Farner,Mark great human being and hero!

There is a food chain that ranks people, actually more than one.

As we stumble through our time on earth building lives and the careers that fund them we are constantly mixed with those lessor and better. I am not being personal, discriminatory or elitist.

We earn our way in this world. My politics argue that everyone gets an equal chance. But its just a chance. A chance to compete.

In competition there are winners and always losers. Some win regularly and some lose regularly. Most of us are on a roller coaster winning some and losing some. What’s my point. Its often difficult to identify the humble regular winner on a food chain you are not used to climbing.

I suffered this difficulty this week. A humble rocker and regular winner on the entertainment food chain was near, real close. It was hard to tell what link in this chain this rocker occupied. I knew it was a high link, I knew the name and some of the history. I listen to the music all my life since high school. But is was not my food chain.

I just saw a human being with a history in Flint doing a PR job I did not quite understand. But it was not expected that I should.

I sat across the lunch table and talked a little politics. He was with his wife and was dutiful. He carries himself with great dignity, professionalism and presence. He was gracious to everyone around him. Thankful for their thoughts and acts. I was bemused when the radio station Dj acted like he idolized this regular human being.

I saw autograph seekers all day long.

I did not understand.

I guess 26 years of politics and 10 years as a practicing lawyer has burned that part out of me.

Later , a day later I realized that I no longer have any heroes.

This regular human being who toils in the entertainment industry is a hero to these people seeking his attention , autograph and audience to explain his impact on their lives .

Having a hero is a good thing. I don’t buy music and remember neither names or song titles. I just know what I like when I hear it but can never order it. Heroes?

I guess you want to be like your heroes. You aspire to their characteristics for your self or just the enjoyment of being in their presence. Heroes?

I think how we treat other people is important, especially the old, young and those who have not competed as well as we have. I THINK WE SHOULD BE HUMBLE.

We should be grateful those who have helped us or allowed us to ply our trade by serving them.

I was genuinely impressed with this person I watched last week. I aspire to be more like him. I have actually test flown a little more humility, friendliness, appreciation and love for fellow human being. I has had a positive impact. Hero?

This person will be my hero for that reason alone. I still can’t buy the music because I cannot name it. After the Press Tour last week ,I was on it because my wife and several friends are promoting a concert, I read up on this humble regular guy.

I am kicking my self for the 100 of unasked questions I now have for this hero of mine Mark Farner .

My questions are not about success in the music business but are about how to have success as a human being and our relationships with others.

My wife appreciates I was quite.

For back ground read the links below.
http://nightwatchershouseofrock.blogspot.com/search?q=farner
And
http://houseofrockinterviews.blogspot.com/2008/12/getting-closer-to-home-exclusive.html
To learn more about Mark Farner, or to find up to date tour dates go to this location : http://www.markfarner.com/

My Flickr slideshow on Farners 5/27/09 visit to Flint Can be found at. [Thumb Nails then click the slide show its 5 min.] http://www.flickr.com/photos/30366181@N05/sets/72157618955036238/

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Find your Captain in Flint 8/15/09

Good Morning Flint!
Lets have a little revival!
5/27/09 , updated 5/29/09
Terry Bankert

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5/29/09 update. With pics of rocker Mark Farner's press tour in Flint 5/27/09 with an embeded blogger.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30366181@N05/sets/72157618955036238/show/
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5/29/09 update
The Wednesday 5/27/09 all day press tour with the very classy, classic, rocker Mark Farner and his glamourous earth mother wife Lesia goes into my memory bank as a great unique once in a life time expierence. An artical and Pic's to follow. Keep 8/15/09 Atwood Stadium Mark Farner concert in your calendar. I am all the way in on this, it will happen and be great, don't be late we will be rocking all day 8/15/09 ending with the King of Rock and Roll Mark Farner, in Flint...whodathunk.....trb
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So here’s the deal. I thought I was taking the summer off, suspended my radio show and signed off the blogging for the summer. My wife , Lynn and I were going to kick back and enjoy June and July in Michigan.

But, Mark Farner will play at Atwood stadium August 15 2009!

So how does that affect me? Husband's will understand. My wife ,Lynn, CFO of Terry R.Bankert P.C., Mike Abraham of Mikes Triple Grill , and Karen Smith of Flint Revival Magazine are producing the concert under Flint Revival Inc. Lynn Sorenson President.

You got it! I’m in , No questions asked ,lock stock and barrel ,when do I sign the checks!

