Recently I said something to a someone whom I respect and it was taken the wrong way. The person was offended. When it was pointed out to me I was confused. It was only when I stepped back, and tried to see things through their eyes, that I was able to see how they could feel the way they did.
Then I felt real bad.
The last thing I would do was offend this person by disrespecting them, and yet, what I did could have been interpreted that way. I have since apologised.
It make me wonder, how many times have I done this in the past and not realized it.
I try to be sensitive to other's feelings, I really do, but how often do I not realize that others might get the wrong impression of what I say or how I say it? Yes, it is impossible to go through life and never be misinterpreted, but I can try to see things though other's eyes.
Also, how many times have I misinterpreted what others have said or done and become offended by that? Let me give them the benefit of the doubt.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Let's go Celtics
I have been a Boston Celtic basketball fan all my life.
This year, as often, they find themselves in the playoffs.
They are older, they are banged up, but they are there.
Every time the "experts" count them out and give them no chance, they win and continue on.
They are up against a great team, the Miami Heat, who have a great chance of willing the championship. Miami won Games 1+2 in Miami and everyone counted the Celtics out. But then again....
Back in Boston for games 3+4, the Cs won them both, tying the series. then they went to Miami and won game 5, putting Miami on the brink of elimination.
Last night, in Boston, Miami star Labron James, had an epic night and the Heat blew out the Celtics by 20 points. Every time the Celtics rallied, Miami answered.
Late in last night's game, with maybe a minute or two on the clock, (which lasts about 5 minutes with clock stoppages), the Celtic fans, with their team down 20 and no chance to win, started chanting.
Let's go Celtics!
Let's go Celtics!
Let's go Celtics!
They continued chering till the game was over.
It was not a cheer to inspire the Cs to come back and win, the fans understand when it's over, it was a show of respect for the effort the Celtics have put on the floor all season, and for many season past.
The fans realize that Miami will be favored on Saturday. They realized that if they Celtics lose on Saturday, this would be their last chance to show how they felt about this team. They realize, that because of age, because of the way players are traded, this could be the chance they might have to show their respect for what these men have done over the years.
So, Boston did not boo their team that was losing badly, they cheered them, and that's the way it should be.
Let's go Celtics!
This year, as often, they find themselves in the playoffs.
They are older, they are banged up, but they are there.
Every time the "experts" count them out and give them no chance, they win and continue on.
They are up against a great team, the Miami Heat, who have a great chance of willing the championship. Miami won Games 1+2 in Miami and everyone counted the Celtics out. But then again....
Back in Boston for games 3+4, the Cs won them both, tying the series. then they went to Miami and won game 5, putting Miami on the brink of elimination.
Last night, in Boston, Miami star Labron James, had an epic night and the Heat blew out the Celtics by 20 points. Every time the Celtics rallied, Miami answered.
Late in last night's game, with maybe a minute or two on the clock, (which lasts about 5 minutes with clock stoppages), the Celtic fans, with their team down 20 and no chance to win, started chanting.
Let's go Celtics!
Let's go Celtics!
Let's go Celtics!
They continued chering till the game was over.
It was not a cheer to inspire the Cs to come back and win, the fans understand when it's over, it was a show of respect for the effort the Celtics have put on the floor all season, and for many season past.
The fans realize that Miami will be favored on Saturday. They realized that if they Celtics lose on Saturday, this would be their last chance to show how they felt about this team. They realize, that because of age, because of the way players are traded, this could be the chance they might have to show their respect for what these men have done over the years.
So, Boston did not boo their team that was losing badly, they cheered them, and that's the way it should be.
Let's go Celtics!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Union Update
The Constitution/Bylaw Committee finished it's work Monday night. The Constitution/Bylaws will be voted on by all members, next Tuesday, 6/14, 2-5 pm, in conference room 1 at the hospital. Thank you to the committee for their work.
A day of nominations and elections of our local's officers has been set for July 10. All members are eligible to run for office and vote.
The following people have expressed a desire to serve the local:
John Brady as President
Michelle Hayes as Vice President.
Donna Callicutt as Treasurer
Missy Hunter as Secretary
In addition, Carol Adams has offered to serve as our political liaison and Jen Gaston has offered to serve on our Communication and Publicity Committee. Many others have expressed an interest to serve as delegates (stewards) by signing up at the vote on the contract. We will be contacting you. We will have sign up sheets for members interested in serving as a delegate or on a committee at the 6/14 and 7/10 votes. I strongly encourage everyone to become involved to the level they are able.
The contract is being reviewed for typos, when finished we will sign it, have copies printed, and distribute them to all members.
I am being asked about filling out Membership Applications. If you voted on the contract then you have already signed up. Many other people have signed up since then. If you have not had the opportunity yet, it's OK. Contact me and I'll make arrangements. All non salary full and part time RNs must fill out a Membership Application or an Agency Fee form. We will also have the forms at the June 14 vote. At some point we will contact anyone not yet signed up.
Per Diem RNs have received a letter about the new hospital policy. The new policy places you into a category that excludes you from the bargaining unit, meaning you are not covered by the contract, and not part of the union. Many of you have been strong supporters and I wish we could have gotten contract language that included you, but I believe we got the best we could. Should you wish to be in the unit, please consider applying for a budgeted position.
The increase in weekend/holiday differential should be reflected in this week's check and the increase in wages in next week's check.
