I’m in and ill be living close by. We can make temporary office space in the command and control vehicle that way McPain and his flunkies won’t find our HQ. Man it’s beautiful up here today we went to Multnomah Falls. We toured Hazel Dell and it looks like a nice place to live.
[QUOTE=c.captain;107652]So if tomorrow I file the paperwork to create an IRS Section 501©(6) U.S. Maritime Workers Trade Association, how many here will send me a $200 check? I need 5000 working American mariners to do so and I can set up shop in Washington but can promise nothing other than to try to help our cause. A $1M annual budget can buy very very little in that septic tank known otherwise as our Nation’s capital than a few lunches and small campaign contributions to the few friendly Congressmen and Senators who support us.
this is the category we would fall under
vis. membership dues would not be directly deductible on income tax returns except under the professional employment expenses which is only the portion beyond 2% of gross annual income. Still interested?[/QUOTE]
You can count me in 100% there cap
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;107654]I’m in and ill be living close by. We can make temporary office space in the command and control vehicle that way McPain and his flunkies won’t find our HQ. Man it’s beautiful up here today we went to Multnomah Falls. We toured Hazel Dell and it looks like a nice place to live.[/QUOTE]
Always know I can count on you fellow anti Uniblab comrade but no can do on the c.captain Command and Control Mobile in Washington District of Clowns, but the '72 Mercury Marquis Brougham stealth sedan will be quite a sight cruising down K Street with me smoking a Diplomáticos and blowing blue fumes out the window! Might have to get me one of them super dark Steve McGarrett suits with the really narrow lapels. Course, I’ll also need the Jack Lord haircut as well!
btw, glad you like my territory up here in the nether reaches of the country. Great people and almost everybody has a high school edumacation, all their teeth and don’t eat dead aminals found on the side of the road. You do realize that Oregon has a state income tax and votes democrat most of the time. Washington State is also true blue but has no income tax which is great if you buy everything second hand off Craigslist like me! Wait till you get a load of my newest ancient vehicular acquisition!
be there…mahalo y’all!
.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;107654]I’m in and ill be living close by. We can make temporary office space in the command and control vehicle that way McPain and his flunkies won’t find our HQ. Man it’s beautiful up here today we went to Multnomah Falls. We toured Hazel Dell and it looks like a nice place to live.[/QUOTE]
You’re getting close to the Bitterroots, Fragrat, best understand there’s a geezer living there, quite ornery too.
Perhaps we need a secret hand shake.
[QUOTE=c.captain;107652]Still interested?[/QUOTE]
Whatever it takes to stem the tide that is down-flooding our industry. However, having said that, if I’m going to fork over $200 bucks can we at least have a discussion about membership benefits? Do we get to hold hands and have sing alongs at the monthly meetings at headquarters? That one is kind of a deal breaker for me. No sing-songs, no union.
no, we don’t do sing-songs…at least not until we are good and lit! One thing about my association is I don’t want to catch anyone NOT DRINKING!
I’m all for the sing songs as well. We also have to come up with a cool name that has a profane acronym that’s a deal breaker for me.
Man I don’t wanna go back home I could never tire of views like this.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;107671]I’m all for the sing songs as well. We also have to come up with a cool name that has a profane acronym that’s a deal breaker for me.
Man I don’t wanna go back home I could never tire of views like this.[/QUOTE]
The name of the group I envision would be American Professional Mariners Association or APMA! Anyone have a better one to offer?
now, isn’t anyone gonna ask about my new ride?
I would set up a PFC in a heartbeat except I’d probably screw up the paperwork, misappropriate the funds and anger the politicians that I should be lobbying.
But if you’d like to fund more journalists to hold these guys accountable then we’d be happy to accept your financial endorsement…
(our you could save the cash and just click on more banner ads 
)
[QUOTE=c.captain;107670]no, we don’t do sing-songs…at least not until we are good and lit! One thing about my association is I don’t want to catch anyone NOT DRINKING![/QUOTE]
Look at this! Someone’s already posted a recording of our first board meeting on the old “ewe-toob”!
[QUOTE=john;107674]I would set up a PFC in a heartbeat except I’d probably screw up the paperwork, misappropriate the funds and anger the politicians that I should be lobbying.
But if you’d like to fund more journalists to hold these guys accountable then we’d be happy to accept your financial endorsement…
(our you could save the cash and just click on more banner ads 
)[/QUOTE]
Do you get ca$h every time we click on one of those things or do we actually have to buy something for you to get a cut? If all it takes is a click here and a click there I’d click on those things all day long to support your (our!) cause!
[QUOTE=“c.captain;107652”]
So if tomorrow I file the paperwork to create an IRS Section 501©(6) U.S. Maritime Workers Trade Association, how many here will send me a $200 check? I need 5000 working American mariners to do so and I can set up shop in Washington but can promise nothing other than to try to help our cause. A $1M annual budget can buy very very little in that septic tank known otherwise as our Nation’s capital than a few lunches and small campaign contributions to the few friendly Congressmen and Senators who support us.
this is the category we would fall under
vis. membership dues would not be directly deductible on income tax returns except under the professional employment expenses which is only the portion beyond 2% of gross annual income. Still interested?[/QUOTE]
I’m in Cap. $200.00 is totally legit. You have my vote for our Rep. However, you have to get the haircut and suit first! Then we have to find a super hot Lucy Lawless lookalike to stand next to you at all times whilst speaking to any politician. This ensures an advantage of slight distraction. And you have to count to 10 before you blow off the steam and are only allowed to use “Fuck” and “shit” once per sentence. Now what is this new acquisition?