Please note ,The Busineses involved are all downtown based so its fitting they are involved in Flint's Revival. I post my photos to flickr [ google flickr then type in terrybankert]. Recently I have posted pic of the Grand Funk overpass. If you are from Flint you know where that is. [Fenton Rd. near Southwestern]. Right now,5:20 am, I am uploading pictures of Atwood Stadium.

The before the Mark Farner 8/15/09 concert pictures. I was there yesterday.

"Atwood Stadium before the Flint MI Mark Farner Concert 8/15/09."
Thumbnail http://www.flickr.com/photos/30366181@N05/sets/72157618774248747/ Slideshow http://www.flickr.com/photos/30366181@N05/sets/72157618774248747/show/

Judge Beagle and the Atwood Stadium Authority have done a great job bringing the stadium back to life.

Revival… that sums up what is happening in Flint. Its fitting that Mark Farner is involved and with him the image of Grand Funk. We have produced some great talent from Flint, from all walks of life. IT MAKES ME PROUD TO SAY I AM FROM FLINT.

So, who the heck is Mark Farner some of you may say? The boomers will say," He Is My Captain." Start here ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Farner

Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948 in Flint, Michigan) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a Contemporary Christian Musician. Farner began his career in music playing in bands like Terry Knight and The Pack (1965-1966), The Bossmen (1966), The Pack (aka The Fabulous Pack) (1967-1968), before forming Grand Funk Railroad (later called Grand Funk) with Don Brewer and Mel Schacher in 1969.

Farner was the guitarist and lead singer for Grand Funk Railroad as well as the songwriter for most of their material.

Perhaps his best known composition is the 1970 epic "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)". Grand Funk's "We're An American Band" reached #1 on the Hot 100 on Mark's 25th birthday. After Grand Funk disbanded in 1977, Farner released his first self titled solo album. In 1978, Farner released his second solo album, No Frills.

In 1981, Grand Funk reunited and recorded two albums, Grand Funk Lives and What's Funk?. Farner went solo again with 1988's Just Another Injustice on Frontline Records. His third Frontline release was 1991's Some Kind of Wonderful, which featured a revamped version of the Grand Funk classic of the same name.

Farner enjoyed success with the John Beland composition "Isn't it Amazing", which earned him a Dove Award nomination and reached #2 on the Christian Contemporary charts. In the 1990s, Farner formed Lismark Communications with former Freedom Reader editor Steve Lisuk.

Soon after, Farner began reissuing his solo albums on his own record label, LisMark Records. Farner toured with Ringo Starr's Allstars from 1994 to 1995, which also featured Randy Bachman, John Entwistle, Felix Cavaliere, Billy Preston, and Starr's son, Zak Starkey. In the late 1990s, Farner reunited with Grand Funk, but left after three years to resume his solo career. He currently tours with his band, N'rG, which plays a mixture of Grand Funk songs and Farner's solo offerings.

Farner was honoured with the Lakota Sioux Elders Honor Mark in 1999. During the concert in Hankinson, North Dakota, a special presentation was held honoring Mark's Native ancestry and his contributions. Members of the Lakota Nation presented him with a hand-made ceremonial quilt. He has also been honoured with the Cherokee Medal of Honor by the Cherokee Honor Society. An authorized biography of Farner, entitled From Grand Funk to Grace, was published by Collectors Guide Publishing in Canada.

Also look to Farners official web site. http://www.markfarner.com/

Today I am a groupie just like in the 70's. And from 10:30 on will be with Lynn ,Karen, Mike and Mark and his wife Leesia. We are doing a PR splash for the Mark Farner Concert 8/15/09 at Atwood Stadium. $15 advance sales and $20 at the gate.

It will be a day long event with vendors, refreshments, 10 bands preceding Farner and at 7 pm a few words and song from our Captain. We expect a sell out.

Ticket locations to be announced. Look here!
Posted here by Terry Bankert I was born , live and have my business in Flint MI USA! http://attorneybankert.com/

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Mark Farner Flint 8/15/09

Flint rock legend Mark Farner to perform in hometown Grand Funk Railroad alum returns for show during Back to the Bricks weekend in August , 8/15/09

FLINT, Michigan - Flint rock legend Mark Farner is returning to his hometown in August to perform in the city’s historic Atwood Stadium as part of a new daylong music festival.
Organizers of the music festival and Farner, along with his wife and manager, Lisa Farner, will officially announce the event during a news conference 4:30 p.m. Wednesday (May 27) at the new Blackstone’s restaurant in downtown Flint. Farner will be available to talk with the media at the news conference.

