONE, and please forgive me for my screw up !!

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.

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 by blog is over 6 pages and over 2,900 words today; I think.