I agree to your terms
Now what is this new acquisition?
thought you’d never ask…
behold the Black Bird…1959 Ford Thunderbird Convertible. 352ci/300hp fully restored and ready to cruise this summer. Sold the '67 Galaxie 500 ragtop and replaced it with this sexy lady on Friday last week!
what can I say except that I like Fords…
anyway, what was it you were saying about getting Lucy Lawless to join me in my quest? With this car, I should be able to attract the real deal. Can you imagine? Xena, the car, the money, the cigars, the Scotch? Oh, that’s right, I’d actually have to work wouldn’t I? DAMNED IT ALL TO HELL!
It helps if you look around a bit after you click but, no, you don’t have to buy anything…
So it would be like the PCF I have through my UNION, do I at least get a cool hat or coffee mug?
[QUOTE=c.captain;107679]I agree to your terms
thought you’d never ask…
behold the Black Bird…1959 Ford Thunderbird Convertible. 352ci/300hp fully restored and ready to cruise this summer. Sold the '67 Galaxie 500 ragtop and replaced it with this sexy lady on Friday last week!
what can I say except that I like Fords…
anyway, what was it you were saying about getting Lucy Lawless to join me in my quest? With this car, I should be able to attract the real deal. Can you imagine? Xena, the car, the money, the cigars, the Scotch? Oh, that’s right, I’d actually have to work wouldn’t I? DAMNED IT ALL TO HELL![/QUOTE]
Now I know I hate you! LOL How the hell do you find all of these cars. I look all the time down here in Florida but the days of finding a older well taken care of car is just about over. We do see them every once and a while but the prices keep getting higher and higher. How about finding me a nice old Mustang Rag Top, you might have to help me pay for it as I am a poor retiree now. :rolleyes:
If you do decide to set something up I am in. Now for something that I was always told never to do let me know if I can help as I am retired and really have no life. 
I would wager our typical weekdays at the office would be more like this. If would could figure out which politicians are degenerate gamblers I’m sure we could get a few in our pockets.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;107739]I would wager our typical weekdays at the office would be more like this. If would could figure out which politicians are degenerate gamblers I’m sure we could get a few in our pockets
[/QUOTE]
As much as I know we all need a professional advocacy association there is the simple reality that it will be difficult to start and more difficult to keep alive yet alone gain any clout on Capital Hill and in the USCG Headquarters. I am no neophyte and know full well, the long knived will come out as soon as an announcement were made. Anytime anybody feels their interests are threatened by somebody else, it is human nature to attack them and I know an American Professional Mariners Association would receive broadsides from all the shipowners (especially OMSA) as well as the unions (especially the AMO). They would do their utmost to cut of the air supply to APMA before if ever got the chance to breath hence why I hesitate to do this. It’s a brutal and foul business to lobby in Washington DC and it takes one very tough SOB to survive in that world.
[QUOTE=Tugs;107738]Now I know I hate you! LOL How the hell do you find all of these cars. I look all the time down here in Florida but the days of finding a older well taken care of car is just about over. We do see them every once and a while but the prices keep getting higher and higher. How about finding me a nice old Mustang Rag Top, you might have to help me pay for it as I am a poor retiree now.[/QUOTE]
well the Stealth Mobile Marquis Brougham might be going up for sale soon as I just don’t see myself doing all the nasty work to prep the body for paint or to fix all the electrical problems. If I knew I could turn the car to $8k when finished it would be worth hiring the work out but my research doesn’t support that number so it is better to find someone who loves that Black Bomber for its rarity and that it is so close to McGarrett’s Five-O ride.
Not a Mustang ragtop tho
[QUOTE=c.captain;107741]As much as I know we all need a professional advocacy association there is the simple reality that it will be difficult to start and more difficult to keep alive yet alone gain any clout on Capital Hill and in the USCG Headquarters. I am no neophyte and know full well, the long knived will come out as soon as an announcement were made. Anytime anybody feels their interests are threatened by somebody else, it is human nature to attack them and I know an American Professional Mariners Association would receive broadsides from all the shipowners (especially OMSA) as well as the unions (especially the AMO). They would do their utmost to cut of the air supply to APMA before if ever got the chance to breath hence why I hesitate to do this. It’s a brutal and foul business to lobby in Washington DC and it takes one very tough SOB to survive in that world.[/QUOTE]
You are most likely right about getting grief from the Unions about starting something like this. Also, in my years of Sailing both Union and Non Union the odds of getting a large enough group of Mariners to join and agree on anything is a long shot at best.
Seeing the state of Our Deep Sea Fleet really hurts as I sailed from the time that I graduated in the 70’s until going ashore in the 90’s.I am not sure what to think of this new appointee but I suspect that he will follow whatever his leaders want. It would be a dream come true if just once one of these half wits in Washington would appoint someone that actually had experience in field that they will be in charge of instead of just appointing some political hack!