Farner was the lead guitarist and singer of the 1970s rock band, Grand Funk Railroad, which became famous for hits, “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)”, “We’re an American Band”, “Some Kind of Wonderful” and many more.

The concert will be Farner’s first official performance in Flint since 1975.
“This show will be like coming home to a family reunion,” Farner said.

The music festival and Farner’s concert will take place Aug. 15, which is the Saturday of the annual Back to the Bricks car cruise and show in downtown Flint and in communities along Saginaw Street in Genesee County. While the festival is not an official part of Back to the Bricks, event organizer Karen Smith said it seemed like a perfect match.

“Flint is where the automobile is made and Back to the Bricks celebrates the auto and classic cars,” Smith said. “And Mark is a rock patriot who is from that classic car era. He’ll definitely appeal to that 35 and up age group. He couldn’t be a better person to have here.”

The music festival will feature performances by 10 different bands. It will start at 11 a.m. Aug. 15 at Atwood Stadium and will run all day - rain or shine. Other local bands scheduled to perform are Dr. Payne, Last Warning, Lil Miss Dangerous, South Bay Bessie and more. Cost to attend the concert is $10 per person in advance and $15 at the gate. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, Holy Rosary schools and Mission of Hope.

There will be a bus that will shuttle people between the Back to the Bricks and Atwood Stadium events.

In addition to the music, there will be several other activities taking place in and around Atwood Stadium, including a volleyball tournament, VIP tent, a Las Vegas tent run by the Holy Rosary congregation and vendors selling food, trinkets, art clothing and other retail items.

Concert tickets will go on sale June 1. A limited number of advance tickets will be available at: "Mike's Triple Grill" 605 S.Saginaw, Flint & "Blackstone's" 533 S Saginaw St, Flint with other locations TBA. Listen for more information through your local TV and radio stations. For more information 810.515.1928

About Grand Funk Railroad and Mark Farner: Considered one of America’s biggest bands of the 1970s, Grand Funk recorded 17 albums with total sales of more than 25 million records. Farner is the unmistakable voice, guitarist and songwriter that powered the original Grand Funk Railroad to 12 platinum and 16 gold albums.

The group was started by Farner in 1969 with teenage friends Mel Schacher and Don Brewer and the group hit it big just several months after forming and was quickly signed by Capitol Records.

Farner and his wife, Lisa, live in Petoskey, but are on the road often.

About the music festival: The festival at Atwood Stadium is sponsored by Downtown Flint Revival Magazine , The Law Offices of Terry Bankert, Flint, Tom Ryan Budweiser, Flint, Blackstone's Pub & Grill, Flint, & STAT EMS, Flint . The Magazine also is producing the official publication for the Back to the Bricks event.

On the Web: Mark Farner’s official Web site: http://www.markfarner.com/

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Mark Farner in Flint Revival Concert

Flint rock legend Mark Farner to perform in hometown Grand Funk Railroad alum returns for show during Back to the Bricks weekend in August

FLINT, Michigan - Flint rock legend Mark Farner is returning to his hometown in August to perform in the city’s historic Atwood Stadium as part of a new daylong music festival.

Organizers of the music festival and Farner, along with his wife and manager, Lisa Farner, will officially announce the event during a news conference 4:30 p.m. Wednesday (May 27) at the new Blackstone’s restaurant in downtown Flint. Farner will be available to talk with the media at the news conference.

Farner was the lead guitarist and singer of the 1970s rock band, Grand Funk Railroad, which became famous for hits, “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)”, “We’re an American Band”, “Some Kind of Wonderful” and many more.

The concert will be Farner’s first official performance in Flint since 1975.
“This show will be like coming home to a family reunion,” Farner said.

The music festival and Farner’s concert will take place Aug. 15, which is the Saturday of the annual Back to the Bricks car cruise and show in downtown Flint and in communities along Saginaw Street in Genesee County. While the festival is not an official part of Back to the Bricks, event organizer Lynn M Sorenson said it seemed like a perfect match.

“Flint is where the automobile is made and Back to the Bricks celebrates the auto and classic cars,” Sorenson said. “And Mark is a rock patriot who is from that classic car era. He’ll definitely appeal to that 35 and up age group. He couldn’t be a better person to have here.”

