April_newsletter_page

Message from President Pro Tem

    Our club has been Hit with a lot of illness this year. The latest news is that our President, Perry Shipman, is ailing and will be unable, at least temporarily, to continue leading our club. The Board is determined to try to carry out Perry’s vision for our future. Perry feels strongly that we need more clear-cut goals so that we can consistently work toward these goals.

    In keeping with that idea, we have prepared the enclosed questionnaire. Pleas take the time before the next meeting to jot down your own thoughts on each of these subjects. Bring it with you to the next meeting where we plan to have a general discussion on where we are going and how we plan to get there. We will be calling an member unable to attend the April meeting in order to include everone’s ideas in the formulation of our plans.

    Also, at the request of one of our board members, at the meeting we will be handing out a list of our local representatives, with addresses and phone numbers, to be used for lobbying purposes.
Thanks so much and we’ll see you next week.

   It’s going to be an interesting year! Currently a stand-off with China dominates the news and we are learning the power of a word. We have expressed our regrets for the incident. The Chinese demand an “apology.” We are not willing to “apologize” because that would mean we were responsible for the collision that caused the Chinese plane to fall into the sea killing the pilot. We pray for a prompt resolution of the matter.

    Incidentally, I heard and interesting discussion the other day regarding Republican Party planning to maintain a Republican Congress and elect a Republican president in the last election. As you might expect, one part involved Republican planning to elect a president and George Bush became the early favorite of an influential group including former leaders in the previous Bush, Reagan and Ford administrations. Another group focused on trying to bring down Bill Clinton and Hilary through investigations: Whitewater, Travelgate, Filegate, Monicagate, Pardongate and on and on. The even accused the Clinton’s of murdering Vince Foster. All of this brings credence to Hilary Clinton’s “Vast right wing conspiracy to destroy my husband” remark. She was exactly right, and, sadly, she has also become a target after her election to the Senate.

    I’m still trying to figure out what Bush means by “compassionate conservatism?”

     Actions, they say, speak louder than words, so let’s take a look.

    When high-ranking representatives of allies such as Great Britain, Germany, and South Korea came to pay a courtesy visit to discuss matters of importance to them, Bush has publicly – on television – dismissed important concerns with a curt, “NO” to this or that matter that our visitors have raised.

    In addition Dubyah seems to prefer smoke-filled air to clean air, thinks tax cuts are mainly for the rich, believes arsenic in drinking water is nothing to worry about, and carpal tunnel syndrome is not a cause for concern in the workplace.

    Dubyah also seems to have forgotten that California is one of the states in the Union. He does, however, remember Sempra, which contributed heavily to his campaign and inaugural celebrations. He just can’t remember that Sempra is supposed to supply California with power.

   There is so much at stake at this point, including: the environment, a woman’s right to choose, social security, health-car, education, campaign finance reform, needed repairs and construction to highways and their infrastructure, repair of school and other government buildings, etc. etc.