We had 77 members present at our October regular meeting of Carpenters Local
247. It was a special call meeting for the purpose of nominating a Regional
Council delegate to fill a vacancy. Ron Swaren, Kevin Stokes, Randy Gehrs, Greg
Aleshire and Mike Anderson were nominated. The election will be at the November
meeting. The trustees gave a report about our annual audit. Our income was
slightly more than our expenses. We had reports from our area representatives,
organizers and apprenticeship coordinator John Schraner. We have 1,000
apprentices enrolled in our various programs.
Our ballot election committee will be Christie Kern, Ben Brizuela, John McGraw
and Dave Oury. Vice President Gene Lawhorn has resigned due to recovery from
shoulder surgery. He is not able to regularly attend the meetings. He has
indicated that he will return as an active member when he recovers. He will
continue to serve as delegate. Mike Anderson has been appointed as vice
president for the remainder of the term (until June 2008).
A motion was passed to buy turkeys for door prizes at the November meeting. Also
a motion was passed to send a letter of thanks and appreciation to Brother Shaun
Cushman for his service as Local 247 treasurer. Shaun resigned to take a Job
Corps position in Southern Oregon. We will also send a $75 gift from our
contingency fund.
Doernbecher Children’s Hospital will come to our November meeting for a check
presentation from our Picnic Raffle and fundraiser. This report covers the
highlights of our meeting. For more complete info … be there. Attend your
meetings!
Payments for each quarter are due prior to the first day of
the quarter. Payments received after the quarter starts will
be applied at the monthly rate as shown above.
Happy autumn to everyone! We are entering the political season and it is
important for everyone to be aware of what is going on in the upcoming
elections. Our first election will be the Nov. 6 vote on the ballot measures. We
will be deciding on Measure 49 and Measure 50. Measure 49 will modify Measure
37, the property rights measure, and Measure 50 will dedicate funds to provide
health care for children. Please study your Voter’s Pamphlet and make a decision
that is best for the State of Oregon and its citizens. You must be registered to
vote. The decisions you make will affect the future of Oregon.
The following measures will appear on the November 6, 2007 Special Election:
• Measure 49 – Modifies Measure 37; clarifies right to build homes; limits large
developments; protects farms, forests, groundwater.
• Measure 50 – Amends Constitution; dedicates funds to provide health care for
children, fund tobacco prevention through increased tobacco tax.
The following members are celebrating their birthday this month. We would like
to wish them all “Happy Birthday”!! We hope you enjoy your special day! Corneliu
Almasan, Jeffrey Anderson, Dirk Appel, Ramesh Autar, Gordon Baird, Leon Baker,
Doug Barnhart, Brian Bentley, Alexis Bermudez, Pete Borchman, Carl Boyed, Peter
Branderhorst, Clifford Broiles, Jered Brown, Mike Bufton, Jack Burch, Douglas
Burgard, Peter Burridge, Aaron Carr, David Castillo, Craig Cecchi, Junior
Collar, Jon Cooper, Jason Crews, Chris Delatorre, Carmine Deo Kelly Dizick,
Patrick Dolan, Michael Dunkin, Stephanie Dyer, Martin Easly, Gregory Elbert,
Aaron Feldman, Thomas Ford, Patrick Fritter, David Fromm, Joshua Fromm, William
Fuger, Julie Garland, Rodney Goffic, Willie Gore, Frank Green, James Groce,
Kenny Guthrie, Mark Ham]lett, Jacob Hammons, Wayne Harrington, Frank Hartmann,
Alex Harvill, Benjamin Heckaman, David Hendricks, Matthew Hill, Sean Hogan,
Howard Hogg, Steve Holguin, Garth Hoppes, John Hutton, George Iliesi, Cale
Johnson, G D Jones, Stanley Joseph, Phillip Katsanis, Ronald Kochman, Charges La
Marr, Sanh Lao, John Latka, Christopher Lavine, Joseph Lee, John Levieux, David
MacKinnon, Jason Magness, Anthony Marks, Dennis Marquardt, John Martin, Marvin
Martinson, Robert McKee, Donnie McPherson, Herbert Meier, Brandon Mendenhall,
Julius Mikkelson, Chester Miller, Gerald Mongeon, James Murphy, Nils Nelson,
Sunil Pal, Scott Peterson, Patrick Priest, Allen Pursley, Benjamin Robbins,
David Royer, Robert Schmidt, Dale Schnoor, Jon Sibrel, Curtis Smith, Oderick
Smith, Paul Snow, Grant Stewart, Dave Stodick, Douglas Such, Gregory Taylor,
Geoffrey Taylor, Marty Teel, Junior Thomas, Jack Thomson, Randy Truex, Edmund
Tweeddale, Russel Walker, Martin Wall, Tom Wassum, Brian West, Ward Wilson,
James Yerke.
Last year, in the spring of 2006, I applied to become a United States citizen
after 14 years of living here as a legal permanent resident. Last August, I
received mail from immigration and felt hopeful that my citizenship was
approved, after having past the test and completed my citizenship interview. I
was saddened and shocked when the letter said, that instead of granting me
citizenship, the government was initiating removal (also known as deportation)
hearings against me.
My wife and I were appropriately worried and hired an immigration attorney. The
government denied my citizenship because I had a felony offense for possession
of a firearm from 1994 on my record, and is pursuing removal proceedings on this
basis. I took full responsibility for my teenage offense of possessing a gun by
serving probation, paying fines, getting the offense sealed/expunged
byWashington County, and thought this was in my past. Since it is currently
making me subject to deportation, I have been going through the stages of
removal proceedings during this past year.
I am writing this letter to ask for your support as a friend, and someone who
knows me as a safe and positive contributor to the United States. My final
removal hearing, when the judge will decide if I should be deported, is
scheduled for Monday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. in downtown Portland.
My lawyer has asked that I gather as many friends, coworkers, and community
members as possible to be present at my Dec. 17 hearing. It is very unlikely
that any individual besides myself and my wife, Heather, would have to testify,
or say anything more than their name and relation to me, but your presence in
the courtroom could make a big difference in the judge’s decision. If it would
be at all possible for you to be present in court on my behalf I would greatly
appreciate it. Please let me know if you plan on attending so I can inform my
lawyer and provide you with more detailed information of how to get to the
courtroom and when to arrive.
I am humbled by these circumstances, am doing all I can to prevent deportation,
and would be grateful for your presence at my hearing.