The music festival will feature performances by 10 different bands. It will start at 11 a.m. Aug. 15 at Atwood Stadium and will run all day - rain or shine. Other local bands scheduled to perform are Dr. Payne, Last Warning, Lil Miss Dangerous, South Bay Bessie and more. Cost to attend the concert is $15 per person in advance and $20 at the gate. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Mission of Hope.

There will be a bus that will shuttle people between the Back to the Bricks and Atwood Stadium events.

In addition to the music, there will be several other activities taking place in and around Atwood Stadium, including a volleyball tournament, VIP tent, a Las Vegas tent run by the Holy Rosary congregation and vendors selling food, trinkets, art clothing and other retail items.

Concert tickets will go on sale June 1. ( Inquires lynnmsorenson@yahoo.com )

About Grand Funk Railroad and Mark Farner: Considered one of America’s biggest bands of the 1970s, Grand Funk recorded 17 albums with total sales of more than 25 million records. Farner is the unmistakable voice, guitarist and songwriter that powered the original Grand Funk Railroad to 12 platinum and 16 gold albums.

The group was started by Farner in 1969 with teenage friends Mel Schacher and Don Brewer and the group hit it big just several months after forming and was quickly signed by Capitol Records.

Farner and his wife, Lisa, live in Petoskey, but are on the road often.
About the music festival: The festival at Atwood Stadium is sponsored by Flint Revival Inc ( Lynn Sorenson), Mikes Deli ( Mike Abraham) .

On the Web: Mark Farner’s official Web site: http://www.markfarner.com/

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NO TO JUVENILE LIFE SENTENCES

What Are you doing May 27th? Think of the possibilies. If the internet was a boarder less Political Party with the bloggers being precinct captains how would we act? I think Tom Rico is on the right tract.-trb

The Following from Blogging for Justice.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=82380738787#/event.php?eid=82380738787&ref=mf

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Michigan Bloggers – and their network of blogging friends across the country – are invited and encouraged to address online the issue of ending juvenile life sentences without parole in Michigan and throughout the United States. Bloggers committing to "attend" this event will be promising to post commentary on their blogs on a single day, May 27, 2009, in support and solidarity to end juvenile life sentences without parole.Human Rights Watch has confirmed that the United States is the only country that incarcerates youth offenders with life sentences without parole, which violates or raises concerns with three international treaties.

Youth sentenced under these conditions – for crimes committed as teens and at younger ages – allows for no hope or chance of rehabilitation. "Our research indicates that many teens received life without parole for their first offense," Human Rights Watch reports. "There is little in their histories to warrant the assumption that they would not mature and be rehabilitated if they were spared a lifetime in prison."

The Michigan State Legislature is currently considering House Bills 4518 and 4594-4596, which would end the juvenile life without parole sentencing and would revise parole eligibility for juveniles sentenced as adults. Similar bills passed the House during the last legislative session but were stalled in the state Senate.

On May 6, 2009, the Michigan House Judiciary Committee held hearings on these bills. A second round of hearings is scheduled in Lansing for May 27, 2009. Michigan-based bloggers will be invited to join the debate through a Facebook event encouraging some of our keenest social and political observers to address the issue on a single day.

The Peace Education Center of Greater Lansing is launching this online blogging event in conjunction with The Injustice Must End (T.I.M.E.) Committee, a citizens action committee supporting the release of the wrongly-convicted Benton Harbor 15-year-old Latino honor-roll student, Efren Paredes, Jr., who has been imprisoned for 20 years. The Paredes case has been recognized by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other organizations as an illustration of the need for legal reform. Both groups are supporting passage of the bills before the House Judiciary Committee, as well as federal legislation recently introduced by U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers. The federal legislation is H.R. 2289, the Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2009.

All bloggers participating in the "Blogging for Justice" day on May 27th will be invited to two scheduled online audio press conferences with the Peace Education Center and T.I.M.E. Efren Paredes, Jr. will be available by phone to answer questions about his specific case and about the topic of reforming laws on juvenile life sentences without parole.

The press conferences are planned forthe following dates/times:
SCHEDULED PRESS CONFERENCES FOR BLOGGERS
Tuesday, May 19, 2009, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. EST
Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. EST

Call-in details will be announced soon and provided to participating bloggers.A list of informational resources and links on the topic, as well as additional updates, will be posted with this FB event notice.

Also, the Peace Education Center can send bloggers a general resource packet upon request.