There is much to do in the coming months, delegates (stewards) need to be selected and trained and committees need to be filled.
But we have already accomplished so much, together we will accomplish so much more.
A day of nominations and elections of our local's officers has been set for July 10. All members are eligible to run for office and vote.
The following people have expressed a desire to serve the local:
John Brady as President
Michelle Hayes as Vice President.
Donna Callicutt as Treasurer
Missy Hunter as Secretary
In addition, Carol Adams has offered to serve as our political liaison and Jen Gaston has offered to serve on our Communication and Publicity Committee. Many others have expressed an interest to serve as delegates (stewards) by signing up at the vote on the contract. We will be contacting you. We will have sign up sheets for members interested in serving as a delegate or on a committee at the 6/14 and 7/10 votes. I strongly encourage everyone to become involved to the level they are able.
The contract is being reviewed for typos, when finished we will sign it, have copies printed, and distribute them to all members.
I am being asked about filling out Membership Applications. If you voted on the contract then you have already signed up. Many other people have signed up since then. If you have not had the opportunity yet, it's OK. Contact me and I'll make arrangements. All non salary full and part time RNs must fill out a Membership Application or an Agency Fee form. We will also have the forms at the June 14 vote. At some point we will contact anyone not yet signed up.
Per Diem RNs have received a letter about the new hospital policy. The new policy places you into a category that excludes you from the bargaining unit, meaning you are not covered by the contract, and not part of the union. Many of you have been strong supporters and I wish we could have gotten contract language that included you, but I believe we got the best we could. Should you wish to be in the unit, please consider applying for a budgeted position.
The increase in weekend/holiday differential should be reflected in this week's check and the increase in wages in next week's check.
There is much to do in the coming months, delegates (stewards) need to be selected and trained and committees need to be filled.
But we have already accomplished so much, together we will accomplish so much more.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Life and a Sunday afternoon
I'm blogging from my back screen porch on a Sunday afternoon. My 3 grandchildren are in the little above the ground pool in the back yard. They're fighting like cats and dogs. The youngest, our granddaughter Zoie, is complaining because the two boys, Mikey and Elijah, are splashing water. My wife, Michelle, is trying to referee, it's a battle she is losing.
It's just like a scene from something I've seen before. What was it?
Oh yes, last year, in our backyard.
My older son, Sean, the father of Zoie and Mikey, is getting the grill ready. He brought over a steak to cook.
The weather is great, big change from yesterday when it rained hard all day. Today it's sunny and warm with fair weather clouds floating by.
A nice afternoon.
Some things in life seem to be like the kids fighting, same old same old,
and others are like the weather, big changes from day to day.
I had a little trouble with the pool when I took it out of winter storage. It has a ring at the top that fills with air and then floats on top of the water, pulling up the sides. The problem was that the air was leaking and I had trouble finding the leaks.
I guess life is like that also, there's always something to fix. I've found that for me, the problem is knowing what to fix and what to leave alone.
It's just like a scene from something I've seen before. What was it?
Oh yes, last year, in our backyard.
My older son, Sean, the father of Zoie and Mikey, is getting the grill ready. He brought over a steak to cook.
The weather is great, big change from yesterday when it rained hard all day. Today it's sunny and warm with fair weather clouds floating by.
A nice afternoon.
Some things in life seem to be like the kids fighting, same old same old,
and others are like the weather, big changes from day to day.
I had a little trouble with the pool when I took it out of winter storage. It has a ring at the top that fills with air and then floats on top of the water, pulling up the sides. The problem was that the air was leaking and I had trouble finding the leaks.
I guess life is like that also, there's always something to fix. I've found that for me, the problem is knowing what to fix and what to leave alone.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Raising Haiti
Jessica
Patti, pictured above, is a Backus Federation of Nurses RN. She is founder and president of Raising
Haiti, a non profit agency who’s mission is to help improve the social,
educational, and medical conditions of the people of Haiti.
Jessica shared
with me the following story about her first visit to Haiti.
She was on
her way to work as a travelling nurse on a beautiful Caribbean island. On her way, she
had planned a weekend stop in Haiti (pre earthquake) to help at a
clinic. While at the airport, she
remarked to a Haitian women about the beauty of her daughter. The women begged Jessica to take the little
girl back to the United States and be her mom.
This Haitian mother was willing to give up her baby girl so that the
girl could have a better life.
That encounter
has changed Jessica’s life. Now she, and
others, many of them members of our Backus and L+M AFT locals, travel at their own expense to Haiti roughly 6 times a year to minister
to the health needs of the poorest of the poor.
Matthew Spates, MD, who worked at L+M and now works in the Backus ED, was recently honored for is work with Raising Haiti. Matt has made 10 trips to Citi Soleil (Sun City), just outside Port-au-Prince. Matt is also Vice President of Operations for Raising Haiti.
Raising Haiti is working on purchasing land to establish a permanent clinic and staff it with Haitian doctors and nurses while continuing to send Connecticut staff on trips to assist.
I am not sure if there is a role for us as locals or as a state federation, but I would like to help. So I put it out to you, our members are carrying out our mission, as health care providers, as union members, and as citizens of the world. They are helping the poorest of the poor.
Can we help?
The Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals/AFT runs a clinic in Haiti with a similar mission.
Robert Kennedy, in paraphrasing George Bernard Shaw said, "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were and ask why not?"
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