Friday, August 15, 2008

THE BURNING EMBER 12

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE

MY BULLFROG HAS GONE?

Last Sunday, Aug. 10, was the APWU Member appreciation picnic. This annual event is where the local executive board shows our appreciation you the members, both current and retired. Of this year’s event even I have to admit that is was a smashing success. The food was great. The weather was beautiful. The fellowship was warm and friendly. Those of you who were unable to attend were missed. I hope you are able to come in the future. There were some super prizes given out during the member’s and COPA drawings. The children’s games and drawings were fun. Myself, I enjoy watching the Safety Director, Roseanna Foster-Mikhail and our local Secretary-Treasurer, Debbie Battle moving about like a couple of mother-hens overseeing the children’s games and handing out prizes. I would never even think about getting between those ladies and their broods. Debbie should also be recognized for the outstanding job and unselfish efforts she put toward coordinating the whole event. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the other members of our executive board who put in a lot of time and effort before, during, and after the picnic. Local Vice-President, Brian Dunsmore, and Poker Editor Anna Smith among other things were continually moving about taking care of whatever needed to be done. Director of Associate Offices Bill Martin had arranged the food and MVS Director Ralph McEvers did a lot of the grunt work with trucking stuff to and from the local office and picnic site. Both also helped with the set up and take down of the event. All of the above officers did an outstanding job and sacrificed their own time to make the event as go off smoothly and be as good as it was. Their families also sacrificed time to help. Even the “Beer Garden” team of Kevin Fraser, David Baldwin, and Daryl Teckenburg did a super job in keeping the refreshments cool and flowing. The only notable absence was the local President Greg Stinson. The bullfrog was a complete no-show for any of the planning, preparation, or carrying out of the Membership Appreciation Picnic. He never even called to offer even the most piteous excuse as to why he was not there. Some of his supporters were there and probably wondering where the bullfrog was. I suppose that it is no surprise as he has continually shown that he only is concerned with a very small minority of the members of the local, his supporters. He also has not been to a meeting since May. Makes a person wonder why he fails to show as he seems to keep in pretty good contact with management; you know letters to Labor Relations and the Senior Plant Manager. Maybe he is just become a little shy. My guess is that he fears being held accountable for his appalling blunders over the last few months. I suppose he figures he can control the damage by limiting his public appearances. George Bush ought to try that. Got some news though, bullfrog can run, but he cannot hide. He is going to Las Vegas for the APWU National Convention. Even though he is leaving a day earlier and is staying at a different hotel, in an attempt to distance himself from the other executive board members, at a greater cost to the local by the way. I believe though that the delegates are going to seek him out and get some answers. I might even go to his hotel, introduce myself and see if he wants me to publish some of his excuses on this blog. That would be fun. As it stands he can continue to run, but his time is running out. If the answers do not come in Vegas, they will come at the September meetings. The members want answers. For those of you that are not going to the convention, I will try to submit reports as I can. It should prove interesting as he tries to avoid the rest of the local delegation in order to lick the boots and kiss up to the National Officers. If you want answers now, you can try to reach him at orbulldog1@verizon.net, gstin29803@yahoo.com or 503-819-7298. Remember though, unless you are one of his supporters or an APWU National Officer like Terry Stapleton he will not answer, because he apparently does not appreciate you, the member.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

First one in!
Only 138 more days!

Anonymous said...

Bring us back some money, Gray

Anonymous said...

Where has the bullfrog gone? Of course he is off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz. In his mind anyhow.

zog said...

The way I see it the Bulldog has always been up to no good. Whenever I talk to him his responses are like he is hiding something as should I say everything. Sum years ago before he was a shop steward we could have a good and informative conversation. But ever sense was put into office he has been withdrawn and when you do talk to him it is like talking to a politician that has no real answers. Always changing the subject and never giving an answer. If you don’t believe me all you have to do is pay strict attention to what he says and how he says it. You to will soon see what I’m talking about

Anonymous said...

I know what your talking about. And it's true. It has been almost like he is helping management disolve our craft (MVS) along with other senior craft employees. They have done their time and don't want to see it continue for others. That's how I see it!