For more information, contact the Peace Education Center at 517-889-1175 or peaceedcenter@gmail.com
. Or contact Tom Rico, the co-chair of the PEC and a blogger himself, at ricothomasrico@gmail.com
.
—
Thanks Tom, I’ll be there in ether and possibly in person.
Posted Here by Terry Bankert 5/7/09 You are invited to continue this discussion on my Face Book Page. http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry-Bankert/645845362

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Get involved in Citizen Journalism

BANKERT CHRONICLES
" Good Morning Flint!" 5/14/09
SO... LETS CALL IT CITIZEN JOURNALISM
by Terry Bankert
http://www.flintfamilylaw.com/

HOW DO RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS INFORM THEMSELVES WHEN THE 5TH ESTATE IS COLLAPSING?

In an era where Walter has been replaced by Rush and the old alphabet soup of network news by FOX and MSNBC our trust in the "News we can Trust" has changed.

WITH THE FLINT JOURNAL FADING AWAY AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM GONE HOW DO YOU KNOW THE ISSUES OF YOUR CITY?

In Flint we are witnessing a dramatic change in how we get information by our local newspaper beginning in June only publishing 3 days a week. How do we stay informed and why is it important?

BECOME A CITIZEN JOURNALIST!

Citizen Journalist are people without professional journalism training who use the tools of modern technology and the global distribution of the Internet to create, augment or fact-check media on their own or in collaboration with others. [ see 4]

The Internet can be used by people to keep each other informed . The cumulative contributions when personally edited for trolls (T)and whackos (W) give us "news". This is not professional and not tio be taken a truth until checked out or you form your own opinion but news to use.

WHAT IS NEWS

1.A report of a recent event; intelligence; information: EXAMPLE-His family has had no news of his whereabouts for months.
2.
the presentation of a report on recent or new events in a newspaper or other periodical or on radio or television.

3.
such reports taken collectively; information reported: There's good news tonight.

4.
a person, thing, or event considered as a choice subject for journalistic treatment; newsworthy material.
[1]
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/news

WHAT IS JOURNALISM

Journalism is the production of news reports and editorials through media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet. Journalists—be they writers, editors, photographers, broadcast presenters or producers—serve as the main purveyors of information and opinion in contemporary society.

[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism

Community journalism is locally oriented, professional news coverage that typically focuses on city neighborhoods, individual suburbs or small towns, rather than metropolitan, state, national or world news.

If it covers wider topics, community journalism concentrates on their effect on local readers. Community newspapers, often but not always published weekly, also tend to cover subjects larger news media do not, such as students on the honor roll at the local high school, school sports, crimes such as vandalism, zoning issues and other details of community life.[2][3] Sometimes dismissed as "chicken dinner" stories, such "hyperlocal" coverage often plays a vital role in building and maintaining neighborhoods.

Leo Lerner, founder of Chicago's erstwhile Lerner Newspapers, used to say, "A fistfight on Clark Street is more important to our readers than a war in Europe."

In the United States, about 97 percent of newspapers are classified as "community" newspapers, with circulations below 50,000. Their combined circulation, nearly 109 million, is triple that of the combined circulation of the country's large daily newspapers.

An increasing number of community newspapers are now owned by large media organizations, although many rural papers are still "mom and pop" operations.[citation needed]
Community journalists are typically trained professional reporters and editors. Community journalism should not be confused with the work of citizen journalists, who are often unpaid amateurs, or with civic journalism,.
[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_journalism

Citizen journalism (also known as "public", "participatory", "democratic"
or "street journalism" is the concept of members of the public "playing an active role in the process of collecting, reporting, analyzing and disseminating news and information," according to the seminal 2003 report We Media: How Audiences are Shaping the Future of News and Information.

Authors Bowman and Willis say: "The intent of this participation is to provide independent, reliable, accurate, wide-ranging and relevant information that a democracy requires."
Citizen journalism should not be confused with community journalism or civic journalism, which are practiced by professional journalists, or collaborative journalism, which is practiced by professional and non-professional journalists working together. Citizen journalism is a specific form of citizen media as well as user generated content.
Mark Glaser, a freelance journalist who frequently writes on new media issues, said in 2006:

The idea behind citizen journalism is that people without professional journalism training can use the tools of modern technology and the global distribution of the Internet to create, augment or fact-check media on their own or in collaboration with others. For example, you might write about a city council meeting on your blog or in an online forum. Or you could fact-check a newspaper article from the mainstream media and point out factual errors or bias on your blog. Or you might snap a digital photo of a newsworthy event happening in your town and post it online. Or you might videotape a similar event and post it on a site such as YouTube.
In What is Participatory Journalism?,J. D. Lasica classifies media for citizen journalism into the following types:

Audience participation (such as user comments attached to news stories, personal blogs, photos or video footage captured from personal mobile cameras, or local news written by residents of a community)

Independent news and information Websites (Consumer Reports, the Drudge Report)
Full-fledged participatory news sites (NowPublic, OhmyNews, GroundReport)
Collaborative and contributory media sites (Slashdot, Kuro5hin, Newsvine)
Other kinds of "thin media." (mailing lists, email newsletters)
Personal broadcasting sites (video broadcast sites such as KenRadio).
New media theorist Terry Flew states that there are 3 elements "critical to the rise of citizen journalism and citizen media": open publishing, collaborative editing and distributed content.

[4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_journalism

Consider becoming involved in Citizen Journalism. Come on in the water is fine.

Posted Here by Terry Bankert 5/14/09
You are invited to continue this discussion on my Face Book Page. http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry-Bankert/645845362



---
sources
[1]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/news
[2]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism

[3]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_journalism

[4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_journalism

24513 gmf blog

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Mark Brewer and Progressive Caucus

fyi. posted here to help the cause...

Hello Progressives and Friends,

First, I hope that everyone has a Happy Mother's Day and that you are able to share the day with those you love. There are several announcements to be made regarding the Progressive Caucus Monthly Meeting, a Special Healthcare Forum, and an action to be taken on behalf of Healthcare reform.

1. The Genesee County Progressive Caucus Meeting with special guest Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer, is at 6:30 PM, Tuesday, May 12, at Asbury United Methodist Church, 1653 Davison Road (about 3 blocks east of I-475), Flint. It is open to the public, please invite your family and friends to listen to Mark talk about the future of Democratic aspirations. Come prepared to ask your questions of Mark, he has always done a great job of answering until the last questioner is satisfied. There will be a short business meeting. Come be part of the Progressive Caucus and help plan for future events.You do not have to wait until the meeting to volunteer to work on any of our events.

2. Forum on HEALTHCARE REFORM -- WILL IT HELP YOU OR HURT YOU? Be part of the discussion and the solution when the Genesee County Progressive Caucus and the Southern Genesee Democratic Club hosts Olivia Boykins ( Congressman John Conyers' Special Assistant ) and Dr. James Mitchiner ( Physicians For A National Healthcare Plan ) to lead the conversation. The forum will begin at 7:00 PM,Thursday, May 21ST at the Fenton Community and Cultural Center, 150 S. Leroy, Fenton. A flyer is attached. Please share. The Progressive Caucus have had several healthcare reform events and actions in Flint and since Congressman Kildee has signed on to HR 676, it makes sense to go else where to seek support for HR 676. Fenton seemed the perfect choice for the Healthcare Forum's venue because it is very near the County ( Congressional ) Line with Congressional Districts 4, 8 and 10 in close proximity. It is our hope that from this event, we will have folks who will want to work with us on organizing their area of congressional influence. Email Pat Eriksson (periksson1 @gmail.com) or me to offer your help in making this event a success.

3 We are being asked to take critical action immediately. Please make 2 calls TODAY and Monday to get single-payer experts into Tuesday, May 12 final Senate Finance Committee Roundtable discussion! The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee has issued a request to include Roseann Demoro, Executive Director of CNA/NNOC and longtime leader in the single-payer movement. Physicians For A National Healthcare Plan has formally submitted the names of two outstanding physicians, Drs. Marcia Angell and Steffie Woolhandler, to testify as expert witnesses.

Please call Sen. Baucus' office in Washington at 202-224-2651, or fax him at (202) 224-9412, and urge him to extend the invitations. We must call Senator Stabenow - 202 224-4822 ! Then, call the following; Kerry [MA] - Washington DC office (202) 224-2742 Rockefeller [WV] - Washington DC office (202) 224-6472

For a full list of Senate Finance Committee members, go here: http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/committee.htm Members of Single-Payer New York met with Sen. Charles Schumer (NY), Senate Finance Committee member, on Friday evening. He agreed to ask Chairman Baucus to include a single-payer expert--if we can get another Senator on the committee to join him.

Please call and ask your Senator to join Sen. Schumer in asking Chairman Baucus to include a single-payer expert in Tuesday's hearing. We need to end the exclusion of the only plan that will be truly universal and contain costs. Our health depends on it. Your action today is critical to the health of this nation. This is a very long message, thank you for reading it and I am always pleased to hear from you. Peace, Health, and Prosperity for all, Maryion Lee Chairperson


For questions and comments please call Maryion Lee 810-659-3772, 810-730-4397, SHERMARFAM@AOL.COM progressivegendems.com

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Buchanan wants a hand count certification he is a loser!

Good Morning Flint!
By Terry Bankert,
5/7/08,
http://FlintFamilyLaw.com

HE IS ITCHING TO EXPOSE THE GLITCHING A glitch is a glitch in my favor or in your favor," Buchanan said.[2]

THE TRAIN IS PULLING OUT OF THE STATION ALL ON BOARD Congrats to Mayor Dayne WallingYeah, I said mayor. Might as well call him that. He had 44 percent of the vote to Clack's 16. That's ridiculous. The way this looks now this is the Cavaliers vs. Pistons all over again. [3] But, its not over yet.”"I think the whole west side will be a swing district," Walling said.[4]

CLACK IS OFF HER TRACK It speaks poorly of Brenda Clack that Darryl Buchanan after years of being Don Williamsons yes man could get within 15 votes of her. Her community is screaming “ Never Back a Clack or clicky clack they’ll be back.... for another pension”.[TRB]

Here's what happened, according to the Genesee County clerk: The vote total in Flint Precinct 25, when processed, was different on the machine's disk or card than it was on the paper records.[2]

THE PRIMARY WINNERS DO NOT THINK RACE WILL MATTER "I don't want to make this campaign about race," Clack said. "We need to deal with the issues. I'm not going to single out a group and say, 'I'm going to serve you more.'"[4]Walling said. "I believe the voters in this city don't care about race or skin color."[4]

HE HAS BEEN VICTEMIZED...AGAIN Darryl Buchanan isn't giving up just yet on becoming Flint's next mayor.[1] Darryl, Remember you were a Williamson follower. I cannot believe you are going to get any more votes out of the east side, unless they are Williamson cronies.Get a life and leave, and take council woman Hill with you. You cannot be a buddie of the mayor and then switch sides when he is gone. [4- POSTED BY TDIMHCS]

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SCANDAL, FOR THE COMMUNITY "And the election was so close from second to third we owe it to the community to give clarity," Buchanan said. Flanked by family and friends, Buchanan made it official. He wants a hand recount off all 61 precincts, citing that close finish and the error in Precinct 25."We want to make sure .”[2]

IF EIGHT OF THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR CLACK VOTED FOR BUCHANAN HE’D BE BACK....THANK YOU BRENDA CLACK Buchanan, who lost by 15 votes to second-place finisher Brenda Clack in Tuesday's mayoral primary, is asking for a hand recount. The top two winners -- Clack and Dayne Walling after the vote county Tuesday -- are to face off in the August general election. [1] HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL Buchanan is hoping his challenge will be successful and will overturn the results.[1]

HE HAS AN ITCH ABOUT A COMPUTER GLITCH CAUSING HIM TO B....! Buchanan said he is concerned about a computer glitch that initially prevented the counting of about 200 votes on Flint's east side. Elections workers said the discrepancy was discovered early Wednesday morning, and the vote totals were updated. Clack netted an extra vote with the new totals.[1] HE SAYS THROUGH Still, Buchanan said the computer system for the optical scanners used in the election should be thoroughly checked.[1]

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW AND BE CERTAIN HE WAS ABSOLUTLEY DEFEATED "The residents of Flint deserve to know that their votes were counted accurately," Buchanan said.[1] A REQUEST FOR A RECOUNT IS REASONABLE Clack said it's Buchanan's right to request a recount.[1]

SHE JUST WANTS HIM TO BE OKAY "It doesn't bother me," Clack said. "If that's what he wants to do to satisfy himself, then he should do it."[1]

HE’S TO BE CERTIFIED A LOSER Genesee County Clerk Michael Carr said the board of canvassers, which certified the election, ran all the votes in Flint back through the computer system and got the same result. Canvassers checked each precinct to make sure that the glitch on the east side precinct was repeated elsewhere.[1]

THE RESULTS WILL SHOW BUCHANAN A LOSER "The results were identical," Carr said. "We're very confident in the results."[1]

ONE BETTER CAMPAIGN DECISION WOULD HAVE WON THE DAY FOR BUCHANAN Clack finished with 1,981 votes to 1,966 for Buchanan, according to Thursday's certified results.[1]

WINFORD ,BUCHANAN CAMPAIGN DECISION MAKER, SAY IT AIN’T SO BOB!!!! Bob Winford, Buchanan's campaign adviser, raised doubts that all the votes were counted. [1]

IF I HAVE SEEN ONE GLITCH I HAVE SEEN THEM ALL "If there's a glitch in one place, you always think there could be a glitch in other places," Winford said.[1] Based on this, if I get a flat on my car, I should have someone check the transmission. I can tell he works for Buchanan.[4-POSTED BY JACOBSMITH]
Carr said it's not guaranteed that the canvassing board will grant a recount.[1] "There has to be some evidence that something went wrong," Carr said. "It can't just be that the vote was close."[1] But Buchanan said he believes the canvassers will agree to the recount.[1] "They (canvassers) believe in the Constitution, don't they?" Buchanan said. "They believe in the electoral process."[1] Buchanan must pay $610 for a recount.[1] If votes are recounted by hand, it could be a time consuming and contentious process. Carr said attorneys representing Buchanan and Clack would be allowed to watch and could request certain ballots be set aside for the canvassers to review.[1] Winford said the attorneys would probably be looking at voters who attempted to vote for a candidate, but the mark on the ballot wasn't read by the computer.[1] There were 39 under votes and 20 over votes in Tuesday's election. An under vote is when the voter did not choose any candidate, while an over vote is when the voter chose too many, invalidating the ballot.[1]

BUCHANAN COULD HAVE WON IF 15 PEOPLE WHO SHOWED UP TO VOTE FOR AN EDUCATION CANDIDATE AND CAST NO MAYORAL VOTE WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR HIM IN THE MAYORS RACE. Brenda Clack gets into the Flint mayoral finals, so to speak, on the strength of 14 more votes? Amazing. So I guess there's an upside after all to the fact that so few bothered to vote Tuesday. Those who did mattered. A lot. [3] Carr said it's extremely rare that a recount would change the result of the election. "Fifteen votes is a lot of votes in a race like this," Carr said.[1]

BRADLEY HILLS WILL SORT OUT THE WINNERS IN THE CRIM AND NOW IN THE MAYORIAL RACE But the campaign for Flint's next mayor may be decided in the more racially mixed neighborhoods on the city's west side. "I will be watching the Bradley Street area up to McLaren hospital," said Genesee County Clerk Michael Carr, a longtime election watcher. "That will be very interesting to see."[4]

SOME CITIZENS WANT A NEW MAYOR NOW All I know is August can't get here soon enough. The current mayor just keeps wasting money by hiring his cronies at $90,000.00/yr. Most of these people have multiple retirements/pensions and now MB is doling out handouts with taxpayer money like a kid in a candy store. Meanwhile, the city is heading into bankruptcy. Hard working employees in police, fire, and other service areas are being laid off left and right and for what? So the new mayor's cronies can draw another paycheck on top of the three of four they already get? Boy have they pulled the wool over the state's eyes. This is how you re-organize. Lay off lower paid employees and hire your friends at ridiculous salaries as personal favors. Talk about your corrupt politicians.[5-POSTED BY WASTE4SURE]

I PREDICT THAT BRENDA CLACK WILL CALL A POLITICO UNITY MEETING WITH THE CODED MESSAGE LETS NOT SPLIT OUR VOTE "I'll be making calls my former opponents and asking for their support. There has to be unity. This is an opportunity to do that and I'll be contacting everyone," Clack said.[6] The implication is racial unity, but Brenda I thought you said this was not an issue?[trb]

LETS SEE

The downtown boys are for Mike Brown as reciever.

Woodrow Stanley is for Brenda Clack.

Charles Winfrey is for Darryl Buchanan.

Don Williamson,s dogs (Mays and Buchanan)in the race lost, one is asking for a recount.

I guess I made the right choice to support Dayne Walling. soon to be elected Mayor of Flint Michigan.

Posted Here by Terry Bankert
5/7/09
You are invited to continue this discussion on my Face Book Page. http://www.facebook.com/people/Terry-Bankert/645845362

SOURCES
[1] http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/05/darryl_buchanan_asks_for_recou.html [2]
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=6801617
[3]
http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2009/05/was_dayne_wallings_win_so_big.html [4] http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/05/darryl_buchanan_disputes_elect.html [5] http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/05/flint_mayoral_race_could_becom.html [6]
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=6799497
[trb] Comments and cap headlines by Terry Bankert http://attorneybankert.com/

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